The Anticancer Effect of Arctium lappa and Glycyrrhiza glabra on HT-29 Colon Cancer and MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Objectives: Breast and colon cancer are the most common malignancy in the world and the common causes of mortality in Western societies. The aim of the current study was to examine the effectiveness of Glycyrrhiza glabra and Arctium extracts on breast cancer (MCF7) and gastrointestinal cancer (HT 29) cell lines, with regard to their naturalness, low cost and easy public access. Materials and Methods: In this study, dose and time were considered as variables in order to determine the optimal effects of the drug. Two MCF7- and HT29 cell lines were cultured on a single layer in RPMI 1640 culture medium and MTT method and flow cytometric method were used to examine apoptosis. Results: The study of cell survival using MTT showed that the aqueous extract of G. glabra at a dose of 2000 μg/mL and incubation for 24 hours had the most inhibitory effect on the MCF7- cell line. In addition, a dose of 2000 μg/mL of G. glabra aqueous extract with -24hour incubation represents apoptosis by flow cytometric method. Conclusions: The results of this study confirm the effectualness of this herbal supplement for the treatment of breast cancer, and the inclusion of this herbal supplement in the diet may be effective in treating breast cancer, given the naturalness of the product, its low cost and public availability

MicroRNAs as Targets for Cancer Diagnosis: Interests and Limitations

MicroRNAs are small RNAs with ability to attach to the large number of RNA that regulate gene expression on post-transcriptional level via inhibition or degradation of specific mRNAs. MiRNAs in cells are the primary regulators of functions such as cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis and considerably influence cell function. The expression levels of microRNAs change in human diseases, including cancer. These changes highlight their essential role in cancer pathogenesis. Ubiquitous irregular expression profiles of miRNAs have been detected in various human cancers using genome-wide identification techniques, which are emerging as novel diagnostic and prognostic cancer biomarkers of high specificity and sensitivity. The measurable miRNAs with enhanced stability in blood, tissues, and other body fluids provide a comprehensive source of miRNA-dependent biomarkers for human cancers. The leading role of miRNAs as potential biomarkers in human cancers is discussed in this article. In addition, the interests and difficulties of miRNAs as biomarkers have been explored

Melatonin: a promising neuroprotective agent for cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury

Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (CIR) injury is initiated by the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which leads to the oxidation of cellular proteins, DNA, and lipids as an initial event. The reperfusion process impairs critical cascades that support cell survival, including mitochondrial biogenesis and antioxidant enzyme activity. Failure to activate prosurvival signals may result in increased neuronal cell death and exacerbation of CIR damage. Melatonin, a hormone produced naturally in the body, has high concentrations in both the cerebrospinal fluid and the brain. However, melatonin production declines significantly with age, which may contribute to the development of age-related neurological disorders due to reduced levels. By activating various signaling pathways, melatonin can affect multiple aspects of human health due to its diverse range of activities. Therefore, understanding the underlying intracellular and molecular mechanisms is crucial before investigating the neuroprotective effects of melatonin in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury

Promoter methylation and expression pattern of DLX3, ATF4, and FRA1 genes during osteoblastic differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Introduction: Nowadays, mesenchymal stem cells are touted as suitable cell supply for the restoration of injured bone tissue. The existence of osteogenic differentiation makes these cells capable of replenishing damaged cells in the least possible time. It has been shown that epigenetic modifications, especially DNA methylation, contribute to the regulation of various transcription factors during phenotype acquisition. Hence, we concentrated on the correlation between the promoter methylation and the expression of genes DLX3, ATF4, and FRA1 during osteoblastic differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in vitro after 21 days. Methods: Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells were cultured in osteogenesis differentiation medium supplemented with 0.1 µM dexamethasone, 10 mM β-glycerol phosphate, and 50 µM ascorbate-2-phosphate for 21 days. RNA and DNA extraction was done on days 0, 7, 14, and 21. Promoter methylation and expression levels of genes DLX3, ATF4, and FRA1 were analyzed by methylation-specific quantitative PCR and real-time PCR assays, respectively. Results: We found an upward expression trend with the increasing time for genes DLX3, ATF4, and FRA1 in stem cells committed to osteoblast-like lineage compared to the control group (P<0.05). On the contrary, methylation-specific quantitative PCR displayed decreased methylation rates of DLX3 and ATF4 genes, but not FRA1, over time compared to the non-treated control cells (P<0.05). Bright-field images exhibited red-colored calcified deposits around Alizarin Red S-stained cells after 21 days compared to the control group. Statistical analysis showed a strong correlation between the transcription of genes DLX3 and ATF4 and methylation rate (P<0.05). Conclusion: In particular, osteoblastic differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells enhances DLX3 and ATF4 transcriptions by reducing methylation rate for 21 days

Resveratrol reduced the detrimental effects of malondialdehyde on human endothelial cells

Introduction: According to the statistics, vascular injury occurs during the onset of diabetic changes after the production of several byproducts. Many authorities have focused to find an alternative therapy for diabetic patients. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of natural polyphenol like resveratrol on human endothelial cells exposed to malondialdehyde for 48 hours. Methods: Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells were randomly classified into four groups;control, malondialdehyde (2.5 mM), resveratrol (100 μM), and cells received the combined regime for 48 hours. Cell viability was determined by 3-(4, 5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl) 2, 5-diphenyl-tetrazoliumbromide (MTT) assay. Griess reaction was performed to measure the content of Nitric oxide (NO).Apoptosis was studied by using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting assays. Levels of receptor tyrosine kinases like VEGFR-1, -2, Tie-1, and -2 were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The affinity of resveratrol and malondialdehyde to serum albumin was measured by Surface Plasmon Resonance Assay. Any changes in chromatin remodeling were detected by PCR array analysis. Results: Resveratrol reduced cytotoxicity and NO content inside cells induced by malondialdehyde(MDA) (P < 0.05). Endothelial cell apoptosis was decreased by the reduction of pro-apoptotic factor Bax and increase of Bcl-2 following the incubation with resveratrol (P < 0.05). MDA-induced receptor tyrosine kinases increase was inhibited by resveratrol and reached near-to-normal levels (P < 0.05).Surface Plasmon Resonance revealed a higher affinity of resveratrol to albumin compared to the malondialdehyde-albumin complex. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array revealed the potency of resveratrol in chromatin remodeling following the treatment with malondialdehyde (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Based on our findings, resveratrol has the potential to decrease diabetic vascular injury induced by lipid byproducts such as MDA

Investigation of gene expression and serum levels of PIN1 and eNOS with high blood pressure in patients with Alzheimer disease

WOS: 000408297700013PubMed ID: 28506742According to evidence, Alzheimer's disease is known as one of the most serious neurodegenerative diseases, for which hypertension has been observed to be a key risk factor. Therefore, this study aims to examine the relationship between the PIN1 and eNOS genes expression, as well as serum levels and hypertension in Alzheimer's disease sufferers. Blood samples were obtained from subjects who were divided into four groups: the control group, normotensive Alzheimer's patients, the Alzheimer's sufferers group with hypertension, and the healthy group with only hypertension, considering the inhibition of confounding factors. Thereafter, eNOS and PIN1 genes expression along with serum levels were studied. Based on the obtained results, a statistically significant correlation didn't exist between serum level of PIN1 and the systolic and diastolic blood pressure, between serum level of eNOS and diastolic blood pressure in the norm tension Alzheimer's disease patients, between serum levels of PIN1, eNOS and systolic blood pressure, and between serum eNOS and systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the patients with hypertension (p < 0.05). According to the results obtained from this study, measuring the serum levels of eNOS and Pint may contribute to the prognosis, prevention, and monitoring of hypertension and also to the reduction of death rates from cardiovascular diseases in Alzheimer's disease. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Neuroscience Research Center (NSRC), Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IranThis research has been supported by Neuroscience Research Center (NSRC), Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

CAR T Cells: Cancer Cell Surface Receptors Are the Target for Cancer Therapy

Immunotherapy has become a prominent strategy for the treatment of cancer. A method that improves the immune system's ability to attack a tumor (Enhances antigen binding). Targeted killing of malignant cells by adoptive transfer of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells is a promising immunotherapy technique in the treatment of cancers. For this purpose, the patient's immune cells, with genetic engineering aid, are loaded with chimeric receptors that have particular antigen binding and activate cytotoxic T lymphocytes. That increases the effectiveness of immune cells and destroying cancer cells. This review discusses the basic structure and function of CAR-T cells and how antigenic targets are identified to treat different cancers and address the disadvantages of this treatment for cancer

Exploring potential serum levels of Homocysteine, interleukin-1 beta, and apolipoprotein B 48 as new biomarkers for patients with ischemic stroke

Background: Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide with heterogeneous characteristics. The subtypes of stroke are due to different pathophysiological regulations and causes. This study aimed to investigate the correlation of serum levels of apolipoprotein B 48, interleukin-1 beta and Homocysteine with BMI in patients with ischemic stroke (IS). Methods: Over one hundred controls (120) and an equal number of IS patients, including 31 women and 89 men, were recruited to participate in the case-control study conducted at Imam Reza Hospital (Tabriz, Iran) from February 2019 to March 2020. We measured serum levels of apolipoprotein B 48, interleukin-1 beta, and Homocysteine. Receiver operating characteristic analysis (ROC) was performed to evaluate the diagnostic value of these indices in patients and control groups. Results: The mean serum levels of apolipoprotein B 48, interleukin-1 beta, and Homocysteine, were significantly increased in the experimental group compared to the control group with a p-value of 0.001. The ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve for apo B48, IL-1 beta, hs-CRP, and Homocysteine serum levels were 0.94, 0.98, 0.99, and 1, respectively. Conclusions: The results of our current study show that the determination of serum levels of apolipoprotein B 48, interleukin-1 beta, and Homocysteine can potentially be used to monitor and diagnose IS patients. However, there was no statistically significant correlation between serum levels of apolipoprotein B 48, interleukin 1 beta and Homocysteine and BMI in the patient group. However, there was a statistically significant inverse correlation between serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and BMI in the patient group.Research Vice-Chancellor of Tabriz University of medical sciences, Tabriz, IRAN [25992]The present study was supported by grants from the Research Vice-Chancellor of Tabriz University of medical sciences, Tabriz, IRAN grant no. 25992