ORIGINAL_ARTICLE An Evolutionary Relationship Between Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase (SCD) Protein Sequences Involved in Fatty Acid Metabolism Background: Stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) is a key enzyme that converts saturated fatty acids (SFAs) to monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) in fat biosynthesis. Despite being crucial for interpreting SCDs’ roles across species, the evolutionary relationship of SCD proteins across species has yet to be elucidated. This study aims to present this evolutionary relationship based on amino acid sequences. Methods: Using Multiple Sequence Alignment (MSA) and phylogenetic construction methods, a hypothetical evolutionary relationship was generated between the stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) protein sequences between 18 different species. Results: SCD protein sequences from Homo sapiens, Pan troglodytes (chimpanzee), and Pongo abelii (orangutan) have the lowest genetic distances of 0.006 of the 18 species studied. Capra hircus (goat) and Ovis aries (Sheep) had the next lowest genetic distance of 0.023. These farm animals are 99.987% identical at the amino acid level. Conclusions: The SCD proteins are conserved in these 18 species, and their evolutionary relationships are similar. http://rbmb.net/article-1-51-en.pdf 2014-10-30 1 6 Multiple sequence alignment Phylogenetic analysis Stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) proteins Mohammad Salmani Izadi ms_izadi87@yahoo.com 1 Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, International Campus, Mashhad, Iran AUTHOR Abbas Ali Naserian 2 Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran AUTHOR Mohammad Reza Nasiri 3 Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran AUTHOR Reza Majidzadeh Heravi 4 AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Geographic Heterogeneity of the AML1-ETO Fusion Gene in Iranian Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia Background: The human AML1 gene, located on chromosome 21, can be fused to the AML1- eight-twenty-one (ETO) oncoprotein on chromosome eight, resulting in a t(8;21)(q22;q22) translocation. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) associated with this translocation is considered a distinct AML with a favorable prognosis. Due to the various incidences of the translocation, which is associated with geographic diversities, investigation of molecular epidemiology is important to increase the awareness of physicians and hematologists regarding the frequency this chromosomal aberration. Methods: The patients were classified according to the French–American–British classification into eight groups: M0–M7. Determination of the prevalence of the AML1-ETO fusion gene was accomplished by TaqMan real-time PCR. Bone marrow samples from 113 patients with newly-diagnosed, untreated AML -M1, -M2, and -M4, and 20 healthy controls admitted to the Ghaem Hospital in Mashhad, Iran were studied. Results: The AML1-ETO fusion gene was detected up 50% of the M2 subgroup and absent in the M1 and M4 subtypes and healthy controls. Comparison of the prevalence of the t(8;21) translocation with results of previous studies showed that it varies between countries. This result may be due to geographic or ethnic differences, or both. Conclusions: The relatively high prevalence of the t(8;21) translocation in Iran was similar to that found in other Asian countries. It was closely associated with female gender, relatively young age, and FAB-M2 subtype. Its distribution varied considerably with geographic area. Therefore, further studies are needed to provide epidemiological data important for the establishment of optimal therapeutic strategies applicable to patients of each region. http://rbmb.net/article-1-52-en.pdf 2014-10-30 7 13 Acute myeloid leukemia AML1-ETO M2 Prevalence t(8 21) Saeedeh Ghazaey Zidanloo 1 Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, CP: 47416-95447, Iran AUTHOR Abasalt Hosseinzaeh Colagar ahcolagar@umz.ac.ir 2 Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, CP: 47416-95447, Iran - Nano and Biotechnology Research Group, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Amelioration of Altered Serum, Liver, and Kidney Antioxidant Enzymes Activities by Sodium Selenite in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible protective effect of sodium selenite on serum, liver, and kidney antioxidant enzymes activities in alloxan-induced type 1 diabetic rats. Methods: Forty Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into four groups; Group one as control, Group two as sham-treated with sodium selenite by 1 mg/kg intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections daily, Group three as diabetic untreated, and Group four as diabetic treated with sodium selenite by 1 mg/kg i.p. injections daily .Diabetes was induced in the third and fourth groups by subcutaneous alloxan injections. After eight weeks the animals were euthanized and livers and kidneys were immediately removed and used fresh or kept frozen until analysis. Before the rats were killed blood samples were also collected to measure glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and catalase (CAT) activities in sera. Results: Glutathione peroxidase and CAT activities serum, liver, and kidney were all significantly less in the diabetic rats than in the controls. Sodium selenite treatment of the diabetic rats resulted in significant increases in GPX activity in the kidneys and livers, and CAT activity in the sera and livers. Conclusions: Our results indicate that sodium selenite might be a potent antioxidant that exerts beneficial effects on both GPX and CAT activities in alloxan-induced type 1 diabetic rats. http://rbmb.net/article-1-53-en.pdf 2014-10-30 14 19 Antioxidant enzymes activity Diabetes Rat Sodium selenite Hassan Ahmadvand hassan_a46@yahoo.com 1 Razi Herbal Researches Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorram Abad, Iran - Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorram Abad, Iran AUTHOR Maryam Ghasemi Dehnoo 2 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorram Abad, Iran AUTHOR Roohangiz Cheraghi 3 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorram Abad, Iran AUTHOR Bahram Rasoulian 4 Razi Herbal Researches Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorram Abad, Iran AUTHOR Behrouzb Ezatpour 5 Razi Herbal Researches Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorram Abad, Iran AUTHOR Mozhgan Azadpour 6 Razi Herbal Researches Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorram Abad, Iran AUTHOR Kaveh Baharvand 7 School of Dental Medicine, Boston University, Boston MA, USA. AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Effects of Surface Viscoelasticity on Cellular Responses of Endothelial Cells Background: One area of nanoscience deals with nanoscopic interactions between nanostructured materials and biological systems. To elucidate the effects of the substrate surface morphology and viscoelasticity on cell proliferation, fractal analysis was performed on endothelial cells cultured on nanocomposite samples based on silicone rubber (SR) and various concentrations of organomodified nanoclay (OC). Methods: The nanoclay/SR ratio was tailored to enhance cell behavior via changes in sample substrate surface roughness and viscoelasticity. Results: Surface roughness of the cured SR filled with negatively-charged nanosilicate layers had a greater effect than elasticity on cell growth. The surface roughness of SR nanocomposite samples increased with increasing the OC content, leading to enhanced cell growth and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. This was consistent with the decrease in SR segmental motions and damping factor as the primary viscoelastic parameters by the nanosilicate layers with increasing clay concentrations. Conclusions: The inclusion of clay nanolayers affected the growth and behavior of endothelial cells on microtextured SR. http://rbmb.net/article-1-54-en.pdf 2014-10-30 20 28 Cell proliferation Elastic Modulus Nanoclay Roughness Silicone rubber Motahare-Sadat Hosseini 1 Polymer Engineering and Color Technology Department (Center of Excellence), Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR Ali Asghar Katbab katbab@aut.ac.ir 2 Polymer Engineering and Color Technology Department (Center of Excellence), Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE TLR4 and TLR2 Expression in Biopsy Specimens from Antral and Corporal Stomach Zones in Helicobacter pylori Infections Background: It is not yet known which types of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are most effective in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) recognition. It is also not known which gastric zones have the most prominent roles in TLR-mediated bacterial recognition. The aim of this work was to analyze the expression of TLR2 and TLR4 in biopsy specimens from H. pylori-infected patients. Methods: Thirty-eight patients with gastrointestinal disorders were divided into four groups in this study. The groups were: (A) H. pylori infection and peptic ulcer (n=15), (B) peptic ulcer only (n=5), (C) H. pylori infection only (n=10) and (D) control, with neither H. pylori infection nor peptic ulcer (n=8). Biopsy specimens from sites of redness or atrophic mucosa from gastric antrum and body in patients with gastritis were collected. RNAs from the antrum and body specimens were isolated. TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA expression was assessed by RT-PCR and quantified as densitometric ratios of TLR2 and TLR4/β-actin mRNA. Results: In the antral zones of H. pylori-infected patients (Groups A and C) TLR2 and TLR4 expression was significantly greater than in uninfected patients (Groups B and D) regardless of peptic ulcers (p < 0.05). In the gastric body samples TLR2 expression was significantly greater in Group C (H. pylori infection only) than in Group B (peptic ulcer only) and TLR4 expression was significantly greater in group A (H. pylori infection and peptic ulcer) than in Group B (peptic ulcer only) (p < 0.05). No significant differences in expression of TLR4 and TLR2 were observed between samples from the antrum and body in same groups. Conclusions: We conclude that H. pylori infection leads to significant increase in TLR2 and TLR4 molecules expression in antral region related to the control group. Considering the stimulatory effect of H. pylori on TLRs expression in the gastric tissue, we assume that colonization of H. pylori infection might occurs more in the gastric antral region than in the gastric body. http://rbmb.net/article-1-55-en.pdf 2014-10-30 29 37 Helicobacter pylori Peptic ulcer TLR2 TLR4 Toll-like receptors Mohammad Reza Khakzad khakzadmr911@mums.ac.ir 1 Department of Immunology, Zakariya Research Center, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran - Allergy Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran AUTHOR Ahmad Saffari 2 Internal Medicine Department, Mashhad Branch, Aria Hospital, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran AUTHOR Niloofar Mohamadpour 3 Department of Microbiology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran AUTHOR Mojtaba Sankian 4 Immunobiochemistry lab, Immunology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran AUTHOR Abdolreza Varasteh 5 Allergy Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran AUTHOR Farhad Salari 6 Immunobiochemistry lab, Immunology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran AUTHOR Mojtaba Meshkat 7 Department of Immunology, Zakariya Research Center, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Occult Hepatitis B Demonstrated by Anti-HBc and HBV DNA in HIV-Positive Patients Background: In patients who are hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA-positive, but HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) -negative, the infection is referred to as occult hepatitis B infection (OBI). Occult HBV infection is harmful when other liver diseases are present, and can aggravate liver damage in in patients with chronic liver diseases. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection the suppression of viral replication by the immune system might be inactivated, and classical HBV infection in OBI patients may occur. Health care professionals should be aware of OBI in HIV patients. The routine test for HBV infection in Iran is the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the HBV surface antigen (ELISA HBsAg); therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of OBI in Iranian HIV patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2012 on sera from all the known and accessible HIV patients in Jahrom and Fassa, two cities in southern Iran. All samples were tested for the HBsAg, HBV core antibody (HBcAb). All the results were analyzed using SPSS. Results: Of the 91 patients, seven (7.7%) were HBsAg-positive and forty-five (49.5%) were HBcAb-positive. In patients with negative HBsAg (84 patients), 39 (46.4%) were HBcAb positive and 53 (63%) were positive for HBV DNA. Conclusion: The prevalence of HBV infection is relatively high in HIV patients, and more accurate tests than those presently in use should be used for diagnosis. http://rbmb.net/article-1-56-en.pdf 2014-10-30 38 42 Hepatitis B HIV infection Occult hepatitis Arezoo Honarmand 1 Microbiology Department, Islamic Azad University of Jahrom, Jahrom, Iran AUTHOR Morteza Pourahmad Mortezapourahmad@yahoo.com 2 Internal Medicine Department, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran AUTHOR Kavous Solhjoo 3 Microbiology Department, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran AUTHOR Mahmoud Kohan 4 Nursery Department, Alborz University of Medical Sciences AUTHOR Mohamad Hassan Davami 5 Microbiology Department, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran AUTHOR Seyed Kamyar Mostafavi Zadeh 6 Infectious disease Department, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Hemolytic and Cytotoxic Properties of Saponin Purified from Holothuria leucospilota Sea Cucumber Background: Holothuroids (sea cucumbers) are members of the phylum echinodermata, which produce saponins. Saponins exhibit a wide spectrum of pharmacological and biological activities. In this study, we isolated the crude saponins from the body wall of the dominant Iranian species of sea cucumber, Holothuria leucospilota (H. leucospilota). The purpose of this study was to confirm the presence of saponins in the Persian Gulf H. leucospilota and study the hemolytic and cytotoxic activities of these compounds. Methods: The body wall of sea cucumber was dried and powdered and the crude saponins were isolated using various solvents. The crude saponins were further purified by column chromatography using HP-20 resin. The foam test, Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), hemolytic assay, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the presence of saponins. Cytotoxicity was analyzed using a 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay on A549 cells, a human lung cancer cell line. Results: The foam test, hemolytic assay, and TLC supported the presence of saponin compounds in the 80% ethanol fraction of H. leucospilota. The infrared (IR) spectrum of the extract showed hydroxyl (-OH), alkyl (C-H), ether (C-O) and ester (–C=O) absorption characteristic of teriterpenoid saponins. The C-O-C absorption indicated glycoside linkages to the sapogenins. The crude saponin extracted from sea cucumber was cytotoxic to A549 cells. Conclusion: The 80% ethanol fraction of saponin isolated from H. leucospilota exhibited hemolytic activity and offers promise as an anti-cancer candidate. http://rbmb.net/article-1-57-en.pdf 2014-10-30 43 50 Cytotoxicity assay Hemolytic assay Holothuria leucospilota Saponin Sea cucumber Mozhgan Soltani soltani_m4@yahoo.com 1 Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR Kazem Parivar 2 Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran AUTHOR Javad Baharara 3 Department of Biology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran AUTHOR Mohammad Amin Kerachian 4 Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran AUTHOR Javad Asili 5 Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Biotechnology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran AUTHOR