The Egyptian journal of immunology / Egyptian Association of Immunologists最新文献

{"title":"Investigating correlation between microRNA-146a gene expression and TNF-α levels among rheumatoid arthritis patients in Babylon province.","authors":"Zainab N Nabat, Mahdi H Alammar","doi":"10.55133/eji.330203","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.55133/eji.330203","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a progressive autoimmune disorder driven by immune cell and cytokine interactions. This case-control study investigated microRNA-146a (miRNA-146a) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) as prognostic markers in RA patients. Fifty RA patients from Marjan Hospital (Babylon) and 50 controls were enrolled. Serum TNF-α was measured by ELISA, and miRNA-146a expression was assessed by RT-qPCR. TNF-α levels were significantly elevated in RA patients compared to controls (p<0.0001), with the highest levels in stage IV RA. miRNA-146a expression was also significantly upregulated in RA patients (p<0.0001). A positive correlation was observed between miRNA-146a expression and TNF-α levels (r=0.374, p=0.008). These findings suggest TNF-α as a central mediator of RA inflammation and miRNA-146a as a potential biomarker of disease progression and therapeutic target.</p>","PeriodicalId":39724,"journal":{"name":"The Egyptian journal of immunology / Egyptian Association of Immunologists","volume":"33 2","pages":"23-32"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147663421","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of CD19+ CD24+CD27 B cell and serum level of interleukin 10 and interleukin 35 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.","authors":"Nashwa S M Abdeen, Reham M A Abdalla, Heba M A Abdalla, Maha S Elnady, Samar A Tabra, Esraa Elshintenawy, Elham M Elbarky, Basant S Kasem, Reem M Awny, Rania S Amer","doi":"10.55133/eji.330204","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.55133/eji.330204","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Regulatory B cells (Bregs) maintain immune homeostasis through anti-inflammatory cytokine production, yet their role in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remains poorly understood. This study evaluated CD19+CD24highCD27+ B cell frequencies and serum interleukin-10 (IL-10) and interleukin-35 (IL-35) in 40 SLE patients compared to 25 controls. Active SLE patients showed significantly reduced CD19+CD24highCD27+ B cells (23.20×106) compared to controls (56.40×106, p<0.001). IL-35 levels were decreased in active disease (54.04±8.10 pg/ml) versus inactive disease (83.38±20.05 pg/ml) and controls (89.04±10.86 pg/ml, p<0.001). IL-10 concentrations were elevated in active patients (4.44±1.27 pg/ml) compared to inactive and controls (1.95±0.56 and 2.03±0.61 pg/ml, p<0.001). Strong correlations were observed between regulatory B cell counts and SLEDAI scores (r=-0.547, p<0.001). In conclusion, active SLE is characterized by impaired regulatory B cell populations and dysregulated cytokine profiles, with reduced IL-35 and elevated IL-10 levels correlated with disease activity.</p>","PeriodicalId":39724,"journal":{"name":"The Egyptian journal of immunology / Egyptian Association of Immunologists","volume":"33 2","pages":"33-42"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147663423","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Inflammatory markers in end-stage renal disease patients on maintenance hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration (HDF), early post-renal transplant patients, and their relation to quality of life (SGA Score).","authors":"Hesham ElSayed, Aber Halim, Abdelrahman Elbraky, Mohamed Abd El-Mohsen, Meryhan Osama, Magdy ElSharkawy","doi":"10.55133/eji.330206","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.55133/eji.330206","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with malnutrition-inflammation-atherosclerosis (MIA) syndrome, persistent inflammation, and protein-energy wasting, which adversely affect nutritional status and quality of life. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a marker of systemic inflammation, while circulating microRNA-223 (miR-223) represents a novel epigenetic biomarker in CKD. This study investigated associations between hs-CRP, miR-223, and nutritional status (SGA score) in 75 end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients: 25 on hemodialysis (HD), 25 on hemodiafiltration (HDF), and 25 kidney transplant recipients, with 10 healthy controls for miR-223 reference. hs-CRP was significantly higher in HD patients (median 14.2 mg/L) compared with HDF (6.3 mg/L) and transplant recipients (5.2 mg/L, p=0.003). miR-223 expression was downregulated in dialysis groups but improved post-transplant, approaching healthy controls. Nutritional status differed significantly: 100% of transplant recipients were well-nourished (SGA Class A) compared with 76% in HDF and 32% in HD. In conclusion, kidney transplantation is associated with lower inflammatory burden and better nutritional status than dialysis modalities. Reduced miR-223 in dialysis patients and its improvement after transplantation suggest a protective role in CKD pathophysiology.</p>","PeriodicalId":39724,"journal":{"name":"The Egyptian journal of immunology / Egyptian Association of Immunologists","volume":"33 2","pages":"58-75"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147663434","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The value of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) measurement in the detection of bacterial urinary tract infection in symptomatic and asymptomatic bacteriuria patients.","authors":"Mariam E E Sarhan, Raafat A Abd Eltwab, Safia A Elgamal, Amr M A Alkhrsawy","doi":"10.55133/eji.330207","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.55133/eji.330207","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common bacterial infections, while asymptomatic bacteriuria involves bacterial presence without symptoms. Diagnosing UTIs can be challenging, leading to complications or antibiotic misuse. Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), an early proinflammatory cytokine detected in urine, shows potential as a rapid diagnostic biomarker. This study investigated urinary IL-1β levels in symptomatic UTI patients, asymptomatic bacteriuria, and controls, and compared IL-1β levels between multidrug-resistant (MDR) and drug-sensitive infections. A total of 150 subjects were enrolled: 50 symptomatic UTIs, 50 asymptomatic bacteriuria, and 50 controls. Escherichia coli was the most common isolate, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae. Cefotaxime, amikacin, and cefixime showed good sensitivity, with cefixime more effective in asymptomatic bacteriuria. IL-1β levels were significantly higher in symptomatic UTIs, followed by asymptomatic bacteriuria, and lowest in controls. The highest IL-1β levels were associated with E. coli infections and MDR strains. In conclusion, urinary IL-1β is a promising biomarker for UTI diagnosis, distinguishing cases from controls and correlating with bacterial resistance patterns, supporting its incorporation into clinical practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":39724,"journal":{"name":"The Egyptian journal of immunology / Egyptian Association of Immunologists","volume":"33 2","pages":"76-85"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147663451","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Relation between sirtuin-1 activity and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) status post allogeneic haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT): Prospective study.","authors":"Rana G Abdelfatah, Mohamed M Mousa, Nermen A Nabeeh, Ahmed S F Diab, Ibtesam M Khalifa","doi":"10.55133/eji.330208","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.55133/eji.330208","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT). This prospective study investigated the role of sirtuin-1 (Sirt-1) activity in GVHD pathogenesis. Thirty patients post-HSCT were enrolled: 15 with GVHD and 15 without, alongside 10 controls. Serum Sirt-1 levels were significantly elevated in GVHD-positive patients (mean 24.6 ± 14.8) compared to GVHD-negative patients (10.8 ± 11.9). ROC curve analysis identified a cutoff >15.8 with 73.3% sensitivity and 93.3% specificity for GVHD detection. Positive correlations were observed between Sirt-1 and ALT, while negative correlations were found with total protein. In conclusion, elevated Sirt-1 levels are associated with GVHD, highlighting its potential as a diagnostic biomarker with high specificity.</p>","PeriodicalId":39724,"journal":{"name":"The Egyptian journal of immunology / Egyptian Association of Immunologists","volume":"33 2","pages":"86-95"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147663409","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Trichinella spiralis - induced modulation of IFN-γ and TGF-β shapes host immunity to support chronic infection.","authors":"A'laa F A Elsaid, Ibrahim R Shalash, Mona M El-Derbawy, Mohammed S El Faramawy, Tarek K Zaalouk","doi":"10.55133/eji.330201","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.55133/eji.330201","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Trichinella spiralis is a widely prevalent foodborne helminth that establishes chronic infection through modulation of host immunity. This study investigated the temporal dynamics of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and intestinal TGF-β receptor II expression during experimental infection and examined their relationship to parasite burden and tissue pathology. Forty Swiss albino mice were orally infected with 250-300 larvae and sacrificed at 3, 7, 14, and 28 days post-infection. Adult worms and muscle larvae were quantified, serum cytokines measured by ELISA, and intestinal TGF-β receptor II expression evaluated immunohistochemically. Adult worm burden peaked at 7 dpi and declined sharply thereafter, with clearance by 28 dpi. Muscle larvae accumulated progressively, reaching ~1 × 10⁴ larvae/mouse at 28 dpi. IFN-γ peaked at 7 dpi then declined, while TGF-β increased steadily and remained elevated during the muscle phase. A significant negative correlation was observed between IFN-γ and TGF-β (r = -0.42, p=0.012). TGF-β receptor II expression was up-regulated at 3-14 dpi and declined by 28 dpi. Histopathology revealed pronounced intestinal inflammation at 7-14 dpi with restoration by 28 dpi, while skeletal muscle displayed nurse cell-larva complexes. Findings demonstrate a coordinated shift from early IFN-γ-mediated inflammation to sustained TGF-β-driven regulation, supporting parasite persistence and limiting tissue injury.</p>","PeriodicalId":39724,"journal":{"name":"The Egyptian journal of immunology / Egyptian Association of Immunologists","volume":"33 2","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147663416","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Immune cytokine imbalance and hematological disturbances in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.","authors":"Safa S Fayez, Rana T Mohsen, Al-Moghira K Al-Qaysi","doi":"10.55133/eji.330202","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.55133/eji.330202","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lupus nephritis is a severe condition that develops due to immune complex deposition on renal tissues, contributing to disease progression and long-term complications. This study assessed 40 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and 40 healthy controls. Serum interleukin-39 (IL-39) levels were measured, hematological parameters analyzed, and genetic sequencing performed. IL-39 was significantly elevated in SLE patients compared to controls (p<0.0011), correlating strongly with disease activity. Hemoglobin levels were reduced (p<0.01), while erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was markedly increased (p<0.001). These findings highlight IL-39 as a potential biomarker for disease severity and progression in SLE, linking cytokine imbalance with hematological disturbances. In conclusion, IL-39 may serve as a valuable indicator for monitoring SLE activity and guiding treatment strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":39724,"journal":{"name":"The Egyptian journal of immunology / Egyptian Association of Immunologists","volume":"33 2","pages":"14-22"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147663476","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Peripheral blood inflammatory cell ratios derived from complete blood count as predictors of multiple sclerosis disease activity and severity.","authors":"Nouran M Moustafa, Hasan Alahmed, Omar Mahgoub, Bassam Alanazi, Ayed AlShammary, Rania A Mohamed","doi":"10.55133/eji.330205","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.55133/eji.330205","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder affecting the central nervous system. This retrospective cohort study analyzed medical records of 98 MS patients to evaluate the predictive role of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in disease activity and severity. High NLR exhibited the strongest predictive value, with a cutoff >2.681 yielding sensitivity of 97.6% and specificity of 85.7% for severe disease. Elevated MLR was also associated with disease severity and activity, though less predictive than NLR. PLR was predictive of high disease activity but not severity. In conclusion, NLR is a strong and readily available biomarker for predicting MS activity and severity, outperforming MLR and PLR, and may aid early risk stratification and clinical decisions.</p>","PeriodicalId":39724,"journal":{"name":"The Egyptian journal of immunology / Egyptian Association of Immunologists","volume":"33 2","pages":"43-57"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147663425","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correlation between some hormones, interleukins and molecular parameters in rheumatoid arthritis patients with and without metabolic syndrome.","authors":"Abrar A Hammadi, Makarim Q Al-Lami","doi":"10.55133/eji.330105","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.55133/eji.330105","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Metabolic syndrome (MetS), characterized by an amalgamation of obesity, dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance (IR), and hypertension, is a significant predictor of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The prevalence of this condition among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients may elevate the risk of CVD. This study explored the relationship between MetS and RA using hormonal and immunological markers, in addition to some molecular analyses [energy homeostasis-associated (ENHO) gene expression]. It included 80 RA patients (40 with MetS and 40 without MetS) and 20 apparently healthy controls. The outcomes showed that MetS was more common in persons classified as overweight or obese, those with RA disease duration of 5-10 years, and older RA patients (>50 years). While RA mostly affected women, MetS showed a fairer division between sexes. In RA patients with MetS, both insulin and IL-23 showed significant positive correlations (p=0.011) as well as between adropin and interleukin (IL) 17 (p=0.024). These results highlight how metabolic and demographic factors affect the course of RA and underline the need of a thorough metabolic inflammatory therapy strategy.</p>","PeriodicalId":39724,"journal":{"name":"The Egyptian journal of immunology / Egyptian Association of Immunologists","volume":"33 1","pages":"40-50"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145994556","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diagnostic value of serum lipocalin-2 in Egyptian patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A case-control study.","authors":"Mina W N Abd El Malak, Noha A El Nakeeb, Mohamed A Abo Daif, Marium E A Fathi, Mohamed A Nassef, Reginia N M Guirguis","doi":"10.55133/eji.330106","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.55133/eji.330106","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), often presents diagnostic challenges. Lipocalin-2 (LCN-2) has emerged as a potential biomarker for intestinal inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic and clinical utility of serum Lipocalin-2 in Egyptian patients with IBD. This was a case-control study, conducted during the period between December 2024 and February 2025, involved 30 IBD patients (18 UC, 12 CD) and 30 age- and sex-matched normal controls. Serum LCN-2 levels were measured using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Clinical symptoms, disease activity (via Truelove and Witts' criteria for UC and Harvey-Bradshaw Index for CD), and routine laboratory investigations were assessed. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess the diagnostic utility, while Pearson correlation tested associations with clinical and laboratory parameters. IBD patients had significantly elevated serum LCN-2 levels compared to controls (3.15 ± 1.9 vs. 0.24 ± 0.1 ng/mL; p  <  0.001). The ROC analysis yielded an area under the curve of 0.980, with high sensitivity (96.77%) and negative predictive value (92.31%) at a cutoff of value of 0.22 ng/ml. However, LCN-2 did not significantly differ between UC and CD (p = 1.000) or across disease activity levels (p > 0.05). Notably, LCN-2 was positively correlated with disease duration (r = 0.430, p = 0.018) and platelet count (r = 0.362, p = 0.004), but showed no correlation with hemoglobin, white blood cells, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, creatinine, or glomerular filtration rate. In conclusion, according to our ROC analysis, serum LCN-2 may have an excellent diagnostic utility for identifying IBD but lacks discriminatory power between UC and CD or for assessing disease activity. Its correlation with disease duration and platelet count highlights its potential as a marker of chronic inflammation rather than acute disease severity.</p>","PeriodicalId":39724,"journal":{"name":"The Egyptian journal of immunology / Egyptian Association of Immunologists","volume":"33 1","pages":"51-61"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145994563","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}