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Papers by zahra kianmehr

Current Pharmaceutical Design

Background: Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) is a membrane receptor that is expressed on th... more Background: Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) is a membrane receptor that is expressed on the surface of various immune cells, such as T cells, B cells, monocytes, natural killer T cells, and dendritic cells. In cancer, the interaction between PD-1 and its ligand PD-L1 suppresses the activation and function of T lymphocytes, leading to the impairment and apoptosis of tumor-specific T cells. This mechanism allows cancer cells to evade the immune response and promotes tumor progression. Methods: Recombinant PD-1 protein was produced and used to immunize a camel. A nanobody library was generated from the camel’s peripheral blood lymphocytes and screened for PD-1 binding. A specific nanobody (3PD9) was selected and characterized by affinity measurement, western blotting, and flow cytometry analysis. The ability of the selected nanobody to block the inhibitory signal of PD-1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was evaluated by measuring the level of interleukin-2 (IL-2). R...

Quarterly of the Horizon of Medical Sciences

Aims Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) is a membrane receptor expressed on the surface of T ... more Aims Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) is a membrane receptor expressed on the surface of T and B lymphocytes, monocytes, natural killers, and dendritic cells. In cancer, the PD-1/PD-L1 system prevents the proliferation of T lymphocytes and causes the release of cytokines and cytotoxicity, which leads to the apoptosis of tumor-specific T cells, thereby preventing the immune response to cancer cells. Methods & Materials In this study, the extracellular part of the humanized PD-1 protein was cloned and expressed, and the protein was injected as an antigen into a camel (Camelus dromedarius) to obtain a camel polyclonal antibody against PD-1 protein. Findings The obtained results indicate the proper expression of the protein in the prokaryotic system. Also, using various tests, such as ELISA and western blot, it was confirmed that the polyclonal antibody obtained from camel can identify PD-1 protein. Conclusion This study showed that because of the advantages, such as the ability t...

Archives of Microbiology

Influenza A virus (IAV) affects human health worldwide as a high-risk disease. It can neither be ... more Influenza A virus (IAV) affects human health worldwide as a high-risk disease. It can neither be easily controlled by current vaccines and nor be treated by conventional drugs. Gemini surfactants (GS) have shown several properties including antiviral activity. In this study, the antiviral capacity of some GS compounds with different levels of hydrophobicity was examined. The 50% cytotoxic (CC 50) and non-cytotoxic (NCTC) concentrations of the compounds were determined by MTT method. The NCTCs, the same as effective concentrations (EC 50 s), were tested for the antiviral capacity against IAV in different combination treatments for 1 h incubation on MDCK cells. The HA and MTT assays were used to evaluate the virus titer and cell viabilities, respectively. The hemolytic activity of the compounds was also assessed using an HA inhibition assay. To evaluate the apoptotic effect of GS compounds, Annexin V-PI kit was used. The HA titers decreased between 1-6.5 logs, 1-4.5 logs, and 1-5.5 logs in simultaneous, pre-and post-penetration combination treatments, respectively. The cell viability values in all combination treatments were favorable. The HI assay indicated the hemolytic potential of GSs and their physical interaction with viral HA. The apoptosis test results highlighted anti-apoptotic capacity of the GS compounds alone and in the presence of influenza virus especially for the hydrophobic ones. Gemini surfactants were generally more efficacious in simultaneous treatment. Their antiviral potential may be attributed to their physical interaction with viral membrane or HA glycoprotein that disrupts viral particle or blocks viral entry to the cell and inhibits its propagation.

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology

Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, 2009

Background: Glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzymes are critical for detoxifying reactive oxygen ... more Background: Glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzymes are critical for detoxifying reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their products which have been implicated in the pathology of inflammatory diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD). Methods: We investigated the effects of genetic polymorphisms of GST on the risk of AD in preschool age children. Biomarkers for oxidative stress were also evaluated with respect to GST genotype. Results: The GSTP1 Val105 allele was significantly associated with an increased risk of AD wodds ratio (OR)s1.62, p-0.05x. The combination of the GSTP1 Val105 allele and the GSTT1 null genotype further increased this risk by 2.3-fold (p-0.01). No association was observed for the GSTM1 null or GSTT1 null genotype alone. In children with AD, blood total antioxidant capacity was significantly less (p-0.001), while malondialdehyde was higher (ps0.12). Children with the GSTP1 Val105 allele had significantly lower concentrations of erythrocyte glutathione compared to GSTP1 Ile/Ile homozygotes (ps0.03). Conclusions: Our study suggests that the GSTP1 Val105 allele is an important determinant of susceptibility to AD in preschool age children and increased oxidative stress may play a role in the pathogenesis of AD.

Virology Journal

Background JC polyomavirus (JCPyV) is known to induce solid tumors such as astrocytomas, glioblas... more Background JC polyomavirus (JCPyV) is known to induce solid tumors such as astrocytomas, glioblastomas, and neuroblastomas in experimental animals, and recent studies have shown that the virus may be correlated with carcinogenesis. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of JCPyV on the progression of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Methods A total of 1057 samples, including 645 paraffin-embedded PTC biopsy samples (PEBS) and 412 fresh biopsy samples (FBS), and 1057 adjacent non-cancerous samples were evaluated for the presence of JCPyV DNA and RNA. Results We observed that 10.8% (114/1057) samples, including 17.5% (72/412) FBS and 6.5% (42/645) PEBS were positive for the JCPyV DNA. Among the JCPyV-positive samples, the mean JCPyV copy number was lower in patients with PEBS (0.3 × 10–4 ± 0.1 × 10–4 copies/cell) compared to FBS (1.8 × 10–1 ± 0.4 × 10–1 copies/cell) and non-PTC normal samples (0.2 × 10–5 ± 0.01 × 10–5 copies/cell), with a statistically significant difference (P < 0...

Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, 2021

Objective(s): Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a primary contributing agent of cervical cancer. Erad... more Objective(s): Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a primary contributing agent of cervical cancer. Eradication of HPV-related infections requires therapeutic strategies. We used Brucella abortus RB51 rough lipopolysaccharide (R-LPS) as an adjuvant along with two HPV16 therapeutic DNA vaccines, pcDNA3-E7 and pcDNA3-L1, for improving DNA vaccine efficacy. Materials and Methods: For evaluation of the B. abortus LPS adjuvant efficacy in combination with DNA vaccines to induce cellular immune responses, C57BL/6 mice were immunized with the DNA vaccines, with or without R-LPS adjuvant. IFN-γ and IL-4 cytokines assay was carried out for assessment of cellular and humoral immune responses. Results: Findings indicated that vaccination with pcDNA3-E7 or pcDNA3-L1 alone could induce strong cellular immune responses, but stronger antigen-specific T-cell immune responses were shown by co-administration of HPV16 E7 and HPV16 L1 DNA vaccines along with R-LPS adjuvant. Conclusion: Overall, B. abortus R-L...

Mariam Khatami 1, Zahra Kianmehr2, Maliheh Safavi3, Sussan Kaboudanian Ardestani4*, Nasser Ghaemi... more Mariam Khatami 1, Zahra Kianmehr2, Maliheh Safavi3, Sussan Kaboudanian Ardestani4*, Nasser Ghaemi5 1. Production and Research Complex, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Karaj, Iran 2. Faculty of Biological Sciences, Islamic Azad University, North Tehran Branch, Tehran, I.R Iran 3. Department of Biotechnology, Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran 4. Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran 5. School of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Almost all cervical cancers are caused by persistent human papillomaviruses (HPV) infection, most... more Almost all cervical cancers are caused by persistent human papillomaviruses (HPV) infection, most often HPV16. Considerable advances have been made in developing HPV prophylactic vaccines based on L1 virus-like particles (VLP). Combination of HPV-16 VLP with LPS isolated from Brucella abortus strain RB51 (R-LPS) as adjuvant or combination of plasmid encoding HPV-16 L1 gene (pcDNA3/L1) with HPV-16 VLP as a DNA priming-VLP boosting regimen have been evaluated in this study. Results showed that although, formulation of VLP with R-LPS adjuvant as well as DNA primed-VLP boosted regimen were led to significantly increasing specific immune responses as compared with VLPs alone, but among them the VLP/R-LPS highly enhanced immune function. Tacking together, the results of our study suggest that re-focusing of research programs on adjuvant development for the next generation of cancer vaccines has potential relevant benefits. Keywords—Adjuvant, Brucella abortus LPS, HPV-16 VLP, Prime-boosted...

International Immunopharmacology

International Journal of Pharmacology, 2008

Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 2009

Biologia

Cancer is the second leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease in many societies. One o... more Cancer is the second leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease in many societies. One of the traditional methods to control the progression of cancers is chemotherapy, which is often associated with severe complications. Research shows that medicinal plants are an excellent and reliable source for the development of new anticancer drugs. In the present study, the effect of Trachyspermum ammi or Ajwain essential oil (AEO) alone and in combination with low-level laser on 2D and 3D culture of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells was investigated. 2D and 3D culture of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells were treated with different concentrations of AEO (0 to 100 µg/mL) for 24 h and low-level laser irradiation at 660 nm and 3 J/cm 2 for 90 s by three methods: (1) treatment with AEO alone, (2) treatment with AEO and then low-level laser irradiation and (3) treatment with low-level laser irradiation and then AEO. The effect of AEO and low-level laser on cell survival, cell morphology changes, and the occurrence of apoptosis was investigated using MTT, light microscopy, and fluorescence microscopy, respectively. The effective concentration (IC50) of AEO in both 2D and 3D cultures of MDA-MB-231 cells was obtained at 35 µg/mL. Data from the MTT test showed that MDA-MB-231 cells were not destroyed by low-level laser irradiation alone, and also by combination therapy when the cells were first treated with AEO and then exposed to the low-level laser causes more mortality than AEO alone. Images obtained by light microscopy and fluorescence microscopy also confirmed higher cell mortality in the combined method of cell treatment with AEO and then low-level laser. This study showed that in addition to several medicinal properties mentioned in other studies, AEO also has anti-cancer effects, and also a combination treatment of AEO and low-level laser increases the anticancer effects of AEO and further reduces survival of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Investigation of the anti-cancer effects of AEO and its active ingredients in other cancer cells as well as animal models of tumors are suggested in future studies.

ریمو گرم اب هک دنیوگ یم راد نینلام یاه لولس أشنم اب تسوپ ناطرس زا یعون هب امونلام :فده اب تشادرب ... more ریمو گرم اب هک دنیوگ یم راد نینلام یاه لولس أشنم اب تسوپ ناطرس زا یعون هب امونلام :فده اب تشادرب لماــش میخدب مونلام یارب نامرد یاه شور رضاح لاحرد هچ رگا .تــسا هارمه لااب اب بلغا اه نامرد هنوگ نیا یــلو ،دــشاب یم یپارتونومیا و ینامردوترپ ،ینامرد یمیــش ،یحارج ،فلتخم یاه ناطرس نامرد رد اه یژتارتــسا نیرت مهم زا یکی .دنتسه هارمه دیدــش ضراوع نادیسکا یتنآ زا هدمع ةتــسد کی یلونف تابیکرت .تسا یهایگ أشنم اب تابیکرت زا هدافتــسا نادیسکا یتنآ یاه رثا دننام یمهم یکیژولویب یاه تیلاعف هک دنتسه یناهایگ رد یعیبط یاه باهتلا و درد شهاک رد نیون یــنامرد شور یعون ینامرد ناوت مک رزیل .دنراد یناطرــسدض و هتفرگ تروص یمک تاعلاطم یناطرس یاه لولس یور رب ناوت مک رزیل رثا اب هطبار رد .دــشاب یم یامونلام یناطرس یاه لولــس رب دیــسا کیراموک اراپ یلونف بیکرت رثا هعلاطم نیا رد .تــسا .دش یسررب ناوت مک رزیل فلتخم یاه یژرنا یاه شبات روضح رد یناسنا

Reviews in Medical Virology

Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences

Combination therapy of DOX and MB-PDT has a significant synergistic effect on MDA-MB-231 breast c... more Combination therapy of DOX and MB-PDT has a significant synergistic effect on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, which can be considered as a potential strategy for breast cancer treatment.

World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

There is an urgent demand to manufacture an effective and safe vaccine to prevent SARS-CoV2 infec... more There is an urgent demand to manufacture an effective and safe vaccine to prevent SARS-CoV2 infection, which resulted in a global pandemic. In this study, we developed an inactivated whole-virus SARS-CoV-2 candidate vaccine named COVIran Barekat. Immunization at two different doses (3 µg or 5 µg per dose) elicited a high level of SARS-CoV-2 specific neutralizing antibodies in mice, rabbits, and non-human primates. The results show the safety profile in studied animals (include guinea pig, rabbit, mice, and monkeys). Rhesus macaques were immunized with the two-dose of 5 µg and 3 µg of the COVIran Barekat vaccine and showed highly efficient protection against 104 TCID50 of SARS-CoV-2 intratracheal challenge compared with the control group. These results highlight the COVIran Barekat vaccine as a potential candidate to induce a strong and potent immune response which may be a promising and feasible vaccine to protect against SARS-CoV2 infection.

Lasers in Medical Science