Disease Markers - Volume 22, issue 5-6

Authors: Pavlovic, J. | Papagaroufalis, C. | Xanthou, M. | Liu, W. | Fan, R. | Thomas, N.J. | Apostolidou, I. | Papathoma, E. | Megaloyianni, E. | DiAngelo, S. | Floros, J.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BPD_28D (O_{2} dependency at 28 days of life) and BPD_36W (O_{2} dependency at 36 wks post-menstrual age) are diseases of prematurely born infants exposed to mechanical ventilation and/or oxygen supplementation. In order to determine whether genetic variants of surfactant proteins (SPs-A, B, C, and D) and SP-B-linked microsatellite markers are risk factors in BPD, we performed a family based association study using a Greek study group of 71 neonates (<30 wks …gestational age) from 60 families with, 52 BPD_28D and 19 BPD_36W, affected infants. Genotyping was performed using newly designed pyrosequencing assays and previously published methods. Associations between genetic variants of SPs and BPD subgroups were determined using Transmission Disequilibrium Test (TDT) and Family Based Association Test (FBAT). Significant associations (p⩽ 0.01) were observed for alleles of SP-B and SP-B-linked microsatellite markers, and haplotypes of SP-A, SP-D, and SP-B. Specifically, allele B-18_C associated with susceptibility in BPD_36W. Microsatellite marker AAGG_6 associated with susceptibility in BPD_28D/36W group. Haplotype analysis revealed ten susceptibility and one protective haplotypes for SP-B and SP-B-linked microsatellite markers and two SP-A-SP-D protective haplotypes. The data indicate that SP loci are linked to BPD. Studies in different study groups and/or of larger sample size are warranted to confirm these observations and delineate genetic background of BPD subgroups. Show more

Keywords: BPD, surfactant proteins, alleles/haplotypes, TDT, FBAT, pyrosequencing

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 22, no. 5-6, pp. 277-291, 2006

Authors: Kebert, Cory B. | Eichner, June E. | Moore, William E. | Schechter, Eliot | Yaoi, Takuro | Vogel, Steve | Allen, Richard A. | Dunn, S. Terence

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Numerous studies have investigated the relationship between polymorphisms, in particular 677C-T and 1298A-C, of the methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene and coronary artery disease (CAD) with conflicting results. This study investigates the potential association of two point mutations in MTHFR, 677C-T and 1793G-A, along with other risk factors, with CAD. This is the first hospital-based study to investigate 1793G-A in this context. Genotype analysis was performed on 729 Caucasians and 66 African Americans …undergoing coronary angiography using a novel PCR-based assay involving formation of Holliday junctions. Allelic frequencies for 677C-T were 66.2% C and 33.8% T for Caucasians and 90.9% C and 9.1% T for African Americans. With respect to the 1793G-A polymorphism, allelic frequencies were 94.7% G and 5.3% A for Caucasians and 99.2% G and 0.8% A for African Americans. Disease associations were examined in the Caucasian patients due to their greater genotype variability and larger number in the patient cohort. Results suggest that neither 677CT heterozygotes (OR-1.36; 95% CI 0.95 to 1.96) nor mutant homozygotes (OR-0.73; 95% CI 0.44 to 1.20) have either an increased or decreased risk for CAD compared to the 677CC genotype. Likewise, the 1793GA genotype did not demonstrate a statistically significant association with CAD compared to 1793GG patients (OR-0.79; 95% CI 0.47 to 1.33). Mean homocysteine levels (μmol/L) increased from normal to mutant for 677C-T (677CC: 10.2; 677CT: 11.0; 677TT: 11.6) and normal to heterozygous in 1793G-A (1793GG: 10.7; 1793GA: 11.5). These MTHFR polymorphisms did not contribute to the prediction of clinically defined CAD in Caucasians. Show more

Keywords: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, MTHFR, CAD, C677T, G1793A, atherosclerosis, homocysteine, Holliday junction

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 22, no. 5-6, pp. 293-301, 2006

Authors: Puthothu, Beena | Forster, Johannes | Heinzmann, Andrea | Krueger, Marcus

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common viral respiratory pathogen during infancy world wide. It induces innate and adaptive immune response in host cells. The toll like receptor 4 (TLR4)/CD14 complex is particularly important for the initiation of an innate immune response to RSV. Thus we were interested whether an association exists between severe RSV associated diseases and polymorphisms within TLR4 and CD14. We genotyped the CD14 promotor polymorphism -C159T and the two …common TLR4 amino acid variants (D259G, and T359I) in 131 infants with severe RSV associated diseases and 270 controls. Statistical analyses of single polymorphisms made use of the Armitage's trend test, haplotypes were calculated by FAMHAP, FASTEHPLUS and Arlequin. All polymorphisms were in Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium. We found marginal association between amino acid exchange D259G in TLR4 with RSV infection p=0.0545). Furthermore, haplotypes analysis of the two TLR4 polymorphisms by three independent programs revealed association of haplotypes with severe RSV infection (p⩽ 0.0010). In contrast, the promotor polymorphism within CD14 was not associated with susceptibility to RSV disease. We conclude from our study, that TLR4 polymorphisms, and particularly the haplotypes, may influence the genetic predisposition to severe RSV infection. Show more

Keywords: Association, CD14, genetics, RSV, TLR4

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 22, no. 5-6, pp. 303-308, 2006

Authors: Jin, Jong-Shiaw | Wu, Chi-Ying | Lin, Yeh-Feng | Wang, Jia-Yi | Yu, Cheng-Ping | Sheu, Lai-Fa | Chiang, Hung | Tsai, Wen-Chiuan | Lee, Wei-Hwa

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Aim: Extracellular matrix metalloprotease inducer (EMMPRIN) expression was demonstrated in several cancers, but its expression profile in colorectal cancers remains unclear. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was reported to regulate EMMPRIN expression in human epithelial cancers. Our purpose was to determine EMMPRIN expression and its relationship with EGFR in colorectal cancers. Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis of EMMPRIN and EGFR was performed in tissue microarray slides of 90 surgical specimens including 32 …well differentiated, 35 moderately differentiated, and 23 poorly differentiated colorectal adenocarcinomas. Results: All colorectal adenocarcinomas showed significant immunohistochemical expression of EMMPRIN. The EMMPRIN scores in poorly differentiated (303 ± 21) and moderately differentiated (326 ± 17) colorectal adenocarcinoma were significantly higher than in well differentiated (166 ± 20) colorectal adenocarcinoma. EGFR expression was mainly on the cell surface of tumor cells and the immunostaining scores of EGFR were significantly associated with the advanced clinical T and N stages. A significantly positive relationship between EMMPRIN and EGFR immunostaining scores was also noted. Conclusions: Increased expression of EMMPRIN and EGFR in colorectal adenocarcinomas is associated with clinicopathological parameters of advanced colorectal adenocarcinoma stages. In addition, the data from this study support the notion that EGFR expression may up-regulate EMMPRIN expression. Show more

Keywords: Extracellular matrix metalloprotease inducer, EMMPRIN, epidermal growth factor receptor, colorectal, adenocarcinoma

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 22, no. 5-6, pp. 309-316, 2006

Authors: Zintzaras, Elias | Rodopoulou, Paraskevi | Koukoulis, George N.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: A meta-analysis regarding BsmI, TaqI, ApaI and FokI polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene and their associations with osteoporosis in females is reported. The meta-analysis involved 14, seven, seven and three studies for BsmI, TaqI, ApaI and FokI polymorphisms, respectively. The studies were association studies with osteoporotic cases and controls free of osteoporosis that provided the genotype distribution of individual cases and controls. For the BsmI polymorphism, the allele contrast b vs. B showed …heterogeneity among studies (p< 0.01, I^{2} > 50%) and the random effects (RE) pooled odds ratio (OR) was non-significant: 0.94 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.63–1.38]. Caucasians, postmenopausal cases and studies with WHO diagnostic criteria showed no association under any genetic contrast. However, in East Asians, the OR for the dominant model [fixed effects OR=0.14 (95% CI 0.04–0.50) and RE OR=0.16 (95% CI 0.03–0.84)] was significant, indicating prevention. Overall, for the TaqI, ApaI and FokI polymorphisms, the allele contrast showed heterogeneity and the pooled RE ORs were non-significant [OR=1.06 (95% CI 0.71–1.60), OR=0.99 (95% CI 0.72–1.37) and OR=1.17 (95% CI 0.76–1.80), respectively]. The allele contrast for Caucasians, East Asians, postmenopausal cases and studies with WHO diagnostic criteria showed no association for TaqI, ApaI, and FokI. The allele contrast of homozygotes, and the recessive and dominant models the results followed the same pattern as the allele contrast. Therefore, the relationship between the VDR polymorphisms and osteoporosis remains an unresolved issue and other probable genetic-environmental risk factors interacting with the above polymorphisms should be investigated. Show more

Keywords: VDR, osteoporosis, meta-analysis

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 22, no. 5-6, pp. 317-326, 2006

Authors: Mukherjee, S. | Saha, A. | Kumar P., Senthil | Chandak, G.R. | Majumder, P.P. | Ray, K.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Hemophilia B, an X-linked recessive bleeding disorder, is caused by heterogeneous mutations in the factor IX (F9) gene. Hence, carriers of the disease are usually detected by F9 gene linked RFLP analysis. We aimed to test a set of RFLP markers (DdeI, XmnI, MnlI, TaqI & HhaI), used worldwide for carrier detection, to estimate its heterozygosity in different population groups of India, and identify additional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) if necessary. A total of 8 population …groups encompassing different regions of India, consisting of 107 unrelated normal females without any history of hemophilia B in the family and 13 unrelated obligate carriers were recruited in the study. Regions of F9 gene were amplified by PCR from genomic DNA of the donors followed by restriction enzyme digestion and/or sequencing as appropriate. Combined informativeness for the markers varied between 52–86% among normal females belonging to different geographical locations of India. Haplotype analysis revealed that the most prevalent haplotype lacked the restriction sites for all five RFLP markers. Screening regions of F9 gene that harbor 10 SNPs reported in dbSNP yielded only two SNPs, which increased the overall informativeness in each population group and heterozygosity in the obligate carriers for the disease from 38% to 69%. Our data show that heterozygosity of commonly used RFLP markers is remarkably variable across different regions of India. Thus prudent selection of the markers based on specific population groups including usage of additional markers is recommended for efficient carrier detection. Show more

Keywords: Carrier detection, F9, hemophilia B, marker, RFLP

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 22, no. 5-6, pp. 327-334, 2006

Authors: Kumar, Amit | Tripathi, Manjari | Pandey, Ravindra M. | Ramakrishnan, Lakshmy | Srinivas, M. | Luthra, Kalpana

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Purpose: To investigate the relationship of apolipoprotein E (apoE) genotype, plasma levels of apoE and lipids in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients in Asian Indians. Status of plasma levels of Apo E in epilepsy patients has not been reported till date. Methods: ApoE gene polymorphism was analyzed in 58 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and 57 age and sex approximated controls using Polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Levels of plasma apoE …and lipids were measured using ELISA and enzymatic kits respectively. Results: The distribution of ApoE genotype in epilepsy patients and controls was comparable. Higher levels of plasma ApoE were observed in TLE patients as compared to controls (p=0.0001). Individuals with plasma levels of apoE > 190 mg/L were at 20 times higher odds (95%CI=2.46–163.34, p=0.005), while those with levels of apoE between 150–190 mg/L were at 4.9 times higher odds (95% CI=1.85–13.9, p=0.001), to develop TLE. Conclusions: We have observed for the first time, high levels of plasma apoE in epilepsy patients. The findings of this case-control study suggest that apolipoprotein E may play an important role in epilepsy. Show more

Keywords: Apolipoprotein E, gene polymorphism, plasma apo E levels, temporal lobe epilepsy, asian Indians

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 22, no. 5-6, pp. 335-342, 2006

Authors: Jarjanazi, Hamdi | Li, Hong | Andrulis, Irene L. | Ozcelik, Hilmi

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Trinucleotide repeat sequences are widely present in the human genome. The expansion of CAG repeats have been studied very extensively, and shown to be the causative mechanism of more than 40 neuromuscular and neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, we performed a genome wide screening of CAG repeat expansions in non-neoplastic tissues of 212 breast cancer cases and 196 healthy population controls using the Repeat Expansion Detection (RED) method. Distribution of CAG repeat lengths in cases …was not significantly different from controls. However, dramatically expanded CAG repeats were detected in 2.4% (n=5) of breast cancer cases where no repeats of similar size were detected in any of the healthy population controls. Although this trend shows only borderline significance (p=0.06), this finding suggests a potential involvement of CAG repeat expansion in breast cancer susceptibility. These repeats may potentially affect the function of cancer predisposition genes, with a similar mechanism as in neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disorders. Show more

Keywords: Breast cancer, CAG repeats, rapid expansion detection, trinucleotide repeat expansions

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 22, no. 5-6, pp. 343-349, 2006

Authors: Chelule, Paul K. | Pegoraro, Rosemary J. | Gqaleni, Nceba | Dutton, Michael F.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Polymorphisms in the promoter region of the Cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1) gene reportedly modify the metabolic activity of CYP2E1 enzyme, and have been associated with increased susceptibility to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oesophagus in high prevalence areas such as China. To assess the frequency of these polymorphisms in Black South Africans, a population with a high incidence of oesophageal SCC, this study examined genomic DNA from 331 subjects for restriction fragment length polymorphisms in the …CYP2E1 (RsaI and PstI digestion). The frequency of the CYP2E1 c1/c1 and c1/c3 genotypes was 95% and 5% respectively. The frequency of the CYP2E1 allele distribution was found to be markedly different between Chinese and South African populations; hence it is important to place racial differences into consideration when proposing allelic variants as genetic markers for cancer. Show more

Keywords: Cytochrome P450, alleles, squamous cell carcinoma, polymorphism, oesophagus

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 22, no. 5-6, pp. 351-354, 2006

Authors: dos Santos, Kátia Gonçalves | Canani, Luís Henrique | Gross, Jorge Luiz | Tschiedel, Balduíno | Souto, Kátia Elisabete Pires | Roisenberg, Israel

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Catalase is a central antioxidant enzyme constituting the primary defense against oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated whether the functional –262C/T polymorphism in the promoter of catalase gene is associated with the presence of diabetic retinopathy (DR), diabetic nephropathy (DN) and ischemic heart disease (IHD) in 520 Caucasian-Brazilians with type 2 diabetes. The –262C/T polymorphism was also examined in 100 Caucasian blood donors. Patients underwent a clinical and laboratory evaluation consisting …of a questionnaire, physical examination, assessment of diabetic complications and laboratory tests. Genotype analysis was performed using the polymerase chain reaction followed by digestion with restriction enzyme. The genotype and allele frequencies of the –262C/T polymorphism in patients with type 2 diabetes were very similar to those of blood donors (T allele frequency=0.20 and 0.18, respectively). Likewise, there were no differences in either genotype or allele frequencies between type 2 diabetic patients with or without DR, DN or IHD. Thus, our results do not support the hypothesis that the –262C/T polymorphism is related to the development of DR, DN or IHD in patients with type 2 diabetes. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the role of catalase gene polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. Show more

Keywords: Catalase, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, ischemic heart disease, polymorphism, type 2 diabetes

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 22, no. 5-6, pp. 355-359, 2006