Inhibition of melanoma cell migration and invasion by natural coumarin auraptene through regulating EMT markers and reducing MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity

Melanoma, the most invasive form of skin cancer, shows a rising incidence trend in industrial countries. Since the main reason for the failure of current therapeutic approaches against melanoma is metastasis, there is a great interest in introducing effective natural agents to combat melanoma cell migration and invasion. Auraptene (AUR) is the most abundant coumarin derivative in nature with valuable pharmaceutical effects. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether AUR could induce inhibitory effects on the migration and invasion of melanoma cells. B16F10 melanoma cells were treated with different concentrations of AUR and the viability of cells was evaluated by alamarBlue assay. Then, cells were treated with 20 μM AUR, and wound healing, invasion, and adhesion assays were carried out. In addition, the activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 was assessed by gelatin zymography and the expression of genes related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was investigated by qPCR. Finally, the interactions between AUR and MMPs were stimulated by molecular docking. Findings revealed that AUR significantly reduced the migration and invasion of B16F10 cells while improved their adhesion. Furthermore, results of gelatin zymography indicated that AUR suppressed the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9, and qPCR revealed negative regulatory effect of AUR on the expression of mesenchymal markers including fibronectin and N-cadherin. In addition, molecular docking verified the interactions between AUR and the active sites of wild-type and mutant MMP-2 and MMP-9. Accordingly, AUR could be considered as a potential natural agent with inhibitory effects on the migration and invasion of melanoma cells for future preclinical studies.

Galbanic acid suppresses melanoma cell migration and invasion by reducing MMP activity and downregulating N-cadherin and fibronectin

High mortality rate of melanoma is due to the metastasis of malignant cells. Galbanic acid (GBA) is a natural sesquiterpene coumarin with valuable pharmaceutical activities. Our study aimed to investigate whether GBA can affect the migration, invasion, and adhesion of melanoma cells. The survival rate of B16F10 cells was measured using the alamarBlue assay. Scratch, adhesion, and invasion assays were performed to determine the effect of GBA on metastatic behavior of cells. Moreover, gelatin zymography was done to assess the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9, and qRT-PCR was used to investigate the effect of GBA on the expression of candidate genes. Based on the results of alamarBlue assay, 40 µM GBA was chosen as the optimum concentration for all tests. Our findings indicated that GBA significantly decreased the invasion and migration of B16F10 cells while enhancing their adhesion ability. In addition, gelatin zymography demonstrated that GBA reduced the enzymatic activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Moreover, qRT-PCR revealed that GBA reduced the expression of N-cadherin and fibronectin. Current findings demonstrated, for the first time, that GBA inhibited the migration and invasion of melanoma cells via reducing the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and downregulating N-cadherin and fibronectin expression. Accordingly, GBA could be suggested as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of melanoma.

Tamoxifen resistance induction results in the upregulation of ABCG2 expression and mitoxantrone resistance in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Cancer endocrine therapy can promote evolutionary dynamics and lead to changes in the gene expression profile of tumor cells. We aimed to assess the effect of tamoxifen (TAM)-resistance induction on ABCG2 pump mRNA, protein, and activity in ER + MCF-7 breast cancer cells. We also evaluated if the resistance to TAM leads to the cross-resistance toward mitoxantrone (MX), a well-known substrate of the ABCG2 pump. The ABCG2 mRNA and protein expression were compared in MCF-7 and its TAM-resistant derivative MCF-7/TAMR cells using RT-qPCR and western blot methods, respectively. Cross-resistance of MCF-7/TAMR cells toward MX was evaluated by the MTT method. Flow cytometry was applied to compare ABCG2 function between cell lines using MX accumulation assay. ABCG2 mRNA expression was also analyzed in tamoxifen-sensitive (TAM-S) and tamoxifen-resistant (TAM-R) breast tumor tissues. The levels of ABCG2 mRNA, protein, and activity were significantly higher in MCF-7/TAMR cells compared to TAM-sensitive MCF-7 cells. MX was also less toxic in MCF-7/TAMR compared to MCF-7 cells. ABCG2 was also upregulated in tissue samples obtained from TAM-R cancer patients compared to TAM-S patients. Prolonged exposure of ER + breast cancer cells to the active form of TAM and clonal evolution imposed by the selective pressure of the drug can lead to higher expression of the ABCG2 pump in the emerged TAM-resistant cells. Therefore, in choosing a sequential therapy for a patient who develops resistance to TAM, the possibility of the cross-resistance of the evolved tumor to chemotherapy drugs that are ABCG2 substrates should be considered. Prolonged exposure of MCF-7 breast cancer cells to tamoxifen can cause resistance to it and an increase in the expression of the ABCG2 mRNA and protein levels in the cells. Tamoxifen resistance can lead to cross-resistance to mitoxantrone.

MiR-548c-3p through suppressing Tyms and Abcg2 increases the sensitivity of colorectal cancer cells to 5-fluorouracil

Background

Colorectal cancer, is one of most prevalent the cancer in the world. 5-Fluorouracil is a standard chemotherapeutic drug while the acquisition of resistance to 5-Fluorouracil is one of the problems during treatment. In this study, we aimed to find the miRNAs that modulate the expression of Tyms and Abcg2 as resistance-inducing genes in the resistant cell lines to 5-Fluorouracil.

Methods

5-Fluorouracil-resistant HCT116 and SW480 cell lines were generated by consecutive treatment of cells with 5-Fluorouracil. This resistance induction was validated by MTT assays. The expression of the Tyms and Abcg2 gene and miR-548c-3p were studied by quantitative real-time PCR in the cell lines.

Results

We hypothesized that miR-548c-3p is targeting Tyms and Abcg2 simultaneously. Increased expression Tyms gene in the two most resistant cell lines derived from HCT116 and all resistant cell lines derived from SW480 except one were seen. Increased expression of Abcg2 was observed in the most resistant HCT116-derived cell line and all resistant cell lines, derived from SW480. In all resistant cell lines, the expression of miR-548c-3p was decreased.

Conclusion

It can be concluded downregulation of miR548c-3p is in line with Tyms and Abcg2 overexpression in resistant cell lines to 5-Fluorouracil.

Improving the efficacy of peptide vaccines in cancer immunotherapy

Peptide vaccines have shown great potential in cancer immunotherapy by targeting tumor antigens and activating the patient's immune system to mount a specific response against cancer cells. However, the efficacy of peptide vaccines in inducing a sustained immune response and achieving clinical benefit remains a major challenge. In this review, we discuss the current status of peptide vaccines in cancer immunotherapy and strategies to improve their efficacy. We summarize the recent advancements in the development of peptide vaccines in pre-clinical and clinical settings, including the use of novel adjuvants, neoantigens, nano-delivery systems, and combination therapies. We also highlight the importance of personalized cancer vaccines, which consider the unique genetic and immunological profiles of individual patients. We also discuss the strategies to enhance the immunogenicity of peptide vaccines such as multivalent peptides, conjugated peptides, fusion proteins, and self-assembled peptides. Although, peptide vaccines alone are weak immunogens, combining peptide vaccines with other immunotherapeutic approaches and developing novel approaches such as personalized vaccines can be promising methods to significantly enhance their efficacy and improve the clinical outcomes for cancer patients.

Nanoliposomal VEGF-R2 peptide vaccine acts as an effective therapeutic vaccine in a murine B16F10 model of melanoma

Background

The vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) plays an important role in melanoma development and progression. Peptide vaccines have shown great potential in cancer immunotherapy by targeting VEGFR-2 as a tumor-associated antigen and boosting the immune response against both tumor cells and tumor endothelial cells. Despite this, the low efficiency of peptide vaccines has resulted in moderate therapeutic results in the majority of studies. Enhancing the delivery of peptide vaccines using nanoliposomes is an important strategy for improving the efficacy of peptide vaccines. In this regard, we designed VEGFR-2-derived peptides restricted to both mouse MHC I and human HLA-A*02:01 using immunoinformatic tools and selected three peptides representing the highest binding affinities. The peptides were encapsulated in nanoliposomal formulations using the film method plus bath sonication and characterized for their colloidal properties.

Results

The mean diameter of peptide-encapsulated liposomes was around 135 nm, zeta potential of - 17 mV, and encapsulation efficiency of approximately 70%. Then, vaccine formulations were injected subcutaneously in mice bearing B16F10-established melanoma tumors and their efficiency in triggering immunological, and anti-tumor responses was evaluated. Our results represented that one of our designed VEGFR-2 peptide nanoliposomal formulations (Lip-V1) substantially activated CD4+ (p < 0.0001) and CD8+ (P < 0.001) T cell responses and significantly boosted the production of IFN-γ (P < 0.0001) and IL-4 (P < 0.0001). Furthermore, this formulation led to a significant decrease in tumor volume (P < 0.0001) and enhanced survival (P < 0.05) in mice.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that the nanoliposomal formulation containing VEGFR-2 peptides could be a promising therapeutic vaccination approach capable of eliciting strong antigen-specific immunologic and anti-tumor responses.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12645-023-00213-7.

7-Geranyloxcycoumarin enhances radio sensitivity in human prostate cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer is the second most prevalent and the fifth deadliest cancer among men worldwide. To improve radiotherapy outcome, we investigated the effects of 7-geranyloxycoumarin, also known as auraptene (AUR), on radiation response of prostate cancer cells.

METHODS AND RESULTS

PC3 cells were pretreated with 20 and 40 µM AUR for 24, 48 and 72 h, followed by X-ray exposure (2, 4 and 6 Gy). After 72 h recovery, cell viability was determined by alamar Blue assay. Flow cytometric analysis was performed to assess apoptosis induction, clonogenic assay was carried out to investigate clonogenic survival, and the expression of P53, BAX, BCL2, CCND1 and GATA6 was analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Cell viability assay indicated that toxic effects of radiation was enhanced by AUR, which was also confirmed by increased numbers of apoptotic cells and reduced amount of survival fraction. The qPCR results demonstrated significant induction of P53 and BAX, while the expression of BCL2, GATA6, and CCND1 was significantly downregulated.

CONCLUSION

The findings of the present study indicated, for the first time, that AUR improved radio sensitivity in prostate cancer cells, and thus, has the potential to be used in future clinical trials.

Protective Effects of Auraptene against Free Radical-Induced Erythrocytes Damage

Objectives

Auraptene is the most abundant natural prenyloxycoumarin. Recent studies have shown that it has multiple biological and therapeutic properties, including antioxidant properties. Erythrocytes are constantly subjected to oxidative damage that can affect proteins and lipids within the erythrocyte membrane and lead to some hemoglobinopathies. Due to the lack of sufficient information about the antioxidant effects of auraptene on erythrocytes, this study intended to evaluate the potential of this compound in protecting radical-induced erythrocytes damages.

Methods

The antioxidant activity of auraptene was measured based on DPPH and FRAP assays. Notably, oxidative hemolysis of human erythrocytes was used as a model to study the ability of auraptene to protect biological membranes from free radical-induced damage. Also, the effects of auraptene in different concentrations (25-400 µM) on AAPH-induced lipid/protein peroxidation, glutathione (GSH) content and morphological changes of erythrocytes were determined.

Results

Oxidative hemolysis and lipid/protein peroxidation of erythrocytes were significantly suppressed by auraptene in a time and concentration-dependent manner. Auraptene prevented the depletion of the cytosolic antioxidant GSH in erythrocytes. Furthermore, it inhibited lipid and protein peroxidation in a time and concentration-dependent manner. Likewise, FESEM results demonstrated that auraptene reduced AAPH-induced morphological changes in erythrocytes.

Conclusion

Auraptene efficiently protects human erythrocytes against free radicals. Therefore, it can be a potent candidate for treating oxidative stress-related diseases.

Expression analysis elucidates the roles of Nicastrin, Notch4, and Hes1 in prognosis and endocrine-therapy resistance in ER-positive breast cancer patients

Background and purpose

Although some proposed mechanisms responsible for tamoxifen resistance have already been present, further study is needed to determine the mechanisms underlying tamoxifen resistance more clearly. The critical role of Notch signaling has been described in promoting resistance in therapeutics, but there is little information about its role in tamoxifen resistance progression.

Experimental approach

In the present study, the expression of Notch pathway genes, including Notch4, nicastrin and the Notch downstream target Hes1 was evaluated using quantitative RT-PCR in 36 tamoxifen-resistant (TAM-R) and 36 tamoxifen-sensitive (TAM-S) patients. Expression data were correlated with the clinical outcome and survival of patients.

Findings/Results

mRNA levels of Notch4 (fold change = 2.7), nicastrin (fold change = 6.71), and Hes1 (fold change= 7.07) were significantly higher in TAM-R breast carcinoma patients compared to sensitive cases. We confirmed all these genes were co-expressed. Hence, it seems that Notch signaling is involved in tamoxifen resistance in our TAM-R patients. Obtained results showed that Hes1, nicastrin, and Notch4 mRNA upregulation was correlated with the N stage. The extracapsular nodal extension was associated with nicastrin and Notch4 overexpression. Moreover, nicastrin overexpression was correlated with perineural invasion. Hes1 upregulation was also associated with nipple involvement. Finally, the Cox regression proportional hazard test revealed that overexpression of nicastrin was an independent worse survival factor.

Conclusion and implications

Presumably, upregulation of the Notch pathway may be involved in tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer patients.

The Potential for Natural Products to Overcome Cancer Drug Resistance by Modulation of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

The acquisition of resistance and ultimately disease relapse after initial response to chemotherapy put obstacles in the way of cancer therapy. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biologic process that epithelial cells alter to mesenchymal cells and acquire fibroblast-like properties. EMT plays a significant role in cancer metastasis, motility, and survival. Recently, emerging evidence suggested that EMT pathways are very important in making drug-resistant involved in cancer. Natural products are gradually emerging as a valuable source of safe and effective anticancer compounds. Natural products could interfere with the different processes implicated in cancer drug resistance by reversing the EMT process. In this review, we illustrate the molecular mechanisms of EMT in the emergence of cancer metastasis. We then present the role of natural compounds in the suppression of EMT pathways in different cancers to overcome cancer cell drug resistance and improve tumor chemotherapy. HighlightsDrug-resistance is one of the obstacles to cancer treatment.EMT signaling pathways have been correlated to tumor invasion, metastasis, and drug-resistance.Various studies on the relationship between EMT and resistance to chemotherapy agents were reviewed.Different anticancer natural products with EMT inhibitory properties and drug resistance reversal effects were compared.

Vaccines targeting angiogenesis in melanoma

Angiogenesis has a significant role in metastasis and progression of melanoma. Even small tumors may be susceptible to metastasis and hence lead to a worse outcome in patients with melanoma. One of the anti-angiogenic treatment approaches that is undergoing comprehensive study is specific immunotherapy. While tumor cells are challenging targets for immunotherapy due to their genetic instability and heterogeneity, endothelial cells (ECs) are genetically stable. Therefore, vaccines targeting angiogenesis in melanoma are appropriate choices that target both tumor cells and ECs while capable of inducing strong, anti-tumor immune responses with limited toxicity. The main targets of angiogenesis are VEGFs and their receptors but other potential targets have also been investigated, especially in preclinical studies. Various types of vaccines that target angiogenesis in melanoma have been studied including DNA, peptide, protein, dendritic cell-based, and endothelial cell vaccines. This review outlines a number of target antigens that are important for potential progress in developing vaccines for targeting angiogenesis in melanoma. We also discuss different types of vaccines that have been investigated, delivery mechanisms and popular adjuvants, and suggest ways to improve future clinical outcomes.

Ellagitannins, promising pharmacological agents for the treatment of cancer stem cells

Human tumors comprise subpopulations of cells called cancer stem cells (CSCs) that possess stemness properties. CSCs can initiate tumors and cause recurrence, metastasis and are also responsible for chemo- and radio-resistance. CSCs may use signaling pathways similar to normal stem cells, including Notch, JAK/STAT, Wnt and Hedgehog pathways. Ellagitannins (ETs) are a broad group of substances with chemopreventive and anticancer activities. The antitumor activity of ETs and their derivatives are mainly related to their antiinflammatory capacity. They are therefore able to modulate secretory growth factors and pro-inflammatory mediators such as IL-6, TGF-β, TNF-α, IL-1β and IFN-γ. Evidence suggests that ETs display their anticancer effect by targeting CSCs and disrupting stem cell signaling. However, there are still few studies in this field. Therefore, high-quality studies are needed to firmly establish the clinical efficacy of the ETs on CSCs. This paper reviews the structures, sources and pharmacokinetics of ETs. It also focuses on the function of ETs and their effects on CSCs-related cytokines and the relationship between ETs and signaling pathways in CSCs.

Role of SALL4 and Nodal in the prognosis and tamoxifen resistance of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer

Despite the discovery of a number of different mechanisms underlying tamoxifen resistance, its molecular pathway is not completely clear. The upregulation of SALL4 and Nodal has been reported in breast cancer. Nevertheless, their role in tamoxifen resistance has not been investigated. In the present study, we compared Nodal and SALL4 expression in 72 tamoxifen sensitive (TAMS) and tamoxifen-resistant (TAMR) patients. Afterward, the correlation of expression data with clinicopathological features and survival of patients was studied. Results showed that both SALL4 and Nodal were significantly upregulated in TAMR compared to TAMS patients. Besides, there was a positive association between Nodal and SALL4 expression. Furthermore, we evaluated their correlation with the expression of Oct4, Nanog and Sox2 stemness markers. The results demonstrated that in most tissue samples there was a positive correlation between Nodal and SALL4 expression with these stemness markers. Besides, the overexpression of SALL4 and Nodal significantly correlated with the N stage. Moreover, the overexpression of SALL4 was associated with extracapsular invasion and lymphatic invasion. High level expressions of SALL4 and Nodal had a significant association with worse disease-free survival (DFS) rates. In addition, increased level of Nodal expression provides a superior predictor factor for DFS. The multivariate Cox regression analysis also revealed that for DFS, perineural invasion (PNI) was independently an unfavorable prognostic value. These findings suggest that the high expression of SALL4 and Nodal could contribute to tamoxifen resistance and worse survival rates in tamoxifen-treated ER⁺ breast cancer patients.

The role of microRNAs on doxorubicin drug resistance in breast cancer

OBJECTIVES

Resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs is a serious challenge for effective therapy of cancers. Doxorubicin is a drug which is typically used for breast cancer treatment. Several mechanisms are involved in resistance to doxorubicin including overexpression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, altering apoptosis, autophagy and cell cycle arrest. In this review, we focus on the potential effects of microRNAs on doxorubicin resistance in breast cancer.

METHODS

Literature review focusing on the 'microRNAs and doxorubicin drug resistance in breast cancer' was conducted comprehensively. The search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Google and Google Scholar databases and reference lists of relevant articles were also included.

KEY FINDINGS

MicroRNAs play essential role in resistance of breast cancer to doxorubicin by affecting several key cellular pathways, including overexpression of ABC transporters, altering apoptosis, autophagy and cell signaling pathways, cell cycle arrest, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cells (CSCs).

CONCLUSIONS

Cancer treatment methods are moving from conventional therapies to targeted therapies such as using microRNAs. MiRNAs can act as regulatory molecules to overcome breast cancer doxorubicin resistance by controlling the expression levels of genes involved in different cellular pathways. Thus, exact elucidation of their role in different cellular processes can help overcome the breast cancer development and drug resistance.

Glucosamine attenuates drug resistance in Mitoxantrone-resistance breast cancer cells

OBJECTIVES

This study was aimed at investigating the cytotoxicity and multi-drug resistance (MDR) reversal effect of Glucosamine (GlcN) on resistant BCRP-overexpressing breast cancer MCF-7/MX cells.

METHODS

After confirming the overexpression of BCRP, the cytotoxicity and MDR reversing potential of GlcN on MCF-7/MX mitoxantrone-resistant and MCF-7 sensitive breast cancer cells were assessed via MTT assay. The effects of GlcN on mitoxantrone accumulation were analyzed through flow cytometry. Finally, the expression of BCRP and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT)-related markers following the exposure to GlcN were assessed by real-time RT-PCR.

KEY FINDINGS

This study showed that glucosamine had an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of human breast cancer cells. The respective IC50 values for MCF-7/MX cells following exposure to mitoxantrone (MX) in the presence of GlcN (0, 0.5 and 1 mm) for 72 h were 3.61 ± 0.21, 0.598 ± 0.041 and 0.284 ± 0.016 μm, respectively. Furthermore, GlcN reduced the expression of BCRP mRNA without any significant effect on EMT-related markers in breast cancer cells.

CONCLUSIONS

These results proposed that glucosamine as a natural sugar could down regulate the BCRP expression and increased MX cytotoxicity in breast cancer cells.

PAX2 promoter methylation and AIB1 overexpression promote tamoxifen resistance in breast carcinoma patients

INTRODUCTION

Disease recurrence is an important obstacle in estrogen receptor positive (ER⁺) tamoxifen treated breast carcinoma patients. Tamoxifen resistance-related molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Alteration in DNA methylation which contributes to transcriptional regulation of cancer-related genes plays a crucial role in tamoxifen response. In the present study, the contribution of promoter methylation and mRNA expression of PAX2 and AIB1 in the development of breast carcinoma and tamoxifen refractory was assessed.

METHODS

Methylation specific-high resolution melting (MS-HRM) analysis and Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) experiment were performed to analyze the promoter methylation and mRNA expression levels of PAX2 and AIB1 genes in 102 breast tumors and adjacent normal breast specimens.

RESULTS

We indicated that PAX2 expression is decreased in breast tissues due to hypermethylation in its promoter region. Compared to the adjacent normal tissues, the tumors exhibited significantly lower relative mRNA levels of PAX2 and increased expression of AIB1. Aberrant promoter methylation of PAX2 and overexpression of AIB1 was observed in tamoxifen resistance patients compared to the sensitive ones. Cox regression analysis exhibited that the increased promoter methylation status of PAX2 and overexpression of AIB1 remained as unfavorable identifiers which influence patients' survival independently.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results revealed that the aberration in PAX2 promoter methylation and AIB1 overexpression are associated with the tamoxifen response in breast carcinoma patients. Further research is needed to demonstrate the potential of using PAX2 and AIB1 expression and their methylation-mediated regulation as predictive or prognostic biomarkers or as a new target therapy for better disease management.

Association of Interleukin-10 -592 C > A gene polymorphism with coronary artery disease: A case-control study and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Coronary-artery-disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death worldwide, and hence there is a need to identify reliable markers for identifying individuals at high risk of developing CAD. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that is associated with an increased risk of developing both atherosclerosis and acute coronary events. The study aimed to explore the association of a genetic variant in IL-10 with the risk of developing CAD and the severity of the disease. To further explore, a systematic review and meta-analysis was performed. The cumulative results of the relationship between IL and 10 -592 C > A polymorphism and CAD in Iranian population have also been presented.

METHODS

In this cross sectional study, a total of 948 individuals including 307 healthy controls and 641 patients that among cases, four hundred and fifty-five of the patients had > 50% stenosis (angiogram positive group) and 186 patients had < 50% stenosis (angiogram negative group) were recruited from the Mashhad-Stroke and Heart-Atherosclerotic-Disorders cohort. Genotyping for the IL-10 -592 C > A polymorphism was performed using a PCR-RFLP technique, and statistical analysis undertaken by univariate and multivariate analyses. PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus were searched for papers related to this polymorphism up to October 2019. The Meta-analysiswas done based on the random effect model using a Meta-analysis.

RESULTS

In our study, the frequency of the variant A allele of the IL-10 -592 C > A was significantly higher in CAD patients than the control group (P value = 0.043). Moreover, subjects carrying AA genotype had a significantly higher risk of CAD (OR: 1.8, 95%CI: 1.04-3.16), p = 0.03), compared to those with the wild type genotype. The results of meta-analysis of 9336 cases and 8461 controls did not also show any significant association between IL and 10 -592 C > A and CAD in dominant and recessive genetic models but only in co-dominant model when fix effect was applied.

CONCLUSION

Although our research findings support a significant association of genetic polymorphism in the IL10 gene with cardiovascular diseases, this finding cannot be confirmed in meta-analysis. Further functional analysis and evaluation of this marker in a multicenter setting are needed to establish its value as a risk stratification marker.

Osteogenic induction of menstrual blood mesenchymal stem cell by different Ferula species extracts

OBJECTIVE

Ferula spp. have many applications in complementary medicine and are recognized as the most important sources of natural products for bone health and regeneration especially in postmenopausal women. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the extracts from three Ferula species on proliferation and osteogenesis potential of human menstrual blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MenSCs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The possible cytotoxic activity of three members of Ferula spp. (at concentrations of 5 to 100 μg/ml) was determined using MTT (3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay, Alizarin Red-S staining, and the expression analysis of an osteoblastic gene were performed to evaluate osteogenic differentiation potential.

RESULTS

The extracts of F. flabelliloba and F. szowitsiana decreased the viability and growth of MenSCs while F. foetida increased the proliferation of cells after 72 hr incubation. Treatment of MenSCs with selected plant extracts revealed that F. foetida and F. szowitsiana could enhance the osteogenic potential of MenSCs in terms of ALP activity. The Runx-2 expression in the presence of F. foetida was significantly greater than observed following treatment with 17β-estradiol (as positive control).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggest that F. foetida and F. szowitsiana may have therapeutic values as a nutraceutical with respect to their considerable influence on osteogenic potential of mesenchymal stem cells.

A DNA methylation panel for high performance detection of colorectal cancer

One of the most promising ways to diagnose cancer especially colorectal cancer (CRC) is to trace its epigenetic events. In this article, a discovery step for detection of methylated DNA markers (MDMs) was performed using SureSelectXT Methyl-Seq in CRC case and control groups in addition to several methylation profiling datasets (GSE48684, GSE53051, GSE77718, GSE101764, and GSE42752). In silico validation of MDMs in colorectal and other cancers was conducted by Lnc2met. MethyLight assay was run on 40 and 47 case and control formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues, respectively and the performance of selected genes were classified by support vector machine (SVM). As a result, 180 regions were identified among all common genes. In addition to SEPT9 and SFRP2, the best three MDM regions were selected from SLC30A10, AKR1B1 and GALNT14. Based on all assays, the best performance was accomplished by SEPT9/AKR1B1 with 98% sensitivity, 99% specificity, 125 positive likelihood ratio, 0.02 negative likelihood ratio and 5074 diagnostic odds ratio. Our results indicate that the AKR1B1/SEPT9 methylation panel detects CRC with a higher performance than SEPT9 methylation, which is a commercial diagnostic test for CRC. However, the creation of a clinically valuable test derived from this study requires performance evaluation in liquid biopsies.

Increased Expression of DNA Methyltransferase 1 and 3B Correlates with Tumor Grade in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background: DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) enzymes, encoded by DNMT1, DNMT3A andDNMT3B genes, play a major role in the development of cancers through aberrant promotermethylation. Due to little information about the biological and clinical significance of expressionchanges of these genes in Laryngeal Squamous Cell carcinoma (LSCC), the current study wasdesigned to evaluate the contribution of DNMTs expression as potential diagnostic biomarkersin progression of LSCC. Methods: DNMT1, DNMT3A and DNMT3B expressions in tumoral and normal tissues fromthirty-three LSCC patients were evaluated by relative comparative real-time PCR, prior toany therapeutic intervention. Relationship between genes expression and clinicopathologicalfeatures were also analyzed. Results: The mRNA expression levels of all three DNMTs (DNMT1, DNMT3A and DNMT3B)were significantly elevated in LSCC tumor specimens compared to that of non-tumor tissues(P<0.0001, P=0.011 and P<0.0001, respectively). The expression of DNMT1 and DNMT3Bwas strongly associated with histopathological tumor grade. Moreover, the mRNA expressionlevels of DNMT3A were significantly correlated with laryngopharyngeal reflux. No significantrelationships existed with other clinicopathological parameters. Conclusion: Data showed that the expression levels of DNMT1, DNMT3A and DNMT3Bmarkedly increased in LSCC tissues. DNMT1 and DNMT3B were mainly overexpressed in highgrade LSCC tumors, therefore, they may have a role in LSCC progression. It seems that thesegenes may serve as diagnostic biomarkers in development of LSCC.

Protective Effects of Osthole against Free Radical-Induced Hemolysis of Erythrocytes

Background: Osthole, one of the most active components of Cnidium monnieri, has different pharmacological and biological effects such as boosting the immune system, reducing rheumatoid pain, hepatoprotective, and inhibitory effect on osteoporosis. Furthermore, it showed anti inflammatory, anti-cancer, and antioxidant properties. However, there is little information about the antioxidant effects of osthole using cell-based assays. In the current work, we used in vitro model of 2,2-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced hemolysis of erythrocytes to investigate the protective effects of osthole against oxidative damage of biological membranes. Methods: Erythrocytes were challenged with 2, 2ꞌ-azobis (2-aminopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) as a model oxidant in the presence and absence of osthole. The protective effects of osthole on lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl oxidation, glutathione (GSH) content of erythrocytes were evaluated and compared with control samples. Results: It was found that osthole has protective effects on erythrocyte hemolysis induced by AAPH at different concentrations in a time-dependent manner. Osthole also suppressed lipid and protein oxidation as well as reductions in GSH content in a concentration and timedependent manner. Conclusion: Osthole showed protective effects against free radical-induced hemolysis in rat erythrocytes. Therefore, it can be considered as a supplement for the prevention or treatment of a variety of human health problems associated with oxidative stress. However, further investigations are required to illustrate other possible impacts of osthole on cells.

Antisense Oligonucleotide (AS-ODN) Technology: Principle, Mechanism and Challenges

Recently, there is a hopefully tremendous interest in antisense therapeutics for clinical purposes. Single-stranded synthetic antisense oligonucleotides (As-ODNs) with monomers of chemically modified 18-21 deoxynucleotides complement the mRNA sequence in target gene. The target gene expression can be blocked because of created cleavage or disability of the mRNA by binding the As-ODNs to cognate mRNA sequences via sequence-specific hybridization. The idea of antisense therapy has become particular concerning that any sequence longer than a minimal number of nucleotides (17 for DNA and 13 for RNA) can be observed only once within the human genome. The mRNA is omnipresent more probably to manipulate compared to DNA, which results in multiple in vitro and in vivo applications for As-ODNs in the field of regulatory mechanisms of biological processes, cancer, viral infections and hereditary impairments. Although, there are uncertain clinical outcomes on the ability of this approach in treatment procedures despite achieving promising findings based on previous investigations. Accordingly, the efficacy, off-target effects, delivery are issues that should be investigated to obtain satisfactory results. In this review, we will explain the mechanism of action of As-ODNs and various types of modifications and their therapeutic purposes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The role of noncoding RNAs and sirtuins in cancer drug resistance

Cancer is a rising and major health issue around the world. The acquisition of resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs is a great obstacle for the effective treatment of nearly all cancers. Drug resistance is regulated by multiple factors and mechanisms including genetic mutations, abnormal expression of some cellular transporters such as multidrug resistance (MDR) transporters, changes in apoptotic pathways, cancer stem cells, tumor microenvironment, and noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). Evidence clearly indicates a key role for sirtuins in several characteristics of cancer drug resistance. Recent studies demonstrated the crucial impact of some ncRNAs on sirtuins expression leading to modulation of chemotherapy resistance in cancers. In this review, we will focus on the current findings about the impacts of ncRNAs on the sirtuins pathway and their role in drug resistance of cancer.

Glucosamine reverses drug resistance in MRP2 overexpressing ovarian cancer cells

Glucosamine (GlcN), a natural amino sugar in human body, was reported to exhibit anticancer activity against some tumors. In the present study, we evaluated the cytotoxicity and multi-drug resistance (MDR) reversal activity of GlcN on resistant MRP2-overexpressing ovarian cancer A2780RCIS cells. The cytotoxicity and MDR reversal activity of GlcN on cancer cells were measured by MTT assay. The effects of GlcN on MRP1 and MRP2 mRNA expression and function were evaluated by qRT-PCR and flow cytometry, respectively. The cell migration capacity of ovarian cancer cells were assessed in the presence or absence of GlcN using wound healing migration assay. Furthermore, the effects of GlcN on the mRNA expression of E-cadherin, vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin as Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT)-related markers were evaluated by qRT-PCR. Our results indicated that glucosamine reduced the proliferation of human ovarian cancer cell lines (A2780) and its cisplatin resistant variant (A2780RCIS) in a dose-dependent manner. The IC50 values for A2780RCIS cells treated with cisplatin in the presence of different concentrations of GlcN (0, 1, 2 and 3 mM) for 72 h were 44.463 ± 1.603, 35.17 ± 0.025, 22.25 ± 0.018, 17.78 ± 0.012 μM respectively. Also GlcN decreased the expression of MRP1 and MRP2 mRNA in ovarian cancer cells. Our results further demonstrated that although GlcN had no significant effects on the expression of studied EMT-related markers in invasive A2780RCIS cells, it was able to inhibit their migration in vitro. According to these findings, GlcN could effectively enhance cisplatin cytotoxicity in resistant A2780RCIS cells.

Increased Expression of Gankyrin and Stemness Factor Oct-4 are Associated with Unfavorable Clinical Outcomes and Poor Benefit of Tamoxifen in Breast Carcinoma Patients

Tamoxifen is the most important treatment component in estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast carcinoma patients. Tamoxifen resistance incidence presents an important obstacle in clinical treatment. Mechanisms underlying tamoxifen refractory are not completely understood. Although elevated expression of Gankyrin (P28GANK) and stem cell markers Nanog, Oct-4 and Sox-2 have been reported in breast carcinoma, their role in tamoxifen resistance progression has not been explored. In the present study, P28GANK and stem cell markers Nanog, Oct-4 and Sox-2 expression were evaluated using quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemical technology in 72 breast carcinoma patients who received tamoxifen as adjuvant anti-hormone treatment. Expression data were correlated with the clinical outcome and survival of patients. Data analysis showed that P28GANK, Oct-4 and Sox-2 transcripts were significantly overexpressed in tamoxifen resistance patients. Immunohistochemical staining indicated that protein expression of P28GANK and Oct-4 were also significantly higher in tamoxifen resistance patients. We have shown a positive correlation between mRNA and protein expression of P28GANK, Oct-4 and Sox-2. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that P28GANK (P = 0.002) and Oct-4 (P = 0.013) overexpression could be negative independent factors of disease outcome. Additionally, in the whole study group, multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that high expression of P28GANK and Oct-4 remained significant and unfavorable predictive factors for patients' survival. These findings suggest that Gankyrin and Oct-4 overexpression could promote tamoxifen refractory in breast cancer patients. More studies are warranted to clarify the predictive role of these potential biomarkers for patients who don't benefit from tamoxifen treatment and their possible application as prognostic markers in ER⁺ tamoxifen-treated breast carcinoma patients.

Correlation of Gankyrin oncoprotein overexpression with histopathological grade in prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among men worldwide. Identifying new prognostic and predictive biomarkers will help stratification of prostate cancer patients for a better treatment. Gankyrin is a novel oncoprotein which regulates cell cycle and protein degradation. Gankyrin overexpression correlated with the malignant phenotypes and promotes the tumorigenicity and metastasis in many cancers. However, there are not any reports on the role of Gankyrin in prostate cancer. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the expression of Gankyrin in prostate cancer and analyze its correlation with some clinicopathological characteristics. We characterized the expression of gankyrin in fifty five prostate cancer specimens and twenty non-cancerous tissues by immunohistochemical staining and the results were correlated with clinical characteristics and pathological parameters.Results showed that Gankyrin was expressed in 41 of 55 (74%) prostate cancer patients and its expression was significantly higher than corresponding adjacent normal tissues (p<0.001). Gankyrin overexpression was significantly correlated with histopathological tumor grade, Gleason score and tumor differentiation (P=0.002). These findings showed that Gankyrin is mainly overexpressed in high grade prostate tumors so it may have a significant role in prostate cancer progress and it May serve as a useful biomarker for the identification of aggressive prostate cancers.

Promising effects of exosomes isolated from menstrual blood-derived mesenchymal stem cell on wound-healing process in diabetic mouse model

Wound healing is a complicated process that contains a number of overlapping and consecutive phases, disruption in each of which can cause chronic nonhealing wounds. In the current study, we investigated the effects of exosomes as paracrine factors released from menstrual blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MenSCs) on wound-healing process in diabetic mice. The exosomes were isolated from MenSCs conditioned media using ultracentrifugation and were characterized by scanning electron microscope and western blotting assay. A full thickness excisional wound was created on the dorsal skin of each streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse. The mice were divided into three groups as follows: phosphate buffered saline, exosomes, and MenSC groups. We found that MenSC-derived exosomes can resolve inflammation via induced M1-M2 macrophage polarization. It was observed that exosomes enhance neoangiogenesis through vascular endothelial growth factor A upregulation. Re-epithelialization accelerated in the exosome-treated mice, most likely through NF-κB p65 subunit upregulation and activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. The results demonstrated that exosomes possibly cause less scar formation through decreased Col1:Col3 ratio. These notable results showed that the MenSC-derived exosomes effectively ameliorated cutaneous nonhealing wounds. We suggest that exosomes can be employed in regenerative medicine for skin repair in difficult-to-heal conditions such as diabetic foot ulcer.

Expression and clinicopathological significance of DNA methyltransferase 1, 3A and 3B in tamoxifen-treated breast cancer patients

Progression of tamoxifen resistance remained as a crucial obstacle to treatment of estrogen receptor positive breast carcinoma patients. Recent studies demonstrated the importance of DNA methylation pattern on tamoxifen refractory. This study aimed to investigate the protein expression pattern and clinicopathological significance of DNA methyltransferase 1, 3A and 3B, as leading factors in regulation of DNA methylation process, in breast carcinoma patients with adjuvant tamoxifen therapy. Seventy two Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) breast tumor tissues of tamoxifen sensitive (TAMS) and tamoxifen resistance (TAM-R) patients were recruited for immunohistochemical experiments. DNMT1, DNMT3a, and DNMT3b expressions were observed in 86, 72.2 and 100% of tamoxifen resistance patients, respectively. Data analysis indicated that DNMTs were overexpressed in TAM-R tumors (P < 0.05). In TAM-S subgroup, DNMT1, DNMT3A and DNMT3B expression was associated with high histologic grade (P = 0.049, P = 0.01 and P = 0.02, respectively). DNMT3B expression was also correlated with lymphatic invasion (P = 0.034). In TAM-R subgroup, DNMT1 expression associated with extracapsular nodal extension (P = 0.019). DNMT3A and DNMT3B expression showed a significant association with high histologic grade (P = 0.001) and DNMT3A expression was also associated with HER-2 status (P = 0.027). Cox proportional hazard model demonstrated that overexpression of DNMT3B remained as an independent and unfavorable prognostic factor for disease free survival (P < 0.001). Taken together, these results suggest that DNMTs could be an effective factor in development of tamoxifen resistance in breast tumors.

The SAFE pathway is involved in the postconditioning mechanism of oxytocin in isolated rat heart

Oxytocin (OT) has a postconditioning effect against the ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, its precise cardioprotection mechanism at the early reperfusion phase remains under debate. Our previous study revealed that OT postconditioning (OTpost) is cardioprotective by activating the Reperfusion Injury Salvage Kinase (RISK) pathway. Therefore, the present study is aimed to determine the biological effects of OTpost via the OT receptor and the activation of the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway, mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate-dependent potassium channel (mitoKATP), nitric oxide (NO) release, and its anti-apoptotic effects against I/R injury in an isolated rat heart model. Sixty-three rats were randomly allocated to one of nine groups. OT was perfused 40 min prior to the regional ischemia or 15 min at the early reperfusion phase. AG490 (a JAK/STAT3 inhibitor), 5HD (a mitoKATP blocker), atosiban (an OT receptor antagonist), L-NAME (a nonspecific nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) were applied either alone or in combination with OT during the pre-ischemia phase and/or in the early reperfusion phase. Myocardial infarct size, hemodynamic factor, ventricular arrhythmia, coronary flow, cardiac biochemical marker, and the apoptosis index were determined at the end of reperfusion. Oxytocin postconditioning reduced infarct size, lactate dehydrogenase activity, arrhythmia score, ventricular fibrillation, and apoptosis. Moreover, AG490, 5HD, atosiban, and L-NAME abrogated the cardioprotective effects of OT. Our results demonstrated that the cardioprotective effects of OT are mediated by NO release, and the activation of mitoKATP and the SAFE pathway through the JAK/STAT3 signaling cascade that finally lead to decrease in the apoptosis index during the early reperfusion phase.

Auraptene Inhibits Migration and Invasion of Cervical and Ovarian Cancer Cells by Repression of Matrix Metalloproteinasas 2 and 9 Activity

OBJECTIVES

Auraptene, a natural citrus coumarin, found in plants of Rutaceae and Apiaceae families. In this study, we investigated the effects of auraptene on tumor migration, invasion and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 enzymes activity.

METHODS

The effects of auraptene on the viability of A2780 and Hela cell lines was evaluated by MTT assay. Wound healing migration assay and Boyden chamber assay were determined the effect of auraptene on migration and cell invasion, respectively. MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities were analyzed by gelatin zymography assay.

RESULTS

Auraptene reduced A2780 cell viability. The results showed that auraptene inhibited in vitro migration and invasion of both cells. Furthermore, cell invasion ability suppressed at 100μM auraptene in Hela cells and at 25, 50μM in A2780 cell line. Gelatin zymography showed that for Hela cell line, auraptene suppressed MMP-2 enzymatic activity in all concentrations and for MMP-9 at a concentration between 12.5 to 100μM in A2780 cell line.

CONCLUSION

Auraptene inhibited migration and invasion of human cervical and ovarian cancer cells in vitro by possibly inhibitory effects on MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity.

Protective effects of glucosamine and its acetylated derivative on serum/glucose deprivation-induced PC12 cells death: Role of reactive oxygen species

Finding products with antiapoptotic activities has been one of the approaches for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. Serum/glucose deprivation (SGD) has been used as a model for the investigation of the molecular mechanisms of neuronal ischemia. Recent studies indicated that glucosamine (GlcN) and N-acetyl glucosamine (GlcNAc) have many pharmacological effects including antioxidant activities. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of GlcN and GlcNAc against SGD-induced PC12 cells injury. The PC12 cells were pretreated with GlcN and GlcNAc for 2 h, and then exposed to SGD for 6, 12 and 24 h. Cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay. The level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was determined by flow cytometry using 2',7'- dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) as a probe. SGD condition caused a significant reduction in cell survival after 6, 12, and 24 h (P < 0.001). Pretreatment with GlcN and GlcNAc (0.6-20 mM) increased cell viability following SGD insult. A significant increase in cell apoptosis was observed in cells under SGD condition after 12 h (P < 0.001). Pretreatment with GlcN and GlcNAc (5-20 mM) decreased apoptosis following SGD condition after 12 h. SGD resulted in a significant increase in intracellular ROS production after 12 h. Pretreatment with both amino sugars at concentrations of 10 to 20 mM could reverse the ROS increment. Results indicated that GlcN and GlcNAc had a cytoprotective property against SGD-induced cell death via anti-apoptosis and antioxidant activities, suggesting that these aminosugers have the potential to be used as novel therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative disorders.

Unexpected Lower Expression of Oncoprotein Gankyrin in Drug Resistant ABCG2 Overexpressing Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Background: Development of a multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype to chemotherapy remains a major barrier in the treatment of cancer. Gankyrin (p28, p28GANK or PSMD10) is an oncoprotein overexpressed in different carcinoma cell lines. The aim of this study was to compare Gankyrin expression level in MDR cells (MCF-7/ADR and MCF-7/ MX) and non-MDR counterparts (MCF-7). Methods: Gankyrin, MDR1 (also known as ABCB1; the ATP-binding cassette sub-family B member 1) and ABCG2 (also known as BCRP; the human breast cancer resistance protein) mRNA levels were analyzed by real-time RT-PCR. Western blot analysis was used to detect the protein expression levels of Gankyrin. Results: The PCR results showed that the expression of Gankyrin was significantly lower in the ABCG2 overexpressing cell line MCF-7/MX than in non-resistanct MCF-7 cells. In contrast, there were no significant differences in mRNA expression of Gankyrin in the MDR1 overexpressing cell line MCF-7/ADR in comparison with MCF-7 cells. Similarly, Western blot analysis confirmed lower expression of Gankyrin protein in the MCF-7/MX cell line (26% compared to controls) but not in MCF-7/ADR cells. Conclusion: These findings showed that there may be a relation between down-regulation of Gankyrin and overexpression of ABCG2 but without any clear relationship with MDR1 expression in breast cancer cell lines.

The interaction between a HSP-70 gene variant with dietary calories in determining serum markers of inflammation and cardiovascular risk

BACKGROUND

The high prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) globally is attributable to an interaction between environmental and genetic factors. Gene × diet interaction studies aim to explore how a modifiable factor interacts with genetic predispositions. Here we have explored the interaction of a heat shock protein (HSP70) gene polymorphism (+1267A > G) with dietary intake and their possible association with serum C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammatory marker, that is a major component of CVD risk.

METHODS

HSP70 genotype was determined using a TaqMan real time PCR based method.Dietary intake was assessed using a dietary questionnaire. Serum high sensitivity (Hs) CRP and other cardiovascular risk factors were assessed by routine methods. This included coronary angioplasty to determine the presence of coronary artery stenosis.

RESULTS

There were significant differences between serum lipid profile and Hs-CRP across the genotypes for Hsp70. The carriers of G allele had higher serum hs-CRP concentrations, compared with the AA homozygotes, with the wild genotype. Interaction analysis showed the association was modulated by total energy intake; the interaction of high energy intake with GG genotype: RERI = 0.77, AP = 0.26, S = 1.6.

CONCLUSION

We have found a significant association between the +1267A > G variant of the HSP70 gene with cardiovascular risk factors and serum hs-CRP concentrations. It is possible that a low energy diet could ameliorate the unfavorable effects of G allele of HSP70.

Gankyrin: a novel promising therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is known as fifth common malignancies and third common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The identification of various mechanisms which are involved in hepatocarcinogenesis contributes in finding a variety of cellular and molecular targets for HCC diagnosis, prevention and therapy. Among various identified targets in HCC pathogenesis, Gankyrin is a crucial oncoprotein that is up-regulated in HCC and plays a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of the HCC. Oncogenic role of Gankyrin has been found to stem from inhibition of two ubiquitous tumour suppressor proteins, retinoblastoma protein (pRb) and P53, and also modulation of several vital cellular signalling pathways including Wnt/β-Catenin, NF-κB, STAT3/Akt, IL-1β/IRAK-1 and RhoA/ROCK. As a result, Gankyrin can be considered as a potential candidate for diagnosis and treatment of HCC. In this review, we summarized the physiological function and the significant role of Gankyrin as an important therapeutic target in HCC.

Altered Expression of Cell Cycle Regulators in Adult T-Cell Leukemia/ Lymphoma Patients

BACKGROUND

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is caused by human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1). HTLV-1 oncogenes can induce malignancy through controlled gene expression of cell cycle checkpoints in the host cell. HTLV-I genes play a pivotal role in overriding cell cycle checkpoints and deregulate cellular division. In this study, we aimed to determine and compare the HTLV-1 proviral load and the gene expression levels of cyclin-dependent kinase-2 (CDK2), CDK4, p53, and retinoblastoma (Rb) in ATLL and carrier groups.

METHODS

A total of twenty-five ATLL patients (12 females and 13 males) and 21 asymptomatic carriers (10 females and 11 males) were included in this study. TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction assay was used for evaluation of proviral load and gene expression levels of CDK2, CDK4, p53, and Rb. Statistical analysis was used to compare proviral load and gene expression levels between two groups, using SPSS version 18.

RESULTS

The mean scores of the HTLV-1 proviral load in the ATLL patients and healthy carriers were 13067.20±6400.41 and 345.79±78.80 copies/10⁴ cells, respectively (P=0.000). There was a significant correlation between the gene expression levels of CDK2 and CDK4 (P=0.01) in the ATLL group.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrated a significant difference between the ATLL patients and healthy carriers regarding the rate of proviral load and the gene expression levels of p53 and CDK4; accordingly, proviral load and expression levels of these genes may be useful in the assessment of disease progression and prediction of HTLV-1 infection outcomes.

Lack of an Association between a Functional Polymorphism in the MDM2 Promoter and Breast Cancer in Women in Northeast Iran

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women worldwide. Tumor protein 53 (TP53) and its regulator, the mouse double murine 2 (MDM2) protein homologue, influence tumorigenesis through their key roles in cell division and response to DNA damage. The MDM2 SNP309T>G (rs2279744) polymorphism in the promoter region of the MDM2 can cause dysfunction and inactivation of TP53, which promotes tumor progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association between this polymorphism and breast cancer in a northeastern Iranian population.

METHODS

A case-control study with 128 female breast cancer patients and 143 healthy women was conducted. PCR-ARMS was performed to assess the MDM2 SNP309T>G (rs2279744) polymorphism.

RESULTS

No significant association was found between the GG genotype or G allele polymorphisms and breast cancer in patients or controls (p = 0.116, OR [95% CI]: 1.267 [0.616, 2.603] and p= 0.143, OR [95% CI]: 1.326 [0.908, 1.935], respectively). For the G allele polymorphism, a significant difference of 8 years in the average cancer diagnosis age was observed between TT and TG carriers (40.57 vs. 48.15 years, respectively, p = 0.029).

CONCLUSION

The SNP309T>G polymorphism in MDM2 may not be associated with breast cancer in this Iranian population.

Molecular mechanisms of anticancer effects of Glucosamine

Glucosamine is an amino sugar that is produced naturally in human body. It is an essential carbohydrate component of many cellular glycoproteins, glycolipids, and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). This popular over-the-counter supplement is also found in the exoskeleton of crustaceans. Glucosamine and its derivatives have a long history in medicine for inflammatory conditions specially to relieve arthritis. This dietary supplement has numerous biological and pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-fibrotic, neuroprotective and cardioprotective activities. Many studies have shown that glucosamine has anti-cancer activity through influence on biological pathways involved in cell death, apoptosis, cell proliferation, and angiogenesis. Accordingly, this comprehensive review summarizes anti-cancer molecular mechanisms of glucosamine in details.

Association of tumor necrosis factor-α -308 G/A gene polymorphism with coronary artery diseases: An evidence-based study

BACKGROUND

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death worldwide and remains a major health problem, providing the rationale for identification of molecular markers for detection of individuals at high risk of developing CAD. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of CAD. We have therefore explored the association of TNF-α 308 (G/A) gene polymorphism in 903 individuals with/without CAD.

METHODS

TNF-α 308 gene polymorphism was analyzed in 903 subjects of whom 222 were healthy controls. Among the 681 patients who were investigated angiographically, 468 had ≧50% stenosis and 213 patients had <50% stenosis. Biochemical profiles (eg, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, and CRP) were evaluated. Associations between TNF-α genotypes with biochemical and anthropometric characteristics were determined.

RESULTS

The frequencies of TNF-α-AA or AG genotypes were significantly lower in patients classified as CAD patients with ≥ or <50% obstruction in at least one coronary artery, compared to the control group. We observed that CAD patients with ≥50% stenosis and with AA genotype were associated with higher risk of CAD with OR of 3.56 (95%CI: 1.02-12.41; P=.046) using multivariate analysis. Moreover, we found that TNF-α-308-AA genotype was associated with blood pressure and CRP level in CAD patients, compared to the wild type-genotype.

CONCLUSION

Our data showed an association of TNF-α-308G/A polymorphism with CAD patients with ≥50% obstruction, supporting the need for further investigations on the role of TNF-α-308G/A polymorphism with hypertension.

Lack of an association between a functional polymorphism in the neuropeptide Y gene promoter and the presence of coronary artery disease in an Iranian population

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Several genetic factors have been identified that may contribute to the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). Variants of the neuropeptide Y (NPY) gene, whose products play an important role in regulating several physiological functions, have been associated with the risk of CAD in some populations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the NPY gene rs16147 polymorphism and the presence of CAD in an Iranian population.

METHODS

DNA samples of 922 subjects, including 433 with angiographically defined CAD (CAD+), 196 without angiographically defined significant CAD (CAD-) and 293 controls, were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction based on the amplification-refractory mutation system. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association of rs16147 genotypes with the presence of significant CAD.

RESULTS

Although logistic regression analysis indicated that the NPY polymorphism rs16147 was nominally associated with an increased risk of CAD (p < 0.05), after adjustment for confounding factors, there was no evidence for any significantly increased or decreased risk of CAD with this polymorphism. However, in stratified analyses, the C allele was significantly associated with a reduced risk of CAD in males and subjects who were <50 years of age.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that the rs16147 polymorphism in the NPY gene may not be a potential contributor to the risk of CAD in an Iranian population.

Crocin Effects on Human Myeloma Cells Regarding Intracellular Redox State, DNA Fragmentation, and Apoptosis or Necrosis Profile

Background:

Well-documented studies reported several pharmacological properties for crocin, the active compound of Crocus sativus, such as its antitumor, radical scavenging, antidepressant, and memory-enhancing effects.

Objectives:

We aimed to evaluate the possible cytotoxic activity of crocin on B lymphocytes in human myeloma (U266 cell line) after 24- and 48-hour treatment.

Materials and Methods:

For this purpose, cell viability was determined by the colorimetric MTT assay and cell death pattern was evaluated using Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI) apoptosis detection kit. ROS (reactive oxygen species) production and DNA fragmentation were assessed using 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) kit and PI staining, respectively.

Results:

The highest concentration of crocin significantly decreased ROS production after 48 hours of treatment. However, crocin had no effect on the expression level of HSP (Heat shock protein). Additionally, its administration caused a mild decline in cell viability and a mild increase in the population of DNA fragmented cells as well as apoptosis.

Conclusions:

In our study, no prominent effect was seen; therefore, in order to have a better perspective of crocin activity against cancerous cell lines, further studies are highly recommended.

Resistance of nanobacteria isolated from urinary and kidney stones to broad-spectrum antibiotics

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Nanoscopic life forms called Nanobacteria or calcifying nanoparticles (CNP) are unconventional agents. These novel organisms are very small (0.1 to 0.5 microns) and possess unusual properties such as high resistance to heat and routine antimicrobial agents. Nanobacteria are 100 times smaller than bacteria and protected by a shell of apatite, so they could be as candidate for emerging and progress of in vivo pathological calcification. In this study, the inhibitory effect of broad-spectrum antibiotics on growth of these new forms of life has been investigated.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Powdered urinary and kidney stones were demineralized with HCl and neutralized with appropriate buffers and became filtered. Finally suspension was incubated in DMEM medium with Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) and broad-spectrum antibiotics (100U/ml for penicillin and 100μg/ml for streptomycin) for 60 days.

RESULTS

In the presence of broad-spectrum antibiotics, Scanning Electron Micrographs (SEM) showed a spherical shape of these nanobacteria. Also, Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) showed a pick for calcium and phosphor. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) results illustrated cover around the nanobacteria.

CONCLUSION

The growth of calcifying nanoparticles after adding the broad-spectrum antibiotics may be due to their apatite hard shells supporting them against penetration of the antibiotics.

Protective effects of glucosamine hydrochloride against free radical-induced erythrocytes damage

Glucosamine (GlcN) is an important precursor in the biochemical synthesis of glycosylated proteins and lipids in human body. It gains importance because of its contribution to human health and its multiple biological and therapeutic effects. In this study, the in vitro oxidative hemolysis of rat erythrocyte was used as a model to study the potential protective effect of glucosamine hydrochloride against free radical-induced damage of biological membranes. Glucosamine hydrochloride exhibited dose-dependent DPPH antioxidant activity. Oxidative hemolysis and lipid/protein peroxidation of erythrocytes induced by a water-soluble free radical initiator 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) were significantly suppressed by GlcN in a time and dose dependent manner. GlcN also prevented the depletion of cytosolic antioxidant glutathione (GSH) in erythrocytes. These results indicated that glucosamine hydrochloride efficiently protected erythrocytes against free radicals and it could be recommended as a pharmaceutical supplement to alleviate oxidative stress.