MicroRNA -21 expression as an auxiliary diagnostic biomarker of acute brucellosis.

Background: This study aimed to measure the expression levels of peripheral blood miRNAs in brucellosis and their involvement in the different phases of the brucellosis.

Methods: The expression levels of miRNAs including miR-210, miR-155, miR-150, miR-146a, miR-139-3p, miR-125a-5p, miR-29 and miR-21 were quantified in 57 brucellosis patients subgrouped into acute, under treatment & relapse phase and 30 healthy controls (HCs) using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis curve analysis was performed to find a biomarker for discrimination of different phases of brucellosis.

Direct correlation between Th1 and Th17 responses in immunity to Brucella infection.

Th1 cells play a central role in immunity to brucellosis, while the exact role of Th17 cells has remained unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the peripheral distributions of Th1 and Th17 cells and serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-17A and IL-22 cytokines in brucellosis patients. One hundred patients (36 acute, 41 under-treatment and 23 relapsed) and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included.