PURPOSE: Atherosclerosis is classically defined as an immune-mediated disease characterized by accumulation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol over intima in medium sized and large arteries. Recent studies have demonstrated that both innate and adaptive immune responses are involved in atherosclerosis. In addition, experimental and human models have recognized many autoantigens in pathophysiology of this disease. Oxidized low-density lipoproteins, beta2 glycoprotein I (beta-2-GPI), and heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) are the best studied of them which can represent promising approach to design worthwhile vaccines for modulation of atherosclerosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In silico approaches are the best tools for design and evaluation of the vaccines before initiating the experimental study. In this study, we identified immunogenic epitopes of HSP60, ApoB-100, and beta-2-GPI as major antigens to construct a chimeric protein through bioinformatics tools. Additionally, we have evaluated physico-chemical properties, structures, stability, MHC binding properties, humoral and cellular immune responses, and allergenicity of this chimeric protein by means of bioinformatics tools and servers. RESULTS: Validation results indicated that 89.1% residues locate in favorite or additional allowed region of Ramachandran plot. Also, based on Ramachandran plot analysis this protein could be classified as a stable fusion protein. In addition, the epitopes in the chimeric protein had strong potential to induce both the B-cell and T-cell mediated immune responses. CONCLUSION: Our results supported that this chimeric vaccine could be effectively utilized as a multivalent vaccine for prevention and modulation of atherosclerosis.
Apolipoprotein B-100 ; Arteries ; Atherosclerosis* ; Autoantigens ; B-Lymphocytes ; beta 2-Glycoprotein I ; Chaperonin 60 ; Cholesterol ; Computational Biology ; Computer Simulation* ; Epitopes ; Humans ; Immune System* ; Immunity, Cellular ; Lipoproteins ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; T-Lymphocytes ; Vaccines

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play an important role in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) maintenance, proliferation, and apoptosis. DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) is considered an essential factor in the maintenance of HSCs in mammalian cells. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the mRNA expression level of DNMT1 during cord blood (CB)-HSC ex vivo expansion with MSCs. METHODS: Ex vivo cultures of CB-HSCs were performed in three culture conditions for 7 days: cytokines, cytokines with MSCs, and only MSCs. Total and viable cell numbers were counted after 5 and 7 days using trypan blue stain, and the stem cell percentage was then evaluated by flow cytometry. Moreover, in vitro colony-forming unit assay was carried out to detect clonogenic potential of HSCs at days 0 and 7 using MethoCult H4434. Finally, DNMT1 mRNA expression level was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Maximum CB-CD34⁺ cell expansion was observed on day 7 in all the three cultures. After 7 days, ex vivo expansion of CB-CD34⁺ cells indicated a significant decrease in DNMT1 expression in the cytokine cultures, whereas in the two co-culture conditions DNMT1 expression was increased. A significant difference between the number of CD34⁺ and CD34⁻ cells in the cytokine co-culture system was observed. CONCLUSION: These data indicated that an elevated expression of DNMT1 is associated with increased expansion and proliferation of HSCs co-cultured with human MSCs. Hence, DNMT1 may be a potential factor in the maintenance of expanded HSCs co-cultured with human MSCs.
Apoptosis ; Cell Count ; Coculture Techniques ; Cytokines ; DNA ; Fetal Blood ; Flow Cytometry ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells* ; Humans* ; In Vitro Techniques ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; Stem Cells ; Trypan Blue