Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42507227›Full record

ArticleMolecular biology reports2026

Aptamer-mediated targeting of CXCR3-B in acute lymphoblastic leukemia nalm-6 cells: an in silico and in vitro study.

Hossein Arezoomand, Ali Jebali, Hajar Mardani Valandani, Maryam Nooshadokht, Ali Bazi, Ali Afgar, Muhammad Hossein Ashoub, Roohollah Mirzaee Khalilabadi

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Molecular biology reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Hossein ArezoomandDepartment of Hematology and Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Ali JebaliDepartment of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Hajar Mardani ValandaniDepartment of Hematology and Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Maryam NooshadokhtDepartment of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Ali BaziDepartment of Hematology and Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Ali AfgarResearch Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. aliafgar1352@gmail.com.
Muhammad Hossein AshoubDepartment of Hematology and Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Roohollah Mirzaee KhalilabadiDepartment of Hematology and Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. khalilabadi60@gmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe CXCR3-B receptor plays a crucial role in inducing apoptosis upon binding with its ligands. Here, we aimed to rationally design an ultra-short (5-base) DNA aptamer targeting the N-terminal domain of CXCR3-B and evaluate its therapeutic potential in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).

methodsAn in-silico library of 32 pentanucleotide aptamers (comprising adenine and guanine) was constructed. The three-dimensional structure of the CXCR3-B N-terminus was modeled and docked with the aptamers, followed by targeted molecular docking and binding stability scoring to evaluate complex interactions. In vitro, Nalm-6 cells were treated with the lead aptamer (GAGGA), a scrambled control, and proteinase K. Cell viability, metabolic activity, and apoptosis were assessed via trypan blue, MTT, and Annexin V/PI flow cytometry. The expression of BAX, P53, and CDKN1A (p21) was quantified using qPCR.

resultsThe GAGGA aptamer exhibited the highest binding affinity and complex stability in silico. In vitro, GAGGA at 600 µM significantly reduced metabolic activity and viability after 24 h compared with untreated and scrambled aptamer controls. The apoptotic cell ratio increased significantly (13.65% vs. 2.98% in control), accompanied by the significant upregulation of BAX, P53, and CDKN1A. Pre-treatment with proteinase K abolished these effects, confirming receptor-specific binding.

conclusionsOur findings demonstrate that the ultra-short GAGGA aptamer specifically targets CXCR3-B and triggers apoptotic pathways in ALL cells. While the effective concentration is high, likely due to the lack of nuclease resistance in unmodified ultra-short oligonucleotides, this study provides a novel molecular scaffold for future aptamer-based ALL therapies following appropriate chemical modifications.

Indexed as

Aptamers, NucleotidePrecursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-LymphomaReceptors, CXCR3ApoptosisCell Line, TumorCell SurvivalComputer SimulationHumansMolecular Docking SimulationAptamers, NucleotideCXCR3 protein, humanReceptors, CXCR3Acute lymphoblastic leukemiaAptamerCXCR3-BMolecular dockingPF4Targeted therapy

Identifiers

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.