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In the present study, the immunomodulatory effects of Galium mite, a native herb used for the treatment of inflammation in Iranian traditional medicine, was investigated. The methanolic extract of the plant was prepared and examined for in vivo cell-mediated and humoral immunity against antigen in mice. Galium mite stimulated delayed type hypersensitivity at lower concentrations and inhibited the reaction at higher ones (p < 0.05). A dose-related decrease in primary and secondary antibody titer was observed in mice treated with the extract (p < 0.006). The extract at higher concentrations significantly reduced the proliferation of human-activated lymphocytes (p < 0.001). Cell cycle analysis on human lymphocytes treated with the extract showed an increase in the number of cells in sub-G1 region, indicating the ability of the extract to induce apoptosis in these cells. Induction of apoptosis was confirmed by DNA laddering on gel electrophoresis. In conclusion, G. mite has the ability to modulate cellular and humoral immune responses to the antigenic challenge and affect the rate of cell proliferation due to induction of apoptosis in the lymphocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The possible prognostic significance of the expression of a variety of markers has been investigated in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Methods: In the present study we investigated the prognostic significance of CD13 and CD33 myeloid antigens (MY) aberrantly expressed on the blasts of ALL patients and Bcl-2 anti- apoptotic molecule expression in childhood ALL. Results: Aberrant expression of MY occurred in 8.8% of cases. Variant levels of Bcl-2 were expressed in patients (44.2±25.5%), with more than 20% positivity for Bcl-2 in 64.7% of patients. Bcl-2+ patients survived 959±242 days compared to 1059+230 days for Bcl-2- patients (P=0.2). Corresponding data for complete remission duration was 682±170 and 716±173 days (P=0.3), respectively, indicating no significant association between survival and complete remission duration of patients with expression of the Bcl-2 molecule. Analysis of clinical response according to MY expression, however, showed significant association with survival and complete remission duration. MY+ patients had shorter complete remission duration (383±58 days) and survival (473±68 days) than MY- patients (complete remission duration, 724±144 days; survival, 1045±186 days; P<0.001). Expression of Bcl-2 along with MY was not associated with a significant decrease in survival or complete remission duration. Conclusion: Results of this study indicated that expression of MY was a poor prognostic factor in childhood ALL. Bcl-2 expression in MY+ patients could not influence the response to therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]