Evaluation of MDR1 and MRPA genes expression in different types of dry cutaneous leishmaniasis.

OBJECTIVE: The resistance to antimony-containing glucantime is a major obstacle to successful treatment, especially in endemic areas. Looking the molecular mechanisms involved in this drug resistance will help in choosing the best treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of multidrug-resistance 1 (MDR1) and multidrug-resistance protein A (MRPA) genes in acute, chronic non-lupoid, and chronic lupoid forms of dry type cutaneous leishmaniasis (DTCL). RESULTS: MDR1 gene was over-expressed as 14.4- and 1.56-folds in the chronic lupoid and acute forms compared with the chronic non-lupoid form, respectively. Results comparison showed P < 0.05 between the chronic non-lupoid and acute groups, P < 0.01 between acute and chronic lupoid groups, and P < 0.001 between the chronic non-lupoid and chronic lupoid groups. MRPA gene was over-expressed as 266 and 17.7-fold in the chronic lupoid and chronic non-lupoid forms compared with the acute form, respectively. Statistical analysis showed P < 0.01 between the chronic non-lupoid and chronic lupoid groups, P < 0.05 between acute and chronic non-lupoid groups, and P < 0.001 between the acute and chronic lupoid groups.

The study of the serum level of IL-4, TGF-ß, IFN-γ, and IL-6 in overweight patients with and without diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Obesity increases the risk of diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension. We aimed to analyze the serum levels of cytokines that have relevance to the pathologies including, interleukin-4 (IL-4), transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and IL-6 cytokines of overweight men with DM and/or hypertension. METHODS: The study collected serum from 164 men. The sample population contained, 54 overweight men without DM or hypertension (control [CTL] group), 36 men with both DM and hypertension (DH group), 20 men with DM but no hypertension (D group), and 54 had hypertension without DM (H). RESULTS: The main results showed that the concentration of IFN-γ in the DH group was significantly higher than the D, H, and CTL groups, IL-6 in DH and D groups was significantly lower than the CTL group. The serum level of TGF-ß and IL-4 cytokines did not show any significant differences across the four groups. Serum levels of IL-6 were also significantly lower in untreated patients in D group than controls and in DH when compared with H groups. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, it appears that the proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines either play a significant role in the pathogenesis of hypertension and DM or serve as markers for these pathologies. Accordingly, increased serum levels of IFN-γ may participate in the pathogenesis of hypertension in the diabetic patients and decreased IL-6 is associated with type 2 DM.