Lack of evidence for association between endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphism (glu298asp) with Behçet’s disease in the Turkish population

Association of eNOS gene 4a/4b VNTR and T786C polymorphism with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever

The most common viral hemorrhagic fever is Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF). Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene polymorphisms have been linked to both hemorrhagic fevers and viral diseases. The study's goal is to evaluate if the eNOS gene 4a/4b and T786C polymorphisms are related to CCHF. The study included 54 CCHF RNA-positive patients and 60 control subjects. The Bosphore CCHF virus Quantification Kit v1 was used to obtain CCHF RNA, and the Magnesia 16 isolation device was used to isolate DNA (Anatolia Gene works, Turkey). Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism were used to genotype the samples. The frequency of the eNOS 4a/4a, 4a/4b, and 4 b/4b genotypes in patients and the control was 6.6% versus 1.7%, 37.0% versus 43.3%, and 57.4% versus 55%, respectively. 4a: 24.07% of patients and 23.33% of controls; and 4 b: 75.92% of patients and 76.66% of controls. The frequency of the eNOS-786 T/C, T/T, T/C, and C/C genotypes in patients and the control group was 35.2% versus 68.3%; 51.9% versus 26.73%; and 13.0% versus 5.0%, respectively. The allele and genotype frequencies of the eNOS T786C variant differ statistically between patients and the control (p < 0.05). The eNOS T786C variant could be a genetic determinant for susceptibility to CCHF. To our knowledge, this is the first study to figure out the association between eNOS gene T786C polymorphisms and CCHF disease.

The roles of genetic factors in uveitis and their clinical significance

BACKGROUND

Uveitis is a diverse group of intraocular inflammatory disease and is a significant cause of visual loss worldwide. Recent studies have identified various endogenous immune mechanisms and genetic factors that are involved in the pathogenesis of uveitis. This review provides an overview on the role of genetics in the development and clinical course of uveitis.

METHODS

PUBMED was used for literature search, and articles published from 1970 to 2012 that evaluated the genetic associations and mechanisms involved in the development and clinical features of uveitis were included.

RESULTS

Studies have demonstrated associations between various genetic factors and the development and clinical course of intraocular inflammatory conditions. Genes involved included genes expressing interleukins, chemokines, chemokine receptors, and tumor necrosis factor and genes involved in complement system, oxidation, and other intracellular molecular pathways.

CONCLUSION

Multiple genetic factors play important roles in the pathogenesis of uveitis and may influence the clinical course of uveitis. Further studies to investigate the genetic mechanisms of uveitis might identify additional genetic associations and might have the potential for identifying novel therapeutic targets in the treatment of intraocular inflammation.

Association between Rho-kinase (ROCK2) gene polymorphisms and Behçet's disease

Behçet's disease (BD) is a multi-systemic vasculitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between Rho-kinase (ROCK2) gene polymorphisms and patients with BD in a Turkish population. A total of 194 BD patients and 276 healthy controls with similar age and sex were included to this study. Polymorphisms were analyzed in genomic DNA using a BioMark 96.96 dynamic array system. mRNA from blood samples was extracted, and real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed for ROCK2 gene expression. There were marked changes in both genotype (TT, 41.8%; TA, 30.3%) and allele (T, 57%; A, 43%) frequencies for the rs35768389 (Asp601Val) polymorphism in patients compared with controls (TT, 64.6%; TA, 9.4%, P < 0.0001; T, 69.3%; A, 30.7%, P = 0.0004). Although CC genotype (52.0%) of rs1515219 polymorphism were more frequent, CT genotype (27.7%) were less frequent among the patients than controls (CC, 31.7%, CT, 44.6%, P = 0.0001). There was an increase in C allele (65.8% vs 54.0%) and decrease in T allele frequencies (34.2% vs 46.0%, P = 0.001) in patients. However, no associations were found with rs726843, rs2290156, rs965665, rs10178332, rs2230774, rs6755196, rs10929732, and rs34945852 polymorphisms. There was an increase in peripheral blood mRNA ROCK2 expressions in patients. This is the first study to examine the involvement of ROCK2 gene variation in the risk of incident BD. The results strongly suggest that ROCK2 gene polymorphisms may modify individual susceptibility to BD in the Turkish population.

Protective role of 27bp repeat polymorphism in intron 4 of eNOS gene in lacunar infarction

Association of the three potential endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene (eNOS) polymorphisms (T-786C in promoter region, G894T in exon 7 and tandem 27-bp repeats in intron 4) with an increased risk of lacunar infarction (LI) were investigated. Genotypes of 70 patients and 81 healthy controls were determined through PCR with or without RFLP. Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) was performed to assess endothelial-dependent vasodilatation, whereas the endothelial-independent vasodilatation was assessed with nitroglycerin (NTG). Genotype distribution was significantly different between LI patients and controls for intron 4aa (alleles for four repeats), genotype frequency being 1.4% and 16.0%, respectively (odds ratio for additive effect, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.28-0.81; p=0.006). Haplotypes with the intron 4aa polymorphism were significantly higher in controls when compared with the LI group (p=0.001). Diminished FMD but normal NTG response confirmed that patients with LI have generalized endothelial dysfunction. Intron 4aa genotype of eNOS gene seems to be protective for isolated LI and the effect was potentiated by the absence of 786C polymorphism in any allele of the promoter region.