[The study of peripheral blood mononuclear cells activity of women with polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] by co-culture with breast cancer cell lines compared with the healthy controls]

Introduction: polycystic ovary Syndrome [PCOS] is one of the most prevalent endocrinology disorders in women, in whom the state of systemic inflammatory cytokines, especially TNF-alpha is the main reason for immunological disturbances. Some PCOS manifestations such as infertility, hyperandrogenism, obesity and chronic inflammation are considered as risk factors for breast cancer. The risk of developing breast cancer in women with PCOS is being investigated in some epidemiological studies. In this research, the ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMCs] of women with PCOS to develop antitumor response was studied and evaluated using an experimental co-culture approach between PBMCs and breast tumor cell lines

Materials and Methods: PBMCs were isolated from 50 heparinized venous blood samples [patient and healthy groups] by density gradient centrifugation byficoll. Breast cancer cell lines [MDA-MB-468 and MCF-7] were incubated as two target cells and were cultured adjacent to PBMCs in a transwell co-culture system. At different time intervals [48 and 72 hours] after co-culture, the proliferation rate of the effectors cells was evaluated by the BrdU cell proliferation assay. Determination of T CD3+CD8+ lymphocytes was determined by flow cytometry

Results: the proliferation of PBMCs after 48 hours of co-culture with MDA-468 [P=0.002] and MCF-7 [P=0.021] was significantly higher in the PCOS group compared to healthy controls. No pronounced differences were observed in T CD3+CD8+ cell numbers between the PCOS group and healthy controls [P>0.05] although T CD3+CD8+ percentage increased after 72 hours of co-culture in most samples. There was no statistically significant difference between MDA-468 and MCF-7 co-cultures in any of the tests

Conclusion: the stimulation threshold for mononuclear cells was reduced in women with PCOS. Differences between proliferation responses of PCOS and control groups may be caused by a chronic inflammatory condition in these patients

[ study of cell proliferation, TNF-alpha cytokine production and expression of CD8 marker in peripheral blood lymphocytes of women with polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] by co-culture with ovarian tumor cell lines [SKOV3, A2780]]

Introduction: Polycystic ovarian syndrome [PCOS] is a proinflammatory state that underpins the development of metabolic aberration and ovarian dysfunction in the disorder. Chronic inflammation and increased levels of androgens in these patients and their impact on the immune system, may be able to disrupt antitumor activity and thus increase the risk of developing malignancies including ovarian cancer

Materials and Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 50 patients with PCOS and healthy controls were purified by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation. We then measured cell proliferation and concentrations of cytokines TNF- alpha at different time intervals [48 and 72 hours] after co-culture of ovarian [SKOV3, A2780] and breast [MCF-7, MDA-468] tumor cell lines with PBMC in indirect contact of trans well system

Results: Proliferative response of executive cells during stimulation with tumor cell lines after 48 hours was not statistically significant between patients and healthy controls. Between the 2 groups, proliferation rates at the end of 72h were significantly higher than after 48h [P<0.01]. The production of TNF- alpha in co-culture of A2780 cell lines significantly increased in the patient group in time compared to the controls [P<0.05]

Conclusion: Our findings confirmed that, compared to healthy individuals low levels of chronic inflammation in patients with PCOS exhibit increased proliferative response of immune cells and TNF- alpha levels. An increased risk of cancers in patients with PCOS however requires investigation of other aspects of anti-tumor responses in vitro, with larger sample sizes

Common food allergens in Iranian children

The prevalence of food allergy is different in different parts of the world. Identification of the most common food allergens is a priority in any population to provide effective preventive and curative measures. The aim of this study was to determine the most common food allergens in Iranian children. One hundred and ninety children with skin, respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms, thought to be due to food allergy, were studied. The total serum IgE and eosinophil count tests were measured in all patients. Allergy to 25 food allergens was determined according to the patient's history, skin prick tests, RASTs [Radioallergosorbent Test] and open food challenge tests. Findings: The most common food allergens were cow's milk, tomato, egg white, egg yolk, beef and almond, respectively. The order of common food allergens in this study was different from other reports; this might be due to the different food habits and /or ethnic diversities

study of cockroach allergy in Iranian children with asthma

Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood. Exposure to allergens plays an important role in asthma. Recently, cockroach has attracted attentions as an important allergen. To evaluate cockroach allergy in Iranian children with asthma. 100 children with asthma were studied. After determination of asthma severity, serum total IgE and blood eosinophils were measured. The patients were then skin prick tested with cockroach [Blattella germanica] and some common aeroallergens and food allergens. According to cockroach skin prick test [SPT] results, the patients were divided into two groups [sensitive and non-sensitive] and compared. Positive SPT for cockroach was detected in 29% of patients. Cockroach sensitive group had a more severe asthma [p<0.02]. Asthmatic patients with cockroach allergy had perennial symptoms [p<0.05]. A remarkable number of sensitive patients were born in winter [p<0.05]. Eosinophilia was more common in sensitive group [p<0.02] and they had a higher level of serum total IgE [p<0.04]. The prevalence of cockroach allergy was near to other common aeroallergens. Cockroach sensitive group had perennial symptoms, which are compatible with other indoor allergens. Cockroach allergy was more prevalent in children born in winter. May be these children are kept at home during their first months of life and are more exposed to cockroaches. The higher prevalence of eosinophilia and higher IgE level in sensitive group may be the reasons of more severe asthma in this group