Overexpression of LH3 reduces the incidence of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage in mice

Hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a devastating cerebrovascular disease with no effective treatment. Lysyl hydroxylase 3 (LH3) is essential for collagen IV intermolecular crosslinking and stabilization. Deficiency in LH3 affects the assembly and secretion of collagen IV and basement membrane (BM) integrity of vessels. Here, we investigated whether LH3 has significant implications for disease progression and therapeutic intervention. Spontaneous hypertensive ICH of mice was induced by angiotensin II and L-NAME treatment. The adeno-associated virus was delivered into brain by stereotactic injection to knockdown or overexpress LH3. We found LH3 levels were reduced in human patients with ICH and gradually decreased in mice before ICH. LH3 knockdown increased the incidence of hypertensive ICH in mice. The incidence, number, and size of ICHs in mice were markedly reduced by LH3 overexpression. RNA-seq revealed that LH3 overexpression significantly reversed the profound alterations in gene transcriptional profiles of cerebral vessels. LH3 overexpression was sufficient to enhance BM integrity, inhibit matrix metalloproteinase activity, attenuate microglial activation and leukocyte infiltration, and reduce VSMC apoptosis before ICH. These results indicate that LH3 overexpression attenuates susceptibility to hypertensive ICH. We emphasize that LH3 modulation may serve as a viable approach for future investigations of ICH prevention.

Prevalence and factors associated with fast resting heart rate in hypertensive and normotensive patients

Background: Fast resting heart rate (RHR) is easily neglected in clinical practice of hypertension treatment.Aims: We aimed to investigate the prevalence of fast RHR and associated factors in hypertensive and normotensive individuals.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from two cross-sectional studies conducted in China. A total of 6763 hypertensive patients and 2807 age and sex-matched normotensive subjects with complete data on resting electrocardiogram and medical history were included. Fast RHR was defined as RHR > 85 bpm.Results: The prevalence of fast RHR was higher in hypertensive patients as compared with the normotensives (14.4% vs 7.1%, P < 0.01). In both hypertensive and normotensive subjects, fast RHR appeared as a "U-type" distribution as aging and a "inverted J type" trend as body mass index (BMI) increasing. Multivariate regression analysis showed that fast RHR was associated with age >65 or <25 years old (OR = 1.32, 95% CI 1.08-1.61), BMI <18.5 kg/m² (OR = 2.94, 95%CI 1.47-5.87) and hypercholesterolemia (OR = 1.30, 95%CI 1.10-1.53) in hypertensive patients. Fast RHR in the normotensives was associated with female (OR = 1.78, 95%CI 1.27-2.48), pre-hypertensive state (OR = 2.38, 95%CI 1.61-3.52), and rural area origin (OR = 1.50, 95%CI 1.01-2.42). Stroke and diabetes conferred closer relevance to fast RHR in both hypertensive (OR = 1.31, 95%CI 1.02-1.69 and OR 2.26, 95%CI 1.60-3.21) and normotensive individuals (OR = 2.67, 95%CI 1.36-5.21 and OR = 2.77, 95%CI 1.47-5.23).Conclusion: Fast RHR might be common in patients with hypertension. Prior stroke and diabetes history is common associated with fast RHR. Other factors associated with fast RHR seem to be different between hypertensive patients and normotensive subjects.Abbreviations: BMI: body mass index; CI: Confidence Interval; DBP: diastolic blood pressure; ECG: electrocardiogram; OR: odd ratio; RHR: resting heart rate; SBP: systolic blood pressure.

Microtubule associated tumor suppressor 1 interacts with mitofusins to regulate mitochondrial morphology in endothelial cells

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that are able to change their morphology and cellular distribution by either fission or fusion. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling mitochondrial dynamics in vascular endothelial cells (ECs) remain largely unknown. In this study, we observed that knockdown of microtubule-associated tumor suppressor 1 (MTUS1) in ECs inhibited tube formation and migration, accompanied with decreased promigratory signalings. We showed that MTUS1 was localized in the outer membrane of mitochondria in ECs. Knockdown of MTUS1 disturbed the elongated mitochondrial network and induced the formation of perinuclear clusters of mitochondria. Importantly, mitochondrial motility and fusion were suppressed, whereas generation of reactive oxygen species was increased in MTUS1 knockdown ECs. Mechanistically, we showed that the N-terminal coiled-coil domain of MTUS1 interacted with the mitochondrial membrane proteins, mitofusin-1 and mitofusin-2, to maintain mitochondrial morphology in ECs. This study illustrated a novel role of MTUS1 in mitochondrial morphology and EC angiogenic responses.-Wang, Y., Huang, Y., Liu, Y., Li, J., Hao, Y., Yin, P., Liu, Z., Chen, J., Wang, Y., Wang, N., Zhang, P. Microtubule associated tumor suppressor 1 interacts with mitofusins to regulate mitochondrial morphology in endothelial cells.

Investigation of novel metabolites potentially involved in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease using a UHPLC-QTOF/MS-based metabolomics approach

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is associated with complex metabolic disorders, but its molecular aetiology remains unclear. Using a novel nontargeted metabolomics approach, we explored the global metabolic perturbation profile for CHD. Blood samples from 150 patients with severe obstructive CHD and 150 angiographically normal controls were collected. Metabolic fingerprinting was performed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadruple time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF/MS) technique. After adjusting for CHD traditional risk factors and metabolic batch, a comprehensive list of 105 metabolites was found to be significantly altered in CHD patients. Among the metabolites identified, six metabolites were discovered to have the strongest correlation with CHD after adjusting for multiple testing: palmitic acid (β = 0.205; p < 0.0001), linoleic acid (β = 0.133; p < 0.0001), 4-pyridoxic acid (β = 0.142; p < 0.0001), phosphatidylglycerol (20:3/2:0) (β = 0.287; p < 0.0001), carnitine (14:1) (β = 0.332; p < 0.0001) and lithocholic acid (β = 0.224; p < 0.0001); of these, 4-pyridoxic acid, lithocholic acid and phosphatidylglycerol (20:3/2:0) were, to the best of our knowledge, first reported in this study. A logistic regression model further quantified their positive independent correlations with CHD. In conclusion, this study surveyed a broad panel of nontargeted metabolites in Chinese CHD populations and identified novel metabolites that are potentially involved in CHD pathogenesis.

DNA methylation in the norepinephrine transporter gene promoter region is not associated with depression and hypertension

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to detect the role of DNA methylation in norepinephrine transporter (NET) gene promoter region on the association between depression and hypertension.

METHODS

A total of 162 subjects were categorized into four groups based on depression scores and blood pressure. DNA was extracted from peripheral white blood cells and methylation levels of nine CpG sites in NET gene promoter region were investigated by pyrosequencing.

RESULTS

For each CpG site and the average value of nine CpG sites, there were no significant differences in DNA methylation of the NET gene promoter between healthy controls and patients with depression or hypertension. And there were no significant differences among groups after adjusting for age and body mass index. However, DNA methylation levels of the CpG sites adjacent to transcription start site tended to be low. In addition, CpG1.2-CpG5.2 were highly correlated with CpG4 as the first principle component, while CpG2 and the part of CpG1 and 3 were the second principle components. The total participants were clustered into three subgroups by hierarchical cluster analysis of methylated levels.

CONCLUSION

Our study indicates that DNA methylation levels of nine CpG sites in NET gene promoter region are not associated with depression and hypertension.

Admission D-dimer testing for differentiating acute aortic dissection from other causes of acute chest pain

INTRODUCTION

The present study aims to evaluate the utility of D-dimer testing for differentiating the causes of acute chest pain, including acute aortic dissection (AAD), pulmonary embolism (PE), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), unstable angina (UA), and other uncertain diagnoses of chest pain.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Consecutive patients admitted for acute chest pain within 24 h from symptom onset were enrolled prospectively, and plasma D-dimer levels were measured on admission. Diagnoses of AAD, PE, AMI, and UA were confirmed by standard methods.

RESULTS

A total of 790 patients were enrolled, including 202 AAD, 43 PE, 315 AMI, 136 UA, and 94 cases of other uncertain diagnoses. D-dimer levels were significantly higher in patients with AAD and PE than in those with AMI, UA, and other uncertain diagnoses (p < 0.001), but they were comparable between patients with AAD and PE (p = 0.065). Moreover, patients with type A AAD had higher D-dimer levels than those with type B AAD (p = 0.022). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that a D-dimer level < 0.5 µg/ml was a good predictor for ruling out AAD, with a sensitivity of 94.0% and a specificity of 56.8%. At a cut-off level of 0.5 µg/ml, the negative and positive likelihood ratios were 0.10 and 2.18, respectively, with a positive predictive value of 42.6% and a negative predictive value of 96.6%.

CONCLUSIONS

The D-dimer level within 24 h after symptom onset might be helpful for differentiating AAD from other causes of chest pain.

QiHong Prevents Death in Coxsackievirus B3–Induced Murine Myocarditis Through Inhibition of Virus Attachment and Penetration

Viral myocarditis affects about 5% to 20% of the population. So far, there are not many effective antiviral treatments available. QiHong, the combination of the extracts from Astragali (Huangqi), Rhadiola rosea (Hongjingtian), and Sophora flavescens (Kushen), was developed based on laboratory research. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect and mechanism of QiHong on coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3)–induced myocarditis. The antiviral activity of QiHong in vitro was evaluated on HeLa and Vero cells infected by CVB3. Ribavirin was chosen as positive control. Our results showed that QiHong possessed potent antiviral effects on CVB3 by sodium 3′-[1-(phenylamino-carbonyl)-3, 4-tetrazolium]-bis (4-methoxy-6-nitro) benzene sulfonic acid and plaque-forming assay (50% inhibitory concentrations [IC50] were 7.16 ± 0.8 μg/ml and 2.63 ± 0.5 μg/ml, respectively). The 50% cytotoxicity concentration (CC50) was 16-fold higher in QiHong-treated cells than in ribavirin-treated cells. Time course studies demonstrated that the antiviral effect of QiHong was mainly found during 0–4 hrs of infection, and it blocked the attachment and penetration of CVB3 into cells. In vivo 4-week-old male Balb/C mice were used and inoculated intraperitoneally with CVB3 suspension or normal saline. At 48 hrs after inoculation, the infected mice were gavaged with QiHong or ribavirin. On Day 6, myocardial virus titers were significantly lower in the QiHong-treated group than in the viral-infected groups. On Day 14, QiHong significantly ameliorated CVB3-induced myocardium necrosis; on Day 28, QiHong treatment increased survival rate 4-fold compared with CVB3-infected controls (64% vs. 16%; P < 0.05). The results showed that QiHong is a very promising potent antiviral agent with a highly significant favorable effect on survival and pathologic changes in CVB3-induced myocarditis with less toxicity than ribavirin. The antiviral activity of QiHong is at least partially due to an inhibitory effect on virus attachment and penetration.

[Clinical analysis of delayed epistaxis after craniofacial trauma in 16 patients]

Objective:To investigate the etiology,clinical presentations,diagnosis and treatment of delayed epistaxis after craniocerebral trauma.Method:A retrospective analysis was made including 16 cases who had the traumatic carotid artery injury with massive delayed epistaxis.All of them were finally diagnosed by digital substraction angiography(DSA).Final clinical outcome,radiographic data and follow-up data were analyzed.Result:Two cases of traumatic pesudoaneurysm from internal maxillary artery were embolized with polyvinyl alcohol particles and gelatin sponge.Fourteen cases of traumatic pesudoaneurysm located in ICA cavernous segment was embolized by covered stent.The covered stent placement was successful in all 14 pseudoaneurysms.No procedure-related complications or deaths occurred during follow-up except one of the case with visual field defects and another case with vision loss.Conclusion:Patients with delayed massive epistaxis or recurrent epistaxis after craniofacial trauma which cause pesudoaneurysm should undergo CTA,MRA or DSA examination,and it is would help to get proper diagnosis and treatment as early as possible.No recurrence was found after successful endovascular techniques.

Effect of polychlorinated biphenyls on oxidation stress in the liver of juvenile GIFT, Oreochromis niloticus

The present study clearly showed that chronic exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at environmentally relevant concentrations can damage juvenile tilapia livers by modulating antioxidant enzyme activities and gene transcription, which affects toxic bioaccumulation and histological congestion. The results suggest that PCBs caused a decrease in the activity of some hepatic antioxidative and biotransformation enzymes (SOD, CAT, GST, T-GSH, and MDA) in tilapia at 7 days, as well as transcriptional changes (sod, cat, and gst). Except for some antioxidant parameters (T-GSH, GSH/GSSG, T-AOC, and MDA), significant declines and increases occurred at 14 and 21 days, respectively. Most of the antioxidant enzymatic signatures and genotoxicity significantly increased at 14 and 21 days. This study presented evidence that PCBs could result in hepatic toxicity through oxidative stress in the early growth stages of tilapia, and we speculated that oxidative stress plays an important role in embryonic developmental toxicity induced by PCBs.

Plasma growth differentiation factor 15 predicts first-ever stroke in hypertensive patients

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) is a relatively new biomarker that predicts adverse stroke outcomes. However, the association of GDF-15 with first-ever stroke in hypertensive patients has not yet been evaluated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical implications of plasma GDF-15 on the development of first-ever stroke in patients with hypertension.In total, 254 patients with hypertension without a history of stroke were included from March 2010 to August 2010 and followed up until June 2013. The baseline circulating GDF-15 was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.During a follow-up of 3.0 ± 0.6 years, 22 (8.7%) first-ever strokes were identified, including 12 ischemic strokes and 10 intracerebral hemorrhages (ICH). According to tertiles of GDF-15, survival free of first-ever stroke was lower in the highest tertile of GDF-15 (log-rank P = 0.001). By backward stepwise Cox-regression analysis, adjusted for age, gender, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, hypertension stage, body mass index, cigarette smoking, anti-hypertensive drugs, and uric acid, every 100 pg/mL-increase in plasma of GDF-15 predicted an 11% greater risk of first-ever stroke (hazard ratios [HR]: 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.20, P = 0.010) and an 18% increase in ischemic stroke risk (HR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.07-1.30, P = 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that GDF-15 had reasonable accuracy to predict first-ever stroke (area under curve = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.62-0.83, P < 0.001).This study identifies that GDF-15 is an independent predictor of first-ever stroke, especially for ischemic stroke in the patients with hypertension.

Large-scale tissue-specific and temporal gene expression profiles in Pengze crucian carp

In the present study, the tissue-specific and temporal gene expression profiles of four catalogues of gonadal development-related genes (sex differentiation-related, steroid receptor, steroidogenic, and structural genes) were detected in nine tissues and during 11 successive developmental stages in the Pengze crucian carp (Pcc) (a triploid mono-female gynogenic fish). The results showed that these target genes exhibited overlapping distributions in various tissues, with the exception of Pcc-vasa and Pcc-cyp17a1. Gene expression profiling of the developmental stages showed that all of the target genes simultaneously reached peak expression levels at 40 and 48 days post hatching (dph). Both 40 and 48 dph appeared to be two key time points associated with the process of Pcc gonadal development. These data will provide a clear understanding of gene expression patterns associated with the gonadal development-related genes of this gynogenic teleost.

The association of metabolic syndrome with left ventricular mass and geometry in community-based hypertensive patients among Han Chinese

Background:

The association of metabolic syndrome (MS) with left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is controversial. The objective of our study was to investigate the influence of MS on LV mass and geometry in community-based hypertensive patients among Han Chinese.

Materials and Methods:

This study included 1733 metabolic syndrome patients according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definition and 2373 non-MS hypertension patients. LV hypertrophy was diagnosed by the criteria of LV mass ≥49.2 g/m^2.7 for men and 46.7 g/m^2.7 for women. LV geometric patterns (normal, concentric remodeling, concentric or eccentric hypertrophy) were calculated according to LV hypertrophy and relative wall thickness. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of MS for LV hypertrophy and LV geometry abnormality.

Results:

The LV mass and LV mass index were higher in the MS group than in the non-MS group. In multiple adjusted models. LV mass index, LV mass, interventricular septum, and post wall were raised with the increased number of MS disorders. MS was associated with increased LV hypertrophy risk (unadjusted OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.21-1.57); age, sex, and blood pressure (BP; adjusted OR 1.39; 95% CI 1.22-1.59). MS was also associated with increased risk of eccentric hypertrophy in male and female patients. MS was only associated with increased risk of concentric hypertrophy in female patients; and MS was not associated with concentric remodeling.

Conclusion:

LV mass and LV mass index were associated with the increased number of MS disorders in the Chinese community-based hypertensive population. MS was not only associated with increased LV hypertrophy risk, but also associated with concentric and eccentric LV geometry abnormality, especially in females.

Long non-coding RNAs expression profile in HepG2 cells reveals the potential role of long non-coding RNAs in the cholesterol metabolism

BACKGROUND

Green tea has been shown to improve cholesterol metabolism in animal studies, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this function have not been fully understood. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently emerged as a major class of regulatory molecules involved in a broad range of biological processes and complex diseases. Our aim was to identify important lncRNAs that might play an important role in contributing to the benefits of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on cholesterol metabolism.

METHODS

Microarrays was used to reveal the lncRNA and mRNA profiles in green tea polyphenol(-)-epigallocatechin gallate in cultured human liver (HepG2) hepatocytes treated with EGCG and bioinformatic analyses of the predicted target genes were performed to identify lncRNA-mRNA targeting relationships. RNA interference was used to investigate the role of lncRNAs in cholesterol metabolism.

RESULTS

The expression levels of 15 genes related to cholesterol metabolism and 285 lncRNAs were changed by EGCG treatment. Bioinformatic analysis found five matched lncRNA-mRNA pairs for five differentially expressed lncRNAs and four differentially expressed mRNA. In particular, the lncRNA AT102202 and its potential targets mRNA-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) were identified. Using a real-time polymerase chain reaction technique, we confirmed that EGCG down-regulated mRNA expression level of the HMGCR and up-regulated expression of AT102202. After AT102202 knockdown in HepG2, we observed that the level of HMGCR expression was significantly increased relative to the scrambled small interfering RNA control (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicated that EGCG improved cholesterol metabolism and meanwhile changed the lncRNAs expression profile in HepG2 cells. LncRNAs may play an important role in the cholesterol metabolism.

The Human Myotrophin Variant Attenuates MicroRNA-Let-7 Binding Ability but Not Risk of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Human Essential Hypertension

Myotrophin, known as a myocardial hypertrophy-inducing factor, is responsible for the initiation of cardiac hypertrophy that transits to heart failure. MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that down-regulate posttranscriptional expression of target molecules. We investigated the role of variants of the microRNA-binding site in myotrophin in affecting its expression and any association with cardiac hypertrophy. Bioinformatics demonstrated that variant rs17168525 was identified to be located in the let-7/miR-98-binding site of myotrophin. We further experimentally test to effects of the identified variant on myotrophin translation using luciferase reporter assay and Western blotting. We found that the C allele of rs17168525 suppressed myotrophin translation by facilitating let-7c binding, but not the T allele. Let-7c overexpression caused a significant decrease in the level of myotrophin protein. Next, we investigated the association of the variant with cardiac hypertrophy in 1614 hypertensive patients, including 552 with left ventricular hypertrophy and 1062 without left ventricular hypertrophy, as well as 591 healthy control subjects from a Han Chinese population. No significant association between the variant rs17168525 and left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients in a Han Chinese population (P>0.05). In conclusion, our experimental results provide evidence that the T allele of rs17168525 in the 3'-UTR of myotrophin might influence the level of myotrophin protein by interfering with let-7/miR-98 binding.

Anti-hypertensive effect of Lycium barbarum L. with down-regulated expression of renal endothelial lncRNA sONE in a rat model of salt-sensitive hypertension

The present study aims to test whether Lycium barbarum L. has anti-hypertensive effect through regulating expression of lncRNA sONE in a rat model of salt-sensitive hypertension. Nine weeks old borderline hypertensive rats (BHRs) were divided into 4 groups receiving high (8% NaCl), medium (0.25% NaCl, as control group), and low salt diet (0.015% NaCl) for 16 weeks, respectively, while the fourth group (high salt + L. barbarum group) fed with high salt diet for 12 weeks, then followed by 8% NaCl and L. barbarum treatment for 4 weeks. Body weight and blood pressure were recorded biweekly. Salt-sensitive hypertension was successfully induced by 12-week high salt diet in BHR model. Blood pressure was significantly increased in the model (P < 0.05), and L. barbarum treatment reversed the elevated blood pressure to normal level. Expression of lncRNA sONE was significantly reduced and eNOS expression level was dramatically improved in the hypertension model rats with the L. barbarum compared with that receiving high salt diet. Our results indicated that L. barbarum L. had anti-hypertensive effect and might lower blood pressure by suppressing the expression of lncRNA sONE in BHR model.

Prevalence and risk factors of abnormal left ventricular geometrical patterns in untreated hypertensive patients

Background

The various prevalence of LVH and abnormal LV geometry have been reported in different populations. So far, only a few reports are available on the prevalence of LV geometric patterns in a large Chinese untreated hypertensive population.

Methods

A total of 9,286 subjects (5167 men and 4119 women) completed the survey and 1641 untreated hypertensive patients (1044 males and 597 females) enrolled in the present study. The LV geometry was classified into four patterns: normal; abnormal,defined as concentric remodeling;concentric or eccentric hypertrophy based on the values of left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and relative wall thickness (RWT). Logistic regression model was applied to determine the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the risk factors of left ventricular hypertrophy.

Results

The prevalence of LVH was 20.2% in untreated hypertensive patients, much higher in women (30.8%) than in men (14.2%) (P < 0.01). The prevalence of LV geometrical patterns was 34.9%, 11.1%, 9.1% for concentric remodeling, concentric and eccentric hypertrophy,respectively. After adjustment by using Logistic regression model, the risk factors for LVH and abnormal LV geometry were age, female, systolic blood pressure, and body mass index. And low high density lipoprotein maybe a positive factor.

Conclusions

The prevalence of LVH and abnormal LV geometric patterns was higher in women than in men and increased with age. It is crucial to improve the awareness rate of hypertension and control the risk factors of CV complications in untreated hypertensive population.

[Relationship of genetic variants and cardiovascular risk factors with interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 secreted by monocytes]

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relationship of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 genetic variants and cardiovascular factors [oxygenized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), lower physical activity, overweight, etc.] with IL-6 and IL-10 secreted by monocytes.

METHODS

In the study, 40 health persons, aged from 51 to 80 years, without stroke and myocardial infarction, were randomly sampled from a community-based population in Beijing in 2010. Their data on smoking, drinking, blood pressure, fasting glucose, and lipid were collected. The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL-6 (rs1800796, rs1524107, rs2066992) and IL-10 (rs1800872, rs1554286, rs3021094) were genotyped. The human monocytes were cultivated in RPMI 1640 medium for 24 h; then divided into two equal parts, in which ox-LDL (50 mg/L) and phosphate buffer solution (PBS) were added for another 48 h. Finally, the secretions of IL-6 and IL-10 in the culture supernatants were measured with ELISA.

RESULTS

Paired Wilcoxon tests showed that the IL-6, IL-10, and IL-6/IL-10 were significantly higher in ox-LDL medium than in PBS one (all P < 0.01). The concentrations in PBS/ox-LDL taken as repeated measurements, and adjusted for age and gender, the repeated general linear models showed: IL-10 was significantly lower for those overweight (BMI ≥ 26 kg/m(2)) than for those normal weight (P = 0.007), and IL-6/IL-10 was significantly higher in those overweight (P = 0.003). The IL-6/IL-10 was significantly higher in those with lower physical activity [metabolic equivalent of energy, METS < 166 kJ/(kg.d)] than those with higher physical activities (P = 0.046). IL-6 and IL-10 were significantly higher in alcohol drinkers (P = 0.049 and P = 0.006). IL-6 was significantly higher in those with higher high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c, ≥ 56.4 mg/dL, P = 0.027). There were significant interactions between IL-10 SNPs and ox-LDL on IL-10 (all P < 0.05), but no significant interactions between IL-6 gene SNPs and ox-LDL on IL-6.

CONCLUSION

The ox-LDL together with lower physical activity and overweight shifts the balance of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory in the direction of pro-inflammatory. The interaction between IL-10 gene and ox-LDL is intensively correlated with the secretion of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10.

Association of Kallikrein gene polymorphisms with sporadic intracranial aneurysms in the Chinese population

OBJECT

Variants of Kallikreins have been shown to be risk factors for intracranial aneurysm (IA) in a Finnish population. In the present study, the authors investigated the correlation between polymorphisms in the Kallikrein gene cluster and IAs in the Chinese population.

METHODS

The association of Kallikrein variants (rs1722561 and rs1701946) with sporadic IAs was tested in 308 cases and 443 controls. The differences in allelic frequencies between patients and the control group were evaluated with the chi-square test.

RESULTS

The C allele of rs1722561 showed a significant reduction in the risk of sporadic IA (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.53-0.95; p = 0.023). However, no association of the variant rs1701946 with sporadic IA was found (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.57-1.06; p = 0.115).

CONCLUSIONS

The variant rs1722561 of Kallikreins might reduce the risk of sporadic IAs among individuals of Chinese Han ethnicity. This study confirms the association between Kallikreins and IAs.

PTEN hypermethylation profiles of Chinese Kazakh patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Aberrant DNA methylation of promoter region CpG islands may serve as an alternative mechanism to genetic defects in the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) in human malignancies. The aim of this study was to examine the promoter methylation status of the PTEN TSG and its association with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) carcinogenesis in a Chinese Kazakh population, which is known to have a relatively high ESCC incidence and mortality. The methylation status of the PTEN promoter region was determined in patients with ESCC (n = 95) and healthy individuals (n = 65) using highly sensitive Sequenom Epityper assays. The methylation level of the PTEN gene was significantly higher in patients with ESCC than in healthy controls. The median methylation level was 10.0% (interquartile range [IQR]: 7.0-11.0%) in patients with ESCC and 6.0% in controls (IQR: 4.0-9.0%; P = 0.001). PTEN methylation levels were higher in male patients with ESCC than in male controls, whereas a trend toward significance was observed between female patients with ESCC and female controls (P = 0.005 and P = 0.086, respectively). The PTEN methylation level was associated with histopathological grade and lymph node metastasis in patients with ESCC (P = 0.002 and P = 0.009, respectively). To our knowledge, this is the first report to show the presence of PTEN promoter CpG hypermethylation in ESCC and its association with tumor metastasis.