Introduction: Breast cancer (BC) is a highly heterogeneous disease that has been classified into several subtypes at the molecular level, each with a distinct outcome. Recently, Notch-regulated ankyrin-repeat protein (NRARP), a gene expressed followed by Notch signal activation, has attracted interest due to its aberrant expression in different types of cancer. Accordingly, this study evaluated the expression levels of NRARP in different subtypes of BC. Methods: The MCF-7, SKBR3, MDA-MB-468, and MDA-MB-231 human BC cell lines, which represent the luminal, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpression, basal A, and basal B subtypes, respectively, as well as MCF-10A as a normal breast epithelial cell for comparison, were selected and grown in the appropriate medium. The relative expression of NRARP in BC cell lines was then determined using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results: The results of the qRT-PCR demonstrated that the expression level of NRARP in all BC cell lines was significantly higher than that of the normal breast epithelial cells (P < 0. 05). However, the significance was more noteworthy in luminal, HER2-overexpressing, and basal A (7. 72, 5. 81, and 4. 6 folds, respectively). Conclusion: NRARP is a potential target gene for further interventional studies due to its abnormal expression in different subtypes of BC.

Background: Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers, with 80%–85% of cases being non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Objective: This study investigates the effect of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) on NSCLC cells and its molecular mechanism. Methods: The overexpression and knockdown of cTnI were performed in NSCLC cells using lentivirus. Expression assays to analyse gene mRNA levels were performed using RT- PCR, and Western blot was used to detect the protein expression. Cell proliferation capacity was tested using MTT and colony formation assays, and a Transwell® assay was used to detect cell migration and invasion. The in vivo experiments were performed using xenografts in nude mice. Results: cTnI expression was increased in NSCLC tissue and cells. The overexpression of cTnI in NSCLC cells promoted their development, and the knockdown of cTnI inhibited the proliferation and migration of lung cancer cells. Additionally, cTnI promoted the expression of Notch and Kras proteins in lung cancer cells. The xenograft experiments in nude mice yielded the same results. Conclusion: Cardiac troponin I affects the proliferation and migration of NSCLC cells by promoting the expression of Notch and Kras proteins, and the knockdown of cTnI significantly inhibits the growth and development of NSCLC cells.

Background and purposes: Esophageal Squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is ranked as the sixth cause of cancer-related death. However there are chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgical as standard treatment, for this cancer the survival rate is lower. Therefore, clarification of molecular pathways are needed for diagnosis, prevention and treatment. In this study we aimed to evaluate the ectopic expression of SOX2 and its correlation with Notch signaling pathways.Materials and Methods: Using lentiviral SOX2, we did transduction in KYSE 30 cells and over-expressed SOX2. Then, we confirmed the overexpression by Real time PCR. Also the correlation of SOX2 overexpression with Notch signaling factors was assessed by Real time PCR.Results: The over-expression of SOX2 in KYSE 30 give rise to up-regulation of Notch signaling factors.Conclusion: Our data showed, the overexpression of SOX2 causes overexpression of HEY1 and HEY2 which maintain stemness in ESCC. These concepts will require deeper studies to use as biomarker for ESCC.

In the present study, the bainitic form (ferrite-bainite-austenite) of Functionally Graded (FG) steel has been produced using the Electro Slag Remelting (ESR) process. The position of each layer has been determined utilizing the Metallography and Vickers Hardness tests. In order to investigate the fracture behaviour of the Notched FGS specimens, the three point bending test configuration has been utilized. The fracture of the Notched specimens has been examined in the form of the Notch arrester and Notch divider. For the mode loading case, the effect of the Notch depth on the critical fracture load and Jcr value have been studied. In order to present the differences between the FG and homogeneous steels, the J values of them under constant load have been investigated. Moreover, the effect of the Notch depth on the J values for the mentioned case have been studied. Results show that for the Notch arrester type the maximum value of the critical facture load has been obtained when the Notch tip is located at the beginning of Bainite phase. Results also show that the Jcr values are severely dependent on the material properties of the layers which are located at the front of the Notch tip. Results show that for the Notch divider type the response of the FG steel specimens is similar to the homogeneous ones. Also, in this case the variation of the Jcr with respect to the Notch depth is negligible. The J value of each of the studied configurations was then computed using finite element approach based on Rice theory and good agreement was observed between numerical results with the experimental ones.

Background: A cell requires energy to do its work. Mitochondria are the energy-producing machines of the cell. Uncoupling proteins (UCPs) located in the inner mitochondrial membrane cause a proton leak from the intermembrane space to the matrix. Clearly, the changes in the proton gradient across the inner membrane affect ATP production. In this paper, the role of these proteins in different tissues as well as peripheral and central nervous tissues has been reviewed.Methods: This study has reviewed 63 publications explaining the various functions of UCPs in different tissues using PubMed, Elsevier, NCBI and EBSCO databases.Findings: Several studies have shown that UCPs, based on the type of tissue, change the cell activity.Conclusion: Studies related to UCPs roles in the nervous system are mostly restricted to the in-vitro situations; thus more investigation seems to be needed to reveal the UCPs actions in the in-vivo conditions of physiologic and pathologic studies. These studies potentially can open some new therapeutic strategies and hopes to cure neurodegenerative diseases.