The influence of matrix metalloproteinase-2, -9, and -12 promoter polymorphisms on Iranian patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Aim Of The Study: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a zinc-dependant endopeptidase family that can degrade extracellular matrix components. Their dysregulation has been proven in several diseases, including cancer. Genetic variations in MMP promoter regions can alter their expression.

No evidence of mammary tumor virus env gene-like sequences among Iranian women with breast cancer.

Objective: The mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) is the well-established etiological agent of mammary tumors in mice. A series of studies have implicated that a human murine mammary tumor virus-like virus occurs in human breast cancer, but it is unclear whether it has any causal role.

Methods: The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of MMTV env gene-like sequences in a group of Iranian women with or without breast cancer.

No detection of 'high-risk' human papillomaviruses in a group of Iranian women with breast cancer.

The presence of viral DNA in breast cancer cells is controversial. However, some studies have revealed a possible role for the human papillomavirus in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of HPV-DNA in breast tissue in a group of Iranian women with and without breast cancer and identification of the detected HPV types.

Effects of paraoxonase 1 activity and gene polymorphisms on long-term pulmonary complications of sulfur mustard-exposed veterans.

Sulfur mustard (SM) is an alkylating agent with prolonged adverse effects. The antioxidant paraoxonase 1 (PON1), an endogenous free radical scavenger, plays a protective role against oxidative stress. The possible roles of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of SM, together with the antioxidant activity of PON1, are enough to warrant the analysis of PON1 polymorphisms and allelic variants in incapacitated veterans.

Molecular characterization analysis of the outer protein layer (VP7) from human rotavirus A genotype G1 isolate identified in Iran: implications for vaccine development.

The full open reading frame of the outer protein layer VP7 from an isolate of human rotavirus identified in 2010 in an Iranian child admitted to hospital with gastroenteritis was amplified from a clinical stool specimen and subjected to molecular characterization. Genetic and phylogenetic analyses indicated that the analyzed gene falls into the G1 genotype forming a sub-cluster with sequences recently identified in Iran and geographically distant countries. Such results were confirmed by protein sequence alignment, showing a highly conserved "G1-like?? amino acid sequence pattern within the known three main immunodominant regions.

Purification and characterization of a halophilic α-amylase with increased activity in the presence of organic solvents from the moderately halophilic Nesterenkonia sp. strain F.

An extracellular halophilic α-amylase was purified from Nesterenkonia sp. strain F using 80 % ethanol precipitation and Q-Sepharose anion exchange chromatography. The enzyme showed a single band with an apparent molecular weight of 110 kDa by SDS-PAGE.

Molecular epidemiology of human herpesvirus 8 variants in Kaposi's sarcoma from Iranian patients.

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a rare cancer in Iran and there is no epidemiological and molecular information about HHV-8 variants circulating among the Iranian population. In this study HHV-8 sequences have been analyzed in 43 cutaneous KS biopsies from Iranian patients mainly affected by classic KS. DNA samples were subjected to PCR amplification of HHV-8 ORF26, T0.

Crosstalk of EGF-directed MAPK signalling pathways and its potential role on EGF-induced cell proliferation and COX-2 expression in human mesenchymal stem cells.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) promotes proliferation in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) during in vitro propagation. In this study, we investigated the effects of PI3K/AKT, ERK1/2, P38 and JNK on EGF signalling in hMSCs. The effects of EGF on MAPKs and PI3K/AKT crosstalk were investigated by immunoblotting; cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression was studied by real-time RT-PCR; and cell proliferation was evaluated by methylthiazolyl tetrazolium bromide assay.

Purification and characterization of an organic-solvent-tolerant halophilic α-amylase from the moderately halophilic Nesterenkonia sp. strain F.

A halophilic α-amylase produced by Nesterenkonia sp. strain F was purified to homogeneity by 80% ethanol precipitation, Q-Sepharose anion exchange, and Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration chromatography. The purified amylase exhibited specific activity of 357 unit/mg protein that corresponds to twofold purification.

Biodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene by a newly isolated Rhodococcus erythropolis strain.

A new dibenzothiophene (DBT) desulfurizing bacterium was isolated from oil-contaminated soils in Iran. HPLC analysis and PCR-based detection of the presence of the DBT desulfurization genes (dszA, dszB and dszC) indicate that this strain converts DBT to 2-hydroxybiphenyl (2-HBP) via the 4S pathway. The strain, identified as Rhodococcus erythropolis SHT87, can utilize DBT, dibenzothiophene sulfone, thiophene, 2-methylthiophene and dimethylsulfoxide as a sole sulfur source for growth at 30 degrees C.

Increased cytotoxicity of cisplatin in SK-MEL 28 melanoma cells upon down-regulation of melanoma inhibitor of apoptosis protein.

Background: Malignant melanoma is a highly metastatic cutaneous cancer and typically refractory to chemotherapy. Deregulated apoptosis has been identified as a major cause of cancer drug resistance, and upregulated expression of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein melanom, an inhibitor of apoptosis (ML-IAP) is frequent in melanoma.

Methods: Based on the conclusion that ML-IAP expression contributes to a malignant phenotype, we down-regulated the ML-IAP mRNA using sequence optimized antisense oligonucleotides.

Mutations of RAS gene family in specimens of bladder cancer.

Introduction: Studies have shown different types of RAS mutations in human bladder tumors with a wide range of mutation frequencies in different patient populations. This study aimed to assess the frequency of specific-point mutations in the RAS gene family of a group of Iranian patients with bladder cancer.

Materials And Methods: We examined the tumor specimens of 35 consecutive patients with transitional cell carcinoma.

Production, optimization and purification of a novel extracellular protease from the moderately halophilic bacterium Halobacillus karajensis.

The production of a protease was investigated under conditions of high salinity by the moderately halophilic bacterium Halobacillus karajensis strain MA-2 in a basal medium containing peptone, beef extract, maltose and NaCl when the culture reached the stationary growth phase. Effect of various temperatures, initial pH, salt and different nutrient sources on protease production revealed that the maximum secretion occurred at 34 degrees C, pH 8.0-8.

Paramagnetic nanoparticle-based detection of hepatitis B virus using cathodic stripping voltammetry.

A nanoparticle-based electrochemical method for detection of hepatitis B virus DNA sequences has been developed. This method relies on the adsorption of amplified hepatitis B virus DNA strands on to probe-coated paramagnetic particles and electrochemical detection of hybridized strands using a hanging mercury drop electrode. For hepatitis B virus detection, a combination of dynamic DNA hybridization on transportable reactive surfaces and label-free detection of DNA based on the electrochemical determination of adenines was used.

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of a novel zinc-metalloprotease gene from the Salinivibrio sp. strain AF-2004 and its extracellular expression in E. coli.

In this work the first protease gene encoding a novel zinc-metalloprotease from the moderately halophilic bacterium Salinivibrio sp. strain AF-2004 has been cloned, sequenced and reported to the GenBank. We have generated a library containing about 10,000 transformants whose screening yielded one clone harboring plasmid pBluescript with 3.

Role of PTEN gene in progression of prostate cancer.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to clarify the role of PTEN gene in progression of prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: A total of 51 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens of prostate cancer were analyzed for PTEN mutations. Tissue microdissection and polymerase chain reaction/single-strand conformation polymorphism methods were used.

An increased lung cancer risk associated with codon 72 polymorphism in the TP53 gene and human papillomavirus infection in Mazandaran province, Iran.

The TP53 gene has a polymorphism in exon 4 at codon 72 that presents the arginine or proline genotype. The association of TP53 codon 72 polymorphism with lung cancer risk has been studied by several groups, although with inconsistent results. Our previous study showed that the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is associated with the development of lung cancer in Mazandaran, north part of Iran (cases=25.

Identification of squamous cell carcinoma associated proteins by proteomics and loss of beta tropomyosin expression in esophageal cancer.

Aim: To assess the proteome of normal versus tumor tissue in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SCCE) in Iranian patients and compare our results with former reports by using proteomics.

Methods: Protein was extracted from normal and tumor tissues. Two dimensional electrophoresis was carried out and spots with differential expression were identified with mass spectrometry.

Purification and biochemical characterization of a protease secreted by the Salinivibrio sp. strain AF-2004 and its behavior in organic solvents.

A metalloprotease secreted by the moderately halophilic bacterium Salinivibrio sp. strain AF-2004 when the culture reached the stationary growth phase. This enzyme was purified to homogeneity by acetone precipitation and subsequent Q-Sepharose anion exchange and Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration chromatography.

Kinetic study of cytokines production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in response to Brucella DNA.

In spite of reports on cytokines induction by the Brucella DNA in murine model, there is no comparison between pathogenic and appropriate vaccine strains in human. We investigated the cytokines profile of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) induced by DNA extracted from pathogenic isolates of Brucella melitensis and B. abortus as well as Rev1 and S19; the appropriate vaccine strains.

Antisense-mediated melanoma inhibitor of apoptosis protein downregulation sensitizes G361 melanoma cells to cisplatin.

Malignant melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer that is highly resistant to conventional therapies. The melanoma inhibitor of apoptosis protein is a potent inhibitor of apoptosis and is overexpressed in melanoma cells, but undetectable in most normal tissues including melanocytes. We designed 20-mer phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotides complementary to five putatively single-stranded sites on the melanoma inhibitor of apoptosis protein mRNA and investigated their ability to sensitize G361 melanoma cells to cisplatin.

Relationship between lung cancer and human papillomavirus in north of Iran, Mazandaran province.

Lung cancer is a major health problem and the leading cause of cancer deaths in the world. The pathogenesis of lung cancer is complex, and is believed to be due to the interaction between environmental and genetic factors. Various evidences show that HPV might be involved in bronchial carcinogenesis.

Apoptosis induction in human lymphoma and leukemia cell lines by transfection via dendrosomes carrying wild-type p53 cDNA.

The efficiency of dendrosomes (novel dendritic spheroidal nanoparticle gene porters) were assessed in transferring wild-type p53 cDNA into two human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines (MOLT-4 and CCRF-CEM) derived from T cells and erythroleukemic cell line K562. Flow cytometric studies showed a 65% and 45% enhancement in apoptosis and necrosis of K562 and CCRF-CEM cells transfected with complex of dendrosomes and wild-type p53 cDNA in comparison to controls. The cytotoxicity studies on T lymphoma cells revealed that dendrosomes have a low cytotoxicity in comparison to lipofectin.

Differential gene expression between squamous cell carcinoma of esophageus and its normal epithelium; altered pattern of mal, akr1c2, and rab11a expression.

Aim: To identify the altered gene expression patterns in squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus (ESCC) in relation to adjacent normal esophageal epithelium.

Methods: Total RNA was extracted using SV total RNA isolation kit from snap frozen tissues of ESCC samples and normal esophageal epithelium far from the tumor. Radio-labeled cDNA were synthesized from equal quantities of total RNAs of tumor and normal tissues using combinations of 24 arbitrary 13-mer primers and three different anchoring oligo-dT primers and separated on sequencing gels.