Journal of

Background and Aim: The use of probiotics has been surveyed in different studies. For example, many researches have been conducted on immunity, cancer and embryonic cells proliferation. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have a rather slower growth and a more limited number of passages. In this research, the effect of supernatant of Lactobacillus acidophilus (LS) as one of the most commonly used probiotics on the proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells has been studied with the aim of increasing their proliferation for the treatment of patients in need of transplantation using mesenchymal stem cells.

Materials and Methods: The MSCs separated from rats’ bone marrow were led to bone and fat levels in the second passage, and their mesenchymal state was confirmed. The cells were then treated by the supernatant of Lactobacillus acidophilus (LS) and MRS broth medium, which have been separated in advance. The number of cells was examined by MTT test equated with the standard.

Results: A curve was drawn for the cells’ growth in different amounts and the number of cells was obtained by converting the results of MTT test to a standard curve. For statistical analyses, SPSS and ANOVA were employed.

Conclusion: The findings show the double effect of LS on the weak effect of MRS broth medium. The use of supernatant of Lactobacillus acidophilus (LS) can be a practical and economical method for increasing the proliferation of MSCs isolated from bone marrow.

Background and Aim: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a lymphoprolifrative disorder, which is very heterogeneous in prognosis. Therefore, the analysis of the prognostic factors should be very helpful in diagnosing patients with a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between circulating Endothelial cells number with VWF levels along with the other hematological findings in CLL.

Materials and Methods: Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 30 CLL patients admitted to the hematology department of Firozgar hospital and 30 healthy subjects. The levels of CEC were measured by the presence of CD34 and VWF markers, and absence of CD45 marker, using flow cytometry. VWF levels was evaluated by ELISA.

Results: The CEC levels were significantly higher in blood of the CLL patients (0.64%), when compared to the controls (0.12%, P=0.002). The levels of plasma VWF were higher among high grade patients, when compared to controls and patients in lower grades. There was a negative correlation between CEC levels, and Hb concentration in the patients group (r=-0.47, P=0.01).

Conclusion: Although the levels of both CEC count and plasma VWF in patient with high grade CLL were increased when compared to patients with low grade, there was no significant correlation between these two parameters.