Evaluating the possible genotoxicity of nanoaluminum incorporated in human vaccines and the potential protective role of nanocurcumin: an in vivo study.

For nearly 90 years, aluminum (Al) salts have been utilized as vaccination adjuvants. Nevertheless, there is a risk of adverse effects associated with the amount of nanoaluminum used in various national pediatric immunization regimens. This study aimed to investigate the possible genotoxic effects of nanoaluminum incorporated in human vaccines on the brains of newborn albino rats and whether nanocurcumin has a potential protective effect against this toxicity. Fifty newborn albino rats were randomly assigned to 5 groups, with 10 in each group. Groups 1 and 2 received "high" and "low" Al injections corresponding to either the American or Scandinavian pediatric immunization schedules, respectively, as opposed to the control rats (group 5) that received saline injections. Groups 3 and 4 received the same regimens as groups 1 and 2 in addition to oral nanocurcumin. The expression of both the cell breakdown gene tumor protein (P53) and the cell stress gene uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) was significantly greater in groups 1 and 2 than in group 5. Groups 1 and 2 exhibited severe DNA fragmentation, which was observed as DNA laddering. Nanocurcumin significantly reduced the expression of the P53 and UCP2 genes in groups 3 and 4, with very low or undetectable DNA laddering in both groups. Vaccination with nanoaluminum adjuvants can cause genotoxic effects, which can be mediated by the inflammatory response and oxidative stress, and nanocurcumin can protect against these toxic effects through the modulation of oxidative stress regulators and gene expression.

Association of lncRNA MEG3 Rs7158663 Polymorphism and Serum Expression with Colorectal Cancer in Egyptian Patients.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is considered the third most common cancer around the world and second in terms of mortality. A significant aspect in its development is genetics. The risk of CRC and other clinicopathologic characteristics were investigated in this work in relation to the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) MEG3 rs7158663 polymorphism, MEG3 expression, in an Egyptian population. Methods: 160 CRC patients and 160 healthy controls were enrolled in this case-control study. The lncRNA MEG3 rs7158663 was examined using TaqMan Real-time PCR. RT-PCR was used to assess the levels of serum MEG3 expression. Results: A significant higher expression of 'A' allele (risk allele) and A/A genotype in CRC cases vs. control subjects (P <0.001) Participants with A/A genotype had 4.8 times higher odds to exhibit CRC. Serum MEG3 gene expression was generally low in CRC patients, and it was considerably lower in those with the rs7158663 AA genotype than those with the GG genotype (P <0.001). It was found that CRC patients with the rs7158663 GA genotype had lower serum MEG3 expression levels than those with the GG genotype (P <0.001). Conclusions: MEG3 low expression and MEG3 rs7158663 (AA) were associated with CRC risk in Egyptian patients and may serve as a diagnostic and prognostic marker for CRC patients.

Relationship between miR-155 and miR-146a polymorphisms and susceptibility to multiple sclerosis in an Egyptian cohort.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system. It was previously demonstrated that miR-155 and miR-146a served a vital role in the pathophysiology of MS, and single nucleotide polymorphisms in miR-155 and miR-146a were found to be associated with the susceptibility to different autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and type I diabetes. The aim of the present study was to analyze the association between susceptibility to MS and two genetic polymorphisms (miR-155 rs767649 A>T and miR-146a rs57095329 A>G) in a cohort of Egyptian patients. The presence of the two polymorphisms were analyzed in 114 patients with MS and 152 healthy controls using quantitative PCR. The present study demonstrated for the first time that: The TT genotype and T allele in miR-155 (rs767649 A>T) polymorphism were associated with an increased risk of MS; the miR-146a (rs57095329 A>G) mutated G allele conferred protection against the development of MS in all genetic models; miR-155 rs767649 A>T was a risk associated polymorphism of MS in females, but not in males; and miR-155 rs767649 AT/TT and miR-146a rs57095329 GG genotypes showed significantly higher distributions among patients with higher Expanded Disability Status Scale scores and secondary progressive MS subgroups. Therefore, miR-155 rs767649 polymorphism may confer susceptibility to MS, whereas miR-146a rs57095329 may be protective against MS in an Egyptian cohort.