Ghasem Azimi; Hesam Amini; Niosha Andalibi
Volume 5, Issue 1 , January 2010, , Pages 18-21
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Apoptosis of eosinophils is of significant value in assessing the airway inflammation in patients with asthma. Our purpose was to investigate the degree of expression of the Bcl-2 protein in sputum eosinophils during acute asthma exacerbation and its relationship with ...
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Background and Objectives: Apoptosis of eosinophils is of significant value in assessing the airway inflammation in patients with asthma. Our purpose was to investigate the degree of expression of the Bcl-2 protein in sputum eosinophils during acute asthma exacerbation and its relationship with exacerbation severity. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out in Mostafa Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran in March 2008. Sputum was obtained from 15 asthmatic patients and 13 healthy subjects as a control group. Number of eosinophils was counted and Bcl-2+ eosinophils were stained using immunocytochemistry. Results: Sputum eosinophils and Bcl-2+ eosinophils were significantly higher in patients with acute exacerbation than controls (P<0.05). Conclusion: Bcl-2 prolongs survival and decreases apoptosis of airway eosinophils during acute asthma exacerbation. Eosinophil apoptosis and inhibition of Bcl-2 represent a target for new and effective therapeutic strategies of asthma.
Marjan Heshmati; Hesam Amini
Volume 2, Issue 2 , April 2007, , Pages 45-48
Abstract
Background and Objective: Deprenyl is a drug for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, where the dopaminergic neurons are the target of this drug. Several reports also documented that deprenyl has an effect on the sensory and motor neurons. There are some reports about the mode of action of deprenyl ...
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Background and Objective: Deprenyl is a drug for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, where the dopaminergic neurons are the target of this drug. Several reports also documented that deprenyl has an effect on the sensory and motor neurons. There are some reports about the mode of action of deprenyl on motoneurons as a neuroprotective agent, while others believe that deprenyl acts as a neurorescuer. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, the axotomized spinal motoneurons in rat neonates were used to investigate the mode of action of deprenyl on motoneurons. Six groups of newborn rats (5 each) were used in this study. The first group was treated with 2.5 mg/kg of drug (for 21 days) one hour before surgical transection of the left sciatic side, the second treated at the time of surgery, and the third one treated one hour after surgery. The fourth, fifth, and sixth groups were given normal saline 1 hour before the surgery, at the time of surgery, and 1 hr after the surgery respectively. The animals were perfused and spinal cords were removed. The tissues were processed in paraffin and then sectioned. Tissues were stained with Cresyl violet. Total motoneuron count was done and the percentage of motoneuron reduction as well as motoneuron survival index was calculated. Results: The obtained data revealed that deprenyl in pre-treated group was more effective than in the other two modes of treatment. Conclusion: Taken together, deprenyl is more neuroprotective than neurorescuer of spinal motoneurons in rats.