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13 Publications visible to you, out of a total of 13

Abstract (Expand)

For the last years, copper complexes have been intensively implicated in biomedical research as components of cancer treatment. Herewith, we provide highlights of the synthesis, physical measurements, structural characterization of the newly developed Cu(II) chelates of Schiff Bases, Cu(Picolinyl-L-Tryptopahanate)2, Cu(Picolinyl-L-Tyrosinate)2, Cu(Isonicotinyl-L-Tyrosinate)2, Cu(Picolinyl-L-Phenylalaninate)2, Cu(Nicotinyl-L-Phenylalaninate)2, Cu(Isonicotinyl-L-Phenylalaninate)2, and their radioenhancement capacity at kV and MV ranges of irradiation of human lung carcinoma epithelial cells in vitro. The methods of cell growth, viability and proliferation were used. All compounds exerted very potent radioenhancer capacities in the irradiated lung carcinoma cells at both kV and MV ranges in a 100 μM concentration. At a concentration of 10 μM, only Cu(Picolinyl-L-Tyrosinate)2, Cu(Isonicotinyl-L-Tyrosinate)2, Cu(Picolinyl-L-Phenylalaninate)2 possessed radioenhancer properties at kV and MV ranges. Cu(Picolinyl-L-Tryptophanate)2 showed radioenhancer properties only at kV range. Cu(Nicotinyl-L-Phenylalaninate)2 and Cu(Isonicotinyl-L-Phenylalaninate)2 showed remarkable radioenhancer activity only at MV range. All compounds acted in dose-dependent manner at both tested energy ranges. These copper (II) compounds, in combination with 1 Gy irradiation at either 120 kV or 6 MV, are more efficient at delaying cell growth of lung cancer cells and at reducing cell viability in vitro than the irradiation administered alone. Thus, we have demonstrated that the studied copper compounds have a good potential for radioenhancement.

Authors: Gohar Tsakanova, Ani Stepanyan, Elina Arakelova, Violetta Ayvazyan, Vahan Tonoyan, Arsen Arakelyan, Guido Hildebrandt, Elisabeth Schültke

Date Published: 18th Jun 2021

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract (Expand)

Background: Despite the important role of the nerve growth factor in the survival and maintenance of neurons in ischemic stroke, data regarding the relationships between variations in the encoding gene and stroke are lacking. In the present study, we evaluated the association of the functional polymorphisms in NGF (rs6330) and NGFR (rs2072446 and rs734194) genes with ischemic stroke in an Armenian population. Methods: In total, 370 unrelated individuals of Armenian nationality were enrolled in this study. Genomic DNA samples of patients and healthy controls were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers. Results: The results obtained indicate that the minor allele of rs6330 (Pcorr = 2.4E-10) and rs2072446 (Pcorr = 0.02) are significantly overrepresented in stroke group, while the minor allele of rs734194 (Pcorr = 8.5E-10) was underrepresented in diseased subjects. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in NGF gene (rs6330) and NGFR gene (rs2072446 and rs734194) are associated with the disease. Furthermore, it was shown that the carriage of the NGF rs6330*T minor allele is associated with increased infarct volume and higher risk of recurrent stroke. Conclusions: In conclusion, our findings suggest that the NGF rs6330*T and NGFR rs2072446*T minor alleles might be nominated as a risk factor for developing ischemic stroke and NGFR rs734194*G minor allele as a protective against this disease at least in Armenian population. Keywords: Ischemic stroke, Nerve growth factor, Nerve growth factor receptor, NGF, NGFR, Single nucleotide polymorphism

Authors: Ani Stepanyan, Roksana Zakharyan, Arsen Simonyan, Gohar Tsakanova, Arsen Arakelyan

Date Published: 2nd Mar 2018

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract (Expand)

Individual susceptibility to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is conditioned by genetic factors, and association between this disorder and polymorphisms of several genes have been shown. The aim of this study was to explore a potential association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of the IL-1β gene (IL1B) and PTSD. In genomic DNA samples of PTSD-affected and healthy subjects, the rs16944, rs1143634, rs2853550, rs1143643, and rs1143633 SNPs of IL1B gene have been genotyped. The results obtained demonstrated that IL1B rs1143633*C and rs16944*A minor allele frequency were significantly lower in patients than in controls. Our results confirm that IL1B rs1143633 and rs16944 SNPs are negatively associated with PTSD which allows us to consider them as protective variants for PTSD. IL1B rs1143633*C and rs16944*A minor allele frequencies and carriage rates are significantly lower in the PTSD patients as compared to the controls. These results may provide a base to conclude that above-mentioned alleles can be protective against PTSD, and IL1B gene can be involved in the pathogenesis of this disorder.

Authors: Lilit Hovhannisyan, Ani Stepanyan, Arsen Arakelyan

Date Published: 5th Jul 2017

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract (Expand)

COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted the healthcare and economy on a global scale. It is widely recognized that mass testing is an efficient way to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as aid in the development of informed policies for disease management. However, the current COVID-19 worldwide infection rates increased the demand for rapid and reliable screening of infection. We compared the performance of qRT-PCR in direct heat-inactivated (H), heat-inactivated and pelleted (HC) samples against RNA in a group of 74 subjects (44 positive and 30 negative). Then we compared the sensitivity of HC in a larger group of 196 COVID-19 positive samples. Our study suggests that HC samples show higher accuracy for SARS-CoV-2 detection PCR assay compared to direct H (89 % vs 83 % of the detection in RNA). The sensitivity of detection using direct samples varied depending on the sample transport and storage media as well as the viral loads (as measured by qRT-PCR Ct levels). Altogether, all the data suggest that purified RNA provides more accurate results, however, direct sample testing with qRT-PCR may help to significantly increase testing capacity. Switching to the direct sample testing is justified if the number of tests is doubled at least.

Authors: Diana Avetyan, Andranik Chavushyan, Hovsep Ghazaryan, Ani Melkonyan, Ani Stepanyan, Roksana Zakharyan, Varduhi Hayrapetyan, Sofi Atshemyan, Gisane Khachatryan, Tamara Sirunyan, Suren Davitavyan, Gevorg Martirosyan, Gayane Melik-Andreasyan, Shushan Sargsyan, Armine Ghazazyan, Naira Aleksanyan, Xiushan Yin, Arsen Arakelyan

Date Published: No date defined

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract (Expand)

Epidemiologic, clinical and experimental data indicates that a majority of brain disorders including schizophrenia (SCZ), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and ischemic stroke (IS) are multifactorial disorders with strong and complex genetic component. Identification of all genetic variations associated with these disorders may sufficiently contribute to understanding of their basic pathomechanisms and encourage development of new innovative approaches to their early diagnosis and treatment. The aim of this review article is to provide overview of our recent studies on evaluation of potential association of SCZ, PTSD and IS with functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of synaptic plasticity and apoptosis regulatory genes in Armenian population. Here, our attention was focused on genes encoding netrin G1 (NTNG1), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), complexin-2 (CPLX2), nerve growth factor (NGF) and its receptor (NGFR), annexin family proteins - annexin A5 and annexin A11 (ANXAV, ANXA11), and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family proteins - Bcl-2 proper and Bcl-2-associated X protein (BCL2, BAX). Genomic DNA samples of diseased and healthy individuals were genotyped for a number of SNPs of the mentioned genes using polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). The significance of differences in genotype and allele frequencies and minor allele carriage between patients and healthy control subjects was determined using Pearson’s Chi-square test. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Significant associations were found between: (1) SCZ and BDNF rs6265, CPLX2 rs1366116, rs3892909, NGF rs6330, rs4839435, NGFR rs734194, rs11466155, rs2072446, ANXAV rs11575945, BAX rs1057369 SNPs; (2) PTSD and CPLX2 rs1366116, BCL2 rs956572 SNPs; (3) IS and NTNG1 rs628117, CPLX2 rs1366116, ANXAV rs11575945 SNPs. The obtained results indicated the involvement of genetically determined alterations in synaptic plasticity and apoptosis in pathomechanisms of SCZ, PTSD and IS. The minor T allele of the CPLX2 gene rs1366116 polymorphism represents risk factor for all studied diseased conditions indicating important functional significance of this genetic variation in maintenance of synaptic plasticity. Another important conclusion of these studies is that minor alleles of some polymorphic variants of genes, encoding synaptic plasticity and apoptosis regulatory proteins, may play a protective role relative to SCZ decreasing the risk for development of this disorder. In summary, our studies emphasize the important contribution of changes in synaptic plasticity and apoptosis regulation to pathomechanisms of SCZ, PTSD, and IS as well as significant input of genetic factors to these changes.

Authors: Anna Boyajyan, Ani Stepanyan, Diana Avetyan, Hovsep Ghazaryan, Sofi Atshemyan, Roksana Zakharyan, Kristina Pirumyan, Gohar Tsakanova

Date Published: No date defined

Publication Type: Journal

Abstract (Expand)

Objectives: Alterations in the immune response are involved in pathogenesis of many neuropsychiatric disorders including schizophrenia and stroke. Our recent studies indicated alterations in the complement system, including hyperactivation of the alternative complement pathway in patients with schizophrenia and ischemic stroke. In the present study we investigated functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of gene encoding factor H (CFH), a negative regulator of the alternative complement cascade, in patients with schizophrenia, ischemic stroke, and healthy controls. Methods: Genomic DNA samples of study subjects were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction with sequence specific primers. The distribution of genotypes for the selected SNP was checked for correspondence to the H–W equilibrium. In order to investigate potential association of the selected polymorphisms with schizophrenia and stroke, their allele and phenotype frequencies in patients and control subjects were compared using Pearson’s chi-squared test. Results: According to the results obtained, CFH rs424535 (2783- 526T >A) SNP was positively associated with schizophrenia, while have no association with stroke. On the contrary, CFH rs800292 (184G >A) SNP was positively associated with stroke and no association between this SNP and schizophrenia was found. Conclusions: In summary, we concluded that rs424535*A minor allele of the CFH gene may represent a risk factor for schizophrenia, and rs800912 minor allele of the CFH gene might be considered as a risk factor for ischemic stroke.

Authors: A. Boyajyan, H. Ghazaryan, A. Stepanyan, R. Zakharyan

Date Published: No date defined

Publication Type: Journal

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