Potential role of human umbilical cord stem cells-derived exosomes as novel molecular inhibitors of hepatocellular carcinoma growth

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most critical cancers; thus, novel therapeutical regimens are of great need. In this study, we investigated the effects of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) derived exosomes on HepG2 cell line, and the underlying mechanism to control HCC proliferation, to identify the potential clinical role of exosomes as a novel molecular therapeutic target. Proliferation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis effects were assessed together with the cell viability evaluation by MTT assay in HepG2 cells at 24/48 h. with or without UC-MSCs-derived exosomes. Gene expressions of TNF-α, caspase-3, VEGF, stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), and CX chemokine receptor-4 (CXCR-4) were measured by quantitative real-time PCR technique. Expression of sirtuin-1 (SIRT-1) protein was detected by western blot. Treatment of HepG2 cells with UC-MSCs-derived exosomes for 24 and 48 h. demonstrated a significant reduction of cells survival compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The SIRT-1 protein, and VEGF, SDF-1, CXCR-4 expression levels were significantly lower, TNF-α and caspase-3 expression levels were significantly higher in exosomal-treated HepG2 cells for 24 and 48 h. than those in the control group. Moreover, our findings documented that the anti-proliferative, apoptotic, and anti-angiogenic effects were achieved in a time-dependent manner in which more effects were determined after 48 h supplementation compared to 24 h (p < 0.05). UC-MSCs-derived exosomes exert anticarcinogenic molecular effects on HepG2 cells through the involvement of SIRT-1, SDF-1, and CXCR-4. Hence, exosomes would be a potential novel therapy regimen against HCC. Large-scale studies are recommended to verify this conclusion.

Copeptin, miRNA-208, and miRNA-499 as New Biomarkers for Early Detection of Acute Coronary Syndrome

cTn and CK-MB are gold standard biomarkers for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) but are less sensitive in the first 3 h after onset of symptoms. A need thus exists for novel biomarkers for early detection of ACS. We evaluated circulating copeptin, miRNA-208, and miRNA-499 as possible biomarkers for early detection of unstable angina (UA) and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Sixty-five patients with probable ACS that presented within 4 h of the onset of chest pain (23 UA and 42 NSTEMI) and 25 apparently healthy individuals were studied. Two sets of blood samples collected in the first 3 h and at 6 h after onset were analyzed for copeptin levels via ELISA and miRNA-208 and miRNA-499 expression via real-time PCR. Copeptin, miRNA-208, and miRNA-499 expression levels were significantly increased in UA and NSTEMI patients compared with controls (p < 0.001) and in NSTEMT compared with UA patients (p < 0.001). Levels were also significantly elevated in UA and NSTEMI patients with negative cardiac troponin in the first 3 h (p < 0.001). ROC curves displayed AUC for prediction of ACS of 0.96 for copeptin, 0.97 for miRNA-208, and 0.97 for miRNA-499. Their combination improved AUC to 0.98. Copeptin and miRNA-208 and miRNA-499 expression are promising biomarkers for UA and NSTEMI that present in the first 3 h of pain onset. A combination of these markers with cTn may increase the accuracy of diagnosis by avoiding the gray zone of cTn as a biomarker.

Genetic polymorphism of lysyl oxidase, glutathione S-transferase M1, glutathione-S-transferase T1, and glutathione S-transferase P1 genes as risk factors for lung cancer in Egyptian patients

Lung cancer is a lethal malignancy and is affected by genetic polymorphisms that contribute to an individual's susceptibility to developing the disease. Several studies on lung cancer showed conflicting results. The aim of this study is to investigate whether individual or combined modifying effects of LOX G/A, GSTM1 active/null, GSTT1 active/null and GSTP1 Ile/Val polymorphisms are related to the risk of lung cancer in relation to smoking in the Egyptian population. This study is a hospital-based case control study that included 200 patients and 200 control subjects. Genotyping of the 4 studied genes was determined by Multiplex PCR for GSTM1 and GSTT1 and Taq man SNP assay for GSTP1 and LOX genes. The LOX G/A and GSTP1 Ile/Val in both homozygous and heterozygous variants, and the GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotype showed significant association with lung cancer. Combination between gene polymorphism and smoking increased the risk of developing cancer by 2.7 fold in the LOX GA+AA variant, 1.9 fold in the GSTM1 null variant, 4.8 fold in the GSTT1 null variant and 4.3 fold in the GSTP1 Ile/Val+Val/Val variant. The genetic combination (LOX GA+AA/GSTT1 active, LOX GG/GSTT1 null, LOX GA+AA/GSTT1 null, LOX GA+AA/GSTP1 Ile/Ile, LOX GG/GSTP1 Ile/Val+Val/Val and LOX GA+AA/GSTP1 Ile/Val+Val/Val) led to a higher lung cancer risk, compared to the reference group. The LOX GA/AA, GSTM1 null, GSTT1 null and GSTP1 Ile/Val, Val/Val genotypes contributed to increased lung cancer susceptibility. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of LOX genotyping in the Egyptian population. The combination of genotypes increased the risk of cancer, indicating the importance of gene-gene interaction and giving a targeted preventive approach.

Effect of Hesperidin against Induced Colon Cancer in Rats: Impact of Smad4 and Activin A Signaling Pathway

SCOPE

To evaluate the chemopreventive efficacy of hesperidin (Hsd) in 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colorectal cancer (CRC) and demonstrate its role in mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 4(Smad4) and activin A signaling pathways.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A CRC rat model was established by DMH exposure, and the animals were randomly divided into five groups: Control group, Hsd, DMH, DMH + Hsd, and DMH followed by Hsd. The resected colon was subjected to macroscopic, microscopic, molecular, histopathological, and immunohistochemical examination. Activin A, Smad4, malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), reduced glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in tissues were also measured. The DMH group exhibited a significant increase in the gene and protein expression of activin A as well as MDA and NO levels in tissues. There was a significant reduction in the gene and protein expression of Smad4 as well as GSH and SOD levels in tissues. Administration of Hsd significantly upregulated Smad4 and activin A gene expressions in both the DMH + Hsd and DMH followed by Hsd groups. Moreover, Hsd improved the antioxidant status of the former two groups.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated the chemopreventive effect of Hsd against CRC by modulating Smad4 and activin A signaling in vivo. Further studies are needed to demonstrate its clinical value and explore its possible role in advanced malignancy.

Role of miRNA-210, miRNA-21 and miRNA-126 as diagnostic biomarkers in colorectal carcinoma: impact of HIF-1α-VEGF signaling pathway

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of death worldwide. Novel non-invasive, high diagnostic value screening test is urgently needed to improve survival rate, treatment and prognosis. Stable, small, circulating microRNA (miRNA) offers unique opportunities for the early diagnosis of several diseases. It acts as tumor oncogenes or suppressors and involve in cell death, survival, and metastasis. Communication between miRNA and carcinogenesis is critical but it still not clear and needs further investigation. The aim of our study is to evaluate the role of miR-210, miR-21, miR-126, as non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers for screening, early detection of CRC, studying their correlation with prognostic variables, and clarifying the roles of miRNAs on HIF-1α-VEGF signaling pathway. The expression of miR-210, miR-21 and miR-126 was performed using qRT-PCR in adenocarcinoma (no = 35), adenomas (no = 51), and neoplasm free controls (no = 101). Serum levels of VEGF and HIF-1α was determined by ELISA Kit. The results show that the expression of miR-210, miR-21, VEGF, HIF-1α was significantly up-regulated while that miRNA-126 was down-regulated in both adenocarcinoma and adenomas compared with controls (p < 0.001 for each). No significant difference was noted comparing patients with adenocarcinoma and adenomas. The three miRNAs correlated with VEGF, HIF-α. The miR-210 and miR-21 associated with TNM classification and clinical staging of adenocarcinoma (p < 0.001) and they show high diagnostic value with sensitivity and specificity 88.6%, 90.1% and 91.4%, 95.0% respectively. Our study revealed that circulating miR-210, miR-21 were up-regulated while miR-126 was down-regulated in CRC and adenomas patients, they all correlated with TNM staging and they had high diagnostic value. HIF-1α VEGF signaling pathways regulated by miRNAs played a role in colon cancer initiation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of this miRNAs panel in CRC in our community. These data suggested that these biomarkers could be a potential novel, non-invasive marker for early diagnosis, screening and predicting prognosis of CRC. Understanding the molecular functions by which miRNAs affect cancer and understanding its roles in modulating the signaling output of VEGF might be fruitful in reducing the incidence and slowing the progression of this dark malignancy.

Essential Role of IL-12 in Angiogenesis in Type 2 Diabetes

Recently, IL-12 emerged as a critical player in type 2 diabetes complications. We previously reported that ischemia-induced angiogenesis is compromised in type 2 diabetic mice. In this study, we determined that IL-12 disruption rescued angiogenesis and arteriogenesis in type 2 diabetic mice. To induce type 2 diabetes, wild-type (WT), p40IL-12^-/- (p40^-/-), and p35IL-12^-/- (p35^-/-) mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks. Body weight, glucose test tolerance, and insulin test tolerance were assessed. After 12 weeks of an HFD, the femoral artery was ligated and blood flow recovery was measured every week for 4 weeks. WT, p40^-/-, and p35^-/- mice fed an HFD become obese after 12 weeks and exhibit glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. Blood flow recovery was fully restored in 2 to 3 weeks after femoral artery ligation in all groups of mice fed a normal diet. However, after 12 weeks of an HFD, blood flow recovery was compromised in WT mice, whereas it was fully recovered in p40^-/- and p35^-/- mice. The mechanism of blood flow recovery involves an increase in capillary/arteriole density, endothelial nitric oxide synthase/Akt/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 signaling, and a reduction in oxidative stress and inflammation. The disruption of IL-12 promotes angiogenesis and increases blood flow recovery in obese type 2 diabetic mice by an endothelial nitric oxide synthase/Akt/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2/oxidative stress-inflammation-dependent mechanism.

Obesity risk prediction among women of Upper Egypt: The impact of serum vaspin and vaspin rs2236242 gene polymorphism

BACKGROUND

Vaspin is an adipokine that is potentially linking obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and type-2 diabetes.

AIM

The present study aimed to investigate the impact of vaspin rs2236242 gene polymorphism on the risk of obesity, diabetes, their metabolic traits, and serum vaspin levels in a sample of Upper Egyptian women.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A total of 224 subjects, 112 obese (62 non diabetics, 50 diabetics) and 112 controls were included in this case control study. Vaspin gene rs2236242 polymorphism was performed using tetra-amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (T-ARMS-PCR) and serum vaspin levels were estimated by ELISA.

RESULTS

The minor (A) allele of vaspin rs2236242 gene polymorphism was significantly lower in obese (30.8%) than controls (43.7%) (P=0.005). The protective effect was evident in dominant and recessive inheritance models (TT vs TA+AA, P=0.004 and TT+TA vs AA, P=0.036). After adjusting genotypes for diabetes there were no significant association between vaspin rs2236242 gene polymorphism and obesity but significant association was maintained in the obese diabetics. Vaspin serum levels were found to be lower in minor protective (AA) genotype carriers than the other two genotypes (P<0.001). In the mean-time serum vaspin levels were significantly higher in obese diabetics and non-diabetics than controls (P<0.001 each).There were significant positive correlations between vaspin levels and hs-CRP, cholesterol, LDL-C, fasting glucose, HOMA-IR, insulin, and ALT values (P<0.05 each) and a negative correlation with HDL-C (P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

The minor A allele of vaspin rs2236242 polymorphism plays a protective role against obesity and diabetes but this relation is largely ascribed to its effect on insulin resistance. The serum vaspin concentration was lower in minor protective allele carriers. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of vaspin SNP in Upper Egyptian women. The entire understanding of vaspin intimate mechanistic action might enable the development of novel etiology-based treatment strategies for obesity, the complex genetic trait.

Oxidative stress, trace elements, and circulating microparticles in patients with Gaucher disease before and after enzyme replacement therapy

We studied the level of lipid peroxide, nitric oxide (NO), trace elements (TEs), and microparticles (MPs) in Gaucher disease (GD) before and after 1 year of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). A total of 15 children with GD and 15 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Serum level of lipid peroxide, NO, and TEs was determined. The MPs were detected by flow cytometry. The level of lipid peroxide was significantly higher in the patients than in the controls even after ERT. Although NO level was normalized in the patients after ERT, zinc and copper were still lower in the patients after ERT. The percentages of various MPs were significantly higher in the patients than in the controls both before and after ERT. There were positive correlations between chitotriosidase and both lipid peroxide and total MPs.

CONCLUSION

The GD is associated with alteration in oxidant and antioxidant status and high level of circulating MPs.