Category Archives: Uncategorized
OCT4 immunostaining is associated with breast cancer grade and tumor size
D. A. Alghezi
Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Thi-Qar, Thi-Qar, Iraq;
e-mail: Dr.daf79@utq.edu.iq; Dhafer.a.f.alghezi@bath.edu
Received: 25 August 2025; Revised: 09 December 2025;
Accepted: 30 January 2026; Available on-line: 23 February 2026
Breast cancer remains one of the most prevalent tumors among females worldwide, and current prognostic methods are limited in their ability to accurately predict tumor aggressiveness. Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4), a key regulator of pluripotency and cancer stem cell characteristics, has emerged as a promising biomarker in various cancers. This study aimed to evaluate the results of Oct4 immunostaining in benign and malignant breast tissues and its link with cancer grade and tumor size. The archival formalin-fixed breast tissue specimens, comprising 110 breast carcinoma and 20 benign tumors were examined. Oct4 expression was assessed immunohistochemically using a rabbit monoclonal anti-Oct4 antibody. The study demonstrated a significant increase in nuclear Oct4 staining in malignant breast cancer tissues compared to benign tumors. Elevated Oct4 immunostaining was positively associated with high grade and larger tumor size. However, no significant correlation was observed between Oct4 level and lymph node status. Thus, elevated Oct4 expression is associated with higher tumor grade and larger tumor size, suggesting its potential relevance in breast cancer progression.
HSPA5 and DNAJB9 genes expression in glioblastoma cells and normal astrocytes under hypoxia and endoplasmic reticulum stress
O. V. Halkin*, Y. M. Viletska, M. Y. Sliusar, S. V. Danilovskyi,
Y. V. Kulish, O. V. Rudnytska, O. H. Minchenko
Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
*e-mail: oleggal2014@gmail.com
Received: 07 October 2025; Revised: 10 December 2025;
Accepted: 30 January 2026; Available on-line: 23 February 2026
Hypoxia and ER stress are obligate factors in tumor growth, however, the interaction between these factors has not been sufficiently studied. Heat shock proteins HSPA5 and DNAJB9 as a key components of the endoplasmic reticulum stress response play an important role in the growth of malignant tumors, including glioblastomas. This study aimed to investigate the interaction between hypoxia and ER stress in controlling HSPA5 and DNAJB9 expression in glioblastoma cells and normal astrocytes. Hypoxia was created with dimethyloxalylglycine, ER stress was induced with tunicamycin and thapsigargin, HSPA5 and DNAJB9 expression was studied by qPCR. It has been established that in astrocytes HSPA5 and DNAJB9 expression was resistant to hypoxia. However, in glioblastoma cells, the expression of these genes under hypoxia was increased. Tunicamycin and thapsigargin enhanced HSPA5 and DNAJB9 expression with a much stronger effect in glioblastoma cells. When these ER stress inducers were combined with hypoxia their effect was modified to a greater extent in normal astrocytes. The obtained results indicate different cell-specific sensitivity of HSPA5 and DNAJB9 expression to hypoxia and ER stress inducers.
Interplay of sclerostin and cytokines of interleukin-6 family in the pathophysiology of coronary artery disease
S. S. Rozoqi1, T. A. Allwsh2*
1Department of Medical Laboratory Technology,
Erbil Technical Health and Medical College, Erbil Polytechnic University, Erbil, Iraq;
2Department of Chemistry, Collage of Science, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq
*e-mail: thekraaliallwsh@uomosul.edu.iq
Received: 09 June 2025; Revised: 25 September 2025;
Accepted: 30 January 2026; Available on-line: 23 February 2026
Sclerostin, a Wnt/β-catenin signaling antagonist, plays a predominant role in bone metabolism and is also expressed in cardiovascular tissues. The level of this glycoprotein is associated with aortic stiffness and vascular calcification in coronary artery disease (CAD). Our study explored the relationship between the levels of sclerostin, cytokines of interleukin-6 family and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the blood serum of CAD patients. The study included two groups of patients : 80 patients aged 46-74 with a stable coronary heart disease, and 80 patients aged 46-70 as a control group. The levels of oncostatin M (OSM), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were estimated with ELISA. The result have shown a highly significant decrease of sclerostin in conjunction with the increase of OSM, CT-1, LIF levels and along with the decrease of PGE2 level in the serum of patient with CAD comparing with control group. Pearson correlation analysis showed a significant relationship between sclerostin and OSM, CT-1, LIF, PGE2 concentrations. ROC curve analysis indicated that patients at risk for coronary heart disease could be identified with a specificity of 0.975 when their serum sclerostin level was greater than 88.325 pg/ml. Therefore, sclerostin could play a critical role in CAD and may be useful for monitoring disease progression.
Extramitochondrial ATP modulates Са(2+) signaling in myometrial mitochondria
L. G. Babich*, S. G. Shlykov, A. I. Panchenko, S. O. Kosterin
Department of Muscle Biochemistry, Palladin Institute of Biochemistry,
National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
*e-mail: babich@biochem.kiev.ua
Received: 16 September 2025; Revised: 21 October 2025;
Accepted: 30 January 2026; Available on-line: 23 February 2026
It was postulated that mitochondria are sensors and effectors of ATP synthesis. Our results suggest that ATP may play a role as an intracellular signaling molecule. We have shown that the baseline Ca2+ concentration in the mitochondrial matrix increased in the presence of ATP or MgATP in the incubation media of isolated mitochondria. Activation or inhibition of both the respiration and Ca2+ uniporter activity, as well as the removal of Mg2+ from the incubation medium, or addition of A438079, an antagonist of plasma membrane P2X7 receptors, followed by the addition of ATP did not affect the ATP-induced increase of matrix baseline Ca2+ concentration. These results showed that extramitochondrial ATP modulates Ca2+ signaling in mitochondria independently of the Ca2+ uniporter and the respiratory chain activity. In the presence of UTP or MgUTP instead of ATP or MgATP, an increase of the matrix baseline Ca2+ concentration was not observed indicating that the studied effects are selective for ATP.
GABA-ergic system in the experimental diabetes
H. L. Hayrapetyan, N. Kh. Khachatryan, R. R. Balagyozyan,
V. R. Balagyozyan, S. S. Mardanyan*, A. A. Antonyan
Department of Metabolism of Adenylic Compounds,
H. Buniatian Institute of Biochemistry of Armenian NAS, Yerevan, Armenia;
*e-mail: biochem@biochem.sci.am
Received: 09 September 2025; Revised: 22 October 2025;
Accepted: 30 January 2026; Available on-line: 23 February 2026
γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a non-proteinogenic amino acid, neurotransmitter and concurrently trophic factor in the non-neuronal peripheral tissues. GABA is involved in the pathophysiology of endocrine disorders, in particular, diabetes mellitus (DM). This review summarizes the effects of GABA-ergic system components on the development of experimental diabetes induced in laboratory animals. The beneficial effect of GABA-associated amino acids mixtures in the DM treatment is discussed.
Cancer stem cells in recurrence and therapy resistance: biological insights and emerging therapeutic strategies
Y. Tamilselvi*, P. Velmurugan, K. Sivasubramanian
Centre for Materials Engineering and Regenerative Medicine,
Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, India;
*e-mail: pughazselvi@gmail.com
Received: 12 May 2025; Revised: 29 September 2025;
Accepted: 30 January 2026; Available on-line: 23 February 2026
Cancer stem cells (CSCs), a resilient subset of tumor cells, able to evade immune detection and rapidly proliferate, are responsible for the metastasis, recurrence, and therapeutic resistance observed across various cancers. Recent research has concentrated on understanding the molecular networks that support CSCs immune evasion, self-renewal, and adaptability. Signaling pathways (Wnt, Notch, Hedgehog, JAK-STAT) and surface markers (CD44, CD133, ALDH1) that characterize CSC behaviour are compiled in this review. We highlight the expanding usefulness of omics technologies, such as CRISPR functional genomics, single-cell transcriptomics, and spatial proteomics, in determining vulnerabilities unique to CSCs and guiding tailored treatment plans.
Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard: from Drosophila genetics to the discovery of genetic control of embryonic development
M. V. Grigorieva*, V. M. Danilova, S. V. Komisarenko
Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv
*e-mail: mvgrigorieva@biochem.kiev.ua
Received: 27 October 2025; Revised: 21 November 2025;
Accepted: 28 November 2025; Available on-line: 23 December 2025
The article presents Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard – a distinguished researcher in genetics and developmental biology whose studies have profoundly advanced our understanding of how genes in a fertilized egg determine the formation of the embryo. When Nüsslein-Volhard and her colleagues began their experiments with Drosophila melanogaster, this model organism was already widely used in genetic research. However, her approach was innovative: instead of merely observing mutations, she systematically induced thousands of them to identify the genes controlling the earliest stages of development. Her research demonstrated that the development of living organisms is governed by specific genes that can be identified, studied, and even modified. In 1995, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, together with Eric Wieschaus and Edward B. Lewis, for the discovery of the genetic mechanisms controlling embryonic development. This became a turning point in developmental biology: similar genes were later found in frogs, fish, mice – and even in humans – convincingly demonstrating the evolutionary commonality of the genetic pathways that determine morphogenesis.
Benzofuran thiazole derivative complexation with polymeric nanoparticles enhances reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential in murine lymphoma cells
Ya. R. Shalai1*, A. V. Salamovska1, M. V. Ilkiv1, B. O. Manko1,
Yu. V. Ostapiuk2, N. E. Mitina3, O. S. Zaichenko3, A. M. Babsky1
1Biology Faculty, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Ukraine;
2Chemistry Faculty, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Ukraine;
3Department of Organic Chemistry, Lviv Polytechnic National University, Ukraine;
*e-mail: Yaryna.Shalay@lnu.edu.ua
Received: 01 August 2025; Revised: 17 September 2025;
Accepted: 28 November 2025; Available on-line: 23 December 2025
The development of new anticancer drugs aimed at the inhibition of mitochondria functioning in tumor cells is a promising approach to cancer treatment. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of benzofuran derivative N-(5-benzyl-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-3,5-dimethyl-1-benzofuran-2-carboxamide (BF1) and its complex with polymer nanoparticles based on polyethylene glycol (PEG-PN) on mitochondrial membrane potential in cells of NK/Ly lymphoma grafted in ascite form in mice. Relative values of mitochondrial potential at different exposure times were recorded using the fluorescent dye tetramethylrhodamine. Fluorescence microscopy showed a significant decrease in mitochondrial potential after 30 and 60 min of cells incubation with the BF1-PEG-PN complex but not with unconjugated BF1. After 120 min of incubation, a decrease in the studied parameter was observed under the action of both BF1 alone and its complex with PEG-PN. The data obtained showed that a possible mechanism of cytotoxic action of the BF1 complex with PEG-PN involves early mitochondria depolarization in lymphoma cells.