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Objective(s): Some forms of breast cancer such as triple-negative phenotype, are serious challenge because of high metastatic cases, high mortality and resistance to conventional therapy motivated the search for alternative treatment approaches. Nanomaterials are promising candidates and suitable alternatives for improving tumor and cancer cell treatments. Materials and methods: Biosynthesis of ZnO NPs by help of Berberis integerrima fruit extract, has been done. Analysis of Zinc Oxide NPs using DLS, FTIR, SEM, and EDS techniques have been performed. Moreover, biological activities of ZnO NPs evaluated through MTT method, Flow cytometry, and real time PCR methods. Biocatalytic and apoptotic activity of ZnO NPs on healthy HFF (human fibroblast cell line), MDA-MB 231, and MDA-MB 468 (triple negative breast cancer cell lines, (TNBC)) evaluated. Furthermore, Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 apoptotic genes expression changes in cancer cells assessed in compare to GAPDH as a house keeping gene. Results: Physico-chemical investigation demonstrated ZnO NPs were confirmed by Berberis integerrima fruit extract for the first time. The MTT assay and Flow cytometry results indicated biocompatibility of the ZnO NPs in normal cell line and high anticancer potential against TNBC MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cell lines. The IC50 of ZnO NPs were 104.4 and 44.86, 20.96 after 24 hours for HFF, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells, respectively. Conclusion: The current research showed a fast, cost effective and ecofriendly method for ZnO NPs nanoparticle synthesis. Furthermore, In vitro data analysis demonstrated biocompatibility and highly anticancer effects of biosynthesized ZnO NPs against TNBC cancerous cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease caused by numerous factors, such as immune system dysfunction and genetic factors. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in UC pathogenesis, particularly via the JAK‐STAT pathway. Our aim was to investigate the association between miRNA‐101 and JAK2‐STAT3 signaling pathway with inflammatory cytokines in UC patients. Methods: We enrolled 35 UC patients and 35 healthy individuals as the control group, referred to Shariati Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Patients were diagnosed based on clinical, laboratory, histological, and colonoscopy criteria. RNA and protein extracted from tissue samples. Real‐time PCR was used to assess the expression levels of miRNA‐101, interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, and IL‐10 genes, while western blot was employed to measure levels of P‐STAT3, total STAT3, and JAK2 proteins. Results: Expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and IL‐6 significantly increased, while the expression of IL‐10 significantly decreased in the case group versus controls. Additionally, miRNA‐101 expression was significantly higher in UC patients. A significant correlation between miRNA‐101 and IL‐6 expression was observed, indicating their relationship and possible impact on cell signaling pathways, JAK2‐STAT3. No significant changes were observed in phosphorylated and total STAT3 and JAK2 protein expression. Conclusion: This study provides evidence of increased miRNA‐101 expression in UC tissue, suggesting a potential correlation between miRNA‐101 and IL‐6 expression and their involvement in the JAK2‐STAT3 pathway. The study confirms alterations in UC patients' pro‐inflammatory cytokines and anti‐inflammatory IL‐10. However, further investigations are needed to understand the exact role of miRNA‐101 in UC pathogenesis fully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]