Immunoresolvents in asthma and allergic diseases: Review and update

Asthma and allergic diseases are inflammatory conditions developed by excessive reaction of the immune system against normally harmless environmental substances. Although acute inflammation is necessary to eradicate the damaging agents, shifting to chronic inflammation can be potentially detrimental. Essential fatty-acids-derived immunoresolvents, namely, lipoxins, resolvins, protectins, and maresins, are anti-inflammatory compounds that are believed to have protective and beneficial effects in inflammatory disorders, including asthma and allergies. Accordingly, impaired biosynthesis and defective production of immunoresolvents could be involved in the development of chronic inflammation. In this review, recent evidence on the anti-inflam]matory effects of immunoresolvents, their enzymatic biosynthesis routes, as well as their receptors are discussed.     

Regulatory T cells for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease: A clinical and preclinical systematic review

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by neuronal degeneration and inflammation in the nerves. The role of the immune system has been concentrated by researchers in the etiopathogenesis of the disease. Given the inhibitory roles of regulatory T cells (Tregs), it is expected that increasing or activating their populations in patients with ALS can have significant therapeutic effects. Here we searched databases, including CENTRAL, MEDLINE, CINAHL Plus, clinicaltrials.gov , and ICTRP for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs until March 2019. For preclinical studies, we searched PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar up to June 2019. We also included preclinical studies, due to the lack of clinical information available, which used Tregs (or directly targeting them) for treating mice models of ALS. We identified 29 records (CENTRAL 7, MEDLINE 4, CINAHL Plus 8, and clinicaltrials.gov 10) and removed 10 duplicated publications. After screening, we identified one RCT which had been published as an abstract, three non-RCTs, and four ongoing studies. We also identified 551 records (PubMed 446, Google Scholar 68, and Scopus 37) for preclinical studies and performed a meta-analysis. Finally, we found three papers that matched our inclusion criteria for preclinical studies. Results indicated the effectiveness of the application of Tregs in the treatment of ALS. Our meta-analysis on preclinical studies revealed that Tregs significantly prolonged survival in mice models of ALS. Overall, our analysis testified that exertion of Tregs in the treatment of ALS is a promising approach, that notwithstanding, requires further evaluations.     

Prevalence,molecular characteristics and risk factors for cryptosporidiosis among Iranian immunocompromised patients

Cryptosporidium spp. is a major cause of diarrhea in developing countries, mainly affecting people with compromised immune systems in general and HIV‐infected individuals with low CD4 + T‐cell counts in particular. This infection is self‐limiting in healthy persons; however, it can be severe, progressive and persistent in those who are immunocompromised. There are few published studies concerning cryptosporidiosis and Cryptosporidium genotypes in Iranian immunocompromised patients and none of them describe risk factors. This study was undertaken to identify prevalence, genotypes and risk factors for cryptosporidiosis in immunocompromised patients. Three fecal samples were obtained at two day intervals from each of the 183 patients and processed with modified Ziehl–Neelsen staining methods and 18S rRNA gene amplification and sequencing. The overall infection prevalence was 6%. Cryptosporidium parvum was identified in isolates from five HIV‐infected patients, one patient who had undergone bone marrow transplantation and one with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Cryptosporidium hominis was identified in isolates from two HIV‐infected patients and two patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia. According to univariate analysis, the statistically significant factors were diarrhea (OR = 21.7, CI = 2.83–78.4, P= 0.003), CD4 + lymphocytes less than 100 cells/mm³ (OR = 41.3, CI = 13.45–114.8, P < 0.0001), other microbial infections (OR = 7.1321.7, CI = 1.97–25.73, P = 0.006), weight loss (OR = 73.78, CI = 15.5–350, P < 0.0001), abdominal pain (OR = 10.29, CI = 2.81–37.74.4, P= 0.001), dehydration (OR = 72.1, CI = 17.6–341.5, P < 0.0001), vomiting (OR = 4.87, CI = 1.4–16.9, P= 0.015), nausea (OR = 9.4, CI = 2.38–37.2, P < 0.001), highly active antiretroviral therapy (OR = 0.089, CI = 0.01–0.8, P= 0.015) and diarrhea in household members (OR = 7.37, CI = 2.04–26.66, P= 0.001). After multivariate analysis and a backward deletion process, only < 100 CD4 + T‐lymphocytes/mm³ maintained a significant association with infection. The authors recommend that this infection should be suspected in patients with diarrhea, weight loss and dehydration in general and in diarrheal individuals with < 100 CD4 + T‐lymphocytes/mm³.     

Epigenetic changes in gastric cancer induction by Helicobacter pylori

Epigenetic disorder mechanisms are one of the causes of cancer. The most important of these changes is the DNA methylation, which leads to the spread of Helicobacter pylori and inflammatory processes followed by induction of DNA methylation disorder. Mutations and epigenetic changes are the two main agents of neoplasia. Epithelial cells infection by H. pylori associated with activating several intracellular pathways including: MAPK, NF-κB, Wnt/β-catenin, and PI3K are affects a variety of cells and caused to an increase in the production of inflammatory cytokines, changes in apoptosis, proliferation, differentiation, and ultimately leads to the transformation of epithelial cells into oncogenic. The arose of free radicals impose the DNA cytosine methylation, and NO can increase the activity of DNA methyltransferase. H. pylori infection causes an environment that mediates inflammation and signaling pathways that probably caused to stomach tumorigenicity. The main processes that change by decreasing or increasing the expression of various microRNAs expressions include immune responses, apoptosis, cell cycle, and autophagy. In this review will be describe a probably H. pylori roles in infection and mechanisms that have contribution in epigenetic changes in the promoter of genes.     

Imbalanced serum levels of resolvin E1 (RvE1) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in patients with allergic rhinitis

Molecular Biology Reports - Timely and successful resolution of acute inflammation plays a crucial role in preventing the development of chronic airway inflammation in allergic rhinitis (AR). This...     

Retinoic Acid Correlates with Reduced Serum IL-10 And TGF-β in Allergic Rhinitis

Background:Retinoic acid (RA) plays a key role in naïve T cell differentiation into FOXP3+ Treg cell in the respiratory airways. The present study aims to investigate RA and Treg-related cytokine serum levels, salivary IgA levels, FOXP3 and IL-4 gene expression, and the relationships between RA serum levels and Treg-related cytokines in allergic rhinitis (AR) patients and healthy controls.Methods:Salivary IgA and serum IgE, RA, IL-10, and TGF-β concentrations were measured by ELISA in 37 AR patients and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.Results:IL-10 and TGF-β concentrations were significantly less in AR patients than in healthy controls (p< 0.01 and P< 0.0001, respectively). Salivary IgA was significantly greater in patients than in controls (p< 0.05). RA was not significantly different between patients and controls (p> 0.05); however, a significant positive correlation was found between serum RA and both IL-10 and TGF-β in AR patients.Conclusion:Our data suggest that RA may influence AR risk via affecting the TGF-β and IL-10 production.Key Words: Allergic Rhinitis, Interleukin-10, Obesity, Retinoic Acid, Transforming Growth Factor-β