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Background and purpose: Lentiviral vectors (LVs) are suitable candidates for gene delivery to cells with stable and high-level of transgene expression in target cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) are non-protein coding, short (~22 nucleotides) and single-stranded RNAs that act as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, and are involved in various cellular processes, including proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Several studies have shown that miR-499a promotes cardiac differentiation in cardiac stem cells. So, the aim of our study was to construct lentiviruses carrying miRNA-499a.
Materials and methods: Specific sequences of miRNA-499a (3p and 5p) were designed and constructed. Then, miRNA-499a was cloned into lentiviral vector. Analytical digestion and nucleotide sequence analysis were performed to ensure successful introduction of the miRNA to the vector. Then, the lentiviral particles produced (miRNA-499a-3p and miRNA-499a-5p) were used for transduction of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs).
Results: Analytical digestion and sequence analysis confirmed the accuracy of the constructs. The high expression of eGFP represented the high efficiency of transfection and transduction. The lentiviral particles carrying  miRNA-499a-3p/5p were made and could transduce hBM-MSCs.
Conclusion: In this study we made lentiviral particles carrying miR-499a that could be used for differentiation of stem cells to cardiomyocytes.
 

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Background and purpose: MicroRNA-122 (miR-122) is the most abundant liver–specific miRNA. It has been reported that miR-122 plays several biological roles such as iron homeostasis, tumor suppressor, hepatic fatty acid regulation, and in hepatocyte differentiation. The Purpose of this study was to investigate changes in liver miR-122 gene expression and serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) enzymes after resistance training and boldenone undecylenate (boldenone) steroid injection in male rats.
Materials and methods: Twenty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control (n=5), resistance training (n=5), resistance training+ boldenone injection (n=5), and boldenone injection (n=5). Resistance training was performed three sessions a week for eight weeks. Boldenone was injected twice per week (2mg/kg). Seventy-two hours after last training, blood and tissue samples were collected. Serum levels of ALT and AST were measured via photometric method and miR-122 gene expression in the liver was assessed by real-time PCR. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS V16.
Results: Reduced expression of liver miR-122 was found in boldenone group, while the expression of miR-122 was higher in resistance training group, however, the difference was not significant (P= 0.514). Also, no significant difference was found in serum AST and ALT levels between the experimental groups (P= 1.00 and P= 0.527, respectively).
Conclusion: In this study, liver miR-122 responded differently to resistance training and boldenone injection. However, clear understanding of its mechanism requires further studies.

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Background and purpose: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women. Abnormal expression of microRNAs is associated with cancer. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the expression of miRNA-210 in the serum of breast cancer patients.
Materials and methods: The studied population included 49 breast cancer patients and 55 healthy individuals, and the samples were evaluated using Real Time PCR.
Results: The data analysis of this study revealed that the expression level of miR-210 in the blood of breast cancer patients is significantly higher compared to the blood of healthy people. Also, there is a negative correlation between the age of breast cancer patients and the expression of miR-210 (r=-0.309, P=0.031) and a significant positive correlation between the increase in the expression of mir-210 and the expression of the Ki-67 marker (r=0.412, P = 0.004).
 

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Background and purpose: Lung cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in the world, early detection of lung cancer is one of the biggest challenges in treating this disease and can be very effective in saving patients. Considering the role of microRNAs in the development and progression of lung cancer, the effective factors in the expression and function of microRNAs, including the polymorphisms in the genes of microRNAs, can be used as biomarkers for the early diagnosis of lung cancer. This study aims to investigate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs4919510) of miR608 and (rs6505162) of miR-423 with the risk of lung cancer.
Materials and methods: In this case-control study, genotypic analysis of rs6505162 miR-423 and rs4919510 miR-608 polymorphisms was performed on two groups including 110 lung cancer patients and 120 healthy individuals by PCR-RFLP method. After receiving the consent form from the patients, 5 ml of venous blood was collected from each of the study subjects, and the genomic DNA of each person was extracted using the salt precipitation method, the quality of the DNA was measured by absorption spectroscopy, and then all the samples were PCR And by using restriction enzyme digestion by Rsa I and PVUII enzymes, the genotype was determined for both polymorphisms. In the last step, the results of enzyme digestion were checked by electrophoresis on 2% agarose gel, to confirm the RFLP results from sequencing. Random samples were used. Statistical analysis of data was done with SPSS software.
Results: In the investigation of mrs6505162 polymorphism in miR-423, the frequency distribution of CC, CA, and AA genotypes in lung cancer patients was 42.7, 34.5, and 22.7, respectively, and in the control group, 30.8, 54.2, 15, respectively which did not have a significant difference. The genotype CA compared to CC and also CA compared to CC+AA was related to the reduction of lung cancer (P=0.009, 95% CI: 0.256-0.829,
OR=0.460; P=0.003, 95% CI: 0.262-0.760, OR=0.447) which can indicate the protective role of this genotype. In the investigation of rs4919510 polymorphism in miR608, the frequency of allele G was 16.4% in the patient group and 20.4% in the control group, and the frequency of allele C was 83.6% in the patient group and 79.6% in the control group. This allele frequency was not statistically significant with a probability ratio of 0.763 and a confidence interval of 1.227-0.474 (P=0.263). No significant difference was observed between the group of cancer patients and control subjects. Codominant, Dominant, Over dominant, and Recessive, statistically no significant difference was observed.
Conclusion: According to our findings in miR-423, the CA genotype in rs6505162 polymorphism can have a protective role in lung cancer, but rs4919510 polymorphism in miR-608 was not significantly associated with lung cancer, further studies with more samples are suggested to confirm these findings.