BackgroundAlloantibody production is one of the most challenging complications in transfusion‐dependent thalassaemia patients. Haemolytic anaemia, an increase in blood consumption, difficulty in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and reduced quality of life are consequences of alloimmunisation. The most predisposed antigens (Ags) for alloantibody development are Rh and Kell blood group Ags.ObjectiveThe aim of the present study is to evaluate any correlation between HLA‐DRB1 alleles and Rh and Kell alloantibodies.Materials and MethodsFifty‐two non‐responders (control) and 54 responders (case) were enrolled in this study. Alloantibody detection was performed using the tube method. Genotyping of HLA‐DRB1*01 and HLA‐DRB1*15 was conducted by single‐specific primer‐polymerase chain reaction.ResultsIn the responder group, 77.8% were hyper‐responders (more than one alloantibody), and only 22.2% were mono‐responders. Most detected alloantibodies were Anti‐K (94.4%), followed by Anti‐E (64.8%), Anti‐C (29.6%) and Anti‐D (25.9%). There was a significant difference in HLA‐DRB1*15 between responder and non‐responder groups, 73.7% vs 26.3%, respectively. (P = .029, OR = 3.290; 95%CI). Our results showed that HLA‐DRB1*15 was more frequent in hyper‐responders than mono‐responders (92.9% vs 7.1%) (P = .007). The greatest HLA‐DRB1*15 was seen in Anti‐K (P = .014, odds ratio [OR = 3.784]; 95% confidence interval [CI]) and Anti‐E (P = .011, OR = 3.609; 95%CI) alloantibodies. There is no association between HLA‐DRB1*01 and alloimmunisation.ConclusionOur findings showed that there is a significant correlation between HLA‐DRB1*15 and Anti‐K and Anti‐E alloantibodies. These findings can be useful in detecting susceptible thalassaemic patients and improving transfusion management.
Pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (Pdx1) and Sonic hedgehog (Shh) are the key regulators of beta‐cell function.
In vitro
experiments have shown that there is significant cooperation between Pdx1 and Shh with regard to the production and maintenance of insulin‐producing cells (
IPC
s). In this study, the combined effect of
Pdx1
overexpression and Shh manipulation on the function of adipose tissue‐derived
IPC
s was determined. A eukaryotic expression vector (
Pdx1‐
pCDNA
3.1(+)) was constructed and transfected into a Chinese hamster ovary (
CHO
) cell line. Adipose tissue‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (
ADMSC
s) obtained from rats were assigned to two groups [control (C) and manipulated (M)] and differentiated into
IPC
s. Manipulated cells were treated with a mixture of
FGF
‐β and cyclopamine and recombinant Shh protein at days 3 and 11, respectively, and transfected with
Pdx1‐
pCDNA
3.1(+) at day 10. The expression of multiple genes related to function of beta cells was analyzed using real‐time
PCR
. The functionality of
IPC
s
in vitro
was analyzed through dithizone (
DTZ
) staining and
ELISA
.
IPC
s were injected into the tail vein of diabetic rats, and blood glucose and insulin concentrations were measured.
CHO
cells transfected with
Pdx1‐
pCDNA
3.1(+) showed a significantly higher expression of
Pdx1
compared with nontransfected cells. Manipulated
IPC
s exhibited a significantly higher expression of
MafA, Nkx2.2, Nkx6.1, Ngn3, insulin
, and
Isl1
and a higher insulin secretion in response to glucose challenge in relation to control cells. Rats that received manipulated
IPC
s exhibited a higher ability to normalize blood glucose and insulin secretion when compared to controls. Our protocol might be used for more efficient cell therapy of patients with diabetes in the future.
Background: Because IL2RA is considered a predisposing factor in the incidence of both type I diabetes and multiple sclerosis (MS), and considering that both are autoimmune diseases, some studies suggest a correlation between type I diabetes and MS. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of type I diabetes among people with MS. Patients and Methods: The study subjects comprised 100 patients with MS from the Khuzestan multiple sclerosis center at rehabilitation school of Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, whose diagnosis of MS had been confirmed by a specialist, and were not being treated with steroids. Subjects were selected from patients younger than 30 years old. After filling out an application form, 5 mL fasting venous blood and 5 mL after 2 hours were taken. The blood glucose level was measured with a kit (Zist Shimi) using the enzymatic method. Results: The mean age of the participants was 24.28 years. The rate of type I diabetes was equal to 4% of the total sample, while 18% of all patients had impaired fasting glucose. Conclusions: Given the high level of impaired fasting glucose among patients in this study, it is likely that MS provides the basis for the incidence of glucose metabolism disorders. To prove this, further studies with larger sample sizes are required.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.