Search

Objectives: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the most global health problems with 2.5% prevalence worldwide. It seems that regulatory T (Treg) cells, which are able to modulate the host immune responses, play a substantial role in the immunopathogenesis of HCV infection. In this study, we evaluated the distribution of Treg cells in HCV-infected patients and its correlation with viral load and clinical manifestations. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from 14 newly diagnosed HCV-infected patients and 23 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects, and the frequency of CD4+CD25+CD127−/low Treg cells was determined by flow cytometry. Results: Our results showed that the mean level of CD4+CD25+CD127−/low Treg cells in HCV-infected patients was significantly higher than that in healthy control subjects (8.2 ± 1.48% vs 5.4 ± 0.36%, p <.05). However, there was no statistical correlation between Treg cells frequency and viral load or clinical manifestations. Conclusion: A higher proportion of Treg cells in HCV-infected patients might indicate their critical role in viral persistence and candidate them as a new target of immunotherapy to improve antiviral immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis B (HB) infection is a major global health problem. There is limited knowledge about HB vaccination‐induced immune memory responses. We compared the frequency of CD8+ memory T cell subsets between responders (RSs) and non‐responders (NRs) to HB vaccination. Blood samples were collected from RSs and NRs. PBMCs were cultured in the presence of Hepatitis B surface antigens (HBsAg) and PHA for 48 h to restimulate CD8+ memory T cells and T cell memory subsets were detected by flow cytometry using memory cell markers. The frequency of TEM, TCM, and TCMhi was significantly higher in responders compared to non‐responders (p = 0.024, 0.022, and 0.047, respectively). Additionally, we report a positive correlation between the frequency of TEM cells in RSs with age and anti‐HBsAb level (p = 0.03 and rs = 0.5; p = 0.01 and rs = 0.06). Responders display a higher level of CD8+ T cell‐mediated immunity. Therefore, we suggest a possible defect in the formation of immunological CD8+ memory T cells in NRs and it may reduce antibody production compared to the RSs, although more experiments are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: CD4 + T cell responses in HCV infection have a crucial role in the immunopathology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Our aim was to investigate the frequency of Th1, Th17, and Th22 cells in HCV-infected patients and elucidate their role in the progression of the disease., Methods: Twenty-six HCV-infected patients and 26 healthy individuals were recruited. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were stained to separate CD4, IFN-γ, IL-17, and IL-22 producing cells using flow cytometry., Results: Results showed that the mean expression of IL-22 in CD4 + T cells was significantly lower in HCV-infected patients compared to healthy controls. About correlation with clinical factor and T subsets, a negative correlation between the frequency of CD4 + IFN-γ + cells and Thyroxine level (T4) was observed in the patients. The data showed a positive link between thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), cholesterol levels, and the frequency of Th17 cells. In addition, a positive correlation was seen between serum creatinine level with both Th1 and Th17. Ultimately, it was found that there was a positive link between viral burden and IL-17 + IL-22 + cells and a negative correlation between viral load and pure Th22., Conclusions: Our findings indicate that Th22 cells may play a part in the immunopathology of HCV and show the associations between Thelper subsets and the clinical signs of the disease., Competing Interests: None., (AJCEI Copyright © 2024.)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the organ-specific autoimmune diseases in which immune cells invade the neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) due to loss of tolerance to self-antigens. Consequently, inflammation and demyelination occur in the central nervous system. The pathogenesis of MS is not completely understood. However, it seems that T cells, especially Th17 cells, have an important role in disease development. In recent years, studies on the manipulation of metabolic pathways with therapeutic targets have received increasing attention and have had promising results in some diseases, such as cancers. Glycolysis is a central metabolic pathway and plays an important role in the differentiation of T CD4+ cells to their subsets, especially Th17 cells. This suggests that manipulation of glycolysis, for example, using appropriate safe inhibitors of this pathway can represent a means to affect the differentiation of T CD4+, thus reducing inflammation and disease activity in MS patients. Hence, in this study, we aimed to discuss evidence showing that using inhibitors of 6-phosphofructo-2- kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 3(PFKFB3) as the main regulator of glycolysis may exert beneficial therapeutic effects on MS patients., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Objective: Graves' disease (GD) is an autoimmune disease causing the overproduction of the thyroid hormone from thyroid gland. This disease is mainly the result of the production of antibodies against TSH receptors. Cytokines play an important role in orchestrating the pathophysiology in autoimmune thyroid disease. The regulatory role of IL-12 on TH1 cells has been proven. IL-27 and IL-35, members of IL-12 cytokine family, are two cytokines that have been newly discovered. IL-35 has been identified as a novel immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory cytokine while IL-27 has both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory functions. The objective of the current study was to examine the changes in the serum level of the foregoing cytokines in GD patients in comparison to healthy controls., Methods: In this study, serum levels of IL-27 and IL-35 were determined by an ELISA method; anti TPO and anti Tg were measured by an RIA method in 40 new cases of Graves's disease. The findings were compared with 40 healthy controls., Results: The results showed a significant difference between IL-27 and IL-35 regarding their serum levels with P values of 0.0001 and 0.024, respectively; anti TPO and anti Tg levels of the cases were also significantly different from controls (p < 0.001)., Conclusion: The reduction in the serum levels of IL-27 and IL-35 in GD patients compared to normal subjects suggests the possible anti-inflammatory role of these cytokines in GD.