ABSTRACT
Background: One of the most significant problems in the treatment of leukemia is the expansion of resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. Therefore, assessing the drug resistance and especially the drug resistance genes of leukemic cells is important in any treatment. The impact of Mesenchymal Stem Cells [MSCs] and hypoxic condition have been observed in the biological performance of majority of leukemic cells
Methods: MOLT-4 cells were co-cultured with MSCs in the hypoxic condition induced by Cobalt Chloride [CoCl2] for 6 and 24 hr. Then, apoptosis of cells was analyzed using annexin-V/PI staining and expression of the drug resistance genes including MDR1, MRP, and BCRP along with apoptotic and anti-apoptotic genes, including BAX and BCL2, was evaluated by real-time PCR
Results: The hypoxic condition for MOLT-4 cells co-cultured with MSCs could significantly increase the expression of MDR1 and BCRP genes [p<0.05] which are involved in drug resistance. Also, the results indicated that this condition significantly increases the expression of BCL2 [p<0.05] and reduces the apoptosis in MOLT- 4 cells co-cultured with MSCs in the hypoxic condition
Conclusions: These effects can demonstrate the important role of hypoxia and MSCs on the biological behavior of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia [ALL] cells that may lead to particular treatment outcomes
ABSTRACT
Background: major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by a pervasive and persistent low mood that is accompanied by low self-esteem and loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities. Depression is associated with multiple immunological disorders. Aim of the present study was to determine correlation between percentage of circulating NK cells and major depressive disorder
Materials and Methods: patients older than 18 years with the desire to participate were enrolled in this study. For depression evaluation, we used the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and for determination of percentage of NK cells in peripheral blood, flow cytometry method was used
Results: our results showed that in patients with major depressive disorder, numbers of circulating NK cells have significantly reduced
Conclusion: according to our findings, depression is associated with "immune suppression". NK cells are important in early phase of immunological surveillance versus viral infections and tumors. Indeed, depressive patients are susceptible to cancers and infections