Scientific Journal of

---

  Abstract

  

 Background and Objectives

  Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a severe chronic inflammatory disease that can not be easily rapidly treated. It can cause joint destruction and disability. Generally some laboratory tests, such as Rheumatoid Factor (RF), Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) or C-Reactive Protein (CRP) can be used for diagnosi s and monitoring of the rheumatoid arthritis. However, they are not always ideal. In inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, the level of IgA will increase in serum the surplus IgA can then react with some of the serum proteins such as Alpha-1-antirypsin ( a ₁ AT) to form a non-immune complex. The complex IgA – a ₁ AT is formed by disulfide bonding between an active thiol group available on the both proteins. Some reports suggested that this complex is a good marker for RA disease without false results, while RF test has some false negative results.

  

  Materials and Methods 

 In this study the level of IgA- a ₁AT complex in thirty seven RA patients and in forty four normal subjects by ELISA methods using anti- a ₁-antirypsin monoclonal and anti-IgA polyclonal HRP conjugated antibodies was evaluated. Routine laboratory tests of RF, CRP and ESR in patients and controls were also investigated.

 

 Results

 Our results showed that IgA- a ₁AT complex level in patients (43.7 ± 15.4) is significantly higher than controls (21.5 ± 8.3) (p<0.05). There were significant differences between the sera complex levels in patients and controls. The RF results revealed eleven false negatives (30%) while the level of complex had only one false result (3%).

  

 Conclusions

 Instead of RF, a rapid and sensitive ELISA test for IgA- a ₁AT complex level in RA patients is strongly recommended.

  

  

 Key words: IgA- a ₁AT complex, ELISA, Rheumatoid arthritis 

---

  Abstract

 Background and Objectives

 Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is one of life-threatening post-transplantation complications. Several recent studies have described a significant correlation between transplantation outcome and three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the NOD2 gene. This study was conducted to evaluate the association of NOD2 gene polymorphisms with the occurrence of GVHD in acute myelogenous leukemia patients who underwent HSCT from their HLA-matched sibling donors.

 

 Materials and Methods

 We examined retrospectively NOD2 genotypes by PCR-SSP both in 124 patients who underwent HSCT and in their donors then, the association of the genetic polymorphisms on acute and chronic GVHD was evaluated. Median follow up of patients was 40 months (range of 28-77 months). Statistical analyses were performed using Chi-square test and SPSS software.

 

 Results

 Mutation incidence were the same between donors and recipients as 12.1% . In three of the patient–donor pairs (2.4%) SNPs occurred in both resulting in an overall frequency of 21.8% in patient–donor pairs. There weren’t any significant differences between aGVHD and cGVHD incidence rates when donor/recipient pairs with SNPs were compared with the pairs without SNPs. aGVHD and cGVHD incidence rates in the former pairs were 52% and 56% and in the latter pairs 50.5% and 55%, respectively.

 

 Conclusions

 No impact of NOD2 SNPs on incidence of acute and chronic GVHD was observed. Further studies are required to ascertain whether the findings of this study can be extended to other disease groups. In addition, further studies are required to identify the relevance of other SNPs.

  

 Key words : Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Graft vs Host Disease , PCR 

 

---

---

Abstract
Background and Objectives
Recently, mesenchymal stem cells have attracted much attention in regenerative medicine and cell-based therapies. Mesenchymal stem cells are used in regenerative medicine mainly based on their capacity to differentiate into several cell lineages, low immunogenicity, and in particular their anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive-immunomodulatory properties.
 
Materials and Methods
The present manuscript, by reviewing more than 150 recent published articles, introduces the latest information regarding the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive-immunomodulatory properties of the mesenchymal stem cells.
 
Results
The fibroblast-like mesenchymal stem cells can be isolated from various sources such as bone marrow, adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, Wharton jelly, umbilical cord, placenta, and amniotic fluid. The immunomodulatory properties of mesenchymal stem cells result from their interactions with innate and adaptive immune systems to inhibit immune cells. Such an inhibitory function is due to the interaction of these cells with immune cells through direct cell-cell contact or via paracrine secretory factors. The composition of these secretions or secretom of these cells includes various components such as growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, anti-inflammatory mediators and exosomes. Many in vivo studies in animal models have demonstrated that the ability of mesenchymal stem cells to regenerate and repair tissues is more attributed to their immunosuppressive-immunomodulatory function rather than their proliferative properties.
 
Conclusions 
Therefore, understanding the mechanisms establishing the interactions of these cells with immune system would be important for their use as a promising therapeutic approach in the future for treatment of immunological diseases as well as in the field of regenerative medicine.
 

---

---