MICB gene expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells and susceptibility to multiple sclerosis in north of Iran

Multiple sclerosis [MS] is an autoimmune multifactorial degenerative disease with detrimental affliction on central nervous system. MHC class I chain- related geneA,B [MICA and MICB] are nonclassical human leukocyte antigens that can affect on some diseases and also on transplantation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the MICA and MICB MRNA expression in multiple sclerosis patients. In this study, we evaluated MICA and MICB MRNA expression in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells by reverse transcryptase-polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] in MS patients and normal controls. The results of this study showed that 32.6% of patients with progressive clinical outcome over expressed MICB genes in comparison with controls [p=0.002]. It is concluded that the high expression of MICB gene in MS patients is an important criterion of MS disease that it may be due to the interaction between MICB and its receptor on CD8+T or NK cells

[Epidmiologic study of multiple sclerosis in Mazandaran, Iran, 2007]

Despite edidemiologic similarity of multiple sclerosis worldwide, prevalence shows considerable variability. According to Kurtzke, Iran is considered to have a low prevalence. In this study, we wanted to estimate the prevalence period and Indicate Epidemiologic aspect of MS in Mazandaran Province, North of Iran. A cross- sectional registered case Study Conducted in 2007 on all definite MS Patients that live and reside within Mazandaran, as well az being a member of the Mazandaran MS Society. 582 difinite patients [161 men and 421 women] were identified. The patients were Viu interview and questionaire to record demographic and Case related information. According to the national Sensius Reports, the population of Mazandaran was 2,893,087. The mean [SD] age of the participants was 34.3 [9.4] years. The MS period pervalence was 20.1 per 100,000 [95% confidence interval[CI] 18.7-22.1]. The Female/male ration was 2.6 and MS rates were highest among 3[rd] decade. Visual and sensory distorbancec were the most common initial persontations with prevalence of 40.1% [95% CI: 38.5-42.9] and 34.2% [95% CI: 32.8 - 36.1], respictively. Mazandaran is in medium MS prevalence area. This is in clear contrast with background hypothesis, but other epidemiologic indices were almost pursuant with pervious information