How is the relationship between TWIST-1 and BCR-ABL1 gene expressions in chronic myeloid leukaemia patients?

Background: The activation and increased expression of BCR-ABL1 lead to malignant chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) cells, as well as the resistance to antitumour agents and apoptosis inducers. Moreover, TWIST-1 protein is a prognostic factor of leukemogenesis, and its level is raised in CML patients with cytogenetic resistance to imatinib. So, there is a likely relationship between BCR-ABL1 and TWIST-1 genes.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between TWIST-1 and BCR-ABL1 expressions.

Methods: Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 44 CML patients under treatment and also from ten healthy subjects as normal controls. The expression of TWIST-1 and BCR-ABL1 genes was measured using real-time PCR, and ABL1 was used as the reference gene. The gene expression was evaluated by REST software.

Results: The expression levels of TWIST-1 and BCR-ABL1 genes in CML patients was changed 40.23?±?177.75-fold and 6?±?18-fold, respectively.

Discussion: No significant relationship was observed between the expressions of TWIST-1 and BCR-ABL1 genes. All patients with TWIST-1 expression levels?≥100-fold had failure of response to treatment.

Conclusion: The probability of the relationship between BCR-ABL1 and TWIST-1 is still debatable, and the average of TWIST-1 expression has been higher in patients without response to treatment. Definitive conclusion needs further investigations.     

Late Pleistocene human remains from Wezmeh Cave, western Iran

Paleontological analysis of remains from Wezmeh Cave in western Iran have yielded a Holocene Chalcolithic archeological assemblage, a rich Late Pleistocene carnivore faunal assemblage, and an isolated unerupted human maxillary premolar (P(3) or possibly P(4)). Species representation and U-series dating of faunal teeth place the carnivore assemblage during oxygen isotope stages (OIS) 3 and 2, and noninvasive gamma spectrometry dating of the human premolar places it at least as old as early OIS 2. The human premolar crown morphology is not diagnostic of late archaic versus early modern human affinities, but its buccolingual diameter places it at the upper limits of Late Pleistocene human P(3) and P(4) dimensions and separate from a terminal Pleistocene regional sample. Wezmeh Cave therefore provides additional Paleolithic human remains from the Zagros Mountains and further documents Late Pleistocene human association with otherwise carnivore-dominated cave assemblages.     

Interactions of two natural enemies of Tetranychus urticae,the fungal entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana and the predatory mite,Phytoseiulus persimilis

The effect of either untreated or treated adults of the spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) by Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuillemin (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) DEBI008 at 1×10⁶ (conidia/ml) was investigated on developmental stages and life table parameters of Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) under laboratory conditions. Four time intervals (0, 24, 48 and 72 h post-inoculation of spider mites) were considered for studying the predator characteristics as different treatments. Duration of each life stage, longevity, reproduction rate, intrinsic rate of natural increase (r _m ), net reproductive rate (R ₀), mean generation time (T) and finite rate of increase (λ) of the P. persimilis were calculated on both untreated and B. bassiana treated spider mite adults. Data analysis showed that longevity and fecundity of predatory mites fed on untreated and treated mites (time interval 0) were higher in comparison with other time intervals after inoculation. The entomopathogenic fungus adversely affected longevity and fecundity of the predatory mite. Fertility life table parameters of predatory mites fed on T. urticae treated by B. bassiana at different time intervals showed that T, R ₀, λ and r _m are strongly affected by the fungus presence and these parameters had significant differences among time treatments. The least r _m value was observed in the time interval of 72 h post-inoculation. The fitness of T. urticae was affected by B. bassiana 24, 48 and 72 h post-inoculation of mite adults, and consequently it caused decreased longevity of P. persimilis and accordingly a decrease in the intrinsic rate of natural increase of the predator.     

Cisplatin resistance induced by decreased apoptotic activity in non-small-cell lung cancer cell lines

We have investigated defective steps in apoptosis that might account for the development of resistance. For this purpose, A549 and Calu1 NSCLC (non-small-cell lung cancer) cell lines were treated with cisplatin to obtain resistant sub-lines. Gene expression profiles and the phosphorylation status of the BAD (Bcl-2/Bcl-XL-antagonist, causing cell death) protein were determined for each cell line. Cell death and cytochrome c release were analysed after treating cell lines with their appropriate cisplatin doses. Gene expression of BAD, Bid, caspases 4 and 6 were clearly decreased in the resistant cell lines, and the differential phosphorylation status of BAD also seemed to play a role in the development of cisplatin resistance. Since this is a new cisplatin-resistant Calu1 cell line, it is noteworthy that DNA fragmentation, apoptotic cell ratio and cytochrome c levels were most decreased in the CR-Calu1 cell line.     

YhdJ, a nonessential CcrM-like DNA methyltransferase of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica

The Caulobacter crescentus DNA adenine methyltransferase CcrM and its homologs in the alpha-Proteobacteria are essential for viability. CcrM is 34% identical to the yhdJ gene products of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica. This study provides evidence that the E. coli yhdJ gene encodes a DNA adenine methyltransferase. In contrast to an earlier report, however, we show that yhdJ is not an essential gene in either E. coli or S. enterica.     

Serum level and tumor tissue expression of Ribonucleotide-diphosphate Reductase subunit M2 B: a potential biomarker for colorectal cancer

Molecular Biology Reports - This study explored the applicability of serum level and tissue expression of Ribonucleotide-diphosphate Reductase subunit M2 B (RRM2B) as reliable biomarkers for...     

Suppressive Role of Boron on Adipogenic Differentiation and Fat Deposition in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Biological Trace Element Research - Over the past years, adipose tissue has become an invaluable source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) due to development of improved isolation methodologies. In a...     

Designing of a Functional Chimeric Protein for Production of Nanobodies Against Human CD20: Molecular Dynamics Simulation and In Vitro Verification

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - One major issue in cancer immunotherapy is the large size of mAbs (150 kDa) which usually causes limitation in tumor...     

Gold nanoparticle and polyethylene glycol in neural regeneration in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases

Gold nanoparticles (GNs) have unique characteristics, for example, stability, biocompatibility, small dimensions, and low toxicity. Several clinical applications have been suggested for GNs, such as diagnosis, imaging, and drug delivery. GNs absorb infrared light, indicating their potential value for imaging. There is growing evidence showing the therapeutic application of GN for drug delivery because of their interaction with the blood-brain barrier and DNA, the latter being associated with their genotoxic effects. GN can also be stimulated to produce high local temperatures, indicating their potential value in photodynamic therapy in the treatment of tumors. The aim of the current review is to summarize the potential applications of GNs in the biomedical field, specifically in neurodegenerative diseases.     

Extracellular matrix composition and remodeling in human abdominal aortic aneurysms: a proteomics approach

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are characterized by pathological remodeling of the aortic extracellular matrix (ECM). However, besides the well-characterized elastolysis and collagenolysis little is known about changes in other ECM proteins. Previous proteomics studies on AAA focused on cellular changes without emphasis on the ECM. In the present study, ECM proteins and their degradation products were selectively extracted from aneurysmal and control aortas using a solubility-based subfractionation methodology and analyzed by gel-liquid chromatography-tandem MS and label-free quantitation. The proteomics analysis revealed novel changes in the ECM of AAA, including increased expression as well as degradation of collagen XII, thrombospondin 2, aortic carboxypeptidase-like protein, periostin, fibronectin and tenascin. Proteomics also confirmed the accumulation of macrophage metalloelastase (MMP-12). Incubation of control aortic tissue with recombinant MMP-12 resulted in the extensive fragmentation of these glycoproteins, most of which are novel substrates of MMP-12. In conclusion, our proteomics methodology allowed the first detailed analysis of the ECM in AAA and identified markers of pathological ECM remodeling related to MMP-12 activity.