ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Apolipoprotein M (ApoM) may have a role in the susceptibility of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Polymorphisms in the promoter region of the ApoM gene were found to be significantly associated with diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of ApoM SNP rs805297 (C-1065A) with the susceptibility of T2DM and related microvascular complications in South Egypt. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study of 60 T2DM patients and 60 healthy control subjects. Lipid profile, fasting, and 2 hours postprandial glucose and creatinine levels were estimated. Patients were subjected to general and Fundus examinations, and screening for nephropathy by urinary albumin levels. ApoM level was assayed by ELISA. Genotyping of the human ApoM gene polymorphism SNP rs805297 (C-1065A) was done by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism followed by sequencing to confirm the polymorphism results. RESULTS: ApoM was not different between T2DM and the control group (p=0.075) and was negatively correlated with LDL-c (p=0.029). There were significant differences in ApoM genotypes (p=0.001) and allele frequencies (p=0.019) between T2DM and the control group. A significant reduction in FBG, 2hPPG, and HbA1c levels in the heterozygous than the wild genotype in the group with diabetes with no difference in other lab parameters and microvascular complications. The C-allele is associated with lower blood glucose levels and retinopathy. The wild (CC) genotype is considered as a risk factor for developing T2DM in South Egyptians but not CA+AA genotypes. CONCLUSIONS: In South Egyptians the ApoM polymorphism rs805297 (C-1065A) wild type (CC) was associated with T2DM susceptibility and may have a role in controlling hyperglycemia in these patients. The A-allele is associated with hyperglycemia and diabetic retinopathy.
Subject(s)
Apolipoproteins M/genetics , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/epidemiology , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/genetics , Genetic Association Studies/methods , Microvessels , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics , Adult , Apolipoproteins M/blood , Case-Control Studies , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood , Egypt/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Male , Microvessels/metabolism , Microvessels/pathology , Middle AgedABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a clonal disease, characterized by a reciprocal t(9, 22) that results in a chimeric BCR/ABL fusion gene. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) constitute the main cell population that enables cancer cells to evade immune surveillance. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to investigate the level of Tregs in newly diagnosed CML patients and to correlate it with the patients' clinical, laboratory and molecular data. We also aimed to assess the effect of treatment using tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) on Treg levels. METHODS: Tregs were characterized and quantified by flow cytometry in 63 newly diagnosed CML patients and 40 healthy controls. TKI was used in 45 patients with chronic phase CML, and the response to therapy was correlated with baseline Treg levels. RESULTS: The percentages of Tregs were significantly increased in CML patients compared to the controls. Treg numbers were significantly lower in patients with chronic phase CML versus the accelerated and blast phases, and were significantly lower in patients with complete molecular remission (CMR) compared to those patients without CMR. CONCLUSION: Tregs may play a role in the maintenance of CML. Moreover, the decrease of their levels in patients with CMR suggests that Tregs might have a clinical value in evaluating the effects of therapy.
Subject(s)
Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/genetics , Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/blood , Prognosis , T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology , Adult , CD4 Antigens/blood , Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics , Female , Flow Cytometry , Forkhead Transcription Factors/blood , Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/isolation & purification , Humans , Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit/blood , Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/genetics , Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/immunology , Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/pathology , Male , Predictive Value of Tests , T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/pathologyABSTRACT
Flowcytometry analysis was carried out to evaluate the expression of the p-Stat3 in 50 CML patients and 20 age-matched healthy controls. p-Stat3 expression was increased in advanced stages of CML. Imatinib treatment was found to suppress the expression of p-Stat3 in bone marrow cells. The level of p-Stat3 was found to be higher in resistant cases than in responsive cases, which suggest the beneficial use of p-Stat3 as an indicator to follow the clinical course and the treatment response.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use , Benzamides/therapeutic use , Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/genetics , Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/drug therapy , Piperazines/therapeutic use , Protein Kinases/metabolism , Pyrimidines/therapeutic use , STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism , Adult , Case-Control Studies , Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics , Female , Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic , Humans , Imatinib Mesylate , Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/genetics , Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/metabolism , Male , Middle Aged , PhosphorylationABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of platelet-associated antibodies (PAIgG and PAIgM), activated platelets and serum leptin in children with acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). METHODS: The study included 40 patients with ITP and 40 healthy age- and sex-matched controls. PAIgG, PAIgM and activated platelet levels were estimated by flow cytometry, and serum leptin levels were estimated by ELISA. RESULTS: Activated platelets and serum leptin were significantly higher in the ITP patients than in the controls. The percentage and mean fluorescence intensity of PAIgG and PAIgM staining were significantly higher in the patients than in the controls. Serum leptin and activated platelet levels in patients with thrombocytopenia of brief duration were significantly lower than those in patients with thrombocytopenia of prolonged duration. The levels of activated platelets, serum leptin and PAIgG were positively correlated, and the levels of serum leptin, activated platelets and platelet counts were negatively correlated. CONCLUSION: The increased levels of activated platelets, serum leptin and platelet-associated antibodies in children with acute ITP suggest that these factors could play a role in ITP pathogenesis. Additionally, activated platelets and serum leptin could have prognostic significance in paediatric acute ITP.
Subject(s)
Blood Platelets/immunology , Immunoglobulin G/analysis , Immunoglobulin M/analysis , Leptin/blood , Platelet Activation , Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic/blood , Adolescent , Autoantibodies/analysis , Case-Control Studies , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Prospective Studies , Purpura, Thrombocytopenic/immunology , Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic/immunologyABSTRACT
The study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of Flow cytometry (FCM) immunophenotyping and IgH gene rearrangements (IGHRs) by real-time PCR in comparison with classic cytology for diagnosing CNS infiltration in pediatric ALL. We concluded that the diagnostic value of FCM and IGHR are two to three times more than that of cytology. Therefore, immunophenotyping by FCM is recommended for routine diagnosis of CSF infiltration. Furthermore, IGHR analysis by real-time PCR appears to be a useful addition in evaluation of CNS infiltration.
