Mutational landscape of phenylketonuria in Iran

To date more than 1000 different variants in the PAH gene have been identified in patients with phenylketonuria (PKU). In Iran, several studies have been performed to investigate the genetics bases of the PKU in different parts of the country. In this study, we have analysed and present an update of the mutational landscape of the PAH gene as well as the population genetics and frequencies of detected variants for each cohort. Published articles on PKU mutations in Iran were identified through a comprehensive PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science (ISI), SCOPUS, Elsevier, Wiley Online Library and SID literature search using the terms: "phenylketonuria", "hyperphenylalaninemia", and "PKU" in combination with "Iran", "Iranian population", "mutation analysis", and "Molecular genetics". Among the literature-related to genetics of PKU, 18 studies were on the PKU mutations. According to these studies, in different populations of Iran 1497 patients were included for mutation detection that resulted in detection of 129 different mutations. Results of genetic analysis of the different cohorts of Iranian PKU patients show that the most prevalent mutation in Iran is the pathogenic splice variant c.1066-11G > A, occurring in 19.54% of alleles in the cohort. Four other common mutations were p.Arg261Gln, p.Pro281Leu, c.168 + 5G > C and p.Arg243Ter (8.18%, 6.45%, 5.88% and 3.7%, respectively). One notable feature of the studied populations is its high rate of consanguineous marriages. Considering this feature, determining the prevalent PKU mutations could be advantageous for designing screening and diagnostic panels in Iran.

Knockdown of microRNA-29a regulates the expression of apoptosis-related genes in MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells

MicroRNA (miR), as non-coding small RNA, are key regulators of cancer-related biological cell processes and contribute to tumor growth through regulation of groups of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of miR-29a on the expression of genes involved in apoptosis, including p21, B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2), p53 and survivin. The MCF-7 breast cancer cell line was transfected with anti-miR-29a and treated with Taxol in subdivided treatment groups including: Scramble; anti-miR-29a; anti-miR-29a + Taxol; Taxol; and control. Expression levels of p21, BCL-2, p53 and survivin were evaluated using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. miR-29a knockdown resulted in p21 and p53 upregulation and a decrease in survivin expression. These results indicated that miR-29a inhibition regulates apoptosis. The present data suggested that miR-29a inhibition may be a promising strategy for the induction of apoptosis of tumor cells.

Development of a multiplex real-time PCR assay for phylogenetic analysis of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is among major pathogens causing 80-90% of all episodes of urinary tract infections (UTIs). Recently, E. coli strains are divided into eight main phylogenetic groups including A, B1, B2, C, D, E, F, and clade I. This study was aimed to develop a rapid, sensitive, and specific multiplex real time PCR method capable of detecting phylogenetic groups of E. coli strains. This study was carried out on E. coli strains (isolated from the patient with UTI) in which the presence of all seven target genes had been confirmed in our previous phylogenetic study. An EvaGreen-based singleplex and multiplex real-time PCR with melting curve analysis was designed for simultaneous detection and differentiation of these genes. The primers were selected mainly based on the production of amplicons with melting temperatures (T_m) ranging from 82°C to 93°C and temperature difference of more than 1.5°C between each peak.The multiplex real-time PCR assays that have been developed in the present study were successful in detecting the eight main phylogenetic groups. Seven distinct melting peaks were discriminated, with Tm value of 93±0.8 for arpA, 89.2±0.1for chuA, 86.5±0.1 for yjaA, 82.3±0.2 for TspE4C2, 87.8±0.1for trpAgpC, 85.4±0.6 for arpAgpE genes, and 91±0.5 for the internal control. To our knowledge, this study is the first melting curve-based real-time PCR assay developed for simultaneous and discrete detection of these seven target genes. Our findings showed that this assay has the potential to be a rapid, reliable and cost-effective alternative for routine phylotyping of E. coli strains.

Knockdown of microRNA-29a Changes the Expression of Heat Shock Proteins in Breast Carcinoma MCF-7 Cells

Breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer among women. MicroRNAs as noncoding small RNA molecules play pivotal roles in cancer-related biological processes. Increased levels of microRNA-29a in the serum of breast cancer patients have been reported. Since heat shock proteins (HSPs) play important roles in cell events, the quantitative fluctuations in their cellular levels could be deemed as key indicators of how the exerted treatment alters cell behavior. In this regard, using an antisense small RNA, we attempted to investigate the effects of miR-29a knockdown on the expression of HSPs genes in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. MCF-7 cells were cultured in high-glucose Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium with 10% FBS. Studied cells were subdivided into five groups: treated with scramble, anti-miR-29a, anti-miR-29a + Taxol, Taxol, and control. Taxol was added 24 h post-anti-miR transfection and RNA extraction, and cDNA synthesis was done 48 h later. The changes in expression of HSP27, HSP40, HSP60, HSP70, and HSP90 were evaluated by real-time PCR. Our results revealed that inhibitors of microRNA-29a promote apoptosis through upregulation of HSP60 level and downregulation of HSP27, HSP40, HSP70, and HSP90 levels and could be contemplated as a compelling alternative for Taxol employment with similar effects and/or to sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy with fewer side effects.

A unique profile of adenomatous polyposis coli gene mutations in Iranian patients suffering sporadic colorectal cancer

OBJECTIVE

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common and aggressive cancers worldwide. The majority of CRC cases are sporadic that caused by somatic mutations. The Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC; OMIM 611731) is a tumor suppressor gene of Wnt pathway and is frequently mutated in CRC cases. This study was designed to investigate the spectrum of APC gene mutations in Iranian patients with sporadic colorectal cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this descriptive study, Tumor and normal tissue samples were obtained from thirty randomly selected and unrelated sporadic CRC patients. We examined the hotspot region of the APC gene in all patients. Our mutation detection method was direct DNA sequencing.

RESULTS

We found a total of 8 different APC mutations, including two nonsense mutations (c.4099C>T and c.4348C>T), two missense mutations (c.3236C>G and c.3527C>T) and four frame shift mutations (c.2804dupA, c.4317delT, c.4464_4471delATTACATT and c.4468_4469dupCA). The c.3236C>G and c.4468_4469dupCA are novel mutations. The overall frequency of APC mutation was 26.7% (8 of 30 patients).

CONCLUSION

This mutation rate is lower in comparison with previous studies from other countries. The findings of present study demonstrate a different APC mutation spectrum in CRC patients of Iranian origin compared with other populations.

A preliminary mutation analysis of phenylketonuria in southwest Iran

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a heterogeneous and autosomal recessive metabolic disorder that is mainly caused by mutations in the hepatic phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene. This study was designed to identify PAH mutations within exons 6, 7, and 10-12 in PKU patients from southwest Iran. Forty Iranian patients with clinical and biochemically confirmed PKU were enrolled. The exons were sequenced directly and 13 different mutations were identified including I224T, S231P, R176X, c.592_613del22, R243X, R252W, R261Q, Y356X, V388M, IVS10-11G>A, IVS11+1G>C, IVS11-2A>G, and Q375R, which were associated with 23 genotypes. A novel sequence variant, Q375R (c.1124A>G), was detected in exon 11. In one patient, a typical genotype with more than two mutations (R243X/S231P/S231P) was found. Seven different polymorphisms and three new variants were also detected in intron regions of PAH. A high mutation spectrum was predicted in the southwestern region of Iran due to its ethnic heterogeneity, especially the Khuzestan Province. The detection of 13 different mutations, corresponding to a mutation detection rate of 53.75%, confirmed this phenomenon.

Reliability of calcium-binding protein S100B measurement toward optimization of hyperosmolal therapy in traumatic brain injury

BACKGROUND

Osmotherapy is a cornerstone for the management of severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Hypertonic saline (HTS) has advantages as being preferred osmotic agent, but there is inadequte knowledge regarding dose and its saftey in comparison to mannitol. S100B, as a specific neuroinflammatory biomarker in TBI might be a reliable therapeutic index following osmotic therapy.

AIM

To compare both administration ways of HTS 5% (bolus and infusion) with mannitol upon S100B as a therapeutic tool for monitoring treatment in TBI patients.

METHOD

Adult patients wih modrate to severe TBI were recruited and have randomly received one of the three protocols: 125 cc of HTS 5% every 6 hrs (N: 11) as bolus; 500 cc of HTS 5% (N: 12) as infusion for 24 hrs; or 1 g/kg mannitol of 20% (N: 10) as a bolus, repeated with a dose of 0.25-0.5 g/kg every 6 hrs based on patient's response for 3 days. Serum S100B, blood pressure, serum sodium and osmolality and Glascow coma score (GCS) were measured at baseline and daily for 3 days.

RESULTS

Initial serum S100B level in TBI patients was higher than control group (p < 0.0001). Levels of measured S100B have decreased for all treatment groups, but reduction wasn't significantly after hyperosmolal therapy. GCS level increased significantly in infusion group (p = 0.002) and there were negative and significant correlation between serum S100B level and GCS level in some days. Mean arterial pressure increased significantly in HTS groups (bolus: p = 0.002, infusion < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

S100B is closely related to the pathophysiological mechanism in TBI and may be useful as a therapeutic tool for treatment monitoring in TBI patients HTS is a safe and effective osmotic agent in TBI setting.  

Resistance of wheat lines to Rhopalosiphum padi (Hemiptera: Aphididae) under laboratory conditions

Bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.), a polyphagous species with a nearly worldwide distribution, is an important pest of wheat as well as the main vector of barley yellow dwarf virus. We evaluated the resistance categories of eight wheat lines including antibiosis, antixenosis, and tolerance against R. padi under laboratory conditions. The wheat lines tested were ERWYT 88-8, ERWYT 87-6, and ERWYT 87-4 (resistant); ERWYT 87-1, ERWYT 87-20, and ERWYT 88-11 (susceptible); ERWYT 88-12 and ERWYT 88-13 (intermediate). In the antibiosis experiment, R. padi produced fewest progeny on ERWYT 88-8, ERWYT 87-6, and ERWYT 87-4 in reproduction period. In the antixenosis test, R. padi performed best on ERWYT 87-1, ERWYT 87-20, and ERWYT 88-11. Fewer apterous aphids selected ERWYT 88-8, ERWYT 87-4, and ERWYT 87-6 lines indicating antixenosis of these lines to R. padi. In tolerance experiments, however growth parameters differed between treated and untreated seedlings of wheat lines with 10 aphids per day infestation during 21-d period, but not among eight wheat lines. The plant resistance index values were greatest for ERWYT 88-8 (9.71), followed by ERWYT 87-4 (7.04) and ERWYT 87-6 (4.76). ERWYT 88-8, ERWYT 87-6, and ERWYT 87-4 may be important sources of R. padi resistance for small grain breeding and integrated pest management programs.