Caveolin 3 gene and mitochondrial tRNA methionin gene in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

It was recently reported that Duchene muscular dystrophy [DMD] patients and mdx mice have elevated levels of caveolin-3 expression in their skeletal muscles. However, it remains unknown whether this increased caveolin-3 levels contribute to the pathogenesis of DMD. Also mitochondrial DNA mutation in the tRNA methionin [tRNA Met] gene has been shown to be associated with muscle weakness, severe exercise intolerance, lactic acidosis and growth retardation. Since DMD is X-linked maternally inherited disease, mitochondrial mutation in tRNA [Met] gene can be suspected to be the cause for the inefficient splicing of dystrophin gene during its expression and can be implicated as the cause of dystrophin inactive protein. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether mutations in caveolin gene leads to its increased expression and/or mutation in the tRNA [Met] gene can be associated with DMD pathogenesis. Expression of caveolin mRNA by RT-PCR and mutations in caveolin gene and tRNA [Met] gene were measured in 28 patients presented with DMD symptoms using the single strand conformation polymorphism assay [SSCP]. Results gave further proof to decreased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS] mRNA, which leads to increased expression in caveolin 3 mRNA in lymphocytes of DMD patients compared to controls. However using SSCP, there was no evidence for tRNA [Met] gene mutation among DMD patients and only one patient presented a mutation in the caveolin gene compared to controls. There is an inverse relation between iNOS and Caveolin 3 in lymphocytes of DMD patients compared to controls. However, Caveolin 3 gene mutation is excluded as the main cause of increased caveolin gene expression. Also, there was no evidence for tRNA [Met] gene mutation among DMD patients

Effect of He: Ne laser on neutrophils phagocytic activity

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects exerted by He:Ne laser [632.8 nm] low level laser irradiation [LLLI] on neutrophil activity in response to op sonized zymosan. Human buffy coat leukocytes primed with opsonized zymosan were exposed to 10 mw He:Ne laser at energy densities of 1-5 J/cm[2]. Phagocytic activity was assessed by measuring percent of phagocytosis, H2O2 and nitric oxide [NO] generation together with neutrophil-associated nitric oxide synthetase activity [NOS] and Arginase I mRNA. LLLI stimulated neutrophil's phagocytic activity and free radicals generation. This effect was intensified, when neutrophils were dually stimulated by LLLI and opsonized zymosan within the dose range of 3-5 with maximum activity at 5 J/cm[2]

He: Ne laser irradiation induced survival and cell cycle progression effects on human circulating mononuclear cells in vitro

The biostimulation and therapeutic effects of low-power laser radiation of different wavelengths and light doses are well known, but the exact mechanism of action of the laser radiation with living cells is not yet understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether He:Ne laser irradiation induced mitogenic stimulation on human blood circulating mononuclear cells in vitro displays peculiar features of cell cycle regulation. Buffy-coat human leukocytes were irradiated with He-Ne [10 mW] at energy densities of 1, 2.5 and 5 J/cm[2] and cultured in medium 199 without any supplements in the absence and presence of phytohaemagglutinin for120 hours. Detailed analysis of viability percentage, telomerase activity and gene p53 mRNA expression was performed and compared with a similar analysis of phytohaemagglutinin stimulated and non-stimulated mononuclear cells. Results showed that laser induced telomerase activity in blood mononuclear cells throughout the five consecutive days post laser irradiation, reaching its highest level at 72 hours post laser irradiation and was significantly higher in PHA stimulated cells compared to laser irradiated cells, where 5 J/cm[2] displayed the highest activity. There were no changes in gene p53 mRNA expression at zero compared to 72 hours post laser irradiation. However, it was non-significantly higher in PHA stimulated cells compared to laser stimulated cells. Results threw some light over the mechanism encountered by lymphocytes in the process of He-Ne laser induced biostimulation