The role of IL-17 rs2275913, IL-17RC rs708567 and TGFB1 rs1800469 SNPs and IL-17A serum levels in patients with lupus nephritis.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifactorial autoimmune disease and polymorphisms in the cytokine genes and their receptors are thought to influence its development. The aim of this case-control study was to investigate the association of the IL-17A rs2275913, IL-17RC rs708567 and TGFB1 rs1800469 polymorphisms with SLE, its clinical manifestations and the polymorphisms influence on the IL-17A serum levels. Altogether 59 SLE patients with lupus nephritis and 95 healthy controls were genotyped by TaqMan assay.

polymorphisms and promoter hypermethylation in dermatomyositis - the role of cytosine-phosphate-guanine-related single nucleotide polymorphisms.

Background: Decreased expression of the T cell receptor (TCR) ζ-chain has been reported in autoimmune diseases. Recent evidence suggests that this deficiency may be due to polymorphisms in the CD3Z (CD247) gene and/or due to promoter hypermethylation.

Methods: Altogether 131 subjects - 36 with dermatomyositis (DM) and 95 healthy controls were genotyped for rs1052230 G > C and rs1052231 T > A polymorphisms using TaqMan assay.

XRCC1 variants do not represent a risk for dermatomyositis and systemic lupus erythematosus in Bulgarian patients.

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and dermatomyositis (DM) share a similar pathogenesis, and genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors are known to trigger the autoimmune process. The X-ray repair cross-complementing genes (XRCC1 and XRCC3) are known to play a central role in mammalian DNA repair processes. Evidence suggests that impaired DNA repair efficiency is implicated in the development of autoimmune diseases.

Genetically Determined TNF-α Secretion Influences the Development of Dermatomyositis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Background: Abnormal secretion of TNF-α is known to play a role in the pathogenesis of dermatomyositis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Materials And Methods: In the present study we have analyzed the concentrations of TNF-α in the sera of 30 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 28 with dermatomyositis (DM) and 30 healthy controls by standard ELISA tests.

Results: We have found that -308A allele increases TNF-α secretion, while -1031C and -863A alleles decrease it.

The Role of CD247 Polymorphisms in Bulgarian Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Decreased expression of the TCR ζ-chain has been reported in several autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Recent evidence suggests that this deficiency may be due to polymorphisms in the CD247 gene. A total 52 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 95 healthy controls of Bulgarian ethnicity were genotyped for 837C>G, rs1052230, 844A>T, and rs1052231 using a TaqMan genotyping assay.

Monoclonal Antibody Drugs for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disease which engages most of the immune cells in its development. Various studies concerning the application of antibodies against TNF-α, BlyS, CD20, CD22, IL-6R and complement factors in treatment of SLE have been recently conducted and in spite of the good results reported by some of them, no definite conclusion on their risk-benefit profile can be drawn. The current review summarizes the results obtained in the field and reveals the perspectives for the development of new and more effective strategies for SLE treatment in combination with other immunomodulating drugs.

IL-1RN VNTR Polymorphism in Adult Dermatomyositis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Polymorphisms in the cytokine genes and their natural antagonists are thought to influence the predisposition to dermatomyositis (DM) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism of 86 bp in intron 2 of the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RN) gene leads to the existence of five different alleles which cause differences in the production of both IL-1RA (interleukin-1 receptor antagonist) and IL-1β. The aim of this case-control study was to investigate the association between the IL-1RN VNTR polymorphism and the susceptibility to DM and SLE in Bulgarian patients.

Role of the promoter polymorphism IL-6 -174G/C in dermatomyositis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

The promoter polymorphism -174G/C within the interleukin-6 gene (IL-6) has been reported to have a functional importance through the modulation of IL-6 gene expression in vitro and in vivo. IL-6 is thought to play an important role in autoimmune diseases and the effect of its receptor inhibitor-tocilizumab-has been recently studied. The aim of this case-control study was to investigate the association between the interleukin-6 -174G/C single nucleotide polymorphism and the susceptibility to dermatomyositis (DM) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Bulgarian patients.

Association of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) gene polymorphisms in dermatomyositis patients: a pilot study.

TNF-α and IL-10 single nucleotide polymorphisms have been implicated in various autoimmune diseases but the results are still quite controversial. This case-control study aimed to investigate the association between six TNF-α and five IL-10 polymorphisms with dermatomyositis. The -857CC and +489GG genotypes showed a weak association with dermatomyositis when the analysis was carried out for the whole cohort but they appeared to be a significant risk factor for the development of dermatomyositis in women.

Association of TNF-α polymorphisms with adult dermatomyositis and systemic lupus erythematosus in Bulgarian patients.

Background: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) have been implicated in various autoimmune diseases; however, the results are quite controversial, and there is still no widely accepted opinion about their role in the pathology of the autoimmune diseases. This is a pilot study to investigate the association of six SNPs of the TNF-α gene with the risk of adult dermatomyositis (DM) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Bulgarian patients.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-seven patients with DM and 27 with SLE were included in this study.

Synthesis of some phenylpropanoid monoglycerides via the Mitsunobu protocol.

Natural monoglycerides of cinnamic, ferulic and p-coumaric acids were synthesized in good to high overall yields from isopropylidene glycerol via the Mitsunobu reaction and further deprotection of the corresponding acetonides with Amberlyst 15. The method avoids the need of protection of the phenolic hydroxyls. During the Mitsunobu esterifications a strong influence of the acid strength on the efficacy and outcome of the reaction was observed.

A vanadium-dependent bromoperoxidase in the marine red alga Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) Doty displays clear substrate specificity.

Bromoperoxidase activity was initially detected in marine macroalgae belonging to the Solieriaceae family (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta), including Solieria robusta (Greville) Kylin, Eucheuma serra J. Agardh and Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) Doty, which are important industrial sources of the polysaccharide carrageenan. Notably, the purification of bromoperoxidase was difficult because due to the coexistence of viscoid polysaccharides.

Sterol and lipid composition of three Adriatic Sea sponges.

The sterol and fatty acid composition of three Adriatic Sea sponges (Geodia cydonium and two unidentified Tedania sp.), collected at the same time and same place, was established. Twenty-four sterols and forty fatty acids were identified.

Comparative investigation on sterols from some Black Sea red algae.

The sterol composition of five Black Sea red algae: Callithamnion granulatum, Ceramium rubrum, Ceramium elegans, Laurencia papillosa and Laurencia coronopus was obtained. Monohydroxy sterols and their oxidized derivatives have been identified. The results obtained were compared with some recent data for the composition of sterols in other Black Sea red algae, which occupy different evolutionary positions.

Lipophylic compounds from Euphorbia peplis L.--a halophytic plant from the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.

The chemical composition of the lipophylic fraction from the halophytic plant Euphorbia peplis L. was investigated. Compared to other terrestrial higher plants an increase of triacylglycerols and especially of glycolipids was observed.

Chemical composition of Corallina mediterranea Areschoug and Corallina granifera Ell. et Soland.

The composition of sterols, volatiles and some polar compounds from three Corallina samples (C. granifera and C. mediterranea from the Black Sea and C.

Chemical composition of Cystoseira crinita Bory from the Eastern Mediterranean.

The chemical composition of the brown alga Cystoseira crinita Bory from the Eastern Mediterranean was investigated. Fourteen sterols have been identified, five of them for the first time in algae. The structure of one new sterol was established.