Shima Amirsadri; Seyed Morteza Babamir; Shahyar Arab
Abstract
The protein’s motifs (called super secondary structures) are dense three-dimensional structures of proteins consisting of several secondary structures in a specific geometric arrangement. The prediction of motifs is a matter of concern and has been studied. The previous studies dealt with motif ...
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The protein’s motifs (called super secondary structures) are dense three-dimensional structures of proteins consisting of several secondary structures in a specific geometric arrangement. The prediction of motifs is a matter of concern and has been studied. The previous studies dealt with motif prediction based on the polypeptide chain; however, the prediction of motifs based on the secondary structures leads to more accurate prediction. This study aims to address such a prediction. First, several secondary structures are constructed and then, based on the energy level and using a metaheuristic (evolutionary) algorithm called Imperialist Competitive Algorithm. (ICA) The protein’s motifs are predicted. The advantage of our approach over existing approaches is that secondary structural data as input to our algorithm leads to a more accurate prediction that is closer to the real protein third than previous algorithms. We applied our method to predict super secondaries of the enzyme β−LACTAMASE, whose specification was obtained from the PDB file in Yasara. This enzyme is produced by bacteria and provides multi-resistance to antibiotics β−LACTAMA. Then we evaluated our prediction using Root-Mean-Square Deviation (RMSD). It shows the average distance between the two proteins structurally having the same alignment. Having determined the structural alignment of the two proteins, we determined the similarity of their 3D structures using RMSD. If the RMSD between two structures is less than 2, it denotes they are very similar. Accordingly, we used RMSD to show how much similarity exists between the motif obtained by our proposed algorithm for β−LACTAMASE and its native structure.
Ali Javadmanesh; Atefe Paknafs; Marjan Azghandi
Abstract
Rotavirus infections impose a significant global health burden, particularly affecting infants and young children and causing severe gastroenteritis. To combat this viral pathogen, there is a growing interest in exploring the therapeutic potential of lactoferrins derived from different farm animal milk ...
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Rotavirus infections impose a significant global health burden, particularly affecting infants and young children and causing severe gastroenteritis. To combat this viral pathogen, there is a growing interest in exploring the therapeutic potential of lactoferrins derived from different farm animal milk as antiviral agents. This study employed molecular simulation techniques to investigate the intricate binding mechanisms between different animal milk lactoferrins and rotavirus, providing insights into their molecular interactions. These animals included cow, sheep, camel, goat, horse, buffalo, in addition to humans. Molecular dynamics simulation techniques were employed using Gromacs software to simulate the interaction between animal milk lactoferrins and rotavirus. Precise computational models and simulations were conducted to investigate the binding mechanisms and identify critical amino acid residues involved. Our findings indicate that cow lactoferrin exhibits superior interaction with rotavirus compared to other lactoferrin sources. We identified specific binding sites and crucial amino acid residues responsible for these interactions. These results provide insights into the molecular determinants governing the strong binding affinity and specificity of lactoferrins towards rotavirus. This study provided valuable insights for the design of targeted antiviral strategies against rotavirus infections. Animal milk lactoferrins, particularly cow lactoferrin, demonstrated a promising potential as an antiviral agent against retroviruses. These findings enhanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying lactoferrin-mediated antiviral activity, paving the way for future experimental and clinical investigations in this field and supporting the development of efficient antiviral therapeutics against rotavirus.
Ali Javadmanesh; Mitra Riasi
Abstract
TGF-β group member myostatin (MSTN) inhibits the growth and differentiation of skeletal muscle. It is unknown that how total inhibition of MSTN restricts the hyperproliferation of muscle cells, though. This study aimed to determine the differentially expressed genes and biological pathways associated ...
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TGF-β group member myostatin (MSTN) inhibits the growth and differentiation of skeletal muscle. It is unknown that how total inhibition of MSTN restricts the hyperproliferation of muscle cells, though. This study aimed to determine the differentially expressed genes and biological pathways associated with myostatin in mouse C2C12 myogenic cells and skeletal muscle tissue utilizing high throughput mRNA expression data. In both tissue and cell line, two experimental groups were compared including wild-type vs. MSTN-Knockout. Transcriptome data were extracted from GEO and analyzed using the LIMMA package in R environment, and GEO2R. Significant differentially expressed genes were considered as False discovery rate < 0.05 with log fold change > |0.5|. Lastly, the possible biological pathways were examined with KEGG database and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was created using Cytoscape software. To find key genes in the PPI network, a topological analysis was conducted using the Network analyzer tool in Cytoscape software. The total number of differentially expressed genes was 14549 for C2C12 cell line and 45267 for mouse skeletal muscle tissue; among them 235 and 1425 transcripts were significant. The comparison between these two DEG lists showed that 49 genes were common between myogenic C2C12 cell and skeletal muscle tissue. Additionally, three biological pathways between the C2C12 cell line and the skeletal muscle tissue were in common and they were associated to the decrease of MSTN gene expression including: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Axon guidance, and dilated cardiomyopathy. These pathways were all related to muscle tissue. Despite the large number of DEGs, only 49 were in common in tissue and cell line; this could indicate that comparing a tissue with its relevant cell line at transcriptome level might not be precise enough to draw a solid conclusion. This is due to the nature of cell heterogeneity of most tissues including skeletal muscle.
Khadijeh Haghighat; Fariba Mahmoudi; Homayoun Khazali
Abstract
Stress is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders. Chrysin, a phytochemical compound, is known for its anti-stress effects; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying its anxiolytic properties are not well understood. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of chrysin on the gene ...
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Stress is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders. Chrysin, a phytochemical compound, is known for its anti-stress effects; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying its anxiolytic properties are not well understood. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of chrysin on the gene expression of hypothalamic phoenixin and nesfatin-1 in a rat model of acute restraint stress. In the study, twenty male Wistar rats weighing 200 ± 10 g were split up into four groups (n=5). A cannula was surgically implanted into the third cerebral ventricle. Following a one-week recovery period, the rats were exposed to a two-hour acute restraint stress protocol. While the control and stress groups received saline, two additional experimental groups subjected to stress were administered either 20 µg or 40 µg of chrysin via the third cerebral ventricle. Hypothalamic samples were removed. Then, RNA was extracted. In the next step, cDNA was synthesized. Finally, relative gene expression was assessed by a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The findings revealed a significant upregulation of nesfatin-1 mRNA in the stressed rat relative to the control group. The mRNA level of nesfatin-1 in the chrysin-treated group was significantly reduced compared to the stressed group. Furthermore, the stressed rats showed a significant decrease in mRNA levels of phoenixin in comparison to the control group. There was no significant increase in the mRNA level of phoenixin between the stressed group and the group receiving chrysin. In conclusion, downregulation of the hypothalamic nesfatin may be involved in mediating the anti-anxiety effects of chrysin.
Ali Javadmanesh; Amir Rashid Lamir; Mitra Riasi; Mehrdad Movahed Nasab; Nazila Dardmeh; Helia Khayyami; Kasra Khayami; Elnaz Karbaschian
Abstract
The growth and development of skeletal muscle tissue is largely regulated by myostatin during tissue development in embryos. This tissue may overgrow if myostatin expression is deficient. Gene expression may be regulated in a particular way by oligonucleotide antisense molecules. It has been demonstrated ...
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The growth and development of skeletal muscle tissue is largely regulated by myostatin during tissue development in embryos. This tissue may overgrow if myostatin expression is deficient. Gene expression may be regulated in a particular way by oligonucleotide antisense molecules. It has been demonstrated that a new DNA-based oligonucleotide can downregulate myostatin expression in a rat model. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the impact of a DNAi-based myostatin inhibitor on the visceral fat and leg muscle weights of Wistar rats undergoing strength training. Three groups of male rats, with an average weight of 203g ± 10.5, were chosen at four weeks of age. These cohorts comprised: 1) DNAi group had resistance training in addition to receiving 10 mg/kg of rat body weight of DNAi. 2) Resistance exercise and saline injection group. Group for injection of saline. Then, weight measurements for the carcass, heart, liver, left kidney, right kidney, spleen, visceral fat, twin muscles, soleus muscle, and left leg were made for each group. Histological assessment of the soleus muscle section was performed. One-way ANOVA was then used to examine the results, and means were compared using Tukey’s test. As the data show, the proposed molecule did not significantly contribute to an increase in body weight, in contrast to previous assumptions. Nonetheless, the twin muscles' relative and absolute weights increased significantly with visceral fat decreased with DNAi injection (P<0.05). Although weekly body weight increase and the final weights were not affected by DNAi injection, this could be explained by the loss of fat tissue during the experiment. This molecule is promising in increasing muscle tissue growth; however, further prolonged experiments and evaluating myostatin gene expression are recommended in future experiments.
Roohallah Yousefi
Abstract
The HIV integrase enzyme, comprising its N-terminal (NTD), central (CD), and C-terminal (CTD) domains, plays a crucial role in the integration of the HIV genome into host DNA and in the viral life cycle. It accomplishes this by recognizing and binding viral DNA, maintaining structural integrity, and ...
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The HIV integrase enzyme, comprising its N-terminal (NTD), central (CD), and C-terminal (CTD) domains, plays a crucial role in the integration of the HIV genome into host DNA and in the viral life cycle. It accomplishes this by recognizing and binding viral DNA, maintaining structural integrity, and catalyzing integration into the host genome. The CTD domain contains the catalytic core, which includes the DDE motif, essential for cleavage and joining reactions, and interacts with LEDGF/p75 to enhance the specificity and efficiency of integration. Inhibitors that block integrase improve HIV treatment and reduce resistance. We utilized molecular docking methods to investigate the catalytic core of HIV integrase and its interactions with inhibitory ligands. The physicochemical properties and pharmacokinetics of the compounds under investigation were calculated using the SwissADME webtool database. Except for compounds with high molecular weight, the remaining compounds exhibit high gastrointestinal absorption, allowing for easy entry into the bloodstream. However, they often have low dermal absorption, which limits their effectiveness for dermal delivery. Compounds with CID numbers 74071, 24800940, and 133081875 demonstrate high dermal absorption. The compound with CID number 91899501 is the only exception, as the other compounds studied bind to a specific site composed of several amino acids. These amino acids, including Gln62, Leu63, Asp64, Val77, His114, Thr115, Asp116, Gly140, Ile141, and Glu152, are crucial for the effective binding of compounds to the enzyme. Understanding the binding sites of integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) is crucial for assessing the efficacy of antiretroviral therapy against HIV. The active site of integrase contains the key amino acids D64, D116, and E152, which are targeted by most of the INSTIs studied. Our study aims to enhance the effectiveness of INSTIs and prevent the development of resistant viruses.
Zahra Hosseininia; Hesam Dehghani
Abstract
Myeloid Zinc Finger 1 (MZF1) is a member of the SCAN domain-zinc finger (SCAN-ZFP) transcription factor family. With a structure comprising five distinct domains, it regulates various transcriptional processes. Numerous studies suggest that MZF1 has bi-functional roles, acting either as an oncogene or ...
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Myeloid Zinc Finger 1 (MZF1) is a member of the SCAN domain-zinc finger (SCAN-ZFP) transcription factor family. With a structure comprising five distinct domains, it regulates various transcriptional processes. Numerous studies suggest that MZF1 has bi-functional roles, acting either as an oncogene or a tumor suppressor. However, its overexpression has also been associated with negligible changes in cellular functions, an aspect that remains underexplored. Additionally, although the HEK293T cell line is widely used to investigate molecular mechanisms, the role of MZF1 in these cells has not been reported. In this study, we assessed the effects of MZF1 overexpression on some cellular functions in these cells. Using transposon-mediated gene transfer, we generated stably expressing cell lines and assessed their cellular functions, including cell proliferation, cell viability, and cell stemness. Our findings show that following stable expression of MZF1, the number of cells compared to controls did not reveal a significant difference during 6 time-points over 72 hours. Also, the MTT read absorbance and as a consequence, cell viability did not change in the MZF1 overexpressing cell line compared to control cells (0.49 against 0.48). By performing the colony formation assay, we did not find any significant changes in the number of colonies or the number of cells in each colony. Also, our soft agar assay did not reveal statistically significant changes in the size and number of colonies between the two groups of MZF1-overexpressing cells and control cells. Taken together, our data provide evidence that the stable overexpression of MZF1 does not alter cellular functions of proliferation, viability, and stemness in HEK293T cells.
sedighe kohgard; Saber Zahri; saeid latifi; maryam Jahanvar
Abstract
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative bacterium that persistently colonizes the gastric mucosa, leading to various gastrointestinal disorders, including gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer. Chronic H. pylori infection triggers inflammatory responses and modulates host signaling pathways, ...
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Abstract
Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative bacterium that persistently colonizes the gastric mucosa, leading to various gastrointestinal disorders, including gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer. Chronic H. pylori infection triggers inflammatory responses and modulates host signaling pathways, particularly receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), which regulate essential cellular processes such as adhesion, migration, proliferation, and survival. Among these, EphA2 is a key RTK involved in epithelial cell signaling and maintaining structural integrity, while E-cadherin plays a critical role in cell-cell adhesion and tumor suppression. Disruptions in these signaling molecules can contribute to gastric epithelial dysfunction and cancer progression.
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an Iranian H. pylori vacA d1/-i1 strain on the expression of EPHA2 and E-cadherin in AGS gastric epithelial cells. Following co-culture with H. pylori, total RNA was extracted, and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to analyze gene expression levels. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to assess morphological changes, revealing structural alterations indicative of cellular stress and epithelial disruption after H. pylori infection. Gene expression analysis demonstrated a significant downregulation of EPHA2 in H. pylori-infected cells compared to controls (p < 0.0001), suggesting bacterial interference with EPHA2-mediated signaling pathways. In contrast, no significant change in E-cadherin expression was observed, indicating that H. pylori may not strongly impact cell adhesion under these conditions.
The selective suppression of EPHA2, along with observed morphological changes, suggests a novel mechanism by which H. pylori contributes to gastric epithelial dysfunction, potentially promoting tumorigenesis. Further research is needed to elucidate the molecular pathways involved and their implications for gastric disease pathogenesis and targeted therapeutic strategies.
Keywords: Helicobacter pylori, EPHA2, E-cadherin, receptor tyrosine kinases, gastric epithelial cells, gastric cancer, hematoxylin and eosin staining
Maryam M. Matin; Fateme Kamali Baratpoor
Abstract
Articular cartilage is a highly specialized connective tissue that facilitates smooth joint articulation and efficient load distribution. Its avascular structure, low cellular density, and limited intrinsic repair capacity make cartilage injuries and degenerative disorders, particularly osteoarthritis, ...
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Articular cartilage is a highly specialized connective tissue that facilitates smooth joint articulation and efficient load distribution. Its avascular structure, low cellular density, and limited intrinsic repair capacity make cartilage injuries and degenerative disorders, particularly osteoarthritis, difficult to treat. Conventional clinical interventions often fail to regenerate durable hyaline cartilage, which creates a pressing need for advanced biomaterials capable of promoting functional tissue restoration. Among emerging candidates, chitosan, a natural polysaccharide derived from chitin, has attracted significant attention in cartilage tissue engineering. Its unique combination of biodegradability, biocompatibility, non-toxicity, structural similarity to glycosaminoglycans, and inherent anti-inflammatory activity positions it as a versatile platform for regenerative applications. This review synthesizes recent advances in chitosan-based strategies, including hydrogels, porous scaffolds, nanofibrous matrices, and composite systems engineered to mimic the native extracellular matrix. These systems support cell adhesion, proliferation, and chondrogenic differentiation. In addition, chitosan functions as a nanocarrier for targeted and sustained delivery of drugs, growth factors, and bioactive molecules. Its integration with 3D bioprinting technologies enables the fabrication of patient-specific, multilayered scaffolds that replicate the zonal architecture of native cartilage.
The review also examines chitosan’s role in modulating mesenchymal stem cell fate, approaches to surface functionalization, and comparative performance relative to other biomaterials such as collagen, polycaprolactone, hyaluronic acid, and polylactic acid. Evidence from preclinical and early clinical studies underscores its regenerative efficacy and translational potential. Finally, emerging directions, including nanotechnology-enhanced constructs, stimuli-responsive hydrogels, exosome-loaded systems, and integration with induced pluripotent stem cells, are discussed as promising avenues for future research. Collectively, these insights highlight chitosan’s strong potential as a next-generation biomaterial for cartilage tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Fatemeh Moradian; Najibeh Akbari Nowzari; Ayoub Farhadi
Abstract
Autophagy can play an inhibitory role in the early stages of cancer, so studying autophagy genes can help with therapeutic strategies. This study investigated the effect of lactoferrin (Lf) and nano-encapsulated Lf (NLf) on the expression levels of autophagy-inducing genes Beclin 1, p53 and LC3I. Also, ...
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Autophagy can play an inhibitory role in the early stages of cancer, so studying autophagy genes can help with therapeutic strategies. This study investigated the effect of lactoferrin (Lf) and nano-encapsulated Lf (NLf) on the expression levels of autophagy-inducing genes Beclin 1, p53 and LC3I. Also, the effect of Lf and NLf on the growth rate of breast cancer cells MCF7 and normal cells Vero was studied. The results showed that the survival percentage of MCF7 cells in nano-lactoferrin (NLf) treatment was lower than Lf with the same concentrations. The percentage of survival in Vero cells treated with NLf and Lf was higher than that of cancer cells, and cell death was not significant in this normal cell line. The level of the Beclin 1 gene expression in concentrations of 200 and 300 µg of NLf and Lf increased significantly compared to the control in cancer cells. The expression levels of p53 and LC3I genes were significantly increased in all concentrations of NLf and Lf compared to the control in cancer cells. The expression levels of all three genes in different concentrations of NLf in normal cells showed a significant increase. The level of gene expression and cell death by NLf was slightly higher than that of Lf in cancer cells, which suggests that the intracellular penetration of NLf was greater than Lf. Lf causes cell survival and protects cells during stress by inducing autophagy in normal cells and removing damaged organelles, and causes cell death in cancer cells in the early stages.
Fatemeh Fathi; Ahmad Hamta
Abstract
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide and the most prevalent cancer among women, causing a large number of deaths annually. This fact underscores the importance of studying the risk factors, diagnostic methods, and treatments for this disease. Single nucleotide polymorphisms are the ...
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Breast cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide and the most prevalent cancer among women, causing a large number of deaths annually. This fact underscores the importance of studying the risk factors, diagnostic methods, and treatments for this disease. Single nucleotide polymorphisms are the most common type of genetic variation in eukaryotic genomes and are found in many genes associated with various cancers. Depending on their location within different regions of a gene, these genetic variants can differently affect gene expression and cancer susceptibility. In this case-control study, we investigated the single nucleotide polymorphisms of the GPR30/GPER-1 gene, including rs3808350, rs3808351, and rs11544331, and their association with breast cancer risk. The study was conducted on 70 breast cancer patients and 70 healthy women from the female population of Markazi Province, Iran. Blood samples were collected from all participants, and DNA was extracted. The target polymorphisms were genotyped using the tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system PCR (tetra-ARMS PCR) method. Data analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics 26 and SNP Analyzer 2 software. The results showed a significant association between the AG genotype (co-dominant model) and the combined GG and AG genotypes (dominant model) of rs3808350 with increased breast cancer risk. For rs11544331, the TT genotype (recessive model) and the combined TT and CT genotypes (dominant model) were also significantly associated with higher risk. No significant association was observed for rs3808351. In conclusion, rs3808350 and rs11544331 polymorphisms may serve as potential biomarkers for early detection and risk assessment of breast cancer. Identifying such genetic markers could enhance diagnostic accuracy and support the development of personalized prevention and treatment strategies.
Sakine Sokhtanlo; Nasrin Moshtaghi; Abdolreza Bagheri
Abstract
Wheat stem rust, a devastating fungal disease, threatens global food security through new highly virulent races like Ug99 and TKTTF that overcome plant resistance. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of infection and immune evasion is essential for developing sustainable control strategies. This study ...
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Wheat stem rust, a devastating fungal disease, threatens global food security through new highly virulent races like Ug99 and TKTTF that overcome plant resistance. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of infection and immune evasion is essential for developing sustainable control strategies. This study elucidates the wheat-Pgt stem rust interaction by identifying pathogen effectors and analyzing genomic variations among three virulent isolates (TKTTF, Ug99, PTRTF). At 96 hours post-inoculation, total RNA was extracted in triplicate from infected leaves of susceptible wheat (cv. Morocco) inoculated with three distinct P. graminis isolates for RNA-seq analysis. Integrated RNA-seq transcriptomics and bioinformatic analyses were employed to characterize effector gene expression profiles and functional attributes. Differential expression analysis revealed a significant upregulation of virulence-associated and metabolic genes in the TKTTF and Ug99 isolates compared to the PTRTF reference isolate. Using Effector P (v5.0) prediction software, we identified 196 high-confidence effector candidates (prediction score >0.5), including both core effectors conserved across isolates and strain-specific variants. Comparative analysis revealed distinct effector repertoires: the Ug99 isolate showed significant enrichment for secreted proteins containing N-terminal signal peptides (SPs), whereas TKTTF predominantly encoded membrane-anchored effectors. Domain analysis identified conserved virulence-associated motifs, including RNA Recognition Motif (RRM) and CDC_Septin domains, implicating their functional importance in pathogen adaptation and host manipulation. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) showed significant representation (FDR <0.05) across three fundamental categories as biological processes, cellular components and molecular functions, reflecting isolate-specific pathogenic strategies. This study establishes that genomic variation among Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt) isolates drives the evolution of divergent effector profiles and virulence strategies. These findings provide a molecular framework for developing next-generation control measures, including precision engineering of disease resistance in wheat, by identifying effector proteins as critical targets for breeding programs.
Maryam M. Matin; Maryam Alavi; Homa Mollaei; Nasser Mahdavi-Shahri; Masoud Fereidoni; Roya Lari
Abstract
Collagen bioscaffolds give promising results in oral mucosa engineering due to high biocompatibility and biodegradability of collagen. Because of high collagen content of gingiva, it can be used to prepare a natural collagen scaffold. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is one of the major components of extracellular ...
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Collagen bioscaffolds give promising results in oral mucosa engineering due to high biocompatibility and biodegradability of collagen. Because of high collagen content of gingiva, it can be used to prepare a natural collagen scaffold. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is one of the major components of extracellular matrix that regulates cellular behaviors. In the present study, the effects of HA on the behavior of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (Ad-MSCs) cultured on decellularized gingival matrix were investigated by histological methods. Human gingival tissue (5×5×5 mm) was decellularized using physical methods as well as treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and Triton X-100, followed by washing and sterilization procedures. Scaffolds were divided into two separate groups including soaked scaffolds in HA (0.3% solution) and scaffolds without HA as controls. In the next step, 3×105 Ad-MSCs were seeded on each scaffold in both groups, and finally, histological studies were performed after 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks of culture. Histological studies revealed cell elimination and also preservation of collagen fibers in the decellularized gingival connective tissue. In vitro analysis of cellular behaviors showed adhesion and also migration of human Ad-MSCs towards connective tissue matrix, as well as formation of epithelial-like structures. Totally, statistical analyses indicated significant differences in cell density (P<0.01), migration (P<0.001) and nuclear size (P<0.01) at week one in HA-treated scaffolds versus the control group. The results of present study demonstrated that the extracellular matrix of decellularized human gingival stroma can induce cellular behaviors such as adhesion, proliferation and migration of human Ad-MSCs.
Masoumeh Hajirezaei; Roya Rostaminiya
Abstract
Abstract
Interleukin 10 (IL-10) is a crucial anti-inflammatory cytokine that plays a significant role in immune regulation and is overexpressed in various cancers, including breast cancer. IL-10 is known to modulate immune responses by suppressing inflammatory cytokine production, thereby influencing ...
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Abstract
Interleukin 10 (IL-10) is a crucial anti-inflammatory cytokine that plays a significant role in immune regulation and is overexpressed in various cancers, including breast cancer. IL-10 is known to modulate immune responses by suppressing inflammatory cytokine production, thereby influencing tumor progression and immune evasion. The expression of IL-10 is primarily regulated by single nucleotide polymorphisms in its promoter region, which can influence its transcriptional activity and, consequently, cancer susceptibility. One such polymorphism, rs1800872, has been extensively investigated for its potential association with breast cancer risk and disease progression in different populations. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between the rs1800872 polymorphism of the IL-10 gene and breast cancer in women from Kerman province, Iran. In this case-control study, the sample size was calculated using the two proportions formula and G*Power software with 80% power and 5% significance level. Due to limited sample availability, 120 healthy controls and 170 breast cancer patients were included, which was considered sufficient for statistical analysis. Genomic DNA was extracted from these samples, and genotyping for the rs1800872 polymorphism was performed using the Allele-Specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (AS-PCR) method. Statistical analysis using SPSS version 26 and the Chi-square test showed a significant difference in genotype and allele distribution between breast cancer patients and healthy controls (P = 0.001). The AA genotype was more frequent in patients (24.1% vs. 12.5%), with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.66 (95% CI: 1.35–5.22). The A allele was also more common in patients (40.3% vs. 26.25%) with an OR of 1.90 (95% CI: 1.33–2.72), indicating a strong association of the A allele with increased breast cancer risk in the studied population
