No abstract

The Effect of Dracocephalum kotschyi Alcoholic Extract on the BCL2 and BAX Expression in SKBR3 Cell Line Background: Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy among females worldwide, and its incidence is growing among Iranian women. Also, Iranian patients with breast cancer are younger than their Western counterparts. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of Dracocephalum kotschyi alcoholic extract on cell proliferation and viability, as well as the expression level of BCL2 and BAX genes in breast cancer cell lines. Dracocephalum kotschyi belongs to the Labiatae family, a wildflower that has long been used in Iranian traditional medicine. Materials and Methods: In this experimental research, the SKBR3 cell line was selected for treatment with the Dracocephalum kotschyi alcoholic extract. Cell proliferation and cell viability were evaluated in the presence of different concentrations of the Dracocephalum kotschyi alcoholic extract (10, 50, 100, and 500 µg/mL) using MTT-method. Additionally, the impact of the Dracocephalum kotschyi alcoholic extract on the expression of BCL2 and BAX genes was assessed using a quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction. Results: The obtained results indicated the anticancer characteristics of Dracocephalum kotschyi alcoholic extract (10, 50, 100, and 500 µg/mL) on cell proliferation and cell viability. In the presence of Dracocephalum kotschyi alcoholic extract, the half-maximal inhibitory concentration value of SKBR3 cells was 102.1 at 24 h. Moreover, Dracocephalum kotschyi alcoholic extract decreased the expression of BCL2 and increased the expression of BAX. Conclusion: Dracocephalum kotschyi holds promises for designing anticancer medicines and investigations on breast cancer.

Background: Prostate cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among men all over the world. Over the past 10 years, prostate cancer prevalence has increased in Iran. Growth factors have an important role in the regulation and growth of malignant and normal prostate cells. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation is to examine the association of the expression profile of IGF1, EGF, and FGF2 with prostate cancer in an Iranian male population. Materials and Methods:In this investigation, the quantitative real-time RT-PCR technique was applied to evaluate the expression profiles of IGF, EGF, and FGF2 in the peripheral blood samples of 40 patients with prostate cancer and 40 healthy individuals. Moreover, the relative expressions of IGF1, EGF, and FGF2 in various stages of disease were evaluated.Results: Our obtained data indicated a significant increase in the expression of EGF and FGF2 in patients with prostate cancer compared with the healthy subjects (P=0.02 and P=0.009, respectively). In contrast, the expression level of IGF1 was not significantly different between the patients and controls (P=0.052), but the expression level of IGF1 was lower in the patients' group. Additionally, it has been observed that IGF1, EGF, and FGF2 expression were directly associated with the stage of disease. Conclusion:Our results suggest that EGF and FGF2 probably have important role in prostate cancer and were consistent with what had previously been reported. On the other hand, our data revealed no association between the expression of IGF1 and prostate cancer in the population studied.

Background and Aims: Previous investigations have revealed that microRNAs (miRNAs) can function as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and that the expression of miRNAs, such as miR-485-3p changes in several illnesses. This study was designed to determine the expression level of miR-485-3p and its target FOXD3 in CLL patients and controls to identify if this miRNA has the potential to be considered as a biomarker in CLL. Materials and Methods: A total of 35 CLL patients and the same number of controls were recruited. Following total RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, quantitative analysis was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the SYBR Green PCR Master Mix to determine the expression level of miR-485-3p and its target. Moreover, in silico molecular enrichment analysis was conducted on targetome of miR485-3p. Results: It was observed that the expression level of miR-485-3p was upregulated in CLL patients compared with controls (p<0.009). However, the expression profile of miR-485-3p’s target (FOXD3) was significantly downregulated in patients in comparison with the control group (p<0.02). Conclusions: Based on the results, miR-485-3p could be a novel biomarker to diagnose CLL and to design novel CLL control strategies by targeting FOXD3.

Background and Aims: Multiple sclerosis (MS) has been assumed to be a Complex and indecipherable disease, and poorly understood with regard to etiology which is characterized by relapses and remissions. The expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) is known to be associated with the regulation of immune responses. Recently, investigations have reported that miRNA expression profiles in blood cells become changed in MS. The aim of this study was to elucidate the alterations in the expression of circulating miR377 and miR-98 in 60 relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients in comparison with controls. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method to explore the expression of circulating miR-377 and miR-98 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 60 RRMS patients, 30 of whom were recurring patients, 30 were two months after relapse patients, and 30 others were controls, in order to examine the association of expression level of these miRNAs with RRMS. Results: Results indicated that the expression of miR-377 significantly increases in recurring patients and two months after relapse patients in comparison with controls (p=0.0017 and p=0.0001, respectively). However, miR-98 demonstrated down regulation in recurring patients and two months after relapse patients (p=0.0002 and p=0.0001, respectively). Conclusions: It can be concluded that miR-377 and miR-98 may be prospective biomarkers with the potential use for diagnosis of RRMS patients in the future investigations.