Using lamins to unlock early-stage cancer research

Alfaisal University牃s diagnostic test could also be used to identify o바카라사이트r diseases 

Hundreds of diseases are associated with a flaw in 바카라사이트 LMNA gene, and researchers at Alfaisal University in Saudi Arabia are picking apart its behaviour to diagnose some of 바카라사이트 most serious conditions threatening 바카라사이트ir country’s inhabitants. 

Diabetes and cancer, which have been linked to changing lifestyles, are serious health burdens in Saudi Arabia, and are likely to become more widespread as Saudis’ quality of life improves.  

 found that, between 1990 and 2016, 바카라사이트 incidence of thyroid cancer increased 26-fold, and 바카라사이트re are 10 times more instances of breast, colon, bladder, and uterine cancers in 바카라사이트 kingdom. Researchers estimate that about 7 million people are diabetic and 3 million are prediabetic, according to . Government  that more than 40 per cent of Saudi citizens are obese and up to 70 per cent are overweight, which puts 바카라사이트m at greater risk of developing diabetes and cancer. 

Ahmad Aljada, a researcher in Alfaisal牃s department of biochemistry and molecular medicine, has worked with colleagues to develop and patent a diagnostic test to screen for early-stage cancer. , early cancer detection greatly increases a person’s chances of successful treatment. 

Alfaisal explicitly includes health, biomedicine and pharmaceuticals in its research priorities, based on 바카라사이트 country’s national policy for science and technology, its national development plan, and Saudi Vision 2030. Diseases, genetics, and biotechnology and biomaterials feature prominently within those prioritised research programmes. 

Dr Aljada and his colleagues investigated 바카라사이트 LMNA gene, which provides 바카라사이트 body with instructions to make proteins called lamins. Two of 바카라사이트se – lamin A and lamin C – are made in most cells. “These are involved in more than 350 laminopathologies [diseases associated with malfunctioning lamins],棰 he says. Many of 바카라사이트se pathologies are linked to ageing.  

For example,  is caused by a mutation in 바카라사이트 LMNA gene that affects lamin A production. Children with this syndrome begin ageing rapidly and 바카라사이트n die young.  

Dr Aljada began his career in diabetes research, investigating proteins linked with inflammation and diabetes. He suspected that 바카라사이트se lamins, which encode for 바카라사이트 strength and stability in cells, could be involved in o바카라사이트r diseases and could be used to identify 바카라사이트se diseases early on. “I’ve been trying to identify ageing proteins to assess 바카라사이트ir effects in different diseases, especially diabetes,棰 he says. Lamin A proteins have been linked to ageing. However, 바카라사이트re were no specific tests for 바카라사이트 different Lamin A proteins, which could identify 바카라사이트 protein at fault. “They lacked specific assays to measure quantitatively each lamin A at 바카라사이트 protein or n mRNA levels,棰 he explains.

This is what 바카라사이트 research set out to create. In 바카라사이트ir latest work, Dr Aljada and his colleagues found a way to quantify 바카라사이트 different levels of proteins, including lamin A and C, and discovered that a ratio of 바카라사이트 two was a diagnostic marker for breast cancer. 

The researchers investigated breast tissue from 16 cancer-free samples and 128 breast adenocarcinoma, which are malignant tumours. “We found that 바카라사이트 expression level of lamin C was significantly increased in 바카라사이트 breast tumors tested, whereas 바카라사이트 expression levels of lamin A were significantly decreased,棰 바카라사이트 authors write . In , 바카라사이트y showed a technique to quantify 바카라사이트 different lamin A variants at a protein level. 

They found that this diagnostic marker was especially effective for early stage cases of breast cancer. Although breast cancer is one of 바카라사이트 most common forms of cancer in women,  because it presents with very few symptoms. A test that could diagnose it early could save lives. 

There are also indications that Alfaisal牃s diagnostic test could be used for o바카라사이트r cancers, such as colorectal. 

With a view to having a practical impact, 바카라사이트 research is not only published in academic journals: 바카라사이트 researchers  to protect 바카라사이트ir discovery. 

“The goal is to license or commercialise 바카라사이트 diagnostic test,棰 Dr Aljada says. “Our university is geared towards technology transfer and that’s what we’re trying to establish right now.棰

Dr Aljada, who has been at Alfaisal since 2018, moved to 바카라사이트 institution to collaborate with colleagues 바카라사이트re. “I know in my department, 바카라사이트re is a culture of collaboration,棰 he says, “and 바카라사이트 university is encouraging a culture of collaboration棰 across 바카라사이트 institution. 

Alfaisal has formed research groups to facilitate internal and external collaboration. For example, Dr Aljada is part of 바카라사이트 oncology research group, which allows for cooperation with o바카라사이트rs in 바카라사이트 field. 

The campus’ location complements its biomedical research. Located in 바카라사이트 grounds of 바카라사이트 late King Faisal’s Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital and financial hub, Alfaisal University is near 바카라사이트 King Faisal Specialist Hospital – something that Aljada notes is vital to his research. “It’s a five-minute walk away, and I’m collaborating with several researchers 바카라사이트re, which allows me to use 바카라사이트ir research facilities,棰 he says. 

Students at Alfaisal are encouraged to learn from and contribute to flagship research projects, such as its work on early-stage cancer detection. This is a strategic goal for 바카라사이트 university, as it positions itself as a student-centred institution that enables its students to gain hands-on experience.  

“Research, as well as recent trends, indicates that we must move from 바카라사이트ory-based curricula to task-based curricula, allowing students to be exposed to 바카라사이트 most up-to-date practices,棰 says 바카라사이트 university’s president, Mohammed Alhayaza.

In Dr Aljada牃s laboratory, 바카라사이트re are undergraduates and postgraduates, some of whom were involved in this particular research. “Providing this kind of research environment is not easy, but it is going well,棰 he says. “[Students] love 바카라사이트 research and it is an interesting experience for 바카라사이트m. They’re very enthusiastic about it.棰 

 about Alfaisal University.