Jamshid Mohammadi

Anti-angiogenic effects of CD73-specific siRNA-loaded nanoparticles in breast cancer-bearing mice

CD73 facilitates tumor growth by upregulation of the adenosine (immunosuppressive factor) in the tumor microenvironment, however, its precise molecular mechanisms is not precisely understood. Regarding the importance of angiogenesis in tumor development and spreading, we decided to assign the anti‐angiogenic effects of CD73 suppression. We used chitosan lactate (ChLa) nanoparticles (NPs) to deliver CD73‐specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) into cancer cells. Our results showed that treatment of the 4T1 cells with CD73‐specific siRNA‐loaded NPs led to potent inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and cell cycle arrest, in vitro. This growth arrest was correlated with downregulation of angiogenesis‐related molecules including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)‐A, VEGF‐R2, interleukin (IL)‐6, and transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β. Moreover, administration of NPs loaded with CD73‐siRNA into 4T1 breast cancer‐bearing mice led to tumor regression and increased mice survival time accompanied with downregulation of angiogenesis (VEGF‐A, VEGF‐R2, VE‐Cadherin, and CD31) and lymphangiogenesis (VEGF‐C and LYVE‐1)‐related genes in the tumor site. Furthermore, the expression of angiogenesis promoting factors including IL‐6, TGF‐β, signal transducer, and activator of transcription (STAT)3, hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)‐1α, and cyclooxygenase (COX)2 was decreased after the CD73 suppression in mice. Moreover, analysis of leukocytes derived from the tumor samples, spleen, and regional lymph nodes showed that they had lower capability for secretion of angiogenesis promoting factors after CD73‐silencing. These results indicate that suppression of tumor development by downregulation of CD73 is in part related to angiogenesis arrest. These findings imply a promising strategy for inhibiting tumor growth accompanied with suppressing the angiogenesis process.

A review study on phytochemistry and pharmacology applications of Juglans regia plant

In recent years, the use of medicinal plants increased considerably; so that today, the use of traditional medicine, as well as medicinal plants is necessary for the aim of producing more effective drugs with fewer side effects and determining the effective doses. With the scientific name of Juglans regia, walnut plant is a medicinal plant with different properties that is considered less, despite having great therapeutic potential in the traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to review the dispersal of walnut plants, the chemical compounds, and therapeutic effects of walnuts on antioxidant activity, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, antimicrobial, and antihypertensive activities, as well as liver protection. Data of this review study have been collected from the books and scientific articles published in databases such as Science Direct, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Scientific Information Database. While this plant having high antioxidant capabilities, walnuts are composed of many chemical compounds such as ascorbic acid, flavonoids, quercetin, and caffeic acid. Experimental studies have shown that walnuts reduced blood glucose and lipids and also decreased blood pressure. They have antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and liver-protective properties. The use of walnuts in traditional medicine and review of experimental studies demonstrated the presence of multiple, effective, and useful compounds which may provide the opportunity for the production of lipid-lowering, antidiabetes, and liver protective drugs. Due to the effects of walnuts on improving the complications of various diseases, the need for doing comprehensive clinical trials for the use of walnuts in the treatment of diseases is necessary.