role of IL-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis [RA] is a common chronic inflammatory and destructive arthropathy that cannot be cured.Interlukin-1 [IL-1], IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor [TNF- alpha] are the key cytokines that drive inflammation in the disease. The study was established to shed light on the possible role of IL-1 and TNF- alpha in pathogenesis of RA. Rheumatoid Factors [RF], TNF- alpha and IL-1 were detected by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELISA] .C-reactive protein[CRP] on the other hand has been detected by using latex agglutination kit in the serum of 50 Iraqi patients with RA in comparison with 50 healthy individuals. Significant high levels of IL-l and TNF- alpha were observed in RA patients sera with P-value [0.04 and 0.001] respectively compared to healthy control group, in addition a positive linear association was found between the concentration of IL-1 and TNF- a and CRP with P-value [0.05 and 0.001] respectively. IL-land TNF- alpha play a role in pathogenesis of RA

chlamydia pneumonia an independent risk factor in ischemic heart disease?

Immune system may interplay between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and ischemic heart disease [IHD].Major histocompatibility genes regulate innate and adaptive immunity. This study was established to shed light on the possible association between ischemic heart disease [IHD] with Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and HLA antigens. Microlymphocytotoxicity assay has been applied for HLA-typing of 150 blood samples of 100 IHD patients and 50 healthy normal controls, In addition enzyme linked immunosorbant assay [ELISA] used to detedct C pnuminiae IgA and IgG. An increased frequency of HLA-A2, B35 alleland HLA-A2-B*35 haplotype was observed for patients group versus control group with P-value [0.0001, 0.05, and 0.001] respectively. This finding demonstrated that the HLA-B35 positive haplotypes confer the C.pneumoniae-related risk for IHD. HLA-DR3,DR4 and DR7 might play a role in AIH susceptibility

Inflammatory markers [interleukin-6 and C- reactive proteins] in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and positive family history of ischemic heart disease

Patients with family history of type-2 diabetes and ischemic heart disease [IHD] have an increased risk of developing these diseases in the future. It's currently believed that inflammatory mediators such as Interleukin-6 [IL-6] and C-reactive protein [CRP] play an important role in the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders. This study was conducted to assess the parameters of chronic inflammation in patients with newly diagnosed diabetes and positive family history of ischemic heart disease. The present study included 48 Iraqi patients with a diagnosis of diabetes established since 2003 using the 1999 WHO criteria, 20"of these patients had a family history of ischemic heart disease. The mean age of study participants was 49.4 +/- 10.2 years [ranging from 20 - 68]. Enzyme linked immunosorbant assay [ELISA] used to detect IL-6 and CRP,. while blood sugar and lipid profile were detected using commercially available kits which provided by [BioRad]. It was found that patients with a positive family history of IHD the concentration of IL 6 and CRP were found to be higher while HDL were found to be lower when compared with type 2 diabetic subjects with a negative family history for IHD. This finding demo nstrated that patients with newly diagnosed diabetes and a family history of IHD have increased risk of macroangiopathic complications related to the elevated concentrations of inflammatory markers

comparison of the prevalence of anti-liver/kidney microsome antibody type-1[LKM-1] in individuals with chronic hepatitis C and those with autoimmune hepatitis

Autoantibodies are frequently found in patients with chronic hepatitis C, which suggests that HCV elicit an immune response in the host]. The relationship of type-2 AIH to chronic hepatitis C [HCV] is an interesting and as yet unresolved problem. Importantly, antibodies to liver/kidney microsome type- I [LKMI], the serologic marker of type 2-AIH, have been recognized in serum of some patients with chronic hepatitis C. Anti-liver kidney microsome type 1 [LKM-1] autoantibodies were studied by indirect immuno florescence assay [lIF] and confirmed by immunoblot in the serum of 73 Iraqi patients with autoimmune hepatitis [AIH] in comparison with 50 patients control [HCV infection] and 50 healthy individuals. anti-LKZM 1 with high titers [>/= 1/160] present in serum of al/patients with AIH-2, whereas they present in titer [

C3 and C4 complement components in autoimmune hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis [AIH] is an unresolving inflammation of the liver of unknown cause associated with interface hepatitis on histological examination, hypergammaglobulinemia and presence of circulating autoantibodies. Antibody-mediated tissue injury might be responsible for tissue injury in AIH therefore; a number of studies have been focused on the complement system in these patients. The aim of the study is to estimate the level of complement [C3 and C4] in different types of Autoimmune hepatitis [AIH]. The study was performed on 73 Iraqi patients with autoimmune hepatitis [AIH], attending the teaching hospital for gastroenterology and liver disease in a period between November 2003 and July 2004: Anti- soluble liver ANA, SMA.LKM-1, and LC-1 Abs were detected using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELISA] technique. Anti-SLA/LP was detected using the Euroline method. Quantitation of serum C3 and C4 of the study groups were carried by single radial immudiffusion [SRID] test. Equal volume. Significant differences was observed between AIH patients and healthy control group in the mean level of C3 and C4. In addition, level of C4 in the sera of patients with type 2 was lower than those of type 1 and 3. It was concluded that patients with AIH do not have abnormal catabolism of complement or increased level of cleavage products of C3, whereas, the depression of complement level may reflect decreased hepatic synthesis

Brucellosis as trigger for autoimmune hepatitis in susceptible individual

Autoimmune hepatitis [AIH] is a rare chronic liver disease of unknown etiology, characterized by hypergammaglobulinemia, characteristic autoantibodies, and a favorable response to immunosuppressive treatment. Strong circumstantial evidences denoted that there is quite long list of environmental factors such as [food additives and drugs], viruses and toxins which play an important role in precipitating this disease. Brucellosis is endemic in Iraq. It may involve any organ in the body. Liver is frequently involved. Doxycycline used for treatment occasionally may lead to hepatotoxicity. The aim of the study is to show the relationship between brucellosis, AIH, and hepatotoxicity of doxycycline. The study was performed on 2 Iraqi patients with brucellosis, attending the teaching hospital for gastroenterology and liver disease in the period between November 2003 and July 2004. Brucella were studied by Rose Bengal test and confirmed by indirect immuno florescence assay [IIF]. Anti-SLA/LP Abs was detected in 2 patients with brucellosis. Brucellosis or doxycycline is a trigger of AIH

Brucellosis as trigger for autoimmune hepatitis in susceptible individual

Autoimmune hepatitis [AIH] is a rare chronic liver disease of unknown etiology, characterized by hypergammaglobulinemia, characteristic autoantibodies, and a favorable response to immunosuppressive treatment. Strong circumstantial evidences denoted that there is quite long list of environmental factors such as [food additives and drugs], viruses and toxins which play an important role in precipitating this disease. Brucellosis is endemic in Iraq. It may involve any organ in the body. Liver is frequently involved. Doxycycline used for treatment occasionally may lead to hepatotoxicity. The aim of the study is to show the relationship between brucellosis, AIH, and hepatotoxicity of doxycycline. The study was performed on 2 Iraqi patients with brucellosis, attending the teaching hospital for gastroenterology and liver disease in the period between November 2003 and July 2004. Brucella were studied by Rose Bengal test and confirmed by indirect immuno florescence assay [IIF]. Anti-SLA/LP Abs was detected in 2 patients with brucellosis. Brucellosis or doxycycline is a trigger of AIH

Autoimmune hepatitis:- another specific immune marker

Autoantibodies that target a soluble liver antigen/liver pancreas [SLA/LP] autoantibodies exhibit a high specificity for autoimmune hepatitis [AIM] and they characterize a third subgroup of AIM. These autoantibodies directed against a 50 KD cytosolic protein identified as UGA suppressor serine tRNA-protein complex. The aim of the study is to know the prevalence and clinical relevance of anti-SLA/LP autoantibodies in AIH. The study was performed on 73 Iraqi patients with autoimmune hepatitis [AIM], attending the teaching hospital for gastroenterology and liver disease in the period between November 2003 and July 2004. The Anti- soluble liver antigen/liver pancreas autoantibodies [SLA/LP] was studied by Euroline method. Anti-SLA/LP was detected in 8 patients [11%] with AIH, with negative finding for antinuclear and liver/kidney microsomal antibodies, marker of two types of AIH, but never in the sera of control groups. The presence of anti-SLA/LP autoantibodies identified additional patients with AIH previously thought to suffer from cryptogenic hepatitis. Since, it was exclusively detected in AIH, this makesg it a diagnostic test for direct clinical relevance

Role of liver/kidney microsomal antibody type 1 with type 2- autoimmune hepatitis

Anti-LKM I typically occurs in the absence of SMA and ANA and is the serologic marker of type 2 AIM. The 50 KD antigen of LKM-1 autoantibodies was identified as cytochrome P450 2D6[CYP 2D6]. The aim of the study is to know the prevalence and clinical relevance of anti-LKMl autoantibody in AIH Anti-liver kidney microsome type 1 [LKM-1] autoantibodies were studied by indirect immuno florescence assay [IIF] and confirmed by immunoblot in the serum of 73 Iraqi patients with autoimmune hepatitis [AIH] in comparison with 20 patients control [HBV infection] and 20 healthy individuals. Anti-LKMl autoantibodies were present in sera of sixteen patients [22%] with AIH and never in the sera of patients or healthy controls. It was concluded the anti-LKM 1 autoantibodies characterize patients with sever form of the autoimmune disease, poor prognosis and rapid progression to cirrhosis