Minocycline attenuates depressive-like behaviors in mice treated with the low dose of intracerebroventricular streptozotocin; the role of mitochondrial function and neuroinflammation

Molecular Biology Reports - Neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction are suggested as mechanisms which are implicated in the pathophysiology of depression. Streptozotocin (STZ) is known to...     

Abnormal hemoglobins among Kurdish population of Western Iran: hematological and molecular features

The type and frequency of structural hemoglobin variants and their hematological and molecular characteristics were identified using PCR-RFLP and sequencing techniques in 66 individuals from 33 unrelated families who referred to the two clinics of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences from 2005 to 2006. We detected 28 subjects carrier for Hb D-Punjab (42.4%), 21 individuals carrier of Hb Q-Iran (31.8%), 12 subjects heterozygous for Hb Setif (18.2%), four cases with sickle cell disease (6.1%), and one case with Hb C (1.5%). All β^S genes (4 genes) were linked to the Benin haplotype with negative Taq I site 5′ to γ^A gene. All β^D-Punjab genes (29 genes) were in linkage disequilibrium with haplotype I. The only β^C chromosome was linked to haplotype II. Both β⁰-thalassemia chromosomes with CD15 (G → A) mutation had haplotype background I. Three β⁺-thalassemia chromosomes with IVSI.110 (G → A) mutation were associated with haplotype I [+ − − − − + +]. In turn, the three β-thalassemia chromosomes with IVS II.1 G → A mutation were associated with atypical haplotype [− + + + + + −]. Hematological indices of carriers of Hb D-Punjab, Hb Q-Iran and Hb Setif were lower than those reported for normal individuals. For the first time, we have reported the haplotype background of β^S gene among Kurdish population of Iran. Our results revealed that Hb D-Punjab is the most prevalent β-globin chain structural variant in this area and that is followed in frequency by an α-chain variant, Hb Q-Iran. The result of present study is useful for clinical management and the establishment of screening programmes in Western Iran.     

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) +405 C/G polymorphism is associated with essential hypertension in a population from Tehran of Iran

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has long been recognized as a hypotensive mediator. Little is known regarding the contribution of polymorphisms in VEGF gene to essential hypertension (EH), however. We aimed to investigate the association between +405 VEGF C/G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and occurrence of EH in a sample of patients with diabetes. A study population of 474 subjects with diabetes of which 45.6% (216) had EH was enrolled in this study. Interviews and physical examinations were performed in a clinical setting. Subjects were matched in baseline anthropometric and biochemical characteristics except for total cholesterol. Genotyping of +405 VEGF C/G (rs2010963) SNP was carried out using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism. The allelic distribution of the sample did not violate Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Subjects with EH had a higher frequency of G allele (P = 0.005). Additionally, those with EH had a significantly higher frequency of GG genotype (P = 0.015). In multivariate logistic regression models controlling for possible confounders, having GG against CC genotype was associated with an odds ratio of 2.51 (95% CI: 1.44–4.38; P = 0.001). Moreover, presence of each G allele was linked to a 1.58-fold increase in risk of having EH (95% CI: 1.200–2.086; P = 0.001). In conclusion, +405 VEGF C/G SNP is associated with EH in patients with diabetes, suggesting presence of G allele and GG or CG genotype confer susceptibility towards EH.     

Grape response to salinity stress and role of iron nanoparticle and potassium silicate to mitigate salt induced damage under in vitro conditions

Grape softwood cuttings of Khoshnaw cultivar were cultured using tissue-culture methods to study the effect of iron nanoparticles and potassium silicate under salinity conditions during the 2015–2016 growing season. The treatments consisted of salinity stress (0, 50, and 100 mM NaCl), nanoparticles of iron (0, 0.08, and 0.8 ppm), and potassium silicate (0, 1, 2 mM). The results also showed that the application of iron nanoparticles and potassium silicate significantly increased the total protein content and reduced proline, enzymatic antioxidant activity and hydrogen peroxide. Salinity stress reduced membrane stability index while increased malondialdehyde content. Increase of membrane stability index and reduction of malondialdehyde content were obtained for 2 mM potassium silicate and 0.8 ppm iron nanoparticle. Iron and potassium silicate were shown to lower the sodium content and increase the potassium content under salinity-stress conditions. The highest ratio of sodium to potassium was observed in plants under salinity conditions (100 mM) treated with neither iron nanoparticles nor potassium silicate; conversely, the lowest ratio was achieved in plants treated with both 0.8 ppm iron nanoparticles with 1 mM and 2 mM potassium silicate under non-stress conditions. These results indicate that the application of micronutrients in stressful conditions is a suitable method to compensate for the negative effects of salinity stress. Tissue culture in this study was shown to be an economically efficient and applicable technique for producing grape softwood cuttings to be used in experiments.     

Positive responses of strawberry (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fragaria</Emphasis> × <Emphasis Type="Italic">ananassa</Emphasis> Duch.) explants to salicylic and iron nanoparticle application under salinity conditions

Mucuna bracteata DC. ex Kurz is an important cover crop in plantations across the tropics. However, low germination rate and poor viability of Mucuna seeds pose significant challenges of using the seeds as starting material. To address these limitations, we have optimized seed germination conditions (such as scarification period, surface sterilization protocols and imbibition period) and in vitro propagation protocols for M. bracteata. We found that seeds treated with sulphuric acid for 30 min, imbibed for 6 h and incubated in dark conditions on a wet cotton roll (10 mL of sterile distilled water) supplemented with 0.1% activated charcoal produced the highest percentage of seed germination (44%) and seed vigor index. In vitro-derived cotyledonary nodes showed the highest number of shoots per explant (5.60) and rooting response (92.9%) when cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium containing 4.44 µM 6-benzylaminopurine and 10.7 µM 1-naphthaleneacetic acid, respectively. Of the 100 rooted plantlets acclimatized, 89.0% survived after 4 weeks of transplanting. Single sequence repeat and flow cytometry analysis were performed to confirm the genetic fidelity of the plants. Our protocol offers, for the first time, a simple and effective seed germination and scalable propagation procedures for M. bracteata. Furthermore, we have also estimated the genome size (1448?±?9 Mb) and DNA content (1.48?±?0.01 pg) for M. bracteata that can be used for future cytogenetic studies on genetic diversity and gene exchange.     

The prevalence of factor V Leiden,prothrombin G20210A and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism C677T among G6PD deficient individuals from Western Iran

It has been suggested that the allele frequency of thrombophilic mutations is affected by glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. The prevalence of thrombophilic mutations were studied in sixty G6PD deficient individuals including 57 males and three females with the mean age of 15 ± 3.08 and 110 age and sex matched healthy individuals consisted of 95 males and 15 females with the mean age of 16.19 ± 2.17 from the Kermanshah Province of Iran. Using a combination of PCR-RFLP technique, single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis and DNA sequencing polymorphic G6PD mutations were identified. The factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T were detected by PCR-RFLP method using MnlI, HindIII and HinfI restriction enzymes, respectively. Three mutations, G6PD Mediterranean, G6PD Chatham and G6PD Cosenza were identified in 60 G6PD deficient individuals with highest prevalence of G6PD Mediterranean (91.6%). In G6PD deficient individuals the prevalence of factor V Leiden tended to be higher (5%) compared to healthy individuals (2.7%). The prevalence of prothrombin G20210A mutation in G6PD deficient individuals was 1.7%. However, in normal subjects the prevalence of this mutation was 2.7%. The frequency of T allele in G6PD deficient individuals were insignificantly higher (29.16%) than those in healthy individuals (26.8%). Our finding indicates that the prevalence of factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A and MTHFR C677T in G6PD deficient individuals is not statistically different compared to normal subjects and G6PD deficiency is not associated with these thrombophilic mutations in Western Iran.     

Castration attenuates myelin repair following lysolecithin induced demyelination in rat optic chiasm: an evaluation using visual evoked potential, marker genes expression and myelin staining

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease that affects the central nervous system. MS is the most common neurological disorder in young adults with a greater incidence among females. Male gonadal hormones have a protective effect on neural system development and myelin maturation. In this study, we investigate the effect of castration on lysolecithin-induced demyelination and remyelination processes using visual evoked potentials, in addition to measuring the expressions of Olig2, MBP, Nogo-A and GFAP mRNAs as oligodendrocyte or astrocyte markers; and histological assessments by myelin-specific staining. We observed more expanded demyelination with delayed repair process in castrated rats. Expression levels of the aforementioned marker genes confirmed histological and electrophysiological observations. Our results showed a pivotal role for endogenous male hormones in the context of demyelinating insults. It may also account for the different prognosis of MS between male and female genders and provide new insights for therapeutic treatments.     

Nogo Receptor Inhibition Enhances Functional Recovery following Lysolecithin-Induced Demyelination in Mouse Optic Chiasm

Background

Inhibitory factors have been implicated in the failure of remyelination in demyelinating diseases. Myelin associated inhibitors act through a common receptor called Nogo receptor (NgR) that plays critical inhibitory roles in CNS plasticity. Here we investigated the effects of abrogating NgR inhibition in a non-immune model of focal demyelination in adult mouse optic chiasm.

Methodology/Principal Findings

A focal area of demyelination was induced in adult mouse optic chiasm by microinjection of lysolecithin. To knock down NgR levels, siRNAs against NgR were intracerebroventricularly administered via a permanent cannula over 14 days, Functional changes were monitored by electrophysiological recording of latency of visual evoked potentials (VEPs). Histological analysis was carried out 3, 7 and 14 days post demyelination lesion. To assess the effect of NgR inhibition on precursor cell repopulation, BrdU was administered to the animals prior to the demyelination induction. Inhibition of NgR significantly restored VEPs responses following optic chiasm demyelination. These findings were confirmed histologically by myelin specific staining. siNgR application resulted in a smaller lesion size compared to control. NgR inhibition significantly increased the numbers of BrdU+/Olig2+ progenitor cells in the lesioned area and in the neurogenic zone of the third ventricle. These progenitor cells (Olig2+ or GFAP+) migrated away from this area as a function of time.

Conclusions/Significance

Our results show that inhibition of NgR facilitate myelin repair in the demyelinated chiasm, with enhanced recruitment of proliferating cells to the lesion site. Thus, antagonizing NgR function could have therapeutic potential for demyelinating disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis.