ABSTRACT
Background: Coronary artery disease [CAD] is the most frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in the world and it is known as a multifactorial disorder which is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Based on different assays, the platelet derived growth factor B [PDGF-B] gene is shown to be amongst the inflammation inducers involved in different pathological conditions such as atherosclerosis
Aim: In this case-control study we have examined the association of the functional PDGF-B +286 and +1135 polymorphisms and its expression status with susceptibility to CAD
Subjects and methods: Study groups included 369 patients with CAD and 413 healthy individuals. Genotypic and allelic frequencies of PDGF-B +286 and +1135 polymorphisms were determined by the SSP-PCR method. PDGF-B expression status was identified by quantitative real-time PCR
Results: The analysis of genotyping results revealed CAD patients had an increased frequency of PDGF-B +286A>G A/A genotype in comparison with healthy individuals. Furthermore, we found that the PDGF-B expression level in CAD patients group is nearly 2-folds greater than its level in control group
Conclusion: There is probably a relationship between variations in PDGF-B gene and CAD influence. The increase in PDGF-B gene expression may has a role in susceptibility to CAD
ABSTRACT
Background: Preeclampsia is a condition associated with systemic disorders in the mother and the fetus. However, the exact causes of preeclampsia are unknown, but several genetics and environmental factors play role in development of this disease. Major histocompatibility complex role is very important during pregnancy through which the fetus is not rejected by mother's immune system
Objective: In this study, we investigated the relationship of the human leukocyte antigen [HLA]-DQA1*0102/HLA-DQB1*0602 polymorphism with preeclampsia
Materials and Methods: Genomic DNA of 181 pregnant women with a history of preeclampsia as the case group and 228 pregnant women with no history of preeclampsia as the controls were extracted. The HLA-DQA1*0102/HLA-DQB1*0602 polymorphisms of all DNA samples were identified by the SSP-PCR method. Frequencies difference of variables between case and control groups were calculated by Chi-square test. The ethnic origin of the participants in this study was extracted from their medical records
Results: There was a significant association between preeclampsia and Sistani ethnic group [p=0.031]. Moreover, there was a significant association between preeclampsia and frequencies of allele HLA-DQB1*0602 [p<0.001], and genotypes of heterozygote [+0102/-0602] [p<0.001] and negative homozygote [-0102/-0602] [p=0.005]. There also was an association between allele HLA-DQB1*0602 and preeclampsia in Fars ethnic group [p=0.028]
Conclusion: It seems that immune incompatibility may have an important role in preeclampsia predisposition. According to our results, the lack of locus HLA-DQB1*0602 may be a risk factor for preeclampsia
ABSTRACT
Ecstasy is one of the most popular amusing drugs among young people. Documents indicate some effects of Ecstasy on hippocampus and close relations between dopaminergic functions with reward learning. Therefore, the aim of this study was evaluation of the chronic effects of Ecstasy on memory in male Wistar rats and determination of dopamine receptors' gene expression in hippocampus. Forty adult male Wistar rats randomly distributed in five groups: Control, sham (received 1 ml/kg 0.9% saline) and three experimental groups were: Exp. 1 (2.5 mg/kg), Exp. 2 (5 mg/kg), and Exp. 3 (10 mg/kg) received MDMA intraperitoneally once every 7 days (3 times a day, 3 hours apart) for 4 weeks. Before the first injection animals trained in Shuttle Box memory and tested after the last injection. 24 hours after the final testing, brains of rats were dissected and hippocampus was removed and homogenized. After total RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, expression of dopamine receptor genes in the hippocampus determined with Real-Time PCR. Our results showed that 2.5 and 5 mg/kg MDMA-treated groups had memory impairment. Also we found that MDMA increased the mRNA expression of dopamine receptors in hippocampus and the highest increase found in dopamine D1 receptors in the 5 mg/kg experimental group. We concluded that low doses of Ecstasy could increase Dopamine takers gene expression in hippocampus and disorder avoidance memory. But in high doses the increase in Dopamine takers gene expression was not as much as that in low doses and avoidance memory disorder was not observed.
El éxtasis es una de las drogas de diversión más populares entre los jóvenes. La investigación reporta algunos de los efectos del éxtasis sobre el hipocampo y la relación entre las funciones dopaminérgicas con la recompensa en el aprendizaje. El objetivo de este estudio fue la evaluación de los efectos crónicos del éxtasis en la memoria de ratas macho Wistar y la determinación de la expresión de genes receptores de dopamina en el hipocampo. Cuarenta ratas macho adultas fueron distribuidas al azar en cinco grupos: grupo control, simulado (a 1 ml/kg 0,9% de solución salina) y tres grupos experimentales: Grupo exp. 1 (2,5 mg/kg), Exp. 2 (5 mg/kg), y Exp. 3 (10 mg/kg) recibió MDMA vía intraperitoneal cada 7 días (3 veces al día, con 3 horas de diferencia) durante 4 semanas. Antes de la primera inyección los animales fueron entrenados en memoria Shuttle Box y examinados después de la última inyección. Veinticuatro horas después de la prueba final, los cerebros de las ratas fueron diseccionados, el hipocampo fue separado y homogeneizado. Después de la extracción total de ARN y síntesis de ADNc, la expresión de genes de los receptores de dopamina en el hipocampo fue determinado con PCR en tiempo real. Nuestros resultados mostraron que los grupos de 2,5 kg y 5 mg/MDMA tratados tenían deterioro de la memoria. Además, encontramos que la MDMA aumentó la expresión de ARNm de los receptores de dopamina en el hipocampo y el aumento mayor se observó en los receptores D1 de dopamina en el 5 mg/kg Grupo experimental. En conclusión, las dosis bajas de éxtasis podrían aumentar tomadores de expresión génica de la dopamina en el hipocampo y trastornos de la memoria. Sin embargo, en dosis altas el aumento de la expresión génica no mostró un aumento significativo, a diferencia de los resultados con dosis bajas, tampoco se observaron trastornos disociativos de memoria.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Hippocampus , N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine/pharmacology , Receptors, Dopamine/drug effects , Receptors, Dopamine/genetics , Gene Expression , N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine/administration & dosage , Rats, Wistar , Real-Time Polymerase Chain ReactionABSTRACT
Human insulin-like growth factor type 1 [hIGF-1] is a protein consisting of 70 amino acids [MW=7.6 kDa] and mainly synthesized by liver. Mecasermin [Trade name INCRELEX] is the synthetic form of the protein which is used as an effective treatment for particular disorders such as short stature, type 1 and 2 diabetes, and wound healing. Current study was aimed to investigate the expression of human insulin-like growth factor type1 in Escherichia coli [E. coli] BL21 [DE3] expression system in order to produce an active recombinant form of the protein. For the purpose of the study, firstly codon optimization was done for hIGF-1 gene, using bioinformatics databases. Then, the gene was synthesized and inserted in pET-24a vector by a cutting strategy included NdeI and BamHI-HF enzymes. In the next step, gene was run in agarose gel and purified. The constructed expression cassette was transformed into E. coli BL21 [DE3] cells through CaCl2 heat shock method. Identification and confirmation of the transformed colonies were performed using screening PCR method. Synthesis of hIGF-1 was induced by IPTG. The expression in induced strains was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and western blotting techniques. Confirmation of cloning and IGF-1 expression cassette was carried out through genetic engineering procedures. Analysis of transformed E. coli strain with SDS-PAGE and western blotting techniques confirmed that gene was expressed in host cells. Molecular weight of the expressed protein was estimated to be 7.6 kDa. hIGF-1 expression cassette for cloning and expression in E. coli was de-signed and the protein of interest was successfully induced and identified. In addition, E. coli BL21 [DE3] can be used as a suitable host for production of recombinant hIGF-1 and this technology has a potential to be localized