Structure and expression of the three MHC-linked HSP70 genes

From sleep to cancer to neurodegenerative disease: the crucial role of Hsp70 in maintaining cellular homeostasis and potential therapeutic implications

Sleep is a fundamental process essential for reparatory and restorative mechanisms in all organisms. Recent research has linked sleep to various pathological conditions, including cancer and neurodegeneration, which are associated with various molecular changes in different cellular environments. Despite the potential significance of various molecules, the HSPA1A or Hsp70 protein, which has possible connections with sleep and different neuropsychological and pathological disorders, has been explored the least. This paper explores the potential for manipulating and discovering drugs related to the Hsp70 protein to alleviate sleep problems and improve the prognosis for various other health issues. This paper discusses the critical role of Hsp70 in cancer, neurodegeneration, apoptosis, sleep, and its regulation at the structural level through allosteric mechanisms and different substrates. The significant impact of Hsp70's connection to various conditions suggests that existing sleep medicine could be used to improve such conditions, leading to improved outcomes, minimized research costs, and a new direction for current research. Overall, this paper highlights the potential of Hsp70 protein as a key therapeutic target for developing new drugs for the treatment of sleep disorders, cancer, neurodegeneration, and other related pathological conditions. Further research into the molecular mechanisms of Hsp70 regulation and its interactions with other cellular pathways is necessary to develop targeted treatments for these conditions.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Clinicopathological and prognostic significance of heat shock proteins in hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Overexpression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) has been observed in a wide range of human tumors, and there is an increasing evidence demonstrated that HSPs play a key role in tumor progression. Several studies were conducted to explore the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic value of HSPs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the results remain controversial. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

The eligible literature was obtained from PubMed, Cochrane library, Web of science, Embase, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wan Fang databases. We used the odds ratio (OR) and hazard ratio (HR) as the suitable parameters to assess the clinicopathological features and prognostic value of HSPs in HCC patients.

Results

The meta-analysis results showed that HSPs expression was associated with overall survival (OS) of HCC patients (HR = 1.61, 95%CI = 1.22-2.13, P=0.001, I 2 = 62.7%). In addition, the pooled results suggested that HSPs expression was significantly correlated with tumor differentiation (OR = 1.33, 95%CI = 1.08-1.65, P = 0.907), vascular invasion (OR = 1.31, 95%CI = 1.02-1.69, P = 0.921) and lymphatic metastasis (OR=1.98, 95%CI= 1.70-2.31, P = 0.740). Meanwhile, the subgroup analysis showed a significant correlation between the expression of HSP27 (HR=1.69, 95%CI = 1.24-2.31, P = 0.674) and HSP90α (HR=2.03, 95%CI = 1.73-2.40, P = 0.743) with OS of HCC patients.

Conclusions

Our meta-analysis confirms that HSPs expression is closely associated with a worse prognosis in HCC patients, and may be directly involved in tumor differentiation and distant metastasis. In addition, the subgroup analysis results demonstrate that the expression of HSP27 and HSP90α can be served as potential prognostic predictors of HCC.

Main Polymorphisms in Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease

Aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is a condition caused by increased bronchoconstriction in people with asthma after taking aspirin or another NSAID. Molecular analysis of the human genome has opened up new perspectives on human polymorphisms and disease. This study was conducted to identify the genetic factors that influence this disease due to its unknown genetic factors. We evaluated research studies, letters, comments, editorials, eBooks, and reviews. PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Sciences, Cochrane Library, and Scopus were searched for information. We used the keywords polymorphisms, aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease, asthma, allergy as search terms. This study included 38 studies. AERD complications were associated with polymorphisms in ALOX15, EP2, ADRB2, SLC6A12, CCR3, CRTH2, CysLTs, DPCR1, DPP10, FPR2, HSP70, IL8, IL1B, IL5RA, IL-13, IL17RA, ILVBL, TBXA2R, TLR3, HLA-DRB and HLA-DQ, HLA-DR7, HLA-DP. AERD was associated with heterogeneity in gene polymorphisms, making it difficult to pinpoint specific gene changes. Therefore, diagnosing and treating AERD may be facilitated by examining common variants involving the disease.

Identification and Prioritization of PET Neuroimaging Targets for Microglial Phenotypes Associated with Microglial Activity in Alzheimer's Disease

Activation of microglial cells accompanies the progression of many neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Development of molecular imaging tools specific to microglia can help elucidate the mechanism through which microglia contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of neurodegenerative disorders. Through analysis of published genetic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data sets, we identified 19 genes with microglia-specific expression that we then ranked based on association with the AD characteristics, change in expression, and potential druggability of the target. We believe that the process we used to identify and rank microglia-specific genes is broadly applicable to the identification and evaluation of targets in other disease areas and for applications beyond molecular imaging.

Diversity in heat shock protein families: functional implications in virus infection with a comprehensive insight of their role in the HIV-1 life cycle

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are a group of cellular proteins that are induced during stress conditions such as heat stress, cold shock, UV irradiation and even pathogenic insult. They are classified into families based on molecular size like HSP27, 40, 70 and 90 etc, and many of them act as cellular chaperones that regulate protein folding and determine the fate of mis-folded or unfolded proteins. Studies have also shown multiple other functions of these proteins such as in cell signalling, transcription and immune response. Deregulation of these proteins leads to devastating consequences, such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease and other life threatening diseases suggesting their potential importance in life processes. HSPs exist in multiple isoforms, and their biochemical and functional characterization still remains a subject of active investigation. In case of viral infections, several HSP isoforms have been documented to play important roles with few showing pro-viral activity whereas others seem to have an anti-viral role. Earlier studies have demonstrated that HSP40 plays a pro-viral role whereas HSP70 inhibits HIV-1 replication; however, clear isoform-specific functional roles remain to be established. A detailed functional characterization of all the HSP isoforms will uncover their role in cellular homeostasis and also may highlight some of them as potential targets for therapeutic strategies against various viral infections. In this review, we have tried to comprehend the details about cellular HSPs and their isoforms, their role in cellular physiology and their isoform-specific functions in case of virus infection with a specific focus on HIV-1 biology.

Single-Cell Sequencing to Identify Six Heat Shock Protein (HSP) Genes-Mediated Progression Subtypes of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Background

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are widely involved in tumor occurrence and development and are prognostic markers for multiple tumors. However, the role of HSPs in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains unclear.

Methods

We used Cytoscape to identify hub genes in the ccRCC single-cell sequencing data set from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) data repository. We identified subtypes, C1 and C2, of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) patients based on the expression of hub genes using unsupervised consensus clustering. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to verify the clustering differences, and Kaplan-Meier (K-M) estimate was used to verify the survival differences between C1 and C2 patients. We used TIMER 2.0 and CIBERSORT to evaluate the immune cell infiltration of HSP genes and C1 and C2 patients. The R package "pRRophetic" was used to evaluate the sensitivity in C1 and C2 patients to the four first-line treatment drugs.

Results

We identified six hub genes (HSP90AA1, HSPH1, HSPA1B, HSPA8, and HSPA1A) encoding HSP, five of which were significantly downregulated in TCGA group, and four had a protective effect on prognosis (p <0.05). Survival analysis showed that C1 patients had a better overall survival (p <0.001). TIMER 2.0 analysis showed that three HSP genes were significantly correlated with the infiltration of CD4+ T cells and CD4+ Th1 cells (|cor|>0.5, p<0.001). CIBERSORT showed significant differences in multiple infiltrating immune cells between C1 and C2 patients. Meanwhile, the expression of PD1 was significantly lower in C1 patients than in C2 patients, and the expression of PDL1 is the another way around. Drug sensitivity analysis showed that C1 patients were more sensitive to sorafenib, pazopanib, and axitinib (p <0.001).

Conclusion

Our research revealed two molecular subtypes of ccRCC based on 6 HSP genes, and revealed significant differences between the two subtypes in terms of clinical prognosis, immune infiltration, and drug sensitivity.

A Search for Biomarkers of Early-life Stress-related Psychopathology: Focus on 70-kDa Heat Shock Proteins

Clinical studies clearly indicate that early-life stress (ELS) may cause physical and mental health problems later in life. Therefore, the identification of universal biomarkers of ELS-related diseases is very important. The 70-kDa heat shock proteins (HSP70s), specifically HSPA5 and HSPA1B, have been recently shown to be potentially associated with occurrence of anxiety, mood disorders, and schizophrenia; thus, we hypothesized that HSP70s are potential candidate biomarkers of ELS-induced psychopathologies. A maternal separation (MS) procedure in rats was used to model ELS, and the expression of HSPA5 and HSPA1B was investigated in the blood, medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and hippocampus of juvenile, preadolescent, and adult animals. We also studied the effects of MS on the long-term potentiation (LTP) and behavioral phenotypes of adult rats. We found that MS enhanced the expression of HSPA1B mRNA in the blood and mPFC of juvenile and preadolescent rats. This increase was accompanied by an increase in the HSPA1A/1B protein levels in the mPFC and hippocampus of juvenile rats that persisted in the mPFC until adulthood. MS juvenile and adult rats showed enhanced HSPA5 mRNA expression in the blood and increased HSPA5 protein expression in the mPFC (juveniles) and hippocampus (adults). Concurrently, MS adult rats exhibited aberrations in LTP in the mPFC and hippocampus and a less anxious behavioral phenotype. These results indicate that MS may produce enduring overexpression of HSPA1B and HSPA5 in the brain and blood. Therefore, both HSP70 family members may be potential candidate peripheral and brain biomarkers of ELS-induced changes in brain functioning.

The association of heat shock protein genetic polymorphisms with age-related hearing impairment in Taiwan

BACKGROUND

Age-related hearing impairment (ARHI) is a major disability among the elderly population. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) were found to be associated with ARHI in animal studies. The aim of this study was to analyze the associations of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of HSP genes with ARHI in an elderly population in Taiwan.

METHODS

Participants ≥65 years of age were recruited for audiometric tests and genetic analyses. The pure tone average (PTA) of the better hearing ear was calculated for ARHI evaluation. The associations of HSPA1L (rs2075800 and rs2227956), HSPA1A (rs1043618) and HSPA1B (rs2763979) with ARHI were analyzed in 146 ARHI-susceptible (cases) and 146 ARHI-resistant (controls) participants.

RESULTS

The "T" allele of HSPA1B rs2763979 showed a decreased risk of ARHI. The "TT" genotype of rs2763979 also showed a decreased risk of ARHI in the dominant hereditary model. For HSPA1L (rs2075800 and rs2227956) and HSPA1A (rs1043618), the haplotype "CAG" was related to a decreased risk of ARHI.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that HSP70 polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to ARHI in the elderly population.

The adverse events of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation are associated with gene polymorphism within human leukocyte antigen region

Adverse reactions may still occur in some patients after receiving haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), even when choosing a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched donor. The adverse reactions of transplantation include disease relapse, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), mortality and CMV infection. However, only the relapse was discussed in our previous study. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the correlation between the gene polymorphisms within the HLA region and the adverse reactions of post-HSCT in patients with acute leukaemia (n = 176), where 72 patients were diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL) and 104 were acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). The candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms were divided into three models: donor, recipient, and donor-recipient pairs and the data of ALL and AML were analysed individually. Based on the results, we found 16 SNPs associated with the survival rates, the risk of CMV infection, or the grade of GVHD in either donor, recipient, or donor-recipient matching models. In the ALL group, the rs209132 of TRIM27 in the donor group was related to CMV infection (p = 0.021), the rs213210 of RING1 in the recipient group was associated with serious GVHD (p = 0.003), and the rs2227956 of HSPA1L in the recipient group correlated with CMV infection (p = 0.001). In the AML group, the rs3130048 of BAG6 in the donor-recipient pairs group was associated with serious GVHD (p = 0.048). Moreover, these SNPs were further associated with the duration time of survival after transplantation. These results could be applied to select the best donor in HSCT.

Hsp70 in cancer: A double agent in the battle between survival and death

The heat shock protein (Hsps) superfamily, also known as molecular chaperones, are highly conserved and present in all living organisms and play vital roles in protein fate. The HspA1A (Hsp70-1), called Hsp70 in this review, is expressed at low or undetectable levels in most unstressed normal cells, but numerous studies have shown that diverse types of tumor cells express Hsp70 at the plasma membrane that leads to resistance to programmed cell death and tumor progression. Hsp70 is released into the extracellular milieu in three forms including free soluble, complexed with cancer antigenic peptides, and exosome forms. Therefore, it seems to be a promising therapeutic target in human malignancies. However, a great number of studies have indicated that both intracellular and extracellular Hsp70 have a dual function. A line of evidence presented that intracellular Hsp70 has a cytoprotective function via suppression of apoptosis and lysosomal cell death (LCD) as well as that extracellular Hsp70 can promote tumorigenesis and angiogenesis. Other evidence showed intracellular Hsp70 can promote apoptosis and membrane-associated/extracellular Hsp70 can elicit antitumor innate and adaptive immune responses. Given the contradictory functions, as a "double agent," could Hsp70 be a promising tool in the future of targeted cancer therapies? To answer this question, in this review, we will discuss the functions of Hsp70 in cancers besides inhibition and stimulation strategies for targeting Hsp70 along with their challenges.

Review of Genetic Variation as a Predictive Biomarker for Chronic Graft-Versus-Host-Disease After Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGvHD) is one of the major complications of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). cGvHD is an autoimmune-like disorder affecting multiple organs and involves a dermatological rash, tissue inflammation and fibrosis. The incidence of cGvHD has been reported to be as high as 30% to 60% and there are currently no reliable tools for predicting the occurrence of cGvHD. There is therefore an important unmet clinical need for predictive biomarkers. The present review summarizes the state of the art for genetic variation as a predictive biomarker for cGvHD. We discuss three different modes of action for genetic variation in transplantation: genetic associations, genetic matching, and pharmacogenetics. The results indicate that currently, there are no genetic polymorphisms or genetic tools that can be reliably used as validated biomarkers for predicting cGvHD. A number of recommendations for future studies can be drawn. The majority of studies to date have been under-powered and included too few patients and genetic markers. Like in all complex multifactorial diseases, large collaborative genome-level studies are now needed to achieve reliable and unbiased results. Some of the candidate genes, in particular, CTLA4, HSPE, IL1R1, CCR6, FGFR1OP, and IL10, and some non-HLA variants in the HLA gene region have been replicated to be associated with cGvHD risk in independent studies. These associations should now be confirmed in large well-characterized cohorts with fine mapping. Some patients develop cGvHD despite very extensive immunosuppression and other treatments, indicating that the current therapeutic regimens may not always be effective enough. Hence, more studies on pharmacogenetics are also required. Moreover, all of these studies should be adjusted for diagnostic and clinical features of cGvHD. We conclude that future studies should focus on modern genome-level tools, such as machine learning, polygenic risk scores and genome-wide association study-transcription meta-analyses, instead of focusing on just single variants. The risk of cGvHD may be related to the summary level of immunogenetic differences, or whole genome histocompatibility between each donor-recipient pair. As the number of genome-wide analyses in HSCT is increasing, we are approaching an era where there will be sufficient data to incorporate these approaches in the near future.

HSP70-eIF4G Interaction Promotes Protein Synthesis and Cell Proliferation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide and features various tumor escape mechanisms from treatment-induced stress. HSP70 plays a critical role in cell protection under stress. eIF4G physiologically regulates the formation of the protein-ribosomal complex and maintains cellular protein synthesis. However, the precise cooperation of both in HCC remains poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that HSP70 expression is positively correlated with eIF4G in tumor specimens from 25 HCC patients, in contrast to the adjacent non-tumorous tissues, and that both influence the survival of HCC patients. Mechanistically, this study indicates that HSP70 and eIF4G interact with each other in vitro. We further show that the HSP70–eIF4G interaction contributes to promoting cellular protein synthesis, enhancing cell proliferation, and inhibiting cell apoptosis. Collectively, this study reveals the pivotal role of HSP70–eIF4G interaction as an escape mechanism in HCC. Therefore, modulation of the HSP70–eIF4G interaction might be a potential novel therapeutic target of HCC treatment.

Functional diversity between HSP70 paralogs caused by variable interactions with specific co-chaperones

Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) chaperones play a central role in protein quality control and are crucial for many cellular processes, including protein folding, degradation, and disaggregation. Human HSP70s compose a family of 13 members that carry out their functions with the aid of even larger families of co-chaperones. A delicate interplay between HSP70s and co-chaperone recruitment is thought to determine substrate fate, yet it has been generally assumed that all Hsp70 paralogs have similar activities and are largely functionally redundant. However, here we found that when expressed in human cells, two highly homologous HSP70s, HSPA1A and HSPA1L, have opposing effects on cellular handling of various substrates. For example, HSPA1A reduced aggregation of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-associated protein variant superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1)-A4V, whereas HSPA1L enhanced its aggregation. Intriguingly, variations in the substrate-binding domain of these HSP70s did not play a role in this difference. Instead, we observed that substrate fate is determined by differential interactions of the HSP70s with co-chaperones. Whereas most co-chaperones bound equally well to these two HSP70s, Hsp70/Hsp90-organizing protein (HOP) preferentially bound to HSPA1L, and the Hsp110 nucleotide-exchange factor HSPH2 preferred HSPA1A. The role of HSPH2 was especially crucial for the HSPA1A-mediated reduction in SOD1-A4V aggregation. These findings reveal a remarkable functional diversity at the level of the cellular HSP70s and indicate that this diversity is defined by their affinities for specific co-chaperones such as HSPH2.

Candidate Gene Analysis Of Alopecia Areata In Jordanian Population Of Arab Descent: A Case-Control Study

Background

Alopecia areata (AA) is a non-cicatricial patchy hair loss on the scalp, face or other parts of the body. AA was found to be responsive to immunosuppressive therapies, a finding that supports an autoimmune basis for the disease. Several genetic studies have shown the significance of immunological factors as key genetic components in AA.

Objective

In this study, we aimed to investigate the genetic association of 7 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within five candidate genes including TAP1, CXCL1, CXCL2, HSPA1B, and TNFα with AA susceptibility in the Jordanian Arab population.

Methods

A case–control genetic association study conducted in 152 patients and 150 healthy individuals was performed using the sequenom MassARRAY system (iPLEX GOLD) to genotype the selected SNPs.

Results

rs1800629 SNP of the TNFα gene was significantly associated with AA in the heterozygous and rare homozygous genotypes (P=0.022 and P=0.0079, respectively) with no linkage of the TAP1, CXCL1, CXCL2 and HSPA1B variants.

Conclusion

This is the first study of its kind among the Jordanian population providing evidence of genetic association of the TNFα with AA susceptibility. Further genetic studies on Arab descent including other variants are required to clarify and strengthen the association of these genes with susceptibility to develop AA.

Analysis of Laser Therapy Effects on Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients: A System Biology Study

Introduction: The Mechanism of laser therapy and also its safety are 2 important features of the application of different types of lasers in medicine. This study aims to investigate the critically affected genes after the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma patients. Methods: The gene expression profiles of 4 squamous cell carcinoma patients that were treated via chemoradiotherapy (CRT) plus the laser and 3 similar patients without laser exposure from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were downloaded and were screened to find critical genes via network analysis. The STRING database, Cytoscape software, and the Clue GO plug-in of Cytoscape software were used. Results: The genes HSX70 and NCC27 were determined as neighbors and HSPA1B, CLIC1, RAB13, PPIF, and LCE3D as hub genes. The over-expression of LCE3D was interpreted as the side effect of laser therapy. Apoptosis and the cell cycle were the dominant biological processes regulated by the HSP molecules in the laser-treated patients. Conclusion: The laser affected the main biological processes and simultaneously issued side effects.

Association of HSPA1B Polymorphisms with Paranoid Schizophrenia in a Polish Population

This study aimed to find the potential association between HSPA1B polymorphisms and risk of paranoid schizophrenia, clinical variables of the disease, and suicidal behavior. A total of 901 unrelated Polish subjects of Caucasian origin (377 schizophrenia patients and 524 controls) were recruited. Four single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were genotyped using PCR–RFLP (rs539689, rs9281590) and TaqMan assays (rs263979, rs6547452). A strong tendency towards statistical significance (p = 0.051) was observed in rs539689 allele distribution between patients and controls in overall study subjects. After stratification according to gender, we found that rs539689 was significantly associated with schizophrenia in males, but not in females. The minor allele C had a protective effect in males [OR 0.73 (95% CI 0.61–0.88, p < 0.05)]. In addition, two SNPs (rs539689, rs9281590) were significantly associated with PANSS scores. Another important finding was a strong significant association between the HSPA1B rs539689 polymorphism and attempted suicide in schizophrenic patients. The C/C genotype and C allele were protective against suicidal behavior in entire sample (p < 0.001), in males (p < 001), and in females (p < 0.05), although associations were weaker than in males. Our findings support that HSPA1B gene may be involved in susceptibility to schizophrenia and clinical presentation of the disease in a sex-dependent manner, and may play a role in suicidal behavior in the Polish population of schizophrenic patients. Further independent analyses in different populations should be performed to clarify the role of HSPA1B in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.

Heat Shock Protein 70 Gene Single Nucleotide Polymorphism and Diabetic Foot Ulcer. Is There Any Relationship?

Objective: The study aims to investigate the potential role of C2437T (Met493Thr) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the heat shock protein (HSP) 70 in diabetic foot ulcer patients. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, SNP of the HSP70 hom gene, also called HSPA1L, was studied among diabetic patients with an ulcer (Group A: n = 50), diabetic patients without an ulcer (Group B: n = 50), and healthy subjects (Group C: n = 50). Results: There was a higher frequency of T/T genotype in group A (76%) as compared to group B (44%) and group C (14%). Moreover, the frequency of T allele was 7.3% in group A, 5.5% in group B, and 3.9% in group C. C allele frequency was 2.6%, 4.4%, and 6.1% in group A, group B, and group C, respectively. In group A, the odds ratio and risk ratio were 19-fold and 5-fold, respectively, for the HSP70 hom T/T homozygous gene compared to B (OR 19.45; RR 5.42; X² 38.8, p < 0.0001). Moreover, 4-fold and 1.75-fold ratios have been compared with group C (OR 4.03; RR 1.72; X² 10.6, p < 0.001). No significant difference in genotype was observed in group B and group C. Conclusions: There is a significant and positive association of hspHSP70 hom polymorphism restricted to T allele in homozygous and heterozygous states among diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) patients.

Genetic and Epigenetic Components of Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease

Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) severity and its clinical phenotypes are characterized by genetic variation within pathways for arachidonic acid metabolism, inflammation, and immune responses. Epigenetic effects, including DNA methylation and histone protein modification, contribute to regulation of many genes that contribute to inflammatory states in AERD. The development of noninvasive, predictive clinical tests using data from genetic, epigenetic, pharmacogenetic, and biomarker studies will improve precision medicine efforts for AERD and asthma treatment.

The interaction between a HSP-70 gene variant with dietary calories in determining serum markers of inflammation and cardiovascular risk

BACKGROUND

The high prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) globally is attributable to an interaction between environmental and genetic factors. Gene × diet interaction studies aim to explore how a modifiable factor interacts with genetic predispositions. Here we have explored the interaction of a heat shock protein (HSP70) gene polymorphism (+1267A > G) with dietary intake and their possible association with serum C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammatory marker, that is a major component of CVD risk.

METHODS

HSP70 genotype was determined using a TaqMan real time PCR based method.Dietary intake was assessed using a dietary questionnaire. Serum high sensitivity (Hs) CRP and other cardiovascular risk factors were assessed by routine methods. This included coronary angioplasty to determine the presence of coronary artery stenosis.

RESULTS

There were significant differences between serum lipid profile and Hs-CRP across the genotypes for Hsp70. The carriers of G allele had higher serum hs-CRP concentrations, compared with the AA homozygotes, with the wild genotype. Interaction analysis showed the association was modulated by total energy intake; the interaction of high energy intake with GG genotype: RERI = 0.77, AP = 0.26, S = 1.6.

CONCLUSION

We have found a significant association between the +1267A > G variant of the HSP70 gene with cardiovascular risk factors and serum hs-CRP concentrations. It is possible that a low energy diet could ameliorate the unfavorable effects of G allele of HSP70.

HSP72 is an early biomarker to detect cisplatin and acetaminophen nephrotoxicity

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether the urinary HSP72 levels (uHSP72) are a useful biomarker for early diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) induced by two widely used drugs: cisplatin and acetaminophen.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To analyze the time-course of nephrotoxic injury and uHSP72 levels, male Wistar rats were administered a single high dose of cisplatin (7 mg/kg) or acetaminophen (750 mg/kg) and were assessed at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h.

RESULTS

AKI induced by cisplatin was characterized by tubular injury that started at 6 h and was enhanced after 48 h. Plasma creatinine was increased only after 72 h. In contrast, uHSP72 levels were augmented after 6 h and were enhanced after 48 h of cisplatin administration, which was consistent with the tubular injury. In acetaminophen-induced AKI, the tubular lesions were less severe and predominantly characterized by tubular cell detachment. Interestingly, uHSP72 levels were increased after 6 h of acetaminophen injection and remained elevated at the following time points, reflecting the tubular injury, even in the absence of major functional changes.

CONCLUSIONS

In two models of renal injury induced by nephrotoxic drugs, we showed that uHSP72 could be used as an early biomarker to detect subtle to severe tubular injury.

Association of A1538G and C2437T single nucleotide polymorphisms in heat shock protein-70 genes with diabetic nephropathy among South Indian population

Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease, characterized by progressive albuminuria and conferring additional risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality. The crucial role of heat-shock proteins (HSPs) on renal function in patients with DN has been well documented. The present study was aimed to understand the association of HSP-70 gene variants on the susceptibility of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and DN. A total of 946 subjects (549 Males; 397 Females) were recruited and divided into four groups according to the levels of urinary albumin excretion (UAE): those with normoalbuminuria (UAE <30 mg/24 h; n=230), those with microalbuminuria (30≤ UAE ≤300 mg/24 h; n=230), and those with macroalbuminuria (UAE> 300 mg/24 h; n=230). The control group randomly enrolled a consecutive population of 256 healthy subjects who had a routine medical check-up in our hospital. Those subjects had no history or clinical symptoms of diabetes. Subjects were genotyped for HSP70-2 (+1538 A/G; rs2763979) and HSP70-hom (+2437 C/T; rs2227956) by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). The ‘G’ allele of HSP70-2 (+1538 A/G) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) showed relative risk for normoalbuminuria, microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria subjects whereas the ‘T’ allele of HSP70-hom (+2437 C/T) SNP showed significant protection against macroalbuminuria subjects. In conclusion, our results indicate that the HSP70-2 (+1538 A/G) and HSP70-hom (+2437 C/T) SNPs are highly associated with renal complications in T2DM among the South Indian population.

Polymorphisms of heat shock protein 70 genes (HSPA1A, HSPA1B and HSPA1L) and susceptibility of noise-induced hearing loss in a Chinese population: A case-control study

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the second-most frequent form of sensorineural hearing loss. When exposed to the same noise, some workers develop NIHL while others do not, suggesting that NIHL may be associated with genetic factors. To explore the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) genes (HSPA1A, HSPA1B and HSPA1L) and susceptibility to NIHL in Han Chinese workers exposed to noise, a case-control association study was carried out with 286 hearing loss cases and 286 matched with gender, age, type of work, and exposure time, drawn from a population of 3790 noise-exposed workers. Four SNPs were selected and genotyped. Subsequently, the effects of the alleles and genotypes of the three HSP70 genes (HSPA1A, HSPA1B and HSPA1L) on NIHL were analyzed by using a conditional logistic regression. A generalized multiple dimensionality reduction (GMDR) was applied to further detect an interaction between the four SNPs. Compared with the combined genotypes CC/TC, carriers of the TT genotype of rs2763979 appeared to show greater susceptibility to NIHL (P = 0.042, adjusted OR = 1.731, 95% CI 1.021-2.935). A significant interaction between rs2763979 and CNE was found (P = 0.029), and a significant association was found between TT of s2763979 and NIHL (P = 0.024, adjusted OR = 5.694, 95%CI 1.256-25.817) in the 96 dB (A)≤CNE<101 dB (A) group. The results suggest that the rs2763979 locus of the HSP70 genes may be associated with susceptibility to NIHL in Chinese individuals, and other HSP70 genes may also be susceptibility genes for NIHL, but the results must be further replicated in additional independent sample sets.

Engagement of Components of DNA-Break Repair Complex and NFκB in Hsp70A1A Transcription Upregulation by Heat Shock

An involvement of components of DNA-break repair (DBR) complex including DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase 1 (PARP-1) in transcription regulation in response to distinct cellular signalling has been revealed by different laboratories. Here, we explored the involvement of DNA-PK and PARP-1 in the heat shock induced transcription of Hsp70A1A. We find that inhibition of both the catalytic subunit of DNA-PK (DNA-PKc), and Ku70, a regulatory subunit of DNA-PK holo-enzyme compromises transcription of Hsp70A1A under heat shock treatment. In immunoprecipitation based experiments we find that Ku70 or DNA-PK holoenzyme associates with NFκB. This NFκB associated complex also carries PARP-1. Downregulation of both NFκB and PARP-1 compromises Hsp70A1A transcription induced by heat shock treatment. Alteration of three bases by site directed mutagenesis within the consensus κB sequence motif identified on the promoter affected inducibility of Hsp70A1A transcription by heat shock treatment. These results suggest that NFκB engaged with the κB motif on the promoter cooperates in Hsp70A1A activation under heat shock in human cells as part of a DBR complex including DNA-PK and PARP-1.

Genetic risk factors for clozapine-induced neutropenia and agranulocytosis in a Dutch psychiatric population

Prescription of clozapine is complicated by the occurrence of clozapine-induced reduction of neutrophils. The aim of this study was to identify genetic risk factors in a population of 310 Dutch patients treated with clozapine, including 38 patients developing neutropenia and 31 patients developing agranulocytosis. NQO2 1541AA (NRH quinone oxidoreductase 2; protects cells against oxidative metabolites) was present at a higher frequency in agranulocytosis patients compared with control (23% versus 7%, P=0.03), as was ABCB1 (ABC-transporter-B1; drug efflux transporter) 3435TT (32% versus 20%, P=0.05). In patients developing neutropenia, ABCB1 3435TT and homozygosity for GSTT1^null (glutathione-S-transferase; conjugates reactive clozapine metabolites into glutathione) were more frequent compared with control (34% versus 20%, P=0.05 and 31% versus 14%, P=0.03), whereas GSTM1^null was less frequent in these patients (31% versus 52%, P=0.03). To investigate whether combinations of the identified genetic risk factors have a higher predictive value, should be confirmed in a larger case-control study.

Targeted heat shock protein 72 for pulmonary cytoprotection

Heat shock protein 72 (HSP72) is perhaps the most important member of the HSP70 family of proteins, given that it is induced in a wide variety of tissues and cells to combat stress, particularly oxidative stress. Here, we review independent observations of the critical role this protein plays as a pulmonary cytoprotectant and discuss the merits of developing HSP72 as a therapeutic for rapid delivery to cells and tissues after a traumatic event. We also discuss the fusion of HSP72 to a cell-penetrating single-chain Fv antibody fragment derived from mAb 3E10, referred to as Fv-HSP70. This fusion construct has been validated in vivo in a cerebral infarction model and is currently in testing as a clinical therapeutic to treat ischemic events and as a fieldable medical countermeasure to treat inhalation of toxicants caused by terrorist actions or industrial accidents.

Expression of Heat Shock Protein 70 Gene and Its Correlation with Inflammatory Markers in Essential Hypertension

OBJECTIVES

Hypertension is characterized by systemic high blood pressure and is the most common and important risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases. Studies have shown that the circulating levels of certain inflammatory markers such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interlukin-6 (IL-6), c-reactive protein (CRP), and tumor suppressor protein-53 (p53) are upregulated and are independently associated with essential hypertension. However, mechanism of increase in the levels of HSP70 protein is not clear. No such studies are reported in the blood circulation of patients with essential hypertension. In the present study, we investigated the expression of circulating HSP70 at mRNA and protein levels and its relationship with other inflammatory markers in patients with essential hypertension.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We recruited 132 patients with essential hypertension and 132 normal controls from similar socio-economic-geographical background. The expression of HSP70 at mRNA levels was determined by Real Time PCR and at protein levels by indirect Elisa and Western Blot techniques.

RESULTS

We found a significantly higher expression of HSP70 gene expression (approximately 6.45 fold, P < 0.0001) in hypertensive patients as compared to healthy controls. A significant difference (P < 0.0001) in the protein expression of HSP70 was also observed in plasma of patients as compared to that of controls.

CONCLUSION

Higher expression of HSP70 is positively correlated with inflammatory markers in patients with essential hypertension and this correlation could play an important role in essential hypertension.

Gut epithelial inducible heat-shock proteins and their modulation by diet and the microbiota

The epidemic of metabolic diseases has raised questions about the interplay between the human diet and the gut and its microbiota. The gut has two vital roles: nutrient absorption and intestinal barrier function. Gut barrier defects are involved in many diseases. Excess energy intake disturbs the gut microbiota and favors body entry of microbial compounds that stimulate chronic metabolic inflammation. In this context, the natural defense mechanisms of gut epithelial cells and the potential to boost them nutritionally warrant further study. One such important defense system is the activation of inducible heat-shock proteins (iHSPs) which protect the gut epithelium against oxidative stress and inflammation. Importantly, various microbial components can induce the expression of iHSPs. This review examines gut epithelial iHSPs as the main targets of microbial signals and nutrients and presents data on diseases involving disturbances of gut epithelial iHSPs. In addition, a broad literature analysis of dietary modulation of gut epithelial iHSPs is provided. Future research aims should include the identification of gut microbes that can optimize gut-protective iHSPs and the evaluation of iHSP-mediated health benefits of nutrients and food components.

Genetic Associations of Primary Angle-Closure Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

TOPIC

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the genetic associations of primary angle-closure disease (PACD).

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

To confirm the genetic biomarkers for PACD, including primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) and related phenotypes.

METHODS

We searched in the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases for genetic studies of PACG or other PACD published from the start dates of the databases to May 11, 2015. We estimated the summary odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each polymorphism in PACG, primary angle-closure suspect (PACS), and primary angle-closure (PAC) using fixed- or random-effect models. We also performed sensitivity analysis to test the robustness of the results.

RESULTS

Our literature search yielded 6463 reports. Among them, we identified 24 studies that fulfilled the eligibility criteria for meta-analysis, involving 28 polymorphisms in 11 genes/loci. We affirmed the association of PACG and combined PACS/PAC/PACG with 10 polymorphisms in 8 genes/loci, including COL11A1 (rs3753841-G, OR, 1.22; P = 0.00046), HGF (rs17427817-C, OR, 2.02; P = 6.9E-07; rs5745718-A, OR, 2.11; P = 9.9E-07), HSP70 (rs1043618, GG+GC, OR, 0.52; P = 0.0010), MFRP (rs2510143-C, OR, 0.66; P = 0.012; rs3814762-G, OR, 1.40; P = 0.0090), MMP9 (rs3918249-C, OR, 1.35; P = 0.034), NOS3 (rs7830-A, OR, 0.80; P = 0.036), PLEKHA7 (rs11024102-G, OR, 1.24; P = 8.3E-05), and PCMTD1-ST18 (rs1015213-A, OR, 1.59; P = 0.00013). Sensitivity analysis indicated that the results were robust.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we confirmed multiple polymorphisms in 8 genes/loci as genetic biomarkers for PACD, among which 3 were identified in a genome-wide association study (COL11A1, PLEKHA7, and PCMTD1-ST18), and 5 were identified in candidate gene studies (HGF, HSP70, MFRP, MMP9, and NOS3).

Heat shock protein 70-2 and tumor necrosis factor-α gene polymorphisms in Chinese children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura

BACKGROUND

Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) or IgA-associated vasculitis is related to immune disturbances. Polymorphisms of the heat shock protein 70-2 gene (HSP70-2) and the tumor necrosis factor-a gene (TNF-α) are known to be associated with immune diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the likely association of HSP70-2 (+1267A/G) and TNF-α (+308A/G) gene polymorphisms with HSP in children.

METHODS

The polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism method was used to detect the HSP70-2 and TNF-α polymorphisms in 205 cases of children with HSP and 53 controls; and the association of these polymorphisms with HSP and HSP nephritis (HSPN) was analyzed.

RESULTS

The G/G genotypic frequencies at the +1267A/G position of HSP70-2 in the HSP group (22.9%) were significantly higher than those in the healthy control group (9.4%) (χ(2)=4.764, P<0.05). The frequencies of the A/A, A/G and G/G genotypes of HSP70-2 in patients in the nephritis-free group and the HSPN group showed no statistically significant difference. The A/A genotype frequency at the +308G/A position of TNF-α in the HSP group was 8.3%, which was higher than that in the control group (χ(2)=6.447, P<0.05). The A allele frequency of TNF-α in the HSP group was higher than that in the control group, with a statistically significant difference (χ(2)=7.241, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The HSP70-2 (+1267A/G) and TNF-α (+308G/A) gene polymorphisms were associated with HSP in children. The G/G homozygosity of HSP70-2 and the A/A homozygosity of TNF-α may be genetic predisposing factors for HSP.

Genome-wide identification of Hsp70 genes in channel catfish and their regulated expression after bacterial infection

Heat shock proteins 70/110 (Hsp70/110) are a family of conserved ubiquitously expressed heat shock proteins which are produced by cells in response to exposure to stressful conditions. Besides the chaperone and housekeeping functions, they are also known to be involved in immune response during infection. In this study, we identified 16 Hsp70/110 geness in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) through in silico analysis using RNA-Seq and genome databases. Among them 12 members of Hsp70 (Hspa) family and 4 members of Hsp110 (Hsph) family were identified. Phylogenetic and syntenic analyses provided strong evidence in supporting the orthologies of these HSPs. In addition, we also determined the expression patterns of Hsp70/110 genes after Flavobacterium columnare and Edwardsiella ictaluri infections by meta-analyses, for the first time in channel catfish. Ten out of sixteen genes were significantly up/down-regulated after bacterial challenges. Specifically, nine genes were found significantly expressed in gill after F. columnare infection. Two genes were found significantly expressed in intestine after E. ictaluri infection. Pathogen-specific pattern and tissue-specific pattern were found in the two infections. The significantly regulated expressions of catfish Hsp70 genes after bacterial infections suggested their involvement in immune response in catfish.

Olive Oil and the Hallmarks of Aging

Aging is a multifactorial and tissue-specific process involving diverse alterations regarded as the "hallmarks of aging", which include genomic instability, telomere attrition, epigenetic alterations, loss of proteostasis, deregulated nutrient sensing, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, stem cell exhaustion and altered intracellular communication. Virtually all these hallmarks are targeted by dietary olive oil, particularly by virgin olive oil, since many of its beneficial effects can be accounted not only for the monounsaturated nature of its predominant fatty acid (oleic acid), but also for the bioactivity of its minor compounds, which can act on cells though both direct and indirect mechanisms due to their ability to modulate gene expression. Among the minor constituents of virgin olive oil, secoiridoids stand out for their capacity to modulate many pathways that are relevant for the aging process. Attenuation of aging-related alterations by olive oil or its minor compounds has been observed in cellular, animal and human models. How olive oil targets the hallmarks of aging could explain the improvement of health, reduced risk of aging-associated diseases, and increased longevity which have been associated with consumption of a typical Mediterranean diet containing this edible oil as the predominant fat source.

Analysis of heat shock protein 70 gene polymorphisms Mexican patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Background

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal lung disease of unknown etiology. Genetic variation within different major histocompatibility complex (MHC) loci contributes to the susceptibility to IPF. The effect of 70 kDa heat shock proteins (HSP70) gene polymorphisms in the susceptibility to IPF is unknown. The aim of this study was to explore the association between HSP70 polymorphisms and IPF susceptibility in the Mexican population.

Methods

Four HSP70 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were evaluated using real time PCR assays in 168 IPF patients and 205 controls: +2763 C>T of HSPA1L (rs2075800), +2437 of HSP HSPA1L A>G (rs2227956), +190 of HSPA1A G>C (rs1043618) and +1267 of HSPA1B G>A (rs1061581).

Results

The analysis of the recessive model revealed a significant decrease in the frequency of the genotype HSPA1B AA (rs1061581) in IPF patients (OR = 0.27, 95 % CI = 0.13–0.57, Pc = 0.0003) when compared to controls. Using a multivariate logistic regression analysis in a codominant model the HSPA1B (rs1061581) GA and AA genotypes were associated with a lower risk of IPF compared with GG (OR = 0.22, 95 % CI = 0.07–0.65; p = 0.006 and OR = 0.17, 95 % CI = 0.07–0.41; p = <0.001). Similarly, HSPA1L (rs2227956) AG genotype (OR = 0.34, 95 % CI = 0.12–0.99; p = 0.04) and the dominant model AG + GG genotypes were also associated with a lower risk of IPF (OR = 0.24, 95 % CI = 0.08–0.67; p = 0.007). In contrast, the HSPA1L (rs2075800) TT genotype was associated with susceptibility to IPF (OR = 2.52, 95 % CI = 1.32–4.81; p = 0.005).

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that HSPA1B (rs1061581), HSPA1L (rs2227956) and HSPA1 (rs1043618) polymorphisms are associated with a decreased risk of IPF.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12890-015-0127-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Study of single nucleotide polymorphisms of tumour necrosis factors and HSP genes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma in North East India

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an epithelial tumour with a distinctive racial and geographical distribution. High incidence of NPC has been reported from China, Southeast Asia, and northeast (NE) region of India. The immune mechanism plays incredibly role in pathogenesis of NPC. Tumour necrosis factors (TNFs) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP 70) constitute significant components of innate as well as adaptive host immunity. Multi-analytical approaches including logistic regression (LR), classification and regression tree (CART) and multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) were applied in 120 NPC cases and 100 controls to explore high order interactions among TNF-α (-308 G>A), TNF β (+252 A>G), HSP 70-1 (+190 G>C), HSP 70-hom (+2437 T>C) genes and environmental risk factors. TNF β was identified as the primary etiological factor by all three analytical approaches. Individual analysis of results showed protective effect of TNF β GG genotype (adjusted odds ratio (OR2) = 0.27, 95 % CI = 0.125-0.611, P = 0.001), HSP 70 (+2437) CC genotype (OR2 = 0.17, 95 % CI = 0.0430.69, P = 0.013), while AG genotype of TNF β was found significantly associated with risk of NPC (OR2 = 1.97, 95 % CI = 1.019-3.83, P = 0.04). Analysis of environmental factors demonstrated association of alcohol consumption, living in mud houses and use of firewood for cooking as major risk factors for NPC. Individual haplotype association analysis showed significant risk associated with GTGA haplotype (OR = 68.61, 95 % CI = 2.47-190.37, P = 0.013) while a protective effect with CCAA and GCGA haplotypes (OR = 0.19, 95 % CI = 0.05-0.75, P = 0.019; OR = 0.01 95 % CI = 0.05-0.30, P = 0.007). The multi-analytical approaches applied in this study helped in identification of distinct gene-gene and gene-environment interactions significant in risk assessment of NPC.

The Chemical Biology of Molecular Chaperones--Implications for Modulation of Proteostasis

Protein homeostasis (proteostasis) is inextricably tied to cellular health and organismal lifespan. Aging, exposure to physiological and environmental stress, and expression of mutant and metastable proteins can cause an imbalance in the protein-folding landscape, which results in the formation of non-native protein aggregates that challenge the capacity of the proteostasis network (PN), increasing the risk for diseases associated with misfolding, aggregation, and aberrant regulation of cell stress responses. Molecular chaperones have central roles in each of the arms of the PN (protein synthesis, folding, disaggregation, and degradation), leading to the proposal that modulation of chaperone function could have therapeutic benefits for the large and growing family of diseases of protein conformation including neurodegeneration, metabolic diseases, and cancer. In this review, we will discuss the current strategies used to tune the PN through targeting molecular chaperones and assess the potential of the chemical biology of proteostasis.

DnaK as Antibiotic Target: Hot Spot Residues Analysis for Differential Inhibition of the Bacterial Protein in Comparison with the Human HSP70

DnaK, the bacterial homolog of human Hsp70, plays an important role in pathogens survival under stress conditions, like antibiotic therapies. This chaperone sequesters protein aggregates accumulated in bacteria during antibiotic treatment reducing the effect of the cure. Although different classes of DnaK inhibitors have been already designed, they present low specificity. DnaK is highly conserved in prokaryotes (identity 50–70%), which encourages the development of a unique inhibitor for many different bacterial strains. We used the DnaK of Acinetobacter baumannii as representative for our analysis, since it is one of the most important opportunistic human pathogens, exhibits a significant drug resistance and it has the ability to survive in hospital environments. The E.coli DnaK was also included in the analysis as reference structure due to its wide diffusion. Unfortunately, bacterial DnaK and human Hsp70 have an elevated sequence similarity. Therefore, we performed a differential analysis of DnaK and Hsp70 residues to identify hot spots in bacterial proteins that are not present in the human homolog, with the aim of characterizing the key pharmacological features necessary to design selective inhibitors for DnaK. Different conformations of DnaK and Hsp70 bound to known inhibitor-peptides for DnaK, and ineffective for Hsp70, have been analysed by molecular dynamics simulations to identify residues displaying stable and selective interactions with these peptides. Results achieved in this work show that there are some residues that can be used to build selective inhibitors for DnaK, which should be ineffective for the human Hsp70.

Different vitamin D receptor agonists exhibit differential effects on endothelial function and aortic gene expression in 5/6 nephrectomized rats

Endothelial dysfunction, common in chronic kidney disease (CKD), significantly increases cardiovascular disease risk in CKD patients. This study investigates whether different vitamin D receptor agonists exhibit different effects on endothelial function and on aortic gene expression in an animal CKD model. The 5/6 nephrectomized (NX) rat was treated with or without alfacalcidol (0.02, 0.04 and 0.08μg/kg), paricalcitol (0.04 and 0.08μg/kg), or VS-105 (0.004, 0.01 and 0.16μg/kg). All three compounds at the test doses suppressed serum parathyroid hormone effectively. Alfacalcidol at 0.08μg/kg raised serum calcium significantly. Endothelial function was assessed by pre-contracting thoracic aortic rings with phenylephrine, followed by treatment with acetylcholine or sodium nitroprusside. Uremia significantly affected endothelial-dependent aortic relaxation, which was improved by all three compounds in a dose-dependent manner with alfacalcidol and paricalcitol exhibiting a lesser effect. DNA microarray analysis of aorta samples revealed that uremia impacted the expression of numerous aortic genes, many of which were normalized by the vitamin D analogs. Real-time RT-PCR analysis confirmed that selected genes such as Abra, Apoa4, Fabp2, Hsd17b2, and Hspa1b affected by uremia were normalized by the vitamin D analogs with alfacalcidol exhibiting less of an effect. These results demonstrate that different vitamin D analogs exhibit different effects on endothelial function and aortic gene expression in 5/6 NX rats. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled '17th Vitamin D Workshop'.

Recent advance in investigation of gene polymorphisms in Japanese patients with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease

Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is a complex clinical syndrome characterised by severe asthmatic attack upon treatment with aspirin and/or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Genetic predisposition has been considered as a crucial determinant and candidate genes have concentrated especially on cysteinyl leukotrienes (LTs)-related genes as the inhibitory action of aspirin and NSAIDs on cyclooxygenase activity may cause overproduction of cysteinyl LTs. However, conflicting results have been reported, in parallel with replication studies in different ethnic groups. Thus, future areas of investigations need to focus on comprehensive approaches towards the discovery of other genetic biomarkers. Unfortunately, few papers have been reported about gene polymorphisms in Japanese patients with AERD. Here, we described on our recent genetic investigations on B2ADR, IL-13, IL-17A, CYP2C19, TBXA2R, CRTH2 and HSP70. This review indicates potential genetic biomarkers contributing to the early diagnosis of AERD, which may include CYP2C19 and HSP70 gene polymorphisms, and future validation studies in independent population are required to provide reassurance about our findings.