Induction effects of bacteroides fragilis derived outer membrane vesicles on toll like receptor 2, toll like receptor 4 genes expression and cytokines concentration in human intestinal epithelial cells

Objective: Gastrointestinal [GI] tract, like other mucosal surface, is colonized with a microbial population known as gut microbiota. Outer membrane vesicles [OMVs] which are produced by gram negative bacteria could be sensed by Toll like receptors [TLRs]. The interaction between gut microbiota and TLRs affects homeostasis and immune responses. In this study, we evaluated TLR2, TLR4 genes expression and cytokines concentration in Caco-2 cell line treated with Bacteroides fragilis [B. fragilis] and its OMVs

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, OMVs were extracted using sequential centrifugation and their physicochemical properties were evaluated as part of quality control assessment. Caco-2 cells were treated with B. fragilis and its OMVs [180 and 350 microg/ml]. Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction [qRT-PCR] was performed to assess TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA expression levels. Pro-inflammatory [IFN?] and anti-inflammatory [IL- 4 and IL-10] cytokines were evaluated by ELISA

Results: B. fragilis significantly decreased TLR2 and slightly increased TLR4 mRNA levels in Caco-2 cell line. The TLR2 mRNA level was slightly increased at 180 and 350 microg/ml of OMVs. Conversely, the TLR4 mRNA level was decreased at 180 microg/ml of OMVs, while it was significantly increased at 350 microg/ml of OMVs. Furthermore, B. fragilis and its OMVs significantly increased and decreased IFN? concentration, respectively. Anti-inflammatory cytokines were increased by B. fragilis and its OMVs

Conclusion: B. fragilis and its OMVs have pivotal role in the cross talk between gut microbiota and the host especially in the modulation of the immune system. Based on the last studies on immunomodulatory effect of B. fragilis derived OMVs on immune cells and our results, we postulate that B. fragilis derived OMVs could be possible candidates for the reduction of immune responses

[Evaluation of serum angiotensin converting enzyme [ACE] activity in type 1 Gaucher's patient and its relationship to ACE gene insertion/deletion in intron 16]

Background: Gaucher's disease is an autosomal recessive disease which is the result of mutations in the P glucocerebrosidase gene. The aim of this study was to evaluate activity level of ACE enzyme Iranian patients with Gaucher's disease type I, and also polymorphism I/D in intron 16 of ACE gene, as a marker in diagnosis and monitoring of disease

Materials and methods: The experiments were performed on 29 patients [mean age of 10.04 years] and 60 healthy subjects [mean age of 7.31 years]. Procedures included DNA extraction from blood, detection of polymorphism I/D by PCR and evaluation of activity level of ACE enzyme

Results: The mean of ACE activity was 231.07 U/L which was increased 4 times than normal status [56.03 U/L]. Evaluation of polymorphism I/D of the 29 patients showed t6 [20.7%] II, 9 [31%] DD and 14[48.3%]ID[p<0.05]

Conclusion: According to the results, the measurement of the ACE activity levels can be used as cofactors in diagnosis and as well as an important factor in the monitoring of treatment. Polymorphism I/D with respect to the role of the ACE activity can be effective in increasing the specificity of the experiments

Effects of treatment with platinum azidothymidine and azidothymidine on telomerase activity and Bcl-2 concentration in hepatocellular carcinoma- induced rats

Telomerase activity increases in cancer cells. Bcl-2 is an antiapoptotic factor that its concentration grows in many cancer cells including hepatocellular carcinoma cells. In this study, an attempt was made to investigate the effects of a new synthetic compound, platinum azidothymidine [Pt-AZT] on treatment of rats with Hepatocellular Carcinoma [HCC] and to compare its effects with azidothymidine [AZT] in alteration of telomerase activity and Bcl-2 concentration in HCC. Healthy adult male Wistar rats [n=100] were randomly divided into 4 groups [A, B, C, and D]. Group A contained 25 healthy rats and was considered as the control group. Liver preneoplastic lesions were induced in remaining animals [n=75] using Solt-Farber resistant hepatocyte protocol. These animals were randomly allocated in groups B, C and D. Group B was negative control [untreated], groups C and D were treated by intraperitoneal injection [IP] of Pt-AZT [0.9 mg/kg/day] and AZT [0.3 mg/kg/day], respectively for 14 days. After the treatment period, telomerase activity and Bcl-2 concentration were determined in the rats' liver. No HCC was developed in group A, but tumors were present in all other groups. Telomerase activity and Bcl-2 concentration were significantly lower in group C compared to groups B [0.159 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.577 +/- 0.116 IU/L, p<0.001, respectively and 0.931 +/- 0.388 vs. 3.94 +/- 0.74 ng/ml, p<0.001, respectively]. Similar results were observed in comparison with group D [0.331 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.577 +/- 0.116 IU/L, p<0.001, respectively and 0.931 +/- 0.388 vs. 2.94 +/- 0.594 ng/ml, respectively]. There was a significant negative correlation between telomerase activity and Bcl-2 concentration only in untreated cancer group [p=0.034]. In this study, higher anticancer activity of Pt-AZT in comparison to AZT was demonstrated. It effectively inhibits the growth of liver tumor in rats through extending apoptosis

Multilineage differentiation activity by the human umbilical vein-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cells [MSC] are a very promising transplantable stem cell source for a variety of cell replacement therapies. As the main source of MSC is bone marrow [BM], most of studies have been done on BM-derived MSC [BM-MSC]. Umbilical cord [UC]-derived MSC [UC-MSC] which are recently introduced, is one of the good alternative source for these cells. The objective of this study was to isolate and characterize UC-MSC from human UC veins and studying of their potential to differentiate into various cell types such as fat, bone, cartilage and neuronal cells. In this way, a cell population was isolated from 20 UC veins using a solution of 0.1% collagenase type IV. After identification of isolated cells by immunocytochemical and flow cytometry methods, these cells were exposured with adipogenic, osteogenic, chondrogenic and neurogenic agents. Resulted differentiated cells were detected using specific staining for each lineage and room temperature [RT]-PCR. Immunophenotypically, this cell population was positive for CD73, CD 166, CD 105 markers and alpha-smooth muscle actin and negative for CD31, CD34, CD49d markers, von Willebrand factor and smooth muscle myosin. Exposure of these cells to adipogenic, osteogenic, chondrogenic and neurogenic agents resulted in morphological changes followed by lineage-specific staining for each differentiated cell type. RT-PCR analysis showed that these differentiated cells express fat, bone, cartilage and neuronal markers, respectively. Altogether, these findings indicate that UC-MSC possess morphological, immunophenotypical and cell differentiation capacities similar to BM-MSC and so they can be used more extensively in cell based therapy protocols and in vitro differentiation study models

Isolation, culture and characterization of postnatal human umbilical vein-derived mesenchymal stem cells

On the basis of reports that mesenchymal stem cells [MSCs] can be isolated from the placenta/umbilical cord stroma, the present study was undertaken to isolate and characterize MSCs from the human umbilical cord veins. In this investigation, a cell population was isolated which was derived from the endothelium/subendothelium layers of 20 umbilical cord veins obtained from term deliveries using a solution of 0.1% collagenase type IV. Results suggest that these cells possess morphological, immunophenotypical and cell differentiation capacities similar to the bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells [MSCs]. The isolated cell population has fibroblastoid morphology which upon proper stimulation gives rise to adipocytes, osteocytes and chondrocytes in culture. Immunophenotypically, this cell population is positive for CD54, CD29, CD73, CD49e, CD166, CD105, CD13, and CD44 markers and alpha-smooth muscle actin and negative for CD31, CD45, CD49d, and CD34 markers, von Willebrand factor [vWF] and smooth muscle myosin [MySM]. Altogether, these findings indicate that umbilical cord obtained from term deliveries is an important source of MSCs which could have an important application in cell therapy protocols

[Hb Dhonburi [Neapolis] [beta126[H4] Val-Gly] identified in a family from northern Iran]

Thalassemias are the most common hereditary disease in Iran, resulting from defects in synthesis of one or more hemoglobin [Hb] subunits. The majority of patients suffer from beta-thalassemia [thal], but cases with microcytic hypochromic anemia and normal electrophoretic patterns are suspected to have alpha or silent beta-thalassemia. A family from the northern part of Iran, an area where thalassemias, are highly prevalent was referred to us for prenatal diagnosis. The hematological data of the father indicated a pattern of beta-thal minor. Reverse hybridization analysis for the most common beta-globin mutations identified IVS-II-1 [G-A] in the heterozygous state. The maternal laboratory data indicated a case more compatible with alpha-thal. Iron deficient anemia was ruled out, and common alpha-thal point mutations and deletions were investigated. As no mutation was detected, globin chain synthesis was performed and showed an alpha/beta chain ratio of 2.1, that was in the range of beta-thal minor. DNA sequencing of the entire beta-globin gene identified a heterozygous GTG-GGG [Val-Gly] mutation at codon 126, also known as Hb Dhonburi [Neapolis]. Prenatal diagnosis of the fetal DNA showed the absence of the IVS-II-1 and codon 126 anomalies. This result demonstrates the importance of screening of individuals with mild microcytic hypochromic anemia for both alpha- and silent beta-thal mutations