Intensity of HLA-A2 Expression Significantly Decreased in Occult Hepatitis B Infection.

BACKGROUND: Occult hepatitis B infected (OBI) patients cannot eradicate hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA from their liver and peripheral blood, completely. OBJECTIVES: The main aim of this study was to investigate the rate of HLA-A2 expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with OBI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, intensity of HLA-A2 was measured on the PBMCs of 57 OBI patients and 100 HBsAg-/anti-HBc+/HBV-DNA samples were enrolled as controls; measurements were performed using the flow cytometry technique. RESULTS: Flow cytometric analysis indicated that 19 (33.3%) OBI patients and 28 (28%) controls expressed HLA-A2 antigen on their PBMCs. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the rate of individuals expressing HLA-A2 antigen. Statistical analyses showed that the intensity of HLA-A2 expression significantly decreased in OBI patients (3.58 ± 0.1) in comparison to healthy controls (4.21 ± 0.25; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: According to these results it can be concluded that decreased intensity of HLA-A2 on the PBMCs of OBI patients may lead to resistance of HBV in the patients.

All eotaxins CCL11, CCL24 and CCL26 are increased but to various extents in pulmonary tuberculosis patients.

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a pulmonary pathogen responsible for tuberculosis. Tuberculosis (TB) is characterized histologically by granulomas at the site of disease activity. Primary pathologic feature of TB is formation of a granuloma, and chemokines are known to play an important role in the formation of granulomas during infection. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of CCL11, CCL24, and CCL26 in the TB patients in comparison to healthy controls. METHODS: The population of this cross-sectional study included 300 patients suffering from TB and 100 healthy controls. Concentrations of CCL11, CCL24, and CCL26 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. The results were analyzed using SPSS software package version 18. Differences were considered significant where p was less than 0.05. RESULTS: The results showed significant elevated serum levels of CCL11, CCL24, and CCL26 in TB patients compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: According to the present results it can be concluded that CCL11, CCL24, and CCL26 (which are produced by Th2 cells and other cells which induce Th2 development) are increased in TB patients; hence, it seems that TB suppresses Th1 and the classic function of macrophages subsequently by inducing the chemokines' expression.

Dose Ramadan Fasting Affects Inflammatory Responses: Evidences for Modulatory Roles of This Unique Nutritional Status via Chemokine Network.

OBJECTIVE(S): The impact of fasting in Ramadan as a unique type of nutritional regimen on biochemical and hematological parameters is still an issue of debate. Almost very little is known regarding the regulatory role(s) of this nutritional status on immune responses or inflammation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The levels of biochemical parameters were determined using commercial diagnostic kits. Hematological parameters were also examined. We also employed ELISA for detection of CXCL1, CXCL10 and CXCL12 chemokines. The Student-T test was used to compare the values of different parameters obtained in the first and last day of Ramadan fasting by employing SPSS (version 18) software. RESULTS: As our findings demonstrated, there was a markedly difference between before and after Ramadan BMI of the individuals who fast. Our results also revealed that there was a remarkable difference between the levels of total cholesterol, FBS, Triglycerides and LDL before and after Ramadan fasting. RESULTS revealed that among studied hematological parameters only the numbers of platelets were markedly different before and after Ramadan fasting program in individuals who practice fasting. Our results also showed decreased levels of pro-inflammatory CXC chemokines but unaltered levels of homoeostatic ones. CONCLUSION: The results of this study may reveal that Ramadan fasting is quite safe for normal healthy adults and so very useful in reduction of cholesterol and triglycerides in relation with dyslipidemia. It is also possible to conclude that fasting is important in controlling of inflammation via chemokines.