GSTM1及GSTT1基因多态性与宫颈癌关系的研究

目的：探讨GSTM1及GSTT1基因多态性与宫颈癌发生的关系.方法：采用以医院为基础的病例对照及分子流行病学研究方法,应用多重PCR技术检测125例宫颈癌病例和125例子宫肌瘤对照的GSTM1和GSTT1基因型.结果：病例组GSTM1基因纯合缺失率为58.4%,显著高于对照组43.2%（x^2=5.777,P=0.016）;GSTT1基因纯合缺失率在病例组和对照组分别为53.6%和44.0%,差别无统计学意义（x^2=2.305,P=0.129）;GSTM1和GSTT1联合缺失者患宫颈癌的危险性是两基因同时存在者的2.588倍（95%CI=1.285～5.212）.结论：GSTM1基因纯合缺失或GSTM1、GSTT1联合缺失可能与宫颈癌的发生有关.     

亚甲基四氢叶酸还原酶基因多态性、饮酒与结直肠癌关系的病例对照研究

目的 研究亚甲基四氢叶酸还原酶(MTHFR)基因多态与结直肠癌(包括结肠癌、直肠癌)易感性的关系。方法 应用聚合酶链反应(PCR)和限制性片段长度多态性方法(RFLP),检测了126例结直肠癌患者和343名正常对照的MTHFR C677T和A1298C两个位点基因多态,并比较不同基因型单独、联合时与结直肠癌风险的关系,以及两个多态位点与饮酒的联合作用。结果MTHFR677T和1298C突变基因在对照组中的频率分别为39.7％和17.1％。1298C突变基因携带者与野生型相比,患结直肠癌的风险均降低;在携带677C和1298C等位基因组合个体中,结直肠癌的风险略有降低(OR=0.718,95％CI:0.367～1.407),同时含677T和1298A等位基因者,结直肠癌的风险降低1倍;同时含有677T和1298C等位基因者,结直肠癌的风险降低4倍,直肠癌的风险降低7倍(OR=0.304,95％CI:0.108～0.852)。在过去饮酒者中,1298A等位基因携带者结直肠癌风险性增加2倍(OR=3.307,95％CI:0.521～17.698)。结论 MTHFR C667T和A1298C位点多态性在结直肠癌发生过程中起着一定作用,携带MTHFR 1298AC基因多态型者过去饮酒是结直肠癌的危险因素。     

The impact of GJA3 SNPs on susceptibility to age-related cataract

AIM: To determine the association of gap junction protein alpha 3 (GJA3) gene tag single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with susceptibility to age-related cataract (ARC). METHODS: In total, 486 ARC patients were matched with 500 healthy controls. All the participants underwent complete ophthalmic examinations. Haplotype-tagging SNPs of GJA3 gene were selected from the HapMap Beijing Han Chinese population. Genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood leukocytes of all the subjects. Under three different genetic models: dominant, recessive, and additive, the association between SNPs and ARC was examined. After adjusting for age and sex, the genetic effects of the GJA3 SNPs were evaluated with logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Four tag GJA3 SNPs (rs6490519, rs9506430, rs9509053, and rs9552089) were included in the present study. None of the SNPs showed a significant relationship with an altered risk of total ARC under the dominant, recessive, or additive models. In the subgroup analysis, rs9506430 had a significant effect on the formation of a posterior subcapsular cataract (P=0.002, OR: 0.227, 95%CI: 0.088-0.590) under the recessive model. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that GJA3 variants may influence the development of posterior subcapsular cataracts. Further studies need to be designed to confirm this possibility.     

TNF-α gene polymorphisms: association with age-related macular degeneration in Russian population

AIM: To study polymorphisms in promotor regions of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α TNF-863A/C (rs1800630), TNF-308A/G (rs1800629), and TNF-238A/G (rs361525) in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and associations of complex TNF-α genotypes with AMD. METHODS: One hundred and two patients (82 women, 20 men; mean age 64.2±1.2y) with AMD and 100 healthy age- and sex-matched controls (82 women, 18 men; 60±1.4y) were included in the study. All subjects were Caucasian, all subjects and their parents were inhabitants of Russia. Genomic DNA was obtained from EDTA-preserved blood using the standard phenol-chloroform method. Polymorphisms were detected by polymerase chain reaction followed by the restriction fragment length polymorphism method. The following TNF-α genotypes were studied: TNF-α-238 AA, GA, GG, TNF-α-308 AA, GA, GG, TNF-α-863 AA, CA, CC. RESULTS: Differences in TNF-α-863 and TNF-α-238 genotypes frequencies in patients with AMD and healthy controls were not found. The distribution of TNF-α-308 AA and TNF-α-308 GA genotypes was significantly different between the studied group and the controls [odds ratios (OR) =0.22, P=0.0287 and OR=2.91, P=0.0063, respectively]. TNF-863CC/TNF-308GA and TNF-308GA/TNF-238GG genotypes were associated with the increased risk of AMD (OR=2.48, P=0.0332 and OR=2.51, P=0.0187, respectively). Five genotypes combinations appeared to be protective. CONCLUSION: In the present study, single nucleotide polymorphisms and complex polymorphisms of one of the key inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, and a number of significant associations of these polymorphisms with AMD in Russian population have been shown. Complex analysis of genotypes could be important in AMD risk factors detection and studying pathogenesis.     

Structure-Function Analyses of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Human N-Acetyltransferase 1

Human N-acetyltransferase 1 (NAT1) alleles are characterized by one or more single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with rapid and slow acetylation phenotypes. NAT1 both activates and deactivates arylamine drugs and carcinogens, and NAT1 polymorphisms are associated with increased frequencies of many cancers and birth defects. The recently resolved human NAT1 crystal structure was used to evaluate SNPs resulting in the protein substitutions R64W, V149I, R187Q, M205V, S214A, D251V, E261K, and I263V. The analysis enhances knowledge of NAT1 structure-function relationships, important for understanding associations of NAT1 SNPs with genetic predisposition to cancer, birth defects, and other diseases.     

Vascular endothelial growth factor gene polymorphisms and coronary heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

We performed this study to better elucidate the relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) polymorphisms and coronary heart disease (CHD). Eligible articles were searched in PubMed, Medline, Embase, Scopus and CNKI. A total of 24 studies containing 6489 CHD patients and 5664 control subjects were analyzed. Our overall and subgroup analyses suggested that rs699947 polymorphism was significantly associated with CHD susceptibility in both Caucasians and Asians, rs1570360 polymorphism was significantly associated with CHD susceptibility in Caucasians, and rs3025039 polymorphism was significantly associated with CHD susceptibility in Asians. Besides, rs3025039 polymorphism was significantly correlated with the number of affected coronary arteries, while rs699947 and rs2010963 polymorphisms were significantly correlated with poor collateral circulation in CHD patients. Overall, our findings indicate that VEGF rs699947, rs1570360, and rs3025039 polymorphisms may affect CHD susceptibility. Moreover, VEGF rs699947 and rs2010963 polymorphisms may serve as genetic biomarkers of poor collateral circulation after myocardial ischemia.     

Heme oxygenase-1 and chronic hypoxia

A myriad of changes are necessary to adapt to chronic hypoxemia. Key among these changes increases in arterial oxygen carrying capacity, ventilation and sympathetic activity. This requires the induction of several gene products many of which are regulated by the activity of HIF-1α, including HO-1. Induction of HO-1 during chronic hypoxia is necessary for the continued breakdown of heme for the enhanced production of hemoglobin and the increased respiratory and sympathetic responses. Several human HO-1 polymorphisms have been identified that can affect the expression or activity of HO-1. Associations between these polymorphisms and the prevalence of hypertension have recently been assessed in specific populations. There are major gaps in our understanding of the mechanisms of how HO-1 mediates changes in the activity of the hypoxia-sensitive chemosensors and whether HO-1 polymorphisms are an important factor in the integrated response to chronic hypoxia. Understanding how HO-1 mediates cardiorespiratory responses could provide important insights into clinical syndromes such as obstructive sleep apnea.