Genetic causes of monogenic familial hypercholesterolemia in the Greek population: Lessons,mistakes, and the way forward

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a leading cause of premature atherosclerosis. Genetic defects in the LDLR, APOB and PCSK9 genes cause FH, and confirmation of a gene defect is essential for an indisputable diagnosis of the disease. FH is underdiagnosed and we aimed to revise the genetic defects that have been characterized in FH patients of Greek origin and define an effective, future strategy for genetic studies. A literature search was performed in MEDLINE and EMBASE on genetic studies with FH patients of Greek origin. To date, no APOB and PCSK9 mutations have been found in the Greek population. It must be noted however, that only a small number of patients has been screened for PCSK9 mutations. In total, 41 LDLR defects have been characterized, with 6 common mutations c.1646G>A (p.Gly546Asp), c.858C>A (p.Ser286Arg), c.81C>G (p.Cys27Trp), c.1285G>A (p.Val429Met), c.517T>C (p.Cys173Arg), and c.1775G>A (p.Gly592Glu) that account for >80% of all mutations. Due to geographic isolation, ​founder mutations exist in a subpopulation in North West Greece and the Greek Cypriot population but not in the general population. Genetic testing should focus primarily on LDLR, and subsequently on PCSK9 and APOB. The Greek population is genetically homogeneous, which allows for a quick molecular diagnosis of the disease. Cascade screening is feasible and will certainly facilitate the identification of additional patients.     

2a型HCV E1、E2/NS1区基因cDNA的克隆及序列分析

目的：了解丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）2a型基因组E1 E2／NS1区序列，为进一步研究HCV包膜蛋白的生物学功能奠定基础。方法：用逆转录套式PCR（RT－nPCR)从江苏省1例丙型肝炎患者血清中扩增出两条分别约770bp、1100bp的片段，分别以限制性内切酶EcoR I、BamH I和EcoR I、Hand Ⅲ双酶切后连入pUC19载体中，转化感受态细胞，经限制性酶切长度多态性分析（RFLP）和PCR法证实为阳性克隆后，用全自动序列分析仪测序。结果：分别测得约770bp、1100bp的核苷酸序列，拼接后得到的完整核苷酸序列及其编码的氨基酸序列分别与HCV－1、HC－C2、HCV－BK、HC－J6、HC－J8相应序列作比较，显示分离株HCV在核苷酸水平上与以上分离株的同源性分别为60．5％、60．1％、59．7％、87．8％、67．5％；在氨基酸水平上的同源性分别为67．3％、66．4％、65．0％、87．8％、79．0％。结论：分离株（HCV－JS）与HC－J6同属2a型，但同源性有一定差异。     

HCV核心蛋白与HBV X蛋白协同反式激活作用的研究

目的：探讨HCV核心蛋白与HBV X蛋白的协同反式激活作用。方法：构建表达HCV核心蛋白的重组质粒pcDNA3.1(-)core和表达HBV X蛋白的重组质粒pcDNA3.1(-)X；转染HepG2细胞，从转录和翻译水平鉴定病毒基因的瞬时表达；与报告质粒pSV-lacZ共转染HepG2细胞，检测β－半乳糖苷酶表达活性，酶的活性反映了表达的肝炎病毒蛋白对SV40病毒早期启动子／增强子功能的影响。结果：构建成HCV核心蛋白及HBV X蛋白的重组表达载体pcDNA3.1(-)core、pcDNA3.1(-)X；在HepG2细胞均能瞬时表达相应的肝炎病毒蛋白；单独共转染试验中pcDNA3.1(-)core、pcDNA3.1(-)X组的β－半乳糖苷酶的表达分别是对照的4.9、3.5倍，两种质粒共同转染时酶的表达是对照的9倍；表达质粒对β－半乳糖苷酶表达的激活作用呈剂量依赖性。结论：HepG2细胞中表达的HCV核心蛋白和HBV X蛋白均具有反式激活SV40早期启动子／增强子的功能，并且两种蛋白的反式激活功能具有协同特性。本试验有助于解释HCV、HBV感染，尤其是共同感染的致病／癌机制。     

Studies on the hippocampal formation: From basic development to clinical applications: Studies on schizophrenia

The hippocampal formation plays a critical role in cognitive function. The developmental events that shape the hippocampal formation are continuing to be elucidated and their implications for brain function are emerging as well as applying those advances to interventions that have important possibilities for the treatment of brain dysfunction. The story told in this chapter is about the use of the in oculo transplant method to illuminate intrinsic and extrinsic features that underlie the development of the dentate gyrus and adjacent hippocampus and the role of one molecule in the hippocampus and schizophrenia. Schizophrenia, originally conceptualized as a dysfunction in dopaminergic neurotransmission, is now known to involve multiple neuronal systems. Dysfunction of hippocampal neurons is emerging as one of its signature pathological features. Basic insights into the development and function of hippocampal interneurons form the basis of a new treatment initiative for this illness. Evidence for the role of the alpha 7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in the development and function of these neurons in rodents has led to human trials of nicotinic agonists for cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia and the possibility of improving hippocampal development in children at risk for schizophrenia by perinatal supplementation with choline, which can act as an alpha 7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist.     

Association study of a functional catechol-o-methyltransferase polymorphism and smoking in healthy Caucasian subjects

Tobacco smoking is a global health problem. The association of a functional common polymorphism in the catechol-o-methyltransferase gene (COMT Val158Met) with smoking behavior has been extensively studied, but with divergent findings. In the present study the frequency of COMT genotypes and alleles was evaluated in 578 male and a smaller group of 79 female unrelated, medication-free Caucasian healthy subjects of Croatian origin. Smokers were classified as subjects smoking ≤10 cigarettes per day, while subjects who never smoked in their life were regarded as nonsmokers. A χ²-test with standardized residuals and Bonferroni correction revealed significant (P = 0.017) differences in Met/Met, Met/Val or Val/Val genotype frequency between male smokers and nonsmokers. This significant association between COMT Val158Met polymorphism and smoking was not detected in female subjects, due to the small number of women, which represents a limitation of the study. Our results confirmed the significant association between COMT variants and smoking, which was due to the higher frequency of Val/Val homozygotes in male smokers compared to male nonsmokers. These results suggest that carriers of the high activity COMT variant are more prone to develop a higher level of nicotine dependence, or that they release more dopamine than carriers of Met/Met or Met/Val genotypes.     

Support for the involvement of the ERBB4 gene in schizophrenia: A genetic association analysis

Cellular, animal and human studies support the involvement of aberrant NRG–ErbB signaling in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. The aim of the present study was to examine whether genetic variation in the human ERBB4 gene is associated with susceptibility to schizophrenia. Two hundred and twenty-seven unrelated chronic inpatients with schizophrenia were enrolled in the study, and the genetic variation in the polymorphisms of the ERBB4 gene in the patients was compared with that of the control group, which consisted of 223 subjects free of psychiatric illness. The results showed that one coding-synonymous polymorphism (rs3748962, Val1065Val) was in genotypic (p = 0.0027) and allelic (p = 0.0007) association with schizophrenia. In comparison with subjects of the rs3748962-TT type, those of the rs3748962-CT and rs3748962-CC types were at 1.74- and 2.64-fold greater risk of schizophrenia (CT vs. TT: OR = 1.71 (95% CI = 1.15–2.53), p = 0.0014; CC vs. TT: OR = 2.64 (95% CI = 1.37–5.23), p = 0.0047), which supports the hypothesis of an additive model of transmission (p = 0.0006). Furthermore, the frequency of haplotype ATC of rs3791709–rs2289086–rs3748962 was found to be significantly higher in the patients with schizophrenia than in the controls (case vs. control = 36.0% vs. 24.4%, permutation p-value = 0.0002). The findings support the involvement of the ERBB4 gene in schizophrenia in Han Chinese.     

Genetic variance contributes to ingestive processes: a survey of 2-deoxy-D-glucose-induced feeding in eleven inbred mouse strains

The feeding response following administration of the anti-metabolic glucose analogue, 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2DG), is conceptualized as an experimental model of glucoprivation, which may contribute to the understanding of inter-individual differences in glucose and carbohydrate intake and, ultimately, obesity. Although variation in the intake of several nutrients as well as food and water are known to be associated with genetic variation, it is not known whether 2DG-induced feeding is similarly genotype dependent. The present study therefore examined 2DG-induced feeding in mice of 11 inbred (A/J, AKR/J, BALB/cJ, CBA/J, C3H/HeJ, C57BL6/J, C57BL10/J, DBA/2J, SJL/J, SWR/J, 129P3/J) and one outbred (CD-1) strains across a wide range of previously determined effective 2-DG doses (200, 400, 600, 800 mg/kg) and test times (1-4 h). Orderly dose-dependent increases in 2DG-induced feeding occurred after all four doses in outbred CD-1 and inbred DBA/2J mice, across the three highest doses for BALB/cJ, SJL/J and 129P3/J mice, and across the two highest doses for CBA/J and AKR/J mice. Limited instances of 2DG-induced feeding were noted only at the highest dose in A/J and C3H/HeJ mice, or at a moderate dose in C57BL/6J mice. Further, the full 2DG dose range failed to alter food intake in C57BL/10J mice, and produced significant reductions in food intake in SWR/J mice. Food intake after 2DG doses of 200-600 mg/kg, but not 800 mg/kg, displayed significant cross-correlation, suggesting that large 2DG doses may recruit non-specific effects upon food intake. There was no correlation between food intake in the absence (vehicle baseline) of and presence of 2DG, suggesting that the regulation of glucose intake in non-challenged mice does not predict subsequent responses to glucoprivic challenge. The data demonstrate genotype-dependent variability in this glucoprivic response, and may provide the basis for the subsequent identification of trait-relevant genes.     

Is there a link between ovarian cancer and tooth agenesis?

An epidemiologic study from the year 2008 found a highly significant increase of congenital tooth agenesis in women with ovarian cancer suggesting that a common genetic etiology may predispose women to both conditions. The finding was reminiscent of a previously described family harboring an AXIN2 mutation which could be shown to segregate with both the tooth agenesis and the predisposition to colon cancer transmitted in this family. Since tooth agenesis as a marker for susceptibility to ovarian cancer would be of great relevance to both oncologists and women with inborn missing teeth, the relationship between the two disorders requires a thorough assessment. We examined DNA samples from the ovarian cancer patients who participated in the original study, to look for a possible genetic connection between their ovarian malignancies and tooth agenesis. MSX1, PAX9, AXIN2, EDA, WNT10A, BARX and BRCA1 genes were selected for sequence analysis as they may cause tooth agenesis, are expressed in the female reproductive system, and/or are involved in tumorigenesis in general or specifically in the ovary.Our study revealed evidence that one half of the dually affected patients had an independent causation of the two conditions, thus reducing the previously estimated ovarian cancer risk for women with congenital tooth agenesis quite significantly.