فهرست مطالب آرمان قربانی

Fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) is a potent activator of glucose uptake associated with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and obesity. The aim of this study was to assess relationships between the anthropometric parameters, body composition, and FGF-21 gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in healthy young adults.

This cross-sectional analytical study included 30 healthy young adults from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, 1401. The FGF-21 gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction technique. Body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Linear regression was used to assess relationships of anthropometric and body composition parameters with the gene expression.

The median (interquartile range) age and body mass indices of the participants were 22 (21–26) years and 23.3 (21.25–3.6) kg/m2, respectively. Significant inverse relationships were detected between FGF-21 ΔCT in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and body mass index (β = -0.516), waist-to-hip ratio (β = -0.477), total fat mass (β = -0.412) and visceral fat (β = -0.514) (p < 0.05). This indicated that higher values of these variables were associated to the increased FGF-21 gene expression. No significant relationships were observed between the muscle mass and FGF-21 gene expression.

Results of this study demonstrated significant positive associations between the FGF-21 gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the body composition, waist-to-hip ratio, fat mass and visceral fat in healthy young individuals. Further studies are warranted to verify alignment of FGF-21 gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, as easily accessible human cells, with serum levels.

such as the process of cellular respiration, which is scavenged by enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems. Intake of antioxidants from food sources has always been considered in nutrition research. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate antioxidant effects of crocin on the expression profile of genes involved in the enzymatic antioxidant systems in muscle cells.

After culturing and several passages, C2C12 muscle cells were differentiated into myotube cells and treated with various concentrations of crocin (10, 25, 50 and 100 μM) for 24 h. Gene expression of antioxidant enzymes (SOD1, SOD2, Gpx1 and catalase) was assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Crocin significantly decreased expression of SOD2, Gpx1 and catalase genes (p <0.05) with no effects on expression of SOD1 gene.

Findings of this study showed that receiving exogenous antioxidants such as crocin could possibly decrease needs of expression of enzymatic antioxidant genes through strengthening non-enzymatic antioxidant defense systems. However, further studies are needed to verify the results.

Embryonic cancers are very rare. However, the exact components preventing cancer development or progression in embryonic microenvironment are largely unknown. On the other hand, cancer stem cells with characteristics similar to embryonic stem cells are involved in cancer progression and resistance to treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of unfertilized egg white, as an embryonic microenvironment model, on proliferation, self-renewal, stemness and migration of SW480 colon cancer cells and 5-fluorouracil (5FU) resistant subgroup.

In brief, SW480 and 5FU-SW480 cells were exposed to 10% (v/v) egg white. To assess viability, self-renewal and stemness characteristics and migratory capacity of the colon cancer cells, MTT, flow PI staining and flow cytometry, colony formation, spheroid and wound healing assays were used, respectively. Furthermore, expression levels of c-Myc, Nanog, Ndrg1 and E-cadherin genes were quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Findings showed that 10% volume of unfertilized egg white significantly decreased cell survival, inhibited cell cycle in G0/G1, decreased colony formation and sphere formation and inhibited migration ability in the two cell groups, compared to the control. Moreover, expression of c-Myc and Nanog decreased while expression of Ndrg1 and E-cadherin increased in SW480 cells. However, c-Myc gene expression increased in 5FU-SW480 with decreases in expression of Nanog and Ndrg1.

It seems that unfertilized egg white includes various mechanisms to control cancer development and progression. Further studies are needed to identify actual components affecting stemness and invasiveness of tumor cells, specifically cancer stem cells.