Restoring immune balance with Tregitopes: A new approach to treating immunological disorders.

The induction of immunological tolerance is a promising strategy for managing autoimmune diseases, allergies, and transplant rejection. Tregitopes, a class of peptides, have emerged as potential agents for this purpose. They activate regulatory T cells, which are pivotal in reducing inflammation and promoting tolerance, by binding to MHC II molecules and facilitating their processing and presentation to Treg cells, thereby encouraging their proliferation. Moreover, Tregitopes influence the phenotype of antigen-presenting cells by attenuating the expression of CD80, CD86, and MHC class II while enhancing ILT3, resulting in the inhibition of NF-kappa B signaling pathways. Various techniques, including in vitro and in silico methods, are applied to identify Tregitope candidates. Currently, Tregitopes play a vital role in balancing immune activation and tolerance in clinical applications such as Pompe disease, diabetes-related antigens, and the prevention of spontaneous abortions in autoimmune diseases. Similarly, Tregitopes can induce antigen-specific regulatory T cells. Their anti-inflammatory effects are significant in conditions such as autoimmune encephalomyelitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Additionally, Tregitopes have been leveraged to enhance vaccine design and efficacy. Recent advancements in understanding the potential benefits and drawbacks of IVIG and the discovery of the function and mechanism of Tregitopes have introduced Tregitopes as a popular option for immune system modulation. It is expected that they will bring about a significant revolution in the management and treatment of autoimmune and immunological diseases. This article is a comprehensive review of Tregitopes, concluding with the potential of these epitopes as a therapeutic avenue for immunological disorders.

Evaluation of antibody titers in COVID-19 patients with cerebral or pulmonary symptoms and mild symptoms.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to compare the production of antibodies in three different groups of patients with COVID-19. These groups included patients with pulmonary and cerebral symptoms, as well as those with mild symptoms. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 80 patients admitted to COVID-19-specific hospitals. The patients had various forms of SARS-CoV-2 disease, including those with pulmonary symptoms, brain involvement, and those with positive PCR test results but mild symptoms. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique was used to determine the levels of IgM and IgG antibody titers. Results: The levels of IgM and IgG antibody production differed significantly between groups of patients experiencing pulmonary symptoms and cerebral symptoms, with mild symptom patients also showing differences (P=0.0068), (P=0.0487), (P<0.0001), and (P=0.0120), respectively. Furthermore, there was no significant relationship between IgM antibody secretion and age or pulmonary involvement (P=0.1959). However, there was a direct and significant relationship between age and brain involvement (P=0.0317). Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that the risk of central nervous system involvement increases with age and that older people have lower antibody levels than younger people. Consequently, strengthening the immune systems of people over the age of 78 during this pandemic through vaccination and nutrition is very effective in reducing mortality in this age group.

A Study of Association of ABO and Rh Blood Group with Colorectal Cancer in Khuzestan Province, Iran.

Background : Colorectal cancer, a solid tumor with a high prevalence, contributes significantly to annual mortality rates. Various factors, including blood groups, may influence cancer risk. Multiple studies have suggested a potential connection between ABO and Rh blood groups and colorectal cancer risk. This study aims to investigate the role of ABO and Rh blood groups as risk factors in colorectal cancer patients. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study involving 71 colorectal cancer patients diagnosed between 2018 and 2020 in Khuzestan province, Iran, with known ABO blood types. Large-scale data from 29,922 blood donors in Khuzestan served as the healthy population control. The study analyzed the distribution of ABO blood groups among the blood donors. Results : Our findings revealed that the distribution of blood groups among colorectal cancer patients was as follows: O (31.0%), A (29.6%), B (29.6%), and AB (9.8%). However, our analysis did not establish a significant association between colorectal cancer risk and ABO antigens (P-value = 0.636) or Rh blood group (P = 0.198). Additionally, no significant differences in ABO blood types were observed concerning gender (P = 0.802), cancer type (P = 0.338), or tumor type (P = 0.207) among colorectal cancer patients. Conclusion : This study does not support a significant correlation between ABO and Rh blood groups and the risk of colorectal cancer, nor does it find associations with cancer type or tumor type.

Study of the Relationship between ABO Blood Group Types and Breast Cancer and Cervix Cancer in Khuzestan Province, Iran.

Background: Breast cancer and cervix cancer are the prevalent and deadly types of solid tumors around the world. According to the importance of cancer, it is necessary to understand predisposing factors that affect cancer risk. In this regard, previous studies suggest that blood types particularly ABO and Rh-Hr Blood-Group System could play roles in the risk and different features of cancers. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the potential of ABO and Rh blood groups as risk factors for breast cancer and cervix cancer. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study included 109 and 14 patients diagnosed with breast cancer and cervix cancer, respectively with known ABO and Rh blood types, between 2018 and 2020 in Khuzestan province, Iran. For compression of ABO blood groups distribution between the cancer patients group and the healthy population, we used data from a large-scale study that report the distribution of ABO blood groups in 29,922 blood donors in Khuzestan province. Results: Based on obtained results the most frequent blood group is O followed by B, A, and AB in breast cancer and followed by A, B, and AB in cervix cancer. Results showed no significant association between ABO and Rh and the risk of breast and cervix cancer. Moreover, there is no relationship between blood types and clinic pathological features of breast cancer.   Conclusion:  Based on our data, ABO and in this regard, previous studies suggest that blood types particularly ABO and Rh-Hr Blood-Group System could play roles in the risk and different features of cancers. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the potential of ABO and Rh blood groups as risk factors for breast cancer and cervix cancer do have not any association with the risk of breast and cervix cancer and their characteristics.

Evaluation of miRNA-21-5p and miRNA-10b-5p levels in serum-derived exosomes of breast cancer patients in different grades.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Tumor cells have various effects and dominance over other healthy cells. Cancer cells alter the cell program in healthy cells by secreting exosomes containing microRNAs involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). They can migrate to distant organs and establish a pre-metastatic niche. The purpose of this study was to determine the expression of miRNA-21-5p and miRNA-10b-5p, both of which are involved in EMT, in breast cancer-derived exosomes of various grades in order to identify new biomarkers involved in breast cancer progression. METHODS: In this study, a blood sample was taken from 60 patients with grades I, II, or III breast cancer, as well as twenty healthy individuals as a control group. The exosomes were then purified from serum samples, and their relative expression of miRNA-21-5p and miRNA-10b-5p was determined using the real-time PCR method. RESULTS: miRNA-21-5p expression was significantly increased in patients with breast cancer grades I, II, and III compared to the control group (p < 0.01), (p < 0.0001) and (p < 0.0001), respectively, as was miRNA-10b-5p expression in patients with breast cancer grades I, II, and III compared to the control group (p < 0.0001), (p < 0.0001) and (p < 0.0001), respectively. CONCLUSION: Our results show that both microRNAs increase as cells lose their differentiation and become more invasive, which is evidence of cancer progression. Hence, both microRNAs may have the potential to be used alone or in combination with other biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer.

Role of breast cancer-derived exosomes in metabolism of immune cells through PD1-GLUT1-HK2 metabolic axis.

Tumor cells modulate immune responses by secreting exosomes. Tumor exosomes can affect the metabolism of immune cells and increase immune inhibitory molecules such as programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1). PD-1 inhibits the glycolysis pathway in immune cells. We investigated the role of tumor exosomes in how metabolic changes occur through the PD1-GLUT1-HK2 metabolic axisin peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The MDA-MB-231 cell line was cultured, serum samples from breast cancer patients were collected, and exosomes purified from serum samples and the MDA-MB-231 cell line. PBMCs were treated with purified exosomes for 72 h and, the expression of PD1-GLUT1-HK2 genes was measured by real-time PCR. Our study results showed relative expression of the HK2 gene in both groups treated with MDA-MB-231 cell line exosomes and serum exosomes of breast cancer patients was significantly increased compared to the control group (p < 0.0001). Also, the relative expression of the PD1 gene and GLUT1 gene showed a significant increase compared to the control group only in the group treated with MDA-MB-231 cell line exosomes (p < 0.0001). Therefore, Breast cancer exosomes increased the expression of key genes in the glycolysis pathway, increasing the glycolysis pathway in PBMCs. Increased expression of PD-1 could not prevent the expression of critical genes in the glycolysis pathway as in previous studies.

Interleukin-22 and intestinal homeostasis: Protective or destructive?

Interleukin (IL)-22 is a member of IL-10 family cytokines with various immunologic functions. As its name implies, IL-22 is known to be secreted mainly by Th22 cells, a recently discovered lineage of CD4+ T cells. Also, Th17, Th1, natural killer cells, γδT cells, and innate immune cells along with some nonlymphoid cells have been confirmed as secondary cellular sources of IL-22. Different cell types such as bronchial and intestinal epithelial cells, keratinocytes, hepatocytes, dermal fibroblasts, and tubular epithelial cells are affected by IL-22. Both pathologic and protective roles have been attributed to IL-22 in maintaining gut homeostasis and inflammation. According to the latest fast-growing investigations, IL-22 is significantly involved in various pathologies including allergic diseases, infection, autoimmunity, and cancer development. Regulating gut immune responses, barrier integrity, and inflammation is dependent on a diverse complex of cytokines and mediators which are secreted by mucosal immune cells. Several investigations have been designed to recognize the role of IL-22 in gastrointestinal immunity. This article tries to discuss the latest knowledge on this issue and clarify the potential of IL-22 to be used in the future therapeutic approaches of intestinal disorders including inflammatory bowel diseases and colon cancer.