Association of the angiotensinogen gene polymorphism with atherosclerosis and its risk traits in the Saudi population

BACKGROUND: Angiotensinogen (AGT) constitutes a central component of the renin-angiotensin system that controls the systemic blood pressure and several other cardiovascular functions and may play an important role in atherosclerosis pathways. In this study, we employed TaqMan genotyping assays to evaluate the role of 8 AGT variants in primary hypertension (HTN), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and obesity as a possible trigger of coronary artery disease (CAD) in a population of 4615 angiographed native Saudi individuals. METHODS: Linkage analysis was done by using the Affymetrix Gene Chip array, sequencing by using the MegaBACE DNA analysis system and genotyping accomplished by TaqMan chemistry using the Applied Biosystem real-time Prism 7900HT Sequence Detection System. RESULTS: Six variants, rs2067853 GG [Odds ratio(95% Confidence Interval) = 1.44(1.17-1.78); p = 0.001], rs7079 [1.49(1.20-1.85); p < 0.0001], rs699 G [1.19(1.08-1.13); p < 0.0001], rs3789679 A [1.51(1.14-1.99); p = 0.004], rs2148582 GG [1.31(1.11-1.55); p = 0.002] and rs5051 TC + CC [1.32(1.13-1.60); p = 0.001] conferred risk for HTN (3521 cases versus 1094 controls). The rs2067853 (p = 0.042), rs699G (p = 0.007) and rs5051 (p = 0.051) also conferred risk for myocardial infarction (MI; 2982 vs 1633), while rs3789679 A (p < 0.0001) and GA + AA (p < 0.0001) as well as rs4762G (p = 0.019) were associated with obesity (1576 vs 2458). However, while these variants appeared to be also associated with CAD (2323 vs 2292), only the rs7079G (p = 0.035) retained its significant relationship. Interestingly, among the haplotypes constructed from these SNPs, the baseline 8-mer haplotype, GGTGGGGT (χ(2) = 7.02; p = 0.0081) and another GGCGGAGT (χ(2) = 5.10; p = 0.024), together with several of their derivatives were associated with HTN. T2DM was associated with two 8-mer haplotypes, GGTAGGAC (χ(2) = 5.66; p = 0.017) and ATTGAGAC (χ(2) = 5.93; p = 0.015), obesity with GGCGGAGT (χ(2) = 9.49; p = 0.0021) and MI was linked to ATTGGGAC (χ(2) = 6.68; p = 0.010) and GGTGGGAT (χ(2) = 4.25; p = 0.039). Furthermore, several causative haplotypes were also shared among the risk traits as well as with CAD. CONCLUSION: These results point to AGT as independently conferring risk for various cardiovascular traits, and possibly interacting with these traits in events leading to atherosclerosis

A New Susceptibility Locus for Myocardial Infarction, Hypertension, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, and Dyslipidemia on Chromosome 12q24

We examined the role of hepatic nuclear factor-1 alpha (HNF1a) gene polymorphism on coronary artery disease (CAD) traits in 4631 Saudi angiographed individuals (2419 CAD versus 2212 controls) using TaqMan assay on ABI Prism 7900HT sequence detection system. Following adjustment for confounders, the rs2259820_CC (1.19 (1.01–1.42); P=0.041), rs2464196_TT (1.19 (1.00–1.40); P=0.045), and rs2259816_T (1.13 (1.01–1.26); P=0.031) were associated with MI. The rs2259820_T (1.14 (1.03–1.26); P=0.011) and rs2464196_C (1.12 (1.02–1.24); P=0.024) were associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), while the rs2393791_T (1.14 (1.01–1.28); P=0.032), rs7310409_G (1.16 (1.03–1.30); P=0.013), and rs2464196_AG+GG (1.25 (1.05–1.49); P=0.012) were implicated in hypertension. Hypertriglyceridemia was linked to the rs2393791_T (1.14 (1.02–1.27); P=0.018), rs7310409_G (1.12 (1.01–1.25); P=0.031), rs1169310_G (1.15 (1.04–1.28); P=0.010), and rs1169313_CT+TT (1.24 (1.06–1.45); P=0.008) and high low density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were associated with rs2259820_T (1.23 (1.07–1.41); P=0.004), rs2464196_T (1.22 (1.06–1.39); P=0.004), and rs2259816_T (1.18 (1.02–1.36); P=0.023). A 7-mer haplotype CATATAC (χ2=7.50; P=0.0062), constructed from the studied SNPs, was associated with MI, and CATATA implicated in T2DM (χ2=3.94; P=0.047). Hypertriglyceridemia was linked to TGCGGG (χ2=4.26; P=0.039), and obesity to ACGGGT (χ2=5.04; P=0.025). Our results suggest that the HNF1a is a common susceptibility gene for MI, T2DM, hypertension, and dyslipidemia

Data on common variants associated with coronary artery disease/myocardial infarction in ethnic Arabs

The data shows results acquired in a large cohort of 5668 ethnic Arabs involved in a common variants association study for coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial infarction (MI) using the Affymetrix Axiom Genotyping platform (“A genome-wide association study reveals susceptibility loci for myocardial infarction/coronary artery disease in Saudi Arabs” Wakil et al. (2015) [1] ). Several loci were described that conferred risk for CAD or MI, some of which were validated in an independent set of samples. Principal Component (PCA) analysis suggested that the Saudi Cohort was close to the CEU and TSI populations, thus pointing to similarity with European populations

Transcriptomal Insights of Heart Failure from Normality to Recovery.

Current management of heart failure (HF) is centred on modulating the progression of symptoms and severity of left ventricular dysfunction. However, specific understandings of genetic and molecular targets are needed for more precise treatments. To attain a clearer picture of this, we studied transcriptome changes in a chronic progressive HF model. Fifteen sheep (Ovis aries) underwent supracoronary aortic banding using an inflatable cuff. Controlled and progressive induction of pressure overload in the LV was monitored by echocardiography. Endomyocardial biopsies were collected throughout the development of LV failure (LVF) and during the stage of recovery. RNA-seq data were analysed using the PANTHER database, Metascape, and DisGeNET to annotate the gene expression for functional ontologies. Echocardiography revealed distinct clinical differences between the progressive stages of hypertrophy, dilatation, and failure. A unique set of transcript expressions in each stage was identified, despite an overlap of gene expression. The removal of pressure overload allowed the LV to recover functionally. Compared to the control stage, there were a total of 256 genes significantly changed in their expression in failure, 210 genes in hypertrophy, and 73 genes in dilatation. Gene expression in the recovery stage was comparable with the control stage with a well-noted improvement in LV function. RNA-seq revealed the expression of genes in each stage that are not reported in cardiovascular pathology. We identified genes that may be potentially involved in the aetiology of progressive stages of HF, and that may provide future targets for its management

Exploring the Cardiotoxicity Spectrum of Anti-Cancer Treatments: Definition, Classification, and Diagnostic Pathways

Early detection and treatment of cancer have led to a noticeable reduction in both mortality and morbidity. However, chemotherapy and radiotherapy could exert cardiovascular (CV) side effects, impacting survival and quality of life, independent of the oncologic prognosis. In this regard, a high clinical index of suspicion is required by the multidisciplinary care team in order to trigger specific laboratory tests (namely natriuretic peptides and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin) and appropriate imaging techniques (transthoracic echocardiography along with cardiac magnetic resonance, cardiac computed tomography, and nuclear testing (if clinically indicated)), leading to timely diagnosis. In the near future, we do expect a more tailored approach to patient care within the respective community along with the widespread implementation of digital health tools

Cardiovascular Side Effects of Anthracyclines and HER2 Inhibitors among Patients with Breast Cancer: A Multidisciplinary Stepwise Approach for Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment

: Cardiovascular (CV) diseases (CVD) are a major cause of long-term morbidity and mortality affecting life expectancy amongst cancer survivors. In recent years, because of the possibility of early diagnosis and the increased efficacy of neo-adjuvant and adjuvant systemic treatments (targeting specific molecular pathways), the high percentage of survival from breast cancer led CVD to become the first cause of death among survivors. Therefore, it is mandatory to adopt cardioprotective strategies to minimize CV side effects and CVD in general in breast cancer patients. Cancer therapeutics-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) is a common group of side effects of chemotherapeutics widely employed in breast cancer (e.g., anthracycline and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 inhibitors). The aim of the present manuscript is to propose a pragmatic multidisciplinary stepwise approach for prevention, early detection, and treatment of cardiotoxicity in patients with breast cancer