Showing papers by "Vahid Salimi published in 2019"

The interplay between vitamin D and viral infections.

Abstract: The pleiotropic role of vitamin D has been explored over the past decades and there is compelling evidence for an epidemiological association between poor vitamin D status and a variety of diseases. While the potential anti-viral effect of vitamin D has recently been described, the underlying mechanisms by which vitamin D deficiency could contribute to viral disease development remain poorly understood. The possible interactions between viral infections and vitamin D appear to be more complex than previously thought. Recent findings indicate a complex interplay between viral infections and vitamin D, including the induction of anti-viral state, functional immunoregulatory features, interaction with cellular and viral factors, induction of autophagy and apoptosis, and genetic and epigenetic alterations. While crosstalk between vitamin D and intracellular signalling pathways may provide an essential modulatory effect on viral gene transcription, the immunomodulatory effect of vitamin D on viral infections appears to be transient. The interplay between viral infections and vitamin D remains an intriguing concept, and the global imprint that vitamin D can have on the immune signature in the context of viral infections is an area of growing interest.

Disease severity in respiratory syncytial virus infection: Role of host genetic variation

Abstract: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in the pediatric population worldwide. The immunopathology of RSV infection varies considerably and severe disease occurs only in a minority of the population. There are many factors (host, viral, and environmental) that contribute to the complicated disease phenotype. In this regard, host factors are decisive for pulmonary susceptibility to RSV infection. Host genetic diversity certainly affects the balance between control of viral replication and tissue damage during RSV infection, consequently impacting on diseases outcome. In this review, we discuss the role of host genetic variation in disease caused by RSV aiming to highlight genetic risk factors for one of the most common diseases in early childhood. Our findings clearly indicate that the response of each individual to infection is influenced by genetic diversity mainly linked to the regulation of host immune responses. Future genetic association and functional studies using more powerful and consistently reproducible approaches will likely be able to confirm, refine, and expand our developing concept of RSV disease pathogenesis.

Serum and tissue miRNAs: potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of cervical cancer.

Abstract: Finding new biomarkers for the early detection of cervical cancer is an essential requirement in this field. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the expression level of potential biomarkers in progression of cervical cancer in patients with cervical cancer compared to normal subjects. The expression levels of tissue and serum miRNAs, including miR-9, miR-192 and miR-205, were investigated in 36 normal, 18 precancer, and 18 cervical cancer samples using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results showed the higher significant expressions of miR-9, miR-192 and miR-205 in the tissue of cancer samples than those in the normal samples. Moreover, the miR-192 and miR-205 expression were significantly increased in the cancer group in comparison with the precancer group. Examination of serum samples revealed the increase in the expression level in the cancer groups than in the normal samples, for miR-9, miR-192 and miR-205 and the expressions of miR-9, miR-192 and miR-205 were significantly up-regulated in the precancer group in comparison with the normal group. Also the expression of miR-205 was remarkably increased in the cancer group in comparison with the precancer group. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses showed the highest area under the curve value for miR-192. Given the increased expression level of miR-192 in cancer and in precancerous tissue and serum compared with the normal tissue and serum validated by analysing the ROC curve, miR-192 can be used as potential biomarker for the early detection of cervical cancer.

Up-regulation of 15-lipoxygenase enzymes and products in functional and non-functional pituitary adenomas

Abstract: Pituitary adenoma accounts as a complex and multifactorial intracranial neoplasm with wide range of clinical symptoms which its underlying molecular mechanism has yet to be determined The bioactive lipid mediators received attentions toward their contribution in cancer cell proliferation, progression and death Amongst, 15-Lipoxygense (15-Lox) enzymes and products display appealing role in cancer pathogenesis which their possible effect in pituitary adenoma tumor genesis is perused in the current study The 15-Lipoxygenses isoforms expression level was evaluated in tumor tissues of prevalent functional and non-functional pituitary adenomas and normal pituitary tissues via Real-Time PCR The circulating levels of 15(S) HETE and 13(S) HODE as 15-Lox main products were assessed in serum of patients and healthy subjects using enzyme immunoassay kits Our results revealed that 15-Lox-1 and 15-Lox-2 expression levels were elevated in tumor tissues of pituitary adenomas comparing to normal pituitary tissues The elevated levels of both isoforms were accompanied with 15(S) HETE and 13(S) HODE elevation in the serum of patients The 15-Lox-1 expression and activity was higher in invasive tumors as well as tumors with bigger size indicating the possible pro-tumorigenic role of 15-Lox-1, more than 15-Lox-2 in pituitary adenomas The diagnostic value of 15-Lipoxygense isoforms and products were considerable between patients and healthy groups The possible involvement of 15-Lipoxygense pathway especially 15-Lox-1 in the regulation of pituitary tumor growth and progression may open up new molecular mechanism regarding pituitary adenoma pathogenesis and might shed light on its new therapeutic strategies

Induction of protective immune response to intranasal administration of influenza virus-like particles in a mouse model.

Abstract: Human influenza A viruses (IAVs) cause global pandemics and epidemics, which remains a nonignorable serious concern for public health worldwide. To combat the surge of viral outbreaks, new treatments are urgently needed. Here, we design a new vaccine based on virus-like particles (VLPs) and show how intranasal administration of this vaccine triggers protective immunity, which can be exploited for the development of new therapies. H1N1 VLPs were produced in baculovirus vectors and were injected into BALB/c mice by the intramuscular (IM) or intranasal (IN) route. We found that there were significantly higher inflammatory cell and lymphocyte concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage samples and the lungs of IN immunized mice; however, the IM group had little signs of inflammatory responses. On the basis of our results, immunization with H1N1 influenza VLP elicited a strong T cell immunity in BALB/c mice. Despite T cell immunity amplification after both IN and IM vaccination methods in mice, IN-induced T cell responses were significantly more intense than IM-induced responses, and this was likely related to an increased number of both CD11bhigh and CD103+ dendritic cells in mice lungs after IN administration of VLP. Furthermore, evaluation of interleukin-4 and interferon gamma cytokines along with several chemokine receptors showed that VLP vaccination via IN and IM routes leads to a greater CD4+ Th1 and Th2 response, respectively. Our findings indicated that VLPs represent a potential strategy for the development of an effective influenza vaccine; however, employing relevant routes for vaccination can be another important part of the universal influenza vaccine puzzle.