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Aim and Background: Cytokeratins (CKs) constitute the largest intermediate filamentous protein that during the development of malignancy, the original CK profile of the cell is frequently variable. Cytokeratin 19 (CK19) is known as an epithelial cell marker and CK19 expression was seen in more than 90% of breast cancers. In this study, CK19 mRNA expression by the real-time PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) in luminal A cell lines was assessed.

Materials and Methods: MCF7 and T47D breast cancer cell lines were purchased and cultured according to the recommended protocols. The cells were collected, counted and RNA was extracted from cell lines. The mRNA of CK19 as the target gene and GAPDH (Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate Dehydrogenase) as a reference gene by real-time PCR was amplified. Quantitative CK19 expression was calculated using the ∆∆C_t method. The average ∆C_t of CK19 and GAPDH was calculated in each cell line as well as the ∆C_t of GAPDH as a calibrator in different cell lines was quantitatively reported.

Results: This method can be used for detection of CK19 tumor marker expression, in the cells. On the other hand, the same expression in the MCF7 and T47D breast cancer cell lines was shown.

Conclusions: Expression of CK19 is the same, in the luminal A breast cancer cell lines. Molecular markers could be used for cell Lines classification which is significant in breast cancer research and it is helpful in detection and treatment of the disease.

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Aim and Background:In the past two decades, proteins and peptides have become an important class of therapeutic drugs. However, their sensitivity to chemical and physical degradation has posed challenges for scientists. Approximate 90% of the chicken feather of slaughterhouse waste is Keratin. Keratin protein is insoluble in water and has a strong tendency to accumulate and precipitate. Today, the stability of proteins in pharmaceutical applications is of great importance.
Materials and Methods:In this study, Keratin was extracted from feather by sodium hydroxide 0.2 M and hydrolyzed by 8% (V/V) Alcalase enzyme in 55 Celsius, at 8 pH. The hydrolyzed Keratin solution was chemically modified by alkylation and sulfitolysis to reduce aggregation. Keratin solubility, degree of chemical modification, percentage of stability, mol amount of free thiol, also DLS, and FTIR of the samples were investigated.
Results:
The result showed that the degree of chemical modification of Keratin in the alkylation method was 72% and the sulfitolysis method was 66%. The chemical modification of hydrolyzed Keratin was reduced aggregation at pH3 to 288.65% and 335.3% for alkylation method and sulfitolysis respectively. Investigation of the stability and preservation of protein content showed that the stability of modified Keratin by alkylation method was 81.9% and by sulfitolysis method was 86.3% in 30 days, but the hydrolyzed Keratin as a control preserved only 9.8% of protein content. The result of the DLS test shows that the Keratin modified by alkylation in water has PI=0.476 and a mean particle size of 157.3 nm and Keratin modified by sulfitolysis in water has PI=0.475 and a mean particle size of 136.2 nm, which was more uniform and dispersed than the hydrolyzed Keratin with PI=0.552 and a mean particle size of 990.3 nm.
Conclusion:The chemical modification of hydrolyzed Keratin was a permanent change and binding of expected groups increased the Keratin solubility in aqueous solution and decreases the aggregation at acidic pH. The results of the FTIR analysis confirmed the chemical modification of Keratin.

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Aim and Background: In many countries, including Iran, cutaneous leishmaniasis is a common and increasing disease. Proper and quick treatment of many of these patients is very difficult due to insufficient familiarity with the factors that play a role in the pathogenesis of cutaneous leishmaniasis. By using high-performance RNA sequencing methods and investigating the expression of different genes in different tissues, a new horizon has been opened on the identification of disease pathogenesis factors and obtaining new treatment methods.
Material and Methods: This investigation was divided into two phases. Data from the NCBI website, "GSE127831" were used for the bioinformatics analysis. We conducted investigations of Gene Ontology and Differential Gene Expression. In the clinical investigation, we used qPCR to assess the expression of the genes identified in the previous stage in 27 skin samples taken from wounds caused by cutaneous leishmaniasis and 12 healthy skin samples.
Results: According to our bioinformatics investigations, the first 100 genes with the highest drop in expression in leishmaniasis wounds are mostly involved in the production of different keratin proteins. They are mostly involved in "Intermediate Filaments Organization". The qPCR test showed that the expression of KRTAP11-1, KRT33B, KRT85, KRT35, KRT86, and KRT81 genes was greatly reduced. It shows the coordination of the results of bioinformatics and laboratory stages.
Conclusion: The downregulation of a specific set of genes involved in keratin formation is one of the key factors contributing to the poor healing of wounds in cutaneous leishmaniasis. keratin is a crucial chemical in developing and maintaining epithelial tissue and skin.