Author’s Reply; Nucleic Acid Testing for the Detection of HBV DNA

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Association of interleukin-4 polymorphisms with multiple sclerosis in southeastern Iranian patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Immune system related factors are important in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Interleukin 4 (IL-4) as a helper T cell (2TH) cytokine is involved in the regulation of immune responses. Hence, this study was designed to explore the association between MS and polymorphisms in the -590 region of IL-4. DESIGN AND SETTING: A descriptive study at Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsnajan from September 2009 to August 2010. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 100 MS patients and 150 healthy controls on EDTA precoated tubes. DNA was extracted and analyzed for IL-4 polymorphisms using restricted fragment length polymorphism in patients and controls. Demographic data were also collected by a questionnaire that was designed specifically for this study. RESULTS: We observed a significant difference in the C/C, T/C, and T/T genotypes of the -590 region of IL-4 between patients with MS and healthy controls (P <.001). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that functional polymorphisms of IL-4 possibly play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of MS

Royal jelly significantly alters inflammasome pathways in patients with chronic hepatitis B

Royal jelly (RJ) plays immunomodulatory role in humans. Further, role played by inflammasomes against hepatitis B virus (HBV) and involvement in its complications are well known. Here, we evaluated the effects of RJ on the relative expression of apoptosis associated with speck-like protein (ASC), node like receptor (NLR) family pyrin domain containing 1 (NLRP1), NLRP3, S100 calcium binding protein A4 (S100A4), and S100A9, as the immune system-related molecules in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection. RJ was administrated for 1 month (@1 g/day), to the patients with chronic hepatitis B infection. The relative expressions of ASC, NLRP1, NLRP3, S100A4 and S100A9 were evaluated using Real-Time PCR. The results showed that RJ increased the expression of ASC, but decreased the expression of NLRP1 in the patients with chronic hepatitis B infection. Relative expressions of NLRP3, S100A4, and S100A9 were not altered following treatment with RJ. There were no significant differences between men and women regarding the relative expression of the molecules. The results suggest that RJ can modulate immune responses via downregulation of NLRP1. The roles played by ASC in other pathways suggest that the upregulation of ASC could be associated with its immunomodulatory potential

Post-Transfusion Occult Hepatitis B (OBI): A Global Challenge for Blood Recipients and Health Authorities

Hepatitis B is one of the most frequent post-transfusion infections. Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is a form of hepatitis B infection in which, despite the presence of HBV-DNA in the serum and hepatocytes of the carrier, HBsAg is absent. In addition to the risk of transmission through the transfusion of infected blood, reactivation of hepatitis B in OBI patients and recipients of their blood can lead to cirrhosis, hepatic cancer, and reactivation of viral replication in the carrier. Therefore, effective assays to assess and screen for OBI in blood donors are of paramount importance and require urgent attention. Recently, several investigations in various regions of Iran have reported OBI in blood donors. In response, there has been a drive to apply more specific, sensitive, and accurate methods for the detection of HBV, which should become an obligatory screening process for all blood transfusion services. In this review, we address the progression of occult hepatitis B and the common problems associated with occult hepatitis B worldwide. Finally, we reflect on the research and screening that is being performed in Iran to deal with this problem

The IL-10 Promoter Polymorphism at Position −592 2 is Correlated with Susceptibility to Occult HBV Infection

6 Abstract-Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is characterized as a form of hepatitis in which detectable 7 amounts of HBV-DNA can be monitored in the peripheral blood of patients whereas the hepatitis B 8 surface antigen is undetectable. The main aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a relati-9 onship between OBI and single nucleotide polymorphisms in the −592 region of the IL-10 gene. In this 10 study, the polymorphism at position −592 of the IL-10 promoter of 57 OBI cases was compared and 11 correlated to that of 100 healthy controls by PCR-RFLP techniques. Our results showed that patient and 12 control groups had significant differences regarding genotypes and alleles of the −592 polymorphism in 13 the IL-10 gene. Based on our results, it can be concluded that the −592 polymorphism within the 14 promoter of the IL-10 gene is associated with OBI. 15 16 1

Effects of Opium Addiction and Cigarette Smoking on Hematological Parameters

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of opium addiction and cigarette smoking on the complete blood count (CBC).Methods: Eighty-six male subjects, including 31 opium-addicted cigarette smokers (OACS), 19 opium-addicted non-cigarette smokers (OANCS), 17 non-opium-addicted cigarette smokers (NOACS), and 19 non-opium-addicted non-cigarette smokers (NOANCS) participated in this study. The CBC test was measured in all individuals.Findings: The OACS had significantly higher white blood cell (WBC), lymphocyte, and red blood cell (RBC) count but lower in mean corpuscular volume (MCV) compared to NOANCS. The OANCS had significantly higher lymphocyte in comparison with NOACS. Our results demonstrated that the number of WBC, lymphocytes, and RBC were significantly higher, while, MCV was lower in OANCS subjects when compared to NOACS. The OACS had significantly higher level of lymphocyte in comparison with NOACS. The mean number of lymphocyte in OANCS was found significantly higher than NOACS. The smokers were shown to have significantly higher levels of WBC compared to NOANCS.Conclusion: Our results showed that opium-addiction, especially when associated with cigarette smoking, has intensive effects on hematological factors and these alteration might leads to greater risk for developing atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases, and imbalance in immune system

The effect of royal jelly and silver nanoparticles on liver and kidney inflammation

Objective: Royal jelly (RJ) is a honey bee product for which, anti-inflammatory properties were shown in vitro. Nanoparticles, including nano-silver (NS), are plausible inflammation inducers that act by activation of immune cells and consequent production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This project aimed to explore immunomodulatory effects of royal jelly and nano-silver on the kidney and liver. Materials and Methods: In this project, 40 male rats were grouped as follows: 10 rats as controls, 10 rats treated with RJ; 10 rats treated with both NS and RJ and 10 rats treated with NS. Liver and kidney interleukin (IL)-1β, -2, -6, and -33 levels were determined using commercial ELISA kits. Results: RJ reduced kidney IL-6 levels in comparison to control and NS--RJ groups. RJ and NS reduced kidney and liver IL-1β levels. Kidney IL-33 levels were decreased in the RJ and nano-silver groups in comparison to the NS--RJ group. Conclusion: Based on this study, it may be concluded that RJ together with NS can play anti-inflammatory roles and may affect the function of immune cells

The Effects of IFN-β 1a on the Expression of Inflammasomes and Apoptosis-Associated Speck-Like Proteins in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

This study aims to evaluate the effects of treatment with IFN-β 1α on the expressions of NLRP3, NLRP1, NLRC4, and AIM2, as inflammasomes, and caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18, as the downstream molecules of inflammasomes, in a population of Iranian multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. In this study, 30 MS patients (22 women and 8 men) participated. Before receiving any medication and 6Â months after treatment with standard doses of IFN-β 1α 30Â mcg injected intramuscularly once a week, blood samples were taken and then the leukocytes isolated, total RNAs extracted, and complementary DNAs (cDNAs) synthesized.Gene expressions of NLRP3, NLRP1, NLRC4, AIM2, and ASC were evaluated at messenger RNA (mRNA) levels using realtime PCR method; for assessing caspase-1 at protein level, the Western blot method was used. The amounts of IL-1β and IL-18 were measured in plasma using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Analysis of the results before and after therapy with IFN-β 1α in all patients shows significantly decreased expressions of NLRP3, NLRC4, and AIM2. The plasma levels of IL-1β, after treatment with IFN-β 1α, were significantly decreased in the MS patients. Based on our results, it appears that NLRP3, NLRC4, and AIM2 play critical roles in the progression of MS, probably bymediatingTh1 and Th17 responses. It seems that decreased expression of IL-1β is related to decreased production and also functions of inflammasomes