Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease caused by established chronic inflammation. Neopterin levels have extensively been considered as a marker of immune activation during inflammation. In this study, we performed a systematic evaluation and meta‐analysis to elucidate the overall relationship between neopterin concentration and RA disease activity. Following the Preferred Reporting

Exosomes are nano‐sized extracellular vesicles containing a cell‐specific biologically active cargo of proteins and genetic materials. Exosomes are constitutively released from almost all cell‐types and affect neighboring or distant cells through a complex intercellular exchange of the genetic information and/or regulation of certain gene expressions that change the function and behavior of recipient

In Homo sapiens, the apoptosis‐inducing factor (AIF) family is represented by three different proteins, known as AIF, AMID and AIFL, that have in common the mitochondrial localisation in healthy cells, the presence of FAD‐ and NADH‐dependent domains involved in an ‐albeit yet not well understood‐ oxidoreductase function and their capability to induce programmed cell death. AIF is the best characterised

The declining effectiveness of the available antimalarial drugs due to drug resistance requires a continued effort to develop new therapeutic approaches. In this context, combination therapies hold a great promise for developing effective first‐line antimalarial treatments for reducing malaria mortality. The present study explores the antimalarial efficacy of nanotized formulation of curcumin in combination

Novel SARS‐CoV‐2 named due to its close homology with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS‐CoV) is the etiologic agent for the ongoing pandemic outbreak causing loss of life and severe economic burden globally. The virus is believed to be evolved in a recombined form of bat and animal coronavirus with the capacity to infect human host using the ACE2 receptors as an entry point. Though

Emerging evidence has demonstrated the crucial roles of long noncoding RNAs in human cancers, including neuroblastoma (NB). DLX6 antisense RNA 1 (DLX6‐AS1) has been identified as an oncogenic driver in NB. However, the mechanisms of DLX6‐AS1 in NB progression are not fully understood. Our data showed that DLX6‐AS1 was significantly overexpressed in NB tissues and cells. Moreover, DLX6‐AS1 silencing

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic systemic autoimmune inflammatory disease with no absolute cure. Although the exact etiopathogenesis of SLE is still enigmatic, it has been well demonstrated that a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors trigger a disturbance in immune responses and thereby participate in the development of this condition. Almost all available

Long noncoding RNA SOX2OT is associated with myocardial fibrosis (MF) in heart failure (HF). This article aims to investigate the role of SOX2OT in MF. We constructed HF mouse models by subcutaneous injection of isoprenaline (ISO). Cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) were treated with ISO to induce MF.Hematoxylin‐eosin, Masson, and Sirius‐red staining were used to identify myocardial injury and collagen deposition

Cancer, even currently, is one of the main reasons for mortality and morbidity, worldwide. In recent years, a great deal of effort has been made to find efficient therapeutic strategies for cancer, however, particularly with regards to side effects and the possibility of complete remission. Berberine (BBR) is a nature‐driven phytochemical component originated from different plant groups such as Berberis

The ATP‐dependent chromatin remodeling proteins play an important role in DNA repair. The energy released by ATP hydrolysis is used for myriad functions ranging from nucleosome repositioning and nucleosome eviction to histone variant exchange. In addition, the distant member of the family, SMARCAL1, uses the energy to reanneal stalled replication forks in response to DNA damage. Biophysical studies

The pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), has affected millions of people worldwide. To date, there are no proven effective therapies for this virus. Efforts made to develop antiviral strategies for the treatment of COVID‐19 are underway. Respiratory viral infections, such as influenza, predispose patients to co‐infections

SARS‐CoV‐2 is the causative agent for the ongoing COVID19 pandemic, and this virus belongs to the Coronaviridae family. Like other members of this family, the virus possesses a positive‐sense single‐stranded RNA genome. The genome encodes for the nsp12 protein, which houses the RNA‐dependent‐RNA polymerase (RdRP) activity responsible for the replication of the viral genome. A homology model of nsp12

Sepsis results from a major systemic inflammatory response and can induce disorders in multiple organs. The present study evaluated the potential protective effects of oleuropein (OLE) against hyperinflammatory responses during lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced sepsis in mice. Sixty male Balb/c mice were randomly categorized into five groups of 12 animals each: control, intraperitoneally injected with

Natural products are a valuable source of new molecules and are important for drug discovery. Many chemotherapeutics currently in clinical use were originated from natural sources and are effective cytotoxic agents. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic and pro‐apoptotic effects of achyrobichalcone (ACB) and 3‐O‐methylquercetin (3OMQ), two novel compounds isolated from the Achyrocline satureioides

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a malignant bone neoplasm, mostly occurring in pediatric patients. OS is characterized by a highly aggressive and metastatically active tumor. Chemotherapy followed by surgical excision is the treatment of choice but is often associated with both chemoresistance and relapse. Hence, it is important to develop further understanding of OS pathogenesis and identify potential therapeutic

MicroRNA‐134‐5p (MiR‐134‐5p) has been proposed as a promising novel biomarker for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the biological role of miR‐134‐5p in ischemic cardiomyocytes has been little disclosed yet. Expression of miR‐134‐5p and X‐linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) was detected using RT‐qPCR and western blot. Oxidative stress and cell apoptosis were determined

miR‐141‐3p is proven to play a prominent role in various inflammation‐related diseases. Nonetheless, little is known concerning the function of miR‐141‐3p in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) dysfunction and the underlying mechanism. ApoE knockdown (ApoE−/−) C57BL/6 mice and human VSMCs were employed to establish atherosclerosis (AS) animal model and cell model, respectively. The expressions of

Heparin cofactor II (HCII) is predominantly expressed in the liver and inhibits thrombin in blood plasma to influence the blood coagulation cascade. Its deficiency is associated with arterial thrombosis. Its cleavage by neutrophil elastase produces fragment that helps in neutrophil chemotaxis in the acute inflammatory response in human. In the present study, we have identified a novel alternatively

Microglia polarization is associated with the pathogenesis of depression. A previous study shows that long non‐coding RNA uc.80‐ is down‐regulated in the hippocampus of depressed rats. Thus, this article aims to investigate the role of uc.80‐ in microglia polarization in depression. We first established depression model rats by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) regiment. We found that hippocampus

The emphasis of our study was to determine the physiological function of miR‐1224‐5p in rectal cancer (RC) and its in‐depth mechanism. First, the expression of miR‐1224‐5p in RC tissues was analyzed using public data from the TCGA database. Then, miR‐1224‐5p expression in RC cell lines SW480 and SW837 was measured using the qRT‐PCR assay. The subsequent CCK‐8 assay was executed to assess the function

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in medicine, however, the underlying mechanisms of their action on cellular signaling have not been completely determined, and fundamental studies are required to clarify them. We aimed to investigate AgNPs effects on glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) as both the internal control gene and the redox‐sensitive enzyme involved in apoptosis‐related

In cell lineage commitment decisions, a gene regulatory network (GRN) consisting of a limited number of transcription factors forms the regulatory pivot. Myeloid lineage dendritic cells or DCs are specialized cells having the antigen‐presenting ability and are of immense importance in immune surveillance. In this report, we analyze the GRN that governs the lineage commitment of Common DC Progenitor

We monitored changes that took place in glycolytic enzymes, the pyruvate end product of glycolysis, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), and toll‐like receptors (TLRs) both at the transcriptional and translational levels upon direct interaction between PR8‐H1N1 and the human monocytes U937 in vitro system. U937 were first treated with H1N1 infectious viral particles or phorbol‐12‐myristate‐13‐acetate (PMA)

The SARS‐CoV‐2 makes its way into the cell via the ACE2 receptor and the proteolytic action of TMPRSS2. In response to the SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, the innate immune response is the first line of defense, triggering multiple signaling pathways to produce interferons, pro‐inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and initiating the adaptive immune response against the virus. Unsurprisingly, the virus has

Liver receptor homolog‐1 (LRH‐1, NR5A2) is an orphan nuclear receptor with widespread activities in the regulation of development, stemness, metabolism, steroidogenesis, and proliferation. Many of the LRH‐1‐regulated processes target the mitochondria and associated activities. While under physiological conditions, a balanced LRH‐1 expression and regulation contribute to the maintenance of a physiological

Studies have shown that despite the decreasing mortality rates of kidney cancer patients, its incidence is increasing. Therefore, a comprehensive re‐evaluation of treatment options is necessary to provide appropriate treatments for the increasing number of patients. Moreover, the side effects caused by surgery, which is the main treatment of this disease, may lead to higher morbidity rates. Consequently

SARS‐CoV‐2, the causing agent of the ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic, is a beta‐coronavirus which has 80% genetic homology with SARS‐CoV, but displays increased virulence and transmissibility. Initially, SARS‐CoV‐2 was considered a respiratory virus generally causing a mild disease, only severe and fatal in the elderly and individuals with underlying conditions. Severe illnesses and fatalities were attributed

DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) take on a relevant role in epigenetic control of cancer proliferation and cell survival. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the establishment and maintenance of DNA methylation in human cancer remain to be fully elucidated. This study was to investigate that how DNMT1 affected the biological characteristics of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells via modulating methylation

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are non‐coding RNAs that have shown to regulate the progression of human diseases, including a variety of cancers. We aimed to investigate the function and the underlying working mechanism of circRNA matrix metallopeptidase 1 (circMMP1; hsa_circ_0024108) in glioma progression. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) was performed to examine the expression

Acute myocardium infarction (AMI) is one of the main causes of cardiovascular death, and timely intervention and diagnosis are essential. Owing to the irreversible apoptosis and death of myocardial cells, which ultimately causes heart failure, the problem of myocardial repair after myocardial infarction needs to be urgently addressed. Exosomes can act as messengers between cells, delivering large amounts

This article presents a personal and critical review of the history of the malate–aspartate shuttle (MAS), starting in 1962 and ending in 2020. The MAS was initially proposed as a route for the oxidation of cytosolic NADH by the mitochondria in Ehrlich ascites cell tumor lacking other routes, and to explain the need for a mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase (glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase

Ferroptosis is a metabolic disorder of lipid oxides in cells, which leads to abnormal metabolism under the catalysis of iron, which produces an expansive number of lipids, wrecks the redox in cells, attacks biological macromolecules and triggers cell death. This death process was marked by the increase of cytoplasmic and lipid reactive oxygen species, the decrease of mitochondria and the higher density

The genus Cryptococcus comprises of more than 30 species. It consists of clinically significant pathogenic Cryptococcus neoformans/Cryptococcus gattii species complex comprising of a minimum of seven species. These pathogens cost more than 200,000 lives annually by causing cryptococcal meningoencephalitis. The evolution of the pathogenic species from closely related non‐pathogenic species of the Cryptococcus

While searching for a counterpart to cyclic AMP, a new compound was found to inhibit adenylate cyclase. It was identified as prostaglandyl‐(15‐4′)‐myo‐inositol (1′:2′‐cyclic)‐phosphate (cyclic PIP). The substrates for its biosynthesis are prostaglandin E (PGE) and the novel inositol phosphate, guanosine diphospho‐4‐myo‐inositol 1:2‐cyclic phosphate (n‐IP). The basic regulatory properties of cyclic

The lysosome is a membrane‐enclosed organelle in eukaryotic cells, which has basic pattern recognition for nutrient‐dependent signal transduction. In Alzheimer's disease, the already declining autophagy‐lysosomal function is exacerbated by an increased need for clearance of damaged proteins and organelles in aged cells. Recent evidence suggests that numerous diseases are linked to impaired autophagy

We examined the expression pattern, clinical relevance, and molecular mechanisms of lncRNA PWRN1 in human osteosarcoma.

This study aims to investigate the role of lncRNA growth arrest‐specific transcript 5 (GAS5)/miR‐362‐5p/suppressor of morphogenesis in the genitalia 1 (SMG1) axis in 131I‐resistance in thyroid cancer (TC). GAS5, miR‐362‐5p, and SMG1 expression in TC tissues was assessed and the 131I‐resistant TC cells were established, which were treated with altered GAS5, miR‐362‐5p, and SMG1. The proliferation and

Lysyl oxidase‐variant 2 (LOX‐v2) is a novel variant of LOX that functions as an amine oxidase for the formation of collagen and elastin fibrils in the extracellular matrix (ECM). LOX‐v2 lacks the N‐terminal prepropeptide region of LOX but contains the C‐terminal domains required for amine oxidase activity. To study the cellular localization of LOX‐v2, we generated a recombinant construct of LOX‐v2

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a serious ischemic heart disease. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) participate in AMI. This article aims to investigate the mechanism of action of Tregs in AMI. We constructed AMI mouse model. Then, AMI mouse and mouse macrophages (RAW264.7) were treated with Tregs or Treg‐derived exosomes. The cardiac function of mice was detected. Triphenyl‐tetrazolium chloride and

Protein glutaminase (PG) is an enzyme that specifically catalyzes the deamidation of glutamine residues on proteins or peptides, remarkably improving the solubility, emulsification and foaming properties of food proteins and, thereby, conferring great potential in food industry applications. PG is primarily produced from wild strains of Chryseobacterium proteolyticum and the low enzyme production yield

Ischemic stroke is the major form of stroke and is accentuated by multiple comorbidities. It has been previously shown that different microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate separate aspects of ischemic stroke. Differential miRNA expression analysis in cerebrospinal fluid of stroke patients had revealed upregulation of miR‐124‐3p, miR‐9‐3p, miR‐9‐5p, and miR‐128‐3p. However, whether the overexpression is correlative

Despite the development of therapeutic strategies, cancer is the second death cause worldwide and still rising. Unclear molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis and lack of biomarkers for early diagnosis or advanced management are responsible for the poor prognosis of cancer. Recently, exosomes have been the focus of tumor studies, as they carry many biomolecules including proteins, lipids, and nucleic

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a cardiac disorder, which affects around 12% diabetic patients, resulting in overt heart death. Our initial bioinformatic analysis identified the differentially expressed gene 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐coenzyme A synthase 2 (HMGCS2) in DCM, which may be activated by peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐alpha (PPARα) based on previous evidence. Therefore, the

Prostate cancer is a heritable and clinically heterogeneous cancer. Both long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis and development of prostate cancer. Analysis of microarray data indicated that the lncRNA LINC01207 was differentially expressed in prostate cancer. In silico analysis predicted the interaction between LINC01207 and miR‐1972 as well as

Dermatophagoides farinae, as a common house dust mite species, is one of the main sources of allergens in the world. At present, Dermatophagoides farinae is found to contain more than 30 groups of allergens. These allergens are used for allergen‐specific immunotherapy (AIT) of allergic diseases. During the AIT process, immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies can block immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody‐induced

Resistance to chemotherapy represents a major hurdle to successful cancer treatment. A key role for efficient response to anticancer therapies is played by TP53 oncosuppressor gene that indeed is mutated in 50% of human cancers or inactivated at protein level in the remaining 50%. Homeodomain‐interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) is the wild‐type p53 (wtp53) apoptotic activator, and its inhibition by

PIWI‐interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a kind of non‐coding small RNAs, which play a biological role by specifically binding to PIWI proteins. Studies have demonstrated that piRNAs play a significant role in germline cell growth by repressing transposable elements, especially in the regulation of DNA methylation. Recently increasing evidence revealed that piRNAs involved in the regulation of cell proliferation

Cisplatin (CP), as a chemotherapeutic drug, causes nephrotoxicity that has limited the clinical utility of CP. Gliclazide (GLZ), as an antihyperglycemic drug, at low dose has antioxidant property. In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective effect of GLZ against CP‐induced acute renal injury. Sixty‐four BALB/c mice were randomly divided into eight groups. The groups were included as control

Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancers begins in the melanocyte. Micro‐RNAs are small noncoding RNA with 19 to 25 nucleotides in length involves in the regulation of a wide range of biological processes. MicroRNAs are affected by an aberrant epigenetic alteration in the tumors that may lead to their dysregulation and formation of cancer. Recently, dysregulation of numerous microRNAs has been reported

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders. Long non‐coding RNAs have important regulatory values in various human diseases. Non‐coding RNA Activated by DNA Damage (NORAD) was reported to regulate PD progression in vitro, but its functional mechanism is fully unknown. We used 1‐methyl‐4‐phenylpyridinium (MPP+) to establish the cell‐based PD model. NORAD, microRNA‐204‐5p

Progressive memory loss and cognitive dysfunction are hallmark clinical features of Alzheimer's disease (AD). As a possible treatment for AD, we developed an epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG) and β‐site amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleaving enzyme 1 antisense (BACE1‐AS) shRNA‐encoded plasmid. The plasmid was loaded on to RVG29 peptide‐targeted multifunctional nanoparticles (NPs) (REGS‐PN). The polymeric

Cardiac arrest is one of the major causes of death and disability. The aim of the study was to identify dynamic time‐dependent metabolomic changes reflected in rat plasma induced by cerebral ischemia and reperfusion with the focus on the protective effect of ischemic preconditionig. Global cerebral ischemia in rats was induced by the four‐vessel occlusion. Blood plasma was collected in three reperfusion

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis and progression of CVD. Circulating cell‐free mitochondrial DNA (ccf‐mtDNA) is that mtDNA fragments are released outside the cell and into the circulation by cell necrosis and secretion. The levels of ccf‐mtDNA are increased in CVD and associated risk conditions, including hypercholesterolemia

Schizandrin A (SchA) is a type of lignan with biological properties against oxidation, inflammation, and cancer. Here, we aimed to sustain the bioactive properties of SchA in proliferative and motional phenotypes of MDA‐MB‐231 cells and their molecular mechanism.

DNA recombination, replication, and repair are intrinsically interconnected processes. From viruses to humans, they are ubiquitous and essential to all life on Earth. Single‐strand annealing homologous DNA recombination is a major mechanism for the repair of double‐stranded DNA breaks. An exonuclease and an annealase work in tandem, forming a complex known as a two‐component recombinase. Redβ annealase

Short‐chain acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase (SCAD), encoded by the Acads gene, functions in the mitochondrial β‐oxidation of saturated short‐chain fatty acids. SCAD deficiency results in mitochondrial dysfunction, which is one underlying biological mechanism of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathogenesis. In this case–control study, we aimed to examine the effects of Acads gene polymorphisms on

It has been previously established that hypoxia leads to tumor development, treatment resistance, and a poor prognosis. Under oxygen deprivation, hypoxia‐inducible factors (HIFs) are stimulated to activate the genes necessary for tumor development in a low‐oxygen environment. These genes encode regulators of angiogenesis, epithelial‐mesenchymal transition, and cellular metabolism. A disulfide isomerase