Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphism in endometrial cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Associations between AGT, MTHFR, and VEGF gene polymorphisms and preeclampsia in the Chinese population

INTRODUCTION

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-specific multisystemic syndrome. This study aimed to investigate the associations between angiotensinogen (AGT), methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) polymorphisms, and PE in the Han Chinese population.

METHODS

We genotyped 26 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in three genes by using QuantStudio™ 12 K Flex Real-Time PCR technology in 168 patients with PE and 204 healthy pregnant control subjects. The associations of tested polymorphisms with PE were analyzed at allele, genotype, and haplotype levels.

RESULTS

A common coding variant in MTHFR, rs2274976, was significantly associated with increased risk of PE in both allelic and genotype models (P < 0.05). The heterozygous genotypes of rs699 (G/A vs G/G) in AGT gene and rs3025035 (C/T vs C/C) in VEGF gene showed weak associations with increased PE risk, whereas the mutant homozygous genotype of rs3024987 (TT vs C/C) and the heterozygous genotype of rs3025039 (C/T vs C/C) in VEGF gene displayed weak associations with decreased PE risk (P < 0.05).

DISCUSSION

However, these weak associations lost significance after multiple testing correction. The results indicated that rs2274976 in MTHFR gene may contribute to the increased risk of PE in pregnant women. AGT and VEGF gene polymorphisms may not play a significant role in PE development.

Effects of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase single-nucleotide polymorphisms on breast, cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancer susceptibilities

Background

Recent studies identifying methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms associated with breast cancer (BC), ovarian cancer (OC), cervical cancer, and endometrial cancer (EC) have reported conflicting results and been underpowered. To clarify the correlation between MTHFR mutations and these common female malignancies, we conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis incorporating all eligible publications.

Methods

Relevant reports published before January 20, 2020, were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. The odds ratio and 95% confidence interval summaries for the MTHFR 677C/T and 1298A/C polymorphisms in BC, OC, cervical cancer, and EC were estimated.

Results

A total of 171 studies comprising 56,675 cancer cases and 67,559 controls were included. The results showed a markedly elevated risk of cancer susceptibility related to MTHFR 677C/T based on all genetic models. Similarly, we identified a significant correlation between 1298A/C mutation and cancer risk based on overall comparisons among all models, except the heterozygous model. Moreover, subgroup analysis by cancer type revealed a significantly increased risk of BC associated with 677C/T in the five models and of cervical cancer associated with 1298A/C in some models. Based on ethnicity, significant associations were observed between Asian, African, and mixed populations for 677C/T and the Asian population for 1298A/C. With regard to the sample type used for analysis, we detected a positive association between using blood as the DNA source and cancer risk for 677C/T in all genetic models and for 1298A/C in some genetic models. Further stratification of the results revealed that a notably increased risk was associated with the use of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment-length polymorphism or TaqMan as the genotyping method, as well as with the use of population-or hospital-based groups as the controls for 677C/T and 1298A/C, respectively.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis suggests that MTHFR 677C/T and 1298A/C polymorphisms correlate with the risk of common gynecological cancers, with these findings potentially applicable for overall comparisons of related data.

LncRNA TDRG1 enhances tumorigenicity in endometrial carcinoma by binding and targeting VEGF-A protein

Endometrial carcinoma is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in females. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been associated with cancer; its role in endometrial carcinoma is an emerging area of research. In this article, lncRNA TDRG1 expression in human endometrial carcinoma tissues and normal endometrial tissues was quantified by qRT-PCR. LncRNA TDRG1 was overexpressed or knocked-down in neither HEC-1B nor Ishikawa endometrial carcinoma cells, respectively, to assess cellular phenotype and expression of related molecules. Our results showed that lncRNA TDRG1 was significantly overexpressed in endometrial carcinoma tissues. Overexpression of lncRNA TDRG1 promoted endometrial carcinoma cell viability, invasion and migratory ability, inhibited apoptosis, and upregulated VEGF-A, PI3K, Bcl-2, MMP2 and survivin; knockdown of lncRNA TDRG1 had the opposite effects. LncRNA TDRG1 overexpression increased tumorigenicity in vivo and was associated with the upregulation of VEGF-A. RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays confirmed that lncRNA TDRG1 directly binds to VEGF-A protein. Furthermore, knockdown of VEGFA in lncRNA TDRG1-overexpressing endometrial carcinoma cells reversed the effects of lncRNA TDRG1 on cell proliferation, invasion, migration and apoptosis. In conclusion, lncRNA TDRG1 may promote endometrial carcinoma cell proliferation and invasion by positively targeting VEGF-A and modulating relative genes.

LncRNA ABHD11-AS1 promotes the development of endometrial carcinoma by targeting cyclin D1

To investigate the expression, role and mechanism of action of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) ABHD11-AS1 in endometrial carcinoma. The expression of lncRNA ABHD11-AS1 was quantified by qRT-PCR in human endometrial carcinoma (n = 89) and normal endometrial tissues (n = 27). LncRNA ABHD11-AS1 was stably overexpressed or knocked-down in endometrial carcinoma cell lines to examine the cellular phenotype and expression of related molecules. Compared to normal endometrial tissue, lncRNA ABHD11-AS1 was significantly overexpressed in endometrial carcinoma. Overexpression of lncRNA ABHD11-AS1 promoted the proliferation, G1-S progression, invasion and migration of endometrial cancer cells; inhibited apoptosis; up-regulated cyclin D1, CDK1, CDK2, CDK4, Bcl-xl and VEGFA; and down-regulated p16, while ABHD11-AS1 down-regulation has the opposite effect. RNA pull down demonstrated that lncRNA ABHD11-AS1 binds directly to cyclin D1. Knockdown of cyclin D1 can reverse the effect of ABHD11-AS1. Overexpression of lncRNA ABHD11-AS1 increased the tumorigenicity and up-regulated cyclin D1 in an in vivo model of endometrial cancer in nude mice. LncRNA ABHD11-AS1 functions as an oncogene to promote cell proliferation and invasion in endometrial carcinoma by positively targeting cyclin D1.

Influence of MTHFR Genetic Background on p16 and MGMT Methylation in Oral Squamous Cell Cancer

Genetic polymorphisms of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) enzyme may influence DNA methylation. Alterations in DNA methylation patterns of genes involved in the regulation of the cell cycle, DNA repair, cell adherence and metastasis process are known to contribute to cancer development. In this study, the influence of the MTHFR C677T and A1298C gene polymorphisms on global DNA methylation and site-specific methylation on p16 and O⁶-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene promoters was investigated in patients with oral squamous cell cancer (OSCC). To this aim, methylation studies were carried out by using genomic DNA isolated from saliva samples of 58 OSCC patients and 90 healthy controls. The frequency of the CT/AC and TT/AA genotypes was significantly higher in patients than in controls. Whereas no difference in global DNA methylation levels was observed between patients and controls, a higher frequency of methylation at both p16 and MGMT gene promoters was detected in patients compared with controls. A significant association between MTHFR gene polymorphisms and p16 and MGMT gene promoter methylation was found. The frequency of p16 and MGMT methylation was around 60% in patients with either the CT/AC or TT/AA genotype. Our results suggest that hypermethylation of cancer-related genes may be affected by MTHFR polymorphisms.

C667T and A1298C polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene and susceptibility to myocardial infarction: A systematic review and meta-analysis

MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms have been reported to be associated with the risk of myocardial infarction (MI), although the results of previous studies have been inconsistent. The aim of this study was to explore whether these polymorphisms play a role in the genetic susceptibility to MI. A comprehensive search of MEDLINE and EMBASE databases was conducted for studies evaluating the association between the C667T and A1298C polymorphisms and MI risk. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the strength of association in the dominant model, recessive model, allelic model, and genotypes contrast. A total of 47 studies were finally included in this meta-analysis. Overall, the results showed no statistically significant association between C667T and A1298C polymorphisms and MI risk. However, in subgroup analysis by ethnicity, the T allele of C677T polymorphism was associated with a 63% increased risk of MI compared with the C allele (T vs. C, OR=1. 63, 95%CI=1.15-2.10, fixed effects) in African populations, while compared to wild homozygote genotype, CT genotype was associated with a decreased risk of MI in North American populations (CT vs. CC, OR=0.81, 95%CI=0.64-0.98, fixed effects). Moreover, C677T polymorphism had a protective effect against MI risk under the dominant model (OR=0.93, 945%CI=0.87-0.99, fixed effects) in elderly (≥50) population. The A1298C polymorphism was not significantly associated with MI risk. Unlike A1298C polymorphism, C677T polymorphism was associated with risk of MI in African, North American, and elderly populations.