Lack of association between interleukin 12 C[-1188]A polymorphism and irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome [IBS] is a functional gastrointestinal disorder, characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and altered bowel habits. This study was performed to investigate the important role of interleukin-12 [IL-12] in intestinal inflammation. For this study seventy one patients with IBS and 140 controls were investigated. The allele and genotype frequencies of IL-12 C[-1188]A were determined using polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers. The allele A was more common that the allele C in both groups of patients and controls. There was not any significant difference on IL-12 alleles and genotypes between patients and controls. The AA genotype was the most common genotypes, which was seen in 57.4% of the patients and 51.4% of the controls [p=0.53]. Although frequency of the CC genotype in the control group was lower than the patient group, this difference was not significant [5.7% vs. 11.5%, respectively, p=0.16]. Considering the lack of association between IL-12 C[-1188]A polymorphism and IBS, this cytokine gene polymorphism may not have significant role in the pathophysiology of disease

Effect of protein and DNA components of toxoplasma gondii on IL-12 production from dendritic cells and T cell proliferation

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of protein and DNA components of Toxoplasma gondii on maturation of dendritic cells and their efficiency in IL-12 production and proliferation of T cells. for DC generation, Bone marrow cells were cultured in the presence of GM- CSF and IL-4 for 5 days. Tumor lysate and protein or DNA components of Toxoplasma gondii were added to the culture media and incubated for another 2 days. LPS was added as control for DC maturation. Proliferation of T cells were determined by MLR and IL-1 production was measured by ELISA kit. Maturation of dendritic cell were determined by flowcytometry. DCs treatment with protein components of Toxoplasma gondii caused a significant increase in IL- 1 2 production and proliferation of T cells [P<0.001]. Different compositions of microbial body like protein and DNA components of Toxoplasma gondii can cause augmentation of antigen presentation capacity of DC and their IL-12 production capability. Among these components the protein was more effective as compared to DNA

Determination of HLA-B27 subtypes in Iranian patients with ankylosing spondylitis

The human leukocyte antigen-B27 is one of the class I molecules of the major histocompatibility complex which is strongly associated with ankylosing spondylitis [AS]. The strength of the disease association with B27 varies markedly among racial and ethnic populations. It is an allele family, which constitutes about 31 subtypes, with a considerable geographic and ethnic difference in distribution. It is important to know whether certain subtypes show any preferential association with AS. Because there is no report regarding HLA-B27 subtypes in Iranian patients with AS, main purpose of the present study was to assess the frequency of subtypes of human leukocyte antigen [HLA]-B27 in patients with ankylosing spondylitis in Iranian population One hundred and nineteen AS patients [82 HLA-B27 positive and 37 HLA-B27 negative] were selected for this study. HLA-B27 positive patients were by polymerase chain reaction amplification with sequence-specific primers [PCR-SSP] for B 27 subtyping. The results of present study revealed that only two subtypes were detected in Iranian patients, including B 2705 [52 patients, 63.4%] and B 2702 [30 patients, 36.6%]. Our results showed a restricted number of HLA-B27 subtypes associated with AS in Iran and an elevated frequency of the B 2705 allele in these patients similar to other Euro-Caucasoid [Aryan] groups in the world

HLA class II allele and haplotype frequencies in Iranian patients with acute myelogenous leukemia and control group

Previous studies have demonstrated some significant differences in HLA allele frequencies in leukemic patients and normal subjects. We have analyzed HLA class II alleles and haplotypes in 60 Iranian patients with acute myelogenous leukemia [AML] and 180 unrelated normal subjects. Blood samples were collected after obtaining informed consents. From the patients and control DNA extraction and HLA typing were performed using PCR-SSP method. Significant positive association with the disease was found for HLA-DRB1*11 allele [35% vs. 24.7%, p=0.033]. Two alleles including HLA-DRB4 and -DQB1*0303 were found to be significantly decreased in patients compared to controls. Regarding haplotype analysis, no significant association was found between case and control groups. It is suggested that HLA-DRB1*11 allele plays as a presumptive predisposing factor while the HLA-DRB4 and -DQB1*0303 alleles are suggested as protective genetic factors against acute myelogenous leukemia. Larger studies are needed to confirm and establish the role of these associations with acute myelogenous leukemia

Cytokine gene polymorphisms in iranian patients with beta-thalassemia major

beta-thalassemia as a hereditary disease is defined as defective synthesis of beta -globin chains, resulting in erythropoiesis abnormalities and severe anemia. Different studies have shown that cytokines and cytokine gene polymorphisms play a major role in the pathogenesis of beta -thalassemia. Single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs] within the promoter region or other regulatory sequences of cytokine genes lead to overall production of cytokines. To analyze the genetic profile of Thl and Th2 cytokines in Iranian patients with beta -thalassemia major. Allelic and genotype frequencies of cytokine genes were determined in 30 thalassemia patients and 40 healthy subjects using PCR-SSP assay. Allele and genotype frequencies were calculated and compared with those of normal controls. The results of our study show a significant decrease in A allele at position UTR 5644 IFN-y, G alleles at position -238 TNF-oc and 166 IL-2, and C allele at position -590 IL-4. TGF- beta haplotype TG/TG increased whereas TGF- beta haplotype CG/CG and IL-10 haplotype GCC/ACC decreased significantly in all patients. Data of this investigation suggest that variations among cytokine gene polymorphisms may contribute to the disease susceptibility. A finding which needs to be fairly clarified in other ethnic groups

Th1 and Th2 cytokine gene polymorphism in Iranian patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia

Bakground: lt has been hypothesized that genetic factors other than histocompatibility disparity may play a role in predisposition to developing Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia [CML]. In this regard, Thl and Th2 cytokines and their gene polymorphism seems to be important. Overall expression and secretion of cytokines is dependent, at least in part, on genetic polymorphism [nucleotide variations] within the promoter region or other regulatory sequences of cytokine genes. The majority of polymorphisms described are single nucleotide polymorphism [SNPs]. The objective of this study was to analyze the genetic profile of Thl and Th2 cytokines in 30 Iranian patients with CML and 40 healthy subjects

Methods: In the patients and control subjects, the allelic and genotype frequencies were determined for the cytokine genes. All typing were performed by PCR-SSP assay. Allele and genotype frequencies were calculated and compared with those of normal controls

Results: The results showed that the most frequent alleles in our patients were TGF-3 TG/TG, IL-4 T at position -1089, C at position -590, T at position -33 and IL-10 A at position -1082. Whereas the following alleles - TGF-3 CG/CG and IL-10 C at position -592 - were seen in much lower frequencies

Conclusion: In conclusion, it could be suggested that the frequency of high producing TGF-3 alleles and low producing IL-4 and IL-10 alleles in the CML patients is higher than the normal subjects