Impact of TGF-ß1 -509C/T and 869T/C polymorphisms on glioma risk and patient prognosis

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß) plays an important role in carcinogenesis. Two polymorphisms in the TGF-ß1 gene (-509C/T and 869T/C) were described to influence susceptibility to gastric and breast cancers. The 869T/C polymorphism was also associated with overall survival in breast cancer patients. In the present study, we investigated the relevance of these TGF-ß1 polymorphism in glioma risk and prognosis. A case-control study that included 114 glioma patients and 138 cancer-free controls was performed. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to calculate odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI). The influence of TGF-ß1 -509C/T and 869T/C polymorphisms on glioma patient survival was evaluated by a Cox regression model adjusted for patients' age and sex and represented in Kaplan-Meier curves. Our results demonstrated that TGF-ß1 gene polymorphisms -509C/T and 869T/C are not significantly associated with glioma risk. Survival analyses showed that the homozygous -509TT genotype associates with longer overall survival of glioblastoma (GBM) patients when compared with patients carrying CC + CT genotypes (OR, 2.41; 95 % CI, 1.06-5.50; p = 0.036). In addition, the homozygous 869CC genotype is associated with increased overall survival of GBM patients when compared with 869TT + TC genotypes (OR, 2.62; 95 % CI, 1.11-6.17; p = 0.027). In conclusion, this study suggests that TGF-ß1 -509C/T and 869T/C polymorphisms are not significantly associated with risk for developing gliomas but may be relevant prognostic biomarkers in GBM patients.This work was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Portugal (PTDC/SAU-GMG/113795/2009 and SFRH/BPD/33612/2009 to B.M.C.; SFRH/BD/88121/2012 to J.V.C.; SFRH/BD/92786/2013 to C.S.G.; PTDC/SAU-ONC/115513/2009 to R.R.)

Two common nonsynonymous paraoxonase 1 (PON1) gene polymorphisms and brain astrocytoma and meningioma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Human serum paraoxonase 1 (PON1) plays a major role in the metabolism of several organophosphorus compounds. The enzyme is encoded by the polymorphic gene <it>PON1</it>, located on chromosome 7q21.3. Aiming to identify genetic variations related to the risk of developing brain tumors, we investigated the putative association between common nonsynonymous <it>PON1 </it>polymorphisms and the risk of developing astrocytoma and meningioma.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Seventy one consecutive patients with brain tumors (43 with astrocytoma grade II/III and 28 with meningioma) with ages ranging 21 to 76 years, and 220 healthy controls subjects were analyzed for the frequency of the nonsynonymous <it>PON1 </it>genotypes L55M rs854560 and Q192R rs662. All participants were adult Caucasian individuals recruited in the central area of Spain.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The frequencies of the <it>PON1 </it>genotypes and allelic variants of the polymorphisms <it>PON1 </it>L55M and <it>PON1 </it>Q192R did not differ significantly between patients with astrocytoma and meningioma and controls. The minor allele frequencies were as follows: <it>PON1 </it>55L, 0.398, 0.328 and 0.286 for patients with astrocytoma, meningioma and control individuals, respectively; <it>PON1 </it>192R, 0.341, 0.362 and 0.302 for patients with astrocytoma, meningioma and control individuals, respectively. Correction for age, gender, or education, made no difference in odds ratios and the <it>p </it>values remained non-significant. Haplotype association analyses did not identify any significant association with the risk of developing astrocytoma or meningioma.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Common nonsynonymous <it>PON1 </it>polymorphisms are not related with the risk of developing astrocytoma and meningioma.</p

Consecuencias demográficas de la epidemia gripal de 1918 en la villa de Bilbao.

Se estudia la incidencia de la epidemia de gripe en la población de la Villa de Bilbao y su efecto demográfico subsiguiente. Aparentemente si produjo alguna alteración demográfica, ésta fue rápidamente absorbida, o superada por la continua inmigración, sin provocar por tanto, grandes perturbacione

Allelism at the glutathione S-transferase GSTM3 locus:interactions with GSTM1 and GSTT1 as risk factors for astrocytoma

We describe studies to assess the influence of polymorphism in the human glutathione S-transferase GSTM3 gene on susceptibility to high grade astrocytoma. Immunohisto-chemical studies using a GSTM3-specific antiserum identified expression of the GSTM3 subunit in astrocytes. The relative levels of expression of GSTM1 and GSTM3 in brain cytosols were determined after resolution of these enzymes using chromatofocusing. We found no differences in the level of GSTM3 activity in individuals with GSTM1 null and those with GSTMl-positive genotypes (GSTM1 A, GSTM1 B and GSTM1 A/B). A case-control study was performed to determine if GSTM3 alone or in combination with GSTM1 or GSTT1 influenced susceptibility to high grade astrocytoma. After correction for differences in age and gender, GSTM3 AA was not significantly different in cases compared with controls. No significant interactions between GSTM3 AA and GSTM1 null were identified. The significant interaction between GSTM3 AA and GSTT1 null appeared to result from the strength of the main effect (GSTT1 null). The data show that while GSTM3 is expressed in astrocytes and contributes significantly to total GST activity in human brain, it does not appear to influence susceptibility to high grade astrocytoma. Further, unlike lung, there appears to be no relationship between the level of GSTM3 activity in brain and GSTM1 genotype