Upregulation of Long Noncoding RNA PCAT1 in Iranian Patients with Colorectal Cancer and Its Performance as a Potential Diagnostic Biomarker.

Background: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) as critical molecules play an essential role in the development of cancers. In colorectal cancer (CRC), various lncRNAs are related to cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. LncRNA prostate cancer-associated transcript 1 (PCAT-1), as an oncogenic factor, is a diagnostic biomarker that regulates cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. Methods: This study evaluated the relationship between PCAT-1, CRC occurrence, and pathological features of Iranian patients. The studied samples included 100 colorectal tumor tissues and 100 adjacent healthy tissues of Iranian CRC patients. RNAs were extracted from cancerous and noncancerous tissues to synthesize complementary DNA. The expression level of PCAT-1 was assessed using the real-time PCR method, and the data analysis was assessed using SPSS software. Results: In this study, expression level of PCAT-1 in tumor tissue was significantly increased in Iranian patients, and pathological studies of the patients had no significant relationship with the PCAT-1 expression profile. Conclusion: Our results suggested that the high expression of PCAT-1 resulted in the occurrence of colorectal tumor tissues in Iranian patients, which can be considered a diagnostic biomarker in CRC.

An updated review on the significance of DNA and protein methyltransferases and de-methylases in human diseases: From molecular mechanism to novel therapeutic approaches.

Epigenetic mechanisms are crucial in regulating gene expression. These mechanisms include DNA methylation and histone modifications, like methylation, acetylation, and phosphorylation. DNA methylation is associated with gene expression suppression; however, histone methylation can stimulate or repress gene expression depending on the methylation pattern of lysine or arginine residues on histones. These modifications are key factors in mediating the environmental effect on gene expression regulation. Therefore, their aberrant activity is associated with the development of various diseases. The current study aimed to review the significance of DNA and histone methyltransferases and demethylases in developing various conditions, like cardiovascular diseases, myopathies, diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, cancer, aging, and central nervous system conditions. A better understanding of the epigenetic roles in developing diseases can pave the way for developing novel therapeutic approaches for affected patients.

Assessment the Effect of Human Umbilical Cord Wharton's Jelly Stem Cells on the Expression of Homing Genes; CXCR4 and VLA-4 in Cell Line of Breast Cancer.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women.  The prevalence of breast cancer in Western women is one in eight.  Although the prevalence of breast cancer in Iran is lower than in Western countries (one in every 10-12 women), the incidence of breast cancer in it is 5-10 years earlier than in Western countries. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women after lung cancer. Therefore, finding new therapeutic methods could potentially help to reduce breast cancer mortality and increase the survival rate. Wharton jelly stem cells with mesenchymal morphology play an important role in inhibiting the progression of ovarian, osteosarcoma, and breast cancer by inducing apoptosis and reducing metastasis. Several environmental and genetic factors are involved in the occurrence of breast cancer. CXCR4 and VLA-4 genes are important genetic factors in breast cancer that play a role in cell survival, migration, proliferation, and metastasis of several types of cancer, especially breast cancer. Therefore, inhibition of these two genes by Wharton's Jelly Stem Cells could be a novel and effective therapeutic target in breast cancer.  The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Wharton jelly stem cells secretion on the expression of CXCR4 and VLA-4 genes in cancer cells. Materials and Methods: These cells were exposed to Wharton's Jelly Stem Cells after culturing breast cancer cells. RNA was extracted from treated cells. The expression of CXCR4 and VLA-4 genes was evaluated by real-time PCR. Results: The results of the MTT and Scratching tests showed a significant difference compared to the control group. Also, the results of Real-time PCR showed a significant decrease in the expression of CXCR4 and VLA-4 genes compared to the control group. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that different concentrations of Wharton Jelly Stem Cells reduce cancer cell growth and expression of CXCR4 and VLA-4 homing genes in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Therefore, Wharton Jelly Stem Cells can be considered as an effective treatment for breast cancer.

The Computational Analysis Conducted on miRNA Target Sites in Association with SNPs at 3'UTR of ADHD-implicated Genes.

BACKGROUND: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a frequent chronic neuropsychiatric disorder in which different factors including environmental, genetic, and epigenetic factors play an important role in its pathogenesis. One of the effective epigenetic factors is recognized as MicroRNAs (miRNAs). On the other hand, it has been indicated that the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) present within 3'UTR (3' untranslated region) of mRNAs can influence the regulation of miRNA-mediated gene and susceptibility to a diversity of human diseases. METHODS: The purpose of this study was to analyze the SNPs within the 3'UTR of miRNA target genes associated with ADHD. 3'UTR genetic variants were identified in all genes associated with ADHD using DisGeNET, dbGaP, Ovid, DAVID, Web of knowledge, and SNPs databases. miRNA's target prediction databases were applied in order to predict the miRNA binding sites. 124 SNPs with MAF>0.05 were identified located in the binding site of the miRNA of 35 genes amongst 51 genes associated with ADHD. RESULTS: Bioinformatics analysis predicted 81 MRE (miRNA recognition elements)-creating SNPs, 101 MRE-breaking SNPs, 61 MRE-enhancing SNPs, and finally predicted 41 MREdecreasing SNPs in the 3'UTR of ADHD-implicated genes. These candidate SNPs within these genes miRNA binding sites can alter the miRNAs binding, and consequently, lead to mRNA gene regulation. CONCLUSION: Therefore, these miRNA and MRE-SNPs may play important roles in ADHD, and because of that, they would be valuable for further investigation in the field of functional verification.