GSTA1*-69C/T and GSTO2*N142D as asthma- and allergy-related risk factors in Italian adult patients.

1. Asthma and allergies are characterized by variable and subjective symptoms influenced by many genes, molecular mechanisms and environmental factors. The presence of inflammation and oxidative stress in the airways are important biochemical features of asthma and respiratory allergies. Glutathione Stransferase (GSTs) enzymes play an important role in cellular protection against inflammation, and functional genetic polymorphisms in GST genes show a significant association with asthma and allergy risk. Specifically, our previous study on asthmatic children highlighted GSTA1 and GSTO2 as novel susceptibility loci for asthma. 2. In the present study we focused our attention on GSTA1*-69C/T (rs3957357) and GSTO2*N142D (rs156697) polymorphisms to confirm our previous results in an independent adult study population and to clarify whether GSTA1 and GSTO2 gene polymorphisms are involved in a non-discriminative pathway towards asthma and respiratory allergy. 3. To accomplish this, we recruited 103 patients with respiratory allergies, 199 patients with asthma and 200 healthy controls. Genomic DNA extracted from buccal cells was screened for GSTA1*-69C/T and GSTO2*N142D single nucleotide polymorphisms. 4. The GSTA1*-69T and GSTO2*D142 variants are both associated with a significantly increased risk of asthma, whereas only GSTA1*-69C/T is significantly associated with allergies. These outcomes confirm the involvement of GSTO2 loci in asthma and suggest that GSTA1 is a common risk factor for asthma and allergies

IL6 and CRP haplotypes are associated with COPD risk and systemic inflammation: a case-control study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Elevated circulating levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6 and fibrinogen (FG) have been repeatedly associated with many adverse outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To date, it remains unclear whether and to what extent systemic inflammation is primary or secondary in the pathogenesis of COPD.</p> <p>The aim of this study was to examine the association between haplotypes of <it>CRP</it>, <it>IL6 </it>and <it>FGB </it>genes, systemic inflammation, COPD risk and COPD-related phenotypes (respiratory impairment, exercise capacity and body composition).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Eighteen SNPs in three genes, representing optimal haplotype-tagging sets, were genotyped in 355 COPD patients and 195 healthy smokers. Plasma levels of CRP, IL-6 and FG were measured in the total study group. Differences in haplotype distributions were tested using the global and haplotype-specific statistics.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Raised plasma levels of CRP, IL-6 and fibrinogen were demonstrated in COPD patients. However, COPD population was very heterogeneous: about 40% of patients had no evidence of systemic inflammation (CRP < 3 mg/uL or no inflammatory markers in their top quartile). Global test for haplotype effect indicated association of <it>CRP </it>gene and CRP plasma levels (P = 0.0004) and <it>IL6 </it>gene and COPD (P = 0.003). Subsequent analysis has shown that <it>IL6 </it>haplotype H2, associated with an increased COPD risk (p = 0.004, OR = 4.82; 1.64 to 4.18), was also associated with very low CRP levels (p = 0.0005). None of the genes were associated with COPD-related phenotypes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings suggest that common genetic variation in <it>CRP </it>and <it>IL6 </it>genes may contribute to heterogeneity of COPD population associated with systemic inflammation.</p

Ассоциация полиморфных вариантов генов ферментов матриксных металлопротеаз и антипротеаз с развитием и тяжестью течения хронической обструктивной болезни легких

To evaluate a role of polymorphic variants of metalloproteinase and protease genes for hereditary susceptibility to COPD and its severity, we analyzed polymorphic loci of MMP1, MMP9, MMP12, PI, and AACT genes in COPD patients (n = 318) and healthy persons (n = 319) living at the Bashkortostan Republic. Results showed that frequency of genotypes and alleles of G(-1607)GG gene MMP1, С(-1562)T gene MMP9, A(-82)G gene MMP12, and Ala 15 Thr gene ААСТ did not differ in COPD patients and healthy subjects. The Zand S-mutations of the PI gene were also similar in both the groups. The heterozygous GA genotype of G1237A locus in the 3'-non-translated region of PI gene was associated with COPD occurrence (OR = 2.09; 95 % CI: 1.15–3.81). To determine polymorphic variants associated with severity of clinical course and age of the disease manifestation, a comparative analysis of rates of genotypes and alleles was performed in patients with different COPD stages and of different age. The stage IV COPD patients significantly more often carried rare T allele in С(-1562)T locus of the MMP9 gene (15.89 % vs 8.38 %; χ2 = 7.804; df = 1; p = 0.005; OR = 2.06; 95 % CI: 1.22–3.49). Individuals with rare TT genotype of MMP9 gene were found only among the stage IV COPD patients (3.97 % vs 0 %; χ2 = 4.78; p = 0.029; pcor = 0.058). Moreover, analysis of this locus in patients with early manifestation of COPD (younger the 55 yrs) revealed significantly more frequent rate of T allele in patients with stage IV COPD compared to patients of the same age but less severe COPD (χ2 = 5.26; df = 1; p = 0.022).С целью оценки роли полиморфных вариантов генов матриксных металлопротеаз и антипротеаз в формировании наследственной предрасположенности к развитию ХОБЛ и тяжести течения заболевания был проведен анализ полиморфных локусов генов MMP1, MMP9, MMP12, PI и AACT в группах больных ХОБЛ (n = 318) и здоровых индивидов (n = 319), проживающих в Республике Башкортостан. Анализ полученных результатов показал, что частоты генотипов и аллелей локусов G(-1607)GG гена MMP1, С(-1562)T гена MMP9, A(-82)G гена MMP12, Ala 15 Thr гена ААСТ статистически достоверно не различаются в группах больных ХОБЛ и здоровых индивидов. Частоты Z и S мутаций гена PI также сходны в обеих группах. Выявлена ассоциация гетерозиготного генотипа GA локуса G1237A в 3'-нетранслируемой области гена PI с развитием ХОБЛ (отношение риска (ОР) = 2,09, 95%-ный доверительный интервал (ДИ) – 1,15–3,81). С целью выявления полиморфных вариантов, ассоциированных с тяжестью клинического течения и возрастом манифестации заболевания был проведен сравнительный анализ частот генотипов и аллелей изученных локусов у больных с разными стадиями ХОБЛ и в разных возрастных группах. Показано, что среди больных с 4-й стадией ХОБЛ достоверно чаще встречаются носители редкого аллеля T локуса С(-1562)T гена MMP9 (15,89 % против 8,38 %; χ2 = 7,804; df = 1; p = 0,005; ОР = 2,06; 95%-ный ДИ – 1,22–3,49). Только среди больных с 4-й стадией ХОБЛ были выявлены индивиды с редким генотипом TT гена MMP9 (3,97 % против 0 %; χ2 = 4,78; p = 0,029; pcor = 0,058). Кроме того, анализ данного локуса у больных с ранней манифестацией ХОБЛ (до 55 лет) показал статистически достоверное увеличение частоты аллеля T в группе пациентов с тяжелой 4-й стадией ХОБЛ по сравнению с больными в той же возрастной группе, но с более легкими стадиями ХОБЛ (χ2 = 5,26; df = 1; p = 0,022)

Полиморфные варианты генов провоспалительных цитокинов как маркеры предрасположенности к хронической обструктивной болезни легких

The distribution of pro-inflammatory cytokine gene variants (tumour necrosis factor α-TNF, lymphotoxin — LTA, interleukin-1β — IL-1β) was studied in 139 patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) and in healthy individuals (n = 210). Analysis of -308G/A locus of TNF gene did not reveal significant difference between patients and controls (p &gt; 0.05). It was observed that LTA genotypes were associated with COPD severity. Marked prevalence of AG heterozygous genotype was noted in patients with II and III COPD stages (59.7 % and 55.0 % accordingly), but IV stage COPD patients had increased frequency of GG homozygous mutant genotype up to 11.5 %. The GG genotype of the LTA gene in smokers strongly associated with more severe COPD (OR = 5.21,95%CI: 1.48-18.52). Among patients with -511C/T locus of IL-1β gene, 90.4 % had III and IV COPD stages. Thus, the T/T mutant homozygous patients had a 4.4-fold increased risk for very severe COPD development. TNF/LTA genotype combinations were determined for various COPD stages.Изучено распределение вариантов генов, кодирующих провоспалительные цитокины: фактор некроза опухоли-α — TNF-α, лимфотоксин-α — LTA, интерлейкин-1β— IL-1β, у 139 пациентов с хронической обструктивной болезнью легких (ХОБЛ) различной степени тяжести и у здоровых индивидов (n = 210). При анализе полиморфизма -308G/A гена TNF различий между исследуемыми группами не обнаружено. По локусу +252A/G гена LTA выявлены генотипы, ассоциированные с тяжестью течения ХОБЛ: у больных со II и III стадиями ХОБЛ отмечено преобладание гетерозиготного генотипа AG (59,7 % и 55,0 % соответственно), тогда как у больных с IV стадией ХОБЛ увеличена частота генотипа GG до 11,5 %. Генотип GG в гене LTA в сочетании с таким фактором риска как курение значительно отягощает прогноз тяжести течения заболевания (OR = 5,21, 95%CI 1,48-18,52). Среди всех больных с генотипом ТТ гена IL-1β (полиморфизм -511С/Т) 90,4 % приходилось на пациентов III и IV стадий ХОБЛ. Соответственно, при наличии генотипа ТТ риск развития крайне тяжелой формы ХОБЛ (стадия IV) оказался повышен в 4,4 раза (OR = 4,4, 95%CI 0,92-29,13). По генам TNF и LTA определены комбинации генотипов, маркирующие тяжесть клинического течения ХОБЛ

Association of smoking with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis risk and survival in men and women: a prospective study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Previous epidemiologic studies have examined the association of smoking with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) incidence, but their results have been inconsistent. Moreover, limited information exists on the association between smoking and survival in ALS patients. We evaluated the association of smoking with ALS incidence and survival in a population-based cohort.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a case-control study nested in the General Practice Research Database, a computerized clinical database in the United Kingdom. Cases were 1143 individuals with a diagnosis of ALS; 11,371 matched controls were selected among GPRD participants free of ALS. Predictors of survival were determined in the ALS cases. Smoking information was obtained from the computer database.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Smoking was not associated with the risk of ALS in this population. The rate ratio (RR) of ALS comparing ever versus never smokers was 1.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80-1.34. In analysis stratified by gender, however, ever smoking was associated with ALS in women (RR 1.53, 95% CI 1.04-2.23) but not in men (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.53-1.06). Mortality was 71% after 2.1 average years of follow-up. Old age and female sex were associated with lower survival. Smoking was a predictor of mortality only in women. Comparing ever versus never smokers, RR (95% CI) of death was 1.31 (1.04-1.65) in women, and 0.90 (0.72-1.11) in men.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this large population-based study, smoking was associated with ALS risk and worse survival in women but not in men.</p

Tobacco use and household expenditures on food, education, and healthcare in low- and middle-income countries: a multilevel analysis

BACKGROUND: The majority of one billion smokers worldwide live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and the highest proportion of smokers in most of these countries belong to the lower socioeconomic groups. This study aimed to investigate the associations between tobacco use within households and expenditures on food, education, and healthcare in LMICs. METHODS: Using data from the World Health Survey, this cross-sectional study included a sample of 53,625 adult males aged <60 years from 40 LMICs. Multilevel, mixed-effects linear regression was used to determine the association between current tobacco use status of the main income provider (daily; occasional; no use) and three categories of (logged) household expenditures: food, education, and healthcare; controlling for age, level of education, household wealth quintile, marital status, urban–rural setting, country-level income group, and region. RESULTS: In the preferred random-slope models that controlled for covariates, daily tobacco use was associated with lower household expenditures on education and healthcare by 8.0 % (95 % confidence interval: −12.8 to –3.2 %) and 5.5 % (−10.7 to –0.3 %), respectively. The association between tobacco use and food expenditure was inconsistent across models. CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco use in LMICs may have a negative influence on investment in human capital development. Addressing the tobacco use problem in LMICs could benefit not only the health and economic well-being of smokers and their immediate families but also long-run economic development at a societal level

Heart disease is common in humans and chimpanzees, but is caused by different pathological processes

Heart disease is common in both humans and chimpanzees, manifesting typically as sudden cardiac arrest or progressive heart failure. Surprisingly, although chimpanzees are our closest evolutionary relatives, the major cause of heart disease is different in the two species. Histopathology data of affected chimpanzee hearts from two primate centers, and analysis of literature indicate that sudden death in chimpanzees (and in gorillas and orangutans) is commonly associated with diffuse interstitial myocardial fibrosis of unknown cause. In contrast, most human heart disease results from coronary artery atherosclerosis, which occludes myocardial blood supply, causing ischemic damage. The typical myocardial infarction of humans due to coronary artery thrombosis is rare in these apes, despite their human-like coronary-risk-prone blood lipid profiles. Instead, chimpanzee ‘heart attacks’ are likely due to arrythmias triggered by myocardial fibrosis. Why do humans not often suffer from the fibrotic heart disease so common in our closest evolutionary cousins? Conversely, why do chimpanzees not have the kind of heart disease so common in humans? The answers could be of value to medical care, as well as to understanding human evolution. A preliminary attempt is made to explore possibilities at the histological level, with a focus on glycosylation changes

Pleiotropic Benefit of Monomeric and Oligomeric Flavanols on Vascular Health - A Randomized Controlled Clinical Pilot Study

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases are expanding to a major social-economic burden in the Western World and undermine man's deep desire for healthy ageing. Epidemiological studies suggest that flavanol-rich foods (e.g. grapes, wine, chocolate) sustain cardiovascular health. For an evidenced-based application, however, sound clinical data on their efficacy are strongly demanded. METHODS: In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled intervention study we supplemented 28 male smokers with 200 mg per day of monomeric and oligomeric flavanols (MOF) from grape seeds. At baseline, after 4 and 8 weeks we measured macro- and microvascular function and a cluster of systemic biomarkers for major pathological processes occurring in the vasculature: disturbances in lipid metabolism and cellular redox balance, and activation of inflammatory cells and platelets. RESULTS: In the MOF group serum total cholesterol and LDL decreased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) by 5% (n = 11) and 7% (n = 9), respectively in volunteers with elevated baseline levels. Additionally, after 8 weeks the ratio of glutathione to glutathione disulphide in erythrocytes rose from baseline by 22% (n = 15, P<0.05) in MOF supplemented subjects. We also observed that MOF supplementation exerts anti-inflammatory effects in blood towards ex vivo added bacterial endotoxin and significantly reduces expression of inflammatory genes in leukocytes. Conversely, alterations in macro- and microvascular function, platelet aggregation, plasma levels of nitric oxide surrogates, endothelin-1, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, prostaglandin F2alpha, plasma antioxidant capacity and gene expression levels of antioxidant defense enzymes did not reach statistical significance after 8 weeks MOF supplementation. However, integrating all measured effects into a global, so-called vascular health index revealed a significant improvement of overall vascular health by MOF compared to placebo (P ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our integrative multi-biomarker approach unveiled the pleiotropic vascular health benefit of an 8 weeks supplementation with 200 mg/d MOF in humans. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00742287