Background: Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone density and loss of structural integrity which can increase the risk of bone fracture and its side effects. In the recent studies, new evidences of the relationship between immune system such as TNF-&alpha and IL-17A and bone destruction have been accumulated. The aim of present study was to investigate serum level of TNF-&alpha and IL-17A in women with post-menopausal osteoporosis.

Materials and Methods: In this analytical study 40 women with post-menopausal osteoporosis and 10 healthy women were enrolled to the study based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The serum level of TNF-&alpha and IL-17A were calculated by using ELISA method and compared between groups.

Results: The mean level of TNF-&alpha in case and control group was 957.7±479.01 and 418.09±176.7 respectively which in case group was significantly more than control group (p=0.001). The mean level of IL-17A in case and control group was 95.23±36.7 and 125.7±30.6 respectively which in case group was significantly less than control group (p=0.019).

Conclusion: The level of TNF-&alpha in women with post-menopausal osteoporosis was more than healthy women which can mention the roll of TNF-&alpha in pathogenesis of osteoporosis and potential therapeutic roll of anti TNF-&alpha agents but because of unclear roll of IL-17A in pathogenesis of osteoporosis we could not explain its mechanism in pathogenesis of osteoporosis. It seems more studies with regard to IL-17A roll in bone metabolism is required.

Background: Brucellosis is a highly contagious zoonotic disease between humans and animals known for high frequency of relapsing and ability to cause chronic infection. The function of immune system plays an important role in induction of chronic diseases. However, the role of immune system response is not completely studied. Therefore, this study designed to investigate the cytokine profile of the patients suffering from chronic and acute brucellosis.

 Materials and Methods: This descriptive- analytical study was performed on 22 patients with acute brucellosis (mean age 38±17), 21 patients with chronic brucellosis (mean age 43±10) and 21 healthy people (mean age 26±4) with the same age and sex as patients. The serum IFN-&gamma, IL-17, IL-5 and TGF- &beta levels were measured using ELISA method.

 Results: The mean IFN-&gamma serum level in acute and chronic brucellosis patients group was significantly higher than control group (p=0.045). The mean IL-17 serum level in acute brucellosis patients was significant decreased once compared with control group and in chronic patients was significantly decreased when compared with control group (p=0.024). In addition, the mean IL-5 and TGF-&beta serum levels of acute brucellosis patients group were significantly decreased as compared to chronic patients (p=0.001).

 Conclusion: The results of current study indicate that cytokine profile of chronic brucellosis patients is more related to Th2 immune response. Hence, Th2 immune response inhibition would be an appropriate way to treat and prevent disease to become chronic.

Background: Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a heterogeneous condition with the prevalence of more than 1% among women of reproductive age, which is defined as the occurrence of more than two miscarriages. Immune-mediators, cytokines, determine the role of immune cells in response to tissue incompatibility conditions. Colony stimulating factor 3 (CSF3) is a cytokine affecting the expression of other cytokines such as IL-4, and suppressing the immune response against semi-allograft embryo. This study was done for the first time on the association of the rs1042658 polymorphism at 3’UTR of the CSF3 gene with the susceptibility to recurrent pregnancy loss, supposing the effect of it on the expression level and stability of the CSF3 gene transcript.

Materials and Methods: 122 RPL women and 140 healthy fertile women as a control group were enrolled in this case-control study. Genotype distribution of the selected polymorphism was evaluated by T-ARMS PCR method and the results were analyzed by logistic regression test.

Results: comparison of the genotypic frequencies in the 3'UTR of the CSF3 gene in patients and controls resulted in the statistically significant difference in the incidence of pregnancy loss in order to the protection effect of the genotypes carrying T allele was observed between two groups (p<0.05). History of the abortion among the relatives of RPL women versus the relatives of controls showed significant differences (p=0.05).

Conclusion: Findings showed significant relationship between rs1042658 polymorphism and the risk of recurrent pregnancy loss, which can affect the susceptibility of the condition.