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Asthenozoospermia (AZS), which characterised by reduced forward sperm motility, is a common cause of male infertility. Recently, mitochondrial dysfunction reported in AZS men came to attention for finding the molecular aetiology of AZS. Mitochondria‐related microRNAs (miRNAs) are the most important regulators of mitochondrial function through post‐transcriptionally modulation of gene expression. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the expression of four recently reported mitochondrial‐related miRNAs (miR‐4485‐3p/4484/4461 and 4463) in the sperm sample of asthenozoospermic men. RNA was extracted from spermatozoa of 74 volunteers (39 patients with idiopathic AZS and 35 controls with normal fertility), and relative gene expression analysis was performed by quantitative PCR. We used SNORD48 as a normaliser gene, and quantification was calculated by 2−ΔΔCt method. The expression of miR‐4484 and miR‐4461 was not detected in the spermatozoa of cases and controls. However, miR‐4485‐3p (p =.006) was significantly downregulated in the AZS men compared with the controls, but the miR‐4463 expression was not significantly different between the two groups (p =.5). Bioinformatic analysis identified three target genes for miR‐4485‐3p (DNAH1, KIT and PARK7) that are related to male infertility. In conclusion, the downregulation of miR‐4485‐3p was associated with idiopathic AZS, which could be a molecular link between mitochondrial dysfunction and AZS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNAs, which function in posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression. They are powerful regulators of various cellular activities including cell growth, differentiation, development, and apoptosis. They have been linked to many diseases, and currently miRNA‐mediated clinical trial has shown promising results for treatment of cancer and viral infection. This review provides an overview and update on miRNAs biogenesis, regulation of miRNAs expression, their biological functions, and role of miRNAs in epigenetics and cell–cell communication. In addition, alteration of miRNAs following exercise, their association with diseases, and therapeutic potential will be explained. Finally, miRNA bioinformatics tools and conventional methods for miRNA detection and quantification will be discussed. This review summarizes, miRNAs biology, functions, role of miRNAs in epigenetics and intercellular communication; Alteration of miRNAs after exercise, their association with diseases, and their therapeutic potential; Bioinformatics tools for miRNA studies and their analysis methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is pathologically defined by the presence of amyloid plaques and tangles in the brain, therefore, any drug or compound with potential effect on lowering amyloid plaques, could be noticed for AD management especially in the primary phases of the disease. Ectoine constitutes a group of small molecule chaperones (SMCs). SMCs inhibit proteins and other changeable macromolecular structures misfolding from environmental stresses. Ectoine has been reported successfully prohibit insulin amyloid formation in vitro. Methods: We selected eight genes, DAXX, NFκβ, VEGF, PSEN1, MTAP2, SYP, MAPK3 and TNFα genes which had previously showed significant differential expression in Alzheimer human brain and STZ- rat model. We considered the neuroprotective efficacy by comparing the expression of candidate genes levels in the hippocampus of rat model of Sopradic Alzheimer's disease (SAD), using qPCR in compound-treated and control groups as well as therapeutic effects at learning and memory levels by using Morris Water Maze (MWM) test. Results: Our results showed significant down-regulation of Syp, Mapk3 and Tnfα and up-regulation of Vegf in rat's hippocampus after treatment with ectoine comparing to the STZ-induced group. In MWM, there was no significant change in swimming distance and time for finding the hidden platform in treated comparing to STZ-induced group. In addition, it wasn't seen significant change in compound-treated comparing to STZ-induced and control groups in memory level. Conclusion: It seems this compound may have significant effect on expression level of some AD- related genes but not on clinical levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diagnosis of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) at an early stage is a daunting challenge due to the deficiency of specific noninvasive markers. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in the initiation and progression of NSCLC. Measuring miRNA expression levels could provide a potential approach for the diagnosis of NSCLC. Our goals were to examine miR-223, miR-212, miR-192, miR-3074, SNORD33 and SNORD37 expression levels in tissue and sputum of NSCLC patients and cancer free subjects for molecular diagnosis of NSCLC. Methods: Relative expressions of miR-223, miR-212, miR-192, miR-3074, SNORD33 and SNORD37 were examined with quantitative real-time RT-PCR assay in tissue and sputum obtained from 17 NSCLC patients and 17 controls. Results: miR-3074 was upregulated in tissue samples of NSCLC patients compared with control group. miR-223 was upregulated, miR-212 and SNORD37 were downergulated in sputum samples of patients compared with controls. miR-223 quantification produced 82% sensitivity and 95% specificity with areas under the ROC curve at 0.90 in detection of NSCLC. Conclusion: miR-223 clearly discriminated cancer patients from cancer-free subjects and our results suggest that miR-223 could be a diagnostic useful biomarker. The measurement of altered miRNA expression in sputum samples manifested the potential noninvasive approach for detection of lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Possible mechanisms of Alzheimer Disease (AD) such as inflammation and oxidative stresses in the brain led us to investigate potential AD therapeutics of Melilotus officinalis, an herbal extract, with possible role as an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant agent. Among different genes which had important role in Sporadic AD (SAD), three genes including DAXX, NFkB and VEGF have shown significant statistical diversity in the brains of Alzheimer patients. Methods: These genes were chosen to be investigated for neuroprotective effects of the extract by comparing the expression level in the hippocampus of Sporadic AD (SAD) rat model using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in the treated and untreated groups. In addition, therapeutic effects at the behavioral, learning and memory level by Morris Water Maze (MWM) test were investigated. Results: The results represented significant decreased expression in Daxx, Nfkb and Vegf genes in the SAD rat’s model treated with the herbal extract compared to the Streptozotocin-induced (STZ-induced) rats. Furthermore, no significant changes were seen in swimming distance and time for finding the hidden platform in the herbaltreated compared to the STZ-induced group. In memory level, no significant changes were observed among treated and untreated groups. Conclusion: It seems that the herbal extract may have significant effect on Alzheimerrelated gene expression changes but not on clinical levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sporadic Alzheimer’s Disease (SAD) is caused by genetic risk factors, aging and oxidative stresses. The herbal extract of Rosa canina (R. canina), Tanacetum vulgare (T. vulgare) and Urtica dioica (U. dioica) has a beneficial role in aging, as an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative agent. In this study, the neuroprotective effects of this herbal extractin the rat model of SAD was investigated. Methods: The rats were divided into control, sham, model, herbal extract -treated and ethanol-treated groups. Drug interventions were started on the 21st day after modeling and each treatment group was given the drugs by intraperitoneal (I.P.) route for 21 days. The expression levels of the five important genes for pathogenesis of SAD including Syp, Psen1, Mapk3, Map2 and Tnf-α were measured by qPCR between the hippocampi of SAD model which were treated by this herbal extract and control groups. The Morris Water Maze was adapted to test spatial learning and memory ability of the rats. Results: Treatment of the rat model of SAD with herbal extract induced a significant change in expression of Syp (p=0.001) and Psen1 (p=0.029). In Morris Water Maze, significant changes in spatial learning seen in the rat model group were improved in herbal-treated group. Conclusion: This herbal extract could have anti-dementia properties and improve spatial learning and memory in SAD rat model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]