A1330V polymorphism of the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 gene and bone mineral density in Japanese male workers

The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway has a healing ability for periapical periodontitis

Various disease-related genes have recently been identified using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). This study identified disease-related genes by analyzing SNP using genomic DNA isolated from Japanese patients with periapical periodontitis. Results showed that the SNP in LRP5 demonstrated a significant genotypic association with periapical lesions (Fisher’s exact test, P < 0.05). We constructed an in vivo murine periapical periodontitis model to confirm the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway’s role in developing and healing periapical periodontitis. We observed that administration of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway inhibitor enlarged the periapical lesion. Moreover, applying lithium chloride (LiCl) to root canals accelerated periapical periodontitis healing. Histological analysis demonstrated that the expression levels of Col1a1 and Runx2 increased in the LiCl application group compared to that in the control group. Furthermore, many CD45R-positive cells appeared in the periapical lesions in the LiCl application group. These results indicated that LiCl promoted the healing of periapical periodontitis by inducing bone formation and immune responses. Our findings suggest that the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway regulates the development of periapical periodontitis. We propose a bioactive next-generation root canal treatment agent for this dental lesion.

Functional relevance for associations between osteoporosis and genetic variants

Osteoporosis is characterized by increased bone loss and deterioration of bone microarchitecture, which will lead to reduced bone strength and increased risk of fragility fractures. Previous studies have identified many genetic loci associated with osteoporosis, but functional mechanisms underlying the associations have rarely been explored. In order to explore the potential molecular functional mechanisms underlying the associations for osteoporosis, we performed integrative analyses by using the publically available datasets and resources. We searched 128 identified osteoporosis associated SNPs (P<10-6), and 8 SNPs exert cis-regulation effects on 11 eQTL target genes. Among the 8 SNPs, 2 SNPs (RPL31 rs2278729 and LRP5 rs3736228) were confirmed to impact the expression of 3 genes (RPL31, CPT1A and MTL5) that were differentially expressed between human subjects of high BMD group and low BMD group. All of the functional evidence suggested the important functional mechanisms underlying the associations of the 2 SNPs (rs2278729 and rs3736228) and 3 genes (RPL31, CPT1A and MTL5) with osteoporosis. This study may provide novel insights into the functional mechanisms underlying the osteoporosis associated genetic variants, which will help us to comprehend the potential mechanisms underlying the genetic association for osteoporosis.

Two novel susceptibility loci for non-small cell lung cancer map to low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5

This study investigated the effect of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5) on the risk of developing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A total of 500 NSCLC patients and 500 healthy controls were recruited for genotyping of 11 SNPs of LRP5. The association between genotype and NSCLC risk was evaluated by computing the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) from multivariate unconditional logistic regression analyses. Eleven Tag SNPs were detected. The frequency of the LRP5 rs3736228 T allele (18.9% in male NSCLC cases and 23.9% in male controls) was statistically different between male NSCLCs and male controls (P=0.03), and the T allele was associated with a lower risk of NSCLC (OR=0.74; 95% CI, 0.56–0.67), whereas the C/C homozygous genotype and the LRP5 rs64843 T/T genotype were associated with an increased risk of NSCLC and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), respectively (OR=1.43 and 1.77, respectively). Using Haploview software, the frequency of the haplotypes of rs312009/rs3120015/rs3120014 CCC was was significantly higher in female SCC cases compared with female controls (0.064 vs. 0.009, P=0.04). LRP5 rs3736228 and rs64843 SNPs were significantly associated with an increased risk of NSCLC and SCC, respectively. Further studies are required to investigate the functional changes in LRP5 expression and activity in NSCLC in vitro.

Association of LRP5 haplotypes with osteoporosis in Mexican women

Osteoporosis is a common health problem in Mexico, so it is essential to investigate the status of different gene polymorphisms that could serve as genetic susceptibility markers in the Mexican population. Genes with a role in bone metabolism are excellent candidates for association studies. In this study were determined the allelic and genotypic frequencies of four polymorphic markers (C/T rs3736228, G/A rs4988321, T/C rs627174 and T/C rs901824) in the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 gene (LRP5) and their association with osteoporosis in 100 pos-menopausal osteoporotic Mexican women and their controls, using real time-PCR and TaqMan probes. Only the G/A polymorphism (rs4988321, Val667Met) showed significant differences (p = 0.039) when genotype frequencies were compared. However, when the haplotypes of these four polymorphisms were analyzed, interesting associations became evident. The CGTT haplotype showed significant association with low risk of osteoporosis (OR 0.629; p = 0.007; [95 % CI, 0.448-0.884]), whereas the TACT haplotype was significantly associated with a higher risk of osteoporosis (OR 7.965; p = 0.006; [95 % CI, 1.557-54.775]). Our results supported the association of LRP5 with osteoporosis and showed the potential value of LRP5 haplotypes to identify risk of osteoporosis in Mexican population.