OBJECTIVE Adipose derived stem cells (ASCs), as one of the important stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment, are determined with immunomodulatory effects. The principle aim of this study was to evaluate the immunosuppressive effects of ASCs on natural killer (NK) cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this experimental study, we assessed the expressions of indolamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO1), ID...

OBJECTIVE Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has for long been associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this study, we investigated the levels of latent and lytic antigen EBV-specific T-cells and antibodies in SLE patients. METHODS T cells were analyzed by flow cytometry and antibodies were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS SLE patients showed a significantly reduce...

Immune deficiency diseases are often accompanied by abnormalities in one or both arms of the specific immune system. Impairment can often be detected as a decrease in the number of T or B lymphocytes or their products in the circulation, but questions are often asked as to the functional capabilities of T lymphocytes in patients with recurrent infections. Function of T cells has traditionally b...

Several studies have demonstrated roles for eosinophils during innate and adaptive immune responses to helminth infections. However, evidence that eosinophils are capable of initiating an immune response to parasite antigens is lacking. The goal of the present in vitro study was to investigate the potential of eosinophils to serve as antigen-presenting cells (APC) and initiate an immune respons...

DNA or oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) containing unmethylated CpG motifs (CpG DNA) activate antigen-presenting cells and switch on T(h)1 immunity to antigen. B cells are synergistically activated by CpG DNA in combination with non-physiologic B cell stimulators such as polyclonal mitogen and surface Ig cross-linkers. This study shows the unexpected finding that not only CpG ODN, but also non-CpG a...

Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiologic agent of Chagas' disease. Acute T. cruzi infection results in polyclonal B-cell activation and delayed specific humoral immunity. T. cruzi proline racemase (TcPRAC), a T. cruzi B-cell mitogen, may contribute to this dysfunctional humoral response. Stimulation of murine splenocytes with recombinant protein (rTcPRAC) induced B-cell proliferation, antibody secret...

Assessment of the cellular immune response in coccidioidomycosis has epidemiologic and prognostic importance. Measurement of delayed-type hypersensitivity to skin testing has been used in the past to determine cellular immunity in coccidioidomycosis. However, no skin tests are currently available in the United States. Assay of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) release in whole blood in response to i...

Although aflatoxins (AFs) have been shown to be immune-suppressive agents in animals, the potential role of AFs in modifying the distribution and function of leukocyte subsets in humans has never been assessed. We examined the cellular immune status of 64 Ghanaians in relation to levels of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-albumin adducts in plasma. The percentages of leukocyte immunophenotypes in peripheral...

The American cutaneous forms of leishmaniasis include immune-responder individuals with localised cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) and non-responder individuals with diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL). Patients with intermediate or chronic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ICL) have increased morbidity due to the length of their illness, atypical forms and areas of compromise. In the present study, we e...

One of the factors that contribute to development gastric cancer is host immune response. Extensive immunophenotype can be identified by using antibody microarray technique profiles more than 100 cluster differentiation (CD) antigens in parallel. In this study, we used DotScanTM profile CD antigen expression patients with distinct digestive diseases for surface disease-signatures. Patients’ blo...