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Placenta-specific protein 1 (PLAC-1) is a gene primarily expressed in the placenta and the testis. Interestingly, it is also found to be expressed in many solid tumors, and it is involved in malignant cell features. However, no evidence has been reported regarding the relationship between PLAC-1 and cancer stem cells (CSCs). In the current research, we explored the expression of the PLAC-1 molecule in prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs) derived from the human PC-3 cell line. The enrichment of PCSCs was achieved using a three-dimensional cell culture technique known as the sphere-formation assay. To confirm the identity of PCSCs, we examined the expression of genes associated with stemness and pluripotency, such as SOX2, OCT4, Nanog, C-Myc, and KLF-4, as well as stem cell differentiation molecules like CD44 and CD133. These evaluations were conducted in both the PCSCs and the original tumor cells (parental cells) using real-time PCR and flow cytometry. Subsequently, we assessed the expression of the PLAC-1 molecule in both enriched cells and parental tumor cells at the gene and protein levels using the same techniques. The tumor cells from the PC-3 cell line formed spheroids with CSC characteristics in a non-adherent medium. The expression of SOX2, OCT4, Nanog, and C-Myc genes (p < 0.01), and the molecules CD44 and CD133 (p < 0.05) were significantly elevated in PCSCs compared to the parental cells. The expression of the PLAC-1 molecule in PCSCs showed a significant increase compared to the parental cells at both gene (p < 0.01) and protein (p < 0.001) levels. In conclusion, it was indicated for the first time that PLAC-1 is up-regulated in PCSCs derived from human PC-3 cell line. This study may propose PLAC-1 as a potential target in targeted therapies, which should be confirmed through further studies., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Fine particles (especially PM 2.5 particles) in ambient air can cause irreversible effects on human health. In the present study, seasonal variations in toxicity PM 2.5 (cell viability and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines) were exposed human lung cells (A549) to concentrations of PM 2.5 samples in summer (sPM 2.5 ) and winter (wPM 2.5 ) seasons. Cells were separately exposed to three concentrations of PM 2.5 (25, 50, and 100 μg/mL) and three times (12 h, 1 and 2 days). We evaluated cell viability by MTT assay [3- (4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] and liberation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 and interleukin-8) by the ELISA method. The toxicological results of this study showed that increasing the concentration of PM 2.5 particulates and contact time with it reduces cell viability and increases inflammatory responses. Seasonal cytotoxicity of PM 2.5 particles in high-traffic areas at summer season compared to winter season was lower. The lowest percent of viability at 2 days of exposure and 100 μg/mL exposure in the winter sample was observed. Also, PM 2.5 particles were influential in the amount of interleukins 8 and 6. The average release level of IL-6 and IL-8 in the cold season (winter) and the enormous exposure time and concentrations (2 days-100 μg/mL) was much higher than in the hot season (summer). These values were twice as high for winter PM 2.5 samples as for summer samples. The compounds in PM 2.5 at different seasons can cause some biological effects. The samples' chemical characteristics in two seasons displayed that the PMs were diverse in chemical properties. In general, heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were more in the winter samples. However, the samples of wPM 2.5 had a lower mass quota of metals such as aluminum, iron, copper, zinc, and magnesium. Concentrations of chromium, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, nickel, and lead were more significant in the sample of wPM 2.5 ., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that has been reported to be associated with immune system dysfunction. On the other hand, the effect of Vitamin D as an immune modulator and its relation with several autoimmune and inflammatory diseases has been previously investigated. Moreover, several studies have reported the polymorphisms of VDR and VDBP genes can change the functions of these molecules. Therefore, these polymorphisms may be influential on endometriosis pathogenesis. In this study, we aimed at evaluating the association between VDR gene (FokI (F/f), BsmI (B/b), ApaI (A/a), TaqI (T/t)), and VDBP gene (GC*1S, GC*1F, and GC*2) polymorphisms with endometriosis in Iranian women population. This case-control study was performed on 120 women with endometriosis and 110 healthy women. ARMS-PCR and PCR-RFLP methods were used to inspect polymorphisms in VDR and VDBP genes, respectively. Based on the results, there was no statistically significant difference between the cases with endometriosis and control subjects in terms of genotypes and allele frequencies of VDR and VDBP gene polymorphisms. These data suggest that VDR and VDBP gene polymorphisms may have no role in endometriosis susceptibility in Iranian women., (© 2021. Society for Reproductive Investigation.)