Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a one of the most common obstetrical complications. Since, the successful pregnancy occurs in T helper 2 (Th2)‐dominant situation and since, Th1 type immunity is related to pregnancy failure, we investigated the effects of cyclosporine on Th1 and Th2 cells in RPL women. Totally, 76 RPL patients (38 women as treated group and 38 as control group) were included in this study. Flow cytometry was utilized to analyze the frequency of Th1 and Th2 in blood samples. Also, real‐time polymerase chain reaction was carried out to assess the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of transcription factors and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay was used to evaluate Th1 and Th2 related cytokines. Significant decrease in Th1 frequency (p = 0.0004), Th1/Th2 ratio (p < 0.0001), T‐bet mRNA expression (p < 0.0001), interferon‐γ (p = 0.0007), and tumor necrosis factor α (p = 0.0002) secretion level were observed in cyclosporine group. Moreover, significant increase in Th2 frequency (p < 0.0001), mRNA expression of GATA binding protein 3 (p = 0.0001), and interleukin 10 secretion level (p = 0.0027) was also evident in treated group. At the end of the investigation, 31 (81.5%) patients in cyclosporine‐treated group had successful childbirth when compared with 16 (42.1%) women in control group (p = 0.0001). Given this, cyclosporine treatment for RPL patients with elevated Th1/Th2 ratio can result in improved pregnancy outcome.
Aim
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory rheumatic disease with increased bone mass in the main sites of inflammation. Regulatory T (Treg) cells have been reported to involve in pathology of AS. This study designed at investigating the effects of nanocurcumin on Treg cell responses in peripheral blood (PB) of AS patients.
Methods
Test group including 12 AS patients received nanocurcumin daily for 4 months and control group including 12 patients received placebo. The frequency of Treg was measured by flow cytometry. The expression levels of FoxP3 and several associated microRNAs (miRNAs; miR‐27, miR‐17, and miR‐146a) and cytokines including Interleukin‐10 (IL‐10), TGF‐β, and IL‐6 were assessed by real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay was done to determine the secretion levels of cytokines.
Results
After treatment with nanocurcumin the frequency of Treg cells in AS patients increased significantly. The RT‐PCR data indicated that the expression of miR‐17 and miR‐27 were significantly decreased following nanocurcumin treatment while miR‐146a and FoxP3 were significantly increased. Moreover, nanocurcumin‐treated group had high levels of IL‐10 and TGF‐β and low levels of IL‐6 production than control group.
Conclusion
The findings suggested that dysregulation of Treg cells in PB influences the AS development and nanocurcumin therapy could regulate the Treg cells, and so could be useful in the treatment of AS and may be other autoimmune diseases.
This study is registered with IRCT.ir, number IRCT2017052927520N7.
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