FXYD6基因遗传多态性在精神分裂症患者核心家系中的传递不平衡检验

目的 探讨FXYD6基因单核苷酸多态性(single nucleotide polymorphisms,SNP)和精神分裂症(schizophrenia)之间的相关性.方法 采用等位基因特异性PCR的方法对FXYD6基因6个SNPs(rs10790212、rs11544201、rs555577、rs1815774、rs4938446和rs497768)位点的基因型在101个三口之家中进行传递不平衡检验(transmission disequilibrium test,TDT).结果 遗传标记rs10790212和rs11544201显示了显著的传递不平衡(P＜0.05),而单倍型分析的结果表明单倍型rs10790212-rs11544201与精神分裂症显著性关联(P＜0.05).结论 FXYD6基因与中国汉族人群精神分裂症遗传易感性相关,有必要进一步开展对FXYD6基因的功能学研究.     

神经型烟碱乙酰胆碱受体α7亚单位基因多态性与精神分裂症的传递不平衡研究

目的 探讨神经型烟碱乙酰胆碱受体α7亚单位基因(neuronal nicotinic acetyleholine receptor α7 subunit gene,CHRNA7)多态性与精神分裂症的关系.方法 应用聚合酶链反应及聚丙烯酰胺凝胶芯片技术检测129个精神分裂症先证者核心家系CHRNA7基因的rs2337980、rs1909884、rs883473三个单核苷酸多态性,并采用基于单倍型的单倍型相对风险检验(haplotype relative risk,HHRR)、传递不平衡检验(transmission disequilibrium test,TDT)及单倍型分析进行统计.结果 (1)HHRR分析结果显示rs2337980位点精神分裂症患者组与虚拟对照组之间等位基因频率差异有统计学意义(P=0.017);(2)TDT分析发现,rs2337980位点与精神分裂症之间可能存在传递不平衡,杂合子父母过多的传递等位基因C给患病子女(P=0.021).(3)单倍型分析发现,rs2337980、rsl909884及rs2337980、rsl909884、rs883473组成的单倍型与精神分裂症有显著相关(总体P=0.034;glohal P=0.027),其中T-C,T-C-T两个单倍型与精神分裂症可能存在传递不平衡.结论 CHRNA7 基因多态性可能与精神分裂症存在关联,rs2337980的变异等位基因T可能是精神分裂症的保护性因子.     

clock基因rs1801260多态性与抑郁症的关联分析

目的:探讨clock基因与汉族人群抑郁症的关联。方法:用Snapshot SNP分型技术对155例抑郁症患者(其中包括133名抑郁症睡眠障碍者)和150名正常对照进行clock基因rs1801260位点分型,比较两组该基因多态性基因型和等位基因频率的差异。结果:与对照组相比,患者组rs1801260多态性的基因型和等位基因的频率差异无统计学意义(P0.05);对rs1801260多态性二种基因型C/T、T/T抑郁症的临床资料比较,显示HAMA总分差异具有统计学意义(t=2.012,P=0.047),其他各项没有明显差异(P0.05)。结论:clock基因rs1801260多态性可能与中国汉族抑郁症的发病无关联,但与抑郁症的焦虑程度可能关联。     

Neuregulin 1基因多态性与中国汉族精神分裂症关联分析

目的 探讨Neuregulin 1(NRG1)基因多态性与精神分裂症的关联.方法 在258个中国汉族精神分裂症核心家系(患者及其亲生父母)中,应用实时定量PCR技术检测位于NRGl基因5'端的4个单核苷酸多态(single nucleotide polymorphism,SNP)位点:rs221533(C/T)、rs7820838(C/T)、433E1006 (A/G)和rs3924999(C/T),进行基因分型,应用传递不平衡检测(transmission disequilibrium test,TDT)分析等位基因传递情况,分析该基因与精神分裂症易感性的关联.结果 在258个中国汉族核心家系中,rs221533、433E1006、rs3924999三个SNP均存在有统计学意义的传递不平衡,优先传递的等位基因分别是:C、A、T(rs221533:X2=27.45,P=0.000;433E1006:X2=56.08,P=0.000;rs3924999:X2=10.53,P=0.001).rs7820838未检到不平衡传递(X2=3.31,P=0.081).频率大于1%单倍型进行分析,rs221533-rs7820838-433E1006联合分析,单倍型C/C/G和C/C/A优先传递(C/C/G:X2=5.26,P=45.08;C/C/A:X2=0.026,P=0.000);rs221533-rs7820838-433E1006-rs3924999联合分析,单倍型C/C/G/T、C/C/A/C和C/C/A/T优势传递(C/C/G/T:X2=10.71,P=0.001;C/C/A/C:.)X2=8.83,P=0.006、C/C/A/T:X2=27.00,P=0.000).213个阳性亚型的精神分裂症核心家系中传递不平衡得出基本一致的结果 .结论 Nrg1基因多态性与中国汉族人群精神分裂症存在关联,尤其是支持与阳性亚型精神分裂症存在关联.     

广西壮族男性膜型基质金属蛋白酶1基因多态性与骨质疏松症的相关性

目的 探索膜型基质金属蛋白酶1(membrane-type l matrix metalloproteinase,MTl-MMP,MMP14)基因的多态性与广西百色地区壮族男性骨质疏松症的相关性.方法 用超声骨密度仪测量百色地区301名壮族男性左跟骨超声振幅衰减(broadband ultrasonic attenuation,BUA),并根据中国人骨质疏松症建议诊断标准分为正常对照、骨量减少以及骨质疏松组.应用Multiplex SNaPshot SNP分型技术确定MMP14基因5个单核苷酸多态性(single nucleotide polymorphism,SNP)位点(rs1003349、rs3751488、rs2269213、rs2236303和rs743257)的基因型.结果 全部位点的多态性分布均符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡(P＞0.05).多元线性逐步回归分析提示,上述多态性与BUA变异无相关性(P＞0.05).rs2236303位点CC基因型(vs.TT,OR=10.604,95％CI:1.899～59.228,P=0.007)、CT基因型(vs.TT,OR=5.602,95％CI:1.351～23.24,P=0.018)以及rs1003349的GT基因型(vs.GG,OR=4.884,95 ％CI;1.087～21.949,P=0.039)在骨质疏松组的频率显著偏高.连锁不平衡分析显示,rs1003349和rs2236303位点存在一般连锁(D′=0.839,r2 =0.458,P＜0.01),两个位点的单倍型G-T在骨量正常组与骨质疏松组中的频率差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05),单倍型为G-T的个体发生骨质疏松症的风险显著高于G-C或T-C的个体(P＜0.05).结论 MMP14基因的rs1003349和rs2236303多态性位点可能与广西壮族男性骨质疏松症的易感性相关,rs1003349和rs2236303位点的单倍型G-C和T-C可能增加骨质疏松症的发病风险.     

基于家系的Tim-3基因多态性与儿童变应性哮喘的关联研究

目的 以家系资料为基础,利用遗传不平衡原理探讨染色体5q33.2区Tim-3基因启动子两个多态性位点rs10053538和rs10515746与中国湖北地区汉族儿童变应性哮喘的关系.方法 应用限制性片段长度多态性技术结合测序方法,分析了118个儿童变应性哮喘核心家系Tim-3基因rs10053538和rs10515746的基因型;采用基于家系的关联分析方法,包括单体型相对风险分析(HRR)和传递不平衡检验(TDT),分析基因分型数据;应用Transmit软件构建单体型并进行单体型关联分析.结果 118个核心家庭HRR分析显示Tim-3基因启动子区两个多态性位点rs10053538和rs10515746不使病人具有更高的发病风险(X2=2.430,P>0.05;x2=1.368,P>0.05).118个满足经典TDT分析的核心家庭中,杂合子父母传递给患病子代的等位基因频率不比预期值高(x2=2.042,P>O.05;x2=0.750,P>O.05).Transmit双位点单体型分析也未见父母传递给子女各个单体型的观察值和期望值有明显差异(P>O.05).结论 中国湖北地区汉族人群中,Tim-3基因启动子区两个多态性位点rs10053538和rs10515746与儿童变应性哮喘不具有相关性.     

PATZ1基因单核苷酸多态性与无精症的关系

目的 研究PATZ1基因的4个单核苷酸多态性(single nucleotide polymorphism,SNP)rs2240424、rs2057951、rs2240427和rs714909的多态性与无精症的关系.方法 用PCR-限制性片段长度多态性分析方法,在180例无精症患者和190名正常男性中对上述4个SNP位点的基因频率和基因型频率分布进行调查.结果 rs2057951位点的等位基因C(35.0%vs.27.6%,P=0.031)和带有等位基因C个体(CT+CC)(57.8%vs.46.3%,P=0.027)的频率在无精症患者显著高于正常男性.4种SNP的单倍型在两组人群中的分布差异有统计学意义(P=0.01),单倍型ACAC(11.1%vs.6.6%,P=0.029)和ACGC(11.2%vs.5.2%,P=0.003)在无精症患者中显著高于正常男性.结论 PTAZ1的rs2057951位点的等位基因C和单倍型ACAC和ACGC增加无精症的易感性,提示PTAZ1基因可能与无精症发病相关.     

新疆维吾尔族群体色氨酸羟化酶1基因T3804A位点多态性与抑郁症的关联

目的探讨新疆维吾尔族群体色氨酸羟化酶1(TPH1)基因T3804A(rs623580)位点多态性与抑郁症的关系。方法采用聚合酶链式反应产物直接测序的方法检测104例抑郁症患者(研究组)和90例正常体检者(对照组)TPH1基因rs623580位点的基因型。应用SPSS10.0分析基因多态性与抑郁症相关性。结果研究组与对照组TPH1基因rs623580位点的基因型频率差异(χ2=6.560,P=0.038)和等位基因频率差异(χ2=5.517,P=0.019)具有统计学意义。研究组与对照组按性别分亚组,女性研究组与对照组基因型频率差异(χ2=8.026,P=0.018)和等位基因频率差异(χ2=7.154,P=0.007)具有统计学意义。男性研究组与对照组基因型频率差异和等位基因频率差异不具有统计学意义。结论新疆维吾尔族群体色氨酸羟化酶1基因T3804A位点与抑郁症的发病可能具有关联性,A等位基因可能是抑郁症的易感基因。     

基质金属蛋白酶-3基因多态性与脑卒中亚型的相关性

目的 探讨中国北方汉族人群基质金属蛋白酶-3(matrix metalloproteinase-3,MMP-3)基因多态性与缺血性脑卒中(ischemic stroke,IS)亚型的相关性.方法 应用病例对照研究,选取289例急性缺血性脑卒中患者(发病≤3d)和175名同期健康体检者.卒中组按急性卒中治疗低分子肝素试验病因分型法分为大动脉粥样硬化性(large artery atherosclerotic,LAA)脑卒中185例,小动脉闭塞性(small artery occlusion,SAO)脑卒中104例.选取MMP-3基因rs3025058(-11715A/6A),rs522616(-709A/G)及rs679620(133A/G)3个常见单核苷酸多态性(single nucleotide polymorphisms,SNPs)位点,应用聚合酶链反应限制性片段长度多态性或直接测序法对MMP-3基因3个SNP位点进行基因分型.结果 3个位点存在不完全连锁不平衡,且基因多态性均与LAA型脑卒中相关(P＜0.05).在显性模型中,rs3025058位点5A5A+5A6A基因型携带者患LAA型脑卒中的风险是6A6A基因型携带者的1.72倍(P=0.017,OR=1.72,95％CI:1.10～2.69);rs522616位点GG+ AG基因型携带者患LAA型脑卒中的风险是AA基因型携带者的0.52倍(P=0.005,OR=0.52,95％CI:0.33～0.82);rs679620位点AA+ GA基因型携带者患LAA型脑卒中的风险是AA基因型携带者的1.55倍(P=0.042,OR=1.55,95％CI:1.01～2.37).但是,3个SNPs基因型和等位基因频率在对照组与SAO型脑卒中之间差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).另外,LAA组5A-A-A及6A-A-A单倍型高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05),而6A-G-G单倍型显著低于对照组(P＜0.01).结论 MMP-3血清水平在LAA型脑卒中急性期增高明显,SAO型脑卒中次之;中国北方汉族人群MMP-3基因rs3025058,rs522616及rs679620多态性可能与LAA型脑卒中易感性相关.     

EMILIN1基因多态性与蒙古族原发性高血压相关性研究

目的 探讨蒙古族人群中EMILIN1基因的3个单核苷酸多态性(single nucleotide polymorphism,SNP)位点与原发性高血压的关系.方法 在内蒙古自治区蒙古族人群中选取201例原发性高血压患者和202名血压正常者进行病例对照研究,应用聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态方法检测rs3754734、rs2011616和rs2304682这3个SNP位点的等位基因和基因型分布,并构建单倍型.结果 在这3个SNP位点中,rs2304682位点的基因频率和基因型频率在高血压组和对照组间差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05),并且在rs3754734和rs2304682这2个SNP位点构建的单倍型中,G-C和G-G单倍型在高血压组和对照组之间差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).在舒张压偏高组和舒张压正常组间,rs2304682位点的基因型和等位基因分布差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05),而在收缩压偏高组和收缩压正常组间,各个SNP的基因型和等位基因分布差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 在蒙古族人群中,EMILIN1基因rs2304682多态性位点以及rs3754734和rs2304682这2个SNP位点构建的G-G单倍型可能与原发性高血压的易感相关联,rs2304682的多态性与蒙古族原发性高血压的舒张压的高低可能有关联.

Abstract：

Objective To explore the relationship between genetic polyrnorphisms of 3 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the elastin microfibril interfacer 1 (EMILIN1)gene and essential hypertension. Methods A case-control study was conducted in which 201 hypertensive patients and 202 healthy controls in Mongolian population were enrolled, and the genotypes of rs3754734, rs2011616 and rs2304682 loci were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polyrnorphism (PCR-RFLP) and direct sequencing techniques. Results There were significant differences in the frequencies of alleles and genotypes for the rs2304682 between the hypertensives and normotensives in the population(P＜0. 05). The frequency of the G-G haplotype established by rs3754734 and rs2304682 was significantly higher in the hypertensive patients (P＜0. 05). The frequencies of alleles and genotypes for the rs2304682 also had significant differences between the group with high diastolic blood pressure and normal diastolic blood pressure (P＜0.05). There were no significant differences in the frequencies of alleles and genotypes for the 3 SNPs between the group with high systolic blood pressure and normal systolic blood pressure (P＞0.05). Conclusion The rs2304682 locus in the EMILIN1 gene, as well as the haplotypes G-G constructed using rs3754734 and rs2304682, may associate with the susceptibility of essential hypertension in the Mongolian population. Also, rs2304682 may associate with the level of the diastolic blood pressure.     

The KPNA3 gene may be a susceptibility candidate for schizophrenia

The present study investigated the possible association of the KPNA3 locus in the 13q14 region with schizophrenia. We detected 7 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on 13q14, one (rs6313) present at the HTR2A locus and the other 6 at the KPNA3 locus, among 124 British family trios consisting of mother, father and affected offspring with schizophrenia. The transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) showed allelic association for rs3736830 (chi(2)=8.66, P=0.003), rs2181185 (chi(2)=3.86, P=0.049) and rs626716 (chi(2)=5.82, P=0.016), but not for rs6313 (chi(2)=0.009, P=0.926). The global P-value was 0.029 for 1000 permutations with the TDT. The 2-SNP haplotype analysis showed a disease association for the rs2273816-rs3736830 haplotypes (chi(2)=7.63, d.f.=2, P=0.022), the rs3736830-rs2181185 haplotypes (chi(2)=10.30, d.f.=2, P=0.006) and the rs2181185-rs3782929 haplotypes (chi(2)=9.26, d.f.=2, P=0.01). The global P-value was 0.034 for 1000 permutations with the 2-SNP haplotype analysis. The 6-SNP haplotype system also showed a weak association with the illness (chi(2)=15.62, d.f.=8, P=0.048), although the 1-d.f. test did not show the association for nine individual haplotypes when a P-value was corrected by the Bonferroni corrections. The present study suggests that the KPNA3 may contribute genetically to schizophrenia in a small effect size.     

A study of the PEMT gene in schizophrenia

The phospholipid hypothesis of schizophrenia is becoming popular because of the findings from the niacin flush test, the treatment with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), biochemical studies for the phospholipid metabolism pathway and genetic studies of phospholipase A2. The present study attempted to investigate the gene coding for phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PEMT), which is an important enzyme for the synthesis of membrane phospholipids. We recruited 271 Chinese parent-offspring trios of Han descent and detected 3 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the PEMT locus. The transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) showed allelic association for rs464396 (X2=9.4, P=0.002), but not for the other two. The 2-SNP haplotype analysis showed haplotypic association for both the rs936108-rs464396 haplotypes (X2=25.7, d.f.=3, P=0.00001) and the rs464396-rs4244593 haplotypes (X2=17.3, d.f.=3, P=0.0006). The 3-SNP haplotype analysis also showed a haplotypic association (X2=24.4, d.f.=7, P=0.0006). The present results suggest that the PEMT gene may contribute to the etiology of schizophrenia.     

A combined effect of the KPNA3 and KPNB3 genes on susceptibility to schizophrenia

Recent studies suggest that both the KPNB3 gene and the KPNA3 gene in the long arm of chromosome 13 (13q) are associated with schizophrenia. Because these two genes belong to the same family of karyopherins, their combined effect on illness was investigated among 238 Chinese family trios consisting of fathers, mothers and affected offspring with schizophrenia. We detected three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including rs626716 at the KPNB3 locus, and rs3782929 and rs3736830 at the KPNA3 locus. The transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) showed allelic association for rs626716 (X2=10.77, P=0.001) and for rs3782929 (X2=4.89, P=0.027) but not for rs3736830 (X2=0.29, P=0.59). Although the conditional test did not show association either for the rs626716-rs3782929 combinations (X2=1.329, d.f.=2, P=0.514) or for the rs626716-rs3736830 combinations (X2=0.606, d.f.=2, P=0.739), the 1-d.f. test showed association for the rs626716(C)-rs3782929(G) combination (X2=10.79, P=0.001) and for the rs626716(C)-rs3736830(G) combination (X2=8.64, P=0.003). The present work suggests that the combination of the KPNA3 gene and the KPNB3 gene may increase a genetic risk for schizophrenia.     

Family-based association study between autism and glutamate receptor 6 gene in Chinese Han trios.

The glutamate pathways are involved in diverse processes such as learning and memory, epilepsy, and they play important roles in neural plasticity, neural development, and neurodegeneration. It has been proposed that autism could be a hypoglutamatergic disorder. Recently, Jamain et al. reported that the glutamate receptor 6 (GluR6 or GRIK2) is in linkage disequilibrium with autism. In the present study, the transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) and the haplotype transmission were performed to analyze the four SNPs (SNP1: rs995640; SNP2: rs2227281; SNP3: rs2227283; SNP4: rs2235076) of GluR6 in 174 Chinese Han parent-offspring trios. The TDT demonstrated that the two SNPs (SNP2 and SNP3) showed preferential transmission (TDT P = 0.032). The global chi(2) test for haplotype transmission also revealed an association between GluR6 and autism (chi(2) = 10.78, df = 3, P = 0.013). Our results suggested that GluR6 is in linkage disequilibrium with autism.     

Functional genetic variation at the NRGN gene and schizophrenia: evidence from a gene-based case-control study and gene expression analysis

Genome-wide association and follow-up studies have reported an association between schizophrenia and rs12807809 of the NRGN gene on chromosome 11q24.2. We investigated the association of five linkage disequilibrium-tagging SNPs and haplotypes that cover the NRGN gene with schizophrenia in a Japanese sample of 2,019 schizophrenia patients and 2,574 controls to determine whether rs12807809 is the most strongly associated variant for schizophrenia in the vicinity of the NRGN gene. We found that the rs12807809-rs12278912 haplotype of the NRGN gene was associated with schizophrenia (global P = 0.0042). The frequencies of the TG and TA haplotypes of rs12807809-rs12278912 in patients were higher (OR = 1.14, P = 0.0019) and lower (OR = 0.85, P = 0.0053), respectively, than in the controls. We did not detect any evidence of association of schizophrenia with any SNPs; however, two nominal associations of rs12278912 (OR = 1.10, P = 0.057) and rs2075713 (OR = 1.10, P = 0.057) were observed. Furthermore, we detected an association between the rs12807809-rs12278912 haplotype and NRGN expression in immortalized lymphoblasts derived from 45 HapMap JPT subjects (z = 2.69, P = 0.007) and confirmed the association in immortalized lymphoblasts derived from 42 patients with schizophrenia and 44 healthy controls (z = 3.09, P = 0.002). The expression of the high-risk TG haplotype was significantly lower than the protective TA haplotype. The expression was lower in patients with schizophrenia than in controls; however, this difference was not statistically significant. This study provides further evidence of the association of the NRGN gene with schizophrenia, and our results suggest that there is a link between the TG haplotype of rs12807809-rs12278912, decreased expression of NRGN and risk of developing schizophrenia.     

The transmission disequilibrium analysis between neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha 7 subunit gene polymorphisms and schizophrenia]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha 7 subunit (CHRNA7) gene and schizophrenia. METHODS: The three polymorphisms rs2337980, rs1909884, rs883473 in CHRNA7 gene were detected based on PCR and polyacrylamide gel microarray in 129 schizophrenic trios. The results of genotyping were analyzed by haplotype relative risk analysis based on haplotype(HHRR), transmission disequilibrium test(TDT) and hyplotype analysis. RESULTS: (1)The HHRR analysis suggested that there was significant differences in rs2337980 allele frequencies between schizophrenia group and dummy control group(P= 0.017); (2)In TDT test, there may be transmission disequilibrium between rs2337980 and schizophrenia, the heterozygous parents excessively transferred the C allele to patients (P= 0.021); (3)The haplotype between rs2337980 and rs1909884 as well as the hyplotype among rs2337980, rs1909884 and rs883473 may have significant association with schizophrenia (global P= 0.034; global P= 0.027), the T-C and T-C-T hyplotype may have transmission disequilibrium with schizophrenia. CONCLUSION: There may be association between CHRNA7 gene polymorphisms and schizophrenia, the variant allele T in rs2337980 may have a protective effect to schizophrenia.     

GPx4基因调控区单核苷酸多态性与寡弱精症男性不育的相关性

目的 研究磷脂氢谷胱甘肽过氧化酶(phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase,PHGPx或GPx4) 基因5′非翻译区(5′-untranslated region,5′-UTR) 区单核苷酸多态性(single nucleotide polymorphism,SNP)与寡弱精症男性不育的相关性.方法 采用测序的方法,对131例寡弱精症男性不育患者和109名健康已育男性的GPx4基因的5′-UTR区域进行测序分析.结果 测序结果与美国国立生物技术信息中心数据库对比,发现该区域有9个SNPs(rs757228、rs757229、rs757230、rs4588110、rs3746165、rs3746166、rs34044728、rs757231、rs1808194)位点在所检测的人群中存在多态性分布,但这9个位点的等位基因和基因型频率在病例组和对照组中的差异没有统计学意义.对9个多态位点进行连锁不平衡分析,发现rs757229、rs757230、rs4588110、rs3746165、rs3746166五个位点连锁,对连锁的SNP构建单倍型后发现,单倍型(rs757229-rs757230-rs4588110-rs3746165-rs3746166:C-G-G-T-A)只在正常对照组中出现,而患者组中没有,该单倍型可能是一种保护性的单倍型.结论 GPx4基因5′-UTR区域的SNPs (rs757228、rs757229、rs757230、rs4588110、rs3746165、rs3746166、rs34044728、rs757231、rs1808194)与寡弱精症男性不育可能不相关,单倍型(rs757229-rs757230-rs4588110-rs3746165-rs3746166:C-G-G-T-A)可能降低男性不育的患病风险.

Abstract：

Objective To study the association between the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the 5′-untranslated region (5′-UTR) of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (GPx4 or PHGPx) gene and oligo- or asthenozoospermic male infertility. Methods The 5′-UTR region of the GPx4 gene was amplified from infertile men and controls using the polymerase chain reaction and was analyzed for polymorphisms by direct sequencing. Results A total of 9 SNPs were present in the cohort, however there were no significant differences in these 9 SNPs between the case and control groups. According to the results of linkage disequilibrium analysis and haplotype construction, one haplotype(rs757229-rs757230-rs4588110-rs3746165-rs3746166: C-G-G-T-A) was present only in the control men, and significant difference was detected(P<0.01). Conclusion The SNPs of 5′-UTR region of the GPx4 gene might not be associated with oligo- or asthenozoospermic male infertility. However, the haplotype (rs757229-rs757230-rs4588110- rs3746165-rs3746166: C-G-G-T-A) might be a protective haplotype.     

Association of the phosphatase and tensin homolog gene (PTEN) with smoking initiation and nicotine dependence.

Since PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog) has elevated expression in rat brain (amygdala) after chronic administration of nicotine and the PTEN gene is located in the vicinity of the chromosome 10q23 linkage peak in a genome-scan study of nicotine dependence, PTEN seems a plausible candidate gene for smoking behavior. To test this hypothesis, we use a three-group case-control design and genotype five SNPs in the PTEN gene. We compare allele and genotype frequencies between the smokers and nonsmokers and between the low nicotine dependent and high nicotine dependent subjects. Three SNPs in the PTEN gene are significantly associated with smoking initiation (rs1234221, P = 0.0311; rs1234213, P = 0.0002; and rs2735343, P = 0.0028). Rs1234213 also shows association with nicotine dependence (P = 0.0278). Haplotype analyses indicate that a major haplotype, 1-1-2-2-1 for rs1234221-rs2299939-rs1234213-rs2735343-rs70184, is associated with smoking initiation. A minor haplotype (about 3%), 1-2-2-2-1 for the same five SNPs, is observed only in the high nicotine dependence group. These results suggest that the PTEN gene may be involved in the etiology of both smoking initiation and nicotine dependence.     

Association between polymorphisms in the progesterone receptor gene and endometriosis

The progesterone receptor (PR) is a candidate gene for the development of endometriosis, a complex disease with strong hormonal features, common in women of reproductive age. We typed the 306 base pair Alu insertion (AluIns) polymorphism in intron G of PR in 101 individuals, estimated linkage disequilibrium (LD) between five single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across the PR locus in 980 Australian triads (endometriosis case and two parents) and used transmission disequilibrium testing (TDT) for association with endometriosis. The five SNPs showed strong pairwise LD, and the AluIns was highly correlated with proximal SNPs rs1042839 (delta2 = 0.877, D9 = 1.00, P < 0.0001) and rs500760 (delta2 = 0.438, D9 = 0.942, P < 0.0001). TDT showed weak evidence of allelic association between endometriosis and rs500760 (P = 0.027) but not in the expected direction. We identified a common susceptibility haplotype GGGCA across the five SNPs (P = 0.0167) in the whole sample, but likelihood ratio testing of haplotype transmission and non-transmission of the AluIns and flanking SNPs showed no significant pattern. Further, analysis of our results pooled with those from two previous studies suggested that neither the T2 allele of the AluIns nor the T1/T2 genotype was associated with endometriosis.