The effect of miR-372-5p regulation on CDX1 and CDX2 in the gastric cancer cell line.

OBJECTIVES: MicroRNA expression disruptions play an important function in the expansion of gastric cancer. Previous investigation has indicated that miR-372-5p doing as an oncogene in several malignancies. CDX1 and CDX2, as target genes of miR-372-5p, play the role of tumor suppressors and oncogenes in gastric cancer cells, respectively. The current investigation explored the effects of miR-372-5p regulation on CDX2 and CDX1 in AGS cell lines and studied their molecular mechanism. METHODS: hsa-miR-372-5p miRCURY LNA miRNA Inhibitors and Mimic were transfected into AGS cell line. The cell viability and cell cycle calculation were defined by MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The Expression levels of miR-372-5p, CDX1, CDX2 and transfection efficiency were measured using Real-time PCR. Statistical investigation p values <0.05 were considered to be meaningful. RESULTS: miR-372-5p particularly was upregulated in control cells and also after transfection by mimic. While its expression was reduced by the inhibitor. Upregulation of miR-372-5p remarkably increased cell growth and led to accumulation in the G2/M phase, although the inhibitor decreased cell growth and accumulation in the S phase. Accordingly, upregulation of miR-372-5p increased CDX2 and decreased CDX1 expression. By inhibition of miR-372-5p, expression of CDX2 was decreased and expression of CDX1 was increased. CONCLUSIONS: Up and down-regulation of miR-372-5P has a potential effect on the expression levels of its target genes, CDX1 and CDX22. Accordingly, the downregulation of miR-372-5p may be assumed as a possible therapeutic target in treating gastric cancer.

DNA Methylation Profiling of MYC, SMAD2/3 and DNMT3A in Colorectal Cancer.

Epigenetic modifications, particularly DNA methylation, is commonplace and a remarkable factor in carcinogenesis transformation. Conspicuously, previous findings have presented a cluster of irregular promoter methylation alterations related with silencing of tumor suppressor genes, little is accepted regarding their sequential DNA methylation (hypo and hyper) modifications during the cancer progression. In this way, fluctuations of DNA methylation of many genes, especially MYC, SMAD2/3, and DNMT3A, have an impressive central key role in many different cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). CRC is distinguished by DNA methylation, which is related to tumorigenesis and also genomic instability. Importantly, molecular heterogeneity between multiple adenomas in different patients with CRC may show diverse developmental phenotypes for these kinds of tumors. Conclusively, studying factors that are involved in CRC carcinogenesis, especially the alterations in epigenetic elements, such as DNA methylation besides RNA remodeling, and histone modification, acetylation and phosphorylation, can be influential to find new therapeutic and diagnostic biomarkers in this type of malignancy. In this account, we discuss and address the potential significant methylated modifications of these genes and their importance during the development of CRC carcinogenesis.

Molecular Mechanism of Helicobacter pylori-Induced Gastric Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Various types of cancers threaten human life. The role of bacteria in causing cancer is controversial, but it has been determined that the Helicobacter pylori infection is one of the identified risk factors for gastric cancer. Helicobacter pylori infection is highly prevalent, and about half of the world,s population is infected with it. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was the role of Helicobacter pylori in the development of gastric cancer. METHOD: We obtained information from previously published articles. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The bacterium has various virulence factors, including cytotoxin- associated gene A, vacuolating cytotoxin A, and the different outer membrane proteins that cause cancer by different mechanisms. These virulence factors activate cell signaling pathways such as PI3-kinase/Akt, JAK/STAT and Ras, Raf, and ERK signaling that control cell proliferation. Uncontrolled proliferation can lead to cancer.

Regulatory Fluctuation of WNT16 Gene Expression Is Associated with Human Gastric Adenocarcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Gastric cancer is one of the most serious and lethal kinds of cancer in the world. It is a multi-step, multi-factor, and elaborated process that is associated to gene abnormal expression. This study intended to investigate the WNT16 gene's expression in human gastric tumor and the margin tissues of the stomach (normal tissues). METHODS: Correspondingly, 40 samples (20 tumoral tissues and 20 non tumoral or margins tissues) were investigated in Imam Khomeini Hospital in Sari City, Mazandaran Province, Iran. In this way, real-time PCR, Taqman assay was employed to evaluate the upregulation and downregulation of this gene in both tissues in triplicate form. The GAPDH gene was selected as housekeeping gene. RESULTS: Conspicuously, the results have shown a remarkable modification in tumoral tissues, and the gene expression increased significantly in tumoral tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Conclusively, the upregulation of WNTt16 gene expression in tumoral tissues was impressive and the P value was 0.005 and the SE range was 0.064-142.154.

Prevalence and association of human papillomavirus, Epstein-Barr virus and Merkel Cell polyomavirus with neoplastic esophageal lesions in northern Iran.

BACKGROUND: Studies concerning on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) etiological factors have been done for several decades, however, results reported from various investigations were not consistent. The present investigation aimed to explore the presence of 3 oncogenic viruses, human papilloma virus (HPV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) in the neoplastic and non- neoplastic esophageal lesions collected from Mazandaran, a high risk area of Iran. METHODS: In total, 168 esophageal specimens (100 with ESCC confirmed diagnosis and 68 without esophageal malignancy) were analyzed for HPV, EBV and MCPyV by Real Time PCR. RESULTS: HPV DNA was detected in 27 out of the 100 neoplastic esophageal lesions (27.0%) and 28 out of the 68 samples from non-neoplastic group (41.2%). EBV DNA was detected in esophageal specimens of 10 out of the 100 neoplastic cases (10%) and 3 out of the 68 samples in non- neoplastic group (4.4%). MCPyV DNA was detected in esophageal specimens of 30 out of the 100 neoplastic cases (30.0%) and 24 out of the 68 samples in non- neoplastic group (35.3%). There was no statistically significant difference in HPV (p=0.066), EBV (p=0.143) and MCPyV (p=0.471) DNA positivity between neoplastic and non-neoplastic groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that HPV, EBV and MCPyV can be detected in both neoplastic and non-neoplastic esophageal tissues and weakens the hypothesis of the pathogenic role of these viruses in esophageal malignant transformation.

Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphism: Association with Susceptibility to Early-Onset Breast Cancer in Iranian, BRCA1/2-Mutation Carrier and non-carrier Patients.

Mounting evidences support that vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency is a risk factor of breast cancer. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) is expressed in more than 36 cell types in different organs as in cancerous cells. Numerous allelic variants of VDR gene have been identified in human populations. Association of FokI (rs2228570) and BsmI (rs1544410) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in VDR gene with the risk of breast cancer have been investigated in several studies, however, the published data are still inconsistent. Here, we investigated BsmI and FokI polymorphisms in Iranian young (≤ 35 years old) breast cancer patient with known BRCA1/2 germline mutations. VDR gene polymorphisms were detected by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis in a cohort of 203 breast cancer patients and 214 controls from Iran. There was a significant association between the bb and Bb genotypes of the BsmI and the increased risk of breast cancer (OR 1.74, CI 1.06-2.87 and OR 2.08, CI 1.31-3.29, respectively). This association was maintained in the subgroup of BRCA1/2 mutation non carriers (OR 1.90, CI 1.15-3.20 and OR 1.75, CI 1.07-2.87 for bb and Bb genotypes respectively) and in the subgroup of BRCA1/2 mutation non-carriers with a family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer (OR 1.81, CI 1.08-3.05 and OR 1.65, CI 1.00-2.70 for bb and Bb genotypes respectively). None of the FokI homozygous or heterozygous genotypes were associated with the risk of breast cancer. In summary, the BsmI polymorphism of VDR gene may be associated with the risk of breast cancer in Iranian women.

Identification and antimicrobial resistance of Enterococcus spp. isolated from the river and coastal waters in northern Iran.

As fecal streptococci commonly inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and warm blooded animals, and daily detection of all pathogenic bacteria in coastal water is not practical, thus these bacteria are used to detect the fecal contamination of water. The present study examined the presence and the antibiotic resistance patterns of Enterococcus spp. isolated from the Babolrud River in Babol and coastal waters in Babolsar. Seventy samples of water were collected in various regions of the Babolrud and coastal waters. Isolated bacteria were identified to the species level using standard biochemical tests and PCR technique. In total, 70 Enterococcus spp. were isolated from the Babolrud River and coastal waters of Babolsar. Enterococcus faecalis (68.6%) and Enterococcus faecium (20%) were the most prevalent species. Resistance to chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, and tetracyclin was prevalent. The presence of resistant Enterococcus spp. in coastal waters may transmit resistant genes to other bacteria; therefore, swimming in such environments is not suitable.

Isolation and identification of Vibrio parahaemolyticus from seawater and sediment samples in the southern coast of the Caspian Sea.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the occurrence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in the seawater and its sediment by molecular techniques and conventional microbiological methods. Of 300 samples analyzed, 20.3 % was recorded positive for V. parahaemolyticus. Of the 62 strains isolated, 26 (8.3 %) were obtained from the seawater samples, and 36 (12 %); from sediments. Only three strains (4.83 %) showed hemolytic activity in Wagatsuma agar. The results of this study demonstrated the presence of V. parahaemolyticus in the southern coast of the Caspian Sea (Northern Iran). Furthermore, the PCR approach proved useful for reliable confirmation of species identification. V. parahaemolyticus is an important human pathogen responsible for food-borne gastroenteritis worldwide. These findings indicated the potential sanitary risk associated with the presence of pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus in the Caspian Sea.

Cloning, expression and immunogenicity of ferric enterobactin binding protein Fep B from Escherichia coli O157:H7.

The gene coding for ferric enterobactin binding protein from E. coli O157:H7 was amplifi ed. This gene was cloned and expressed as C-terminal His (6)-tagged protein. The SDS-PAGE analysis of the total protein revealed only two distinct bands, with molecular masses of 31kDa and 34kDa. The Ni-NTA chromatography purifi ed FepB and the osmotically shocked periplasmic fraction of IPTG induced cells showed only a single band of 31 kDa. Polyclonal mouse antibody was raised against the recombinant protein during 4 weeks after immunization. Western blot analysis of the recombinant FepB with mouse antiserum revealeda single band of 31 kDa. Identification and purification of FepB helped reveal its appropriate molecular mass. Polyclonal antibody raised against the recombinant protein reacted with bacterial FepB. The recombinant protein FepB could have a protective effect against E. coli O157:H7 and might be useful as an effective vaccine.