Association of neuropeptide-Y -399 (T/C) gene polymorphism and its level with the risk of type-2 diabetes mellitus

Neuropeptide-Y (NPY) is widely distributed centrally and peripherally and plays an important role in regulating glucose metabolism, energy metabolism and vascular function. Several studies had found that NPY is involved in the pathophysiology of type-2 diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of NPY -399 (T/C) gene polymorphism and its serum level with susceptibility to T2DM. Seventy diabetic patients and seventy age and gender matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Serum NPY was measured by ELISA and NPY rs16147(-399 T/C) polymorphism was analyzed using the TaqMan allelic discrimination assay technique. Results showed significant statistical differences between the two studied groups regarding serum NPY level and NPY rs16147 (-399T/C) genotype distribution with increased serum NPY level and increased frequency of the CC and TC genotype in patients with diabetes mellitus. Conclusion: CC genotypes of NPY (-399 T/C) gene polymorphism and its associated high serum NPY level might be a genetic risk factor for T2DM.Keywords: Type-2 diabetes mellitus, neuropeptide-Y, insulin resistance, gene polymorphism

Hepatocyte growth factor and the risk of pulmonary embolism

Background: Diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) in early stages by conventional laboratory methods is difficult because the currently available tests lack sufficient sensitivity and specificity. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) was originally regarded as specific to hepatocytes, but has been found to be identical to the scatter factor affecting a wide range of tissues including the lungs. The aim of this work is to study the relationship between HGF and PE. Patients and methods: This study included 40 patients with PE, 40 stable angina (SA) patients, and 10 healthy controls. HGF and d-dimer were measured in all patients of this study. Results: Mean HGF was significantly higher in the PE group (788.8 ± 361.5 pg/ml) compared to the SA group (262.4 ± 158.1 pg/ml) and control group (215.5 ± 18.5 pg/ml) (P = 0.0001). The predictive values of d-dimer in the diagnosis of PE were as follows: 100% sensitivity and negative predictive value, 80% specificity, 83.3% positive predictive value and 90% accuracy, while those of HGF were: 97.5% sensitivity, 97.4% negative predictive value, 92.5% specificity, 92.9% positive predictive value and 95% accuracy. When used both d-dimer and HGF together the values improved to: 100% sensitivity and negative predictive value, 97.5% specificity, 97.6% positive predictive value and 98.8% accuracy. Conclusions: Our observations suggest that the plasma HGF level may be a useful biological marker of pulmonary ischemia, and a valuable tool for early diagnosis of PE. Clarification of the mechanisms, characteristics, and biological significance of HGF elevation is important for clinical use in diagnosing and treating pulmonary ischemia. The use of both d-dimer and HGF increases the predictive power of both tests when used together. The clinical significance of the role of HGF in PE opens a new therapeutic area in treating acute ischemic pulmonary disease that would be able to prolong the time frame for the application of reperfusion–thrombolytic therapy

Relationship of apolipoprotein E polymorphism with lipid profiles in atherosclerotic coronary artery disease

Aims: The aim was to determine the relationship between apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene polymorphisms and lipid profile in patients with coronary artery diseases (CAD), and its role in the prediction of the severity of carotid and coronary atherosclerosis. Methods and results: One hundred patients were classified by coronary angiography: 80 patients with CAD and 20 controls (normal coronary angiography). Clinical data, carotid sonography, blood lipid profiles and ApoE genotyping (PCR-RFLP) were assessed. CAD patients had significantly increased plasma lipid profiles and carotid intimal-wall thickness (IMT) versus controls. In CAD patients; ApoE genotype frequencies were E3/E3 = 62.50%, E2/E3 = 18.75%, E3/E4 = 17.50%, E2/E4 = 1.25%, E4/E4 = 0 and E2/E2 = 0. But, E3/E4 genotype was significantly higher than controls (P < 0.05). Also, in CAD patients; ApoE allele frequencies were E3 = 80.6%, E2 = 10.0% and E4 = 9.4% but, ApoE4 alleles were associated with higher cholesterol (P = 0.034) and LDL-c (P = 0.003), while ApoE2 alleles were associated with higher triglycerides (P = 0.037) versus ApoE3 alleles. However, odds ratio of CAD patients had higher risk with E2/E3 genotypes (2.5-fold), E2 alleles (2.2-fold) and E4 alleles (2.1-fold). Moreover, CAD patients with ApoE4 alleles had significantly higher carotid IMT (1.23 ± 0.26 mm vs 0.97 ± 0.2 mm ApoE3, P = 0.006; however, non-significant vs 1.10 ± 0.40 mm ApoE2 and also, ApoE2 vs ApoE3 alleles, P = 0.633) and left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery stenosis (vs ApoE3 alleles, P = 0.016). Conclusion: Ischemic patients with carotid and coronary atherosclerosis had significantly higher integration of dyslipidemia and ApoE alleles (ApoE2 with hypertriglyceridemia and ApoE4 with hypercholesterolemia and higher LDL-c). ApoE polymorphism may be an important diagnostic risk biomarker and may implicate therapeutic intervention in atherosclerotic ischemic patients

Are Antisense Long Non-Coding RNA Related to COVID-19?

Fighting external pathogens relies on the tight regulation of the gene expression of the immune system. Ferroptosis, which is a distinct form of programmed cell death driven by iron, is involved in the enhancement of follicular helper T cell function during infection. The regulation of RNA is a key step in final gene expression. The present study aimed to identify the expression level of antisense lncRNAs (A2M-AS1, DBH-AS1, FLVCR1-DT, and NCBP2AS2-1) and FLVCR1 in COVID-19 patients and its relation to the severity of the disease. COVID-19 patients as well as age and gender-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The expression level of the antisense lncRNAs was measured by RT-PCR. Results revealed the decreased expression of A2M-AS1 and FLVCR1 in COVID-19 patients. Additionally, they showed the increased expression of DBH-AS1, FLVCR1-DT, and NCBP2AS2. Both FLVCR1-DT and NCBP2AS2 showed a positive correlation with interleukin-6 (IL-6). DBH-AS1 and FLVCR1-DT had a significant association with mortality, complications, and mechanical ventilation. A significant negative correlation was found between A2M-AS1 and NCBP2AS2-1 and between FLVCR1 and FLVCR1-DT. The study confirmed that the expression level of the antisense lncRNAs was deregulated in COVID-19 patients and correlated with the severity of COVID-19, and that it may have possible roles in the pathogenesis of this disease

The Role of LINC01564, RAMS11, CBX4 and TOP2A in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common histologic type of primary liver cancers worldwide. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a major risk factor for chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and HCC. To understand the molecular pathogenesis of HCC in chronic HCV infection, many molecular markers are extensively studied, including long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA). Objective: To evaluate the expression levels of lncRNAs (LINC01564, RAMS11), CBX4, and TOP2A in patients with chronic HCV infection and patients with HCC on top of chronic HCV infection and correlate these levels with the clinicopathological features of HCC. Subjects and Methods: One hundred and fifty subjects were enrolled in this study and divided into three groups: group I included 50 patients with HCC on top of chronic hepatitis C (CHC), group II included 50 patients with CHC only, and group III included 50 healthy individuals as a control group. LncRNAs relative expression level was determined by RT-PCR. Results: lncRNA (LINC01564, RAMS11), CBX4, and TOP2A relative expression levels were upregulated in both patient groups compared to controls (p < 0.001*), with the highest levels in the HCC group compared with the CHC group. Additionally, these levels were significantly positively correlated with the clinicopathological features of HCC. Conclusions: The lncRNA (LINC01564, RAMS11), CBX4, and TOP2A relative expression levels were upregulated in CHC patients—in particular, patients with HCC. Thus, these circulatory lncRNAs may be able to serve as promising noninvasive diagnostic markers for HCC associated with viral C hepatitis