[Higher frequencies of chromosomal aberrations in lymphocytes of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia after in vitro gamma irradiation]

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL] is the most common malignancy in childhood, characterized by excess lymphoblasts, and immature white blood cells that are continuously multiplying and overproducing in the bone marrow. The aim of this investigation was to measure the sensitivity of lymphocytes against gamma irradiation in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and also find out the effect of such irradiations in causing chromosomal abnormalities. In this investigation performed between April 2010 and July 2011, at the Department of Genetics, Cancer Institute of Iran, we studied the effects of gamma irradiation on the lymphocytes of 20 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The lymphocytes of 30 healthy donors were used to establish as a normal response to gamma irradiation and seven age-matched ataxia telangiectasia patients were recruited as positive control. The chromosomal radiosensitivity was assessed with the G2- and the G0-assay. We compared the mean number of chromosomal abnormalities such as chromosome and chromatid breakages, chromosome and chromatid gaps, and chromatid exchanges in one-hundred metaphases of patients and control groups. The frequency of chromosomal aberrations was statistically higher among patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia than the normal controls [P<0.01]. In total, 65% of the patients were sensitive to gamma irradiation, but the remaining 35% were similar to the normal controls. Patients with ataxia telangiectasia showed the highest sensitivity to gamma irradiation [P=0.001]. Our results showed that a high percentage of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were sensitive to irradiation, meaning that maximum care should be taken during their treatment to avoid unnecessary X-rays or radiotherapies.

[Effects of fumonisin B1 on the stomach and colon cell lines in vitro]

Fumonisins, a family of mycotoxins, are mainly found in wheat, corn and their products. Previous studies have shown that fumonisin B1 [FB1], the most abundant and toxic of known fumonisins, has been associated with many animal and human diseases including cancer. In the present study, the effects of FB1 were examined on the production of inflammatory cytokines in intestine and stomach cell lines. This study was performed in the Cancer Research Center of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2010. The cell lines of colon adenocarcinoma [SW742] and gastric epithelium [AGS] were purchased from the Pasteur Institute of Iran. The cells were pretreated with different concentrations of FB1 [0 to 100 micro M] for 3 days. The cells were later stimulated by lipopolysaccharides. Twenty-four hours after cell induction, the cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF- alpha], interlukin-1 beta [IL-1 beta] and interlukin-8 [IL-8] were measured by ELISA. Treatment with FB1 induced a dose-dependent decrease in IL-8 production [P<0.05]. This decrease was seen in both SW742 and AGS cell lines. Moreover, FB1 induced a dose-dependent increase in the production of TNF- alpha and IL-1 beta in both cell lines [P<0.05]. The results of this study indicated that FB1 could increase the inflammatory cytokines including TNF- alpha and IL-1 beta in gastric and intestinal cell lines. These effects might result in the development of inflammatory responses and subsequent mucosal atrophy in in-vivo conditions

Evaluation of In Vitro production of IFN-gamma, IL-10, IL-12 and IL-13 by blood cells in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions

This study investigated the in vitro production of interferon-gamma, interleukin [IL]-10, IL-12, and IL-13, after antigenic stimulation of the cells [with Leishmania antigen and lipopolysaccharide] using whole blood from patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions caused by Leishmania tropica and in normal volunteers with history of cutaneous leishmaniasis. ELISA results showed that the mean production of interferon-gamma by cells of whole blood in patients with lesions in response to Leishmania antigen was significantly lower than corresponding values in volunteers with history of cutaneous leishmaniasis [P< 0.05] and significantly higher levels of IL-10 production in patients with lesions were observed compared with cured volunteers of the disease [P<0.01]. A similar level of IL-12, including p40 subunit of IL-12, was detected in both groups tested in this study in response to stimulation of parasite antigen. The levels of the IL-13 after stimulation with Leishmania antigen were significantly more in patients compared with volunteers with history of cutaneous leishmaniasis [P< 0.01]. There was no significant difference in the mean production of IFN-gamma, IL-10, IL-12 and IL-13 by PHA or LPS stimulated cells from patients with lesions and volunteers with history of the disease, indicating that there was no qualitative defect in cytokine production in these patients. In this study, we have detected the decreased production of interferon- gamma by cells of patients with lesions of cutaneous leishmaniasis in response to parasite antigen and unbalanced production of regulatory cytokines such as IL-10 and IL-13 using the whole-blood stimulation assay technique. The required small volume of blood and the rapid set up time are the advantages in this assay technique. Using this assay for further immunodetection of cytokines may confirm its value for clinical investigation