A survey of resistance mutations to reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTIs) among HIV-1 patients in northeast of Iran.

The use of a combination of three-drug regimen has improved HIV-1 infected patients' life span and quality; however the emergence of drug-resistant strains remains a main problem. Reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTIs) consist of a main part of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) regimen. The present study aimed to investigate resistant mutations to RTI drugs in both treatment naïve and under treatment HIV patients in Mashhad city, north-eastern Iran.

Targeting the tumor microenvironment by liposomal Epacadostat in combination with liposomal gp100 vaccine.

Indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1) pathway has vital role in cancer immune escape and its upregulation leads to immunosuppressive environment which is associated with poor prognosis and progression in various cancers like melanoma. Previously, we showed the antitumoral efficacy of nanoliposomal form of Epacadostat (Lip-EPA), as an IDO1 inhibitor. Herein, we used Lip-EPA as a combination approach with liposomal gp100 (Lip-gp100) anti-cancer vaccine in melanoma model.

The application of immune checkpoint blockade in breast cancer and the emerging role of nanoparticle.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in the female population with a high mortality rate. Despite the satisfying depth of studies evaluating the contributory role of immune checkpoints in this malignancy, few articles have reviewed the pros and cons of immune checkpoint blockades (ICBs). In the current review, we provide an overview of immune-related inhibitory molecules and also discuss the original data obtained from international research laboratories on the aberrant expression of T and non-T cell-associated immune checkpoints in breast cancer.

Development of a novel formulation method to prepare liposomal Epacadostat.

Background: One of the important metabolic pathways in cancer progression is tryptophan catabolism by the indoleamin-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) enzyme, which suppresses the immune system and induces tolerance. Inhibition of IDO1 is an important therapeutic goal for immunotherapy in many cancers such as metastatic melanoma. Epacadostat (EPA) is a very strong inhibitor of IDO1, and its clinical studies are being performed in a higher clinical phase than other inhibitors.

Serum Levels of Soluble Fas and Fas Ligand in Iranian Women with Pre-eclampsia.

Background: The precise responsible mechanism of pre-eclampsia remains controversial however, recent data suggest a main role of the abnormal activation of the adaptive immune system and Apoptosis. In this study, we have measured serum levels of Fas/Fasl as two important members of extrinsic apoptotic pathway in patient with pre-eclampsia.

Methods: 207 participants including 99 pre-eclampsia patients and 108 age and sex-matched normal pregnant women were involved in the case-control study.

Protective effect of TSLP and IL-33 cytokines in ulcerative colitis.

Purpose: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) primarily includes ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is a cytokine produced by intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) with immunomodulatory properties that plays an important role in the development of regulatory T cell (Treg) responses and tolerance in the gut. On the other hand, IL-33 has been considered as a cytokine with two different properties, inflammatory and anti-inflammatory functions, the latter may play a protective role against chronic intestinal inflammation.

Improved Immunogenicity Against a Her2/neu-Derived Peptide by Employment of a Pan HLA DR-Binding Epitope and CpG in a BALB/c Mice Model.

Background: An efficient strategy to improve the immunogenicity of peptide vaccines is the use of a synthetic peptide containing cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes with T-helper (Th) inducing-epitopes.

Objective: Our purpose was to determine the use of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (Her2/neu)- specific CTL epitopes plus the pan HLA DR-binding epitope (PADRE) and CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) to induce antitumor effects in vaccinated mice.

Method: Female BALB/c mice were immunized subcutaneously with different vaccines.

Relationship between Fas and Fas Ligand gene polymorphisms and pre-eclampsia.

Aim: In normal pregnancy, the Th1 subtype, responsible for the production of inflammatory cytokines, is reduced, and the Th2 subtype is increased to prohibit inflammation. In pre-eclampsia, the Th1 cell population is increased; thus, subsequent inflammation and trophoblast destruction occur. Polymorphisms in the Fas and Fas Ligand (FasL) promoter regions can influence Fas and FasL expression and accused to increase of Th1 subtype.

Improving Multi-Epitope Long Peptide Vaccine Potency by Using a Strategy that Enhances CD4+ T Help in BALB/c Mice.

Peptide-based vaccines are attractive approaches for cancer immunotherapy; but the success of these vaccines in clinical trials have been limited. Our goal is to improve immune responses and anti-tumor effects against a synthetic, multi-epitope, long peptide from rat Her2/neu (rHer2/neu) using the help of CD4+ T cells and appropriate adjuvant in a mouse tumor model. Female BALB/c mice were vaccinated with P5+435 multi-epitope long peptide that presents epitopes for cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in combination with a universal Pan DR epitope (PADRE) or CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODNs) as a Toll-like receptor agonist adjuvant.