Halimeh Hassanzadeh; Ahmad Reza Bahrami; Hamidreza Bidkhori; Maryam M. Matin
Abstract
Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is a promising strategy in regenerative medicine. These cells can differentiate into chondrocytes, fibroblasts, or osteoblasts, essential components in bone healing. Dysregulated inflammation, resulting from a decreased or augmented immune response, can ...
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Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is a promising strategy in regenerative medicine. These cells can differentiate into chondrocytes, fibroblasts, or osteoblasts, essential components in bone healing. Dysregulated inflammation, resulting from a decreased or augmented immune response, can suppress bone healing. To overcome this problem, different strategies have been applied to improve the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory potencies of MSCs. Several studies have explored the potential of using small molecules to enhance the process of bone formation and regeneration. In addition to the proven safety and efficacy of lithium in managing bipolar disorder over many years, it has been reported in several studies that it could potentially contribute to an increase in bone mass. Some have focused on the role of lithium chloride (LiCl) in activating the WNT/β-Catenin pathway, which is involved in the differentiation of MSCs into osteoblasts. In this study, we evaluated the ability of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (Ad-MSCs) treated with LiCl to differentiate into bone cells. To assess osteogenesis, mineralization was evaluated in cells cultured in an osteogenic induction medium. In addition to checking the expression of genes related to bone formation, we also investigated the expression of several genes related to immunomodulation at the mRNA level. We observed that LiCl enhanced the osteogenesis of Ad-MSCs, as evidenced by an increase in mineralization and the enhanced expression of osteogenic markers. Moreover, the expression of cytokines, which promote the anti-inflammatory behavior of these cells, was augmented. These findings could potentially be clinically relevant to improving conditions associated with bone loss, such as osteopenia and osteoporosis.
Sayyed Emad Aldin Tayyebi; Mahyar Heydarpour; Hesam Dehghani
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers and is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The underlying biological mechanisms for the development of colorectal cancer are largely unidentified. Several genes likely involved in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer have ...
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Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers and is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The underlying biological mechanisms for the development of colorectal cancer are largely unidentified. Several genes likely involved in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer have been identified. However, some other genes might have less evident functions. One gene family with prominent functional roles in the normal colon is mucin. Multiple studies have demonstrated the involvement of mucins in the pathogenesis of human malignancies. Therefore, due to the lack of an inclusive investigation of mucins' expression, mechanism of action, and involvement in colon adenocarcinoma's underlying biology, diagnosis, and prognosis, we sought to unearth their potential involvement and related regulatory networks in this disease. In this investigation, a step-wise manner was used, and a plethora of databases and algorithmic tools were applied. Due to a significant upregulation at both mRNA and protein levels and following a thorough evaluation of diagnostic and prognostic values in colon adenocarcinoma, MUC13 was determined to be the most relevant regulatory mucin in colon carcinoma. Altogether, these findings indicate a putative ncRNA-mRNA network, including hsa-mir-136-5p, hsa-mir-27a-3p, NEAT1, and XIST, to be involved in regulating MUC13 in colon cancer. This step-wise investigation implies that MUC13 may have a crucial role in the underlying molecular mechanisms for the initiation or progression of colon cancer. In addition, it provides insights into molecular mechanisms and possible regulatory non-coding RNA networks that might be responsible for regulating MUC13 expression.
Hamideh Javadi; Parvin Salehi Shanjani
Abstract
Chamomile (Anthemis L.), an important medicinal plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, is widely distributed in Iran and other parts of the world, with 175 species. We can study chromosome characteristics such as chromosome numbers and karyotype characteristics to realize genetic variation within ...
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Chamomile (Anthemis L.), an important medicinal plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, is widely distributed in Iran and other parts of the world, with 175 species. We can study chromosome characteristics such as chromosome numbers and karyotype characteristics to realize genetic variation within and between species and their populations. In the present study, we examined the details of the chromosome number and karyological characteristics analysis of 25 populations representing four Anthemis species (A. altissima, A. hausssknechtii, A. trimfettii, and A. pseudocotula) from geographically isolated regions of Iran. Specific staining method and microscopic observation showed somatic chromosome number 2n=18 for all populations, which were confirmed by the previous data. Analysis of the karyotype formula showed a dominance of metacentric chromosomes in almost all of them. The largest chromosome and genome length belonged to two populations of A. pseudocotula species. Populations of A. pseudocotula have chromosome size, and populations of A. haussknechtii have morphology chromosome variation. A cluster analysis of the tested accessions, at 11.19 genetic distance, created three main groups that showed the similarity of members of each group. Additionally, the level of symmetric karyotypes estimated by karyotype characters and the role of each trait in the variation of species and their populations are argued. Genetic variations were confirmed between diploid populations, for different karyotype characters. Observed variation mainly caused by the morphology of chromosomes, and that, its contribution was important in discriminating the populations. We hope these data will be used in future investigations as basic information for breeding and hybridization between species and their populations.
Arehzoo Zaker; Hamed Norouzi Taheri
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of the roots and aerial parts of Salvia abrotanoides obtained at different phenological stages (vegetative, flowering, and seeding) and to determine their total phenol and flavonoid content. ...
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This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of the roots and aerial parts of Salvia abrotanoides obtained at different phenological stages (vegetative, flowering, and seeding) and to determine their total phenol and flavonoid content. Disc diffusion and micro-dilution methods evaluated antibacterial activity against eight bacterial strains. Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride colorimetric methods were used to determine the content of total phenol and flavonoids, respectively. The antioxidant potential of the extracts was measured using a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the most sensitive and resistant bacteria to the extracts, respectively. The strongest antibacterial activity against multi drug resistant bacteria was recorded for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus treated with ethyl acetate extract of the root at the seeding stage, in which MIC and MBC values were 30.33 and 40.00 mg/mL, respectively. The highest content of total phenol (557.51 mg GAE/g DW) and flavonoids (236.40 mg QE/g DW) was found in the ethyl acetate extract of the aerial parts in the seeding phase. The aerial parts had more total phenolic and flavonoid content at different phenological stages than the root. The antioxidant capacity of the aerial part was also better that of the roots. The ethyl acetate extract of the aerial part at the seeding phase presented the highest DPPH scavenging activity (92.51 ± 1.25 %). The results showed that S. abrotanoides extracts, especially at the seeding phase, have good potential as a source of antioxidant, antibacterial, and bioactive compounds and can be considered good candidates in the development of new drugs or as the main source of food preservative compounds.
