The evaluation of endothelin 1 (EDN1) and endothelin receptor type A (EDNRA) gene polymorphisms in Hashimoto's thyroiditis

Anthracycline-Induced Cardiotoxicity: The Role of Endothelial Dysfunction

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of mortality accounting up to 40% of all deaths, but, currently, cancer is prominent cause of death globally. Anthracyclines are the cornerstone of chemotherapy in women with breast cancer. However, its clinical use is limited by their cardiotoxic effects that can trigger heart failure development. Vascular toxicity of chemotherapy may be linked with endothelial dysfunction because anthracycline damage of endothelial cells can lead to the development and progression of cardiomyopathy by decreasing the release and activity of endothelial factors and, ultimately, endothelial cell death. These processes suppress anti-inflammatory and vascular reparative functions and initiate the development of future cardiovascular events. Recent studies have shown that chemotherapy may induce toxicity in the vascular endothelium and is accompanied by systemic endothelial dysfunction in patients with diagnosed cardiovascular diseases. Because the initial endothelial cell insult is likely asymptomatic, there is often a long delay between the termination of doxorubicin therapy and the onset of vascular disorders. In this case, genetic susceptibility factor will help to identify susceptible patients in the future. The objectives of this study were to evaluate prognostic role of molecular (endothelin-1) and genetic factors (gene polymorphisms of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS3, rs1799983), endothelin-1 receptor type A (EDNRA, C+70G, rs5335) and NADPH oxidase (C242T, rs4673) in development of endothelial dysfunction and anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in women without cardiovascular diseases.

Positive Association between EDN1 rs5370 (Lys198Asn) Polymorphism and Large Artery Stroke in a Ukrainian Population

There are a lot of convincing evidences about the involvement of endothelin pathway proteins in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and its fatal complications. In this study, the analysis of a possible association between EDN1 rs5370 and EDNRA rs5335 gene polymorphisms and the risk of large artery stroke (LAS) in a Ukrainian population was conducted. 200 LAS patients and 200 unrelated controls were enrolled in a case-control study. The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method (PCR-RFLP) was used for SNP genotyping. Our results revealed that EDN1 rs5370 polymorphism was associated with LAS development both before and after adjustment for atherosclerosis risk factors (sex, age, body mass index, arterial hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and smoking). The risk for a LAS incident in rs5370-T allele carriers was 1.6 times higher (CI = 1.066–2.403; P = 0.020) than in subjects with the GG genotype. No link between EDNRA rs5335 and LAS risk in a Ukrainian population was found. The present study indicated that EDN1 rs5370, but not EDNRA rs5335, can be the strong genetic predictor for LAS development in a Ukrainian population.

The Evaluation of Endothelin-1 and Endothelin Receptor Type A Gene Polymorphisms in Patients with Vitiligo

Background:

Endothelin-1 (EDN1) and EDN receptor type A (EDNRA) are implicated in melanocyte functions.

Aim and Objectives:

This study examines the role of EDN1 (G5665T and T-1370G) and EDNRA (C + 70G and G-231A) polymorphisms as a risk factor for vitiligo, and evaluates the relationship between genotypes and clinical characteristics of vitiligo patients.

Materials and Methods:

We analyzed genotype/allele distributions of EDN1 and EDNRA polymorphisms in 100 patients with vitiligo and 185 healthy controls by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results:

There was no notable risk for vitiligo afflicted by studied polymorphisms. However, the presence of EDNRA +70 variant G allele was found to be related with decreased risk for development of generalized type of vitiligo (odds ratio [OR]: 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.21–0.86, p_corr = 0.03) and showed protective effect against associated diseases seen in vitiligo (OR: 0.49, 95% CI = 0.27–0.88, p_corr = 0.034). Haplotype analysis demonstrated a strong (disequilibrium coefficient = 0.73, r² = 0.405) linkage disequilibrium between EDN1 G5665T and T-1370G polymorphisms. The EDN1 5665/-1330 TT haplotype was over represented significantly in controls than in patients (P = 0.04).

Conclusion:

The studied polymorphisms do not seem to be a major risk for vitiligo. Haplotype analysis denoting protective effects against vitiligo may indicate an indirect interaction in the course of vitiligo. In addition, EDNRA + 70 polymorphism is protective against generalized type of vitiligo and associated diseases.