Vitamin D3 Controls TLR4- and TLR2-Mediated Inflammatory Responses of Endometrial Cells.

Objectives: Vitamin D has potent immunoregulatory features and modulates innate and adaptive immune responses. There is a significant association between intrauterine infection-associated inflammatory responses and pregnancy complications such as abortion and preterm labor. Here, we investigated how 1,25 (OH)2 D3 could modulate inflammatory responses of endometrial cells.

Association Study of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of Endoplasmic Reticulum Aminopeptidase 1 and 2 Genes in Iranian Women with Preeclampsia.

Background: Endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidases 1 and 2 (ERAP1 and 2) are involved in blood pressure regulation and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of these genes have been linked to preeclampsia. This study intended to assess the association of and genes polymorphism with Iranian preeclamptic women.

Methods: In this case-control study, 148 preeclamptic and 133 pregnant women were selected from the Kosar Hospital, Qazvin, Iran, during 2013-2015.

Lipopolysaccharide- and Lipoteichoic Acid-mediated Pro-inflammatory Cytokine Production and Modulation of TLR2, TLR4 and MyD88 Expression in Human Endometrial Cells.

Background: Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated inflammatory processes are supposed to be involved in pathophysiology of spontaneous abortion and preterm labor. Here, we investigated functional responses of human endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) and whole endometrial cells (WECs) to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA).

Methods: Endometrial tissues were obtained from 15 cycling women who underwent laparoscopic tubal ligation.

Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-15 and interleukin-10 in patients with pre-eclampsia in comparison with normotensive pregnant women.

Background: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy associated disorder characterized by hyper-tension and proteinuria. The first 2 stages of PE cause dysfunction in uteroplacental perfusion and oxidative stress while the third stage of PE is due to the release of inflammatory and angiogenic factors, which could lead to maternal endothelial damage and systemic inflammatory response. In this study, we compared the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-15 (IL-15), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in PE and normotensive women.

Upregulation of CD200 is associated with Foxp3+ regulatory T cell expansion and disease progression in acute myeloid leukemia.

Immunosuppression in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an important mechanism of tumor escape. CD200, as an immunosuppressive molecule, is overexpressed in some hematological malignancies and it has also been shown to be an independent prognostic factor in AML. In the current study, simultaneous CD200 expression and Foxp3(+) regulatory T cell levels were investigated in Iranian patients with AML by flow cytometry.

Erythropoietin levels in aqueous humor of patients with glaucoma.

Purpose: To compare the aqueous concentration of erythropoietin (EPO) in eyes with primary open-angle (POAG), pseudoexfoliative (PXFG), and neovascular (NVG) glaucoma with age-matched eyes with cataracts, and to correlate its concentration with other factors including age, gender, intraocular pressure (IOP), type of glaucoma, and severity of glaucoma.

Methods: In this prospective non-randomized comparative study, a total of 26 eyes with cataracts (control group) and 92 glaucomatous eyes (POAG, 40 eyes; PXFG, 26 eyes; NVG, 26 eyes) were enrolled. Aqueous samples (0.

Effect of 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 on cytokine production by endometrial cells of women with repeated implantation failure.

Repeated implantation failure (RIF) is a worldwide health problem that imposes a great deal of cost on patients and health care system. Vitamin D(3) has been proposed to have positive impact on the process of implantation. The present study was performed to compare the effect of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D(3) (1,25(OH)(2)D(3)) on cytokine production by endometrial cells of women with RIF and healthy fertile controls.

Cytokine profile in the endometrium of normal fertile and women with repeated implantation failure.

Background: Repeated Implantation Failure (RIF) is one of the most intricate obstacles in assisted reproduction. The cytokine and chemokine composition of uterine cavity seem to play important roles in the implantation process.

Objective: To compare the cytokine profile in the endometrium of normal fertile women and those with repeated implantation failure.

Analysis of switched memory B cells in patients with IgA deficiency.

Background: Selective IgA deficiency (SIGAD) is the most common primary antibody deficiency, characterized by significant decreased serum levels of IgA in the presence of normal IgG and IgM. Despite several investigations into the nature of the disease, the exact pathophysiology of SIGAD is still unknown.

Methods: In this study, switched memory B cells (CD19+/CD27+/IgD- cell population) of 28 patients with SIGAD and 28 matched healthy controls were investigated using flow cytometry.

Association of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-10 gene polymorphisms in Iranian patients with pre-eclampsia.

Problem: Considering that certain cytokines may change during pre-eclampsia (PE), because of functional polymorphisms in their genes, our purpose was to determine the association between tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) gene polymorphisms and development of PE.

Method Of Study: The genetic polymorphisms of TNF-alpha and IL-10 was studied by polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primers in the DNA of peripheral blood cell from 160 patients with PE and 100 healthy pregnant women.

Results: We found a significant difference between TNF-alpha A allele (-308) and G allele (-238) in PE patients compared with those of the control groups.

Increased natural killer cell cytotoxicity and IL-2 production in recurrent spontaneous abortion.

Problem: To determine whether natural killer (NK) cells cytotoxicity in peripheral blood is altered in patients with a history of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA); also, if there is any correlation between cytokine production and NK cytotoxicity.

Method Of Study: In this case-control study, 21 patients with RSA within 24 hr of the last abortion (group I), and 32 pregnants with no history of abortion (group II) were surveyed. NK cell cytotoxicity was evaluated by flow cytometry, and IL-2, IL-10, transforming growth factor beta1 were measured in cell culture supernatant by ELISA method.

Serum cytokines profiles in Iranian patients with preeclampsia.

Background: Preeclampsia is a major cause of mortality and morbidity and is also a leading cause of preterm birth and intrauterine growth retardation. Several studies have reported abnormal levels of cytokines in women with preeclampsia.

Objectives: To detect serum levels of various cytokines in pregnant women with and without preeclampsia in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in recurrent miscarriage.

It has been postulated that a proportion of recurrent miscarriage (RM) might be due to immune causes. The objective was to determine whether cytokine expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cell is altered in patients with a history of RM. We compared the levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, TGFbeta1 and IFNgamma in the supernatant of Phytohemagglutinin stimulated mononuclear cells in 21 women with RM at the time of 3rd or higher abortion (group I), 32 women who were at least 3 months past their 3rd or higher abortion (group II) and 32 pregnant women with no history of abortion (group III).