MyMedR

Displaying publications 21 - 28 of 28 in total

Abstract:

Sort:

Fulltext Mainstreaming responsible conduct of research education in Malaysia

Chau DM, Chai LC, Cheema MS, Veerakumarasivam A

Forensic Sci Res, 2021;6(4):338-340.
PMID: 35111352 DOI: 10.1080/20961790.2021.1987619
Fulltext Persistent Newcastle disease virus infection in bladder cancer cells is associated with putative pro-survival and anti-viral transcriptomic changes

Chan LC, Kalyanasundram J, Leong SW, Masarudin MJ, Veerakumarasivam A, Yusoff K, et al.

BMC Cancer, 2021 May 27;21(1):625.
PMID: 34044804 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08345-y

BACKGROUND: Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is an oncolytic virus with excellent selectivity against cancer cells, both in vitro and in vivo. Unfortunately, prolonged in vitro NDV infection results in the development of persistent infection in the cancer cells which are then able to resist NDV-mediated oncolysis. However, the mechanism of persistency of infection remains poorly understood.
METHODS: In this study, we established persistently NDV-infected EJ28 bladder cancer cells, designated as EJ28P. Global transcriptomic analysis was subsequently carried out by microarray analysis. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between EJ28 and EJ28P cells identified by the edgeR program were further analysed by Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) analyses. In addition, the microarray data were validated by RT-qPCR.
RESULTS: Persistently NDV-infected EJ28 bladder cancer cells were successfully established and confirmed by flow cytometry. Microarray analysis identified a total of 368 genes as differentially expressed in EJ28P cells when compared to the non-infected EJ28 cells. GSEA revealed that the Wnt/β-catenin and KRAS signalling pathways were upregulated while the TGF-β signalling pathway was downregulated. Findings from this study suggest that the upregulation of genes that are associated with cell growth, pro-survival, and anti-apoptosis may explain the survivability of EJ28P cells and the development of persistent infection of NDV.
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides insights into the transcriptomic changes that occur and the specific signalling pathways that are potentially involved in the development and maintenance of NDV persistency of infection in bladder cancer cells. These findings warrant further investigation and is crucial towards the development of effective NDV oncolytic therapy against cancer.
Fulltext Synthesis, characterisation and biological activities of Ru(III), Mo(V), Cd(II), Zn(II) and Cu(II) complexes containing a novel Nitrogen-Sulphur Macrocyclic Schiff base derived from Glyoxal

Chah, C.K., Ravoof, T.B.S.A., Veerakumarasivam, A.

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 2018;26(2):653-670.
MyJurnal

A novel nitrogen-sulphur macrocyclic Schiff base, 4,11,20,27-tetrathioxo3,12,19,28-tetrathia-5,6,9,10,21,22,25,26-octaazatricyclo[28.2.2.214,17]hexatriaconta 1(33),6,8,14(36),15,17(35),22,24,30(34),31-decaene-2,13,18,29-tetraone (TGSB) derived from terephthaloyl-bis-dithiocarbazate (TDTC) and glyoxal (ethane-1,2-dione) is synthesised via condensation. Metal complexes are formed by reacting the Schiff base with various metal salts such as Ru(III), Mo(V), Cd(II), Zn(II) and Cu(II). The complexes are expected to have a general formula of M2L or M3L with a square planar or square pyramidal geometry. These compounds were characterised by various physicochemical and spectroscopic techniques. From the data, it is concluded that the azomethine nitrogen atom and the thiolate sulphur atom from the ligand are bonded to the metal ion. In the IR spectra of the complexes, the presence of the C=N band in the region of 1600 cm-1 indicates the successful formation of the Schiff base. The structures of the Schiff base and metal complexes are confirmed via FT-IR, GC-MS and NMR spectroscopic analysis. The magnetic susceptibility measurements, electronic spectral data and molar conductivity analysis support the desired geometry of the complexes. The Schiff base and its metal complexes are evaluated for their biological activities against the invasive human bladder carcinoma cell line (EJ-28) and the minimuminvasive human bladder carcinoma cell line (RT-112). The RuTGSB and CdTGSB complexes showed selective activity against RT-112.
Fulltext Soluble Flt-1 gene delivery in acute myeloid leukemic cells mediating a nonviral gene carrier

Amini R, Azizi Jalilian F, Veerakumarasivam A, Abdullah S, Abdulamir AS, Nadali F, et al.

Biomed Res Int, 2013;2013:752603.
PMID: 23509773 DOI: 10.1155/2013/752603

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent angiogenic factor involved in angiogenesis-mediated progression of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Studies have reported the role of soluble form of fms-like tyrosine kinase (sFlT-1) delivery as an antitumor agent by inhibiting VEGF. This study investigates the outcome of delivery of a VEGF165 antagonist, soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, namely sFLT-1, mediating lipofectamine 2000 in acute myeloid leukemic cells. A recombinant plasmid expressing sFLT-1 was constructed and transfected into the K562 and HL60 cells using lipofectamine 2000 transfection reagent. sFLT-1 expression/secretion in pVAX-sFLT-1 transfected cells was verified by RT-PCR and western blot. MTS assay was carried out to evaluate the effect of sFLT-1 on human umbilical vein endothelial cells and K562 and HL60 cells in vitro. Treatment with pVAX-sFLT-1 showed no association between sFLT-1 and proliferation of infected K562 and HL60 cells, while it demonstrated a significant inhibitory impact on the proliferation of HUVECs. The results of the current study imply that the combination of nonviral gene carrier and sFLT-1 possesses the potential to provide efficient tool for the antiangiogenic gene therapy of AML.
Dynamics of PEGylated-dextran-spermine nanoparticles for gene delivery to leukemic cells

Amini R, Jalilian FA, Abdullah S, Veerakumarasivam A, Hosseinkhani H, Abdulamir AS, et al.

Appl Biochem Biotechnol, 2013 Jun;170(4):841-53.
PMID: 23615733 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-013-0224-0

Leukemic cells are hard-to-transfect cell lines. Many transfection reagents which can provide high gene transfer efficiency in common adherent cell lines are not effective to transfect established blood cell lines or primary leukemic cells. This study aims to examine a new class of cationic polymer non-viral vector, PEGylated-dextran-spermine (PEG-D-SPM), to determine its ability to transfect the leukemic cells. Here, the optimal conditions of the complex preparation (PEG-D-SPM/plasmid DNA (pDNA)) were examined. Different weight-mixing (w/w) ratios of PEG-D-SPM/pDNA complex were prepared to obtain an ideal mixing ratio to protect encapsulated pDNA from DNase degradation and to determine the optimal transfection efficiency of the complex. Strong complexation between polymer and pDNA in agarose gel electrophoresis and protection of pDNA from DNase were detected at ratios from 25 to 15. Highest gene expression was detected at w/w ratio of 18 in HL60 and K562 cells. However, gene expression from both leukemic cell lines was lower than the control MCF-7 cells. The cytotoxicity of PEG-D-SPM/pDNA complex at the most optimal mixing ratios was tested in HL60 and K562 cells using MTS assay and the results showed that the PEG-D-SPM/pDNA complex had no cytotoxic effect on these cell lines. Spherical shape and nano-nature of PEG-D-SPM/pDNA complex at ratio 18 was observed using transmission electron microscopy. As PEG-D-SPM showed modest transfection efficiency in the leukemic cell lines, we conclude that further work is needed to improve the delivery efficiency of the PEG-D-SPM.
Fulltext Screening of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) single nucleotide polymorphisms and plasma BDNF levels among Malaysian major depressive disorder patients

Aldoghachi AF, Tor YS, Redzun SZ, Lokman KAB, Razaq NAA, Shahbudin AF, et al.

PLoS One, 2019;14(1):e0211241.
PMID: 30677092 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211241

BACKGROUND: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin found in abundance in brain regions such as the hippocampus, cortex, cerebellum and basal forebrain. It has been associated with the risk of susceptibility to major depressive disorder (MDD). This study aimed to determine the association of three BDNF variants (rs6265, rs1048218 and rs1048220) with Malaysian MDD patients.
METHODS: The correlation of these variants to the plasma BDNF level among Malaysian MDD patients was assessed. A total of 300 cases and 300 matched controls recruited from four public hospitals within the Klang Valley of Selangor State, Malaysia and matched for age, sex and ethnicity were screened for BDNF rs6265, rs1048218 and rs1048220 using high resolution melting (HRM).
FINDINGS: BDNF rs1048218 and BDNF rs1048220 were monomorphic and were excluded from further analysis. The distribution of the alleles and genotypes for BDNF rs6265 was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for the controls (p = 0.13) but was in Hardy Weinberg disequilibrium for the cases (p = 0.011). Findings from this study indicated that having BDNF rs6265 in the Malaysian population increase the odds of developing MDD by 2.05 folds (95% CI = 1.48-3.65). Plasma from 206 cases and 206 controls were randomly selected to measure the BDNF level using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A significant decrease in the plasma BDNF level of the cases as compared to controls (p<0.0001) was observed. However, there was no evidence of the effect of the rs6265 genotypes on the BDNF level indicating a possible role of other factors in modulating the BDNF level that warrants further investigation.
CONCLUSION: The study indicated that having the BDNF rs6265 allele (A) increase the risk of developing MDD in the Malaysian population suggesting a possible role of BDNF in the etiology of the disorder.
Fulltext Evaluation of CERS2 Gene as a Potential Biomarker for Bladder Cancer

Aldoghachi AF, Baharudin A, Ahmad U, Chan SC, Ong TA, Yunus R, et al.

Dis Markers, 2019;2019:3875147.
PMID: 31636736 DOI: 10.1155/2019/3875147

The ceramide synthase 2 (CERS2) gene has been linked to tumour recurrence and invasion in many different types of cancers including bladder cancer. In this study, the expression levels of CERS2 in bladder cancer cell lines were analysed using qRT-PCR and the protein expression in clinical bladder cancer histopathological specimens were examined via immunohistochemistry. The potential utility of CERS2 as a predictive biomarker of response to oncolytic virotherapy was assessed by correlating the CERS2 mRNA expression to IC50 values of cells treated with the Newcastle disease virus (NDV), AF2240 strain. This study demonstrates that CERS2 is differentially expressed in different types of bladder cancer cell lines and that the siRNA-mediated downregulation of the expression of CERS2 reduces the migratory potential of UMUC1 bladder cancer cells. However, there were no significant correlations between the expression levels of the CERS2 protein with bladder cancer grade/stage or between the IC50 values of cells treated with NDV and CERS2 expression. Although the utility of CERS2 expression may be limited, its potential as an antimigration cancer therapeutic should be further examined.
Fulltext The Role of ISL1 and LHX5 LIM Homeobox Genes in Bladder Tumourigenesis

Akhir MKAM, Choy CS, Abdullah MA, Ghani FA, Veerakumarasivam A, Hussin H

Malays J Med Sci, 2020 Feb;27(1):37-45.
PMID: 32158343 MyJurnal DOI: 10.21315/mjms2020.27.1.4

Introduction: Lin-11, Isl-1 and Mec-3 domains (LIM) homeobox genes are among the most important sub-families of homeobox genes. These genes are thought to play an important role in cancer. In this study, the protein expression of these genes was examined in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. The expression pattern of Islet-1 (ISL1) and LIM homeobox 5 (LHX5) across different cancer stages and grades, as well as the association between the protein expression of these genes and patient demographics and clinicopathological features, were examined.
Methods: A total of 100 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded urothelial carcinoma tissues were selected from the Department of Pathology, Hospital Kuala Lumpur and the protein expression of ISL1 and LHX5 was determined using immunohistochemistry.
Results: Positive expression of ISL1 and LHX5 was detected in 94% and 98% of the samples, respectively. There were no distinct LHX5 expression patterns associated with different cancer stages, but the proportion of high-expressing tumours was higher in high-grade tumours. In addition, there was a significant association between the expression of LHX5 and tumour grade. The proportion of tumours expressing high levels of ISL1 was found to be highest in later stage tumours.
Conclusion: The high percentage of tumours expressing both these genes suggests that ISL1 and LHX5 play an important role in bladder tumourigenesis across multiple stages.