Dysregulation of miR-193a serves as a potential contributor to MS pathogenesis via affecting RhoA and Rock1

BACKGROUND

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common neurological diseases that cause chronic inflammation of the central nervous system and demyelination of the myelin sheath. At present, microRNAs (miRNAs) are considered not only a diagnostic and prognostic indicator of diseases but also a new goal in gene therapy. This study aims to find a simple, non-invasive, valuable biomarker for early detection and potential treatment of MS.

METHODS

In the present study, 30 patients with MS were included. The qRT-PCR method was performed to evaluate the expression level of miR-193a, RhoA, and ROCK1. Besides, western blotting was performed to determine the expression level of RhoA and ROCK1 at protein levels. Moreover, we aimed to clarify the possible correlation between miR-193a-5p and its-regulated target genes so that miR-193a-5p mimic was transfected into MS-derived cultured PBMSs, and the expression level of RhoA and ROCK1 were then evaluated by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. In the final step, the correlation between miR-193a-5p and clinicopathological features of patients was investigated.

RESULTS

Results showed that miR-193a was decreased while RhoA and ROCK1 were up-regulated in PBMCs obtained from patients with MS compared to the control group. It was also revealed that miR-193a transfection reduced RhoA and ROCK1 expression at mRNA and protein levels. The results from the Chi-square analysis showed that down-regulation of miR-193a was associated with increased CRP level, CSF IgG positivity, and MSSS (Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score), suggesting miR-193a is a potential diagnostic and prognostic indicator.

CONCLUSION

We implied that miR-193a could modulate RhoA and ROCK 1 expression in MS patients, in which its down-regulation leads to increased expression of RhoA and ROCK1 and poor prognosis of patients with MS. Therefore, miR-193a and its associated targets could serve potential prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic efficacy in MS patients.

A mechanistic first-principles study on N2 reduction reaction catalyzed by Ni4 supported defective graphene

The electrochemical reduction of N₂ is an important industrial process, which offers an alternative route to the Haber-Bosch procedure for NH₃ production. Here, by the method of first-principles calculations, we introduce Ni₄ supported defective graphene (Ni₄-Gr) as an efficient substrate to convert N₂ into NH₃. The enzymatic, alternating and distal mechanisms are investigated for N₂ reduction to explore catalytic activity of Ni₄-Gr surface. By analyzing the free energy diagrams, it is obtained that Ni₄-Gr exhibits high catalytic performance for N₂ reduction via the enzymatic pathway with an overpotential value of 0.50 V at normal temperature.

Investigation of Characteristics and Behavior of Loaded Carboplatin on the, Liposomes Nanoparticles, on the Lung and Ovarian Cancer: An In-Vitro Evaluation

Carboplatin is a chemotherapy drug which is used against some forms of cancer such as ovarian and lung carcinoma. This research was investigated to optimize and assess the Cytotoxicity of carboplatin Nanoliposomes on ovarian and lung cancer cell lines. Nanoparticles were prepared using reverse phase evaporation technique and characterized for light microscopy, spectrophotometry and drug-release properties. In the next step, A2780S and A2780CP (ovarian) and TC1 (lung) cell lines were used to determine the rate of Nano liposomal carboplatin cytotoxicity. In this research, size and zeta potentials are 244.3±16.7nm and 22.9± 1.7 mV, respectively. High encapsulation capacity (78.6±3.7%) confirmed the efficiency of the reverse phase evaporation technique. The cytotoxic effect of this Nano liposome on all cell lines was significantly increased when compared with the free drug (P<0.05). Our findings suggest that carboplatin liposomal Nanocarriers could serve as alternative chemotherapy modality for ovarian and lung cancer therapy.

DNMT3B -149 C>T and -579 G>T Polymorphisms and Risk of Gastric and Colorectal Cancer: a Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Numerous studies have investigated associations of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) -149 C>T and -579 G>T polymorphisms with gastric cancer (GC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) susceptibility; however, the findings are inconsistent prompting the present meta-analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Related studies were identified from PubMed, Google scholar, and SID until 10 October 2015. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of the associations.

RESULTS

Eleven studies were included based on the search criteria for CRC and GC related to the DNMT3B 149 C>T (3,353 cases and 4,936 controls) and DNMT3B 579 G>T (1,387 cases and 2,064 controls) polymorphisms. There was no significant association overall between DNMT3B -149 and 579 polymorphisms and the risk of cancer. In the stratified analysis by cancer type, DNMT3B 579G>T polymorphism was associated with the risk of CRC and GC. While the DNMT3B -149C/T polymorphism was related with a significantly increased risk of CRC in two tested models, dominant (GG+GT vs. TT: OR 0.51, 95 % CI 0.38-0.69; P = 0.00, Pheterogeneity=0.69, I2= 0 %) and heterozygote (GT vs. TT: OR 0.50, 95 % CI 0.37-0.69; P=0.00, Pheterogeneity=0.41, I2= 0 %), no evidence of any association with GC risk was observed as in the pooled analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

More studies are needed to assess associations of DNMT3B -149C/T and DNMT3B 579G>T polymorphisms with cancer in different ethnicities with large population sizes to generate comprehensive conclusions.

Subnormothermic machine perfusion for ex vivo preservation and recovery of the human liver for transplantation

To reduce widespread shortages, attempts are made to use more marginal livers for transplantation. Many of these grafts are discarded for fear of inferior survival rates or biliary complications. Recent advances in organ preservation have shown that ex vivo subnormothermic machine perfusion has the potential to improve preservation and recover marginal livers pretransplantation. To determine the feasibility in human livers, we assessed the effect of 3 h of oxygenated subnormothermic machine perfusion (21°C) on seven livers discarded for transplantation. Biochemical and microscopic assessment revealed minimal injury sustained during perfusion. Improved oxygen uptake (1.30 [1.11-1.94] to 6.74 [4.15-8.16] mL O2 /min kg liver), lactate levels (4.04 [3.70-5.99] to 2.29 [1.20-3.43] mmol/L) and adenosine triphosphate content (45.0 [70.6-87.5] pmol/mg preperfusion to 167.5 [151.5-237.2] pmol/mg after perfusion) were observed. Liver function, reflected by urea, albumin and bile production, was seen during perfusion. Bile production increased and the composition of bile (bile salts/phospholipid ratio, pH and bicarbonate concentration) became more favorable. In conclusion, ex vivo subnormothermic machine perfusion effectively maintains liver function with minimal injury and sustains or improves various hepatobiliary parameters postischemia.

Sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass exhibit differential effects on food preferences, nutrient absorption and energy expenditure in obese rats

OBJECTIVE

All available treatments directed towards obesity and obesity-related complications are associated with suboptimal effectiveness/invasiveness ratios. Pharmacological, behavioral and lifestyle modification treatments are the least invasive, but also the least effective options, leading to modest weight loss that is difficult to maintain long-term. Gastrointestinal weight loss surgery (GIWLS) is the most effective, leading to >60-70% of excess body weight loss, but also the most invasive treatment available. Sleeve gastrectomy (SGx) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) are the two most commonly performed GIWLS procedures. The fundamental anatomic difference between SGx and RYGB is that in the former procedure, only the anatomy of the stomach is altered, without surgical reconfiguration of the intestine. Therefore, comparing these two operations provides a unique opportunity to study the ways that different parts of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract contribute to the regulation of physiological processes, such as the regulation of body weight, food intake and metabolism.

DESIGN

To explore the physiologic mechanisms of the two procedures, we used rodent models of SGx and RYGB to study the effects of these procedures on body weight, food intake and metabolic function.

RESULTS

Both SGx and RYGB induced a significant weight loss that was sustained over the entire study period. SGx-induced weight loss was slightly lower compared with that observed after RYGB. SGx-induced weight loss primarily resulted from a substantial decrease in food intake and a small increase in locomotor activity. In contrast, rats that underwent RYGB exhibited a substantial increase in non-activity-related (resting) energy expenditure and a modest decrease in nutrient absorption. Additionally, while SGx-treated animals retained their preoperative food preferences, RYGB-treated rats experienced a significant alteration in their food preferences.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate a fundamental difference in the mechanisms of weight loss between SGx and RYGB, suggesting that the manipulation of different parts of the GI tract may lead to different physiologic effects. Understanding the differences in the physiologic mechanisms of action of these effective treatment options could help us develop less invasive new treatments against obesity and obesity-related complications.

Human primary corneal fibroblasts synthesize and deposit proteoglycans in long-term 3-D cultures

Our goal was to develop a 3-D multi-cellular construct using primary human corneal fibroblasts cultured on a disorganized collagen substrate in a scaffold-free environment and to use it to determine the regulation of proteoglycans over an extended period of time (11 weeks). Electron micrographs revealed multi-layered constructs with cells present in between alternating parallel and perpendicular arrays of fibrils. Type I collagen increased 2-4-fold. Stromal proteoglycans including lumican, syndecan4, decorin, biglycan, mimecan, and perlecan were expressed. The presence of glycosaminoglycan chains was demonstrated for a subset of the core proteins (lumican, biglycan, and decorin) using lyase digestion. Cuprolinic blue-stained cultures showed that sulfated proteoglycans were present throughout the construct and most prominent in its mid-region. The size of the Cuprolinic-positive filaments resembled those previously reported in a human corneal stroma. Under the current culture conditions, the cells mimic a development or nonfibrotic repair phenotype.