Immunomodulatory features of MSC-derived exosomes decorated with DC-specific aptamer for improving sublingual immunotherapy in allergic mouse model.

Introduction: Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is an effective and injection-free route for allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT). Mesenchymal stromal/stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes (Exo) has been identified as a novel delivery platform with immunomodulatory capacities. In addition, targeting agents such as aptamers (Apt) have been extensively used for specific delivery approaches such as direct delivery of allergen formulations to dendritic cells (DC) to improve the efficacy of specific immunotherapy.

The Effect of Exosomes Isolated from Poly (I:C) Treated Human Wharton's Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells on CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a potential cell therapy candidate for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases due to their multilineage capacity and immune modulating function. MSCs exert immunomodulatory effects on target cells through the secretion of exosomes. Inflammatory conditions such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs) engagement can change the biological functions and immunomodulatory activities of MSCs and the contents of exosomes derived from MSCs are changed.

Sublingual prophylactic administration of OVA-loaded MSC-derived exosomes to prevent allergic sensitization.

Aim: This study evaluated the immunomodulatory and delivery potential of adipose tissue-isolated MSC-derived exosomes as a prophylactic regimen through a sublingual route in the ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma murine model.

Material And Methods: Balb/c mice received 10 μg/dose of OVA-enriched MSC-derived exosomes as a prophylactic regimen in six doses during three weeks, and then OVA sensitization was conducted through intraperitoneal and aerosol administration of allergen. The total cells and eosinophils counted in nasal lavage fluid (NALF) and lung tissues were assessed for histopathological analysis.

Immune response modulation by allergen loaded into mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes as an effective carrier through sublingual immunotherapy.

Background: Allergen-specific sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) was considered an interesting needle-free alternative for subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT). Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes were introduced as potent nanoscale delivery systems with immunomodulatory potentials. The current study investigated the therapeutic efficacy of SLIT using ovalbumin (OVA)-enriched MSC-derived exosomes formulation in a murine model of allergic asthma.

Allergen specific immunotherapy with plasmid DNA encoding OVA-immunodominant T cell epitope fused to Tregitope in a murine model of allergy.

Background: Peptide-based immunotherapy (PIT) was introduced as an attractive approach in allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT). However, PIT clinical trials have shown variable results, and immune response to peptides is not precisely predictable. On the other hand, induction of antigen-specific tolerance may be augmented when allergens are combined with the regulatory T cell epitope (Tregitope).

CpG Island Methylation of the Rap1Gap Gene in Medullary Thyroid Cancer.

Background: Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a rare type of neuroendocrine tumor. This study aimed to investigate the gene and protein expression of and DNA methylation patterns of its CpG74 , CpG74 , and CpG24 in an Iranian population with MTC.

Methods: In this case-control study, we selected 55 individuals who underwent thyroidectomy in Erfan hospital, Tehran, between 2018 and 2020.

Tranilast as an Adjunctive Therapy in Hospitalized Patients with Severe COVID- 19: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Tranilast is a potential NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor that may relieve progressive inflammation due to COVID-19.

Aim Of The Study: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of Tranilast in combination with antiviral drugs in non-ICU-admitted hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Methods: This study was an open-label clinical trial that included 72 hospitals admitted patients with severe COVID-19 at Razi Hospital, Ahvaz, Iran, from July 2020-August 2020.

Antiinflammatory potential of nano-curcumin as an alternative therapeutic agent for the treatment of mild-to-moderate hospitalized COVID-19 patients in a placebo-controlled clinical trial.

The present study conducted a placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the impact of nano-curcumin on the inflammatory cytokines in mild-to-moderate hospitalized COVID-19 patients. A total of 60 COVID-19 patients were randomly divided into nano-curcumin and control groups, and then they received 240 mg/day nano-curcumin for 7 days. The clinical manifestation and laboratory parameters in patients were recorded on days 0 and seven.

Molecular diagnosis of maturity onset diabetes of the young in Iranian patients: improving management.

Background: The purpose of this study is to identify the mutations of the most common form of maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), also known as MODY3, in diabetic patients suspected of MODY. This can recommend appropriate medical surveillance of at-risk family members of MODY based on the genetic cause.

Methods: We analyzed the clinical course of 19 patients from 12 unrelated Iranian families with diabetes features.

RAP1GAP Functions as a Tumor Suppressor Gene and Is Regulated by DNA Methylation in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer.

Inactivation of tumor suppressor genes, such as RAP1GAP, by hypermethylation of their regulatory region can give rise to thyroid tumors. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the RAP1GAP gene and the DNA methylation patterns of its CpG74a, CpG74b, and CpG24 in an Iranian population with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). In this study, 160 individuals who underwent thyroidectomy in the Tehran Erfan Hospital between 2018 and 2020 were selected.

Metal-coded hydrogel magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer for preconcentration and cleanup of sarcosine: Determination in urine; coupled to on-column capillary electrophoresis.

In this study, sarcosine metal-coded hydrogel magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (Hydro-MeC-MMIP) has been fabricated and coupled to on-column derivatization capillary electrophoresis (CE). As a metal-coding approach, sarcosine-Cu-ligand (Sar-Cu-L) chelate complex was introduced as a template to overcome the problems associated with the fabrication of MMIP for a small molecule having limited functional groups such as sarcosine. To our best knowledge, it is the first time that methacrylamide (MA) coated FeO (FeO@MA) with abounded reactive double-bound on the surface has been used as a magnetic core in the one-pot synthesis of MMIPs.

Comparing Oxidative Stress Status Among Iranian Males and Females with Malignant and Non-malignant Thyroid Nodules.

Background: Oxidative stress is commonly accrued in thyroid tissue during hormone synthesis.

Objectives: We aimed to examine oxidative stress in patients with thyroid cancer, benign thyroid nodules, and healthy individuals.

Methods: In this study, 138 individuals were involved.

Increased frequency of CD4CD25 CD127 regulatory T cells in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS), one of the most common diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), is characterized by demyelination and chronic inflammation of the CNS. Failure of immune tolerance and induced autoimmune processes are involved in MS immunopathogenesis. Regulatory T (Treg) cells play an important role in maintaining peripheral tolerance and immune homeostasis.

Evaluation of immunogenicity and protective effect of DNA vaccine encoding surface antigen1 (SAG1) of Toxoplasma gondii and TLR-5 ligand as a genetic adjuvant against acute toxoplasmosis in BALB/c mice.

Aims: Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular, protozoan that causes a high incidence of serious zoonotic parasitic disease in humans. In the present study the immune-protective efficacy of a DNA vaccine encoding SAG1 in combination with a gene sequence encoding FliC of Salmonella typhimurium (Toll-like receptor 5 agonist) was evaluated against acute T. gondii infection in mice.

MafA Overexpression: A New Efficient Protocol for In Vitro Differentiation of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Functional Insulin-Producing Cells.

Objective: We proposed a novel differentiation method for the efficient differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) into functional insulin-producing cells (IPCs) based on overexpression.

Materials And Methods: In this experimental study, a eukaryotic expression vector containing [/pcDNA3.1(+)] was constructed and purified.

Association study between two polymorphisms of tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 15 (TNFSF15) gene and ulcerative colitis in south-west of Iran.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is the most prevalent clinical manifestation of the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Several candidate genes have been suggested to be involved in the genetic susceptibility or resistance in the development of UC. Among them, tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 15 (TNFSF15) have been reported in association with IBD in several studies.

The combined effect of overexpression and Shh manipulation on the function of insulin-producing cells derived from adipose-tissue stem cells.

Pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (Pdx1) and Sonic hedgehog (Shh) are the key regulators of beta-cell function. experiments have shown that there is significant cooperation between Pdx1 and Shh with regard to the production and maintenance of insulin-producing cells (IPCs). In this study, the combined effect of overexpression and Shh manipulation on the function of adipose tissue-derived IPCs was determined.

rpoB gene mutations among Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from extrapulmonary sites.

The aim of this study was to analyze mutations occurring in the rpoB gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolates from clinical samples of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB). Seventy formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples and fresh tissue samples from confirmed EPTB cases were analyzed. Nested PCR based on the rpoB gene was performed on the extracted DNAs, combined with cloning and subsequent sequencing.

Sonic hedgehog pathway suppression and reactivation accelerates differentiation of rat adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells toward insulin-producing cells.

Background Aims: Sonic hedgehog (Shh) is an intercellular signaling molecule that regulates pancreas development in mammals. Manipulation of Shh signaling pathway can be used as reliable approach to improve the generation of functional insulin-producing cells (IPCs) from mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs).

Methods: In the present study, a novel differentiation protocol was used to produce IPCs from adipose tissue-derived MSCs (ATDMSCs) based on sequential inhibition and reactivation of Shh pathway.

Expression and characterization of codon-optimized Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus Gn glycoprotein in insect cells.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a major cause of tick-borne viral hemorrhagic disease in the world. Despite of its importance as a deadly pathogen, there is currently no licensed vaccine against CCHF disease. The attachment glycoprotein of CCHFV (Gn) is a potentially important target for protective antiviral immune responses.

Facile synthesis of magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer: Perphenazine template and its application in urine and plasma analysis.

Synthesis of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and its surface modification with methacrylic acid (MAA) was performed simultaneously by adding Fe(2+)/Fe(3+) to an alkaline MAA solution under nitrogen atmosphere. MAA coated magnetite (Fe3O4@MAA) has abundant reactive double bonds on the surface that can initiate polymerization. Magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs) were synthesized through distillation-precipitation polymerization of MAA as monomer, perphenazine (PPZ) as template, and ethylene glycol di-methacrylate (EGDMA) as cross linker on Fe3O4@MAA, with concise control of experimental conditions in about 90min.

Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in extrapulmonary biopsy samples using PCR targeting IS6110, rpoB, and nested-rpoB PCR Cloning.

Present study was aimed to examine the diagnostic utility of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested PCR techniques for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) DNA in samples from patients with extra pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB). In total 80 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples comprising 70 samples with definite diagnosis of EPTB and 10 samples from known non- EPTB on the basis of histopathology examination, were included in the study. PCR amplification targeting IS6110, rpoB gene and nested PCR targeting the rpoB gene were performed on the extracted DNAs from 80 FFPE samples.

Cloning and Expression of Major Surface Antigen 1 Gene of Toxoplasma gondii RH Strain Using the Expression Vector pVAX1 in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells.

Background: Toxoplasmosis is an opportunistic protozoan infection with a high prevalence in a broad range of hosts infecting up to one-third of the world human population. Toxoplasmosis leads to serious medical problems in immunocompromised individuals and fetuses and also induces abortion and mortality in domestic animals. Therefore, there is a huge demand for the development of an effective vaccine.