Background: Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial innate components in anti-tumor immunity. However, the clinical impacts and their phenotypes in bladder cancer (BC) remain unclear.Objective: To assess the clinical significance of NK cell subsets in tumor-draining lymph nodes of patients with BC.Methods: In a cross-sectional study, pelvic lymph nodes were obtained from 49 untreated patients with BC. Mononuclear cells were isolated and immunophenotyped using CD3, CD56, CD16, CD27, and CD11b markers. NK cells were then classified based on their expression patterns of CD56/CD16 (conventional) and ..read more

Dear Editor I am writing in response to the recently published study titled "Antibody Production after COVID-19 Vaccination in Patients with Inborn Errors of Immunity" (1). The article offers essential insights into the immune response engendered by COVID-19 vaccines in a vulnerable cohort. To build upon this seminal work and deepen our understanding, I offer the following brief suggestions for future research endeavours: Conduct longitudinal studies to track the long-term vaccine efficacy and the potential need for booster vaccinations in patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI) (2). Uti ..read more

Background: Since the outbreak of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), several vaccine candidates have been developed within a short period of time. Although the potency of these vaccines was evaluated individually, their comparative potency was not comprehensively evaluated. Objective: To compare the immunogenicity and neutralization efficacy of four approved COVID-19 vaccines in Iran, including: PastoCovac Plus, Sinopharm, SpikoGen, and Noora in BALB/c mice. Methods: Different groups of female BALB/c mice were vaccinated with three doses of each vaccine. Th ..read more

Background: Endometriosis is a medical condition that can cause infertility in women. Women with endometriosis experience a decrease in NK cell cytotoxic activity against endometrial cells, ultimately contributing to the spread of these cells. Objective: To assess the frequency of NK cells and the expression of the NKP46 receptor in endometrial tissue from patients with endometriosis using immunohistochemistry. Methods: 30 endometrial tissue specimens were collected from three groups of cases with mild (n=11), moderate (n=10), and severe endometriosis (n=9), respectively. Additionally, 20 norm ..read more

Background: Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and brain stromal cells produce immunosuppressive cytokines, contributing to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Interleukin-38 (IL-38) is a novel anti-inflammatory cytokine and a natural modulator of the innate and adaptive immune system. However, its biological roles in brain tumors are not well defined. Objective: To assess the serum levels of IL-38 and the percentages of TILs in the tumor tissues of patients with primary brain tumors and to determine their associations with the pathological features of the disease. Methods: I ..read more

Background: Human adenovirus (HAdV) is an enveloped icosahedral DNA virus. HAdV infection can lead to immune system damage, resulting in decreased numbers and compromised function of T cells and B cells. It can also cause an imbalanced Th1/Th2 ratio and dysregulation of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Objective: To investigate the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-13 and IL-17A in children with HAdV pneumonia. Methods: Pediatric patients diagnosed with HAdV pneumonia were divided into a non-severe group or a severe group based on the severity of their condition. Patients in th ..read more

Background: Understanding the effects of epigenetic factors on the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is important for the early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention of this disease. MicroRNA-150 (miR-150) exerts an important influence on the development and function of lymphocytes. However, the role of miR-150 in the pathogenesis of RA remains unclear.Objective: To explore the role of miR-150 in the pathogenesis of RA and the related immune mechanism.Methods: In this study, we used miR-150 knock-out (miR-150KO) and created animal models of RA. Flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, an ..read more

Background: The imbalance between M1 and M2 macrophage activation is closely associated with the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Sulforaphane (SFN) plays an important role in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.Objective: To investigate the effect of SFN on macrophage polarization and its underlying regulatory mechanism.Methods: Mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were treated with SFN and an Nrf2 inhibitor, Brusatol. M1 macrophages were induced by LPS and IFN-γ stimulation, whereas M2 macrophages were induced by stimulation with IL-4 and IL-13. LPS-s ..read more

Background: Immunotherapies targeting peripheral natural killer (pbNK) cells in unexplained recurrent miscarriage (uRM) remain controversial. We hypothesized that the change in pbNK cell count might be a result of innate immune responses rather than a cause. Objective: To explore whether the pbNK count is significantly different in women testing positive than those testing negative for commonly studied autoimmune markers. Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 302 eligible patients with uRM for the antinuclear antibody (ANA) testing determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent ..read more

Dear Editor,I read your research paper "Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 Specific Antibodies in Recovered Patients by Different ELISA Kits" with great interest (1). Your study offers significant insights into post-COVID-19 immunity and the performance of various ELISA kits. However, I see several opportunities to further deepen the study's impact. While ELISA kits generally focus on IgG antibodies, the role of IgA and IgM antibodies could provide a fuller picture of immunity to SARS-CoV-2 (2). The study could explore factors such as patient age, gender, virus variant, or disease severity that ..read more