Cellular and Molecular Biology

Following the outbreak of COVID-19, several immunotherapy methods were used to modulate the immune responses of patients. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the immune response to COVID-19 in patients receiving convalescent plasma. In this regard, this randomized controlled trial included 30 patients who were divided into two groups according to receiving convalescent plasma or normal control plasma. Samples from both groups were collected on days 0, 1, 3, 5 and 7 after plasma infusion. We measured the expression level of TLR7/8, IRF3/7, CTLA-4, PD-1 and T cell transcription factors by Real-time PCR in the mentioned groups...

Caffeine is believed to exert its therapeutic effects by acting as a nonselective, competitive antagonist of adenosine receptors. Chlorpromazine, a phenothiazine, is a classic psychotropic mediator extensively used in the clinical administration of psychotic disorders. This study aimed to validate the procedures used for performing Functional Observational Battery (FOB) tests, to demonstrate the proficiency and interobserver reliability during the FOB tests and also to assess effect on neurobehavioral parameters using positive controls in rats...

Phytosphingosine (PHS) is a major component of the skin barrier and a multifunctional physiologically active substance. This study  aimed to investigate the types of cytokines regulated by PHS, their anti-skin inflammatory effects, and their anti-inflammatory mechanisms. RAW264.7 cells stimulated with Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) were treated with PHS to measure inflammatory factors such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and gene expressions of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) were confirmed by q-PCR...

Bitis arietans (Puff adder) is a poisonous snake and its bite causes pain, edema, blistering, tissue damage and neutrophilia. There are limited studies on inflammatory process involved in Bitis arietans envenomation. We therefore investigated the role of proinflammatory cytokines in Bitis arietans venom (BAV)-induced liver and kidney toxicities in rats. Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were treated with BAV (0.5 mg/kg) and were sacrificed after specific time intervals (2 h, 24 h, 1 week). Blood samples were collected for liver and renal function tests and tissues were collected for histopathology and gene expression analysis of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in liver and kidneys...

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Piezosurgery on histopathologic features of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) damage after osteotomy of the buccal cortex of the mandible using piezoelectric devices in Hamdani sheep. A total of ten healthy mature female sheep were included. Each side of the mandible underwent two different experiments: the first experiment operated directly on the mental nerve by touching and activating the piezo tip on the nerve for ten seconds for the left side and thirty seconds for the right side...

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a very common chronic joint condition marked by inflammation and cartilage loss. mTOR is a well-known mediator of inflammation, cell survival, and aging; however, its role in OA has not been determined. To explore the role of mTORC2 in OA-and associated pathological changes, we examined the contribution of mTORC2-mediated Akt, rictor and IκB-α/NF-κB p65 pathway in interleukin (IL)-1β-treated human chondrocytes. We focused on the protein expression of proinflammatory cytokines and catabolic and apoptotic factors, including TNF-α, IL-6, iNOS, MMP13, Bax, and caspase3, which may occur through this signalling pathway in IL-1β-treated chondrocytes...

Cordyceps is a well-known endo-parasitic fungus commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine for a long time. The demand for Cordyceps is increasing daily because it is commonly used as a nutritional food, medicine, and supplement owing to its natural source. It is very attractive in almost all countries with no side effects. Most Cordyceps species have been studied in China, Bhutan, India, Japan, South Korea, and Nepal. We have discussed the important contents of Cordyceps, dietary source and nutritional value of Cordyceps, multiple pharmacological properties of four important Cordyceps species, Ophiocordyceps sinensis, Cordyceps militaris, Cordyceps cicadae, and Cordyceps tenuipes, along with the economic status of Cordyceps and its benefits in terms of medicine, supplements, and the cosmetics industry...

This study explores a novel therapeutic approach for spinal bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a mutation in the Androgen Receptor (AR) gene. The aim is to investigate the potential of CRISPR-Cas9 technology in targeting the mutant AR gene to inhibit its production. The objectives include assessing the accuracy and efficacy of CRISPR-Cas9 guided RNAs in silencing the mutant gene and evaluating the feasibility of this approach as a treatment for SBMA. Computational and in-silico approaches are used to evaluate the feasibility of using CRISPR-Cas9 technology for treating SBMA...

Producing recombinant proteins in plants has become a valuable alternative to traditional microbial or mammalian systems due to its cost-effectiveness, scalability, and ability to perform post-translational modifications. This study investigates the use of the Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV)-based vector system for producing the Dengue virus serotype 3 (DENV-3) envelope domain III (EDIII) protein in plants.. A fragment of the gene that encodes domain III of the dengue 3 envelope protein (D3EIII, comprising 300-420 amino acids), was effectively expressed within Nicotiana tabacum plants utilizing a transient expression system based on tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)...

Scabies is a significant concern in global health. It is more prevalent in individuals who have poor hygiene and live in crowded conditions, hence, it is seasonal distribution and immunological response in Erbil population is the aim of the present study. In the Erbil Dermatology Education Centre in Erbil, Iraq, 154 patients were recruited for the research between April 2022 and March 2023. If a patient has a suspicious skin lesion and itching for a minimum of one week, scabies may be considered. Blood samples were collected from each participant in the study to evaluate serum levels of IL-10 and IL-13, then the DNA was isolated to study the gene polymorphism for the mentioned cytokines...

This experiment aimed to evaluate the impact of several dentine etching and conditioning agents on growth factors (GFs) liberation from dentine slices. Eighteen dentine slices were obtained from nine premolars divided in to six groups, the slices immersed in one mL test solutions for 5 min; Group 1: white Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), Group 2: Phosphate buffered saline (PBS), Group 3: 37% phosphoric acid, Group 4: 17% Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid (EDTA), Group 5: 10% Maleic acid (MAc), and Group 6: 0...

Dactylobiotus parthenogeneticus is one of the widespread species of tardigrade all over the world. Tardigrades of this species were collected from the Greater Zab River in Erbil City-Iraq by filtering water of the river through a plankton net with a mesh of 45 µm pore. The samples were mounted on a slide with a cover slip and examined under the microscope to determine morphological characteristics and measurements. Based on these characters the species identified to be D. parthenogeneticus. To support this diagnosis, DNA barcoding techniques were applied to do molecular analysis and sequencing on the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene...

Triple-negative breast cancer TNBC with higher immunogenicity and tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) enrichment can benefit from immunotherapy relative to other breast cancer subtypes. Our work was designed to identify the TIL-related hub genes in TNBC and construct a prognostic signature for TNBC. TNBC gene expression files were obtained from the TCGA database. CIBERSORT algorithm and random forest risk model were used for immune infiltration group division. The TIL-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were then selected and subject to GO, KEGG analyses and GSEA...

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most frequently diagnosed oral malignancy and poses a great threat to public health. According to bioinformatics analysis, long noncoding RNA PCBP1-AS1 is downregulated in OSCC. In this work, the functions and mechanism of PCBP1-AS1 in OSCC were further investigated. PCBP1-AS1 expression in OSCC cells was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Cell viability and proliferation were detected using CCK-8 assays and colony-forming assays. TUNEL assays as well as flow cytometry analyses were carried out to detect OSCC cell apoptosis...

Finding novel, efficient antimicrobial drugs is crucial in this age of pressing global health challenges. The medicinal qualities of the leaves of the argel plant (Solanum argel, or S. argel) have been recognized in traditional medicine for quite some time. The medicinal potential of these leaves may be due to the presence of bioactive substances such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. S. argel leaf antibacterial, phytochemical, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) characteristics are the focus of this investigation...

Phthalimide and N-substituted phthalimide have a special structure that helps them to be pharmaceutically useful and biologically active. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects of a synthetic phthalimide-containing derivative in an experimental asthma model. In vitro determination of antioxidant and chelating activity was carried out by spectrophotometric methods. The in vivo antioxidant activity was carried out in Wistar rats sensitized to ovalbumin in the experimental model of asthma...

We aimed to explore the potential along with mechanism of lncRNA growth arrest-specific 5 (GAS5) in modulating glucose metabolism and ferroptosis of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in coronary heart disease (CHD). CCK-8, flow cytometry, EdU, colony formation, scratch test as well as transwell assays were implemented to assess cell biological behaviors. Glucose uptake testing, lactic acid production assay, and detection of extracellular acidification rate (EACR) together with oxygen consumption rate (OCR) were used to assess glucose metabolism...

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is an oncogenic virus and is the most common cause of cervical cancer. HPV has been shown to induce senescence. Cellular senescence is involved in cancer progression and tumorigenesis. Identification and isolation of cells of tumor origin before tumorigeneses is an important step in cancer prevention and treatment. This study aimed to investigate the early cervical atypical senescent cytological preneoplastic change in non-menopausal women. Cervical smears of 121 patients were randomly selected and included in the study which cytopathologically diagnosed as atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (AS-CUS) in correlation to HPV status, parakeratosis (PK), p16 immunostaining, enlarged Squamous cells nuclei (ES) and inflammatory cells infiltration (ICI)...

This study aimed to explore the influence and mechanism of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) combined with Rhodiola bone penetration on the formation of spinal fusion bone. Sixty clean-grade New Zealand white rabbits were selected for randomization and divided into combined group and Rhodiola group, with 30 rabbits in each group to construct a rabbit lumbar intervertebral fusion model, using Rhodiola intervention and Rhodiola combined with LIPUS intervention protocol, respectively. The axial strength, axial stiffness, maximum compressive load, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) were compared after HE staining, immunohistochemistry and biomechanical detection...

We aimed to investigate the effect of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T gene polymorphism on the prognosis of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and hypertension treated with enalapril and folic acid. A total of 540 CHD patients diagnosed by coronary angiography in our hospital were selected. According to whether there was folic acid intervention, they were divided into a folic acid group, a non-folic acid group and a control group. The genotypes of the MTHFR C677T locus were detected...