The sensitivity of acute myeloid leukemia cells to cytarabine is increased by suppressing the expression of Heme oxygenase-1 and hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha.

BACKGROUND: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a malignancy Often resistant to common chemotherapy regimens (Cytarabine (Ara-c) + Daunorubicin (DNR)), is accompanied by frequent relapses. Many factors are involved in causing chemoresistance. Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) are two of the most well-known genes, reported to be overexpressed in AML and promote resistance against chemotherapy according to several studies. The main chemotherapy agent used for AML treatment is Ara-c. We hypothesized that simultaneous targeting of HO-1 and HIF-1α could sensitize AML cells to Ara-c. METHOD: In this study, we used our recently developed, Trans-Activator of Transcription (TAT) - Chitosan-Carboxymethyl Dextran (CCMD) - Poly Ethylene Glycol (PEG) - Nanoparticles (NPs), to deliver Ara-c along with siRNA molecules against the HO-1 and HIF-1α genes to AML primary cells (ex vivo) and cell lines including THP-1, KG-1, and HL-60 (in vitro). Subsequently, the effect of the single or combinational treatment on the growth, proliferation, apoptosis, and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) formation was evaluated. RESULTS: The designed NPs had a high potential in transfecting cells with siRNAs and drug. The results demonstrated that treatment of cells with Ara-c elevated the generation of ROS in the cells while decreasing the proliferation potential. Following the silencing of HO-1, the rate of apoptosis and ROS generation in response to Ara-c increased significantly. While proliferation and growth inhibition were considerably evident in HIF-1α-siRNA-transfected-AML cells compared to cells treated with free Ara-c. We found that the co-inhibition of genes could further sensitize AML cells to Ara-c treatment. CONCLUSIONS: As far as we are aware, this study is the first to simultaneously inhibit the HO-1 and HIF-1α genes in AML using NPs. It can be concluded that HO-1 causes chemoresistance by protecting cells from ROS damage. Whereas, HIF-1α mostly exerts prolific and direct anti-apoptotic effects. These findings imply that simultaneous inhibition of HO-1 and HIF-1α can overcome Ara-c resistance and help improve the prognosis of AML patients.

The role of exhausted natural killer cells in the immunopathogenesis and treatment of leukemia.

The immune responses to cancer cells involve both innate and acquired immune cells. In the meantime, the most attention has been drawn to the adaptive immune cells, especially T cells, while, it is now well known that the innate immune cells, especially natural killer (NK) cells, play a vital role in defending against malignancies. While the immune cells are trying to eliminate malignant cells, cancer cells try to prevent the function of these cells and suppress immune responses. The suppression of NK cells in various cancers can lead to the induction of an exhausted phenotype in NK cells, which will impair their function. Recent studies have shown that the occurrence of this phenotype in various types of leukemic malignancies can affect the prognosis of the disease, and targeting these cells may be considered a new immunotherapy method in the treatment of leukemia. Therefore, a detailed study of exhausted NK cells in leukemic diseases can help both to understand the mechanisms of leukemia progression and to design new treatment methods by creating a deeper understanding of these cells. Here, we will comprehensively review the immunobiology of exhausted NK cells and their role in various leukemic malignancies. Video Abstract.

Enhancement of targeted therapy in combination with metformin on human breast cancer cell lines.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer remains a primary global health concern due to its limited treatment options, frequent disease recurrence, and high rates of morbidity and mortality. Thereby, there is a need for more effective treatment approaches. The proposal suggests that the combination of targeted therapy with other antitumoral agents could potentially address drug resistance. In this study, we examined the antitumoral effect of combining metformin, an antidiabetic drug, with targeted therapies, including tamoxifen for estrogen receptor-positive (MCF-7), trastuzumab for HER2-positive (SKBR-3), and antibody against ROR1 receptor for triple-negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231). METHODS: Once the expression of relevant receptors on each cell line was confirmed and appropriate drug concentrations were selected through cytotoxicity assays, the antitumor effects of both monotherapy and combination therapy on colony formation, migration, invasion were assessed in in vitro as well as tumor area and metastatic potential in ex ovo Chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) models. RESULTS: The results exhibited the enhanced effects of tamoxifen when combined with targeted therapy. This combination effectively inhibited cell growth, colony formation, migration, and invasion in vitro. Additionally, it significantly reduced tumor size and metastatic potential in an ex ovo CAM model. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that a favorable strategy to enhance the efficacy of breast cancer treatment would be to combine metformin with targeted therapies.

The role of SF3B1 and NOTCH1 in the pathogenesis of leukemia.

The discovery of new genes/pathways improves our knowledge of cancer pathogenesis and presents novel potential therapeutic options. For instance, splicing factor 3b subunit 1 (SF3B1) and NOTCH1 genetic alterations have been identified at a high frequency in hematological malignancies, such as leukemia, and may be related to the prognosis of involved patients because they change the nature of malignancies in different ways like mediating therapeutic resistance; therefore, studying these gene/pathways is essential. This review aims to discuss SF3B1 and NOTCH1 roles in the pathogenesis of various types of leukemia and the therapeutic potential of targeting these genes or their mutations to provide a foundation for leukemia treatment.

The Prognostic and therapeutic value and clinical implications of fibroblast activation protein-α as a novel biomarker in colorectal cancer.

The identification of contributing factors leading to the development of Colorectal Cancer (CRC), as the third fatal malignancy, is crucial. Today, the tumor microenvironment has been shown to play a key role in CRC progression. Fibroblast-Activation Protein-α (FAP) is a type II transmembrane cell surface proteinase expressed on the surface of cancer-associated fibroblasts in tumor stroma. As an enzyme, FAP has di- and endoprolylpeptidase, endoprotease, and gelatinase/collagenase activities in the Tumor Microenvironment (TME). According to recent reports, FAP overexpression in CRC contributes to adverse clinical outcomes such as increased lymph node metastasis, tumor recurrence, and angiogenesis, as well as decreased overall survival. In this review, studies about the expression level of FAP and its associations with CRC patients' prognosis are reviewed. High expression levels of FAP and its association with clinicopathological factors have made as a potential target. In many studies, FAP has been evaluated as a therapeutic target and diagnostic factor into which the current review tries to provide a comprehensive insight. Video Abstract.

The prognostic and therapeutic potential of HO-1 in leukemia and MDS.

BACKGROUND: Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a heme-degrading enzyme, is proven to have anti-apoptotic effects in several malignancies. In addition, HO-1 is reported to cause chemoresistance and increase cell survival. Growing evidence indicates that HO-1 contributes to the course of hematological malignancies as well. Here, the expression pattern, prognostic value, and the effect of HO-1 targeting in HMs are discussed. MAIN BODY: According to the recent literature, it was discovered that HO-1 is overexpressed in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML), and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells and is associated with high-risk disease. Furthermore, in addition to HO-1 expression by leukemic and MDS cells, CML, AML, and ALL leukemic stem cells express this protein as well, making it a potential target for eliminating minimal residual disease (MRD). Moreover, it was concluded that HO-1 induces tumor progression and prevents apoptosis through various pathways. CONCLUSION: HO-1 has great potential in determining the prognosis of leukemia and MDS patients. HO-1 induces resistance to several chemotherapeutic agents as well as tyrosine kinase inhibitors and following its inhibition, chemo-sensitivity increases. Moreover, the exact role of HO-1 in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is yet unknown. While findings illustrate that MDS and other leukemic patients could benefit from HO-1 targeting. Future studies can help broaden our knowledge regarding the role of HO-1 in MDS and leukemia. Video abstract.

Targeted Silencing of NRF2 by rituximab-conjugated nanoparticles increases the sensitivity of chronic lymphoblastic leukemia cells to Cyclophosphamide.

BACKGROUND: Targeting influential factors in resistance to chemotherapy is one way to increase the effectiveness of chemotherapeutics. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway overexpresses in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells and appears to have a significant part in their survival and chemotherapy resistance. Here we produced novel nanoparticles (NPs) specific for CD20-expressing CLL cells with simultaneous anti-Nrf2 and cytotoxic properties. METHODS: Chitosan lactate (CL) was used to produce the primary NPs which were then respectively loaded with rituximab (RTX), anti-Nrf2 Small interfering RNA (siRNAs) and Cyclophosphamide (CP) to prepare the final version of the NPs (NP-Nrf2_siRNA-CP). All interventions were done on both peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMNCs). RESULTS: NP-Nrf2_siRNA-CP had satisfying physicochemical properties, showed controlled anti-Nrf2 siRNA/CP release, and were efficiently transfected into CLL primary cells (both PBMCs and BMNCs). NP-Nrf2_siRNA-CP were significantly capable of cell apoptosis induction and proliferation prevention marked by respectively decreased and increased anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic factors. Furthermore, use of anti-Nrf2 siRNA was corresponding to elevated sensitivity of CLL cells to CP. CONCLUSION: Our findings imply that the combination therapy of malignant CLL cells with RTX, CP and anti-Nrf2 siRNA is a novel and efficient therapeutic strategy that was capable of destroying malignant cells. Furthermore, the use of NPs as a multiple drug delivery method showed fulfilling properties; however, the need for further future studies is undeniable. Video Abstract.

Association of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) family gene polymorphisms and the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); implications of contribution for development of neurological symptoms in the COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND: Seemingly, the Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a role in the etiopathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here in this study, we determined the association of MMP9 rs3918242, MMP3 rs3025058, and MMP2 rs243865 polymorphisms with the risk of COVID-19, especially in those with neurological syndrome (NS). METHODS: We enrolled 500 patients with COVID-19 and 500 healthy individuals. To genotype the target SNPs, the Real-time allelic discrimination technique was used. To determine serum levels of MMPs, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was exerted. RESULTS: The MMP9 gene rs3918242 and MMP3 gene rs3025058 SNP were significantly associated with increased COVID-19 risk and susceptibility to COVID-19 with NS. The serum level of MMP-9 and MMP-3 was significantly higher in COVID-19 cases compared with the healthy controls. Serum MMP-9 and MMP-3 levels were also higher in COVID-19 subjects with NS in comparison to the healthy controls. The polymorphisms in MMP genes were not associated with serum level of MMPs. CONCLUSION: MMP9 and MMP3 gene polymorphisms increases the susceptibility to COVID-19 as well as COVID-19 with neurologic syndrome, but they probably have no role in the regulation of serum MMP-9 and MMP-3 levels.

Sirolimus- and cyclosporine-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers: Development, characterization, and in vitro evaluation in T-cell profiles of patients with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss.

Purpose: The authors developed nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) loaded with sirolimus (SRL) and cyclosporine (CsA) to improve their therapeutic efficacy in recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) patients. Methods: Mono-delivery and co-delivery of SRL and CsA by NLCs (S-NLCs, C-NLCs, and S-C-NLCs) were developed. The MTT assay was used to study the optimum dose of formulations. PCR, Western blotting, and ELISA were also conducted. Results: Well-designed nanodrugs with a suitable size, zeta potential, desirable encapsulation efficiency drug loading, and cellular uptake confirmed optimum formulations. Based on cell viability, the amounts of SRL and CsA could be reduced greatly due to the co-delivery by NLCs. Following S-NLCs and C-NLCs interventions in T cells of patients with RPL and immune abnormality, a significant difference was observed in transcription factors and cytokine levels of Th1, Th17, and Tregs compared with healthy samples. Thus, a higher level of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-17, and IL-21) and their regulators (T-bet and RORγt), as well as a lower level of an anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) and its regulatory (Foxp3), were observed. However, no significant difference was found following the S-C-NLCs intervention. Conclusions: S-C-NLCs effectively balance the immune responses in peripheral T cells in RPL patients to induce maternal immune tolerance.

The role of immune regulatory molecules in rheumatoid arthritis: Implication for etiopathogenesis and prospective for treatment.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is considered an autoimmune chronic disorder and the most common inflammatory arthropathy. Disease progression in RA begins with asymptomatic autoimmune responses in cases with a genetic or environmental predisposition, that alters to arthralgia phase as autoantibodies reach the joints and subjects begin demonstrating nonspecific musculoskeletal presentations lacking any clinical symptoms of synovial inflammation. After that, patients' symptoms develop to undifferentiated arthritis (UA)/idiopathic arthritis (IA) whenever the subjects progress to clinical synovitis systemic comorbidities affecting the vasculature, metabolism, and bone, and eventually with augmented immune cell infiltration, IA/UA patients progress to clinically classifiable RA. RA is mainly correlated with different immune cells and each of them contributes variously to the pathogenesis of the disease. The pathogenesis of RA is altered by the contribution of both T and B cells in an autoimmune irregularity. Modulation of the immune responses occurs through regulatory and inhibitory molecules that control activation of the adaptive system as well as immune hemostasis. To confine the exorbitant T cell-associated inflammatory reactions, the immune system provides a system of inhibitory feedbacks, collectively named immune checkpoints. In this review, we aimed to discuss about inhibitory members of immune checkpoint molecules, including programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)/PD-L1, cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte-antigen-4, lymphocyte activation gene-3, T cell immunoglobulin-3, V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation, B- and T-lymphocyte attenuator, and T cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain and their role in RA.

Does CCL19 act as a double-edged sword in cancer development?

Cancer is considered a life-threatening disease, and several factors are involved in its development. Chemokines are small proteins that physiologically exert pivotal roles in lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues. The imbalance or dysregulation of chemokines has contributed to the development of several diseases, especially cancer. CCL19 is one of the homeostatic chemokines that is abundantly expressed in the thymus and lymph nodes. This chemokine, which primarily regulates immune cell trafficking, is involved in cancer development. Through the induction of anti-tumor immune responses and inhibition of angiogenesis, CCL19 exerts tumor-suppressive functions. In contrast, CCL19 also acts as a tumor-supportive factor by inducing inflammation, cell growth, and metastasis. Moreover, CCL19 dysregulation in several cancers, including colorectal, breast, pancreatic, and lung cancers, has been considered a tumor biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis. Using CCL19-based therapeutic approaches has also been proposed to overcome cancer development. This review will shed more light on the multifarious function of CCL19 in cancer and elucidate its application in diagnosis, prognosis, and even therapy. It is expected that the study of CCL19 in cancer might be promising to broaden our knowledge of cancer development and might introduce novel approaches in cancer management.

The role of Th17 cells in the pathogenesis and treatment of breast cancer.

Breast cancer is a severe problem worldwide due to an increase in mortality and prevalence among women. Despite early diagnostic procedures as well as advanced therapies, more investigation is required to find new treatment targets. Various factors and mechanisms, such as inflammatory conditions, can play a crucial role in cancer progression. Among them, Th17 cells are identified as effective CD4+ T cells that play an essential role in autoimmune diseases and inflammation which may be associated with anti-tumor responses. In addition, Th17 cells are one of the main factors involved in cancer, especially breast cancer via the inflammatory process. In tumor immunity, the exact mechanism of Th17 cells is not entirely understood and seems to have a dual function in tumor development. Various studies have reported that cytokines secreted by Th17 cells are in close relation to cancer stem cells and tumor microenvironment. Therefore, they play a critical role in the growth, proliferation, and invasion of tumor cells. On the other hand, most studies have reported that T cells suppress the growth of tumor cells by the induction of immune responses. In patients with breast cancer compared to normal individuals, various studies have been reported that the Th17 population dramatically increases in peripheral blood which results in cancer progression. It seems that Th17 cells by creating inflammatory conditions through the secretion of cytokines, including IL-22, IL-17, TNF-α, IL-21, and IL-6, can significantly enhance breast cancer progression. Therefore, to identify the mechanisms and factors involved in the activation and development of Th17 cells, they can provide an essential role in preventing breast cancer progression. In the present review, the role of Th17 cells in breast cancer progression and its therapeutic potential was investigated.

The molecular biology and therapeutic potential of Nrf2 in leukemia.

NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) transcription factor has contradictory roles in cancer, which can act as a tumor suppressor or a proto-oncogene in different cell conditions (depending on the cell type and the conditions of the cell environment). Nrf2 pathway regulates several cellular processes, including signaling, energy metabolism, autophagy, inflammation, redox homeostasis, and antioxidant regulation. As a result, it plays a crucial role in cell survival. Conversely, Nrf2 protects cancerous cells from apoptosis and increases proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. It promotes resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy in various solid tumors and hematological malignancies, so we want to elucidate the role of Nrf2 in cancer and the positive point of its targeting. Also, in the past few years, many studies have shown that Nrf2 protects cancer cells, especially leukemic cells, from the effects of chemotherapeutic drugs. The present paper summarizes these studies to scrutinize whether targeting Nrf2 combined with chemotherapy would be a therapeutic approach for leukemia treatment. Also, we discussed how Nrf2 and NF-κB work together to control the cellular redox pathway. The role of these two factors in inflammation (antagonistic) and leukemia (synergistic) is also summarized.

Dual Blockade of PD-1 and LAG3 Immune Checkpoints Increases Dendritic Cell Vaccine Mediated T Cell Responses in Breast Cancer Model.

PURPOSE: Increasing the efficiency of unsuccessful immunotherapy methods is one of the most important research fields. Therefore, the use of combination therapy is considered as one of the ways to increase the effectiveness of the dendritic cell (DC) vaccine. In this study, the inhibition of immune checkpoint receptors such as LAG3 and PD-1 on T cells was investigated to increase the efficiency of T cells in response to the DC vaccine. METHODS: We used trimethyl chitosan-dextran sulfate-lactate (TMC-DS-L) nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with siRNA molecules to quench the PD-1 and LAG3 checkpoints' expression. RESULTS: Appropriate physicochemical characteristics of the generated NPs led to efficient inhibition of LAG3 and PD-1 on T cells, which was associated with increased survival and activity of T cells, ex vivo. Also, treating mice with established breast tumors (4T1) using NPs loaded with siRNA molecules in combination with DC vaccine pulsed with tumor lysate significantly inhibited tumor growth and increased survival in mice. These ameliorative effects were associated with increased anti-tumor T cell responses and downregulation of immunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment and spleen. CONCLUSION: These findings strongly suggest that TMC-DS-L NPs loaded with siRNA could act as a novel tool in inhibiting the expression of immune checkpoints in the tumor microenvironment. Also, combination therapy based on inhibition of PD-1 and LAG3 in combination with DC vaccine is an effective method in treating cancer that needs to be further studied.

Combination Cancer Immunotherapy with Dendritic Cell Vaccine and Nanoparticles Loaded with Interleukin-15 and Anti-beta-catenin siRNA Significantly Inhibits Cancer Growth and Induces Anti-Tumor Immune Response.

PURPOSE: The invention and application of new immunotherapeutic methods can compensate for the inefficiency of conventional cancer treatment approaches, partly due to the inhibitory microenvironment of the tumor. In this study, we tried to inhibit the growth of cancer cells and induce anti-tumor immune responses by silencing the expression of the ß-catenin in the tumor microenvironment and transmitting interleukin (IL)-15 cytokine to provide optimal conditions for the dendritic cell (DC) vaccine. METHODS: For this purpose, we used folic acid (FA)-conjugated SPION-carboxymethyl dextran (CMD) chitosan (C) nanoparticles (NPs) to deliver anti-ß-catenin siRNA and IL-15 to cancer cells. RESULTS: The results showed that the codelivery of ß-catenin siRNA and IL-15 significantly reduced the growth of cancer cells and increased the immune response. The treatment also considerably stimulated the performance of the DC vaccine in triggering anti-tumor immunity, which inhibited tumor development and increased survival in mice in two different cancer models. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the use of new nanocarriers such as SPION-C-CMD-FA could be an effective way to use as a novel combination therapy consisting of ß-catenin siRNA, IL-15, and DC vaccine to treat cancer.

A comprehensive review of chemokine CXC17 (VCC1) in cancer, infection, and inflammation.

A crucial component of the immune system are chemokiness. Chemokine's dysregulation has been linked to a number of pathological diseases. Recently, CXCL17, a chemokine belonging to the CXC subfamily, was identified. With regard to a number of physiological conditions and disorders, CXCL17 either has homeostatic or pathogenic effects. Some research suggests that CXCL17 is an orphan ligand, despite the fact that G protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 35 has been suggested as a possible receptor for CXCL17. Since CXCL17 is primarily secreted by mucosal epithelia, such as those in the digestive and respiratory tracts, under physiological circumstances, this chemokine is referred to as a mucosal chemokine. Macrophages and monocytes are the cells that express GPR35 and hence react to CXCL17. In homeostatic conditions, this chemokine has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and chemotactic properties. CXCL17 promotes angiogenesis, metastasis, and cell proliferation in pathologic circumstances like malignancies. However, other studies suggest that CXCL17 may have anti-tumor properties. Additionally, studies have shown that CXCL17 may have a role in conditions such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, multiple sclerosis, asthma, and systemic sclerosis. Additionally, deregulation of CXCL17 in some diseases may serve as a biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis. Clarifying the underlying mechanism of CXCL17's activity in homeostatic and pathological situations may thus increase our understanding of its role and hold promise for the development of novel treatment strategies.

The Role of the IL-33/ST2 Immune Pathway in Autoimmunity: New Insights and Perspectives.

Interleukin (IL)-33, a member of IL-1 cytokine family, is produced by various immune cells and acts as an alarm to alert the immune system after epithelial or endothelial cell damage during cell necrosis, infection, stress, and trauma. The biological functions of IL-33 largely depend on its ligation to the corresponding receptor, suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (ST2). The pathogenic roles of this cytokine have been implicated in several disorders, including allergic disease, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disease, infectious disease, and cancers. However, alerted levels of IL-33 may result in either disease amelioration or progression. Genetic variations of IL33 gene may confer protective or susceptibility risk in the onset of autoimmune diseases. The purpose of this review is to discuss the involvement of IL-33 and ST2 in the pathogenesis of a variety of autoimmune disorders, such as autoimmune rheumatic, neurodegenerative, and endocrine diseases.

TIGIT and CD155 as Immune-Modulator Receptor and Ligand on CD4+ T cells in Preeclampsia Patients.

One of the main characteristics of preeclampsia (PE) is systemic inflammation. CD4+ FoxP3+ cells play a critical role in both fetomaternal tolerance and successful pregnancy. T-cell immunoglobulin, as well as immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (ITIM) domain (TIGIT)/CD155 pathway, possesses critical parts in the development of normal pregnancy by promoting regulatory T (Treg) cells. However, in PE, the relationship between TIGIT/CD155 and Treg differentiation has not been entirely clarified. In the current report, we aimed to assess the frequency of TIGIT and CD155 expressing TCD4+ cells in both PE and healthy pregnant women, as well as evaluating the amount of inflammatory and inhibitory cytokines at both mRNA and protein levels before and after blocking TIGIT and CD155. In the present report, 59 healthy, and 52 PE patients were designated to obtain their venous blood. The isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was performed from the blood samples, and PBMCs were then cultured in the RPMI1640 medium. The percentage of CD155+ and TIGIT+ CD4+ cells was assessed by flow cytometry in PBMCs. Cell culture supernatants were utilized to evaluate the secretory levels of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß), interleukin (IL)-10, IL-17, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and IL-1 ß, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique in pregnant women with or without PE both before and after blocking TIGIT and CD155. The mRNA expression of Foxp3, TIGIT, CD155, SHP-1, TGF-ß, IL-10, IL-17, TNF-α, and IL-1ß was also assessed by qRT-PCR in PBMCs before and after blocking TIGIT and CD155 in both populations. The data showed a significant decrease in the frequency of TIGIT+ CD4+ and CD155+ CD4+ T cells in PE women, compared to the control group. Our results showed decreased protein and mRNA levels of TIGIT, CD155, IL-10, FOXP3, and SHP-1 in PE patients. In addition, significant improvements in the levels of IL-17, TNF-α, and IL-1ß were observed in PE patients, as compared with the controls. However, blocking TIGIT and CD155 could increase these inflammatory cytokines and decrease anti-inflammatory cytokines. The data obtained in this report illustrated that there existed an imbalance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory profiles, with an inflammatory status polarization, in PE patients. Additionally, TIGIT/CD155 showed a positive effect on immune regulation by activating ITIM, demonstrating the potential therapeutic value of the TIGIT/CD155 pathway in PE treatment. Also, using some proteins or materials that increased TIGIT/CD155 pathways activity and can be a therapeutic approach in PE.

Evaluation of CD39, CD73, HIF-1α, and their related miRNAs expression in decidua of preeclampsia cases compared to healthy pregnant women.

BACKGROUND: The Preeclampsia (PE) molecular mechanisms are not fully revealed and different biological processes are involved in the pathogenesis of PE. We aimed to evaluate adenosine and hypoxia-related signaling molecules in PE patients in the current study. METHODS: Decidua tissue and peripheral blood samples were taken from 25 healthy pregnant and 25 PE women at delivery time. CD39, CD73, and Hypoxia-inducible factor-alpha (HIF-α) were evaluated in mRNA and protein level using real-time PCR and western blotting techniques, respectively. Also, miR-30a, miR-206, and miR-18a expression were evaluated by real-time PCR. At last, secretion levels of IGF and TGF-ß in the taken serum of blood samples were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Our results revealed that Expression of CD39 is decreased in PE cases versus healthy controls at mRNA and protein levels (p = 0.0003 for both). CD73 and HIF-α showed an increased level of expression in PE patients at RNA and protein status (p = 0.0157 and p < 0.0001 for protein evaluation of CD73 and HIF-α, respectively). The miRNA-30a (p = 0.0037) and miR-206 (p = 0.0113) showed elevated expression in the decidua of the PE group. The concentration of secreted IGF-1 (p = 0.0002) and TGF-ß (p = 0.0101) in serum samples of PE cases compared to the healthy group were decreased. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our results showed that aberrant expression of molecules that are involved in ATP catabolism and the hypoxic conditions is observed in PE cases and involved in their hypertension and inflammation could be served as PE prognosis by more confirming in comprehensive future studies. miR-206 and miR-30a play a role by regulating CD39 and CD73 as molecules that are involved in ATP catabolism as well as regulating the production of IGF-1 in the process of hypertension, which is the main feature in patients with preeclampsia. On the other hand, decreased level of miR-18a lead to upregulation of HIF-1a, and the consequence condition of hypoxia increases hypertension and inflammation in these patients.

Th17 and Treg cells function in SARS-CoV2 patients compared with healthy controls.

In the course of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), raising and reducing the function of Th17 and Treg cells, respectively, elicit hyperinflammation and disease progression. The current study aimed to evaluate the responses of Th17 and Treg cells in COVID-19 patients compared with the control group. Forty COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) patients were compared with 40 healthy controls. The frequency of cells, gene expression of related factors, as well as the secretion levels of cytokines, were measured by flow cytometry, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques, respectively. The findings revealed a significant increase in the number of Th17 cells, the expression levels of related factors (RAR-related orphan receptor gamma [RORγt], IL-17, and IL-23), and the secretion levels of IL-17 and IL-23 cytokines in COVID-19 patients compared with controls. In contrast, patients had a remarkable reduction in the frequency of Treg cells, the expression levels of correlated factors (Forkhead box protein P3 [FoxP3], transforming growth factor-ß [TGF-ß], and IL-10), and cytokine secretion levels (TGF-ß and IL-10). The ratio of Th17/Treg cells, RORγt/FoxP3, and IL-17/IL-10 had a considerable enhancement in patients compared with the controls and also in dead patients compared with the improved cases. The findings showed that enhanced responses of Th17 cells and decreased responses of Treg cells in 2019-n-CoV patients compared with controls had a strong relationship with hyperinflammation, lung damage, and disease pathogenesis. Also, the high ratio of Th17/Treg cells and their associated factors in COVID-19-dead patients compared with improved cases indicates the critical role of inflammation in the mortality of patients.