Interferon Regulatory Factor 5 Gene Polymorphisms in Iranian Women with Unexplained Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Relationship of interferon regulator factor 5 and interferon‑γ with missed abortion

The aim of the present study was to reveal the association of missed abortion, a process integrated with the immune system, with interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and to demonstrate the function of these molecules by examining their levels in decidual tissue. This prospective cohort study included 13 patients with no additional systemic disease, between 6 and 10 weeks of gestation with negative fetal heartbeat, and 11 patients between 6 and 10 weeks of gestation with positive heartbeat who presented for voluntary termination of pregnancy. In the fresh decidual tissue materials recovered after therapeutic curettage, IFN-γ and IRF5 protein levels were determined by ELISA method and IFN-γ and IRF5 gene expression levels by qPCR method. The mean IFN-γ (86.5 vs. 27.3 pg/mg protein; P<0.001) and IRF5 (2.0 vs. 1.5 ng/mg protein; P<0.001) levels were significantly higher in pregnant women who had missed abortion compared to the voluntary abortion group. The increases in the mean IFN-γ/GAPDH (3.5 vs. 1.5-fold increase; P<0.001) and IRF5/GAPDH (3.9 vs. 1.4-fold increase; P<0.001) gene expression levels were significantly higher in the tissues of pregnant women with missed abortion than in the voluntary abortion group. A threshold value of 45.2 pg/mg protein for IFN-γ had a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 100% in determination of missed abortion. The findings of present study revealed, to the best of our knowledge for the first time in the literature, that IFN-γ and IRF5 may be associated with missed abortion, and that IFN-γ and IRF5 protein levels and gene expression levels were significantly increased in the case of missed abortion. According to our findings, IFN-γ and IRF5 play an important role in placental invasion and pregnancy and can be used as markers for endometrial implantation.

Interferon Regulatory Factor 5 (IRF5) Gene Haplotypes Are Associated with Premature Coronary Artery Disease. Association of the IRF5 Polymorphisms with Cardiometabolic Parameters. The Genetics of Atherosclerotic Disease (GEA) Mexican Study

Interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) has an important role in the inflammatory process, a fundamental component of coronary artery disease (CAD). Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the association of IRF5 polymorphisms with the development of premature CAD (pCAD) and cardiometabolic parameters. IRF5 polymorphisms (rs1874330, rs3778754, rs3757386, rs3757385, rs3807134, rs3807135, and rs6968563) were determined in 1116 pCAD patients and 1003 controls. Polymorphism distribution was similar in patients and controls; however, the haplotype analysis showed five haplotypes with a different distribution. TGCGTCT (OR (odds ratio) = 1.248, p = 0005) and TCTGCCT (OR = 10.73, p < 0.0001) were associated with a high risk, whereas TCCGTCT (OR = 0.155, p < 0.0001), CGCTTTT (OR = 0.108, p < 0.0001), and TCCGCCT (OR = 0.014, p < 0.0001) were associated with a low risk of pCAD. Associations with aspartate aminotransferase, hypertriglyceridemia, magnesium deficiency, triglycerides/HDL-C index, LDL-C, and adiponectin levels were observed in pCAD patients. In controls, associations with hypoalphalipoproteinemia, non-HDL-C, apolipoprotein B, hyperuricemia, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-15, valvular calcification, and subclinical hypothyroidism were observed. In summary, five haplotypes were associated with pCAD, two with high risk and three with low risk. Some IRF5 polymorphisms were associated with cardiometabolic parameters in pCAD patients and control.

Relative Expression of OX40, OX40L mRNA, and OX40L Serum Levels in Women with Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion

This study determined the roles of OX40 and OX40L in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). We compared the expression of OX40 and OX40L genes in peripheral blood mRNA levels and serum levels of OX40L in women with a history of RSA to the control group. In this case-control study, 40 women with a history of RSA (case group), and 40 others with no history of abortion (control group) were investigated. The expressions of OX40 mRNA and OX40L mRNA were determined in the two groups using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Also, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the levels of serum OX40L in the two groups. There were no significant differences in the maternal age of women in the two groups (30.1 ± 4.28 years in the case vs. 30.03 ± 4.23 years in the control group). There was no difference in terms of the levels of OX40 and OX40L mRNA between the groups (p = 0.08 and p = 0.56, respectively). In addition, there was no significant correlation between the expression of OX40 and OX40L mRNA levels with age or the number of abortions. The correlation between OX40 and OX40L mRNA levels was not significant. RSA history group turned to show a higher level of serum OX40L than the control group (p = 0.03). In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that the expression of OX40 mRNA and OX40L mRNA was similar between women with a history of RSA and the control group. The elevation of serum OX40L level may be considered as a risk factor for RSA.

Association of the rs555172 polymorphism in SENCR long non-coding RNA and atherosclerotic coronary artery disease

Introduction: Variants in long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated as potential biomarkers in prediction of complex disorders such as coronary artery disease (CAD). Studies considering the impact of the SENCR antisense lncRNAs on CAD have not established yet in Iranian population. This study aimed to investigate the association between SENCR rs555172 polymorphism and CAD in south Iranian population.

Methods: Amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR) was performed to determine the allele and the genotype distribution of SENCR lncRNA polymorphism in 150 patients with CAD compared with 149 healthy controls through this hospital-based case-control study.

Results: The frequency of AA, AG, and GG genotypes in cases were 32.7%, 44.7%, and 22.6%, and in controls were 26.8%, 49%, and 24.2%, respectively. Association was not found with any of the genotypes in comparison of cases and controls. The allelic frequencies did not differ between cases and controls. Cross-tabulating the population based on the gender, the frequency of the GG genotype was significantly higher among women of the case group compared to men. The difference was not seen in the control group between two sexes.

Conclusion: The results suggested that the SENCR gene polymorphism did not confer susceptibility to CAD.