Detection of Methylene Tetrahydrofolate Reductase Gene Polymorphism (C677T) In Sudanese Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is a kind of cancer that affects the white blood cells and resort to progress slowly through many years. It’s occur at any age, but is most common in older (60-65 years) of age. This is a cross sectional study aimed to detect MTHFR gene polymorphism (C677T) among Sudanese patients diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia and conducted at the research laboratory of the national center of neurological sciences (NCNS), Khartoum, Sudan.50 patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) diagnosed as BCR-ABL positive by RT-PCR used as a cases and 50 apparently healthy individuals as a control. A 5 ml of blood samples were collected in EDTA anticoagulant container for DNA Extraction and white blood cells count, hemoglobin level and platelets count. Genotyping of the MTHFR was carried out using PCR technique and the SNP (C677T) confirmed by sequencing a subset of samples. The results were analyzed using bioinformatics tools. The results showed; the most affected age group in the patients was 51-60 years followed by 41-50 years which constituted 32% and 30%, respectively. The hematological findings revealed that, the mean of TWBCs was 47.4, HB was 11.9 for patients, 7.2 and 14.1 respectively for control group (P = 0.000). PLT was 313.5 for patients and 287.5 for control group (P = 0.187). MTHFR gene was detected in the all patients (198pb) by the PCR, Sequence results were aligned with the reference sequence of MTHFR gene, the polymorphic C >T was found to be matched with the registered mutation in NCBI data base. This study provides the first evidence for associations of MTHFR gene polymorphism with the risk of chronic myeloid leukemia in Sudanese patients. The C >T genotype of the rs 677 polymorphism in MTHFR gene may have a promoting effect on chronic myeloid leukemia. Keywords: Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), DNA, PCR, RT-PCR, MTHF

Expression of stem cell markers in meningioma among Sudanese patients

To characterize the RNA (cDNA) of CD 44, CD 73 and CD 105 genes as stem cell markers in meningioma among Sudanese patients and to correlate the PCR findings of CD 44, CD 73 and CD 105 genes with meningioma histological variant

Production of insulin producing cells from cord blood mesenchymal stem cells and their potential in cell therapy

Introduction: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were described as adherent cells with a fibroblast-like appearance, have a great capacity for self-renewal while maintaining their multipotency and differentiation into multiple tissues in vivo and in vitro. Methods: MSCs were isolated from cord blood of Sudanese donors using Ficoll-Hypaque gradient density protocol, and differentiate into β- like cells using 3-step protocol. STZ induced diabetic rats were injected intraperitoneally with the differentiated islet β- like cells and blood glucose levels were monitored for seven days. Results: The adherent cell appeared round and sphere after one-week of incubation, and the fibroblast-like colony was strongly attached after three weeks of seeding. The phenotyping of cells showed positivity for CD13, and negativity for CD34, CD45 and HLADR. MSCs were induced into islet-like cells using a 3-step (15-days) protocol. The differentiated cells showed positive diathizone stain and positive imuno-reactivity to anti-human insulin antibody. Secretion of insulin by insulin-producing cells showed positive result with >3.4 u/ml scale reading in high glucose concentration medium. After one-week of transplantation the level of blood glucose was reduced from 410 to 225 mg/dl in the experimental rat. Conclusion: Human UCB-MSCs can be differentiated into insulin-secreting cells invitro, and are able to produce and secrete insulin in response to high glucose concentration in vivo and in vitro. Keywords: Cord blood, Mesenchymal stem cell, islets β-like cell

Corona Viruses and Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) alleles

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is consisted of cluster of genes known as human leukocyte antigen HLA, these genes are committed to process and present antigens to T lymphocyte. Corona viruses, belonging to a genus of the corona viridae family, are enveloped viruses containing single stranded RNA 27-32 kb. This study was conducted to highlight some observations that may help other researcher for rapid research advances; the new corona virus genome sequence was obtained from Virus pathogen database, the spike protein (surface glycoprotein)  was aligned with   SPIKE_CVHSA Spike glycoprotein OS=Human SARS coronavirus OX=694009 GN=S PE=1 SV=1 which was retrieved from Uniprot data base Distribution of HLA alleles was obtained from allele frequencies database, IEDB server was used for MHC 1 prediction. The distribution of HLA-A alleles among population revealed that, the most common wasHLA-A*11:01. The affinity prediction of HLA-A*03:01(AAAYFVGYLK) and HLA-A*11:01(AAYFVGYLK) alleles to the spike peptide were positive.  The two positive predicted peptides for both 2 alleles showed mutation of K245Q, This mutation may affect the binding affinity of the protein peptides to HLA-A alleles. Keywords: HLA. MHC, alleles, Corona viruses, SARS, AP

Factor XIII Gene Polymorphisms among Sudanese Patients with Intracerebral Hemorrhage, Khartoum State 2022

Background: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a sudden bleeding into the tissues of the brain, into its ventricles, or into both. It is the second most common subtype of stroke and is a critical disease usually leading to severe disability or death. Material and method: This study was a cross sectional hospital-based study, conducted at the research laboratory of the national center of neurological sciences (NCNS), Khartoum, Sudan during the period June 2022 to August 2022.It included all patients attended with intracerebral hemorrhage. DNA extraction was done from blood of all patients and control. PCR for factor XIII gene was carried out and thus Sanger sequencing to both cases and controls. Results: The PCR results showed; 100% samples were positive for factor XIII gene.Sequencing result showed the detection of threepolymorphisms in factor XIII gene (G>T, A>G and C>T) . Conclusion: The detected factor XIII gene polymorphisms (G>T, A>G and C>T) might be associated with intercereberal hemorrhage among Sudanese patients. Keywords: Factor XIII, gene, polymorphism, hemorrhage, stroke, cerebrovascula