Association of Interleukin 10 And Transforming Growth Factor β Gene Polymorphisms with Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) are two anti-inflammatory cytokines that are implicated in the pathogenesis of urticaria. The goal of this study was to examine the possible association of polymorphisms of TGF-β and IL-10 genes with susceptibility to chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU). This study was conducted on 90 patients with CIU. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was done to determine the genotype at 5 polymorphic sites; TGF-β (codon10C/T and codon25G/C) and IL-10 (-1082G/A, -819C/T, and -592C/A). The C allele at codon 25 of TGF-β was more prevalent in CIU patients compared to controls (OR = 9.5, 95% CI = 5.4-16.8, P<0.001). Genotypes of CT and CG at 10 and 25 codons of TGF-β gene, respectively, and AG, CT, and CA for loci of -1082, -819, and -592 of IL-10 gene were significantly higher in CIU patients (P<0.001). In haplotype analysis, frequency of TGF-β haplotypes differed between patients with CIU and controls; CC haplotype was overrepresented, while CG and TG haplotypes were underrepresented (P<0.001). These results suggest that TGF-β and IL-10 genetic variability could contribute to susceptibility to CIU. Additionally, patients with CIU seem to have genotypes leading to high production of TGF-β and IL-10.</p

Evaluation of Biofilm Formation Among Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates and Molecular Characterization by ERIC-PCR

AbstractBackground: Klebsiella pneumoniae is among the most frequently recovered etiologic agents from nosocomial infections. Thisopportunistic pathogen can generate a thick layer of biofilm as one of its important virulence factors, enabling the bacteria to attach toliving or abiotic surfaces, which contributes to drug resistance. Objectives: The resistance of biofilm-mediated infections to effective chemotherapy has adverse effects on patient outcomes and survival.Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the biofilm-formation capacity of clinical K. pneumoniae isolates and to perform amolecular characterization using enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR) to determine thedominant biofilm-producing genotype. Patients and Methods: In the present study, 94 K. pneumoniae isolates were obtained from two hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Biofilm formationwas assayed by a modified procedure, then ERIC-PCR was carried out. Results: The distributions of the clinical specimens used in this study were 61.7% from urine, 18.1% from wounds, 11.7% from sputum, and8.5% from blood. Among these isolates, 33% formed fully established biofilms, 52.1% were categorized as moderately biofilm-producing,8.5% formed weak biofilms, and 6.4% were non-biofilm-producers. Genotyping of K. pneumoniae revealed 31 different ERIC types. Biofilmformationability in a special ERIC type was not observed. Conclusions: Our results indicated that an enormous proportion of K. pneumoniae isolated from sputum and surgical-wound swabsproduced fully established biofilms. It is reasonable to assume the existence of a relationship between the site of infection and theformation of biofilm. A high level of genetic diversity among the K. pneumoniae strains was observed

Polymorphisms Of genes encoding interleukin-4 and its receptor are associated with chronic idiopathic urticaria

<b>RATIONALE</b>\ud \ud - Interleukin-4 (IL-4) has pivotal role in promotion of T\ud helper2 responses. ll-4 is also an important regulator of adaptive immune responses. This study is aimed at investigating of association of polymorphisms\ud in IL-4 and IL-4-receptor genes with susceptibility to CIU.\ud \ud <b>METHODS</b>\ud \ud - A matched case-control study was conducted on 89 patients\ud with CIU and 138 healthy controls. Autologous serum skin test (ASST) was performed according to international standards. Total IgE levels, thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO) and anti thyroglobulin antibodies (ATG) were investigated using spectrophotometry and enzyme-linked\ud immunosorbant-assay, respectively. Single nucleotide polymorphisms at following positions were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction: IL-4-1098T>G (rs243248), -590C>T (rs2243250), -33C>T (rs2070874), and IL-4-receptor+1902A>G (rs1801275). Estimated frequencies were compared between patients and controls.\ud \ud <b>RESULTS</b>\ud \ud - ASSTwas positive in 39 (43.8%) and abnormal TPO and ATG\ud were found in 12 (13.4%) and 6 (6.7%) of patients which were significantly higher than controls (p<0.05). Mean serum level of IgE was 140.57 (IU/ml) in CIU patients which fell in normal range similar to controls. patients and controls. Among polymorphic sites in IL-4gene, only C allele\ud at -33C>T (OR 2.39, 95%CI (1.41 to 4.05), p<0.001) was significantly higher in patients compared to controls. CC genotype at -590C>T (OR 4.5, 95%CI (1.9 to 10.82)) and -33C>T (OR 3.46, 95%CI (1.88 to 6.43)), were significantly higher in CIU patients (p<0.0001).\ud \ud <b>CONCLUSIONS</b>\ud \ud - Polymorphisms in promoter region of IL-4 but not IL-\ud 4-receptor gene confer susceptibility to CIU and may predispose patients to immune dysregulation