Introduction to immunology and autoimmunity.

CTLA4 Gene Variants in Autoimmunity and Cancer: a Comparative Review

Gene association studies are less appealing in cancer compared to autoimmune diseases. Complexity, heterogeneity, variation in histological types, age at onset, short survival, and acute versus chronic conditions are cancer related factors which are different from an organ specific autoimmune disease, such as Grave’s disease, on which a large body of multicentre data is accumulated. For years t...

Association of Melasma with Thyroid Autoimmunity: A Case-Control Study

Introduction: Melasma is a common acquired hypermelanosis seen mainly in women which occurs on the sun-exposed skin of the face. The exact cause of melasma is unknown. The majority of the cases are attributed to pregnancy, combined oral contraceptive pills, genetic factors, sun exposure, use of cosmetic products, thyroid disorders and anti-convulsant drugs. This study was performed to evaluate ...

Relationship between Anti-Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody and Thyroid Function Test

Background: Anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (anti-TPO antibody) is a member of thyroid autoantibodies which are important in inducing and also diagnosing autoimmune thyroid diseases. Thyroid autoimmunity can cause several forms of thyroiditis and abnormal thyroid functions, ranging from hypothyroidism to hyperthyroidism. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between serum levels of anti-TPO ...

Serum Level of Soluble CD226 Receptor in Healthy Individuals is Highly Variable and Associated with Age

Influence of 1 Alpha, 25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 on T Helper 17 Cells and Related Cytokines in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease. Emerging data suggests that T helper 17 (Th17) cells play a pathogenic role in SLE and the increased number of these cells correlates with disease activity. In recent years, 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25VitD3) has been considered as an immunomodulatory factor. Objective: To investigate the effect of 1,25VitD3...

A Flowcytometry Study of CD55 and CD59 Expression on Erythrocytes in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Background: Inappropriate activation or blockage of the inhibition of complement system could cause tissue damages in autoimmune diseases particularly rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Defect in complement component regulation may cause damages to tissues, on the other hand, or the damaged tissue might affect the unnecessary activation of complement components.   Objective: To investigate the expressi...