Decreased serum levels of IL-27and IL-35 in patients with Graves disease

ABSTRACT Objectives Graves' disease (GD) is an autoimmune disease causing the overproduction of the thyroid hormone from thyroid gland. This disease is mainly the result of the production of antibodies against TSH receptors. Cytokines play an important role in orchestrating the pathophysiology in autoimmune thyroid disease. The regulatory role of IL-12 on TH1 cells has been proven. IL-27 and IL-35, members of IL-12 cytokine family, are two cytokines that have been newly discovered. IL-35 has been identified as a novel immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory cytokine while IL-27 has both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory functions. The objective of the current study was to examine the changes in the serum level of the foregoing cytokines in GD patients in comparison to healthy controls. Materials and methods In this study, serum levels of IL-27 and IL-35 were determined by an ELISA method; anti TPO and anti Tg were measured by an RIA method in 40 new cases of Graves's disease. The findings were compared with 40 healthy controls. Results The results showed a significant difference between IL-27 and IL-35 regarding their serum levels with P values of 0.0001 and 0.024, respectively; anti TPO and anti Tg levels of the cases were also significantly different from controls (p < 0.001). Conclusion The reduction in the serum levels of IL-27 and IL-35 in GD patients compared to normal subjects suggests the possible anti-inflammatory role of these cytokines in GD.

investigation of the growth inhibitory capacity of several medicinal plants from Iran on tumor cell lines

Background: Traditional herbal medicine is a valuable resource that provides new drugs for cancer treatment

Materials and Methods: We used the MTT colorimetric assay to evaluate the cytotoxic activities of the methanol extracts of these plants on various tumor cell lines. The IC50 was calculated as a scale for this evaluation

Results: Satureja bachtiarica, Satureja hortensis, Thymus vulgaris, Thymus daenensis and Mentha lonigfolia showed the inhibitoriest effects on Jurkat cells with > 80% inhibition at 200 microg/mL. Satureja hortensis [IC50: 66.7 microg/mL] was the most effective. These plants also strongly inhibited K562 cell growth; Satureja bachtiarica [IC50: 28.3 microg/mL], Satureja hortensis [IC50: 52 microg/mL] and Thymus vulgaris [IC50: 87 microg/mL] were the most effective extracts. Cichorium intybus, Rheum ribes, Alhagi pseudalhagi and Glycyrrihza glabra also showed notable effects on the leukemia cell lines. The Raji cell line was mostly inhibited by Satureja bachtiarica and Thymus vulgaris with approximately 40% inhibition at 200microg/ml. The influence of these extracts on solid tumor cell lines was not strong. Fen cells were mostly affected by Glycyrrihza glabra [IC50: 182 microg/mL] and HeLa cells by Satureja hortensis [31.6% growth inhibitory effect at 200 microg/mL]

Conclusions: Leukemic cell lines were more sensitive to the extracts than the solid tumor cell lines; Satureja hortensis, Satureja bachtiarica, Thymus vulgaris, Thymus daenensis and Mentha lonigfolia showed remarkable inhibitory potential

Islet amyloid polypeptide is not a target antigen for CD8+ T-cells in type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes [T2D] is a chronic metabolic disorder in which beta-cells are destroyed. The islet amyloid polypeptide [IAPP] produced by beta-cells has been reported to influence beta-cell destruction. To evaluate if IAPP can act as an autoantigen and therefore, to see if CD8+ T-cells specific for this protein might be present in T2D patients. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMC] were obtained from human leukocyte antigen [HLA]-A2+ T2D patients and non-diabetic healthy subjects. Cells were then screened for peptide recognition using ELISPOT assay for the presence of IFN-gamma producing CD8+ T-cells against two HLA Class I-restricted epitopes derived from IAPP [IAPP5-13 and IAPP9-17] and common viral antigenic minimal epitopes Flu MP 58-66, CMV495-503, EBV280-288 and HIV77-85 as controls. A total of 36.4% of patients and 56.2% of healthy subjects showed a response against IAPP5-13 peptide. No significant difference in response against this peptide was noted between the patients and the healthy donors. With respect to peptide IAPP9-17, although healthy subjects showed a higher mean number of spot forming cells than the patients, the difference was not significant; 36.4% of patients and 37.5% of controls responded to this peptide. The response of healthy subjects to the common viral peptides was stronger than that of the patients, though the result was not significant. It is unlikely that IAPP would be a target for CD8+ T-cells in diabetic patients; however, the trend observed toward a lower response of T2D patients against IAPP and common viral peptides may imply a decreased immune response in these patients

expression and prognostic impact of CD95 death receptor and CD20, CD34 and CD44 differentiation markers in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia

This study investigated the expression and prognostic significance of the CD95 death receptor and CD20, a B cell-lineage associated marker, along with CD34 and CD44 non-lineage associated molecules in Iranian children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL]. We performed immunophenotyping for expressions of the molecules in blood samples from children diagnosed with ALL by using a panel of monoclonal antibodies for flow cytometry analysis. The expression of markers was evaluated in relation to clinical and paraclinical features as well as response to treatment in the patients. CD95 showed a higher expression in T-ALL compared to B-ALL [P<0.001]. Analysis of the clinical and laboratory findings at diagnosis in the group of B-ALL patients revealed an association between CD95 expression with lower white blood cell [WBC] numbers and bone marrow blasts [P<0.05]. We detected a positive correlation between the expressions of CD95 and CD44 [r=0.445, P<0.01] in B-ALL patients. There was an association between CD20 expression and several poor prognostic factors that included increased extramedullary involvement [EMI] and decreased platelet numbers [P<0.008]. The mean expression of CD34 in B-ALL was higher than T-ALL [P=0.004]. At follow-up, complete remission duration [CRD] and survival duration did not significantly differ between patients who were positive or negative for each marker. Association of the studied molecules with several prognostic factors implies the significance of CD95 molecule as favorable and CD20 as unfavorable prognostic markers for childhood ALL

Anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of Tagetes minuta essential oil in activated macrophages

Objective:To investigate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Tagetes minuta (T. minuta) essential oil. Methods:In the present study T. minuta essential oil was obtained from leaves of T. minuta via hydro-distillation and then was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The anti-oxidant capacity of T. minuta essential oil was examined by measuring reactive oxygen, reactive nitrogen species and hydrogen peroxide scavenging. The anti-inflammatory activity of T. minuta essential oil was determined through measuring NADH oxidase, inducible nitric oxide synthase and TNF-αmRNA expression in lipopolysacharide-stimulated murine macrophages using real-time PCR. Results:Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis indicated that the main components in the T. minuta essential oil were dihydrotagetone (33.86%), E-ocimene (19.92%), tagetone (16.15%), cis-β-ocimene (7.94%), Z-ocimene (5.27%), limonene (3.1%) and epoxyocimene (2.03%). The T. minuta essential oil had the ability to scavenge all reactive oxygen/reactive nitrogen species radicals with IC50 12-15 μg/mL, which indicated a potent radical scavenging activity. In addition, T. minuta essential oil significantly reduced NADH oxidase, inducible nitric oxide synthaseand TNF-αmRNA expression in the cells at concentrations of 50 μg/mL, indicating a capacity of this product to potentially modulate/diminish immune responses. Conclusions:T. minuta essential oil has radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory activities and could potentially be used as a safe effective source of natural anti-oxidants in therapy against oxidative damage and stress associated with some inflammatory conditions.

Anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of Tagetes minuta essential oil in activated macrophages

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Tagetes minuta (T. minuta) essential oil.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In the present study T. minuta essential oil was obtained from leaves of T. minuta via hydro-distillation and then was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The anti-oxidant capacity of T. minuta essential oil was examined by measuring reactive oxygen, reactive nitrogen species and hydrogen peroxide scavenging. The anti-inflammatory activity of T. minuta essential oil was determined through measuring NADH oxidase, inducible nitric oxide synthase and TNF-α mRNA expression in lipopolysacharide-stimulated murine macrophages using real-time PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis indicated that the main components in the T. minuta essential oil were dihydrotagetone (33.86%), E-ocimene (19.92%), tagetone (16.15%), cis-β-ocimene (7.94%), Z-ocimene (5.27%), limonene (3.1%) and epoxyocimene (2.03%). The T. minuta essential oil had the ability to scavenge all reactive oxygen/reactive nitrogen species radicals with IC50 12-15 µg/mL, which indicated a potent radical scavenging activity. In addition, T. minuta essential oil significantly reduced NADH oxidase, inducible nitric oxide synthaseand TNF-α mRNA expression in the cells at concentrations of 50 µg/mL, indicating a capacity of this product to potentially modulate/diminish immune responses.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>T. minuta essential oil has radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory activities and could potentially be used as a safe effective source of natural anti-oxidants in therapy against oxidative damage and stress associated with some inflammatory conditions.</p>

Cloning, expression and characterization of recombinant human Fc receptor like 1, 2 and 4 molecules

The Fc receptor like [FCRL] molecules belong to the immunoglobulin [Ig] superfamily with potentially immunoregulatory function. Among the FCRL family FCRL2 and 4 are predominantly expressed on memory B cells and FCRL1 is a pan- B cell marker. To date, no ligand has been identified for the human FCRL1, 2 and 4 molecules. Cloning, expression, purification and structural analysis of the extracellular domain of human FCRL1, 2 and 4 proteins. In this study, the extracellular part of human FCRL1, 2 and 4 were subcloned into prokaryotic expression vectors pET-28b [+] and transformed into BL21-DE3 E.coli strain. Protein expression was optimized by fine adjustments such as induction time, incubation temperature and expression hosts. Recombinant FCRL proteins were purified by metal affinity chromatography using Ni-NTA resin. Purified FCRL proteins were further characterized by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting using His-tag and FCRL specific polyclonal antibodies. Our results demonstrated that FCRL1, 2 and 4 were successfully expressed in pET-28b [+] vector. Optimization of the expression procedure showed that IPTG induction at OD600 = 0.9 and overnight incubation at 37[degree]C resulted in the highest expression levels of FCRL proteins ranging from approximately 15% [FCRL1] to 25% [FCRL2 and 4] of the total bacterial lysate proteins. These purified recombinant proteins are potentially a valuable tool for investigating the immunoregulatory function of FCRL molecules and the production of specific mAbs for immunotherapeutic interventions.

Inhibition of nitric oxide production and proinflammatory cytokines by several medicinal plants

A number of medicinal plants have been used to treat various immunological diseases. Nitric oxide [NO] has an important regulatory role in the various types of inflammatory processes. To investigate the NO modulatory activity of the extracts of several medicinal plants native to Iran including Dracocephalum kotschyi, Linum persicum, Dionysia termeana, Salvia mirzayanii, Ferulago angulata and Euphorbia cheiradenia. The methanolic extracts of the plants were prepared and examined for their effects on the NO production by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mouse macrophages. The level of TNF- alpha and IL-1 beta proinflammatory cytokines in the macrophage culture were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All the extracts at concentration of 50 micro g/ml demonstrated a significant decrease in NO production [p<0.001] after a 24-hour treatment. This inhibitory effect was also seen after 48 hours. Among the extracts, L. persicum was the strongest extract in reducing the NO production at 1 micro g/ml after both 24 and 48-hours [nearly 100% inhibition, p<0.001]. S. mirzayanii extract with 66.2 +/- 8% inhibition at 50 micro g/ml, showed the mildest effects in 48 hour culture. In cytokine release determination, the extract of L. persicum significantly inhibited both TNF- alpha and IL-1 beta cytokines production by stimulated macrophages [p<0.001]. D. kotschyi, D. termeana and F. angulata decreased secretion of IL-1 beta from the cells. These results indicate the presence of anti-inflammatory and macrophage inhibitory substances in these plants

Immunoinhibitory effect of teuclatriol a guaiane sesquiterpene from salvia mirzayanii

Salvia mirzayanii, a native plant to Iran, is shown to have immunomodu-latory effects on lymphocyte proliferation. To identify the bioactive immu-nomodulatory compound [s] present in S. mirzayanii. The crude extract was fractionated to five fractions in two steps using different solvents. The fractions were subjected to bioassay-guided fractionation. All the fractions were tested for bioactivity on human activated-peripheral blood lymphocytes [PBLs] using cell proliferation assay. The methanol fraction [Fr. M] showed the highest inhibitory effect on PBLs compared to other fractions. Fr. M was applied on a gravity column chromatography for further fractionation. Resultant fractions, demonstrated inhibitory effects at higher concentrations. Fr. 4 with an 18.9 +/- 0.2% inhibitory activity at 200 microg/ml and with the highest quantity was applied on preparative TLC plates for further purification. The final purified compound was identified as teuclatriol, a guaiane sesquiterpene, by NMR analysis. This compound showed a significant anti-proliferative effect on human activated-peripheral blood lymphocytes [IC50, 72.8 +/- 5.4 microg/ml]. Teuclatriol was found to be one of the compounds responsible for the immuno inhibitory effect of Salvia mirzayanii. We suggest further studies on teuclatriol, exploring its mechanism of action as an immunomodulatory compound

influence of Bcl-2 and myeloid antigen expression on response to therapy in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

The possible prognostic significance of the expression of a variety of markers has been investigated in acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL]. In the present study we investigated the prognostic significance of CD13 and CD33 myeloid antigens [MY] aberrantly expressed on the blasts of ALL patients and Bcl-2 anti-apoptotic molecule expression in childhood ALL. Aberrant expression of MY occurred in 8.8% of cases. Variant levels of Bcl-2 were expressed in patients [44.2 +/- 25.5%], with more than 20% positivity for Bcl-2 in 64.7% of patients. Bcl-2[+] patients survived 959 +/- 242 days compared to 1059 + 230 days for Bcl-2 patients [P=0.2]. Corresponding data for complete remission duration was 682 +/- 170 and 716 +/- 173 days [P=0.3], respectively, indicating no significant association between survival and complete remission duration of patients with expression of the Bcl-2 molecule. Analysis of clinical response according to MY expression, however, showed significant association with survival and complete remission duration. MY[+] patients had shorter complete remission duration [383 +/- 58 days] and survival [473 +/- 68 days] than MY[-] patients [complete remission duration, 724 +/- 144 days; survival, 1045 +/- 186 days; P<0.001]. Expression of Bcl-2 along with MY was not associated with a significant decrease in survival or complete remission duration. Results of this study indicated that expression of MY was a poor prognostic factor in childhood ALL. Bcl-2 expression in MY[+] patients could not influence the response to therapy

Optimization of gene transfection in murine myeloma cell lines using different transfection reagents

Purification and isolation of cellular target proteins for monoclonal antibody [MAb] production is a difficult and time-consuming process. Immunization of mice with murine cell lines stably transfected with genes coding for xenogenic target molecules is an alternative method for mouse immunization and MAb production. Here we present data on transfection efficiency of some commercial reagents used for transfection of murine myeloma cell lines. Little is known about transfectability of murine myeloma cell lines by different transfection reagents. Mouse myeloma cell lines [SP[2]/O, NSO, NS1, Ag8, and P3U1] were transfected with pEGFP-N1 vector using Lipofectamine 2000, jetPEI and LyoVec commercial transfection reagents in different combinations. The transfection permissible HEK293-FT cell line was used as a control in transfection procedure. Transfected cells, expressing the Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein [EGFP], were analyzed by flow cytometry 48 hrs post transfection. Our results showed transfection efficiency of 71%, 57% and 22% for HEK293-FT, 5.5%, 3.4% and 1% for SP[2]/O, 55.7%, 21.1% and 9.3% for NSO, 8.2%, 6% and 5.5% for NS1, 22%, 49.2% and 5.5% for Ag8 and 6.3%, 21.5% and 4.6% for P3U1 cell lines after transfection with Lipofectamine 2000, jetPEI and LyoVec reagents, respectively. Our data indicate that NSO and Ag8 are efficiently transfected by Lipofectamine 2000 and jetPEI reagents. Finally, we propose Ag8 and NSO cell lines as suitable host cells for efficient expression of target genes which can be used for mouse immunization and MAb production

Medicinal plants as immunosuppressive agents in traditional Iranian medicine

Immunomodulation using medicinal plants provides an alternative to conventional chemotherapy for several diseases, when suppression of inflammation is desired. The "Canon of Medicine", the epochal work of Avicenna, the great Persian scientist of the middle ages, provides comprehensive information about medicinal plants which used to cure inflammatory illnesses in traditional Iranian medicine. Taking into consideration that the mechanisms of damage in these illnesses are mediated by immune responses, it is reasonable to assume that the plants used for such diseases may suppress the immune responses and the resultant inflammation. In Ian, because of great diversity of climate and geographical conditions, numerous varieties of plants grow and at least 1000 species are recorded as medicinal plants. Many of these plants such as Punica granatum, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Foeniculum vulgare and Polygonum species prescribed by ancient Iranian physicians have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. In recent literature, different species of native medicinal plants such as Stachys obtusicrena, Salvia mirzayanii, Echium amoenum, Dracocephalum kotschyi and Linum persicum have been shown to have appreciable anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects including inhibitory effects on lymphocyte activation, suppression of cellular and humoral immunity and induction of apoptosis. This review focuses on plants that are used in Iranian traditional medicine and have been reported to act as immunoinhibitory agents

Stimulatory effects of euphorbia cheiradenia on cell mediated immunity and humoral antibody synthesis

Studies have demonstrated that plant extracts possess various biological characteristics including immunomodulatory activity. Euphorbia cheiradenia Boiss et Hohen [Euphorbiaceae], a medicinal herb native to Iran was investigated for its immunomodulatory effects. The methanolic extract of the plant was prepared and added to mitogen-induced human peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures at different concentrations. Effect of E. cheiradenia on in vivo cell-mediated immunity was measured by delayed type hypersensitivity [DTH] reaction. The effect of the extract on humoral antibody synthesis was also measured in immunized mice treated with different extract concentrations. The stimulation index [SI] for cultures treated with 0.01 to 200 pg/mi of the extract ranged from 1.3 +/- 0.04 to 2.4 +/- 0.06, [p < 0.01] showing a significant stimulatory effect of E. cheiradenia on the lymphocytes. IL-2 secreted from lymphocytes treated with the extract was significantly higher than that from the non-treated cells [p < 0.001]. Cell cycle analysis on mitogen-treated lymphocytes exposed to different concentrations of the extract showed an increase in the percentage of cells at G2M phase with increases in the concentration of the extract, but the results was not significant. In DIII skin test, the mean footpad thickness of all mice groups treated with 1, 50 and 100 mg/kg of the extract at 24 hours after immunization with antigen was 3.5 +/- 0.6 mm compared to 2.5 +/- 0.5 ni.in for the non-treated group [p = 0.005]. Moreover, an increase in production of specific antibody in mice immunized with different extract concentrations was also demonstrated. Results of this study showed the ability of the E. cheiradenia extract to induce proliferation of lymphocytes and enhance both cellular and humoral specific immune responses

Haussknechtia elymatica: a plant with immunomodulatory effects

Plant extracts have been widely investigated for possible immunomodu-latory properties. To study the immunomodulatory functions of the methanol extract of Haussknechtia elymatica [Apioideae], an herb native to south-western Iran. Delayed type hypersensitivity [DTH] skin test and measurement of antibody titer after immunization with Sheep-RBC was performed. [[3]H]-thymidine incorporation assay on the human lymphocytes stimulated with PHA and determination of IL-2 production using ELISA method was carried out. Treatment of mice with increasing concentrations of the extract decreased the footpad thickness indicating a dose-related inhibitory effect of H. elymatica on delayed hypersensitivity. The mean antibody titers for all concentrations of the extract at primary and secondary responses were significantly less than the control. Addition of the extract to the culture of human peripheral blood lymphocytes in the presence of mitogen decreased cell proliferation dose-dependently. A dose related decrease in production of IL-2 in extract-treated cells was also observed. The decline of antibody titer and DTH response indicates that H. elymatica, by acting on the lymphocyte proliferation and IL-2 secretion, inhibits both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses

NOS2A gene polymorphism and its association with nitric oxide production in peripheral blood leukocytes of normal individuals

In peripheral blood polymorphnuclear and mononuclear cells Nitric Oxide [NO] could be synthesized by an enzyme called inducible NO synthase [iNOS]. iNOS gene [NOS2A] is located on chromosome 17 at position 17q11.2-q12. NO is released during inflammatory responses. In the present studies the frequency of NOS2A gene polymorphisms and their effects on NO production were investigated in the Peripheral Blood polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cells of normal individuals. In this study the frequency of NOS2A gene polymorphisms at positions -1659 C/T and +150 C/T of 232 normal subjects were investigated using PCR-Allele specific and PCR-RFLP methods, respectively. To study the effect of 1659C/T and +150C/T polymorphisms on NO production, polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cells of peripheral blood of 92 normal subjects were isolated and then stimulated by E.coli culture supernatants [ATCC 25922] for induction of iNOS enzyme and NO production. After 24h, the level of NO production in the culture supernatant were measured by Griess reaction. Polymorphisms as mentioned above were also studied in these normal cases. The results showed no significant difference in the level of NO production of various genotypes in the polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cells of peripheral blood of normal subjects. Our results indicated no significant correlation between NOS2A genotypes and NO production. No significant difference was observed between Gambia and China normal population and normal subjects of this study in NOS2A- 1659 C/T and +150 C/T polymorphisms. In Iran these differences are due to the genetic and ethnic differences among the studied populations, which indicates the importance of NOS2A polymorphism in the NO production, suggesting further studies in other ethnic groups

influence of perform expression on the sensitivity of lak/nk killing against various tumor target cells

Perforin is known to be important in cytolytic activity mediated by natural killer [NK] cells. To study the relationship between the efficiency of NK and lymphokine-activated killer [LAK] cells activity, and the expression of perforin and HLA class I molecules. LAK cells were generated by in vitro culturing of human peripheral blood lymphocytes [PBLs] in the presence of human recombinant interleukin-2 [rIL-2]. Cytotoxic activity was measured at different intervals of activation by MTT colorimetric assay using different human tumor cell lines. Immunocytochemical staining of molecules was performed on LAK/NK cells using specific monoclonal antibodies and Biotin-conjugated anti-immunoglobulin. LAK/NK killing against Fen and two other cell lines, KB and Scaber showed that at day 9 and 15 of activation, 57% to 60% and 45.5% to 92.5% of Fen cells were killed at different E/T ratios. At the same time, the maximum percent killing against Scaber and KB cell lines was 47.3 and 54.3 at 5/1 ratio, respectively, showing that Fen cells were more sensitive than the two other cells. Time-course experiments using Fen cell line demonstrated 60.0, 83.9 and 34.8 percent killing at days 9, 15 and 22 at 10/1 E/T ratios. When other E/T ratios were investigated, a similar profile was observed. The maximum activity was at day 15 and 5/1 E/T ratio [92.5%]. In immunocytochem-ical staining of activated LAK cells, 75.9% to 86.3% of LAK cells expressed HLA class I molecules. Perforin expression changed from 30.3% at day 7 to 42.7% at day 17 followed by a decrease to 27.9% at day 24. These data indicate that perforin expression is closely correlated with NK/LAK killing activity

p53 protein expression and its relation to the apoptotic index in prostate adenocarcinoma

Bakgorund: Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in males. Tumor suppressor gene p53 plays an important role in causing cell cycle arrest and allowing apoptosis to proceed

Objective: To investigate the expression of p53 protein and its relation to apoptosis and prostate cancer traditional prognostic indicators

Methods: In this study expression of p53 was examined in paraffin-embedded tissues from 50 cases of prostate carcinoma by immunohistochemistry and evaluated using an index of staining. Correlation between p53 expression and apoptosis was detected by TUNEL method. Pathological grade, Gleason score and stage of carcinoma were also determined

Results: P53 expression was observed in 48 of 50 cases [26-100% of tumor cells] with mean staining index of 141 +/- 65. A significant association between p53 expression and pathologic grade [r=0.37, p=0.004] and Gleason score [r= 0.4, p=0.009] of patients was observed. Apoptosis was detected in only 6 patients

Conclusions: p53 expression showed no correlation with apoptotic index. No correlation between p53 expression and stage or apoptosis and clinicopathological characteristics of patients was found. p53 expression showed a significant correlation with differentiation status of the prostate carcinoma and can be helpful as a prognostic marker. Decreased level of apoptosis observed in our cases was not correlated with p53 expression indicating the possible role of other regulatory molecules involved in the apoptosis