Rania Zayed

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogonous autoimmune disease involving
most immune cells. Studies have revealed a number of cytokine pathways that play important roles in
the disease process. Among these are B- cell activating factor (BAFF), which regulates B-cell maturation,
survival, and function. Objective: To study the association between BAFF promoter polymorphism and
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the BAFF promoter
region; -2841 (T>C), -2701 (T>A), -871 (C>T) were investigated by PCR-RFLP genotyping in fifty Egyptian
SLE patients and thirty normal controls. Results: The frequency of mutant alleles of both -871C>T
and -2701 T>A was higher among SLE patients than controls (p-value <0.001 and 0.000 respectively).
There was a highly significant relationship between -871 C>T polymorphism and SLE (P<0.001), with the
sensitivity and the specificity of the test being 100 %, and 70%, respectively. Patients expressing the -2701
T>A allele were seven times more prone to SLE than those with the T/T wild genotype (sensitivity of the
test = 78%, specificity = 66.7%, odds ratio = 7.09, C.I at 95% = 2.29-22.64). Conclusion: Polymorphisms
in the regulatory region of the BAFF gene do contribute to the susceptibility to SLE in Egyptian patients,
which indicates BAFF as a potential therapeutic target.

Background: Cord blood is established as a source of stem cells for hemopoeitic reconstitution. Cord
blood transplants have been performed for more than 20 years now. However, cord blood stem cells
as a source for regenerative medicine is still under trial. The availability of cord blood and its banking
facilities make it a very useful source of hepatocytes for support of endstage liver disease. Cord blood
contains a number of stem cell subsets: CD34+, CD133+, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
Objectives: This study was conducted to compare between these subsets in hepatocyte
transdifferentiation efficiency. Hepatocyte lineage commitment was evaluated by alpha-fetoprotein
(AFP) expression and albumin synthesis.
Methods: Cord blood is assayed for viability. Magnetic separation was done for CD34+ve, CD133+ve
populations, MSCs were separated by culture on plastic flasks. Each cell fraction (CD34+ve,
CD133+ve and MSCs) was cultured in liquid culture containing hepatocyte growth factor for 7 days.
AFP expression was done using immunocytochemistry, albumin synthesis was measured in culture
supernatant using microalbumin assay kit.
Results: All three populations showed heptocyte transdifferentiation; although with varying
percentages. There was no statistically significant difference in AFP expression with MSCs showing
31% positivity, CD133+ve30% followed by CD34+ve showing 28.8%. Also, MSCs population
showed the highest albumin synthesis levels, followed by CD34+ then CD133+ cells.
Conclusion: Induction of hepatocyte-like cells is possible with all three stem cell subsets of the cord
blood. However, establishment of functional hepatic cells is higher in MSCs population.

INTRODUCTION:
Despite recent success after the introduction of combination therapy with interferon (IFN)-α and ribavirin, approximately 60% of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4 fail to respond. Resistance to antiviral therapy remains a serious problem in the management of chronic hepatitis C. In most patients, HCV RNA could be detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC).
OBJECTIVE:
The authors aimed to investigate the predictive value of HCV RNA in PBMC of patients with chronic hepatitis C after IFN treatment, which may act as the source of HCV reinfection of hepatic cells.
METHODS:
Seventy patients with chronic hepatitis C were treated with IFN plus ribavirin for 48 weeks; they all achieved clearance of HCV RNA from serum. At the end of treatment, PBMC and serum were examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction for detection of HCV RNA. Six months later, HCV RNA in serum was monitored to detect sustained virologic response.
RESULTS:
: Analysis revealed the presence of detectable HCV RNA in the PBMC of 27% of patients despite clearance of serum HCV RNA. During follow-up, 80% of the patients who became serum HCV positive 6 months after the end of treatment had detectable level of HCV RNA in PBMC at the end of treatment.
CONCLUSIONS:
The absence of HCV in the serum of patients by the end of treatment does not exclude future viremia. The patient might still be a source of infection to others. It is strongly encouraged to test for HCV in PBMC to detect lack of response to treatment and persisting infection.