The immune system is evolved to defend the body against pathogens and is composed of thousands of complicated and intertwined pathways, which are highly controlled by processes such as transcription and repression of cellular genes. Sometimes the immune system malfunctions and a break down in self-tolerance occurs. This lead to the inability to distinguish between self and non-self and cause attacks on host tissues, a condition also known as autoimmunity, which can result in chronic debilitating diseases. Early growth response genes are family of transcription factors comprising of four members, Egr1, Egr2, Egr3 and Egr4. All of which contain three cyc2-His2 zinc fingers. Initially, Egr2 function was identified in the regulation of peripheral nerve myelination, hindbrain segmentation. Egr3, on the other hand, is highly expressed in muscle spindle development. Egr2 and Egr3 are induced due to the antigen stimulation and this signaling is implemented through the B and T cell receptors in the adaptive immunity. T cell receptor signaling plays a key role in Egr 2 and 3 expressions via their interaction with NFAT molecules. Egr 2 and 3 play a crucial role in regulation of the immune system and their involvement in B and T cell activation, anergy induction and preventing the autoimmune disease has been investigated. The deficiency of these transcription factors has been associated to deficient Cbl-b expression, a resistant to anergy phenotype, and expression of effector and activated T cells.

Background: Recurrent miscarriage is defined as a condition with two or more consecutive abortions before the 20 weeks of gestation. Recurrent miscarriage is a multi-factorial disease, which occurs in approximately 1% -2% of women at the reproductive age. Congenital infection is one of the most important factors in the recurrent miscarriages. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of rubella, cytomegalovirus, and toxoplasma infections on recurrent miscarriage in Bonab county. Methods: This is a case-control study. Blood samples from a total of 100 women with recurrent miscarriage and 100 healthy women aged 20 to 35 years were taken and serum were separated. Antibodies against Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, and Toxoplasma were read by direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Finally, data were statistically analyzed. Results: A total of 31 patients and 14 controls were positive for IgG antibodies against Toxoplasma. In addition, 27 persons in the patient group and 11 in the control group were positive for the presence of IgG antibodies against Cytomegalovirus. A total of 29 patients and 11 controls were positive for IgG antibodies against Rubella. Conclusion: In this study, there was a significant difference in the prevalence of anti-Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, and Toxoplasma antibodies between women with recurrent miscarriage and healthy women.

Background Human β-defensins (hBD2 and hBD3) are small cationic antimicrobial peptides of innate immune system which can act as a barrier against the majority of pathogens, contributing to the host immune defence. Objective The aim of study is to determine whether hBD2 and hBD3 play a role in development and proliferation of human effector CD4 T cells or not. Furthermore, if enhanced proliferation is observed in the presence of hBD2 and hBD3, these data will demonstrate whether chemokine receptor type 6 (CCR6) is required to be present for this activity to occur. Methods In this study, we examined the effect of hBD2 and hBD3 on CD4+ T cell proliferation in CCR6+ and CCR6- T cells through co-culture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 stimulation in the presence or absence of hBD2 and hBD3. Proliferation was assessed using flow cytometry. Results It was demonstrated that, co-culture with hBD2 and hBD3 led to up-regulation of CD4+ T cell proliferation after 72 h whereas, CD4+ T cell proliferation was suppressed after 96 h. On the other hand, CCR6- and CCR6+ T cell proliferation was up-regulated after 72 h. But, CCR6+ only was down-regulated in the second cycle in the presence of hBD3. In contrast, after 96 h CCR6+ and CCR6- T cell proliferation was decreased. Conclusion Collectively, our data indicated that hBD2 and hBD3 play a positive and negative regulatory role in development and proliferation of human effector CD4+ T cells which is essential for optimal adaptive immune responses and the control of immunopathology.

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