Search

Objective(s): MicroRNAs, which are micro-coordinators of gene expression, have been recently investigated as a potential treatment for cancer. The study used computational techniques to identify microRNAs that could target a set of genes simultaneously. Due to their multi-target-directed nature, microRNAs have the potential to impact multiple key pathways and their pathogenic cross-talk. Materials and Methods: We identified microRNAs that target a prostate cancer-associated gene set using integrated bioinformatics analyses and experimental validation. The candidate gene set included genes targeted by clinically approved prostate cancer medications. We used STRING, GO, and KEGG web tools to confirm gene-gene interactions and their clinical significance. Then, we employed integrated predicted and validated bioinformatics approaches to retrieve hsa-miR-124-3p, 16-5p, and 27a-3p as the top three relevant microRNAs. KEGG and DIANA-miRPath showed the related pathways for the candidate genes and microRNAs Results: The Real-time PCR results showed that miR-16-5p simultaneously down-regulated all genes significantly except for PIK3CA/CB in LNCaP; miR-27a-3p simultaneously down-regulated all genes significantly, excluding MET in LNCaP and PIK3CA in PC-3; and miR-124-3p could not downregulate significantly PIK3CB, MET, and FGFR4 in LNCaP and FGFR4 in PC-3. Finally, we used a cell cycle assay to show significant G0/G1 arrest by transfecting miR-124-3p in LNCaP and miR-16-5p in both cell lines. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that this novel approach may have therapeutic benefits and these predicted microRNAs could effectively target the candidate genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) as small 19- to 24-nucleotide noncoding RNAs regulate several mRNA targets and signaling pathways. Therefore, miRNAs are considered key regulators in cellular pathways as well as various pathologies. There is substantial interest in the relationship between disease and miRNAs, which made that one of the important research topics. Interestingly, miRNAs emerged as an attractive approach for clinical application, not only as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis or in the prediction of therapy response but also as therapeutic tools. For these purposes, the identification of crucial miRNAs in disease is very important. Databases provided valuable experimental and computational miRNAs–disease information in an accessible and comprehensive manner, such as miRNA target genes, miRNA related in signaling pathways and miRNA involvement in various diseases. In this review, we summarized miRNAs–disease databases in two main categories based on the general or specific diseases. In these databases, researchers could search diseases to identify critical miRNAs and developed that for clinical applications. In another way, by searching particular miRNAs, they could recognize in which disease these miRNAs would be dysregulated. Despite the significant development that has been done in these databases, there are still some limitations, such as not being updated and not providing uniform and detailed information that should be resolved in future databases. This survey can be helpful as a comprehensive reference for choosing a suitable database by researchers and as a guideline for comparing the features and limitations of the database by developer or designer. Short abstract We summarized miRNAs–disease databases that researchers could search disease to identify critical miRNAs and developed that for clinical applications. This survey can help choose a suitable database for researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancers and the fifth most common reason for cancer deaths in the males. Surgical castration combined with androgen deprivation therapy, antiandrogens, and androgen synthesis inhibitors is the current therapeutic modalities for PCa. These strategies inhibit androgen synthesis or reduce its binding to the androgen receptor (AR) but the development of resistance to these therapies and transient responsiveness are challenging issues in the treatment of this cancer. Deregulation of ARs has a vital role in the initiation and progression of PCa. Also, recent findings imply that micro RNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the evolution of PCa and mediate drug resistance in different cancers. Hence, discovering and targeting miRNAs might represent a novel therapeutic approach. This review paid particular attention to the AR pathway and existing information on the possible roles of miRNAs associated with AR pathway and drug resistance to two second‐generation antiandrogens, that is, enzalutamide and abiraterone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): Polyethylenimine (PEI) is one of the most widely used polymers in gene delivery. The aim of this study was to modify PEI by replacing some of its primary amines with Brevinin 2R (BR-2R) peptide in order to increase the efficiency of gene delivery. Materials and Methods: Polyethylenimine was modified by BR-2R peptide by two different approaches; A) conjugation methods including (І) using succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio) propionate (SPDP), (П) EDC/NHS protocol and (ПІ) EDC/NHS+6-bromohexanoic acid protocol, and B) physical interaction method. The modified polymers were characterized for their ability of plasmid condensation, number of primary amines, size and zeta potential. The transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity were evaluated on HEK293, L929, WEHI164 and Neuro2A cell lines by green fluorescent protein (GFP)-based plasmid (pGFP) reporter gene and viability assays, respectively. Apoptosis induction ability was also evaluated via PI/Annexin V assay. Results: Polyplex had size and zeta potential between 200-270 nm and +21.5- +28.4 mV, respectively. All vectors were able to condense plasmid DNA in C/P=4 (carrier-plasmid ratio). Transfection results on the Neuro2A cell line showed that the vector containing the BR-2R peptide, which was synthesized using EDC-NHS protocol had the best transfection efficiency. Conclusion: Our results showed that conjugation of Brevinin 2R as cell penetrating peptide to polyethyleneimine could enhance the transfection ability of the polymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bacterial infection remains the most frequent complication of burn injury, which can lead to sepsis, even if antibiotics are used topically and systemically. Pseudomonas aeruginosa ( P. aeruginosa ) is the main causative agent in many cases. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains in recent years has increased the need to find novel alternative therapies, such as probiotics. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the antimicrobial properties of probiotic cell-free supernatant (CFS), along with the potential use of a chitosan scaffold both as an antimicrobial agent and as a carrier for the delivery of these complexes., Objective: Evaluation of the antimicrobial properties of cell-free soluble factors of probiotic bacteria both alone and in combination with chitosan scaffolds., Materials and Methods: Nine isolates of P. aeruginosa previously identified by standard diagnostic tests were investigated. The antimicrobial effects of probiotics in the form of Pedilact® oral drop which contained three probiotic strains, Kidilact® sachet, which contained seven probiotic strains, and strains of Lactobacillus casei ( L. casei ) and Lactobacillus acidophilus ( L. acidophilus ) isolated from yogurt were studied by an agar well diffusion assay and by using CFS harvested at various growth stages, without pH neutralization. Chitosan with different concentrations of glutaraldehyde (GA) as a crosslinking agent was fabricated to produce a suitable scaffold for loading cell-free supernatants of probiotic strains. The scaffolds were then characterized using scanning electron microscopy. The antimicrobial properties of the CFS, chitosan, and chitosan scaffolds loaded with CFS were analyzed against MDR P. aeruginosa ., Results: In the agar well diffusion assay, CFS obtained from probiotic strains effectively inhibited the growth of a clinical strain of P. aeruginosa . This effect was observed when CFS was assessed without pH neutralization. Kidilact® was the most promising synbiotic formulation based on its inhibitory activity. The chitosan scaffold was successfully fabricated, as shown by SEM, and its structure was not affected by acidic CFS. The fabricated scaffolds were able to deliver CFS and, interestingly, antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa when CFS was loaded on the chitosan scaffold was enhanced significantly., Conclusion: The results of this study showed chitosan scaffold loaded with cell-free probiotics metabolites can be considered to be a promising antimicrobial dressing in wound healing applications., Competing Interests: None., (Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s); Published by Iranian Journal of Biotechnology.)

Despite significant breakthroughs in cancer treatment, cancer remains a serious global health concern that takes thousands of lives each year. Still, drug resistance and adverse effects are the main problems in conventional cancer therapeutic approaches. Thus, the discovery of new anticancer agents with distinct mechanisms of action is a critical requirement that offers significant obstacles. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which can be found in various forms of life, are recognized as defensive weapons against infections of microbial pathogens. Surprisingly, they are also capable of killing a variety of cancer cells. These powerful peptides can cause cell death in the gastrointestinal, urinary tract, and reproductive cancer cell lines. To emphasize the anti-cancer properties of AMPs, we summarize the research that examined their impact on cancer cell lines in this review., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) as small 19- to 24-nucleotide noncoding RNAs regulate several mRNA targets and signaling pathways. Therefore, miRNAs are considered key regulators in cellular pathways as well as various pathologies. There is substantial interest in the relationship between disease and miRNAs, which made that one of the important research topics. Interestingly, miRNAs emerged as an attractive approach for clinical application, not only as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis or in the prediction of therapy response but also as therapeutic tools. For these purposes, the identification of crucial miRNAs in disease is very important. Databases provided valuable experimental and computational miRNAs-disease information in an accessible and comprehensive manner, such as miRNA target genes, miRNA related in signaling pathways and miRNA involvement in various diseases. In this review, we summarized miRNAs-disease databases in two main categories based on the general or specific diseases. In these databases, researchers could search diseases to identify critical miRNAs and developed that for clinical applications. In another way, by searching particular miRNAs, they could recognize in which disease these miRNAs would be dysregulated. Despite the significant development that has been done in these databases, there are still some limitations, such as not being updated and not providing uniform and detailed information that should be resolved in future databases. This survey can be helpful as a comprehensive reference for choosing a suitable database by researchers and as a guideline for comparing the features and limitations of the database by developer or designer. Short abstract We summarized miRNAs-disease databases that researchers could search disease to identify critical miRNAs and developed that for clinical applications. This survey can help choose a suitable database for researchers., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)