An Evaluation of the Plasma Levels of Frequently Used Pesticides in Dairy Cattle and Its Possible Correlation with the Occurrence of Follicular Cystic Ovarian Disease: A Case-Control Study

Background: Cystic ovarian disease (COD) is one of the common reproductive disorders which affecting the fertility of dairy cattle induces heavy financial burdens on herds owners. Various insecticides, fungicides and herbicides, collectively known as pesticides are frequently used in the agricultural systems of different countries. Given the fact that pesticides are known to have endocrine disrupting properties, exposure to these compounds may play a role in the development of COD.Materials and Methods: The plasma concentrations of a complete profile of common pesticides including organophosphorus, organochlorine, and carbamate and pyrethroid compounds in the plasma of cattle with COD compared to healthy controls was examined. Moreover, plasma concentrations of inflammatory cytokines as well as oxidative stress parameters were investigated.Results: No significant amounts of any of the pesticides investigated were detectable in the plasma of neither the healthy nor cystic cows. The plasma indices of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), thiol, lipid peroxidation (LPO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) did not show any significant differences between the affected and the control groups. Tumor necrosis factors alpha (TNF-α), progesterone, lymphocyte, neutrophil, fibrinogen and MCHC had significantly higher amounts in the plasma of COD cows.Conclusion: Findings of the present study do not support the notion that exposure to the studied pesticides is a contributing factor in the development of follicular cysts in dairy cattle. In addition, TNF-α might be affected as a factor in the pathogenesis of COD by an independent pathway of pesticides effect

Investigating the Effect of rs3783605 Single-nucleotide Polymorphism on the Activity of VCAM-1 Promoter in Human Umbilical Vein Endohelial Cells

The interaction between immune cells and endothelial lining of blood vessels is vital in many processes such as inflammatory and immune responses as well as cancer cell metastasis. The expression level of VCAM-1 is regulated by many factors including the promoter activity that is possibly affected by the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) present in the promoter. There are previous reports suggesting an important role for rs3783605 at -420 position in the pathogenesis of VCAM1-associated diseases. This is possibly due to the effect of this SNP on promoter activity and gene expression. Therefore, present study was designed to investigate the effect of rs3783605 on the activity of VCAM-1 gene promoter in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). In this study, two appropriate expression vectors containing VCAM1 promoter with different alleles of rs3783605 were constructed to express the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP). Expression vectors were transfected into HUVECs and their EGFP expression level was assessed by the fluorescent microscopy and real-time PCR. Bright green fluorescence was seen in the HUVECs transfected by expression vector containing CMV promoter. The expression level in the cells transfected by vector containing promoter with A allele of rs3783605 was 0.14888 folds and G allele was about 0.37851 folds of cells transfected by vector having CMV promoter (p<0.001). Moreover, HUVECs transfected by G allele of rs3783605 showed about 2-fold higher transcriptional activity compared with the A allele, (p=0.049). Our findings showed that rs3783605 polymorphism may play a role in VCAM-1 gene expression. Therefore, it is likely that it may have an important role in the pathogenesis of VCAM1-associated diseases and tumor metastases

Redox Imbalance in CD4+ T Cells of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients

As a prevalent autoimmune disease of the central nervous system in young adults, multiple sclerosis (MS) is mediated by T cells, particularly CD4+ subsets. Given the evidence that the perturbation in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production has a pivotal role in the onset and progression of MS, its regulation through the antioxidant molecules is too important. Here, we investigated the level of the redox system components in lymphocytes and CD4+ T cells of MS patients. The study was performed on relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients (n=29) and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (n=15). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were cultured and stimulated by anti-CD3/CD28. The level of ROS, anion superoxide (O2-), and L--glutamyl-Lcysteinylglycine (GSH) was measured by flow cytometry in lymphocytes/CD4+ T cells. The gene expression level of gp91phox, catalase, superoxide dismutase 1/2 (SOD), and nuclear factor-E2-related factor (Nrf2) was also measured by real-time PCR. We found that lymphocytes/CD4+ T cells of RRMS patients at the relapse phase significantly produced higher levels of ROS and O2- compared to patients at the remission phase (P value < 0.001) and healthy controls (P value < 0.001 and P value < 0.05, respectively). Interestingly, the gene expression level of gp91phox, known as the catalytic subunit of the NADPH oxidase, significantly increased in MS patients at the relapse phase (P value < 0.05). Furthermore, the catalase expression augmented in patients at the acute phase (P value < 0.05), while an increased expression of SOD1 and Nrf2 was found in RRMS patients at relapse and remission phases (P value < 0.05). The increased production of ROS in CD4+ T cells of RRMS patients highlights the importance of amplifying antioxidant components as an efficient approach to ameliorate disease activity in MS patients

Number and subtypes of natural killer cells in patients with allergic rhinitis in comparison to healthy subjects

&quot;n Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Background: Allergic rhinitis is a common disorder with great morbidity. Its prevalence has increased during recent years, therefore attracting attentions to its mechanisms. Type 2 cytokines play a major role in allergies. It has been proposed that Natural killer (NK) cells may be able to produce type 2 cytokines. This study was done to evaluate NK cells number and subtypes in patients with allergic rhinitis, comparing healthy subjects.&quot;n&quot;nMethods: In a case control study, patients with allergic rhinitis were compared to healthy non-atopic subjects. Allergic rhinitis was diagnosed according to ARIA guidelines. NK cells quantity was studied by staining of peripheral blood mono nuclear cells with anti-CD16-FITC and anti-CD56-PE and evaluated by two color flowcytometry. Intracellular cytokines were evaluated by tri-color flowcytometry. NK cells were separated by magnetic beads, and cultured for 72 hours. Secretion of IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, and IFN-&amp;gamma; was measured by ELISA, in stimulated and unstimulated conditions.&quot;n&quot;nResults: Patients had more CD16+ CD56+ NK cells than control group. IL-4+ NK cells were significantly higher in patients (p&amp;lt;0.001), but the number of IFN-&amp;gamma;+ NK cells was not different. Cytokine secretion of NK cells was similar in case and control groups. Although IL-13 level after stimulation seemed higher in patients, the difference was not significant.&quot;n&quot;nConclusion: NK cells number is increased in patients with allergic rhinitis and a considerable number of them produce IL-4