Study of MFN2gene expression in tissue samples of patients with breast cancer

Cancer is a disease characterized by inappropriate cell proliferation, uncontrolled cell cycle, and defect in apoptosis. Mitochondrial dynamics is involved in cell cycle and apoptotic mechanisms. Previous studies have been shown the relation between mitochondrial dynamic processes and progress of various type of cancer. Mammals have MFN2 (Mitofusin-2) gene. which is involved in mitochondrial membrane fusion. The aim of this study was to determine the expression level of mfn2 gene in tissue samples of patients with breast cancer in Iran.In this study, breast cancer and non-cancerous breast tissue were taken from 50 Iranian cancer patients for RNA extraction, cDNA production, and further investigation of mfn2 gene expression using Real-time PCR method. The results of this study showed a significant decrease in mfn2gene expression in tumor tissues compared to the noncancerous breast tissues (p<0.01). The results of this study are consistent with results from previous studies. This reduction of mfn2 gene expression, which was reported for the first time in Iran, could indicate an inhibitory effect of mfn2 on mTORC2 protein (one of the major proteins involved in growth signal, metabolism and cell proliferation), confirming the overgrowth of tumor in comparison to surrounding non-cancerous breast tissues.

کلیدواژه ها:

Dynamic mitochondrial ، Fission ، Fusion ، Mitofusin