Background: Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is a chronic and progressive autoimmune disorder. Cytokines play a critical role in the pathogenesis of T1D.   Objective: IFN-¹ polymorphism was investigated in T1D and compared with normal controls.   Methods: Thirty patients suffering from T1D and 40 normal controls were studied simultaneously using PCR technique. IFN-   ¹ gene was evaluated at position 5’UTR...

Interferons (IFN) exert antiviral, immunomodulatory and cytostatic activities. IFN-alpha/beta (type I IFN) and IFN-lambda (type III IFN) bind distinct receptors, but regulate similar sets of genes and exhibit strikingly similar biological activities. We analyzed to what extent the IFN-alpha/beta and IFN-lambda systems overlap in vivo in terms of expression and response. We observed a certain de...

Background Dermatomyositis (DM) patients with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5) antibodies (Ab) are likely to have rapidly progressing interstitial lung disease and a poor prognosis. Thus, it is important understand the pathogenesis of disease. Objectives The aim this study was identify humoral factor(s) that characterize anti-MDA5 Ab + DM analyze cells produce these fac...

Background: Cesarean section delivery can lead to much maternal morbidity. Different cytokines have been reported to be influenced by the mode of delivery. Objective: To investigate the influence of mode of delivery on maternal, placental and cord sera of interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels. Methods: These three cytokines were measured using ELISA in...

Viruses and viral components can be potent inducers of alpha/beta interferons (IFN-alpha/beta). In culture, IFN-alpha/beta prime for their own expression, in response to viruses, through interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF-7) induction. The studies presented here evaluated the requirements for functional IFN receptors and the IFN signaling molecule STAT1 in IFN-alpha/beta induction during infec...

To directly compare clinical side effects and biological response modification, IFN-beta ser, IFN-gamma, or the combination of IFN-beta ser plus IFN-gamma was administered to 21 cancer patients. Each IFN or the combination was given intravenously on days 1, 8, and 15 in varied order. Each IFN and the combination resulted in significant (P less than 0.05) modulation of IFN-induced proteins. IFN-...