Background: Asthma is a chronic and complex inflammatory disease of the respiratory tract. Also, multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Against this background, IL-33 and IL1RL1 play a critical role in autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. Here, we explored the IL-33 serum level and two potential genetic variants in the IL33 gene and its receptor in Iranian asthma and MS patients. Results: The level of IL33 was significantly higher in asthma and MS patients compared to the control group (P< 0.001- P<0.001).The frequency distribution of the genotype in rs1342326 variant of IL-33 gene in patients with asthma, MS and healthy subjects was not significantly different (P>0.05). The frequency distribution of the genotype in rs10204137 variant of IL-33 gene in MS patients and healthy subjects was significantly different (p = 0.013). Methods: This study consisted of asthma (n=140) and MS patients (n=140), and healthy subjects (n=72). Genotyping was carried out in two genetic polymorphisms, rs1342326 variant of IL-33 and rs10204137SNP variant of IL-33 receptor genes, using High- Resolution Melt Real- Time PCR based method. The level of serum IL-33 was also measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that asthma and MS patients had a higher level of IL-33, and IL-33 receptor genetic polymorphism was associated with MS. Further studies in a larger multicenter setting are needed to explore the value of this marker as a risk stratification biomarker.

Objective Currently, the replacement of fetal calf serum (FCS) by a more suitable alternative is a sought aim in the field of tissue and cell culture research. Autologous plasma (AP) and especially autologous serum (AS) have been shown to be effective substitutes of FCS in culture media for some of the cell types. Nevertheless, there is no comparative data on the most appropriate supplement for cell media in neutrophil studies, it is now unclear whether AP have a relatively equal, superior or inferior performance to FCS in neutrophil cell culture. In the present study, human blood neutrophils were isolated and cultured in FCS- or AP-supplemented medium. After 12, 36 and 60 h of incubation, cell viability, oxidative burst and CD11b expression were determined by flow cytometry. Results Compared to the culture of neutrophils in FCS 10% medium, the culture of neutrophils in a medium with AP 10% could prolong their life span without affecting their function. The findings introduce AP as a better supplement for human neutrophil cell culture than FCS and propose a simple and economical procedure for neutrophil isolation and culture.

Background and Objectives: As a stem cell group, Human amniotic epithelial cells (HAECs) have numerous advantages over their embryonic and adult counterparts for therapeutic utility. They are closer to clinical applications compared to other stem cell types. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties of HAECs toward several immune cells have been shown previously. Nevertheless, despite the ever-increasing importance of neutrophils in the immune and non-immune processes, a few studies investigated the interaction of neutrophils and HAECs. To increase the current knowledge of HAECs immunology which is necessary for optimizing their future clinical applications, here we explored the effect of HAECs on two chief neutrophil functions; respiratory burst and phagocytosis. Methods and Results: Freshly isolated human blood neutrophils were co-cultured with different number of HAECs for about 24 or 48 hours, then the oxidative burst and phagocytosis of stimulated neutrophils were assessed and compared. The results demonstrated a substantial elevation in the phagocytosis percentage, conversely a significant reduction in the oxidative burst of HAECs-cocultured neutrophils. These effects were dose-dependent, but did not show similar patterns. Likewise, the elongation of coculture period inversely influenced the HAECs-induced effects on the two neutrophil functions. Conclusions: The present study, for the first time, investigated the HAECs-mediated effects on the two main neutrophil functions. The findings suggest that HAECs by enhancement of phagocytic ability and simultaneously, attenuation of oxidative burst capacity of neutrophils protect the fetus from both microbial treats and oxidative stress and their consequent inflammation; thus corroborate the current anti-inflammatory vision of HAECs.

Objective Currently the replacement of fetal calf serum (FCS) by a more suitable alternative is a sought aim in the field of tissue and cell culture research. Autologous plasma (AP) and especially autologous serum (AS) have been shown to be effective substitutes of FCS in culture media for some of cell types. Nevertheless, there is no comparative data on the most appropriate supplement for cell media in neutrophil studies, it is now unclear whether AP have relatively an equal, superior or inferior performance to FCS in neutrophil cell culture. In the present study, human blood neutrophils were isolated and cultured in FCS- or AP-supplemented medium. After 12, 36 and 60 hours of incubation, cell viability, oxidative burst and CD11b expression were determined by flow cytometry.Results Compared to the culture of neutrophils in FCS 10% medium, the culture of neutrophils in a medium with AP 10% could prolong their life span without affecting their function. The findings introduce AP as a better supplement for human neutrophil cell culture than FCS and propose a simple and economical procedure for neutrophil isolation and culture.

Background NET (neutrophil extracellular trap) has been shown to directly influence inflammation; in SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus), it is reportedly a plausible cause for the broken self-tolerance that contributes to this pathology. Meanwhile, the role of NET is not easily explicable, and there is a serious discrepancy in the role of NET in SLE pathology and generally inflammation; in particular, the interactions of neutrophils with NET have been rarely inspected. This study evaluates the effect of NET on neutrophils in the context of SLE. The neutrophils were incubated by the collected NET (from SLE patients and healthy controls) and their expression of an activation marker, viability and oxidative burst ability were measured. Results The level of cell mortality, CD11b expression and the oxidative burst capacity were elevated in NET-treated neutrophils. Also, the elevation caused by the SLE NET was higher than that produced by the healthy NET. Conclusion The decreased neutrophil viability was not due to the increase in apoptosis; rather, it was because of the augmentation of other inflammatory cell-death modes. The upregulation of CD11b implies that NET causes neutrophils to more actively contribute to inflammation. The increased oxidative burst capacity of neutrophils can play a double role in inflammation. Overall, the effects induced by NET on neutrophils help prolong inflammation; accordingly, the NET collected from SLE patients is stronger than the NET from healthy individuals.