ABSTRACT
Objectives: Febrile seizure (FS) is a neuroinflammatory disease involving fever-induced seizures affecting children in the early stages of life. TNFα is a pro-inflammatory cytokine reported to be elevated in FS. Specific promoter variants of TNFα could be associated with its elevated cytokine expression and susceptibility to FS. The present study analyzed the association of specific TNFα variants, including TNFα -238 G/A (rs361525), TNFα -308 G/A (rs1800629), and TNFα -376 G/A (rs1800750) promoter polymorphisms, with FS susceptibility, and TNFα serum levels in an Iranian population. Materials & Methods: Sixty-eight FS patients and 136 controls were enrolled. The SSP-PCR method was utilized to analyze TNFα promoter genotypes. This research also confirmed the genotyping results by sequencing samples of ten patients and normal controls. Results: The GG genotype of -238 SNP was associated with the increased risk of FS [OR = 12.65, 95% CI (2.83-56.60), P-value = 0.0012]. The AA genotype in the-308 region was increased in patients with FS and associated with the disease [OR = 4.62, 95% CI (1.46-14.56), P-value = 0.028]. The increased occurrence of heterozygous AG in the -376 SNP among control groups has been linked to a decreased risk of FS [OR = 0.22, 95% CI (0.11-0.43), P-value = 0.0001]. This study revealed that AGA (-238/ -308/ -376) haplotype with the highest frequency in controls was associated with a decreased risk of FS, while GAA (-238/ -308/ -376) carriers were more susceptible to FS. Conclusion: The current study suggested that TNFα gene promoter variants at rs361525, rs1800629, and rs1800750 could be associated with the susceptibility to FS and altered serum levels of TNFα.
ABSTRACT
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease, featuring fibrosis in multiple organs. The serum from SSc patients contain inflammatory mediators, contributing to SSc pathogenesis and could be used to develop cell culture models. Here, we compared the fibrotic effects of serum samples from SSc patients with TGFß1 on human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). HDF cells were cultured in four different culture media supplementations; 10% SSc serum, 10% healthy human serum, 10% fetal bovine serum or 10% FBS supplemented with 10 ng/Ml human TGFß. The collagen content in cell layers was measured by spectrophotometric Picro-Sirius red staining. The mRNA expression of α-SMA, COL I and III, TGFß1, arginase and E-Cadherin genes were determined by real time RT-PCR. TGF-ß1 levels in cell culture supernatants were measured using ELISA. Cell layer collagen content was significantly increased following TGF-ß1 treatment, compared with FBS group and SSc serum treatment in comparison with healthy controls. Although not statistically significant, the mRNA expression of α-SMA, COLI and III, TGFß1, and arginase increased upon TGF-ß1 treatment in comparison with FBS group, and in SSc serum treatment group in comparison with healthy controls. E-Cadherin decreased following TGF-ß1 treatment and SSc serum treatment in comparison with their counterparts. TGF-ß1 levels increased in cell culture supernatants of HDF cells exposed to TGF-ß1 and SSc serum. An in vitro model of SSc serum-induced fibrosis using human HDF cells was evaluated in comparison to the TGF-ß1 fibrosis induced model and data suggested that it may be used in documenting the role of pro-fibrotic factors in serum or plasma from SSc patients.
