Iranian Journal of Immunology : IJI

BACKGROUND: Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial innate components in anti-tumor immunity. However, the clinical impacts and their phenotypes in bladder cancer (BC) remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical significance of NK cell subsets in tumor-draining lymph nodes of patients with BC. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, pelvic lymph nodes were obtained from 49 untreated patients with BC. Mononuclear cells were isolated and immunophenotyped using CD3, CD56, CD16, CD27, and CD11b markers...

BACKGROUND: Since the outbreak of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), several vaccine candidates have been developed within a short period of time. Although the potency of these vaccines was evaluated individually, their comparative potency was not comprehensively evaluated. OBJECTIVE: To compare the immunogenicity and neutralization efficacy of four approved COVID-19 vaccines in Iran, including: PastoCovac Plus, Sinopharm, SpikoGen, and Noora in BALB/c mice...

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is a medical condition that can cause infertility in women. Women with endometriosis experience a decrease in NK cell cytotoxic activity against endometrial cells, ultimately contributing to the spread of these cells. OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency of NK cells and the expression of the NKP46 receptor in endometrial tissue from patients with endometriosis using immunohistochemistry. METHODS: 30 endometrial tissue specimens were collected from three groups of cases with mild (n=11), moderate (n=10), and severe endometriosis (n=9), respectively...

BACKGROUND: Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and brain stromal cells produce immunosuppressive cytokines, contributing to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Interleukin-38 (IL-38) is a novel anti-inflammatory cytokine and a natural modulator of the innate and adaptive immune system. However, its biological roles in brain tumors are not well defined. OBJECTIVE: To assess the serum levels of IL-38 and the percentages of TILs in the tumor tissues of patients with primary brain tumors and to determine their associations with the pathological features of the disease...

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary neutrophils may play a crucial role in the development of bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) following measles virus infection. IL-27 could potentially have a negative regulatory effect on the release of reactive oxygen species and cytotoxic granules in neutrophils. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the levels of IL-27 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of children with post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans (PIBO) and analyze the relationship between IL-27 levels and neutrophil proportions...

BACKGROUND: Understanding the effects of epigenetic factors on the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is important for the early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention of this disease. MicroRNA-150 (miR-150) exerts an important influence on the development and function of lymphocytes. However, the role of miR-150 in the pathogenesis of RA remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of miR-150 in the pathogenesis of RA and the related immune mechanism...

BACKGROUND: Human adenovirus (HAdV) is an enveloped icosahedral DNA virus. HAdV infection can lead to immune system damage, resulting in decreased numbers and compromised function of T cells and B cells. It can also cause an imbalanced Th1/Th2 ratio and dysregulation of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-13 and IL-17A in children with HAdV pneumonia. METHODS: Pediatric patients diagnosed with HAdV pneumonia were divided into a non-severe group or a severe group based on the severity of their condition...

BACKGROUND: The imbalance between M1 and M2 macrophage activation is closely associated with the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Sulforaphane (SFN) plays an important role in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of SFN on macrophage polarization and its underlying regulatory mechanism. METHODS: Mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were treated with SFN and an Nrf2 inhibitor, Brusatol...

BACKGROUND: Neutrophilic asthma is characterized by the predominant infiltration of neutrophils in airway inflammation. OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic potential of an antibody against the inducible T cell co-stimulator ligand (ICOSL) in a mouse model of neutrophilic asthma. METHODS: Female BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to different groups. They were then injected with ovalbumin (OVA)/lipopolysaccharides (LPS) to induce neutrophilic asthma...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

BACKGROUND: Immunotherapies targeting peripheral natural killer (pbNK) cells in unexplained recurrent miscarriage (uRM) remain controversial. We hypothesized that the change in pbNK cell count might be a result of innate immune responses rather than a cause. OBJECTIVE: To explore whether the pbNK count is significantly different in women testing positive than those testing negative for commonly studied autoimmune markers. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 302 eligible patients with uRM for the antinuclear antibody (ANA) testing determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Ab) testing and anti-thyroglobulin antibody (Tg-Ab) testing determined by the chemiluminescent immunoassay, and pbNK cell testing determined by flow cytometry...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

BACKGROUND: CD38 is highly expressed on multiple myeloma (MM) cells and has been successfully targeted by different target therapy methods. This molecule is a critical prognostic marker in both diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. OBJECTIVE: We have designed and generated an anti-CD38 CAR-NK cell applying NK 92 cell line. The approach has potential application as an off-the-shelf strategy for treatment of CD38 positive malignancies. METHODS: A second generation of anti-CD38 CAR-NK cell was designed and generated, and their efficacy against CD38-positive cell lines was assessed in vitro...

BACKGROUND: Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the tissues supporting the teeth, ultimately leading to tooth loss. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a crucial role in periodontitis by modulating the activities of gum cells and the immune system. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic potential of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCSCs) and EVs in regulating the inflammatory response associated with periodontitis...

BACKGROUND: T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3 (TIM3) is a regulatory molecule expressed on a variety of cell types, including CD3+ T cells. Few studies have been conducted to look into the correlation between TIM3 expression on peripheral T lymphocytes and post-stroke depression (PSD). OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between TIM3 expressions on peripheral T lymphocytes in PSD patients. METHODS: Acute stroke patients without depression (NPSD) (n=65), PSD patients (n=23), and body mass index (BMI), age, and education-matched healthy controls (HC) (n=59) were enrolled...

BACKGROUND: Thymocyte selection-associated high mobility group box protein (TOX) and members of the nuclear receptor 4A (NR4A) are known as transcription factors involved in T cell exhaustion. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the mRNA expression of TOX and NR4A1-3 in CD8+ T cells in acute leukemia. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from 21 ALL and 6 AML patients as well as 20 control subjects. CD8+ T cells were isolated using MACS. Relative gene expression of TOX and NR4A1-3 was then evaluated using qRT-PCR...

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a fatal clinical syndrome. The most common cause of secondary HLH is Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. EBV-HLH is a common clinical disease with high mortality, easy relapse, and poor prognosis. Therefore, treating EBV-HLH with T and B lymphocyte involvement is challenging, and selecting an appropriate treatment regimen is critical. Moreover, research on how to evaluate the recurrence index after remission is scarce. In this study, we reported a case of EBV-HLH successfully treated with programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitor in combination with rituximab...

BACKGROUND: Natural killer (NK) cells play a role in the pathogenesis of various metabolic diseases related to obesity. While our initial findings have indicated a potential involvement of NK cells in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus, the precise mechanism underlying NK cell-mediated development of this form of diabetes remains inadequately comprehended. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact and the underlying mechanism of high glucose and elevated levels of free fatty acids (FFAs) on immune and inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in NK92 cells...

BACKGROUND: Few studies have evaluated COVID-19 vaccine efficacy in patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the levels of antibody (Ab) production and function after COVID-19 vaccination in IEI patients with phagocytic, complement, and Ab deficiencies and their comparison with healthy controls. METHODS: Serum samples were collected from 41 patients and 32 healthy controls at least one month after the second dose of vaccination, while clinical evaluations continued until the end of the third dose...

Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) is crucial in controlling the highly aggressive and progressive SARS-CoV-2 infection. Despite extensive researches on severe COVID-19 infection, the etiology and/or mechanisms of lymphopenia, decreased T cell-mediated responses in patients, cytokine release storms (CRS), and enhanced pro-inflammatory mediators are not fully understood. Several T cell subpopulations, including innate-like lymphocytes (ILLs) and conventional T cells, are involved in COVID-19 infection; however, their contribution to immunity and complications remains to be more elucidated...