Epigenetic modifications in gastric cancer: Focus on DNA methylation.

Gastric cancer is a complex heterogeneous disease which is the fourth prevalent malignancy worldwide. Although, several diagnosis and treatment are available for the gastric cancer patients, however the malignancy is still the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the world. Beside the genetic and environmental factors, epigenetic alterations are also involved in the emergence of gastric cancer. Epigenetics alterations are heritable changes which regulate gene expression without occurring changes in DNA sequence. Epigenetic changes mostly include DNA methylation, histon post-translational modifications, chromatin remodeling and non-coding RNAs. Among the mentioned epigenetic modifications, DNA methylation is a major epigenetic process that plays a key role in different stages of evolution and cancer development. In this review, we address all types of related epigenetic modifications in gastric cancer by focus on DNA methylation by reviewing the recent literatures. Understanding of molecular mechanisms of epigenetics alterations in gastric cancer development helps researchers to identify new epigenetic drugs against the malignancy.

Layered double hydroxide nanoparticles as an appealing nanoparticle in gene/plasmid and drug delivery system in C2C12 myoblast cells.

Gene and drug delivery systems need crucial update in the issue of nanocarriers. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are known as biocompatible inorganic lamellar nanomaterials with versatile properties. In the present study, Zn/Al-LDH nanoparticle was synthesized and characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, TEM and Zeta potential tests and then intercalated with valproate and methyldopa by co-precipitation and ion exchange methods. These nanocarriers were applied as high activity nanolayers-based delivery systems. On the other hand, Zn/Al-LDH + plasmid/gene (pCEP4/Cdk9) evaluated on C2C12 myoblast cells. Co-operation loading indicated high efficiency of sorting and release of drugs. Additionally, the Real-Time PCR and Western blotting results for plasmid-gene (pCEP4/Cdk9) delivery showed that Zn/Al-LDH nanoparticles can be used as an effective carrier in cellular uptake and release of genes for gene therapy. Easy and cost-effective production of Zn/Al-LDH nanoparticles proposed them as potential alternatives for the traditional routs of drug/gene delivery.