Immunomodulation in leukemia: cellular aspects of anti-leukemic properties.

Immunomodulation is a mechanism that stimulates or inhibits immune responses under the influence of secretory mediators. This study will review the role of cytokines and chemotherapy in the modulation of immune responses in leukemia. We searched the PubMed database and Google scholar search engine of English-language papers (1995-2018) using the "Immunomodulation", "Leukemia", "Tregs", "Natural killer cells", "Mesenchymal stem cells", "Macrophages" and "chemotherapy" as keywords. In leukemias, T regulatory cells (Tregs), natural killer cells (NK), macrophages (MQs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) alter their functional and secretion patterns. Some of the changes in NK cells and classic MQ (M1) potentiate the immune responses against leukemia, but some Tregs changes will compromise the immune system. The effect of a cell on immunomodulation is in contrast to another cell, in which the cells are engaged in a competition so that a cell that having a higher effect on immunomodulation will be the contest winner. The outcome of immunomodulation in response to leukemia is determined by the ratio of stimulatory activity of NK cells and M1 to the inhibitory effect of Tregs, while the dual role of MSCs through immunomodulators and cytokines can be effective in weakening/enhancing the immune response.

Effect of curcumin on gene expression and protein level of methionine sulfoxide reductase A (MSRA), SOD, CAT and GPx in Freund's adjuvant inflammation-induced male rats.

OBJECTIVE: Curcumin is the well-known compound which is extracted from turmeric powder, the dried rhizome of the Curcuma longa Linn. This have been used for the treatment of various disorders including inflammation. In this study we have analyzed the effect of curcumin on arthritis induced by adjuvant in rats, considering changes in methionine sulfoxide reductase A (MSRA) expression and antioxidant enzymes levels. METHODS: Five groups of adult male Wistar rats (n=10), were randomly selected as control, placebo, experimental 1, 2 and 3. The induction of arthritis was carried out by injection of 0.1 ml adjuvant in plantar region. The first experimental group received no curcumin treatment, whereas the experimental two and three received curcumin (1 and 2 g/kg daily) respectively, for fourteen days. MSRA gene expression was assessed by real-time PCR and protein levels of MSRA, SOD, CAT and GPx were analyzed via ELISA method. RESULTS: The results showed no significant weight changes among the groups during the experimental period and the paw swelling caused by adjuvant was recovered within fourteen days of treatment with curcumin. However, the levels of enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were increased by a dose dependent manner. These results also illustrated that the gene expression and protein level of MSRA in groups treated with curcumin increased significantly (p≤0.05). CONCLUSION: We concluded that the curcumin can be used against inflammation. The increasing level of MSRA can be due to the antioxidant effect of curcumin. The enzymatic level changes (MSRA, SOD, CAT and GPx) may interfere with the aging process and delay it.