Serum Copper and Zinc Levels Among Iranian Vitiligo Patients.

Introduction: Vitiligo is a chronic skin disease, which its etiopathogenesis is not fully understood. Numerous studies have suggested that oxidative stress may play a role in the pathophysiology of vitiligo. There are controversial reports as to the changes of serum trace elements, copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) levels in vitiligo patients. Objectives: We evaluated the alterations in the level of serum Cu and Zn among a group of Iranian vitiligo patients. Methods: The levels of serum Cu and Zn were compared between 117 vitiligo patients and 137 healthy controls using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results: The mean Cu and Zn levels in the cases (113.57 ± 59.43 and 95.01 ± 58.95 µg/dl, respectively) were significantly lower than those of the controls (138.90 ± 38.14 and 121.83 ± 33.80 µg/dl, respectively) (P = 0.00). We also observed significantly lower serum Cu and Zn concentrations in young (< 50 years) than the elderly (≥ 50 years) patients (P = 0.00). The mean Cu and Zn levels in the patients with generalized vitiligo (111.63±54.18 and 93.11±59.33 µg/dl, respectively) were significantly lower than patients with localized vitiligo (120.74 ±71.64 and 98.69±58.63 µg/dl, respectively) and those in the control (P = 0.00). The serum Cu/Zn ratio obtained in the young and male patients was higher than those in their matched controls (P = 0.01). Conclusions: The current study has shown that the disturbance of serum Cu and Zn levels is associated with vitiligo, and may play an important role in the disease development of Iranian patients.

Decreased levels of interleukin 27 in the serum of vitiligo patients

Abstract Background: Vitiligo is a common skin disorder in which melanocytes are destroyed by auto-reactive immune responses. The loss of melanocytes results in the appearance of depigmented areas in different parts of the body. Cytokines have remarkable roles in the pathogenesis of vitiligo, such as IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α; interleukin 27 (IL-27) is a new member of the IL-6/IL-12 family, mainly released by activated antigen-presenting cells. IL-27 has been suggested to function as a pro-inflammatory as well as an anti-inflammatory cytokine. Altered concentrations of IL-27 have been shown in various auto-immune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis. No studies have been conducted to determine the expression of this cytokine in vitiligo patients. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the serum concentration of IL-27 in vitiligo patients and compare it with normal individuals. Methods: The serum concentration of IL-27 in 79 vitiligo patients was evaluated in comparison to 45 healthy controls using ELISA assay. Results: Results showed decreased concentration of IL-27 in vitiligo patients as compared with healthy subjects (p = 0.026). Furthermore, no correlation between IL-27 concentrations and disease parameters such as vitiligo severity and the extension of the depigmented area was observed. Study limitation: A larger sample size would be more recommended for this study. Conclusion: The reduction in the serum levels of IL-27 in vitiligo patients compared to normal subjects suggested the possible anti-inflammatory role of this cytokine in vitiligo. Thus, IL-27 may be considered as a new target for the manipulation of the immune system in vitiligo patients.

Decreased levels of interleukin 27 in the serum of vitiligo patients.

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is a common skin disorder in which melanocytes are destroyed by auto-reactive immune responses. The loss of melanocytes results in the appearance of depigmented areas in different parts of the body. Cytokines have remarkable roles in the pathogenesis of vitiligo, such as IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α; interleukin 27 (IL-27) is a new member of the IL-6/IL-12 family, mainly released by activated antigen-presenting cells. IL-27 has been suggested to function as a pro-inflammatory as well as an anti-inflammatory cytokine. Altered concentrations of IL-27 have been shown in various auto-immune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis. No studies have been conducted to determine the expression of this cytokine in vitiligo patients. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the serum concentration of IL-27 in vitiligo patients and compare it with normal individuals. METHODS: The serum concentration of IL-27 in 79 vitiligo patients was evaluated in comparison to 45 healthy controls using ELISA assay. RESULTS: Results showed decreased concentration of IL-27 in vitiligo patients as compared with healthy subjects (p=0.026). Furthermore, no correlation between IL-27 concentrations and disease parameters such as vitiligo severity and the extension of the depigmented area was observed. STUDY LIMITATION: A larger sample size would be more recommended for this study. CONCLUSION: The reduction in the serum levels of IL-27 in vitiligo patients compared to normal subjects suggested the possible anti-inflammatory role of this cytokine in vitiligo. Thus, IL-27 may be considered as a new target for the manipulation of the immune system in vitiligo patients.

Variations in IL-22, IL-27 and IL-35 serum levels in untreated and treated hepatitis C patients.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the leading cause of chronic liver diseases including hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. We aimed to assess serum levels of interleukin (IL)-22, IL-27 and IL-35 in patients with hepatitis C and healthy controls to investigate their possible relationship with viral genotypes and liver enzyme levels. METHOD: A total of 30 newly diagnosed hepatitis C patients with no history of antiviral therapy and 30 healthy individuals participated in this study. Serum levels of IL-22, IL-27 and IL-35 were determined by ELISA in peripheral blood samples from patients prior to and following treament with pan-genotypic direct-acting anti-viral therapy. Serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured to determine any possible association between hepatic enzymes and cytokine serum levels concentrations. RESULT: The results show elevated serum levels of of IL-35 in HCV-infected patients compared to treated cases and healthy controls, whereas there was no significant difference in IL-22 and IL-27 serum levels among the three groups. Additionally, the cytokine levels were not significantly correlated with certain genotypes and levels of liver enzymes. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate a potential role for IL-35 in chronic HCV infection and therapeutic management of patients with hepatitis C infection.

Gender-Specific Association of Leptin and Adiponectin Genes With Multiple Sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Adipocytokines such as leptin (LEP) and adiponectin (ADIPOQ) represent a link between metabolism, nutritional status and immune responses. The present study aimed to determine the possible association between single nucleotide polymorphisms of LEP and ADIPOQ genes with multiple sclerosis (MS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single nucleotide polymorphisms in LEP (rs2167270 or 19G > A and rs7799039 or -2,548G > A) and ADIPOQ (rs1501299 or +276G > T and rs266729 or -11,377C > G) were genotyped in 305 patients and 255 healthy individuals using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Sera levels of leptin and adiponectin were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The frequencies of low leptin producer rs2167270GG genotype and rs2167270G allele were significantly lower in patients with MS compared to those of controls (for GG genotype: 39.7% and 49.8%, respectively; P = 0.01; for G allele: 63.3% and 68.8%, respectively; P = 0.05). Both polymorphisms in ADIPOQ did not show any significant association with disease susceptibility, though after gender categorization the frequency of high adiponectin producer rs1501299TT genotype and rs1501299T allele were significantly higher in male controls compared to male patients (TT genotype: P = 0.006; T allele: P = 0.006). Additionally, rs1501299TT genotype in ADIPOQ was associated with susceptibility to primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PP-MS) (P = 0.02). Moreover, while the sera levels of leptin were only different between male patients and controls (P = 0.05), adiponectin levels were significantly higher in total and female healthy controls (P < 0.001, P = 0.002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide evidence to support the hypothesis that functional ADIPOQ and LEP gene polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to MS and its clinical forms.

The influence of Bcl-2 and myeloid antigen expression on response to therapy in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

BACKGROUND: The possible prognostic significance of the expression of a variety of markers has been investigated in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). METHODS: In the present study we investigated the prognostic significance of CD13 and CD33 myeloid antigens (MY) aberrantly expressed on the blasts of ALL patients and Bcl-2 anti- apoptotic molecule expression in childhood ALL. RESULTS: Aberrant expression of MY occurred in 8.8% of cases. Variant levels of Bcl-2 were expressed in patients (44.2±25.5%), with more than 20% positivity for Bcl-2 in 64.7% of patients. Bcl-2+ patients survived 959±242 days compared to 1059+230 days for Bcl-2- patients (P=0.2). Corresponding data for complete remission duration was 682±170 and 716±173 days (P=0.3), respectively, indicating no significant association between survival and complete remission duration of patients with expression of the Bcl-2 molecule. Analysis of clinical response according to MY expression, however, showed significant association with survival and complete remission duration.  MY+ patients had shorter complete remission duration (383±58 days) and survival (473±68 days) than MY- patients (complete remission duration, 724±144 days; survival, 1045±186 days; P<0.001). Expression of Bcl-2 along with MY was not associated with a significant decrease in survival or complete remission duration. CONCLUSION: Results of this study indicated that expression of MY was a poor prognostic factor in childhood ALL. Bcl-2 expression in MY+ patients could not influence the response to therapy.  

Bcl-2 in combination to myeloid antigen expression in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia and prognostic outcome.

The present study was performed to find the importance of two myeloid (CD13 and CD33) antigens aberrantly expressed on the blasts of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients and Bcl-2 expression in relation to clinical and biological features and treatment outcome. Bone marrow or peripheral blood samples of 50 patients were assessed for the expression of markers by immunostaining methods. Twenty-one patients (42%) showed more than 20% positivity for Bcl-2. Aberrant expression of myeloid antigens was found in 14% of cases. The expression of Bcl-2 was associated with shorter survival (p = 0.009). A significant correlation between expression of myeloid antigens (MY) and survival and complete remission duration was found. The mean survival was 656 + 301 days for MY+ cases and 1009 +/- 230 days for MY- patients (p < 0.0001). Expression of Bcl-2 in combination to myeloid antigens was associated with a poorer outcome. Survival of MY+ patients expressing Bcl-2 was shorter than MY- Bcl-2+ and MY+ Bcl-2- ALL cases (p = 0.038). In conclusion, results of this study indicated the prognostic value of Bcl-2 and myeloid antigen expression in ALL patients. Presence of these markers together on the leukemic cells was associated with a poorer response to therapy and may implicate modified therapeutic strategies in the patients.

Androgen receptor expression in relation to apoptosis and the expression of cell cycle related proteins in prostate cancer.

The expression of several genes involved in the regulation of cell cycle and apoptosis may be regulated via the androgen receptor (AR) in the prostate. AR may have a role in the prognosis of prostatic carcinoma. The aim was to examine AR expression status and its relationship with markers of proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle control in prostate cancer. Expression of AR, bcl-2, bax, Ki-67 and p53 was examined in paraffin-embedded tissues from 50 cases of prostate carcinoma by immunohistochemistry and evaluated using an index of staining. Detection of apoptotic cells was performed by TUNEL method. Correlation between AR expression and apoptosis, proliferation index, bcl-2, bax and p53 and also clinicopathological parameters including stage, pathological grade and Gleason score were determined. AR expression was observed in all cases with mean expression of 81%+/-15 and mean staining index of 141+/-65. No correlation was found between AR expression and apoptosis detected in patients. The mean AR staining index was 170+/-72 in bcl-2 positive tumors versus 120+/-53 in bcl-2 negative tumors showing a significant association between AR and bcl-2 expression (p=0.015). AR expression also showed a significant association with bcl-2/bax ratio (r=0.321, p=0.023) and Ki-67 proliferation staining index (r=0.396, p=0.004). Although a significant correlation between Ki-67 and p53 with differentiation status of the tumors was observed (p<0.004) no correlation was found with AR. AR expression showed no prognostic value regarding its correlation with stage and differentiation status of the prostate carcinoma. However, its significant correlation with Ki-67 and bcl-2 that are markers of cell survival suggest its contribution to tumor cell progression.