Iranian Journal of Biotechnology最新文献

{"title":"Validation of the Mechanism of Action of TYROBP Related to Blood-Brain Barrier Function in Intracerebral Hemorrhage by Bioinformatics Analysis.","authors":"Chengyuan Ji, Dejing Cheng, Siyuan Yang, Zhong Wang","doi":"10.30498/ijb.2025.487125.4019","DOIUrl":"10.30498/ijb.2025.487125.4019","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is an extremely common acute vascular disease in the elderly population with a high potential for disability and death.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To analyze TYROBP related to blood-brain barrier (BBB) function in ICH through online databases, and to explore their mechanisms of action.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The GSE24265 dataset was chosen for GEO2R analysis, followed by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional enrichment analyses. It was discovered that TYROBP was related to the \"maintenance of permeability of BBB\". Subsequently, ICH rat models were constructed, and TYROBP expression in ICH was verified. Lentivirus vectors with abnormally expressed TYROBP were constructed and intervened in ICH rats. The cognitive and learning abilities of rats were tested by the Morris water maze test, and the pathological damage, inflammatory reactions, and oxidative stress responses of brain tissue were detected. Finally, the BBB and microglial pyroptosis in rats were evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Analysis of the GSE24265 dataset showed upregulation of TYROBP, which was also elevated in ICH rats. After enhancing TYROBP expression, the learning and cognitive abilities of ICH rats were further deteriorated, the pathological damage of brain tissues was aggravated, and the BBB leakage and microglial pyroptosis were intensified; silencing TYROBP expression led to completely reversed pathological processes.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>TYROBP promotes the pathological progression of ICH by increasing the BBB permeability and facilitating microglial pyroptosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":14492,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12128946/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144215812","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Introducing New Inhibitors of PAICS, a <i>De Novo</i> Purine Biosynthesis Enzyme, through Structure-Based Virtual Screening.","authors":"Reyhane Chamani, Mohammad Hosein Darvand Araghi","doi":"10.30498/ijb.2025.461234.3935","DOIUrl":"10.30498/ijb.2025.461234.3935","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cancer cells need many purine nucleotides during their uncontrolled proliferation. phosphoribosyl-aminoimidazole carboxylase and phosphoribosylaminoimidazole-succinocarboxamide synthetase (PAICS) is one of the enzymes involved in <i>de novo</i> purine biosynthesis. The <i>PAICS</i> gene is overexpressed in some types of cancer, and <i>PAICS</i> knockdown results in tumor growth reduction <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>. Therefore, targeting PAICS enzyme activity can be a promising approach for cancer treatment.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The present study aimed to identify the inhibitors of PAICS using <i>in silico</i> drug screening strategies.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The crystal structure of PAICS (PDB ID: 7ALE) was downloaded and prepared by the UCSF Chimera software. 7ALE is in a complex with a ligand called RLK. Swiss Similarity and PubChem were searched for molecules similar to RLK. A library of 375 molecules was found and docked to PAICS using PyRx 0.8. Six complexes with energy rates more negative than 10 and RMSD of 0 were analyzed by Biovia Discovery Studio to find interacting residues. The Pharmacokinetic properties of these ligands were predicted by ADMETlab 2.0.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The findings showed that the best six ligands are the derivatives of carboxamide, acetamide, propanamide, urea, carboxamide, and pentanediamide, respectively. They bind to the SACAIRs' active site of PAICS. Regarding their predicted toxicity and pharmacokinetic properties, molecules #2 and #4 were more acceptable than the others.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In this study, six potential inhibitors of PAICS were predicted through virtual screening. Evaluating the efficacy of these inhibitors for treating different types of cancers, especially leukemia, is recommended. This may be a starting point for the development of new PAICS inhibitors..</p>","PeriodicalId":14492,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12128970/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144215721","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Aptamers in Combination Therapies for Enhanced Radiosensitization in Cancer.","authors":"Abolfazl Bemidinezhad, Yasaman Abolhassani, Arsalan Sarabian Tabrizi, Mojgan Noroozi-Karimabad, Mohammad Parsa-Kondelaji, Ramin Roshani, Fatemeh Gheybi","doi":"10.30498/ijb.2025.491856.4032","DOIUrl":"10.30498/ijb.2025.491856.4032","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This review explores the emerging role of aptamers in enhancing radiotherapy (RT) efficacy through their ability to target tumor sites with high specificity. Cancer, a complex disease, involves uncontrolled cell growth, and radiosensitization refers to the process of making cancer cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. As versatile carriers, aptamers facilitate the delivery of radiosensitizing agents such as nanoparticles, siRNAs, and therapeutic molecules. These conjugates modulate cell signaling, enhance free radical production, and influence the tumor microenvironment (TME) via immunomodulatory mechanisms, thereby indirectly increasing tumor radiosensitivity. Key findings highlight aptamer-based strategies for disrupting critical pathways, boosting immune responses, and overcoming tumor resistance. Advances in multi-agent and liposomal delivery systems further underscore their potential to address tumor heterogeneity and immune evasion. This review consolidates recent developments, emphasizing aptamers' role as precise delivery vehicles for optimizing RT outcomes and advancing cancer treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":14492,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12128947/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144215809","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synergic Effects of Curcumin, Licorice, and Endoscopic Photodynamic Therapy Against Helicobacter Pylori by Modulating the NF-Κb Signaling Pathway.","authors":"Xiaoling Dong, Yuehong Qin, Zhenyu Zhu, Xiaowen Wen, Shijiang Wang, Weipeng Gong, Xilin Song, Jie Chai, Razzagh Abedi-Firouzjah, Kai Liu","doi":"10.30498/ijb.2025.484620.4010","DOIUrl":"10.30498/ijb.2025.484620.4010","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;i&gt;Helicobacter pylori&lt;/i&gt; (&lt;i&gt;H. pylori&lt;/i&gt;) infection affects nearly half of the global population and is a significant contributor to gastroduodenal conditions, including gastric carcinoma. Research on herbal extracts has highlighted their antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, indicating potential for novel, synergistic therapeutic approaches.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective: &lt;/strong&gt;To assess the synergistic antimicrobial effect of Curcumin, Licorice, and photodynamic therapy (PDT) against the &lt;i&gt;H. pylori&lt;/i&gt; infection in a rat model by evaluating the NF-κB signaling pathway.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Materials and methods: &lt;/strong&gt;Forty male rats (250-300 g) were divided into eight groups as follows: control, rats treated with 600 mg.kg&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; of Curcumin and 200 mg.kg&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; of Licorice, &lt;i&gt;H. pylori&lt;/i&gt;-infected rats, &lt;i&gt;H. pylori&lt;/i&gt;-infected rats treated with 600 mg.kg&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; of Curcumin, &lt;i&gt;H. pylori&lt;/i&gt;-infected rats treated with 200 mg.kg&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; of Licorice, &lt;i&gt;H. pylori&lt;/i&gt;-infected rats treated with 600 mg.kg&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; of Curcumin and 200 mg.kg&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt; of Licorice, &lt;i&gt;H. pylori&lt;/i&gt;-infected rats treated with PDT (based on 3'-sialyllactose [3SL]-conjugated, poly-l-lysine-based photosensitizer [p3SLP]), and &lt;i&gt;H. pylori&lt;/i&gt;-infected rats treated with PDT combined with Curcumin and Licorice. The immunohistochemistry test was performed to investigate NF-κB p65 expression in gastric epithelial cells (GECs).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;The average &lt;i&gt;H. pylori&lt;/i&gt; colonization score was zero for the control and Curcumin + Licorice groups. However, the scores were 1.8, 1.0, 1.2, 0.8, 0.6, and 0.2 for the &lt;i&gt;H. pylori&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;H. pylori&lt;/i&gt; + Curcumin, &lt;i&gt;H. pylori&lt;/i&gt; + Licorice, &lt;i&gt;H. pylori&lt;/i&gt; + Curcumin and Licorice, PDT alone treatment, and PDT + Curcumin and Licorice groups, respectively. Regarding &lt;i&gt;H. pylori&lt;/i&gt; colonization and gastric inflammation scores, the treatment effect of PDT combined with Curcumin and Licorice was significantly greater than that of the other treatments (&lt;i&gt;P&lt;0.05&lt;/i&gt;). &lt;i&gt;H. pylori&lt;/i&gt; infection significantly increased the NF-κB expression in GECs compared to the control group (20.6%±2.1% vs. 10.1%±2.2%, P=0.035). This expression was significantly reduced in the &lt;i&gt;H. pylori&lt;/i&gt; + PDT combined with Curcumin and Licorice (8.8%±1.2%), the &lt;i&gt;H. pylori&lt;/i&gt; + Curcumin (15.3%±2.4%), and the &lt;i&gt;H. pylori&lt;/i&gt; + Licorice groups (16.4%±2.2%) compared to the &lt;i&gt;H. pylori&lt;/i&gt; only group (&lt;i&gt;P &lt;0.05&lt;/i&gt;). The administration of Curcumin and Licorice alone did not alter baseline NF-κB expression in GECs (8.3%±1.8%, &lt;i&gt;P=0.120&lt;/i&gt;).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/strong&gt;Our results demonstrated that combination treatment of PDT with Curcumin and Licorice may exert stronger anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing NF-κB p65 expression in GECs compared to each treatment alone. This combination could serve as a potential treatment option for future stu","PeriodicalId":14492,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12128945/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144215723","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>In vitro</i> Evaluation of the Cytotoxic Effects of a Recombinant form of the Soluble Mutant IL-6 Receptor on an Ovarian Cancer Cell Line.","authors":"Kosar Khatir, Mahmoud Aghaei, Seyedeh Sara Ghorbanhosseini, Fatemeh Shafiee","doi":"10.30498/ijb.2025.467140.3953","DOIUrl":"10.30498/ijb.2025.467140.3953","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays an important role in cancer metastasis. Therefore, it seems that inhibition of IL-6 may act as an anticancer agent.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study examined the anti-proliferative and IL-6 signal transduction inhibitory effects of a mutant IL-6 receptor (mIL-6R) on an ovarian cancer cell line.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The intein1-mIL-6R was expressed in <i>E. coli</i> BL21 at various inducer concentrations and temperatures. The expressed protein was purified using the IMPACT system, and the best-examined conditions (i.e., temperature, time, cleavage buffer pH) for intein1auto-cleavage were achieved. The anti-proliferative effects of mIL-6R on OVCAR-3 cancer cells were investigated using MTT assay and RT-PCR to determine its effects on suppressing the JAK-STAT pathway genes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The highest solubility of mIL-6R was obtained at 20 °C, 0.5 mM IPTG. The highest level of intein1 cleavage occurred at 25 °C, 24 hours of incubation, and pH = 4 of cleavage buffer. Also, mIL-6R diminished the survival of OVCAR-3 cells compared to PBS (p-value = 0.024), with 48 hours IC50 of 1.117 μg/mL. Also, mIL-6R significantly reduced the expression of the JAK, STAT, and VEGF genes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The recombinant mIL-6R showed a strong concentration-dependent anti-proliferative effect on the OVCAR-3 cell line. However, it needs further evaluation for its potential activity against disorders associated with increased IL-6.</p>","PeriodicalId":14492,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12128949/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144215808","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Co-Infection of <i>Cucumber Mosaic Virus</i> Stabilized Its Recombinant Coat Protein Expressed by <i>Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus</i>.","authors":"Sayed Mohsen Nassaj Hosseini, Masoud Shams-Bakhsh, Shyi Dong Yeh","doi":"10.30498/ijb.2025.487910.4024","DOIUrl":"10.30498/ijb.2025.487910.4024","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to investigate why the recombinant coat protein (CP) of <i>cucumber mosaic virus</i> (CMV) is undetectable when expressed by <i>zucchini yellow mosaic virus</i> (ZYMV) but becomes highly detectable during mixed infections of both viruses.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Three open reading frames (ORFs) of the CMV genome-encoding the coat protein (CP), movement protein (MP), and 2b protein-were amplified by RT-PCR, cloned into a ZYMV-based vector, and expressed in squash plants (<i>Cucurbita pepo</i> L.) to determine the stabilization mechanism of CMV-CP. Squash plants were inoculated with the recombinant viruses alone or in combination with wild-type CMV. Immunoblotting and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were used to quantitatively detect ZYMV-expressed proteins, CMV CP, and ZYMV CP in infected plants at 3, 6, 9, and 12 days post-inoculation (dpi). Fresh leaf tissues harvested at 12 dpi were analyzed using immuno-gold electron microscopy (IGEM).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The expression of CMV CP by the ZYMV vector altered symptom development but was undetectable by immunoassays and immunoblotting in all treatments except in the presence of wild-type CMV. Immuno-gold electron microscopy revealed that the recombinant CPs were incorporated into virus particles, suggesting that their stabilization occurred through binding to RNA.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our results indicate that CMV-MP and -2b do not contribute to CP stabilization. Instead, we propose that the recombinant CP is stabilized by participating in virus particle assembly, as it is an RNA-binding protein. The IGEM results, showing gold particles attached to CMV particles, confirm that the recombinant CMV-CPs bind to RNA and integrate into CMV particles, leading to their stabilization.</p>","PeriodicalId":14492,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"23 1","pages":"e4024"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12128952/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144215720","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"NNT-AS1, A Long Non-coding RNA with Therapeutic Promise in Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Pneumonia via the Mir-410-3p/TMEM14A/Wnt/ΒCatenin Signalling Pathway.","authors":"Yingjuan Yuan, Yue Zhou","doi":"10.30498/ijb.2025.492048.4034","DOIUrl":"10.30498/ijb.2025.492048.4034","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) NNT-AS1 is involved in the progression of various lung and inflammatory diseases, and has been reported to be upregulated in patients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP). However, its role in MPP progression remains largely unknown.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>We aimed to investigate the function and underlying mechanism of action for lncRNA NNT-AS1 in MPP.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Mycoplasma pneumonia (MP)-stimulated mouse models and MP-induced A549 cells were established to explore the effects of NNT-AS1 knockdown on MPP progression. The levels of inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were detected using ELISA. Histological changes in mouse lung tissues were examined using H&E Staining. The expression of NNT-AS1 in mouse lung tissues or A549 cells was determined by RT-qPCR. CCK-8 and colony formation assays were used to detect the viability and proliferative capacity of A549 cells, and flow cytometry analysis was applied to determine A549 cell apoptosis. The interaction between RNA and downstream targets was explored using RNA Pull-down, RIP, and dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay assays. Western blot was used to measure the levels of downstream target TMEM14A as well as key proteins on the Wnt/βcatenin pathway.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>NNT-AS1 was upregulated in MPP mice and MP-stimulated A549 cells, accompanied by increased levels of inflammatory mediators, which were suppressed by NNT-AS1 silencing. Besides, NNT-AS1 deficiency elevated the proliferation while inhibiting apoptosis in MP-induced A549 cells. Additionally, through online databases and mechanical assays, we verified that NNT-AS1 served as a miRNA sponge for miR-410-3p, and transmembrane protein 14A (TMEM14A) was targeted by miR-410-3p. NNT-AS1 elevated TMEM14A expression by interacting with miR-410-3p. Moreover, NNT-AS1 promoted the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway via elevating TMEM14A expression. Further rescue experiments validated that miR-410-3p inhibition or TMEM14A elevation rescued the impacts of NNT-AS1 silencing on proliferation, apoptosis, as well as inflammation in MP-stimulated A549 cells.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our study unveiled that NNT-AS1 facilitated inflammatory injury in MP-stimulated A549 cells via the miR-410-3p/TMEM14A/Wnt/βcatenin signalling pathway, which might provide a novel therapeutic target for MPP.</p>","PeriodicalId":14492,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12128951/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144215722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Regulatory Effect of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells on the Gut Microbiota in Diabetic Nephropathy Rats.","authors":"Chengdong Wu, Yan Mi, Jixuan Song, Min Zhang, Caili Wang","doi":"10.30498/ijb.2025.472772.3975","DOIUrl":"10.30498/ijb.2025.472772.3975","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chronic inflammation is increasingly recognized as a key factor in the progression of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). By discovering that the regulation of gut microbiota plays an important role in diabetic kidney disease, human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HU-MSCs) explore the mechanism of fibrosis in diabetic kidney disease through the regulation of chronic inflammation, providing new clinical insights for the prediction, diagnosis, and treatment of diabetic kidney disease.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study explores the regulatory effects of HU-MSCs on gut microbiota and their protective role on the intestinal barrier in diabetic nephropathy rats.</p><p><strong>Material and method: </strong>Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) was induced in SD rats via intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Three groups were established: control group, diabetic kidney disease (DKD) group, and treatment group (DKD+HU-MSCs) (10 rats each). After diabetic kidney disease (DKD) modeling, rats in the treatment group (DKD+HU-MSCs) received 2×10⁶ HU-MSCs via tail vein injection weekly for four weeks. Blood, urine, kidney, and colon tissues were collected post-treatment. Pathological changes were observed microscopically; immunohistochemistry detected tight junction proteins ZO-1 and Occludin in colon tissues. DiR-labeled HU-MSCs distribution was assessed with <i>in vivo</i> imaging, and immunohistochemistry evaluated human mesenchymal stem cell markers CD44 and CD90. Fecal samples underwent metagenomic sequencing for gut microbiota analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>HU-MSCs transplantation significantly reduced Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), Serum Creatinine (SCr), and 24-hour urinary protein levels (all P < 0.05) and improved renal pathology. Markers CD44 and CD90 were present in DKD rat colon tissues. Tight junction proteins Occludin and ZO-1 were decreased in DKD rats but increased following HU-MSCs treatment. Metagenomic analysis showed enhanced abundance of beneficial bacteria (Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus) with HU-MSCs. Urinary protein was positively correlated with Prevotella and negatively with Ligilactobacillus (p < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>HU-MSCs may improve intestinal barrier function in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) rats by restoring gut microbiota structure and increasing intestinal tight junction proteins, offering a potential pathway for enhancing renal function.</p>","PeriodicalId":14492,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12128948/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144215810","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tissue-Specific Antioxidant Responses and <i>PAL</i> Gene Expression in Bread Wheat Under Drought Stress.","authors":"Fateme Tanbakuyi, Mehrdad Chaichi, Khadijeh Razavi, Forough Sanjarian","doi":"10.30498/ijb.2025.483262.4005","DOIUrl":"10.30498/ijb.2025.483262.4005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Drought stress affects crop wheat productivity by inducing biochemical changes in different tissues. Antioxidant enzymes, phenolic compounds and sugars are crucial in the plant's defense against stress. Studying these responses in tolerant and susceptible genotypes can help improve our knowledge about drought tolerance.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate tissue-specific (leaf, stem, spike and root) activities of antioxidant enzymes, phenolic content, soluble sugar accumulation, under moderate drought stress. Additionally, the expression of the <i>PAL</i> gene was analyzed in different tissues of drought-tolerant and susceptible wheat genotypes.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Three wheat genotypes-susceptible (Marvdasht) and tolerants (82, 118)-were grown under drought stress and control conditions. Antioxidant enzyme activities, phenolic compounds, and sugar contents were measured in leaf, stem, and spike tissues. Quantitative Real-time PCR was used to assess <i>PAL</i> gene expression in leaf, stem, spike, and root tissues. Thousand-kernel weight (TKW) was measured as an indicator of performance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Drought stress led to increased POD, CAT, PPO activities, and phenolic content in all tissues of the susceptible genotype (Marvdasht). However, SOD activity decreased in this genotype but increased in tolerant genotypes. Phenolic content and soluble sugar accumulation increased in all genotypes under drought, except for genotype 82, where soluble sugar decreased in the leaf tissue. PAL gene expression was down-regulated in the susceptible genotype's stem, root, and spike, while up-regulated in the tolerant genotype's stem. As a result of these adaptive responses, yield reduction, measured as TKW, was less severe in the tolerant genotypes compared to the susceptible genotype. Principal component analysis highlighted that drought-tolerant genotypes exhibited the highest levels of antioxidant enzyme activity and soluble sugars under stress.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Enhanced antioxidant activity, phenolic accumulation and tissue-specific activation of the <i>PAL</i> gene are key factors contributing to drought tolerance in wheat. The <i>PAL</i> gene's differential expression suggests distinct responses to drought stress, with the tolerant genotype exhibiting tissue-specific activation. These mechanisms moderate stress-induced damage and reduce yield loss. The study gives emphasis to the importance of integrating biochemical and molecular insights to develop drought-resistance cultivars, offering valuable implications for improving crop production under abiotic stress.</p>","PeriodicalId":14492,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12128950/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144215811","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Arbitrarily Suffixed Sequence-Specific Primer PCR for Reliable Genome Walking: Taking Genome Walkings of <i>Levilactobacillus</i> brevis And Rice as Examples.","authors":"Haixing Li, Cheng Wei, Zhenkang Pan, Xiaohua Liu","doi":"10.30498/ijb.2024.449960.3896","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.30498/ijb.2024.449960.3896","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Genome walking has contributed to life science-related areas. Herein, we detailed a new genome walking method, nominated as arbitrarily suffixed sequence-specific primer PCR (ASP-PCR).</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to construct an efficient random PCR-based genome walking method.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The key for this method is the use of a hybrid primer (HP) in primary ASP-PCR. This HP is fabricated by suffixing an arbitrary sequence to outmost sequence-specific primer. The relaxed cycle in primary ASP-PCR facilitates the partial annealing of HP to genome, creating many single-stranded DNAs. In the next stringent cycles, target single-strand is exponentially amplified, because it also has a site complementary to the sequence-specific part of HP; while nontarget cannot be further processed due to lacking such a site. Nested secondary/tertiary ASP-PCR further selectively enriches target DNA.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The practicability of ASP-PCR was confirmed by obtaining unknown DNAs adjacent to <i>Oryza sativa hygromycin</i> gene and <i>Levilactobacillus brevis</i> CD0817 L-glutamic acid decarboxylase gene. The results showed that each secondary or tertiary ASP-PCR exhibited 1 - 2 clear target amplicon(s) with size from 1.5 to 3.5 kb, and a weak background.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The ASP-PCR is a promising genome walking scheme, and may have a potential use in life science-related areas.</p>","PeriodicalId":14492,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Biotechnology","volume":"22 4","pages":"e3896"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11993238/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143996124","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}