[ effect of blood storage on apoptosis induction of Jurkat cells: an in vitro model]

It is a firm belief that blood transfusion is life-saving in many situations, but at the same time transfusion complications could be life-threatening. The possible effects of blood Transfusion Related Immunomodulatory [TRIM] and its related mechanisms is one of the important debatable subjects in the field of blood transfusion medicine. One of the mechanisms through which transfusion can induced TRIM effects in recipient is apoptosis induction. Aim of this study was to investigate the apoptotic effects of stored blood in an in vitro model. To evaluate the apoptotic effects of blood storage, we studied the effect of the plasma [from whole blood] during storage on days 3, 10, 21 and 35 on Jurkat cells, which are sensitive to apoptosis .The plasma of whole blood was separated by centrifugation on different days. Then, Jurkat cells were cultured with plasma for 24 hours. Finally apoptosis level was studied by using flowcytometry for analyzing Annexin V on Jurkat cells [by SeroTec Annexin V:FITC Assay Kit]. The percentages of apoptosis on days 3, 10, 21 and 35 were 3.85 +/- 1.52, 5.27 +/- 2.12, 8.44 +/- 1.90, 12.01 +/- 2.32, respectively. The percentages of apoptotic cells in negative and positive control group was 3.85 +/- 1.94 and 65.80 +/- 2.28, respectively. The results of this study showed that plasma of whole blood have the apoptotic effects which enhanced during the storage of plasma. This in vitro model is also suitable for studying other TRIM related mechanisms

Purified aged garlic extract modulates allergic airway inflammation in Balb/c Mice

Garlic is known as a potent spice and a medicinal herb with broad therapeutic properties ranging from antibacterial to anticancer and anticoagulant. Our previous studies have shown some immunoregulatory effects for aged garlic extract, suggesting a key role for 14-kD glycoprotein of garlic in shifting the cytokine pattern to T helper-1. In present study, we investigated the effect of 1, 2, and 3 times intraperitoneal injections of aged garlic extract on an established allergic airway inflammation in murine model [BALB/c mice]. The garlic extract, isolated by biochemical method, includes proteins precipitation by ammonium sulfate. After injection of the aged garlic extract, IFN-gamma, anti allergen specific IgE and IgG1 were measured in lavage and serum by ELISA and histological assessment was performed on the lung tissues. The results indicated that three-time intra peritoneal injections of the aged garlic extract caused a significant decrease in the hallmark criteria of allergic airway inflammation levels which included eosinophil percentage in lavage, peribronchial lung eosinophils, IgG1 level in lavage and serum, mucous producing goblet cells grade and peribronchial and perivascular inflammation. Our findings in the present research suggested that aged garlic extract has the potential of attenuation of inflammatory features of allergic airway inflammation in murine model

Low magnesium concentration in erythrocytes of children with acute asthma

Magnesium [Mg] is the second most abundant intracellular cation and is involved in numerous physiological functions, including protein folding, intracellular signaling and enzyme catalysis. It has been shown that magnesium deficiency exacerbates pulmonary airways hyperreactivity. Several studies suggest that magnesium level has no effect on asthma but others had shown a contributory effect. Because of its intracellular abundance, the aim of this study was to determine if there was any difference in plasma and intracellular Mg concentrations of children with acute asthma compared to non asthmatic children. Twenty nine patients with acute asthma aged 2 to 11 years admitted to the emergency department of hospital and 37 non asthmatic children with the same age were included in our study. O.5 mL of heparinized whole blood samples of patients who were meeting inclusion criteria at the onset of admission with bronchoconstriction and before using any medication was drawn and it was immediately sent to the laboratory. Plasma and erthrocytes were separated and stored at -20C and later their Mg levels were quantified with atomic absorption spectrophotometry method. The average plasma and intracellular magnesium levels in patients were [0.79 +/- 0.098 mmol/L] and [1.17 +/- 0.27 mmol/ L] respectively. Results of 37 non asthmatic persons [plasma [0.85 +/- 0.1 mmol/L] and erythrocytes [1.33 +/- 0.21 mmol/ L]] showed that there was no significant difference between plasma Mg levels in two groups [p 0.06] but intracellular magnesium level was significantly lower [p 0.03] in patients group. These results indicate that intracellular Mg level may be a more accurate method to assess Mg level in patients with asthma. Hence, determination of Mg concentration in erythrocytes may be used in evaluation of asthma pathophysiology. There are recommendations for using intravenous Mg sulfate in acute asthma, and this study supports the rational for using it in emergency departments for acute severe asthma