Nasrollah Erfani

Cancer Immunology Research Group, Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

[ 1 ] - Construction of expressing vectors including melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7 (mda-7) fused with the RGD sequences for better tumor targeting

Objective(s): Up to now, many researches have been performed to improve the antitumoral effect of melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7 (mda-7) protein. The purpose of our research was to construct 3 expression vectors producing mda-7 in fusion with RGD (Arginine-Glycine-Aspartic acid) peptide and evaluate their expression.     Materials and Methods: mda-7 gene with two different RGD sequ...

[ 2 ] - Investigation of FOXP3 genetic variations at positions -2383 C/T and IVS9+459 T/C in southern Iranian patients with lung carcinoma

Objective(s): FOXP3 gene is an X-linked gene that encodes FOXP3 protein, an essential transcription factor in CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells.  We aimed, in the present study, to investigate the association of two FOXP3 polymorphisms, -2383 C/T (rs3761549) and IVS9+459 T/C (rs2280883), with lung cancer. Materials and Methods:  In a case-control study we analyzed genotypes and alleles ...

[ 3 ] - CD8+ T Lymphocyte Subsets in Bladder Tumor Draining Lymph Nodes

Background: Cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, as essential parts of the adaptive immune system, play pivotal roles in anti-tumor immune responses. It is well documented that cytokine expression profiles and activation status of these cells during anti-tumor immune responses affect the outcome of host-tumor interaction. Objective: To investigate the percentages of CD8+ lymphocytes and their subsets in...

[ 4 ] - T-helper Type 1 and 2 Cytokine Levels in Patients with Benign and Malignant Salivary Gland Tumors

Background: Salivary gland tumors are among malignancies that have high recurrence rate. Immune responses in salivary gland tumors have not been well elucidated. T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th2 cytokines have been reported to play a role in the outcome of head and neck cancers. Objective: To evaluate the serum levels of interferon gamma (IFN- γ), as the hallmark of Th1 cytokines, and interleukin-...

[ 5 ] - FoxP3+ Regulatory T Cells in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Background: Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of death from malignancy in women. CD4 +CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells are a subset of T lymphocytes with great inhibitory impact on immune response. Objectives: To investigate the percentage of CD4 +CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells in the peripheral blood of the Iranian patients with epithelial ovarian cancer compared to healthy women ...

[ 6 ] - IL-17 and IL-4 Producing CD8+ T Cells in Tumor Draining Lymph Nodes of Breast Cancer Patients: Positive Association with Tumor Progression

Background: CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes have been recently divided based on their cytokine expression profile. Objective: To evaluate the percentages of CD8+ lymphocytes and their effector subsets including Tc1, Tc2 and Tc17 in the tumor draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) of patients with breast cancer. Methods: Single cell suspensions were obtained from TDLNs of 42 patients with breast cancer. Stai...

[ 7 ] - Effect of Thermal Stress on MICA/B Induction in a Human Liposarcoma Cell Line

Background: A possible mechanism by which hyperthermia enhances tumor immunogenicity is the induction of NKG2D ligands on tumor cells. Although the expression of MHC class I chain-related protein A and B (MICA/B) has previously been reported in different carcinomas, there is no information about MICA/B expression in liposarcomas. Objective: To investigate MICA/B induction in a human liposarcoma...

[ 8 ] - CCL22 16C/A Genetic Variation is not Associated with Breast Carcinoma in Southern Iranian Population

Background: CCL22/MDC is a CC chemokine with a critical role in regulation of the immune balance in physiological condition. CCL22/CCR-4 ligation has been documented to participate in the migration of regulatory T (Treg) cells and Th2 lymphocytes to the site of breast tumors; circumstances that are known to be associated with poor prognosis. Objective: To investigate the association of a single...

[ 9 ] - Evaluation of the Immunomodulatory Effect of Curdlan on Maturation and Function of Mouse Spleen-Derived Dendritic Cells

Background: T helper 1 and T helper 17 cells play important roles in immunity against foreign invaders. Differentiation of these Th subsets is affected by state of maturation and cytokines that are produced by dendritic cells (DCs). Curdlan is a linear (1→3)-β- glucan and has shown activity against tumors and infectious agents. Objective: This study aims to investigate whether curdlan plays its...

[ 10 ] - Strong Association of CTLA-4 Variation (CT60A/G) and CTLA-4 Haplotypes with Predisposition of Iranians to Head and Neck Cancer

Background: Variations in Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Antigen-4 (CTLA-4) affect the expression and function of this protein. Objective: We aimed to investigate the association of +49 A/G (rs231775), +1822 C/T (rs231779) and +6230 A/G (CT60, rs3087243) genetic variations, as well as the merged haplotypes in CTLA-4 gene with susceptibility to, or progression of head and neck cancer. Methods: Eighty pa...

[ 11 ] - Stromal Cell Derived Factor-1 Genetic Variation at Locus 801 in Patients with Myasthenia Gravis

Background: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is the most common disorder of neuromuscular junction in which autoantibodies develop against nicotinic acetylcholine receptor for unknown reasons. The association of immunomodulator genes with different autoimmune disease has been studied in recent years. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate correlation between a genetic variation in Stromal Ce...

[ 12 ] - بررسی میزان بیان ژن E- cadherin در خون محیطی بیماران مبتلا به سرطان پستان در منطقه جنوب ایران

زمینه: سرطان پستان شایع‌ترین بدخیمی در زنان است و به عنوان دومین عامل مرگ ومیر ناشی از سرطان‌ها محسوب می‌شود. مولکول E- cadherin، یک مولکول گلیکوپروتئینی است که از عرض غشا عبور کرده و در اتصال سلول به سلول نقش اساسی را ایفا می‌کند. با توجه به نقش مولکول اشاره شده، به نظر می‌رسد که میزان بیان این مولکول می‌تواند در سرکوب تومور و جلوگیری از متاستاز تومور به دیگر قسمت‌های بدن نقش اساسی را ایفا نما...

[ 13 ] - Induction of apoptosis by 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation emitted from a GSM mobile phone simulator in bystander Jurkat cells

Background: Radiation-induced bystander effect is a response which results in damage in non-irradiated cells in response to signals from the irradiated cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate microwave-induced bystander effect from a GSM mobile phone simulator on induction of apoptosis in Jurkat cell line. Materials and Methods: Jurkat cells were divided into three groups of non-...

[ 14 ] - Genetic Polymorphisms of CCL22 and CCR4 in Patients with Lung Cancer

Background: An association between lung cancer and chemokines has been advocated in the recent years. This study aims at investigating the association between lung cancer and 16C/A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs. 4359426) in C-C motif chemokine 22 (CCL22) as well as C1014T SNP (rs. 2228428) in C-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CCR4), which serves as the receptor for CCL22.Methods: Genoty...

[ 15 ] - Anti-Nuclear Antibodies in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome before and after Laparoscopic Electrocauterization

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been suggested to be linked with autoimmune processes. Laparoscopic ovarian electrocauterization has the potency to stimulate more autoimmune reactions in PCOS patients. In the present study, we considered anti-nuclear antibodies (ANAs) as the hallmark of autoimmune reactions, and investigated the serum level of these antibodies in 35 patients with PCOS (21-...

[ 16 ] - NK, NKT and Invariant-NKT Cells in Tumor Draining Lymph Nodes of Patients with Breast Cancer

Background: NK (natural killer) and NKT (natural killer T) cells, as components of innate immune system, play a crucial role in tumor progression and dissemination. Objective: To investigate the percentages of NK cells, NKT cells, iNKT (invariant natural killer T) cells, total T lymphocytes as well as activated T lymphocytes, in tumor draining lymph nodes (TDLN...