Correction: Association of SNPs within TMPRSS6 and BMP2 genes with iron deficiency status in Saudi Arabia.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257895.].

Achillea fragrantissima (Forssk.) Sch.Bip instigates the ROS/FADD/c-PARP expression that triggers apoptosis in breast cancer cell (MCF-7).

Achillea fragrantissima is a shrub plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family in Arabia and Egypt. It is used as folk medicine and is a good source of phenolic acids, flavonoids, and some active compounds. To investigate the anti-cancer effect of A.fragrantissima on breast cancer MCF-7 cells and find the critical mechanism involved in apoptosis. The toxicity and pharmacokinetic studies of ethanolic extract of A.fragrantissima was examined for anti-breast cancer properties. In turn, cytotoxicity and cell viability were achieved by the MTT method. Furthermore, the trypan blue exclusion and microscopy examination proved the presence of apoptotic cells. Again, fluorescent staining such as AO/EtBr, DCFH-DA, Rho-123, and Hoechst-33342 reveals the cellular cytoplasmic disciplines upon A. fragrantissima effect. Moreover, cellular functioning tests like wound healing, colony formation, and Transwell invasion assay were demonstrated. In addition, the qRT-PCR technique authenticates the A. fragrantissima -induced apoptotic network genes (Caspase-3, Caspase-8, Caspase-9, Cytochrome c, BCL-2, BID, BAX, PARP, PTEN, PI3K, and Akt) expression were evaluated. Mainly, the Immunoblot technique proved the expressed level of apoptotic proteins such as cleaved PARP, CYCS, and FADD. This study confirmed that the A. fragrantissima exerts cytotoxicity at 20 µg/mL for 24 hrs in MCF-7 cells. Also, decreases cellular viability, producing apoptotic cells and damaged cellular surfaces with dead matter. Consequently, it creates ROS species accumulation, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and fragmentation of DNA in MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, it arrests cell migration, induces colony-forming ability loss, and suppresses cell invasion. In addition, A. fragrantissima significantly upregulates genes such as caspase-3, 9, cytochrome c, BID, BAX, and PTEN while downregulating the Pi3K/ Akt signaling. Nonetheless, A.fragrantissima induced cleaved PARP, CYCS, and FADD proteins in MCF-7 cells to avail apoptosis.

Morphological, Biochemical, and Molecular Diversity Assessment of Egyptian Bottle Gourd Cultivars.

The genetic variability and relationships between ten bottle gourd cultivars were evaluated based on morphological, biochemical, and molecular parameters. The results displayed high variability among selected cultivars in terms of photosynthetic pigments, total free amino acids, total phenol content, isozymes pattern, and protein electrophoresis. Furthermore, differences in molecular markers were revealed by the SCoT technique. The peroxidase (POD) and polyphenyl oxidase (PPO) isozymes patterns did not detect significant differences in bands among cultivars. The protein patterns revealed seventeen bands ranging from 126 to 9 kDa and five polymorphic bands representing 29.41%. On the other hand, eight SCoT primers were used to evaluate the genetic variability and relationships between the ten Egyptian bottle gourd cultivars. The results of SCoT analysis detected 44 amplicons with 50% polymorphism. In addition, the results of the phylogenetic tree that is constructed based on the similarity coefficient revealed by SCoT analysis confirm the results of biochemical analysis indicating a genetic relationship between the most efficient bottle gourd cultivars (S1 and S2 cultivars). In addition, there is a genetic relationship among the less efficient bottle gourd cultivars (S4 and S5 cultivars). These results could be beneficial to distinguish among bottle gourd cultivars in the plant breeding programs.

In vitro evaluation of the neuroprotective potential of Olea dioica against Aß peptide-induced toxicity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a type of neurodegenerative disease, associated with the hastening of ROS, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and amyloid ß peptides plaques in the brain. The limitations and side effects of existing synthetic drugs incline toward natural sources. In the present communication active principles of methanolic extract of Olea dioica Roxb, leaves are explored as an antioxidant, AChE inhibitor, and anti-amyloidogenic. Furthermore, neuroprotection against the amyloid beta-peptide has been studied. The bioactive principles were identified by GC-MS and LC-MS and further subjected to antioxidant (DPPH and FRAP) and neuroprotection (AChE inhibition, ThT binding, and MTT assay, DCFH-DA and lipid peroxidation (LPO) assay using neuroblastoma (SHSY-5Y) cell lines) assays. Methanolic extract of O. dioica Roxb, leaves was found to contain polyphenols and flavonoids. In vitro assays exhibited potential antioxidant and anti-AChE (˃50%) activities. ThT binding assay indicated protection against amyloid-beta aggregation. MTT assay, Aß1-40 (10 µM) with extract increase the cell viability (˃50%) and showed significant cytotoxicity to SHSY-5Y cells. ROS level (˃25%) significantly decreased in the Aß1-40 (10 µM) + extract (15 and 20 µM/mL) and LPO assay (˃50%) suggesting prevention of cell damage. Results advocate that O. dioica leaves are a good source of antioxidants, anti-AChE, and anti-amyloidogenic compounds which may be further evaluated as a natural medicine for the treatment of AD.

Association of SNPs within TMPRSS6 and BMP2 genes with iron deficiency status in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Globally, iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) remains a major health obstacle. This health condition has been identified in 47% of pre-school students (aged 0 to 5 years), 42% of pregnant females, and 30% of non-pregnant females (aged 15 to 50 years) worldwide according to the WHO. Environmental and genetic factors play a crucial role in the development of IDA; genetic testing has revealed the association of a number of polymorphisms with iron status and serum ferritin. AIM: The current study aims to reveal the association of TMPRSS6 rs141312 and BMP2 rs235756 with the iron status of females in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cohort of 108 female university students aged 18-25 years was randomly selected to participate: 50 healthy and 58 classified as iron deficient. A 3-5 mL sample of blood was collected from each one and analyzed based on hematological and biochemical iron status followed by genotyping by PCR. RESULTS: The genotype distribution of TMPRSS6 rs141312 was 8% (TT), 88% (TC) and 4% (CC) in the healthy group compared with 3.45% (TT), 89.66% (TC) and 6.89% (CC) in the iron-deficient group (P = 0.492), an insignificant difference in the allelic distribution. The genotype distribution of BMP2 rs235756 was 8% (TT), 90% (TC) and 2% (CC) in the healthy group compared with 3.45% (TT), 82.76% (TC) and 13.79% (CC) in iron-deficient group (P = 0.050) and was significantly associated with decreased ferritin status (P = 0.050). In addition, TMPRSS6 rs141312 is significantly (P<0.001) associated with dominant genotypes (TC+CC) and increased risk of IDA while BMP2 rs235756 is significantly (P<0.026) associated with recessive homozygote CC genotypes and increased risk of IDA. CONCLUSION: Our finding potentially helps in the early prediction of iron deficiency in females through the genetic testing.

Study the association of transmembrane serine protease 6 gene polymorphisms with iron deficiency status in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Intheclinical setting, iron deficiencyanaemia(IDA) represents a majorglobalhealthconcern. This health condition is reported in 30% of non-pregnant women, 42% of pregnant women (aged 15-50 years), 12.7% of men (15 years or older) and in 47% of preschool children (aged 0 to 5 years). Several genetic polymorphisms associated with iron status havebeen identified by using genome-wide association studies. AIM: This study aimed to identify the functional polymorphismsrs855791 and rs2111833 in the transmembrane serine protease 6 (TMPRSS6) gene in female university students with IDA inthe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: About 108 female students, aged from 18 to 25 years, were randomly selected and included to this study. Fifty-eightparticipants were iron deficient, and fifty participants were healthy. Blood samples were collected from all participants andassessed based on theirhaematologicaland biochemical iron status indices. Genotyping was carried out byusing PCR. RESULTS: The genotype distribution oftheTMPRSS6rs855791 region in female studentsfromTabuk University,northern Saudi Arabia,was0% (CC), 77.6% (CT) and 22.4% (TT) in the iron-deficient students compared to 2% (CC), 96% (CT) and 2% (TT) in the healthy students,indicating significant differences in the allelic distribution betweentheiron-deficient group andthehealthy group. The genotype distribution of theTMPRSS6rs2111833 polymorphism was 8.6% (GG), 89.7% (GA) and 1.7% (AA) inthe iron-deficient students compared to 6% (GG), 92% (GA) and 2% (AA) in the healthy students,respectively,showing no differences between the iron-deficient group andthehealthy group in allelic distribution. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrated that theTMPRSS6 polymorphism rs855791 is significantly associated with decreased iron status, whereasTMPRSS6 polymorphismrs2111833 is not linked with iron deficiency status in female university students innorthern Saudi Arabia.