Fas cell surface death receptor/Fas ligand genetic variants in gastric cancer patients: A case-control study

Background & objectives: Various studies have suggested a correlation between Fas cell surface death receptor/Fas ligand (FAS/FASL) variants and multiple types of cancers. The present study aimed to investigate the association between FAS-670A/G and FASL-844C/T and the synergistic effects of both variants on the risk of gastric cancer (GC) in the Kurdish population of west of Iran. Methods: This study was conducted by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique using MvaI and BsrDI restriction enzymes in 98 GC patients and 103 healthy control individuals. Results: According to the obtained results, a significant association (P=0.008) of FASL polymorphism among GC patients and the control group was detected. Furthermore, no significant differences were found in the FAS polymorphism frequencies between GC patients and the control group. Codominant and dominant models in FASL polymorphism showed significant protective effects against GC [odds ratio (OR)=0.307, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.134-0.705), P=0.005; OR=0.205, 95% CI (0.058-0.718), P=0.013 and OR=0.295, 95% CI (0.129-0.673), P=0.004 for models of codominant CC vs. CT, codominant CC vs. TT and dominant, respectively]. Furthermore, the presence of both FAS-670G and FASL-844T alleles represented a significant protective effect against GC occurrence [OR=0.420, 95% CI (0.181-0.975), P=0.043]. Interpretation & conclusions: So far, we believe this is the first study, the results of which suggest that FASL gene variation and its synergistic effects with FAS gene could be associated with the risk of GC in the Kurdish population in the west of Iran

Long non-coding RNA HOTAIR induces the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in breast cancer cells

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway is essential for proper cellular metabolism and cell growth. However, aberrant activation of this pathway has been linked to the progression and metastasis of breast cancer. Recently, the role of long non-coding RNAs in interfering with the cell signaling pathways involved in cell growth and metabolism has been identified. HOX antisense intergenic RNA is an long non-coding RNA whose abnormal expression has been associated with development, therapy resistance, and metastasis of breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the long non-coding RNA HOX antisense intergenic RNA is linked to the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway in breast cancer cells. METHODS: HOX antisense intergenic RNA was silenced in the breast cancer cell line MCF-7 using siRNAs. Subsequently, the gene expression level of HOX antisense intergenic RNA, PI3K, AKT, and mTOR was assessed using real-time RT-PCR. Also, the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol- 2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) assay was used to analyze cell proliferation. RESULTS: The results revealed that HOX antisense intergenic RNA knockdown can downregulate the expression of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR RNAs compared to negative control in MCF-7 cells. In addition, the proliferation of breast cancer cells was significantly reduced following the HOX antisense intergenic RNA silencing. CONCLUSION: This study may introduce HOX antisense intergenic RNA as a molecule involved in the upregulation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway in breast cancer cells that may contribute to breast cancer cell proliferation.

Treatment of recalcitrant vitiligo by autologous non-cultured and trypsinized melanocyte grafting in the west of Iran

Abstract Background Vitiligo is a common disease with a high burden, and its recalcitrant type is unresponsive to current medical treatments. Autologous non-cultured and trypsinized melanocyte grafting, which is a simple and experience-based procedure, has been suggested for the treatment of vitiligo. Objective To assess autologous non-cultured and trypsinised melanocyte grafting in recalcitrant vitiligo. Methods This clinical trial was done on 28 patients (20 females and 8 males). After demarcation and preparation of both donor and recipient sites, both sites were shaved by a curette. The materials harvested from the donor site were trypsinized and centrifuged. The resulting suspension was mixed with hyaluronic acid gel and was spread over the shaved recipient area. Results Twenty-eight patients with a total of 108 lesions and a mean age of 25.93 ± 7.11 years were included in the present study. Generalized vitiligo (57.1%) was the most common clinical type and the face and neck regions (38%) were the most frequent treated sites. Good to excellent repigmentation was seen in the face and neck, trunk, upper extremity, and genitals in 31 (57.4%), 11 (20.4%), 9 (16.7%) and 3 (5.5%) patients, respectively. Face and neck showed significantly better results (p < 0.05). Study limitations Low sample size and single-center study. Conclusion Autologous non-cultured and trypsinized melanocyte grafting is a safe method with satisfactory outcomes in recalcitrant vitiligo. Appropriate training of physicians and proper use of specialists' experiences can be effective in increasing the improvement rate.

Olfactory epithelium as an infinitive source of neural stem cells for derivation of inner ear hair cells / El epitelio olfatorio como fuente infinita de células madre neurales para la derivación de los vestibulocitos del oído interno

Surgical techniques for treatment of sensory neural hearing loss (SNHL) have unpredictable outcomes and in recent years cell therapy investigated for treatment of SNHL. Olfactory epithelium proceed neurogenesis during life time and provide an easily accessible source of neural stem cells. So the aim of this study was isolating neural stem cells from olfactory epithelium of rat and differentiation of these cells into hair cells of inner ear in vitro. The epithelium tissue of olfactory mucosa of rats were removed and digested by collagenase H. The digested tissue was cultured in flasks in suspension forms to create spheres. Spheres were passaged and from passage 2 spheres selected for differentiation. At this stage cells of spheres isolated from each other and placed in flask containing defined differentiation medium. Cells at this stage cultured in adhesive form. Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR were used for neural stem cells and hair cells identification. Spheres formed from olfactory epithelium culture and immunohistochemistry revealed that cells of spheres from passage one and two expressed the neural stem cells markers. After culture of isolated cells in differentiation medium, the morphology of cells begun to change. The cells presented neural cells projections and after 10 days the projections elongated more and interact to each other in multi layers. RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry revealed that differentiated cells expressed hair cells specific genes. In this study we showed that neural stem cells of olfactory epithelium can differentiate into hair cells of inner ear and therefore can be used for treatment of SNHL.

Las técnicas quirúrgicas para el tratamiento de la pérdida auditiva neural sensorial (PANS) tienen resultados impredecibles y en los últimos años la terapia celular ha sido investigada para su tratamiento. El epitelio olfatorio se forma durante la neurogénesis y proporciona una fuente fácilmente accesible de células madre neurales. El objetivo de este estudio fue aislar las células madre neurales del epitelio olfativo de la rata y la diferenciación de estas células en vestibulocitos del oído interno in vitro. Se retiró el tejido del epitelio de la mucosa olfatoria de ratas y fue digerido con colagenasa H. El tejido se cultivó en forma de suspensión para crear esferas. Se seleccionaron dos esferas para la diferenciación. En esta fase, las células de esferas fueron aisladas unas de otras y colocadas en un medio de diferenciación definido. Células en esta etapa fueron cultivadas en forma adhesiva. Inmunohistoquímica y RT-PCR se utilizó para las células madre neurales y la identificación de células ciliadas. Las esferas formadas a partir del cultivo del epitelio olfatorio y la inmunohistoquímica revelaron que las células de esferas en etapas uno y dos expresaban los marcadores de células madre neurales. Se observaron cambios en la morfología de las células después del cultivo de células aisladas. RT-PCR e inmunohistoquímica revelaron que las células diferenciadas expresaron células específicas de gen de vestibulocitos. Se observó que las células madre neuronales de epitelio olfatorio puede diferenciarse en células en forma de cabello del oído interno y por lo tanto puede ser utilizado para el tratamiento de PANS.