Associations between ALOX, COX, and CRP polymorphisms and breast cancer among Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women: The breast cancer health disparities study

Metabolite and Proteomic Profiling of Serum Reveals the Differences in Molecular Immunity between Min and Large White Pig Breeds

Pig diseases seriously threaten the health of pigs and the benefits of pig production. Previous research has indicated that Chinese native pigs, such as the Min (M) pig, has a better disease resistance ability than Large White (LW) pigs. However, the molecular mechanism of this resistance is still unclear. In our study, we used serum untargeted metabolomics and proteomics, interrogated to characterize differences in the molecular immunities between six resistant and six susceptible pigs raised in the same environment. A total of 62 metabolites were identified as being significantly exhibited in M and LW pigs. Ensemble feature selection (EFS) machine learning methods were used to predict biomarkers of metabolites and proteins, and the top 30 were selected and retained. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) confirmed that four key metabolites, PC (18:1 (11 Z)/20:0), PC (14:0/P-18: 0), PC (18:3 (6 Z, 9 Z, 12 Z)/16:0), and PC (16:1 (9 Z)/22:2 (13 Z, 16 Z)), were significantly associated with phenotypes, such as cytokines, and different pig breeds. Correlation network analysis showed that 15 proteins were significantly correlated with the expression of both cytokines and unsaturated fatty acid metabolites. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) co-location analysis results showed that 13 of 15 proteins co-localized with immune or polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-related QTL. Moreover, seven of them co-localized with both immune and PUFA QTLs, including proteasome 20S subunit beta 8 (PSMB8), mannose binding lectin 1 (MBL1), and interleukin-1 receptor accessory protein (IL1RAP). These proteins may play important roles in regulating the production or metabolism of unsaturated fatty acids and immune factors. Most of the proteins could be validated with parallel reaction monitoring, which suggests that these proteins may play an essential role in producing or regulating unsaturated fatty acids and immune factors to cope with the adaptive immunity of different pig breeds. Our study provides a basis for further clarifying the disease resistance mechanism of pigs.

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Effect of Dietary Probiotics on Immune Response Mechanism in Southern Catfish (Silurus meridionalis) in Response to Plesiomonas shigelloides

To explore whether a probiotic complex composed of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Lactobacillus casei can prevent or inhibit the inflammatory response caused by the invasion of Plesiomonas shigelloides in the southern catfish, we screened differentially expressed genes and enriched inflammation-related pathways among a control and three experimental groups and conducted analysis by transcriptome sequencing after a 21-day breeding experiment. Compared with those in the PS (Plesiomonas shigelloides) group, southern catfish in the L-PS (Lactobacillus-Plesiomonas shigelloides) group had no obvious haemorrhages or ulcerations. The results also showed that inflammation-related genes, such as mmp9, cxcr4, nfkbia, socs3, il-8, pigr, tlr5, and tnfr1, were significantly upregulated in the PS group compared with those in the L-PS groups. In addition, we verified six DEGs (mmp9, cxcr4, nfkbia, socs3, rbp2, and calr) and three proteins (CXCR4, NFKBIA, and CALR) by qRT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. Our results were consistent with the transcriptome data. Moreover, significantly downregulated genes (p < 0.05) were enriched in inflammation-related GO terms (lymphocyte chemotaxis and positive regulation of inflammatory response) and immune-related pathways (intestinal immune network for IgA production and IL-17 signalling pathway) in the L-PS vs. the PS group. Our results indicate that the infection of P. shigelloides can produce an inflammatory response, and probiotics could inhibit the inflammatory response caused by P. shigelloides to some extent.

ELSSI: parallel SNP-SNP interactions detection by ensemble multi-type detectors

With the development of high-throughput genotyping technology, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-SNP interactions (SSIs) detection has become an essential way for understanding disease susceptibility. Various methods have been proposed to detect SSIs. However, given the disease complexity and bias of individual SSI detectors, these single-detector-based methods are generally unscalable for real genome-wide data and with unfavorable results. We propose a novel ensemble learning-based approach (ELSSI) that can significantly reduce the bias of individual detectors and their computational load. ELSSI randomly divides SNPs into different subsets and evaluates them by multi-type detectors in parallel. Particularly, ELSSI introduces a four-stage pipeline (generate, score, switch and filter) to iteratively generate new SNP combination subsets from SNP subsets, score the combination subset by individual detectors, switch high-score combinations to other detectors for re-scoring, then filter out combinations with low scores. This pipeline makes ELSSI able to detect high-order SSIs from large genome-wide datasets. Experimental results on various simulated and real genome-wide datasets show the superior efficacy of ELSSI to state-of-the-art methods in detecting SSIs, especially for high-order ones. ELSSI is applicable with moderate PCs on the Internet and flexible to assemble new detectors. The code of ELSSI is available at https://www.sdu-idea.cn/codes.php?name=ELSSI.

Emerging role of ferroptosis in breast cancer: New dawn for overcoming tumor progression

Breast cancer has become a serious threat to women's health. Cancer progression is mainly derived from resistance to apoptosis induced by procedures or therapies. Therefore, new drugs or models that can overcome apoptosis resistance should be identified. Ferroptosis is a recently identified mode of cell death characterized by excess reactive oxygen species-induced lipid peroxidation. Since ferroptosis is distinct from apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy, its induction successfully eliminates cancer cells that are resistant to other modes of cell death. Therefore, ferroptosis may become a new direction around which to design breast cancer treatment. Unfortunately, the complete appearance of ferroptosis in breast cancer has not yet been fully elucidated. Furthermore, whether ferroptosis inducers can be used in combination with traditional anti- breast cancer drugs is still unknown. Moreover, a summary of ferroptosis in breast cancer progression and therapy is currently not available. In this review, we discuss the roles of ferroptosis-associated modulators glutathione, glutathione peroxidase 4, iron, nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor-2, superoxide dismutases, lipoxygenase and coenzyme Q in breast cancer. Furthermore, we provide evidence that traditional drugs against breast cancer induce ferroptosis, and that ferroptosis inducers eliminate breast cancer cells. Finally, we put forward prospect of using ferroptosis inducers in breast cancer therapy, and predict possible obstacles and corresponding solutions. This review will deepen our understanding of the relationship between ferroptosis and breast cancer, and provide new insights into breast cancer-related therapeutic strategies.

Genetic Variants in COX2 and ALOX Genes and Breast Cancer Risk in White and Black Women

COX and ALOX genes are involved in inflammatory processes and that may be related to breast cancer risk differentially between White and Black women. We evaluated distributions of genetic variants involved in COX2 and ALOX-related pathways and examined their associations with breast cancer risk among 1,275 White and 1,299 Black cases and controls who participated in the Women’s Circle of Health Study. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models. Our results showed differential associations of certain genetic variants with breast cancer according to menopausal and ER status in either White or Black women. In White women, an increased risk of breast cancer was observed for COX2-rs689470 (OR: 2.02, P = 0.01) in the dominant model, and was strongest among postmenopausal women (OR: 2.72, P = 0.02) and for estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancers (OR: 2.60, P = 0.001). A reduced risk was observed for ALOX5-rs7099874 (OR: 0.75, P = 0.01) in the dominant model, and was stronger among postmenopausal women (OR: 0.68, P = 0.03) and for ER+ cancer (OR: 0.66, P = 0.001). Four SNPs (rs3840880, rs1126667, rs434473, rs1042357) in the ALOX12 gene were found in high LD (r² >0.98) in White women and were similarly associated with reduced risk of breast cancer, with a stronger association among postmenopausal women and for ER− cancer. Among Black women, increased risk was observed for ALOX5-rs1369214 (OR: 1.44, P = 0.003) in the recessive model and was stronger among premenopausal women (OR: 1.57, P = 0.03) and for ER+ cancer (OR: 1.53, P = 0.003). Our study suggests that genetic variants of COX2 and ALOX genes are associated with breast cancer, and that these associations and genotype distributions differ in subgroups defined by menopausal and ER status between White and Black women. Findings may provide insights into the etiology of breast cancer and areas for further research into reasons for breast cancer differences between races.

Polymorphisms in eicosanoid-related biosynthesis enzymes associated with acute urticaria/angioedema induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug hypersensitivity

BACKGROUND

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the main triggers of drug hypersensitivity, with NSAID-induced acute urticaria/angioedema (NIUA) the most frequent phenotype. NSAID hypersensitivity is caused by cyclooxygenase 1 inhibition, which leads to an imbalance in prostaglandin (PG) and cysteinyl leukotriene (CysLT) synthesis. As only susceptible individuals develop NSAID hypersensitivity, genetic factors are believed to be involved; however, no study has assessed the overall genetic variability of key enzymes in PG and CysLT synthesis in NSAID hypersensitivity.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate simultaneously variants in the main genes involved in PG and CysLT biosynthesis in NIUA.

METHODS

Two independent cohorts of patients were recruited in Spain, alongside NSAID-tolerant controls. The discovery cohort included only patients with NIUA; the replication cohort included patients with NSAID-exacerbated respiratory disease (NERD). A set of tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (tagSNPs) in PTGS1, PTGS2, ALOX5 and LTC4S was genotyped using mass spectrometry coupled with endpoint polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

The study included 1272 individuals. Thirty-five tagSNPs were successfully genotyped in the discovery cohort, with three being significantly associated after Bonferroni correction (rs10306194 and rs1330344 in PTGS1; rs28395868 in ALOX5). These polymorphisms were genotyped in the replication cohort: rs10306194 and rs28395868 remained associated with NIUA, and rs28395868 was marginally associated with NERD. Odds ratios (ORs) in the combined analysis (discovery and replication NIUA populations) were 1·7 for rs10306194 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1·34-2·14; P_corrected = 2·83 × 10^-4 ) and 2·19 for rs28395868 (95% CI 1·43-3·36; P_corrected = 0·002).

CONCLUSIONS

Variants of PTGS1 and ALOX5 may play a role in NIUA and NERD, supporting the proposed mechanisms of NSAID-hypersensitivity and shedding light on their genetic basis.

Genetically Predicted C-Reactive Protein Associated With Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Risk: Interrelation With Estrogen and Cancer Molecular Subtypes Using Mendelian Randomization

Background

Immune-related etiologic pathways that influence breast cancer risk are incompletely understood and may be confounded by lifestyles or reverse causality. Using a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach, we investigated the potential causal relationship between genetically elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations and primary invasive breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women.

Methods

We used individual-level data obtained from 10,179 women, including 537 who developed breast cancer, from the Women’s Health Initiative Database for Genotypes and Phenotypes Study, which consists of five genome-wide association (GWA) studies. We examined 61 GWA single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously associated with CRP. We employed weighted/penalized weighted–medians and MR gene–environment interactions that allow instruments’ invalidity to some extent and attenuate the heterogeneous estimates of outlying SNPs.

Results

In lifestyle-stratification analyses, genetically elevated CRP decreased risk for breast cancer in exogenous estrogen-only, estrogen + progestin, and past oral contraceptive (OC) users, but only among relatively short-term users (<5 years). Estrogen-only users for ≥5 years had more profound CRP-decreased breast cancer risk in dose–response fashion, whereas past OC users for ≥5 years had CRP-increased cancer risk. Also, genetically predicted CRP was strongly associated with increased risk for hormone-receptor positive or human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 negative breast cancer.

Conclusions

Our findings may provide novel evidence on the immune-related molecular pathways linking to breast cancer risk and suggest potential clinical use of CRP to predict the specific cancer subtypes. Our findings suggest potential interventions targeting CRP–inflammatory markers to reduce breast cancer risk.

Pro-inflammatory cytokine polymorphisms and interactions with dietary alcohol and estrogen, risk factors for invasive breast cancer using a post genome-wide analysis for gene-gene and gene-lifestyle interaction

Molecular and genetic immune-related pathways connected to breast cancer and lifestyles in postmenopausal women are not fully characterized. In this study, we explored the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in those pathways at the genome-wide level. With single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the biomarkers and lifestyles together, we further constructed risk profiles to improve predictability for breast cancer. Our earlier genome-wide association gene-environment interaction study used large cohort data from the Women's Health Initiative Database for Genotypes and Phenotypes Study and identified 88 SNPs associated with CRP and IL-6. For this study, we added an additional 68 SNPs from previous GWA studies, and together with 48 selected lifestyles, evaluated for the association with breast cancer risk via a 2-stage multimodal random survival forest and generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction methods. Overall and in obesity strata (by body mass index, waist, waist-to-hip ratio, exercise, and dietary fat intake), we identified the most predictive genetic and lifestyle variables. Two SNPs (SALL1 rs10521222 and HLA-DQA1 rs9271608) and lifestyles, including alcohol intake, lifetime cumulative exposure to estrogen, and overall and visceral obesity, are the most common and strongest predictive markers for breast cancer across the analyses. The risk profile that combined those variables presented their synergistic effect on the increased breast cancer risk in a gene-lifestyle dose-dependent manner. Our study may contribute to improved predictability for breast cancer and suggest potential interventions for the women with the risk genotypes and lifestyles to reduce their breast cancer risk.

Genome-wide Association Analysis of Proinflammatory Cytokines and Gene-lifestyle Interaction for Invasive Breast Cancer Risk: The WHI dbGaP Study

Immune-related etiologic pathways to influence invasive breast cancer risk may interact with lifestyle factors, but the interrelated molecular genetic pathways are incompletely characterized. We used data from the Women's Health Initiative Database for Genotypes and Phenotypes Study including 16,088 postmenopausal women, a population highly susceptible to inflammation, obesity, and increased risk for breast cancer. With 21,784,812 common autosomal single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), we conducted a genome-wide association (GWA) gene-environment interaction (G × E) analysis in six independent GWA Studies for proinflammatory cytokines [IL6 and C-reactive protein (CRP)] and their gene-lifestyle interactions. Subsequently, we tested for the association of the GWA SNPs with breast cancer risk. In women overall and stratified by obesity status (body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio) and obesity-related lifestyle factors (exercise and high-fat diet), 88 GWA SNPs in 10 loci were associated with proinflammatory cytokines: 3 associated with IL6 (1 index SNP in MAPK1 and 1 independent SNP in DEC1); 85 with CRP (3 index SNPs in CRPP1, CRP, RP11-419N10.5, HNF1A-AS1, HNF1A, and C1q2orf43; and two independent SNPs in APOE and APOC1). Of those, 27 in HNF1A-AS1, HNF1A, and C1q2orf43 displayed significantly increased risk for breast cancer. We found a number of novel top markers for CRP and IL6, which interacted with obesity factors. A substantial proportion of those SNPs' susceptibility influenced breast cancer risk. Our findings may contribute to better understanding of genetic associations between pro-inflammation and cancer and suggest intervention strategies for women who carry the risk genotypes, reducing breast cancer risk. PREVENTION RELEVANCE: The top GWA-SNPs associated with pro-inflammatory biomarkers have implications for breast carcinogenesis by interacting with obesity factors. Our findings may suggest interventions for women who carry the inflammatory-risk genotypes to reduce breast cancer risk.

Emerging Roles of 5-Lipoxygenase Phosphorylation in Inflammation and Cell Death

5-Lipoxygenase (ALOX5) is an iron-containing and nonheme dioxygenase that catalyzes the peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids such as arachidonic acid. ALOX5 is the rate-limiting enzyme for the biosynthesis of leukotrienes, a family of proinflammatory lipid mediators derived from arachidonic acid. ALOX5 also make great contributions to mediating lipid peroxidation. In recent years, it has been discovered that ALOX5 plays a central role in cell death including apoptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis, a newly discovered type of cell death. According to the previous studies, ALOX5 can regulate cell death in two ways: one is inflammation and the other is lipid peroxidation. Meanwhile, it has been shown that ALOX5 activity is regulated by several factors including protein phosphorylation, ALOX5-interactng protein, redox state, and metal ions such as iron and calcium. In this review, we aim to summarize the knowledge on the emerging roles of ALOX5 protein phosphorylation in the regulation of cell death and inflammation in order to explore a potential target for human diseases.

Genetic Epidemiology of Breast Cancer in Latin America

The last 10 years witnessed an acceleration of our understanding of what genetic factors underpin the risk of breast cancer. Rare high- and moderate-penetrance variants such as those in the BRCA genes account for a small proportion of the familial risk of breast cancer. Low-penetrance alleles are expected to underlie the remaining heritability. By now, there are about 180 genetic polymorphisms that are associated with risk, most of them of modest effect. In combination, they can be used to identify women at the lowest or highest ends of the risk spectrum, which might lead to more efficient cancer prevention strategies. Most of these variants were discovered in populations of European descent. As a result, we might be failing to discover additional polymorphisms that could explain risk in other groups. This review highlights breast cancer genetic epidemiology studies conducted in Latin America, and summarizes the information that they provide, with special attention to similarities and differences with studies in other populations. It includes studies of common variants, as well as moderate- and high-penetrance variants. In addition, it addresses the gaps that need to be bridged in order to better understand breast cancer genetic risk in Latin America.

Literature review of data-based models for identification of factors associated with racial disparities in breast cancer mortality

In the United States, early detection methods have contributed to the reduction of overall breast cancer mortality but this pattern has not been observed uniformly across all racial groups. A vast body of research literature shows a set of health care, socio-economic, biological, physical, and behavioural factors influencing the mortality disparity. In this paper, we review the modelling frameworks, statistical tests, and databases used in understanding influential factors, and we discuss the factors documented in the modelling literature. Our findings suggest that disparities research relies on conventional modelling and statistical tools for quantitative analysis, and there exist opportunities to implement data-based modelling frameworks for (1) exploring mechanisms triggering disparities, (2) increasing the collection of behavioural data, and (3) monitoring factors associated with the mortality disparity across time.

Association of ALOX12 gene polymorphism with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in diabetic nephropathy

PURPOSE

Cardiovascular (CV) events are the first cause of death in patients with chronic renal disease (CKD) and in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). The combination of CKD and DM2 elevates the risk of both cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death in this high-risk population. Besides traditional risk factors, such as dyslipidemia, smoking, obesity, and carotid atherosclerosis, novel factors are under investigation such as genetic polymorphisms. Lipoxygenases (LOXs) and their genes are of critical importance in oxidative stress, inflammation, and atherosclerosis. The aim of the study is to clarify a potential ALOX12 role in CVD presence and progress of diabetic patients in different stages of nephropathy.

METHODS

We studied 145 patients with a documented history of DM2 for at least 10 years and diabetic nephropathy (DN), mean age 68 ± 9 years, body mass index 31 ± 5 kg/m², and different stages of renal disease, depending on glomerular filtration rate. The sample population consisted of two groups: 108 DM2 patients with DN in all five stages of CKD and 37 DM2 patients as controls. Anthropometric and clinical characteristics, interview for history of previous CV event, and assessment of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) were recorded at baseline. All patients were genotyped for ALOX12 polymorphisms with focus on rs14309. Genotypes (AA, AG, and GG) were evaluated for any possible role in CVD, and grouping was performed on A genotype, which is the dominant model. All participants were followed over a period of 7 years, and the end points studied were all-cause mortality, CV mortality, and CV events. CV events were defined as myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, or peripheral artery disease.

RESULTS

The GG genotype has been significantly associated with cIMT levels above 0.86 mm and with history of MI. Regarding the presence of an atherosclerotic plaque in either carotid artery, no significant association was found when the genotypes were assessed on their own. After grouping, though, GG genotype revealed a significant association between carotid plaque formation and atheromatosis. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that ALOX12 gene GG genotype predicted all-cause mortality, CV mortality, and CV events. Similarly, when AA and AG genotypes were grouped, Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with GG genotype presented an even more significant higher all-cause mortality, CV mortality, and CV events compared with AA and AG genotypes combined. After adjustment for several traditional risk factors, multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis showed that patients with the GG genotype had a significant higher risk of all-cause mortality, a threefold increase in CV mortality, and a twofold increased risk for CV events compared to patients with the AA or the AG genotype.

CONCLUSION

ALOX12 rs14309 GG genotype expression was found to be significantly associated with MI, higher cIMT, increased CV events, CV, and overall mortality. This phenomenon could be partially explained by the increased platelet proaggregatory activity of AA products and the control they exert in thrombotic occurrence and plaque formation.

How will the 'cancer moonshot' impact health disparities?

In 1971, President Nixon signed into law the National Cancer Act (NCA), colloquially known as the "War on Cancer", which pushed cancer onto the national agenda and is credited for many subsequent increases in the knowledge of the molecular, cellular, and genetic causes and effects of cancer. But even though cancer mortality has declined overall in intervening years after the NCA, cancer health disparities persist in the form of higher cancer incidence and mortality rates among certain cancer types and certain populations. Breast and cervical cancers disproportionately affect African American, Hispanic, and American Indian Women. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death for Latinos (with men and women combined). Forty-five years after the NCA, how will the next enormous cancer initiatives-President Barack Obama's Cancer Moonshot and the All of Us Research Program (formerly the Precision Medicine Initiative Cohort Program)-impact cancer health disparities? The emergence of precision medicine and the sharing of information across sectors are at the heart of these large national initiatives and hold vast potential to address complex health disparities that remain in incidence reporting, incidence, treatment, prognoses, and mortality among certain cancer types and racial/ethnic minorities, including African Americans and Hispanics/Latinos, compared to Whites. But clinical research efforts and data collection have historically lacked diverse representation for various reasons, posing a large risk to these national initiatives in their ability to develop diverse cohorts that adequately represent racial/ethnic minorities. Efforts to reduce disparities and increase diversity in study cohorts have emerged, from patient navigation, to use of mobile technology to collect data, to national consortiums dedicated to including diverse groups, to university training on health disparities. These efforts point to the need for the Cancer Moonshot and precision medicine leaders to develop a multifaceted approach to address disparities in health and healthcare to promote a diverse healthcare workforce, patient-centered care, maintenance of a database of information regarding the state of health disparities, and the institution of measurable goals for improving care across all ethnic groups. If these elements are included, it is possible that the Cancer Moonshot and precision medicine will benefit the entire population of our country.

Genomic Disparities in Breast Cancer Among Latinas

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among Latinas in the United States and the leading cause of cancer-related death among this population. Latinas tend to be diagnosed at a later stage and have worse prognostic features than their non-Hispanic white counterparts. Genetic and genomic factors may contribute to observed breast cancer health disparities in Latinas.

METHODS

We provide a landscape of our current understanding and the existing gaps that need to be filled across the cancer prevention and control continuum.

RESULTS

We summarize available data on mutations in high and moderate penetrance genes for inherited risk of breast cancer and the associated literature on disparities in awareness of and uptake of genetic counseling and testing in Latina populations. We also discuss common genetic polymorphisms and risk of breast cancer in Latinas. In the treatment setting, we examine tumor genomics and pharmacogenomics in Latina patients with breast cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

As the US population continues to diversify, extending genetic and genomic research into this underserved and understudied population is critical. By understanding the risk of breast cancer among ethnically diverse populations, we will be better positioned to make treatment advancements for earlier stages of cancer, identify more effective and ideally less toxic treatment regimens, and increase rates of survival.