Diagnostic and prognostic value of the RUNXOR/RUNX1 axis in multiple sclerosis.

The runt-related transcription factor-1 (RUNX1) gene with its lncRNA RUNXOR are recently becoming a research focus in various diseases, specifically immune-related diseases as they are implicated in multiple pathways. Interestingly, their role in multiple sclerosis (MS) remains unstudied. The present study explored the role of RUNXOR/RUNX1 in the development and progression of MS and investigated their possible mechanism of action. We measured the serum expression levels of lncRNA RUNXOR, as well as RUNX1, microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP2), nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNAs in 30 healthy controls and 120 MS patients subdivided into 4 groups: 30 clinically isolated syndrome patients, 30 relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients in relapse, 30 RRMS patients in remission and 30 secondary progressive MS patients. Additionally, we measured the serum protein levels of RUNX1, MAP2, NGF, BDNF and interleukin-10 (IL-10). All measured RNA expression levels were markedly downregulated and, consequently, the protein levels of RUNX1, MAP2, NGF, BDNF and IL-10 were significantly decreased in MS patients compared to healthy controls. Moreover, the levels of the measured parameters varied significantly within the MS groups. According to receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) curve and logistic regression analyses, lncRNA RUNXOR, RUNX1 mRNA and its protein levels were predictors of disease progression, in addition to RUNX1 mRNA exhibiting a diagnostic potential. Altogether, this study suggests the implication of the RUNXOR-RUNX1 axis in MS development, progression, and increased MS-related disability, and highlights the potential utility of the studied parameters as promising diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers for MS.

Assessment of lncRNA GAS5, lncRNA HEIH, lncRNA BISPR and its mRNA BST2 as serum innovative non-invasive biomarkers: Recent insights into Egyptian patients with hepatitis C virus type 4.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and its consequent complications are undeniably a public health burden worldwide, particularly in Egypt. Emerging evidence suggests that many lncRNAs have relevant roles in viral infections and antiviral responses. AIM: To investigate the expression profiles of circulating lncRNAGAS5, lncRNAHEIH, lncRNABISPR and mRNABST2 in naïve, treated and relapsed HCV Egyptian patients, to elucidate relation to HCV infection and their efficacy as innovative biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of HCV GT4. METHODS: One hundred and thirty HCV-infected Egyptian patients and 20 healthy controls were included in this study. Serum lncRNAs and mRNABST2 were measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). RESULTS: Our results indicated that serum lncRNAGAS5 and LncRNABISPR were upregulated, whereas mRNA BST2 and LncRNA HEIH were downregulated in naïve patients. In contrast, HCV patients treated with sofosbuvir and simeprevir; with sofosbuvir and daclatasvir; or with sofosbuvir, daclatasvir and ribavirin exhibited lower levels of lncRNAGAS5 and lncRNABISPR with higher mRNABST2 compared to naïve patients. Notably, patients relapsed from sofosbuvir and simeprevir showed higher levels of these lncRNAs with lower mRNABST2 compared to treated patients. LncRNAGAS5 and lncRNABISPR were positively correlated with viral load and ALT at P < 0.001, whereas mRNABST2 was negatively correlated with viral load at P < 0.001 and ALT at P < 0.05. Interestingly, a significant positive correlation between lncRNA HEIH and AFP was observed at P < 0.001. CONCLUSION: Differential expression of these RNAs suggests their involvement in HCV pathogenesis or antiviral response and highlights their promising roles in diagnosis and prognosis of HCV.

Role of CTRP3, CTRP9 and MCP-1 for the evaluation of T2DM associated coronary artery disease in Egyptian postmenopausal females.

C1q complement/tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related protein (CTRP) family comprises of 15 proteins that posses important implications in energy homeostasis, infection and inflammation. However, their roles in diabetes mellitus (DM) and its vascular complications have not been completely assessed. This works aims to study the association of two CTRPs; 3 and 9, with pro-inflammatory cytokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and biochemical parameters of type 2 diabetes (T2D), dyslipidemia and coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: Biochemical markers and serum levels of CTRPs and MCP-1 were measured in 86 postmenopausal females. Subjects were divided over four groups; 13 apparent healthy subjects as control (group I), 29 patients with CAD (group II), 29 patients with T2D ≥5 years (group III) and 15 patients with CAD secondary to T2D (group IV). Serum CTRP3, CTRP9, MCP-1 and insulin were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Serum CTRP3 levels were found to be significantly higher in group III and IV, whereas, it was significantly lower in group II on comparing to group I. While, CTRP9 levels were significantly decreased in group II, III and IV on comparing to group I. MCP-1 levels were found to be significantly increased in groups II, III and IV on comparison with group I. Both CTRPs were significantly negatively correlated with each other. While MCP-1 was significantly correlated negatively to CTRP9. CONCLUSION: This study associates the possible role of CTRP3, CTRP9 and MCP-1/CCL2 in the diagnosis/prognosis of CAD complication in T2D postmenopausal females.

MicroRNAs 182 and 375 Sera Expression as Prognostic Biochemical Markers in Breast Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy among women; supporting the need for identification of novel prognostic biomarkers, circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) could serve as such in various cancers. The aim of this study was to explore the association between miRNAs 182 and 375 with BC stages and its receptors, based on their expression using real time PCR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Detailed medical history was taken and blood samples were withdrawn from 80 female subjects divided over the studied groups. Patients ranged in age from 24 to 80 years and were classified as follows: group I included 10 noncancerous postmenopausal control subjects; group II included 32 postmenopausal patients with BC; group III included 10 noncancerous premenopausal control subjects; group IV included 24 premenopausal patients with BC; and group V included 6 patients with benign breast tumors. RESULTS: miRNA 182 expression was significantly higher in group II, group IV, and group V (3.36 ± 0.14, 2.52 ± 0.34, and 4.93 ± 0.3,9 respectively); miRNA 375 expression was significantly higher in group II, group IV, and group V (4.41 ± 0.40, 3.12 ± 0.35, and 11.28 ± 2.37, respectively) (P < .05). Both miRNAs were significantly associated with each other and with receptors used for the prognosis of BC even after multiple regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Accordingly, miRNAs 182 and 375 could be potential noninvasive markers used for the follow up of BC patients.

Evaluation and screening of mRNA S100A genes as serological biomarkers in different stages of bladder cancer in Egypt.

Calcium-binding proteins S100A are multifunctional proteins that show altered expression in various diseases and cancers. This study aimed at validating an easier and less time-consuming technique to evaluate the value of combined use of messenger RNA (mRNA) S100A genes in comparison and combination with voided urine cytology in detection of bladder cancer patients. Blood and urine specimens were collected from patients (n = 120) with histologically confirmed bladder carcinoma who are classified according to bladder cancer stage into four groups and from healthy volunteers (n = 30). Histopathology examination, bilharzias antibody detection, urine cytology, and mRNA expression of S100A genes were estimated for all subjects by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results indicate that each of the investigated S100A genes can be used as diagnostic marker for bladder cancer. Both S100A4 and S100A6 can be used to differentiate between different stages of bladder cancer. S100A7 can be used for the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma. Both S100A8 and S100A9 can be used for detection of invasive bladder carcinoma while S100A11 can be used for early detection of superficial bladder carcinoma. The overall sensitivity and specificity for the studied S100A genes ranged from 73 to 90 and 84 to 92, respectively. The combined use of urine cytology with the investigated S100A genes increased sensitivity from 56 % up to a range of 87-96 %. In conclusion, serum S100A genes can be useful as potential serological biomarkers for bladder cancer, and combined use of urine cytology with S100A genes can improve the sensitivity for detection of bladder cancer.

MicroRNAs 9 and 370 Association with Biochemical Markers in T2D and CAD Complication of T2D.

BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non coding RNAs with essential roles, of which any alteration leads to several conditions. Their roles in diabetes (DM) and its vascular complications have not been completely assessed. AIM: to study the association of two miRNAs; 9 and 370, with biochemical parameters of type 2 diabetic (T2D), dyslipidemia and coronary artery disease (CAD). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Blood samples were taken from 200 subjects of both genders, in the Outpatient clinic of Al Qasr El-Einy teaching hospitals, in which levels of both miRNAs (using real time PCR) and routine parameters were measured. Subjects were divided over four groups, 50 in each group as follows; patients with T2D, patients with CAD, patients with T2D and CAD, and healthy control subjects. MAIN OUTCOME: miRNA 9 levels were expected to be over expressed in diabetic patients, while miRNA 370 levels were expected to be over expressed in those suffering from CAD and their association with CAD complication of T2D. RESULTS: miRNA 9 levels were significantly higher in T2D patients and T2D patients with CAD, (1.18±0.07, and 1.31±0.08 respectively), while miRNA 370 levels were significantly higher in T2D patients, CAD patients, and T2D patients with CAD (0.59±0.05, 1.00±0.05, and 1.20±0.06 respectively), compared to control group at p = 0.000. In addition both miRNAs were still significantly associated with each other even after conducting multiple regression analysis. CONCLUSION: This study associates the possible role of miRNAs in the diagnosis/prognosis of CAD complication of T2D.

Diagnostic evaluation of urinary angiogenin (ANG) and clusterin (CLU) as biomarker for bladder cancer.

Bladder carcinoma is an important worldwide health problem. Both cystoscopy and urine cytology used in detecting bladder cancer suffer from drawbacks where cystoscopy is an invasive method and urine cytology shows low sensitivity in low grade tumors. This study validates easier and less time-consuming techniques to evaluate the value of combined use of angiogenin and clusterin in comparison and combination with voided urine cytology in the detection of bladder cancer patients. This study includes malignant (bladder cancer patients, n = 50), benign (n = 20) and healthy (n = 20) groups. The studied groups were subjected to cystoscopic examination, detection of bilharzial antibodies, urine cytology, and estimation of urinary angiogenin and clusterin by ELISA. The overall sensitivity and specificity were 66 and 75 % for angiogenin, 70 and 82.5 % for clusterin and 46 and 80 % for voided urine cytology. Combined sensitivity of voided urine cytology with the two studied biomarkers was 88 % which is higher than the combined sensitivity of both markers alone (82 %) and that of the cytology with each marker (76 and 80 %) for angiogenin and clusterin respectively. In conclusion, combined use of the cytology with the studied biomarkers can improve the sensitivity for detecting bladder cancer, and may be very useful in monitoring the effectiveness of antiangiogenic and apoptotic therapies in bladder cancer.

Nonclassical antifolates, part 5. Benzodiazepine analogs as a new class of DHFR inhibitors: synthesis, antitumor testing and molecular modeling study.

A new series of tetrahydro-quinazoline and tetrahydro-1H-dibenzo[b,e][1,4]diazepine analogs were synthesized and tested for their DHFR inhibition and in vitro antitumor activity. Compound 35 showed a remarkable DHFR inhibitory potency (IC50, 0.004 µM) which is twenty fold more active than methotrexate (MTX). Compounds 17 and 23 proved to be fifteen fold more active than the known antitumor 5-FU, with MG-MID GI50, TGI, and LC50 values of 1.5, 46.8, 93.3 and 1.4, 17.4, 93.3 µM, respectively. Computer modeling studies allowed the identification that methoxy and methyl substituents, the π-system of the chalcone core, the nitrogen atoms, on the dibenzodiazepine ring as pharmacophoric features essential for activity. These mark points could be used as template model for further future optimization.

Nonclassical antifolates, part 4. 5-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-4-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiols as a new class of DHFR inhibitors: synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular modeling study.

A new series of compounds possessing 5-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-4-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol skeleton was designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their in vitro DHFR inhibition, antimicrobial, antitumor and schistosomicidal activities. Four active compounds were allocated, the antibacterial 22 (comparable to gentamicin and ciprofloxacin), the schistosomicidal 29 (comparable to praziquantel), the DHFR inhibitor 34 (IC50 0.03 µM, 2.7 fold more active than MTX), and the antitumor 36 (comparable to doxorubicin). Molecular modeling studies concluded that recognition with key amino acid Leu4 and Val1 is essential for DHFR binding. Flexible alignment and surface mapping revealed that the obtained model could be useful for the development of new class of DHFR inhibitors.

Diagnostic evaluation of apoptosis inhibitory gene and tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase-2 in patients with bladder cancer.

Bladder carcinoma is an important worldwide health problem. Both cystoscopy and urine cytology used in detecting bladder cancer suffer from drawbacks where cystoscopy is an invasive method and urine cytology shows low sensitivity in low-grade tumors. This study validates easier and less time-consuming techniques for the estimation of survivin and TIMP-2 in urine of bladder cancer patients to evaluate them in comparison with cytology. This study includes malignant (bladder cancer patients, n = 42), benign (patients with bilharzial cystitis, n = 22) and healthy (n = 21) groups. The studied groups were subjected to cystoscopic examination, detection of bilharzial antibodies, urine cytology, and estimation of urinary survivin by qualitative RT-nested PCR and TIMP-2 by ELISA. Significantly higher positivity rates of urinary survivin and TIMP-2 were observed in the malignant group compared with benign and healthy groups. On associating the two urinary markers with different clinicopathological factors, only TIMP-2 exerted significantly higher positivity rate in invasive stage (100%) than superficial stage (82.3%). Survivin showed 78.6% sensitivity, 95.3% specificity, 94.3% PPV, 82% NPV, and 87% accuracy. When combined with urine cytology, the sensitivity increased to 83.3%. While on applying the cutoff value of urinary TIMP-2 (< or =639.5 pg/mg protein), it showed 93% sensitivity, 83.7% specificity, 85% PPV, 92.3% NPV, and 88.2% accuracy. When combined with urine cytology, the TIMP-2 sensitivity remained 93%. On combining cytology with both urinary survivin and TIMP-2, the highest sensitivity was reached (98%). Survivin and TIMP-2 can be considered as potentially useful urine markers in early detection of bladder cancer.