BACKGROUND The HBV-X (HBX) protein is believed to contribute to the development of HCC. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in HBX- mediated hepatocarcinogenesis remain obscure. In this study, the effect of hepatitis B virus X gene and its protein product HBxAg on expression of p53 gene in Hep G2 cell line was investigated. METHODS Viral DNA extracted from HBV-positive serum and HBX ge...

BACKGROUND Leishmania is a pathogenic parasite which infects mononuclear cells in vertebrate hosts. Different strategies have been taken to develop immunity against Leishmania. DCs loaded with immunogenic antigen have resulted in different levels of Th1-type immune response and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) activity. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the potency of DCs primed with soluble Leishmania mexi...

Toxoplasmosis is a common and widespread infection in humans and many other species of warm–blooded animals. Toxoplasma gondii-derived heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) may play an important role in the virulence of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). In the present study, T. gondii Hsp70 was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from the DNA of the T. gondiitachyzoite RH strain through the use o...

Background and Aims: Influenza (flu) is a respiratory infection in mammals and birds. It is caused by an RNA virus in the family Orthomyxoviridae. The virus is divided into three main types. Influenza virus type A is found in a wide variety of bird and mammal species and can undergo major shifts in immunological properties. Hemagglutinin (HA) is an important influenza virus surface antigen that...

BACKGROUND Hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a transcription factor that functions to maintain cellular homeostasis in response to hypoxia. There is evidence that HIF-1 can also trigger apoptosis, possibly when cellular responses are inadequate to meet energy demands under hypoxic conditions. METHODS Cardiac derived H9c2 and renal tubular epithelial HK-2 cells expressing either the wild t...

BACKGROUND Long QT syndrome type 2 (LQT2) is the second most common type of all long QT syndromes. It is well-known that trafficking deficient mutant human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) proteins are often involved in LQT2. Cells respond to misfolded and trafficking-deficient proteins by eliciting the unfolded protein response (UPR) and Activating Transcription Factor (ATF6) has been identif...

background and aims: influenza (flu) is a respiratory infection in mammals and birds. it is caused by an rna virus in the family orthomyxoviridae. the virus is divided into three main types. influenza virus type a is found in a wide variety of bird and mammal species and can undergo major shifts in immunological properties. hemagglutinin (ha) is an important influenza virus surface antigen that...

background: the hbv-x (hbx) protein is believed to contribute to the development of hcc. however, the molecular mechanisms involved in hbx-mediated hepatocarcinogenesis remain obscure. in this study, the effect of hepatitis b virus x gene and its protein product hbxag on expression of p53 gene in hep g2 cell line was investigated. methods: viral dna extracted from hbv-positive serum and hbx gen...

AIMS Murine CD99 was recently found to be expressed on leukocytes and endothelial cells, where it is concentrated at inter-endothelial contacts. Blockade of CD99 by specific antibodies inhibits leukocyte extravasation to inflamed sites in vivo. The aim of the present study is to show the role of CD99 in atherosclerosis using a CD99 vaccination protocol to block the function of CD99 during ather...