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Borgonetti V, Galeotti N. Posttranscriptional Regulation of Gene Expression Participates in the Myelin Restoration in Mouse Models of Multiple Sclerosis: Antisense Modulation of HuR and HuD ELAV RNA Binding Protein. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:2661-2677. [PMID: 36696009 PMCID: PMC10039839 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03236-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is the most difficult-to-treat pain syndrome in multiple sclerosis. Evidence relates neuropathic pain to demyelination, which often originates from unresolved neuroinflammation or altered immune response. Posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression might play a fundamental role in the regulation of these processes. The ELAV RNA-binding proteins HuR and HuD are involved in the promotion of inflammatory phenomena and in neuronal development and maintenance, respectively. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of HuR and HuD in demyelination-associated neuropathic pain in the mouse experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model. HuR resulted overexpressed in the spinal cord of MOG35-55-EAE and PLP139-151-EAE mice and was detected in CD11b + cells. Conversely, HuD was largely downregulated in the MOG-EAE spinal cord, along with GAP43 and neurofilament H, while in PLP-EAE mice, HuD and neuronal markers remained unaltered. Intranasal antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) delivery to knockdown HuR, increased myelin basic protein expression, and Luxol Fast Blue staining in both EAE models, an indication of increased myelin content. These effects temporally coincided with attenuation of pain hypersensitivity. Anti-HuR ASO increased the expression of HuD in GAP43-expressing cells and promoted a HuD-mediated neuroprotective activity in MOG-EAE mice, while in PLP-EAE mice, HuR silencing dampened pro-inflammatory responses mediated by spinal microglia activation. In conclusion, anti-HuR ASO showed myelin protection at analgesic doses with multitarget mechanisms, and it deserves further consideration as an innovative agent to counteract demyelination in neuropathic pain states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittoria Borgonetti
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmacology, University of Florence, Viale G. Pieraccini 6, I-50139, Florence, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Galeotti
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmacology, University of Florence, Viale G. Pieraccini 6, I-50139, Florence, Italy.
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Digital color-coded molecular barcoding reveals dysregulation of common FUS and FMRP targets in soma and neurites of ALS mutant motoneurons. Cell Death Dis 2023; 9:33. [PMID: 36702823 PMCID: PMC9879958 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01340-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in RNA binding proteins (RBPs) have been linked to the motor neuron disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Extensive auto-regulation, cross-regulation, cooperation and competition mechanisms among RBPs are in place to ensure proper expression levels of common targets, often including other RBPs and their own transcripts. Moreover, several RBPs play a crucial role in the nervous system by localizing target RNAs in specific neuronal compartments. These include the RBPs FUS, FMRP, and HuD. ALS mutations in a given RBP are predicted to produce a broad impact on such delicate equilibrium. Here we studied the effects of the severe FUS-P525L mutation on common FUS and FMRP targets. Expression profiling by digital color-coded molecular barcoding in cell bodies and neurites of human iPSC-derived motor neurons revealed altered levels of transcripts involved in the cytoskeleton, neural projection and synapses. One of the common targets is HuD, which is upregulated because of the loss of FMRP binding to its 3'UTR due to mutant FUS competition. Notably, many genes are commonly altered upon FUS mutation or HuD overexpression, suggesting that a substantial part of the effects of mutant FUS on the motor neuron transcriptome could be due to HuD gain-of-function. Among altered transcripts, we also identified other common FUS and FMRP targets, namely MAP1B, PTEN, and AP2B1, that are upregulated upon loss of FMRP binding on their 3'UTR in FUS-P525L motor neurons. This work demonstrates that the impairment of FMRP function by mutant FUS might alter the expression of several genes, including new possible biomarkers and therapeutic targets for ALS.
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Pacwa A, Machowicz J, Akhtar S, Rodak P, Liu X, Pietrucha-Dutczak M, Lewin-Kowalik J, Amadio M, Smedowski A. Deficiency of the RNA-binding protein ELAVL1/HuR leads to the failure of endogenous and exogenous neuroprotection of retinal ganglion cells. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1131356. [PMID: 36874215 PMCID: PMC9982123 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1131356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction ELAVL1/HuR is a keystone regulator of gene expression at the posttranscriptional level, including stress response and homeostasis maintenance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of hur silencing on the age-related degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGC), which potentially describes the efficiency of endogenous neuroprotection mechanisms, as well as to assess the exogenous neuroprotection capacity of hur-silenced RGC in the rat glaucoma model. Methods The study consisted of in vitro and in vivo approaches. In vitro, we used rat B-35 cells to investigate, whether AAV-shRNA-HuR delivery affects survival and oxidative stress markers under temperature and excitotoxic insults. In vivo approach consisted of two different settings. In first one, 35 eight-week-old rats received intravitreal injection of AAV-shRNA-HuR or AAV-shRNA scramble control. Animals underwent electroretinography tests and were sacrificed 2, 4 or 6 months after injection. Retinas and optic nerves were collected and processed for immunostainings, electron microscopy and stereology. For the second approach, animals received similar gene constructs. To induce chronic glaucoma, 8 weeks after AAV injection, unilateral episcleral vein cauterization was performed. Animals from each group received intravitreal injection of metallothionein II. Animals underwent electroretinography tests and were sacrificed 8 weeks later. Retinas and optic nerves were collected and processed for immunostainings, electron microscopy and stereology. Results Silencing of hur induced apoptosis and increased oxidative stress markers in B-35 cells. Additionally, shRNA treatment impaired the cellular stress response to temperature and excitotoxic insults. In vivo, RGC count was decreased by 39% in shRNA-HuR group 6 months after injection, when compared to shRNA scramble control group. In neuroprotection study, the average loss of RGCs was 35% in animals with glaucoma treated with metallothionein and shRNA-HuR and 11.4% in animals with glaucoma treated with metallothionein and the scramble control shRNA. An alteration in HuR cellular content resulted in diminished photopic negative responses in the electroretinogram. Conclusions Based on our findings, we conclude that HuR is essential for the survival and efficient neuroprotection of RGC and that the induced alteration in HuR content accelerates both the age-related and glaucoma-induced decline in RGC number and function, further confirming HuR's key role in maintaining cell homeostasis and its possible involvement in the pathogenesis of glaucoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Pacwa
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland.,GlaucoTech Co., Katowice, Poland
| | - Joanna Machowicz
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Saeed Akhtar
- College of Applied Medical Sciences, Inaya Medical Colleges, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Optometry, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Piotr Rodak
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Xiaonan Liu
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland.,Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marita Pietrucha-Dutczak
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Joanna Lewin-Kowalik
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland.,GlaucoTech Co., Katowice, Poland
| | - Marialaura Amadio
- Department of Drug Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, The University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Adrian Smedowski
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland.,GlaucoTech Co., Katowice, Poland
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Will Cannabigerol Trigger Neuroregeneration after a Spinal Cord Injury? An In Vitro Answer from NSC-34 Scratch-Injured Cells Transcriptome. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15020117. [PMID: 35215230 PMCID: PMC8875351 DOI: 10.3390/ph15020117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury affects the lives of millions of people around the world, often causing disability and, in unfortunate circumstances, death. Rehabilitation can partly improve outcomes and only a small percentage of patients, typically the least injured, can hope to return to normal living conditions. Cannabis sativa is gaining more and more interest in recent years, even though its beneficial properties have been known for thousands of years. Cannabigerol (CBG), extracted from C. sativa, is defined as the “mother of all cannabinoids” and its properties range from anti-inflammatory to antioxidant and neuroprotection. Using NSC-34 cells to model spinal cord injury in vitro, our work evaluated the properties of CBG treatments in motor neuron regeneration. While pre-treatment can modulate oxidative stress and increase antioxidant enzyme genes, such as Tnx1, decreasing Nos1 post-treatment seems to induce regeneration genes by triggering different pathways, such as Gap43 via p53 acetylation by Ep300 and Ddit3 and Xbp1 via Bdnf signaling, along with cytoskeletal remodeling signaling genes Nrp1 and Map1b. Our results indicate CBG as a phytocompound worth further investigation in the field of neuronal regeneration.
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Sénécal V, Barat C, Tremblay MJ. The delicate balance between neurotoxicity and neuroprotection in the context of HIV-1 infection. Glia 2020; 69:255-280. [PMID: 32910482 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) causes a spectrum of neurological impairments, termed HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), following the infiltration of infected cells into the brain. Even though the implementation of antiretroviral therapy reduced the systemic viral load, the prevalence of HAND remains unchanged and infected patients develop persisting neurological disturbances affecting their quality of life. As a result, HAND have gained importance in basic and clinical researches, warranting the need of developing new adjunctive treatments. Nonetheless, a better understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms remains necessary. Several studies consolidated their efforts into elucidating the neurotoxic signaling leading to HAND including the deleterious actions of HIV-1 viral proteins and inflammatory mediators. However, the scope of these studies is not sufficient to address all the complexity related to HAND development. Fewer studies focused on an altered neuroprotective capacity of the brain to respond to HIV-1 infection. Neurotrophic factors are endogenous polyproteins involved in neuronal survival, synaptic plasticity, and neurogenesis. Any defects in the processing or production of these crucial factors might compose a risk factor rendering the brain more vulnerable to neuronal damages. Due to their essential roles, they have been investigated for their diverse interplays with HIV-1 infection. In this review, we present a complete description of the neurotrophic factors involved in HAND. We discuss emerging concepts for their therapeutic applications and summarize the complex mechanisms that down-regulate their production in favor of a neurotoxic environment. For certain factors, we finally address opposing roles that rather lead to increased inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Sénécal
- Axe des Maladies Infectieuses et Immunitaires, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Pavillon CHUL, Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Corinne Barat
- Axe des Maladies Infectieuses et Immunitaires, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Pavillon CHUL, Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Michel J Tremblay
- Axe des Maladies Infectieuses et Immunitaires, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Pavillon CHUL, Québec, Quebec, Canada.,Département de Microbiologie-infectiologie et immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada
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Peregud D, Panchenko L, Gulyaeva N. Chronic morphine intoxication reduces binding of HuD to BDNF long 3'-UTR, while morphine withdrawal stimulates BDNF expression in the frontal cortex of male Wistar rats. Int J Neurosci 2020; 132:283-295. [PMID: 32783781 DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2020.1809395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mediates opiate dependence phenomenon. In the brain of morphine dependent animals BDNF level is controlled transcriptionally, however, post-transcriptional mechanisms of BDNF regulation in this context remain unknown. Regulation of mRNA by binding of specific proteins to the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) is one of such mechanisms. Among RNA-binding proteins neuronal Hu antigen D (HuD) is the best characterized positive regulator of BDNF, however its involvement in opiate dependence remains obscure. We suggested that HuD binding to the BDNF 3'-UTR may be linked to changes in BDNF expression induced by morphine. The aim of this study was to investigate potential association of HuD with BDNF 3'-UTR in relation to BDNF expression (Exon- and 3'-UTR-specific mRNA variants and protein level) in the frontal cortex and midbrain of male Wistar rats after chronic morphine intoxication and spontaneous withdrawal in dependent animals. RESULTS After chronic morphine intoxication but not during morphine withdrawal HuD binding to the long BDNF 3'-UTR in the frontal cortex decreased as compared with the corresponding control group, however after intoxication BDNF expression did not change. The level of BDNF Exon I as well as mature BDNF polypeptide increased in the frontal cortex upon morphine withdrawal, while no changes in HuD binding could be detected. CONCLUSION Thus, contrary to the assumption, HuD-BDNF 3'-UTR interaction and BDNF expression in the frontal cortex differentially change in a manner dependent on the context of morphine action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danil Peregud
- Federal State Budgetary Institution "V. Serbsky National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Drug Addiction" of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia.,Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Leonid Panchenko
- Federal State Budgetary Institution "V. Serbsky National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Drug Addiction" of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia.,Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Natalia Gulyaeva
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,Healthcare Department of Moscow, Moscow Research and Clinical Center for Neuropsychiatry, Moscow, Russia
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Cheng H, Wu LY. Influence of Phosphatidylinositol-3-Kinase/Protein Kinase B-Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Signaling Pathway on the Neuropathic Pain Complicated by Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors for the Treatment of HIV Infection. Chin Med J (Engl) 2018; 131:1849-1856. [PMID: 30058583 PMCID: PMC6071467 DOI: 10.4103/0366-6999.237398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) are the earliest and most commonly used anti-human immunodeficiency virus drugs and play an important role in high active antiretroviral therapy. However, NRTI drug therapy can cause peripheral neuropathic pain. In this study, we aimed to investigate the mechanisms of rapamycin on the pain sensitization of model mice by in vivo experiments to explore the effect of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain caused by NRTIs. Methods: Male Kun Ming (KM) mice weighing 20–22 g were divided into control, 2 mg/kg rapamycin, 12 mg/kg stavudine, and CMC-Na groups. Drugs were orally administered to mice for 42 consecutive days. The von Frey filament detection and thermal pain tests were conducted on day 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 after drug administration. After the last behavioral tests, immunohistochemistry and western blotting assay were used for the measurement of mTOR and other biomarkers. Multivariate analysis of variance was used. Results: The beneficial effects of rapamycin on neuropathic pain were attributed to a reduction in mammalian target of rapamycin sensitive complex 1 (mTORC1)-positive cells (70.80 ± 2.41 vs. 112.30 ± 5.66, F = 34.36, P < 0.01) and mTORC1 activity in the mouse spinal cord. Mechanistic studies revealed that Protein Kinase B (Akt)/mTORsignaling pathway blockade with rapamycin prevented the phosphorylation of mTORC1 in stavudine-intoxicated mice (0.72 ± 0.04 vs. 0.86 ± 0.03, F = 4.24, P = 0.045), as well as decreased the expression of phospho-p70S6K (0.47 ± 0.01 vs. 0.68 ± 0.03, F = 6.01, P = 0.022) and phospho-4EBP1 (0.90 ± 0.04 vs. 0.94 ± 0.06, F = 0.28, P = 0.646). Conclusions: Taken together, these results suggest that stavudine elevates the expression and activity of mTORC1 in the spinal cord through activating the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. The data also provide evidence that rapamycin might be useful for the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Cheng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China
| | - Liang-Yu Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China
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Sanna MD, Ghelardini C, Galeotti N. HuD-mediated distinct BDNF regulatory pathways promote regeneration after nerve injury. Brain Res 2017; 1659:55-63. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2017.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2016] [Revised: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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9
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Galeotti N. Targeting JNK to prevent antiretroviral neuropathy. Oncotarget 2017; 8:12546-12547. [PMID: 28179580 PMCID: PMC5355030 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nicoletta Galeotti
- Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Yousefi B, Sanooghi D, Faghihi F, Joghataei MT, Latifi N. Evaluation of motor neuron differentiation potential of human umbilical cord blood- derived mesenchymal stem cells, in vitro. J Chem Neuroanat 2017; 81:18-26. [PMID: 28153469 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2017.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2016] [Revised: 12/25/2016] [Accepted: 01/22/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Many people suffer from spinal cord injuries annually. These deficits usually threaten the quality of life of patients. As a postpartum medically waste product, human Umbilical Cord Blood (UCB) is a rich source of stem cells with self- renewal properties and neural differentiation capacity which made it useful in regenerative medicine. Since there is no report on potential of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells into motor neurons, we set out to evaluate the differentiation properties of these cells into motor neuron-like cells through administration of Retinoic Acid(RA), Sonic Hedgehog(Shh) and BDNF using a three- step in vitro procedure. The results were evaluated using Real-time PCR, Flowcytometry and Immunocytochemistry for two weeks. Our data showed that the cells changed into bipolar morphology and could express markers related to motor neuron; including Hb-9, Pax-6, Islet-1, NF-H, ChAT at the level of mRNA and protein. We could also quantitatively evaluate the expression of Islet-1, ChAT and NF-H at 7 and 14days post- induction using flowcytometry. It is concluded that human UCB-MSCs is potent to express motor neuron- related markers in the presence of RA, Shh and BDNF through a three- step protocol; thus it could be a suitable cell candidate for regeneration of motor neurons in spinal cord injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behnam Yousefi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Davood Sanooghi
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Faezeh Faghihi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Taghi Joghataei
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Neuroscience, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Nourahmad Latifi
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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