Effect of methotrexate on serum levels of IL-1alpha and IL-8 in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease affects many tissues and organs, but principally attacks flexible [synovial] joints. Methotrexate is the most commonly used disease-modifying antirheumatic drug for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of methotrexate on serum levels of IL-1alpha and IL-8 in rheumatoid arthritis. Blood samples were collected from 50 patients with rheumatoid arthritis [25 patients without treatment and 25 patients are received methotraxate] and from 30 healthy age and sex matched individuals served as controls. Serum IL-1alpha and IL-8 were measured by means of enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay. The present results showed that serum levels of IL-1alpha and IL-8 were significantly higher in RA patients than in healthy controls [P<0.01], furthermore, level of IL-1alpha was significantly decrease in patients treated with methotraxate as compared to those patients who have received no treatment [P<0. 01]. On the other hand serum level of IL-8 didn't showed any significant differences between patients treated with methotraxate and those patients without treatment [P>0. 05]. These finding demonstrate that methotrexate turns out to be a good inhibitor for IL-alpha production. In addition, IL-1alpha and IL-8 may have a significant role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, and could be use as.

HLA class I and II genotyping by PCR-SSO in patients with type-1 diabetes mellitus

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a chronic autoimmune disease that involves destruction of the pancreatic beta cells. It is well known that both genetic and environmental factors involved in pathogenesis of type-1diabetes mellitus. This study seeks to determine whether there is any association between human leukocyte antigen class I and II alleles and type-1diabetes mellitus. Seventy type-1 diabetes mellitus patients compared to 30 apparently healthy individual were enrolled in this study. Human leukocyte antigens genotyping were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction sequence specific oligonucleotide technique. The present study revealed significantly high frequency of DQB1*0101 and DQB1*0201 alleles among patients in comparison with healthy control, while there was significantly low frequency of each HLA-A*3301, B*0826, DRB1*0701, *1101 and HLA-DQB1*0604 alleles in patients as compared to healthy controls. These findings indicate that higher frequency of HLA-DQB1*0101 and *0201 alleles may be a risk factor for type-1diabetes mellitus, meanwhile low frequency of HLA-A*3301, B*0826, DRB1*0701, *1101 and HLA-DQB1-*0604 alleles could be a protective factor

Possible association of HLA class-1 molecules with colorectal cancer in Iraqi patients

Genetic factors were found to play a crucial role in the development of colorectal cancer. This study was established to shed light on the possible association of HLA class-1 antigens and CRC patients, and to correlate the findings with both family history and tumor location.. Lymphocytotxicity assay has been used to assess HLA-typing of 150 blood samples of 100 CRC patients and 50 healthy normal controls in College of Dentistry/ University of Baghdad. Comparison between CRC patients and healthy controls showed several antigens, deviations in their frequencies. HLA-A2, A28 and B39 antigens were observed with increased frequencies in patient's group with significant differences [P< 0.008, 0.011 and 0.023 respectively; moreover, yet however statistical analysis showed non significant correlation of these specific HLA-Ags with both family history of CRC and tumor location. This finding demonstrated that HLA A2, A28 and B39 might play a role in CRC susceptibility