Jentashapir Journal of Cellular and Molecular Biology
Volume:12 Issue: 2, Jun 2021

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world, which has been diagnosed as the third most common cancer and the third leading cause of death. This cancer before the age of 50 is uncommon, and its prognosis is controversial, with many studies reporting a worse prognosis than in older patients and others showing no difference. In addition to factors, including diet, environmental factors, somatic and hereditary mutations, genetic factors, including altered expression of some microRNAs and mutations in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) gene, may be involved in this cancer.

This study aimed to investigate the rs2910164 polymorphism from the miRNA146a gene and its association with the expression of TNF-α gene in CRC before and after the age of 50 for early diagnosis and treatment.

In this study, 65 samples of cancerous lesions (37 cases over 50 years were considered the case group and 28 cases under 50 years were considered the control group) was collected from in an Iranian population. DNA was extracted from the samples, and rs2910164 polymorphism of the miRNA146a gene was investigated by PCR. Moreover, RNA was extracted from the samples, and the expression of the miRNA146a and TNF-α genes were evaluated. Finally, for data analysis, Epi Info software version 7.1.3.10 and MedCalc Version 19.2.0 were used.

The frequency of GG, GC, and CC genotypes from rs2910164 polymorphism of miRNA146a gene in the control group was 0.29, 0.46, and 0.25, respectively, but in the case group it was 0.54, 0.38, and 0.08, respectively. The results also showed that the expression of miRNA146a (P = 0.00006) and TNF-α (P = 0.009) genes was higher in the case group than the control group.

Based on the results of this study, a significant correlation was found between GG genotype and rs2910164 polymorphism of miRNA146a gene and TNF-α gene expression in the CRC samples. Therefore, investigation of these factors may be helpful in patients over 50 years with CRC.

This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition and anticancer activity of Hamadan propolis essential oil and methanolic extract on HCT116 cell line. The anticancer activity of propolis methanolic extract and essential oil was evaluated by using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide) test on the colorectal HCT116 cell line. The essential oil of Hamadan propolis was analyzed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The total flavonoid and phenolic content of methanolic extract were assessed using the aluminum chloride colorimetric procedures and Folin-Ciocalteu (F-C) assay, respectively. The results of MTT assay confirmed the anticancer properties of Hamadan propolis essential oil and methanolic extract on the HCT116 cell line. Moreover, 30 compounds were characterized from Hamadan propolis essential oil, the main compounds of which included β-udesmol (25.7%), α-udesmol (20.4%), α-copaen-11-ol (13.7%), and γ-udesmol (10.1%). In addition, the total flavonoid content and total phenolic content of the methanolic extract were 14.12 mg/g and 32.01 mg/g dry weight, respectively. In summary, the most important constituents of Hamadan propolis essential oil were β-u desmol, α-eudesmol, α-copaen, and γ-u desmol. Despite the cytotoxic effects of Hamadan propolis methanolic extract and essential oil on HCT116, further evaluation of anticancer effects of the most important constituents of propolis methanolic extract and essential oil is recommended.

Metastasis spreading confers a worse prognosis to the clinical outcome among patients suffering from osteosarcoma, the most common primary bone tumor in childhood and adolescence. The detection of molecules involved in metastasis spreading might contribute to understanding tumor dissemination mechanisms, thereby opening the way to novel therapeutic strategies. The Ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) family proteins are activated after interacting with molecules belonging to the phosphoinositide signal transduction pathway. The phosphatydil inositol (4,5) bisphosphate (PIP2), a crucial molecule in the PI pathway, stabilizes the ERM proteins or a more efficient receptor binding. The PIP2 levels in the pathway are a critical element for regulating several cell events. The PIP2 levels are regulated using enzymes, including the PI-specific Phospholipase C family. A decrease in the PIP2 levels induces the dissociation of the ERM protein from the membrane. In this regard, the PI-PLC enzymes regulate this event. In this paper, the role of the PI signal transduction molecules in osteosarcoma metastases is discussed.

 For years, scientists have been striving to identify compounds to improve the characteristics and functions of cells for therapeutic applications.

 This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the aqueous decoction of the internal septum of the walnut kernel (DISWK) on the survival, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and cell cycle of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (rBM-MSCs). We also evaluated the expression of genes involved in pancreatic insulin-producing β-cell (IPCs) commitment and glucose uptake in MSCs-derived IPCs.

 The rBM-MSCs were isolated, and then the cytotoxic and antioxidant effects of DISWK on the cells were examined by the MTT and TAC assays, respectively. Moreover, the influence of DISWK on the rBM-MSCs cell cycle was evaluated by PI-staining and flow-cytometry analysis. Next, the rBM-MSCs were transdifferentiated into IPCs treated with DISWK. Finally, Ins1/2, Insr, Glut1, Glut4, and Pdx1 genes expression was investigated in the DISWK-treated IPCs by qRT-PCR.

 The results indicated that DISWK significantly reduced the viability of rBM-MSCs in a dose- and time-dependent manner and decreased their TAC in long-term cultures. Moreover, it suppressed the rBM-MSCs cell cycle at S and G2 phases. The gene expression analysis showed that DISWK significantly upregulated Ins1/2, Insr, and Glut1 genes and downregulated Pdx1 gene in the rBM-MSCs-derived IPCs.

 Decoction of the internal septum of walnut kernel suppresses the MSCs cell cycle and may prevent IPCs development via inhibiting Pdx1. It may also help glucose uptake by upregulating Ins1/2, Insr, and Glut1 genes expression in MSCs-derived IPCs.

 BRAF-V600E is a known prognostic/predictive marker in colorectal cancer (CRC), detected in 4 - 12% of all patients with this cancer. Familial-CRC-type-X (FCCX) is a subtype of mismatch-repair (MMR) proficient CRC with an unknown genetic cause.

 Given the lack of enough information on the molecular aspects of FCCX among Iranians, this study was conducted to evaluate the BRAF-V600E hot-spot mutation in tumor DNA in FCCX probands in Central Iran.

 This was a cross-sectional study in which 48 FCCX probands were recruited according to Amsterdam-II criteria, and MMR proficiency was confirmed by MSI testing and IHC-MMRs. Tumors’ DNA samples were assessed for the BRAF-V600E mutation by Sanger-sequencing.

 None of the 48 assessed FCCX probands presented the BRAF-V600E mutation.

 It can be suggested that FCCX tumors have a good prognosis compared to other CRCs.

 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may lead to the infertility of men.

 This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 infection on sperm parameters and reproductive hormones in fertile men.

 A total of 100 males were selected and divided into two groups: (1) patients in convalescence (patients suffering from COVID-19 infection in pharyngeal swab in accordance with reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] or antibodies); (2) negative control group (without antibodies). Semen and blood samples were gathered from all subjects. In the native semen, immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG antibodies in the blood were confirmed, and COVID-19 was detected via RT-PCR. To this end, based on the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, semen analysis, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and sperm DNA integrity were assessed.

 Results demonstrated that sperm concentration, motility, sperm viability, and TAC significantly reduced in fertile males with virus infection. In comparison with the control group, sperm DNA integrity was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Data indicated that the semen volume was not significantly correlated with COVID-19, and there was a significantly negative correlation between sperm concentration, sperm total motility, sperm vitality, sperm normal forms, and TAC with COVID-19. Sperm DNA fragmentation index had a significant and positive correlation with COVID-19 (P < 0.05). In addition, reproductive hormones significantly reduced in fertile males with COVID-19 infection (P < 0.05).

 COVID-19 infection has a negative influence on sperm parameters and reproductive hormones in fertile males.

GATA-binding protein 4 (GATA4) can regulate vital genes, such as troponin C, and play an important role in cardiac formation and immune response maturation.

In this study, GATA4 gene expression was evaluated in two groups of ventricular septal defect (VSD) patients with pneumonia and healthy cases.

This case-control study evaluated GATA4 gene expression by real-time polymerase chain reaction in 80 participants and statically estimated the association between GATA4 expression and immunologic markers, such as immunoglobulin M, immunoglobulin A, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, white blood cell neutrophil, lymphocyte, and number of abortions in mothers of VSD patients with pneumonia.

According to the results, there was a significant relationship between mean birth weight and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio with GATA4 gene expression in the case group (P < 0.05).

It can be concluded that GATA4 gene expression, especially in patients with VSD, can indicate their susceptibility to pneumonia

Gastric and colorectal adenocarcinomas are the second and fifth most common cancers in Iran, respectively. Prognostic factors help with the better management of patients.

The current study aimed to evaluate Cytokeratin 7 (CK7) expression in gastric and colorectal adenocarcinomas and its correlation with other prognostic factors.

This cross-sectional study was performed on 75 tissue blocks from patients with gastric or colorectal adenocarcinomas. Tumor grade, tumor size, depth of invasion, and metastasis to lymph nodes were determined. Then, CK7 expression was studied using immunohistochemistry staining. The presence of CK7 was scored under high power (400x) in 1000 tumor cells, and the percentage of positive immunostaining (5%) was determined.

The mean age values of the patients were 62.11±14.13 and 55.23±14.14 years in gastric cancer and colorectal cancer groups. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean tumor size between the two groups (P = 0.678). The findings of the present study showed that in 19 cases (67.9%) of gastric cancer samples, 6 cases (42.9%) of rectal samples, and 14 cases (42.4%) of colon samples were positive for CK7. The expression of positive cytokeratin was higher than that of the rectum and colon, which was statistically significant (P = 0.034). Furthermore, there was no statistically significant relationship between the type of differentiation and lymph node involvement with cytokeratin expression in both gastric and colorectal cancers (P > 0.05). In terms of perineural involvement, there was no statistically significant relationship with both gastric and colorectal cancers (P > 0.05).

The present study showed no association between CK7 expression and prognostic factors in colon and gastric adenocarcinomas. Given these findings and several studies in this field, it is required to perform further studies with a larger sample size to determine the exact prognostic role of this factor