The role of angiotensin-converting enzyme and apolipoprotein-E gene polymorphisms on lipid compositions in newborn infants with intrauterine growth restriction

WOS: 000222733900002PubMed ID: 15223114Recent findings suggest that hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease are more common in adults who born with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Several studies have shown that polymorphisms in angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and apolipoprotein-E (Apo-E) are effective in developing the insulin resistance and also in increasing the risk of coronary heart disease. In present study, the frequencies of ACE, Apo-E gene polymorphisms, apolipoprotein-B (Apo-B) mutation and lipid compositions were determined in full-term newborn infants with IUGR. Forty-four newborn infants who had completed 36 weeks of gestational age, 24 healthy infants and 20 with IUGR, were taken into the scope of the study. While total cholesterol (TC) and Apo-B concentrations in infants with IUGR was found to be significantly higher than that of the control group (p 0.05). An insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism with a significantly increased frequency was observed in the IUGR group (65%) as compared with the control group (33%) (p < 0.05). When the distribution of the Apo-E gene polymorphism (E2, E3 and E4) was studied, no difference was found between the IUGR and control groups with respect to frequency. No Apo-B gene mutation was identified in the study groups. In conclusion, we may suggest that I/D polymorphism is responsible, though in part, for the etiology of intrauterine growth restriction. Levels of total cholesterol and Apo-B are elevated in IUGR infants, suggesting a linkage between low birth weight and atherosclerosis. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Genetic Factors that Influence Short-term Neurodevelopmental Outcome in Term Hypoxic-Ischaemic Encephalopathic Neonates

WOS: 000297532400017PubMed ID: 22117975It is difficult to predict outcome in neonates that experience perinatal hypoxic ischaemia. Morbidity and mortality may be affected by genetic factors that augment inflammatory and coagulative responses. This prospective study analysed the effects of proinflammatory cytokine gene polymorphisms (tumour necrosis factor-alpha [TNFA] 308G>A and interleukin-6 [IL6] 174G>C) and prothrombotic factor gene mutations (prothrombin G20210A, factor V Leiden G1691A and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase [MTHFR] C677T) on the early neurological prognosis in 40 term hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathic neonates. There were significant relationships for Sarnat and Sarnat staging with electroencephalographic findings, transfontanelle ultrasound (US) results, early neonatal outcome and neurological morbidity. Genetic mutations in the prothrombotic proteins, the TNFA 308G>A polymorphism and the cerebrospinal fluid levels of TNF-alpha protein were not related to clinical stage, electroencephalography, transfontanelle US or neurological status at discharge or at postnatal months 6 and 12. The IL6 174GC genotype demonstrated a protective role, being significantly correlated with normal electroencephalography, transfontanelle US and normal neurological findings at discharge. In conclusion, the IL6 174GC gene polymorphism seems to play a role in determining the risk and/or severity of perinatal cerebral injury

3′ end mRNA processing: molecular mechanisms and implications for health and disease

Recent advances in the understanding of the molecular mechanism of mRNA 3′ end processing have uncovered a previously unanticipated integrated network of transcriptional and RNA-processing mechanisms. A variety of human diseases impressively reflect the importance of the precision of the complex 3′ end-processing machinery and gene specific deregulation of 3′ end processing can result from mutations of RNA sequence elements that bind key specific processing factors. Interestingly, more general deregulation of 3′ end processing can be caused either by mutations of these processing factors or by the disturbance of the well-coordinated equilibrium between these factors. From a medical perspective, both loss of function and gain of function can be functionally relevant, and an increasing number of different disease entities exemplifies that inappropriate 3′ end formation of human mRNAs can have a tremendous impact on health and disease. Here, we review the mechanistic hallmarks of mRNA 3′ end processing, highlight the medical relevance of deregulation of this important step of mRNA maturation and illustrate the implications for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies