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Gene therapy of glioblastoma multiforme is based on direct introduction of gene[s] to achieve anti-tumor effects and four types of it are examined: [A] suicide gene therapy; [B] immunomodulatory gene therapy; [C] tumor-suppressor gene therapy and [D] oncolytic gene therapy. Now, viral and nonviral vectors, tumor-tropic cell carriers with therapeutic gene[s] expression ability, and "intelligent" carriers, increase delivery, specificity, and toxicity against GBM. In this review, by using dozens of valid and updated academic papers and personal experiences of gene therapy methods and delivery systems relevant in glioblastoma, and its prospects are discussed. Also interesting prospective clinical trials of gene therapy for glioblastoma are mentioned
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ABSTRACT This work aimed to determine whether seropositivity to Helicobacter pylori infection was an independent risk factor for hyperhomocysteinemia patients with cardiovascular disease. The H. pylori IgG, IgA and homocystein levels in 96 patients with cardiovascular disease and 64 participants free of cardiovascular disease as control subjects were determined by ELISA assay. The results showed that seropositivity to H. pylori IgG and IgA levels of coronary artery disease (CAD)patients was significantly higher than the controls and CAD patients with H. pylori IgG and IgA negative antibodies. A significant correlation was found between the seropositivity to H. pylori IgG and homocysteine levels of CAD patients in comparison with the controls and CAD patients with seronegativity to H. pylori IgG and IgA (r=0.233, P= 0.019 ). The involvement of H. pylori infection in atherosclerosis process was based on the chronic inflammation, which might facilitate the CAD-related pathologies. The effect of the presence of H. pylori infection on homocysteine levels elevation in the CAD patients (as a risk factor independent of other traditional factors) was remarkable.
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Objective: vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] and VEGF receptors [VEGFRs] play important roles in angiogenesis of different developmental mechanisms such as wound healing, embryogenesis and diseases, including different types of cancer. VEGFR2 is associated with cell proliferation, migration, and vascular permeability of endothelial cells. Blocking VEGF and its receptors is suggested as a therapeutic approach to prevent tumor growth. In this study, we aim to block VEGF signaling via small interfering RNA [siRNA] inhibition of VEGFR2
Materials and Methods: in this experimental study, we used the RNA interference [RNAi] mechanism to suppress expression of the VEGFR2 gene. We conducted the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide [MTT] assay, real-time polymerase chain reaction [PCR], Western blot, and flow cytometry analyses of VEGFR2 expression
Results: real-time PCR and Western blot results showed that VEGFR2 expression significantly downregulated. This suppression was followed by inhibition of cell proliferation, reduction of viability, and induction of apoptosis in the cancer cells
Conclusion: these findings suggest that VEGFR2 has a role in cell proliferation and tumor growth. Accordingly, it is suggested that VEGFR2 can be a therapeutic target for controlling tumor growth and proliferation
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The role of mesenchymal stem cell in cellular therapy is the subject of interest for many researchers. The differentiation potential of MSCs and abilities in modulations of the recipient's immune system makes them important cells in tissue regenerative studies. MSCs by releasing the proinflammatory cytokines play important role in immunomodulatory systems; however the signaling pathways for releasing of these mediators are not well understood. Glutathione has been shown to play a role in modulation of cytokines in hepatogenic differentiation. In the current study we aimed to investigate the effects of buthionine sulfoximine [BSO, inhibitor for glutathione synthesis] and N-acetylecystin [NAC, an inhibitor for ROS generation] on proinflammatory cytokines production in a hepatogenic differentiation model. BSO and NAC significantly decreased IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels at 14 days of differentiation, whereas, NAC decreased the levels of IL-8 at days 2 and 14 of differentiation. Moreover, intracellular glutathione level during the differentiation was depleted. Our current study suggests a novel role of GSH as an immunopharmacological regulatory molecule during hepatogenic differentiation. Finally, this information may shed some light on the understanding of MSCs responses in transplantation and cell therapy in diseases such as chronic hepatic diseases.
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome [IBS] is a functional gastrointestinal disorder, characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and altered bowel habits. This study was performed to investigate the important role of interleukin-12 [IL-12] in intestinal inflammation. For this study seventy one patients with IBS and 140 controls were investigated. The allele and genotype frequencies of IL-12 C[-1188]A were determined using polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers. The allele A was more common that the allele C in both groups of patients and controls. There was not any significant difference on IL-12 alleles and genotypes between patients and controls. The AA genotype was the most common genotypes, which was seen in 57.4% of the patients and 51.4% of the controls [p=0.53]. Although frequency of the CC genotype in the control group was lower than the patient group, this difference was not significant [5.7% vs. 11.5%, respectively, p=0.16]. Considering the lack of association between IL-12 C[-1188]A polymorphism and IBS, this cytokine gene polymorphism may not have significant role in the pathophysiology of disease
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Humans , Male , Female , Polymorphism, Genetic , Interleukin-12 , Polymerase Chain ReactionABSTRACT
To determine correlation between rheumatoid arthritis and hearing loss a case control study with 101 patients and 101 controls was performed. The mean age of patients was 49.69 +/- 13.37 and 86.1% of them were female. Physical examination and audiometric tests were performed. The mean hearing threshold for patients was 21.5 +/- 10.2 and 11.8 +/- 5.2 for control groups [P=0.000]. The prevalence of high frequency hearing loss was 3.05 times in cases group [32.2% versus 10.9%] [P=0.000] and the prevalence of low frequency hearing loss was 9.4% in cases group [9.4% versus 0.0%] [P=0.000]. In spite of no clinical complains of hearing loss, it is frequent in Rheumatoid arthritis, and we recommend evaluation of the patients in this respect