Transcriptomic analysis of coxsackievirus B3 infection in induced pluripotent stem cell-derived brain-like endothelial cells.

Unlabelled: Viral aseptic meningitis is a neuroinflammatory condition that occurs when viruses gain access to the central nervous system (CNS) and induce inflammation. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is comprised of brain endothelial cells (BECs) that stringently regulate the passage of molecules, toxins, and pathogens from the circulation into the CNS. Through their unique properties, such as complex tight junctions, reduced rates of endocytosis, expression of efflux transporters, and restricted expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules, the BBB is often able to limit pathogen entry into the brain; however, certain neurotropic pathogens, such as coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) are able to infect the CNS.

Expanding ocean protection and peace: a window for science diplomacy in the Gulf.

The ecological state of the Persian or Arabian Gulf (hereafter 'Gulf') is in sharp decline. Calls for comprehensive ecosystem-based management approaches and transboundary conservation have gone largely unanswered, despite mounting marine threats made worse by climate change. The region's long-standing political tensions add additional complexity, especially now as some Gulf countries will soon adopt ambitious goals to protect their marine environments as part of new global environmental commitments.

Identification of immunodominant epitopes on nucleocapsid and spike proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 in Iranian COVID-19 patients.

Given the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 virus as a life-threatening pandemic, identification of immunodominant epitopes of the viral structural proteins, particularly the nucleocapsid (NP) protein and receptor-binding domain (RBD) of spike protein, is important to determine targets for immunotherapy and diagnosis. In this study, epitope screening was performed using a panel of overlapping peptides spanning the entire sequences of the RBD and NP proteins of SARS-CoV-2 in the sera from 66 COVID-19 patients and 23 healthy subjects by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Our results showed that while reactivity of patients' sera with reduced recombinant RBD protein was significantly lower than the native form of RBD (P < 0.

2, 3, 7, 8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin potential impacts on peripheral blood mononuclear cells of endometriosis women.

Endometriosis happens following the implantation of endometrial-derived tissues outside the uterine cavity. It has been suggested that 2, 3, 7, 8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is involved in endometriosis development. Furthermore, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), as a TCDD receptor, has been demonstrated to regulate immune responses.

Immunomodulatory effects of astragalus polysaccharide on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells co-cultured with cervical cancer cell line.

Objective: To investigate immunomodulatory effects of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on the co-culture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with HeLa cervical cancer cell line.

Methods: To assess the proliferation of PBMCs, carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE)-labeled PBMCs were co-cultured with HeLa cells and treated with different concentrations of APS. Supernatants of cell culture were collected for cytokines assay via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Endometrial mesenchymal stem/stromal cells: The Enigma to code messages for generation of functionally active regulatory T cells.

Background: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an important role in fine-tuning of immune responses and are pivotal for a successful pregnancy. Recently, the importance of mesenchymal stem cells in regulation of immune responses in general and Tregs in particular has been highlighted. Here, we hypothesized that menstrual stromal/stem cells (MenSCs) contribute to uterine immune system regulation through induction of functionally active Tregs.

Trace metal content in annually banded scleractinian coral 'Porites lobata' across the northern Persian Gulf.

Concentrations of trace metals in skeleton growth bands of dominant scleractinian coral 'Porites lobata' in different years were investigated in Kharg and Hebourabi islands in the northern coast of the Persian Gulf. The highest average concentrations of metals respectively were Sr> Mg> Zn> Ba> Cu> U> Ni> Mn> Cr> Co> Pb> V> Cd in Kharg and Sr> Mg> Ba> Cu> U> Ni> Zn> Mn> Cr> Co> V> Pb> Cd in Hendourabi. The coefficient of variation percentages (CV%) of Cr, Mn, Zn, Ba, and Pb in Kharg and Cu and Ba in Hendourabi were more than 50%.

MenSCs exert a supportive role in establishing a pregnancy-friendly microenvironment by inhibiting TH17 polarization.

Objectives: Uncontrolled TH17 differentiation has been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of pregnancy loss. We recently showed that menstrual blood stromal/stem cells (MenSCs) alter functional features of natural killer cells. Here, we hypothesized that MenSCs could modulate differentiation of TH17 cells.

Discovery of a potential biomarker for immunotherapy of melanoma: PLAC1 as an emerging target.

Background: Melanoma has increased in incidence worldwide prompting investigators to search for new biomarkers for targeted immunotherapy of this disease. Placenta specific 1 (PLAC1) is a new member of cancer-testis antigens with widespread expression in many types of cancer. Here, we aimed to study for the first time the expression pattern of PLAC1 in skin cancer samples including cutaneous melanoma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in comparison to normal skin and nevus tissues and potential therapeutic effect of anti-PLAC1 antibody in melanoma cancer cell lines .

Inhibitory Effect of Polyclonal Antibodies Against HER3 Extracellular Subdomains on Breast Cancer Cell Lines.

Objective: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3) is a unique member of the tyrosine kinase receptors with an inactive kinase domain and is the preferable dimerization partner for HER2 which lead to potent tumorigenic signaling.

Methods: In this study, the expression plasmids coding for the human HER3 subdomains were transfected into CHO-K1 cells. Produced proteins were characterized by ELISA and SDS-PAGE.

Human menstrual blood-derived stromal/stem cells modulate functional features of natural killer cells.

Although natural killer (NK) cells play a crucial role in the maintenance of a successful pregnancy, their cytotoxic activity should be tightly controlled. We hypothesized that endometrial mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (eMSCs) could potentially attenuate the functional features of NK cells. Herein, we assessed immunomodulatory effects of menstrual blood-derived stromal/stem cells (MenSCs), as a surrogate for eMSCs, on NK cells function.

The response of benthic foraminifera to aquaculture and industrial pollution: A case study from the Northern Persian Gulf.

The aquaculture and industrial sewage impacts on benthic foraminifera investigated at two reefs across the northern Persian Gulf. The foraminifera assemblages at a single sewaged reef were compared with two non-sewaged reefs. A low-diversity assemblage, dominated by stress-tolerant species Quinqueloculina sp.

Menstrual Blood-Derived Stromal Stem Cells Augment CD4+ T Cells Proliferation.

Background: It is more than sixty years that the concept of the fetal allograft and immunological paradox of pregnancy was proposed and in this context, several regulatory networks and mechanisms have been introduced so far. It is now generally recognized that mesenchymal stem cells exert potent immunoregulatory activity. In this study, for the first time, the potential impact of Menstrual blood Stem Cells (MenSCs), as surrogate for endometrial stem cells, on proliferative capacity of CD4+ T cells was tested.

Effects of thermal discharge from Neka power plant (southern Caspian Sea) on macrobenthic diversity and abundance.

Effects of thermal discharge from Neka power plant on macrobenthic diversity and abundance was studied in the southern coast of the Caspian Sea. Samples were collected with Van Veen grab of 0.0250 m surface area from 7 stations in winter and summer.

Sensitivity of indicators matters when using aggregation methods to assess marine environmental status.

The sensitivity of the 15 indicators included in a complex aggregation method (Nested Environmental status Assessment Tool), applied to a case study in the Caspian Sea in Iran, has been studied to discriminate between areas impacted and non-impacted by bathing activities. Two methods were used: (i) the 15 indicators were grouped into four groups (physicochemical, bacteria, plankton, and benthos) and each group was investigated separately (one-way sensitivity analysis), calculating NEAT values after omitting each group independently; and (ii) indicators were selected randomly, using 1000 Monte Carlo iterations, and removing from 1 to 14 indicators at each iteration. The results revealed that the abundance of Pontogammarus was the single indicator that made the difference in assessing the status among locations, differentiating bathing and non-bathing areas.

Application of baited remote underwater video stations to assess benthic coverage in the Persian Gulf.

A baited remote underwater video station (BRUVS) is generally considered an appropriate sampling tool for fish. The applicability of BRUVS to determine the substrate coverage was assessed by comparing stills from BRUVS videos to traditional point intercept transect (PIT) data to estimate percentage cover (PC) of different benthic substrate categories. Mean PCs of hard corals, rock, sand, and coral growth forms yielded statistically identical values with the two survey methods, while PCs of motile epibenthic invertebrates were underestimated by BRUVS in areas of both high and moderate relief.