Assessment of the E-selectin rs5361 (561A>C) polymorphism and soluble protein concentration in acute coronary syndrome: association with circulating levels

Integrated Analysis of the microRNA–mRNA Network Predicts Potential Regulators of Atrial Fibrillation in Humans

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a form of sustained cardiac arrhythmia and microRNAs (miRs) play crucial roles in the pathophysiology of AF. To identify novel miR–mRNA pairs, we performed RNA-seq from atrial biopsies of persistent AF patients and non-AF patients with normal sinus rhythm (SR). Differentially expressed miRs (11 down and 9 up) and mRNAs (95 up and 82 down) were identified and hierarchically clustered in a heat map. Subsequently, GO, KEGG, and GSEA analyses were run to identify deregulated pathways. Then, miR targets were predicted in the miRDB database, and a regulatory network of negatively correlated miR–mRNA pairs was constructed using Cytoscape. To select potential candidate genes from GSEA analysis, the top-50 enriched genes in GSEA were overlaid with predicted targets of differentially deregulated miRs. Further, the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network of enriched genes in GSEA was constructed, and subsequently, GO and canonical pathway analyses were run for genes in the PPI network. Our analyses showed that TNF-α, p53, EMT, and SYDECAN1 signaling were among the highly affected pathways in AF samples. SDC-1 (SYNDECAN-1) was the top-enriched gene in p53, EMT, and SYDECAN1 signaling. Consistently, SDC-1 mRNA and protein levels were significantly higher in atrial samples of AF patients. Among negatively correlated miRs, miR-302b-3p was experimentally validated to suppress SDC-1 transcript levels. Overall, our results suggested that the miR-302b-3p/SDC-1 axis may be involved in the pathogenesis of AF.

Association of E-Selectin gene rs5361 polymorphism with ischemic stroke susceptibility: a systematic review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Over the years, a number of published studies showed that E-Selectin gene rs5361 (S128R, Ser128Arg, A561C) variants were associated with the risk of ischemic stroke (IS). However, the results of those case-control studies were still equivocal. Therefore, we performed this meta-analysis to clarify the relationship between E-Selectin gene rs5361 polymorphism and IS risk.

METHODS

We searched the Web of Science, PubMed, VIP, CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) and Wanfang databases for obtainning the eligible studies according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Odds ratios (ORs) with its 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the relationship of E-Selectin gene rs5361 polymorphism with IS susceptibility under the dominant and allelic model with fixed or random effects model.

RESULTS

Totally, 13 studies with 2888 cases and 2976 controls were selected in this systematic review and meta-analysis This meta-analysis obtained that E-Selectin gene rs5361variants contributed to increase the risk of IS (C vs. A: OR = 2.23, 95%CI = 1.70-2.92, p < 0.001). We also performed a sub-analysis by ethnicity, the results indicated that rs5361 variants were related to an increased risk of IS (East Asian population: C vs. A: OR = 1.97, 95%CI =1.58-2.45, p < 0.001; African population: C vs. A: OR = 5.52, 95%CI = 3.48-8.76, p < 0.001; Caucasian population: C vs. A: OR =1.67, 95%CI =1.32-2.10, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Therefore, our meta-analysis suggested that C allele, AA and AC genotypes of E-Selectin gene rs5361 variants were related to an increased risk of IS in overall populations.

Levels of soluble cell adhesion molecules in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with macrovascular complications

Objective

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a main risk factor for development of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and endothelial dysfunction. This study aimed to investigate serum levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (sVCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1), and endothelium selectin (sE-selectin) in T2DM patients with macrovascular complications.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of 21 controls, 30 T2DM patients without CVDs, and 30 T2DM patients with CVDs was conducted. Serum levels of soluble adhesion molecules including sVCAM-1, sICAM-1, and sE-selectin were determined using ELISA.

Results

Serum levels of sVCAM-1, sICAM-1, and sE-selectin were higher in T2DM patients than in controls. Levels of serum sVCAM-1 were higher in T2DM patients with CVDs compared with T2DM patients without CVDs. In T2DM patients with CVDs, significant positive associations were observed between sVCAM-1, sICAM-1, and sE-selectin levels (r = 0.575, p = 0.001 and r = 0.378, p = 0.040).

Conclusions

Circulating levels of soluble adhesion molecules were elevated in T2DM patients, regardless of whether the patients had cardiovascular complications. Only sVCAM-1 was considered a useful marker for the prediction of CVDs in T2DM patients.

E-Selectin and markers of HIV disease severity, inflammation and coagulation in HIV-infected treatment-naïve individuals

Background

E-selectin has been shown to play a role in atherosclerosis and to be increased in HIV-infected individuals due to chronic immune activation. There is a paucity of studies on E-selectin in HIV-infected treatment-naïve individuals.

Objectives

This study aimed to determine whether E-selectin levels were increased in HIV-infected treatment-naïve individuals and whether these correlated with markers of disease severity, inflammation and coagulation to determine if this population is at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods

E-selectin levels were determined in 114 HIV-infected treatment-naive and 66 HIV-negative individuals, compared between groups and correlated with markers of disease severity, inflammation and coagulation.

Results

There were statistically significant differences (p<0.01) in levels of WCC, CD4⁺ count, %CD38/8, albumin, IgG, hsCRP and D-dimer between groups and no statistically significant differences in E-selectin (p=0.84) and fibrinogen (p=0.65) levels. E-selectin correlated with age (p=0.02) and gender (p=0.01).

Conclusion

E-selectin was a poor marker in this setting. There was no correlation with any of the markers of disease severity, inflammation and coagulation. E-selectin is most likely raised in an acute inflammatory setting, rather than chronic stage of HIV-infection. We recommend that other markers be utilized to identify patients at increased risk of CVD; as these were significantly increased untreated in individuals.