Expression profiling of RTL1 in human breast cancer tissues and cell lines.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in females. In this regard, the identification of molecular alterations driving BC is an immediate need for developing effective immunotherapeutic tools. Here we investigated the expression of a placenta-specific protein, Retrotransposon-like 1 (RTL1) in a series of BC tissues and cell lines.

The same and not the same: heterogeneous functional activation of prostate tumor cells by TLR ligation.

Background: Many types of tumors are organized in a hierarchy of heterogeneous cell populations with different molecular signature. Such heterogeneity may be associated with different responsiveness to microenvironment stimuli. In the present study, the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA), as well-known mediators of inflammation, on cancerous behavior of three prostate tumor cells, LNCaP, PC3 and DU145, were investigated.

Distribution of vitamin D receptor and 1α-hydroxylase in male mouse reproductive tract.

Vitamin D has been introduced as one of the main regulators of spermatogenesis. Here, for the first time, we evaluated the expression of vitamin D receptor (VDR) and 1α-hydroxylase in all organs of male mice reproductive tract by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Epithelial cells of epididymis, seminal vesicle, coagulating gland, ductus deferens, preputial gland, and prostate were the prominent cell types that concomitantly expressed VDR and 1α-hydroxylase.

Co-inheritance of hemoglobin D and β-thalassemia traits in three Iranian families: clinical relevance.

Here we report the result of three cases referred to our lab that had a combination of β-thalassemia and hemoglobin D (Hb D) traits. These individuals had no symptoms of profound anemia and hematological indices were similar to that of a β-thalassemia heterozygote. In all three cases, the Hb D level was elevated and no HbA was detected electrophoretically.