ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate whether tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) -238G/A and -308G/A polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in the Lur ethnic population of Iran. Methods: TNF polymorphisms genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method in 100 pulmonary TB patients and 100 healthy controls from the Lur population. Results: The allelic and genotypic frequencies of TNFα -238G/A polymorphism were not significantly different between the pulmonary TB patients and the healthy controls. However, the TNFα -308G/A polymorphism showed a significantly higher frequency of genotype GG in TB subjects compared to healthy controls (94% in the patients vs. 62% in the controls, P = 0.000. 1, odds ratio = 0.104, confidence interval = 0.028-0.382). Moreover, in the TNFα -308G/A polymorphism, a significantly higher frequency of G allele was measured in the patient group compared with the control group (97% in the patient group vs. 81% in the control group, P = 0.000. 1, odds ratio = 0.132, confidence interval = 0.038-0.462). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that TNFα -308G/A polymorphism may increase the susceptibility to pulmonary TB in the Lur population of Iran. Despite TNFα polymorphisms and susceptibility to pulmonary TB, we suggest that more studies with larger sample size are needed in the future. Increasing our understanding of susceptibility risk factors may help to improve current preventive measures and treatment for TB.
ABSTRACT
Natural killer [NK] cells are the effector cells of innate immunity that respond to infection and tumor. Interactions between killer cell immunoglobulin like receptors [KIR] and human leukocyte antigen [HLA] class I molecules regulate NK cells responses to eliminate infected and transformed cells. To investigate the impact of KIR genes, HLA ligand genes, and KIR-HLA combinations on susceptibility to tuberculosis [TB] in Lur population of Iran. The genomic DNA of 50 patients with TB from Lorestan province of Iran was genotyped for sixteen KIR genes and their five major HLA class I ligands were determined by a polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific primers [PCR-SSP] assay. The results were compared with those of 200 healthy unrelated Iranian individuals. In Lur population of Iran, a significant decrease in frequency of KIR3DS1 was found in TB patients compared to control group [24% vs. 44.5%, OR=0.394, CI=0.194-0.798, p=0.013]. Also, among the three activating genes that may use HLA class I molecules as their ligands, a significant decrease was shown in frequency of KIR3DS1 with HLA-B Bw4[Ile80] ligand in TB patients compared to control group [4% vs. 23%, OR=0.14, CI=0.033-0.596, p=0.004]. These findings imply a genetic imbalance between activating and inhibitory KIR genes and KIR-HLA combinations in Lur TB patients. Low level of activating KIR3DS1 and its combination with HLA-B Bw4[Ile80] ligand might have an influence on the susceptibility to TB in Lur population of Iran
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Receptors, KIR , Receptors, KIR3DS1 , HLA-B Antigens , Disease Susceptibility , HLA Antigens , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Genotype , Killer Cells, NaturalABSTRACT
Treatment of hydatid disease is mainly surgical, with medical treatment being reserved as a coadjuvant treatment. Use of effective scolicidal agents during surgery of cystic echinococcosis is essential to reduce the recurrence rate. The goal of this study was to evaluate the in vitro scolicidal effects of hydroalcoholic extracts of Satureja khuzestanica leaves and aqueous extracts of Olea europaea leaves on hydatid cyst protoscolices. Echinococcus granulosus protoscolices were collected from the liver of sheep infected with the hydatid cyst. Various concentrations of plant extracts were used in different exposure times for viability assay of protoscolices. Among the olive leaf extracts tested, 0.1% and 0.01% concentrations had strong scolicidal effects in 120 min. S. khuzestanica 0.1% had very strong scolicidal effects in 30, 60, and 120 min of exposure times and the mortality rate decreased with the lower concentration. The finding have shown that the scolicidal activity of S. khuzestanica against cystic echinococosis protoscolices were more effective, while the O. europaea extract showed less effects.