ABSTRACT
Objective: Semaphorin-3A [SEMA3A] and its receptors are found on some immune cells and act as suppressors of immune cells over-activation. Considering the role of SEMA3A and its down-regulation in some autoimmune diseases, as well as our bioinformatics predictions, we assumed that miR-145-5p might affect SEMA3A expression. So, we aimed to determine the effect of miR-145-5p on SEMA3A gene expression level
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, we evaluated the effect of miR-145-5p transfection on SEMA3A expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMCs] using ELISA and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction [PCR] methods
Results: Our results showed that miR-145-5p is able to decrease SEMA3A expression at both protein and mRNA levels. These data confirmed our previous bioinformatic prediction about the inhibitory effect of miR-145-5p on SEMA3A expression
Conclusion: These results enlightened us about an unknown aspect of SEMA3A role in some autoimmune disorders like multiple sclerosis [MS] and rheumatoid arthritis [RA] and also proposed SEMA3A as a potential therapeutic approach
ABSTRACT
Objective: Inflammation of the immune system and the central nervous system has been known as an important predisposing factor for Parkinson's disease [PD]. Increased expression of OX40 protein [CD134] is a known factor for increased inflammation and initiation of NF-kappa-B signaling pathway in different diseases. We aimed to investigate the expression of OX40 at the transcript and serum protein levels
Materials and Methods: Twenty individuals with PD and 20 healthy individuals, as controls, were enrolled in this casecontrol study. Expression of OX40 at the transcript level and serum protein levels were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction [qRT-PCR] and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays respectively
Results: The mean expression level of OX40 was increased in patients but not at a significant level [P>0.05]. Consistently, the mean serum concentration of OX40 showed a mild, but non-significant, increase in the patients [P>0.05]
Conclusion: We conclude that OX40 expression at either the transcript or protein level has no diagnostic utility in asymptomatic PD. This shows the need for clinical, cellular and interventional research to detect new robust biomarkers