Anti-Cancer Effects of Probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus for Colorectal Cancer Cell Line Caco-2 through Apoptosis Induction

Background: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Probiotics are useful and non-pathogenic microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract, which can show anticancer activity through the induction of apoptosis. This study aimed to evaluate the antiproliferative effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus probiotic on the Caco-2 colorectal cancer cell line. Methods: The supernatant (secreted metabolites) and bacterial extract of L. acidophilus probiotics were prepared and used as an anti-proliferative agent on the colorectal cancer cell line, Caco-2 in vitro. The effects of supernatant and extract of L. acidophilus were evaluated on the viability and proliferation of cancer cells using MTT assay. Moreover, morphological alterations of cancer cells treated with supernatant and extract of L. acidophilus were evaluated by an inverted phase contrast microscope. The mRNA expression levels of apoptosis-related genes (SURVIVIN and SMAC) in treated cancer cells and untreated controls were evaluated using the Real-Time PCR method. Results: The results showed that the supernatant and extract of L. acidophilus inhibited the viability and proliferation of cancer cells in a dose and time-dependent manner. Moreover, various morphological alterations were observed in the treated cancer cells, which are indicators of apoptosis induction. The mRNA expression of SURVIVIN and SMAC genes were significantly up-regulated and downregulated in the treated cancer cells, respectively. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggested that the supernatant and extract of L.acidophilus could inhibit the viability and proliferation of colorectal cancer cell line, Caco-2through induction of apoptosis, increase the survival rate of colon cancer patients.

First Serological & Molecular Study of Coxiella burnetii in Stray, Domestic Cats, and Their Owners in Iran

Coxiella burnetii, the agent of Q fever, is recognized as a worldwide zoonosis a wide host and potentially complex reservoir systems. Infected ruminants are the main source of infection for humans, but cats also represent a potential source of infection. The prevalence of C burnetii in cats in Iran is unknown and the risks of transmission to humans are undetermined. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of C burnetii in domestic cats and their owners. An Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used for detection of anti-C burnetii antibodies in both cats and humans. Cats serum samples and humans serum samples (n = 85) were tested with indirect ELISA. C burnetii was diagnosed using real time- polymerase chain reaction. Antibodies were detected in 19 sera of 85 (22.35%) samples in stray cats, 9 sera of 78 (11.53%) samples of domestic cats and 4 sera of 78 (5.12%) samples of their owners. This first study of C burnetii prevalence in cats in Iran has indicated that positive samples can be found throughout the country and these results confirm that Iranian cats have been exposed to C burnetii. Moreover, this study demonstrates that cat owners, breeders and veterinary personnel might be at higher risk of exposure of C burnetii.

Association of rs1946518 C/A Polymorphism in Promoter Region of Interleukin 18 Gene and Breast Cancer Risk in Iranian Women: A Case-control Study

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in the world. Genetic polymorphisms in Interleukin (IL) genes are one of the most important risk factors in BC. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of rs1946518 C/A polymorphism in the promoter region of the IL-18 gene and BC risk in Iranian women. In this case-control study, we recruited 140 women with BC as a case group and 140 age and ethnically matched women as healthy controls from East Azerbaijan, Tabriz in Iran. The genomic DNA was extracted using a salting-out method from peripheral blood leukocytes. Genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The genotype distribution in BC patients was 37.86% CC, 47.14% CA, and 15.00% AA, whereas in healthy controls these were 40.72% CC, 42.85% CA, and 16.43% AA. Statistical analysis showed that the genotype and allele frequencies of IL-18 rs1946518 C/A polymorphism were not significantly different between BC patients and healthy controls (p>0.05). The only significant difference between cases and controls was related to family history (p=0.023). In conclusion, our study indicated that IL-18 rs1946518 C/A polymorphism was not associated with BC in the Iranian women population. However, more studies on different races and geographic areas are required to determine the exact role of rs1946518 C/A polymorphism in prognosis, diagnosis, and risk of BC.