Differential expression of progesterone receptor isoforms related to PGR +331g/a polymorphism in endometriosis: A case-control study

Background: Endometriosis are defined as a progesterone-resistance disease. Two progesterone receptor (PR) isoforms, namely PR-A and PR-B, mediate the special effects of progesterone. One of the most effective polymorphism in the promoter region of PGR is the +331G/A.Objective: The differential expression level of PR isoforms due to +331G/A polymorphism may be able to influence the function of progesterone and reduce the susceptibility of endometriosis.Materials and Methods: This analytic, case-control study was carried out at Royan Institute, Tehran, Iran. Whole-blood samples were collected from 98 infertile women undergoing laparoscopy for endometriosis and 102 healthy fertile women. After DNA extraction, genotype frequencies were determined by polymerase chain reactionrestriction fragment length polymorphism. Then, RNA was extracted from the selectedeutopic tissue samples of endometriosis patients. Analysis of PR-A and PR-B mRNA expressions were performed using Real-time polymerase chain reaction.Results: The frequency distribution of GG, GA genotypes in +331G/A polymorphism was 98.04%, 1.96% in the patients and 97.96%, 2.04% in the control groups, respectively (p = 0.968). Although our data did not show any significant association with +331G/A in the patient and control groups, we were able to demonstrate significantly higher expression level of PR-B and no significant lower expression level of PR-A isoforms in patients by favoring GA to GG genotypes (p = 0.017, p = 0.731, respectively).Conclusion: Our findings show that patients with GA genotypes had a higher expression level of PR-B compared to patients with GG genotypes

Novel +90G>A Intronic Polymorphism of CYP2D6

Objective: CYP2D6, an enzyme, metabolizes a large number of commonly prescribed drugs. Variations in CYP2D6 gene encoding this enzyme have been associated with individual differences in drug metabolism rates. The purpose of our study was to identify some allelic variants of CYP2D6 gene and to detect defective CYP2D6 alleles, as part of a pharmacogenetic screening program. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was done on 120 participants referred to Royan Institute in 2013. Allele and genotype frequencies for polymorphism of CYP2D6 gene in exons 1 and 4 were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis and sequencing on PCR products, respectively. Results: We identified a novel variant of the gene encoding cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) at position +90 of intron 4 by sequencing method. This novel polymorphism of CYP2D6 has been deposited in GeneBank® under the accession number KF225465 in Jun 2013. Conclusion: In the current study, we identified novel polymorphism in intron 4. This single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is known as +90G>A in the fourth intron

Expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor A, mucin-1, colony-stimulating factor-1, heparinbinding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor, and fibroblast growth factor 2 genes in the female reproductive tracts of women with ectopic pregnancy

Full Title: Expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor A, mucin-1, colony-stimulating factor-1, heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor, and fibroblast growth factor 2 genes in the female reproductive tracts of women with ectopic pregnancy: A case-control study Background: Ectopic pregnancy (EP) is defined as embryo implantation in a location other than the uterine cavity. Objective: We aimed to evaluate the expression of several genes, which may play a role in EP, in the ampulla region of fallopian tubes and endometrial tissue of women with EP. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 5 women who underwent salpingectomy due to EP, comprised the 5 pseudo-pregnant women as a control group. These participants referred to the Royan Institute, Shariati, and Arash hospital, Tehran, Iran during 2019-2021. We evaluated the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor A, mucin-1, colony-stimulating factor-1, heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HBEGF), and fibroblast growth factor 2 genes in the fallopian tube and endometrium of EP cases by real-time polymerase chain reaction using specific primers. Results: The vascular endothelial growth factor expression was significantly higher in the ampulla region of the controls. However, no significant differences were observed in endometrial tissue. Assessments of colony-stimulating factor-1 and fibroblast growth factor 2 showed no significant differences between the case and control groups. HBEGF showed significantly higher expression in the ampulla region of EP cases, but no significant difference was observed in HBEGF expression in the endometrial tissues of the study groups. Mucin-1 expression was significantly higher in both study regions of the EP cases. Conclusion: Our results have strongly suggested that these genes play important roles in proper implantation, and disruptions in their expression patterns could lead to EP. However, more studies are needed to confirm the current findings. Key words: Ectopic pregnancy, Gene expression, Vascular endothelial growth factor A, Mucin-1, Colony-stimulating factor-1, Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor, Fibroblast growth factor 2

Increased expression of stemness genes Rex-1, Oct-4, Nanog, and Sox-2 in women with ovarian endometriosis versus normal endometrium: A case-control study

Background: Endometriosis is a common, chronic inflammatory disease which is defined as an overgrowth of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. The etiology of this disease is complex and multifactorial but there is a strong evidence that supports the presence of endometrial stem cells and their possible involvement in endometriosis. Objective: In this study, we analyzed the mRNA expression of REX-1 stemness gene and reconsidered three other stemness genes SOX-2, NANOG, OCT-4 in women with endometriosis compared to normal endometrium. Materials and Methods: Ten ectopic and ten eutopic tissue samples along with 23 normal endometrium specimens were recruited in this study. The expression levels of OCT-4, NANOG, SOX-2, and REX-1 genes were evaluated by the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The transcription levels of OCT-4, NANOG, and SOX-2 mRNA were significantly increased in ectopic lesions compared with eutopic and control group (p = 0.041, p = 0.035, p = 0.048), although the REX-1 mRNA increase was not significant between endometriosis and control groups. Also, there were differences in the expression level of these genes in normal endometrium during the menstrual cycles (p = 0.031, p = 0.047, p = 0.031). Conclusion: Based on our data, we confirm the dynamic role of stemness genes in proliferation and growth of normal endometrium during the menstrual cycle and conclude that differential expression n levels of these genes may contribute to the pathophysiology of endometriosis. Key words: Endometriosis, Stemness genes

Optimization of cyclophosphamide therapy based on pharmacogenetics

Cyclophosphamide (CPA) is one of the most broadly used anticancer agents. CPA is also a potent immunosuppressive agent that is used for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. CPA is a prodrug that is activated in liver by a 4-hydroxylation reaction catalyzed by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. The main enzyme in its activation is CYP2B6 that has a polymorphic gene. Several studies have reported high degree of inter- and intraindividual variation in CPA pharmacokinetics. The aim of this thesis was to increase the knowledge about the role of specific CYPS in CPA bioactivation, to determine the effect of dose and administration schedule on the CYP induction by CPA and to study drug-drug interaction between CPA and ciprofloxacin, in order to individualize and optimize CPA treatment. In rats treated with single dose CPA (i.v.), the CYP2B1 and CYP2B2 mRNAs and the proteins CYP2B1/2 were significantly induced. Microsomal activity of CYP2B was significantly increased as well. The maximum levels of mRNA, proteins and microsomal activity were reached at 4-8 hours after the dose. The induction in mRNA, protien and the enzyme activity were dose dependent. These results demonstrate that CPA has a high inducing effect on CYP2B1 and 2B2 in rat. In multiple dose schedule of CPA when the animals were treated with four low doses (75 mg/kg) in short intervals (6 h), we observed high induction in CYP2B1 mRNA and protein over the 24 hours. Using the same administration schedule but high doses of CPA (150 mg/kg), a decrease in CYP2B1 mRNA and protein levels were observed after the second injection which might be due to toxicity and/or down-regulation caused by CPA and/or CPA metabolites. The role of the polymorphic human CYP2B6 in CPA bioactivation using cDNAs expressed wild type (allele*l) and 3 different mutations of enzyme (alleles *4 and *6, and mutation G516T) was investigated. All three mutations have,Iess activity for the hydroxylation of CPA compared to CYP2116* 1 (wild type). Ciprofloxacin altered CPA pharmacokinetics in patients with NHI, that were treated with standard CHOP. A decrease in the exposure to drug as expressed as AUC of 4-hydroxyCPA/AUC of CPA was observed in all patients, which might influence CPA therapeutic efficacy. In conclusion, the present results show the importance of dosing regimes, administration intervals, specific CYP alleles and drug-drug interaction in CPA bioactivation. Genotyping of the patients prior to the treatment with CPA and following the effect of the therapy on gene expression can be of a high clinical importance. Inherited combinations of CYPS can determine the clinical outcome, i.e. resistance to the drug, risk of toxicity or inefficient therapy. In cases where repeated treatment with cyclophosphamide can modify the gene expression, other treatment strategy should be introduced

Differential Incorporation of β-actin as A Component of RNA Polymerase II into Regulatory Regions of Stemness/Differentiation Genes in Retinoic Acid-Induced Differentiated Human Embryonic Carcinoma Cells

Objective Nuclear actin is involved in transcription regulation by recruitment of histone modifiers and chromatin remodelers to the regulatory regions of active genes. In recent years, further attention has been focused on the role of actin as a nuclear protein in transcriptional processes. In the current study, the epigenetic role of nuclear actin on transcription regulation of two stemness (OCT4 and NANOG) and two differentiation) NESTIN and PAX6) marker genes was evaluated in a human embryonal carcinoma cell line (NT2) before and after differentiation induction. Materials and Methods In this experimental study, differentiation of embryonal cells was induced by retinoic acid (RA), and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to evaluate differential expression of marker genes before and 3 days after RA- induced differentiation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) coupled with real-time PCR was then undertaken to monitor the incorporation of β-actin, as a functional component of RNA polymerase II, in the regulatory regions of marker genes. Results Data showed significant change in nuclear actin incorporation into the promoter regions of NESTIN and PAX6 after RA-induction. Conclusion We emphasize the dynamic functional role of nuclear actin in differentiation of embryonal cells and its role as a subunit of RNA polymerase II

Cytochrome P450 Oxidoreductase Influences CYP2B6 Activity in Cyclophosphamide Bioactivation.

Cyclophosphamide is commonly used as an important component in conditioning prior to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, a curative treatment for several hematological diseases. Cyclophosphamide is a prodrug activated mainly by cytochrome P450 2B6 (CYP2B6) in the liver. A high degree of inter- and intra-individual variation in cyclophosphamide kinetics has been reported in several studies.Hydroxylation of cyclophosphamide was investigated in vitro using three microsomal batches of CYP2B6*1 with different ratios of POR/CYP expression levels. Twenty patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation were also included in the study. All patients received an i.v. infusion of cyclophosphamide (60 mg/kg/day, for two days) as a part of their conditioning. Blood samples were collected from each patient before cyclophosphamide infusion, 6 h after the first dose and before and 6 h after the second dose. POR gene expression was measured by mRNA analysis and the pharmacokinetics of cyclophosphamide and its active metabolite were determined.A strong correlation between the in vitro intrinsic clearance of cyclophosphamide and the POR/CYP ratio was found. The apparent Km for CYP2B6.1 was almost constant (3-4 mM), while the CLint values were proportional to the POR/CYP ratio (3-34 μL/min/nmol CYP). In patients, the average expression of the POR gene in blood was significantly (P <0.001) up-regulated after cyclophosphamide infusion, with high inter-individual variations and significant correlation with the concentration ratio of the active metabolite 4-hydroxy-cyclophosphamide/cyclophosphamide. Nine patients were carriers for POR*28; four patients had relatively high POR expression.This investigation shows for the first time that POR besides CYP2B6 can influence cyclophosphamide metabolism. Our results indicate that not only CYPs are important, but also POR expression and/or activity may influence cyclophosphamide bioactivation, affecting therapeutic efficacy and treatment related toxicity and hence on clinical outcome. Thus, both POR and CYP genotype and expression levels may have to be taken into account when personalizing treatment schedules to achieve optimal therapeutic drug plasma concentrations of cyclophosphamide