Signature of miR-21 and MEG-2 and their correlation with TGF-ß signaling in breast cancer.

Breast cancer is highly prevalent and considered the main challenge to public health among females in Egypt as in other countries. MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) and MEG-2 are noncoding RNA attributed to their aberrant expression in several diseases, including breast cancer. This study aimed to assess the reliability of serum expression levels of miR-21 and MEG-2 in discriminating stages of breast cancer and scrutinize their correlations with the targeted transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß) expression. One hundred and 30 participants whose ages ranged from 28 to 62 years were included in this study, divided into one hundred breast cancer patients and 30 healthy participants. miR-21 and TGF-ß expression levels showed upregulation in patients with BC and elevated miR-21/TGF-ß levels consistent with the BC stage. In addition, LncRNA (MEG-2) showed down-regulation in patients with BC. MEG-2 expression levels revealed a gradual decrease consistent with the BC stage. In addition, a negative relationship between the MEG-2 and the miR-21 and TGF-ß differential expression was also noticed. This study suggested that miR-21 and MEG-2 can be used as prospective diagnostic biomarkers and emphasized the crucible role of TGF-ß as therapeutic targets for BC.

Grape seed extract attenuates dexamethasone-induced testicular and thyroid dysfunction in male albino rats.

This study scrutinised the ameliorative properties of grape seed extract (GSE) in dexamethasone (DEX)-induced testicular and thyroid dysfunction associated with oxidative stress in male albino rats. Thirty-two healthy adult male albino rats were divided into four groups of eight animals each: normal, DEX control, DEX + GSE (200 mg/kg body weight) group and DEX + GSE (400 mg/kg body weight) group. The body weight gain and testes weight were assessed. Plasma testosterone and thyroid profile were determined. Testicular glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH), acid phosphatase (ACP), total protein and glutathione (GSH) levels, as well as catalase (CAT) activity also histopathological changes of the testis were evaluated. DEX treatment caused a significant decrease in body weight gain and weight of testes. Significant alterations in enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants were observed. Moreover, a marked reduction in plasma testosterone levels and thyroid profile was observed. The administration of GSE significantly attenuated the deleterious effects of oxidative stress induced by DEX, as well as attenuated DEX-induced testicular and thyroid damage. Furthermore, DEX induced histological alterations in the testis. GSE ameliorated the injurious effects of DEX and improved the histological alterations in the testis.