Saeed Zarei

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) C677T and A1298C have been described as strong risk factors for idiopathic recurrent miscarriage (RM). However, very few studies have investigated the association of paternal MTHFR SNPs with RM. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of paternal C677T and A1298C SNPs among Iranian RM couples. The study subjects comprised 225 couples with more than three consecutive pregnancy losses, and 100 control couples with no history of pregnancy complications. All females in the case group had MTHFR polymorphisms; and genotype SNPs were analyzed by PCR-RFLP. Groups were statistically compared using Mann Whitney U-test and Chi-square statistical tests. The p<0.05 were considered significant. Statistically significant difference was detected in the frequency of MTHFR SNPs in male partners of the two groups (p=0.019). Combined heterozygosity of MTHFR polymorphisms was a common phenomenon in the males; 52 (23.1%) and 14 (14%) of males in RM and control groups, respectively. Absence of combined homozygosity for both SNPs in all studied groups/genders was observed. The MTHFR gene composition of male partners of RM couples may contribute to increased risk of miscarriage.

(2016). Restricted antibody response to Bordetella pertussis filamentous hemagglutinin induced by whole-cell and acellular pertussis vaccines. Infectious Diseases: Vol. 48, No. 2, pp. 127-132. doi: 10.3109/23744235.2015.1093655

The gene that codes for the CD44 family members consists of 20 exons, nine of which encode the standard form of the molecule. The other exons can be inserted in various combinations into the membrane proximal region of the extracellular domain of the protein, giving rise to variant isoforms (CD44v). CD44 variants, especially the CD44v6, have been reported to regulate tumor invasion, progression, and metastasis of carcinomas. Producing a high affinity monoclonal antibody against human CD44v6 provides a powerful tool to monitor and trace CD44v6 function in different biological fluids. In this study, a synthetic peptide from CD44v6 was conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and injected into BALB/c mice. Splenocytes from the immunized mice were fused with murine SP2/0 myeloma cells followed by selection of antibody producing hybridoma cells. After screening of hybridoma colonies by ELISA, high affinity antibodies were selected and purified by affinity chromatography. Western blot, immunocytochemistry, and flow cytometry experiments were used to characterize the antibodies. Six stable hybridoma cell lines, designated as 1H1, 1H2, 2A12, 2G11, 3H3, and 3H7, were obtained. Flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry results showed that the new monoclonal antibodies recognized CD44v6 on the cell surface. This novel panel of anti-CD44v6 antibodies has the potential for investigating the role of CD44v6 in cancer pathogenesis.

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a member of herpes family viruses, which causes varicella (chickenpox) after primary infection and herpes zoster (shingles) because of latent virus reactivation from dorsal root ganglia. Generally, prevalence of varicella antibodies increases with age. We aimed to compare the prevalence of anti-VZV antibody in children under seven years old, in order to obtain a preliminarily picture of general presence of these antibodies to design an immunization plan. In this cross-sectional study, performed from September 2011 to September 2012 in Tehran, Iran, 267 serum samples including sera from 7 month old infants, n= 87; 18 month old children, n= 86; and 6 year old children, n= 94 were assessed for the presence of specific IgG antibodies against VZV, using ELISA technique. 4.6% of 7 month, 12.8% of 18 month and 21.3% of 6-year-old children were seropositive. No relation was found between demographic variables (e.g. age and birth weight) and seropositivity in these age groups. VZV antibodies increased with age. Serum levels of varicella antibodies were elevated in 18 months old compared to 7 months old children, significantly (P < 0.001). In view of the significant elevation of VZV antibodies in children from 7 months to 18 months of age and rate of seronegative children, our results support the necessity of varicella immunization between 7 and 18 months of age in order to prevent viral infection.

Many types of tumors are organized in a hierarchy of heterogeneous cell populations with different molecular signature. Such heterogeneity may be associated with different responsiveness to microenvironment stimuli. In the present study, the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA), as well-known mediators of inflammation, on cancerous behavior of three prostate tumor cells, LNCaP, PC3 and DU145, were investigated.

Pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and polymorphisms of their genes have been described to be involved in the pathogenesis of recurrent miscarriage (RM). To investigate the association between RM and five polymorphisms of cytokine genes, interleukin 10 (IL-10), (-592 A/C, -819 C/T, -1082 A/G), IL-6 (-174 C/G) and IL-17 (-197 G/A) in Iranian women. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was performed to determine the frequencies of the IL-6, IL-10 and IL-17 gene polymorphisms in 85 women with RM compared with 104 healthy controls. The frequencies of IL-10 promoter gene polymorphisms (-592 A/C and -819 C/T) were significantly higher in RM women than those in controls (p=0.003). However, no statistically significant differences were observed in the frequencies of IL-6 (-174 C/G), IL-10 (-1082 A/G) and IL-17 (-197 G/A) polymorphisms between RM women and controls. These results suggest that IL-10 gene polymorphism screening might have some relevance in patients with RM, a suggestion which requires further studies.

Background: Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a multifactorial disorder. Environmental factors and genetics can affect pregnancy outcomes.

Purpose To compare plasminogen activator inhibitor type1 (PAI-1) mutation rates in different groups of patients with the record of recurrent miscarriage (RM) or implantation failure (IF) with special emphasis on the number of missed pregnancies and/or implantation failures (RM ≥ 2, IF ≥ 2, RM + IF ≥ 2, RM ≥ 3, IF ≥ 3 and RM + IF ≥ 3). Method Case-control study from PCR products and RFLP data of DNA from blood of patients who referred to the infertility clinic including 595 patients (421 RM ≥ 2, 119 IF ≥ 2 and 55 RM + IF ≥ 2) as the case groups and 100 healthy women as the control group. Results All six different subgroups of patients showed increased frequencies of the mutant allele (4G) in comparison to the control group (p < 0.001) suggesting a role for PAI-1 mutation in RM and IF. Conclusions The different patient subgroups suffer similar rates of risk in developing RM and IF when compared to controls.

The present study was undertaken to compare the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of two diphtheria-tetanus-whole cell pertussis (DTwP) vaccines administered to Iranian preschool children. In this randomized, double-blind and multicenter prospective study, 672 children aged 4–6 y were administered with either a local DTwP vaccine (DTwP-Local) (n = 337) or a commercial vaccine (DTwP-Pasteur) (n = 335). All subjects received DTwP vaccine at 4–6 y of age, following the national immunization schedule of Iran. Blood samples were collected before and 2–4 weeks after the vaccination. Immunogenicity of each vaccine was assessed by ELISA using commercial kits. Reactogenicity was assessed by the parents for seven days post-booster using diary cards. The geometric mean titers (GMTs) of the antibodies induced against diphtheria and tetanus by DTwP-Local were 7.7 and 9.4 IU/ml and those of DTwP-Pasteur were 8.2 and 8.6 IU/ml, respectively. There was no significant difference between the immunogenicity of the two vaccines against diphtheria and tetanus. The GMTs of antibodies produced against pertussis were 30.2 EU/ml for DTwP-Local and 47.9 EU/ml for DTwP-Pasteur vaccines (p < 0.001). Pain and fever (axillary temperature > 37.5°C) were the most frequent local and systemic reactions observed after the vaccination. All local and systemic reactions observed after vaccination were significantly higher in subjects immunized with DTwP-Local vaccine. Immunogenicity against diphtheria and tetanus was similar for the two vaccines, but immunogenicity of the local vaccine against pertussis was significantly less efficient than that of DTwP-Pasteur. This difference and the higher side effects of the DTwP-Local vaccine could be due to the bacterial strain or the preparation or formulation protocol of the local pertussis vaccine.