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Objective(s): The M1 macrophage is characterized by enhanced pro-inflammatory cytokines production, whereas macrophage (M2) has anti-inflammatory features. Macrophage polarization as a therapeutic target for controlling immune responses could be performed by gene transduction to control the regulation of exaggerated innate/adaptive immune responses. Materials and Methods: Macrophages were prepared from THP-1 cell line and human monocytes that were transduced with (Membrane-Associated RING-CH-type finger) MARCH-1 viral lentivector produced in HEK-293T cells. RT-PCR and Western blotting confirmed MARCH-1 gene transduction. Cytokine production, CD markers assay, macrophage phagocytosis potential activity and mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR) with CFSE were performed for M1/M2 plasticity. Results: The mean fluorescent intensity of HLA-DR and CD64 expression reduced in MARCH-1+ transduced macrophage population. However, CD206 and CD163 expression increased in these macrophages. The concentrations of IL-6, TNF-α and iNOS were decreased in MARCH-1 transduced cells, and TGF-β production showed an augmentation in concentration. Western blotting and real-time PCR measurement confirmed that the expression levels of MARCH-1 protein and arginase-1 enzyme were increased in transduced macrophages. Conclusion: The anti-inflammatory features of MARCH-1 revealed the reduced levels of proinflammatory factors and maintained M2 phenotype characterized by high levels of scavenger receptors. Therefore, targeting MARCH-1 in monocytes/macrophages could represent a new autologous cell-based therapies strategy for inflammatory conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article decreasing of crosstalk phenomenon optic two-channel demultiplexer to use in DWDM communicational systems with 2D photonic crystal structure has been suggested. In this research, designed two-channel demultiplexer resulted in decrease in crosstalk phenomenon to the average of -22.11 dB in photonic crystal two-channel demultiplexer according to ultra channel spacing with distance of 0.8 nm, ultra narrow bandwidth mean of 0.25 nm, and quality factor Q with ultra average amount of 6582. PWE calculation methods were used to obtain band structure and photonic band gap and FDTD numerical calculation method was used to obtain output spectrum of photonic crystal two-channel demultiplexer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Cystic hydatid disease (CHD) is one of the most important zoonotic diseases in different parts of Iran. While it causes major health problem, there is limited information about its transmission cycles and reservoirs of human infection. Therefore we aimed to characterize the existence Echinococcus granulosus cysts in humans and animals in the province of Isfahan, central region of Iran. We collected hydatid cysts from the liver and lungs of patients who underwent surgery procedure and also cysts were obtained from domestic animals at slaughterhouses. DNA was extracted from the protoscoleces and examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of rDNA internal transcribed spacer1 (ITS1-PCR) and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). In addition, fragments of the genes coding for mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) and NADH dehydrogenase 1 (ND1) were sequenced. Among the two different identified strains/genotypes (sheep and camel), the sheep strain was shown to be the most common genotype of E. granulosus affecting humans, sheep, cattle, goats and occasionally camels. Nine out of 26 camel samples were infected with sheep strain. However the camel genotype was observed in humans, camels and cattle. Seventeen out of 26 camel isolates, 6 out of 31 human and 5 out of 14 cattle samples were infected with the camel genotype. The camel genotypes had PCR and RFLP patterns which were different from the PCR and RFLP patterns of the rest of isolates (sheep strain). The results of this study showed that the ‘camel’ strain was actual source of infection to humans which circulates between intermediate hosts including camels and cattle, and it confirms the camel–dog transmission cycle in Isfahan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate effect of plasma-derived exosomes of refractory/relapsed or responsive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients on natural killer (NK) cell functions., Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional and experimental study, NK cells were purified from responsive patients (n=10) or refractory/relapsed patients (n=12) and healthy donors (n=12). NK cells were treated with plasma-derived exosomes of responsive or refractory/relapsed patients. We examined the expression levels of hsa-miR-155-5p , hsalet- 7g-5p, INPP5D(SHIP-1) and SOCS-1 in NK cells quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Percentages of NK cells expressing CD69, NKG2D and CD16, NK cell cytotoxicity and NK cell proliferation (using flow-cytometry) as well as interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) level in the supernatant of NK cells using ELISA were also investigated., Results: We observed an increased level of hsa-miR-155-5p and a decreased level of SOCS-1 in NK cells treated with exosomes compared to untreated NK cell in healthy donors and DLBCL patients. An increase in hsa-miR-155-5p level was associated with an increased level of IFN-γ in healthy donors. The decreased levels of hsa-let-7g-5p were observed in NK cells treated with exosomes in comparison with untreated NK cells in DLBCL patients (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the percentage of CD69 + NK cells and NKG2D + NK cells in the absence or presence of exosomes of DLBCL patients in each group. Furthermore, we observed significant reduction of NK cell proliferation in DLBCL patients and healthy donors in the presence of exosomes of refractory/relapsed patients (P<0.05). A significant decrease was observed in cytotoxicity of NK cell in patients with DLBCL treated with exosomes of responsive patients., Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated adverse effect of plasma-derived exosomes of DLBCL patients on some functions of NK cell. It was also determined that low NK cell count might be associated with impaired response to R-CHOP and an increased recurrence risk of cancer., Competing Interests: There is no conflict of interest in this study., (Copyright© by Royan Institute. All rights reserved.)