DROSHA rs10719 and DICER1 rs3742330 polymorphisms in endometriosis and different diseases: Case-control and review studies

Potential risk factors for hypospadias and negative correlation with DICER1 (rs3742330) A>G variant in Algerian population: A case-control study

BACKGROUND

Hypospadias continues to be a prevalent congenital anomaly affecting the male external genitalia, characterized by an unclear origin and complex treatment approaches. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors associated with hypospadias and explore its genetic link with the DICER1 rs3742330 variant.

METHODS

The study involved two groups: 105 male children with hypospadias and 111 healthy male children as matched controls. Detailed history and physical examinations were conducted for all patients and controls. PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism was utilized to identify the DICER1 rs3742330 variant, analyzing genotype distribution and allele frequency. Logistic regression analysis estimated the risk factors for hypospadias.

RESULTS

The mean age in the hypospadias group was 4.56 ± 2.50 years. The most prevalent type of hypospadias observed was the anterior type in 60 children (57.14%). Intrauterine growth restriction, advanced maternal age, and gestational hypertension were identified as significant risk factors for hypospadias (p = .011, p = .016, and p = .041, respectively). Regarding the genetic study, no significant difference was found in both genotype and allele frequencies of the DICER1 rs3742330 variant between case and control groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The rs3742330 variant in the DICER1 gene showed no association with hypospadias cases in the Algerian population. However, multivariate logistic regression analysis identified preterm birth, low birth weight, intrauterine growth restriction, advanced maternal age, gestational diabetes, and rural residence as the most significant independent predictors for hypospadias.

Omics-based novel strategies in the diagnosis of endometriosis

Endometriosis, an enigmatic and chronic disorder, is considered a debilitating condition despite being benign. Globally, this gynecologic disorder affects up to 10% of females of reproductive age, impacting almost 190 million individuals. A variety of genetic and environmental factors are involved in endometriosis development, hence the pathophysiology and etiology of endometriosis remain unclear. The uncertainty of the etiology of the disease and its complexity along with nonspecific symptoms have led to misdiagnosis or lack of diagnosis of affected people. Biopsy and laparoscopy are referred to as the gold standard for endometriosis diagnosis. However, the invasiveness of the procedure, the unnecessary operation in disease-free women, and the dependence of the reliability of diagnosis on experience in this area are considered the most significant limitations. Therefore, continuous studies have attempted to offer a noninvasive and reliable approach. The recent advances in modern technologies have led to the generation of large-scale biological data sets, known as -omics data, resulting in the proceeding of the -omics century in biomedical sciences. Thereby, the present study critically reviews novel and noninvasive biomarkers that are based on -omics approaches from 2020 onward. The findings reveal that biomarkers identified based on genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics are potentially able to diagnose endometriosis, predict prognosis, and stage patients, and potentially, in the near future, a multi-panel of these biomarkers will generate clinical benefits.

Non-apoptotic cell death programs in cervical cancer with an emphasis on ferroptosis

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer, a pernicious gynecological malignancy, causes the mortality of hundreds of thousands of females worldwide. Despite a considerable decline in mortality, the surging incidence rate among younger women has raised serious concerns. Immortality is the most important characteristic of tumor cells, hence the carcinogenesis of cervical cancer cells pivotally requires compromising with cell death mechanisms.

METHODS

The current study comprehensively reviewed the mechanisms of non-apoptotic cell death programs to provide possible disease management strategies.

RESULTS

Comprehensive evidence has stated that focusing on necroptosis, pyroptosis, and autophagy for disease management is associated with significant limitations such as insufficient understanding, contradictory functions, dependence on disease stage, and complexity of intracellular pathways. However, ferroptosis represents a predictable role in cervix carcinogenesis, and ferroptosis-related genes demonstrate a remarkable correlation with patient survival and clinical outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Ferroptosis may be an appropriate option for disease management strategies from predicting prognosis to treatment.

Influence of interleukin-8 polymorphism on endometriosis-related pelvic pain

Endometriosis presents a pro-inflammatory microenvironment influenced by cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-8, which expression may be influenced by genetic polymorphisms. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the role of interleukin (IL)-8 rs4073 polymorphism in endometriosis' development and its related symptoms. A case-control study was conducted with 207 women with endometriosis and 193 healthy controls. Polymorphism was genotyped using a TaqMan validated assay. Associations were evaluated by binary logistic regression, using odds ratios (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI), and P ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Cases were younger (36 ± 6.8 versus 39 ± 8.4) and had lower body mass index (26.5 ± 5.3 versus 35.7 ± 6.3 Kg/m2) than controls (P < 0.001). Higher prevalence of symptoms and infertility was observed in cases, compared to controls (P < 0.001). Minor allele frequencies of IL-8 rs4073 (T) were 42.3 % and 39.9 % for cases and controls, respectively, and no associations were found between IL and 8 rs4073 polymorphism and endometriosis' prevalence or staging. However, the polymorphism was associated with chronic pelvic pain among cases (OR = 0.54; 95 %CI = 0.29-0.98). The IL-8 rs4073A > T polymorphism may contribute to lower IL-8 expression and, consequently, decrease endometriosis-related pelvic pain. These findings can support the early diagnosis of endometriosis' painful symptoms, preventing its complications, and allowing an individualized treatment.

The 3' UTR polymorphisms rs3742330 in DICER1 and rs10719 in DROSHA genes are not associated with primary open-angle and angle-closure glaucoma: As case-control study

AIM

In a retrospective and exploratory case-control study, we examined the genetic association of two common polymorphisms in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of DICER1 (rs3742330) and DROSHA (rs10719) genes in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG), and its related clinical phenotypes in a Saudi cohort.

METHODS

DNA genotyping was performed using TaqMan real-time PCR assays in 500 participants, including 152 POAG, 102 PACG, and 246 non-glaucomatous controls. Statistical analyses were performed to examine the association(s).

RESULTS

Allele and genotype frequency of rs3742330 and rs10719 did not vary significantly in POAG and PACG compared to controls. No significant deviation was observed from Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (p > 0.05). Gender stratification revealed no significant allelic/genotype association with glaucoma types. Also, these polymorphisms showed no significant genotype effect on clinical markers such as intraocular pressure, cup/disc ratio, and the number of antiglaucoma medications. Logistic regression showed no effect of age, sex, rs3742330, and rs10719 genotypes on the risk of disease outcome. We also examined a combined allelic effect of rs3742330 (A>G) and rs10719 (A>G). However, none of the allelic combinations significantly affected POAG and PACG.

CONCLUSIONS

The 3' UTR polymorphisms rs3742330 and rs10719 of DICER1 and DROSHA genes are not associated with POAG and PACG or its related glaucoma indices in this Middle-Eastern cohort of Saudi Arab ethnicity. However, there is a need to validate the results on a broader population and other ethnicities.

Clotrimazole is effective, safe and tolerable for the treatment of endometriosis and functions by downregulating inducible nitric oxide synthase and modulating oxidative stress biomarkers

This study investigated the mechanism of action of clotrimazole (CTZ) and its adverse effects in a model of endometriosis. After autologous endometrial implantation, 18 rats were randomized into two treatment groups: 200 mg/kg CTZ or vehicle for 15 consecutive days. The lesion growth, implant size, glandular atrophy, nitric oxide (NO) serum levels, number of macrophage cells and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) immunoreactivity were significantly reduced in the CTZ group compared with the control. CTZ (p < 0.05) reduced the lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation levels in the liver but did not alter the superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) or glutathione S-transferase (GST) levels in the brain; however, the drug significantly reduced SOD activity and enhanced GST activity in the liver. These results suggest that CTZ interferes with reactive nitrogen species production by downregulating iNOS expression and thus enhances the antioxidant system to promote atrophy and regression of endometriotic lesions, without adverse effects on the brain and/or liver.

Immunohistochemical expression of Drosha is reduced in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of women with adenomyosis

The objective of this study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of Dicer, Drosha, and Exportin-5 in the eutopic and ectopic endometrium of women with adenomyosis. Twenty-two paired ectopic and eutopic endometrium from women with adenomyosis and 10 eutopic endometrium samples from control women undergoing hysterectomy were included in the study. Paraffin-embedded tissue blocks were cut and stained for immunohistochemistry. The percentage of epithelial cells positively marked was identified digitally after an automated slide scanning process. Mann-Whitney test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed for independent and paired groups, respectively. A lower expression of Drosha was observed in the eutopic endometrium of women with adenomyosis than in the eutopic endometrium of women without the disease (69.9±3.4% vs 85.2±2.9%, respectively) (P=0.016; 95%CI: 3.4 to 27.4%). We also detected lower Drosha expression in the ectopic endometrium of women with adenomyosis than in the eutopic endometrium of the same women (59.6±3.2% vs 69.9±3.4%, respectively) (P=0.004; 95%CI: 2.3 to 16.7%). Additionally, we observed a correlation between Drosha expression in the ectopic and paired eutopic endometrium (P=0.034, rho=0.454). No significant difference in Dicer or Exportin expression was observed. Predominant pattern of cytoplasmic staining for the anti-Drosha antibody and both a nuclear and cytoplasmic pattern for the anti-Exportin antibody were observed. Drosha expression was significantly lower in the endometrium of women with adenomyosis compared to the eutopic endometrium of asymptomatic women without the disease. Furthermore, its expression was lower in the ectopic endometrium but correlated to the paired eutopic endometrium.

Polymorphism rs3742330 in microRNA Biogenesis Gene DICER1 Is Associated with Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma in Saudi Cohort

We investigated the association between DICER1 (rs3742330) and DROSHA (rs10719) polymorphisms and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXG) and related clinical phenotypes in a Saudi cohort. In a retrospective case-control study, TaqMan real-time, PCR-based genotyping was performed in 340 participants with 246 controls and 94 PXG cases. The minor (G) allele frequency of rs3742330 in PXG (0.03) was significantly different from that in the controls (0.08) and protective against PXG (odds ratio (OR) = 0.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.16–0.92), p = 0.017). Similarly, the rs3742330 genotypes showed a significant protective association with PXG in dominant (p = 0.019, OR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.15–0.92), over-dominant (p = 0.024, OR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.16–0.95), and log-additive models (p = 0.017, OR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.16–0.92). However, none remained significant after an adjustment for age, sex, and multiple testing. Rs10719 in DROSHA did not show any significant allelic or genotype association with PXG. However, a protective effect of the GA haplotype in DICER1 and DROSHA and PXG (p = 0.034) was observed. Both polymorphisms showed no significant effect on intraocular pressure and the cup–disk ratio. In conclusion, we report a significant genetic association between variant rs3742330 in DICER1, a gene involved in miRNA biogenesis, and PXG. Further investigation in a larger group of patients of different ethnicities and functional studies are warranted to replicate and validate its potential role in PXG.

Proteomic and functional analysis of proteins related to embryonic development of decidua in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is defined as the loss of two or more consecutive pregnancies before the 20 weeks of gestation. Recurrent pregnancy loss affects about 1-2% of couples trying to conceive; however, the mechanisms leading to this complication are largely unknown. Our previous studies using comparative proteomics identified 314 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the placental villous. In this study, we identified 5479 proteins from a total of 34,157 peptides in decidua of patients with early recurrent pregnancy loss (Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD023849). Further analysis identified 311 DEPs in the decidua tissue; and 159 proteins were highly expressed while 152 proteins were lowly expressed. These 311 proteins were further analyzed by using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). The results suggested that 50 DEPs played important roles in the embryonic development. Upstream analysis of these DEPs revealed that AGT was the most important upstream regulator. Furthermore, protein - protein interaction (PPI) analysis of the embryonic development DEPs from the placental villous and decidua was performed in the STRING database. This study identified several proteins specifically associated with embryonic development in decidua of patients with early recurrent pregnancy loss. Therefore, these results provide new insights into potential biological mechanisms, that may ultimately inform recurrent pregnancy loss.