ABSTRACT
MicroRNAs are endogenous non-coding RNAs with important regulatory and cell fate functions. Many studies have shown that several microRNAs are obviously up-regulated during stem cell differentiation. The question rises here is weather inhibiting differentiation will affect the stemness and self renewal status of stem cells. mercury[TM] LNA microRNA inhibitor [anti-miR-145 and anti-let7g] are a sequence-specific and chemically modified oligonucleotide that specifically target and knockdown miR-145 and let7g miRNA molecules. Unrestricted somatic stem cells [USSCs] were isolated from umbilical cord blood and treated with LNAs. The effect of anti-miRNA transfection was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. Real-time PCR showed that LNA was efficiently introduced into the cells and reduced miR145 and Let7g expression levels to 40% and 10% in relation to corresponding scramble control, respectively. Gene expression analysis as to self renewal and expansion showed more than 3.5 fold up regulation in Oct4 in cells treated with mir145 inhibition. Similarly a significant up to 2.5 fold up-regulation in Oct4 and cMyc expression was observed in samples treated with anti-let7g. Suppression in differentiation inducing microRNAs [miR-145 and let7g] can enhance the self renewal and stemness status of USSCs at transcriptional level
ABSTRACT
Trace elements play an important role in a number of biological processes. Astaxanthin [ASX], a carotoid pigment found in certain marine plant and animals, has shown anti cancer and anti free radical properties. This work intended to understand the effect of Astaxanthin in breast cancer [invasive ductal carcinoma, IDC] by using micro-pixe method. For this aim the concentration of trace elements were compared in healthy, cancerous and cancer treated with astaxanthin in the breast and liver tissues of breast cancer bearing mice, using proton induced X-ray emission [PIXE]. Proton induced X-ray emission [PIXE] was used in a study intending to compare the concentration of trace elements in breast and liver tissues of mice bearing tumor, three groups of mice: healthy, cancerous, and cancerous treated by astaxanthin, were considered. Astaxanthin was supplied from Research Institute of women, Alzahra University. Comparing the untreated tumor tissue, treatment with Astaxanthin significantly decreased the amount Fe, P, S, and Ca elements level in tumor tissue of the breast cancer. It is also found that the concentrations of those elements in liver of the untreated mice and the liver of treated mice with astaxanthin were fairly equal. Astaxanthin significantly decrease the accumulation of elements in the site of tumor, and caused the breast cancer cell membrane to lose their desire to collect the elements from healthy tissues. The micro-pixe technique could calculate elemental concentrations in tissues. Changes in metallic elements may affect microenvironment and cell functions, which might led lead to cell degeneration or death, the results shows that astaxanthin reduces vital element concentration in tumor site, thus it could be used as an anti tumor agent