RESUMO
Blastocystis hominis is highly prevalent with respiratory allergies among Egyptian children. Yet, little is known about the possible immunological relationship. Aims of this study were to measure complement-3 (C-3), total and specific IgE to intestinal allergens in patients' serum regarding the identified B. hominis genotypes. In a cross-sectional study, three hundred children (150 asthmatics and 150 non asthmatics) participated in the study from both sexes, mean age 7.5 ± SD (3-4) years after a questionnaire administration. PCR-based genotyping of B. hominis selective in vitro cultivation was performed. C-3, total and specific IgE were all measured in patients' serum utilizing ELISA. Blastocystosis was detected in 100 out of 300 children, 65 (43.3%) out of 150 asthmatics and 35 (23.3%) out of 150 non-asthmatics. Vacuolar forms were the most prevalent in both direct wet mount and stool cultures. Forty (61.5%) out 65 asthmatics and 5 (14.2%) out of 35 non-asthmatics were ≥ 5 organisms/HPF. Sex and irritable bowel disease were statistically insignificant (p value < 0.05). Urticaria was coincided in 15.4% of asthmatics and 8.6% of non-asthmatics. Of 100 cases of blastocystosis, eighty-four were genotype-3 and sixteen were genotype-4. Out of these, 55 cases of genotype-3 and 6 cases of genotype-4 were asthmatics. Positive C-3 serum levels were in 46 (54.81%) of genotype-3 and 2 (12.5%) of genotype-4. High total IgE levels in 30 (35.7%) out of 84 cases of genotype-3 and 4 (25%) out of 16 cases of genotype-4. Positive specific IgE was in 25 (29.8%) of genotype-3 and 3 (18.75%) of genotype-4. Genotype-3 was of higher infection intensity (p value = 0.0001). In conclusion, B. hominis possess a hidden allergy triggering impact that can be obscured by simultaneous high (total and specific) IgE levels towards specific common intestinal allergens. Blastocystosis induces allergy by increasing C-3 serum levels in a genotype-dependent manner being higher in genotype-3. Virulence of genotype-3 seems to stand beyond increased parasite intensity and wide absorption of intestinal allergens that indirectly elevate IgE serum levels.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The precise origin of Pre-eclampsia (PE) remains elusive. Multiple pieces of evidence support the existence of hypoxia in PE. MiRNA-210 (miR-210), which is induced by Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α (HIF-1α) during hypoxia, is one of the most hypoxia sensitive miRNAs. MiR-210 mediates these functions by regulating a lot of target mRNAs. Protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-receptor type 2 (PTPN2) was one of miR-210 targets and was found to be down regulated by hypoxia. OBJECTIVE: To assess the levels of relative expression of miR-210 and its target PTPN2 in Egyptian women with PE. This is in order to clarify their possible role in the progression of PE and their relation to each other and to different clinicopathological factors. STUDY DESIGN: Group1 included 35 normal primigravida and group 2 included 35 primigravida patients with PE. PE group was subdivided into-mild and severe (PE). Total RNA was extracted from placental tissue samples and Real-Time PCR was performed on the extracted RNA. RESULTS: There was a highly significant difference between the studied groups as regards fold change of placental miR-210 and PTPN2 (P<0.01). There was a highly significant negative correlation between miR-210 and PTPN2 RQ among the studied groups and among the preeclampsia group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that placental expression of miR-210 was up regulated in pregnancies complicated with PE in comparison to normal pregnancies. This increase in miR-210 resulted in down regulation of its target PTPN2 mRNA and this can have a direct role in the pathogenesis of the PE disease. Additionally, both miR-210 & PTPN2 relative expression could differentiate between mild & severe PE.
