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Li M, Schifanella L, Larsen PA. Alu retrotransposons and COVID-19 susceptibility and morbidity. Hum Genomics 2021; 15:2. [PMID: 33390179 PMCID: PMC7779329 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-020-00299-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 has spread rapidly across the world and is negatively impacting the global human population. COVID-19 patients display a wide variety of symptoms and clinical outcomes, including those attributed to genetic ancestry. Alu retrotransposons have played an important role in human evolution, and their variants influence host response to viral infection. Intronic Alus regulate gene expression through several mechanisms, including both genetic and epigenetic pathways. With respect to SARS-CoV-2, an intronic Alu within the ACE gene is hypothesized to be associated with COVID-19 susceptibility and morbidity. Here, we review specific Alu polymorphisms that are of particular interest when considering host response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially polymorphic Alu insertions in genes associated with immune response and coagulation/fibrinolysis cascade. We posit that additional research focused on Alu-related pathways could yield novel biomarkers capable of predicting clinical outcomes as well as patient-specific treatment strategies for COVID-19 and related infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manci Li
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Luca Schifanella
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Outcomes and Precision Medicine Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Peter A Larsen
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA.
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Vogiatzi P, Pouliakis A, Bettocchi S, Daskalakis G, Vrantza T, Siristatidis C. Age at menarche and clinical outcomes following medically assisted reproduction (MAR): a cohort study. Gynecol Endocrinol 2019; 35:448-452. [PMID: 30773074 DOI: 10.1080/09513590.2018.1538344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Medically assisted reproduction (MAR) technologies have advanced rapidly, but in contrast to the specificity of modern approaches, they provide limited effectiveness in the management of the infertile couple. The purpose of this study was to assess the possible relationship between age at menarche and MAR outcomes of clinical pregnancy, live birth and the adverse incident of miscarriage, and to determine the offspring sex ratio according to age at menarche. In a cohort of 254 infertile couples who underwent 426 IVF/ICSI cycles, statistical analysis was performed by applying Student's t-test, chi-square test, and logistic regression models, adequately in the respective parameters and outcomes. The results indicated a strong association of age at menarche with the outcomes of clinical pregnancy (p = .0007) and live birth (p < .0001), especially by applying a threshold of 12 years in the first occurrence of menstruation (p = .0019 for clinical pregnancy, p < .0001 for live birth), also demonstrating a negative effect for earlier menarche that acts in parallel with the increasing age of the woman. Calculation of sex ratio demonstrated a tendency towards female offspring close to the age at menarche of 12 years. Age at menarche could serve as a surrogate parameter for reproductive potential towards personalized management of infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paraskevi Vogiatzi
- a Assisted Reproduction Unit, Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , "Attikon Hospital", Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Athens , Greece
| | - Abraham Pouliakis
- b Second Department of Pathology , "Attikon Hospital", Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Athens , Greece
| | - Stefano Bettocchi
- c Second Unit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology , University "Aldo Moro" , Bari , Italy
| | - George Daskalakis
- d First Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Alexandra Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Athens , Greece
| | - Tereza Vrantza
- a Assisted Reproduction Unit, Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , "Attikon Hospital", Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Athens , Greece
| | - Charalampos Siristatidis
- a Assisted Reproduction Unit, Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , "Attikon Hospital", Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Athens , Greece
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Laisk T, Kukuškina V, Palmer D, Laber S, Chen CY, Ferreira T, Rahmioglu N, Zondervan K, Becker C, Smoller JW, Lippincott M, Salumets A, Granne I, Seminara S, Neale B, Mägi R, Lindgren CM. Large-scale meta-analysis highlights the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in the genetic regulation of menstrual cycle length. Hum Mol Genet 2018; 27:4323-4332. [PMID: 30202859 PMCID: PMC6276838 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddy317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Revised: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The normal menstrual cycle requires a delicate interplay between the hypothalamus, pituitary and ovary. Therefore, its length is an important indicator of female reproductive health. Menstrual cycle length has been shown to be partially controlled by genetic factors, especially in the follicle-stimulating hormone beta-subunit (FSHB) locus. A genome-wide association study meta-analysis of menstrual cycle length in 44 871 women of European ancestry confirmed the previously observed association with the FSHB locus and identified four additional novel signals in, or near, the GNRH1, PGR, NR5A2 and INS-IGF2 genes. These findings not only confirm the role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in the genetic regulation of menstrual cycle length but also highlight potential novel local regulatory mechanisms, such as those mediated by IGF2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Triin Laisk
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- Estonian Genome Center, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Viktorija Kukuškina
- Estonian Genome Center, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Duncan Palmer
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Samantha Laber
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Center for Health for Health Information and Discovery, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Chia-Yen Chen
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Teresa Ferreira
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Center for Health for Health Information and Discovery, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Nilufer Rahmioglu
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Krina Zondervan
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Endometriosis CaRe Centre, Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Christian Becker
- Oxford Endometriosis CaRe Centre, Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Jordan W Smoller
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Margaret Lippincott
- Harvard Reproductive Sciences Center and Reproductive Endocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Andres Salumets
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tartu, Estonia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Biomedicine, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ingrid Granne
- Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Stephanie Seminara
- Harvard Reproductive Sciences Center and Reproductive Endocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Benjamin Neale
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Reedik Mägi
- Estonian Genome Center, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Cecilia M Lindgren
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Center for Health for Health Information and Discovery, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute, Boston, MA, USA
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To summarize advances in the genetics underlying variation in normal pubertal timing, precocious puberty, and delayed puberty, and to discuss mechanisms by which genes may regulate pubertal timing. RECENT FINDINGS Genome-wide association studies have identified hundreds of loci that affect pubertal timing in the general population in both sexes and across ethnic groups. Single genes have been implicated in both precocious and delayed puberty. Potential mechanisms for how these genetic loci influence pubertal timing may include effects on the development and function of the GnRH neuronal network and the responsiveness of end-organs. SUMMARY There has been significant progress in identifying genetic loci that affect normal pubertal timing, and the first single-gene causes of precocious and delayed puberty are being described. How these genes influence pubertal timing remains to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Zhu
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital
| | - Temitope O Kusa
- Harvard Reproductive Sciences Center and Reproductive Endocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Yee-Ming Chan
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital.,Harvard Reproductive Sciences Center and Reproductive Endocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Su Y, Kong GL, Su YL, Zhou Y, Lv LF, Wang Q, Huang BP, Zheng RZ, Li QZ, Yuan HJ, Zhao ZG. Association of gene polymorphisms in ABO blood group chromosomal regions and menstrual disorders. Exp Ther Med 2015; 9:2325-2330. [PMID: 26136981 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2015.2416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2014] [Accepted: 03/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located near the gene of the ABO blood group play an important role in the genetic aetiology of menstrual disorders (MDs). Polymerase chain reaction-ligase detection reaction technology was used to detect eight SNPs near the ABO gene location on the chromosomes in 250 cases of MD and 250 cases of normal menstruation. The differences in the distribution of each genotype, as well as the allele frequency in the normal and control groups, were analysed using Pearson's χ2 test to search for disease-associated loci. SHEsis software was used to analyse the linkage disequilibrium and haplotype frequencies and to inspect the correlation between haplotypes and the disease. Compared with the control group, the experimental group exhibited statistically significant differences in the genotype distribution frequencies of the rs657152 locus of the ABO blood group gene and the rs17250673 locus of the tumour necrosis factor cofactor 2 (TRAF2) gene, which is located downstream of the ABO gene. The allele distribution frequencies of rs657152 and rs495828 loci in the ABO blood group gene exhibited significant differences between the groups. Dominant and recessive genetic model analysis of each locus revealed that the experimental group exhibited statistically significant differences from the control group in the genotype distribution frequencies of rs657152 and rs495828 loci, respectively. These results indicate that the ABO blood group gene and TRAF2 gene may be a cause of MDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Su
- Department of Endocrinology, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Henan Province People's Hospital), Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Gui-Lian Kong
- Department of Endocrinology, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Henan Province People's Hospital), Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Ya-Li Su
- Department of Endocrinology, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Henan Province People's Hospital), Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Endocrinology, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Henan Province People's Hospital), Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Li-Fang Lv
- Department of Endocrinology, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Henan Province People's Hospital), Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Qiong Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Henan Province People's Hospital), Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Bao-Ping Huang
- Department of Endocrinology, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Henan Province People's Hospital), Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Rui-Zhi Zheng
- Department of Endocrinology, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Henan Province People's Hospital), Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Quan-Zhong Li
- Department of Endocrinology, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Henan Province People's Hospital), Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Hui-Juan Yuan
- Department of Endocrinology, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Henan Province People's Hospital), Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Zhi-Gang Zhao
- Department of Endocrinology, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Henan Province People's Hospital), Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
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Palmirotta R, Barbanti P, Ialongo C, De Marchis ML, Alessandroni J, Egeo G, Aurilia C, Fofi L, Valente MG, Ferroni P, Della-Morte D, Guadagni F. Progesterone receptor gene (PROGINS) polymorphism correlates with late onset of migraine. DNA Cell Biol 2015; 34:208-12. [PMID: 25494303 PMCID: PMC4337459 DOI: 10.1089/dna.2014.2534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2014] [Revised: 10/17/2014] [Accepted: 11/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Progesterone influences central neuronal excitability, a key event in migraine pathophysiology. Progesterone receptor gene (PGR) rs1042838 (G/T - Val660Leu) variant is indicative of PROGINS haplotype and associated to a reduced PGR activity. With the aim of investigating whether any type of association existed between this genetic variant and migraine pathophysiology, genotyping was performed in 380 consecutive migraine patients and 185 age-, sex-, and race-ethnicity-matched healthy controls from Interinstitutional Multidisciplinary BioBank (BioBIM) of IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy. rs1042838 genotypes did not correlate with demographics or clinical migraine features. However, TT (Leu) genotype was significantly associated with a later age of migraine onset: Patients affected by migraine with aura showed a linear relationship between copy number of the T allele carried by the individual and the age of migraine onset. Our data suggest that the PROGINS PGR polymorphism does not directly predispose to migraine but significantly delays migraine onset probably via a reduction in brain neuronal excitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaele Palmirotta
- Interinstitutional Multidisciplinary Biobank (BioBIM), Biomarker Discovery and Advanced Technologies (BioDAT), Rome, Italy
| | - Piero Barbanti
- Headache and Pain Unit, Department of Neurological, Motor and Sensorial Sciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristiano Ialongo
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata,” Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Laura De Marchis
- Interinstitutional Multidisciplinary Biobank (BioBIM), Biomarker Discovery and Advanced Technologies (BioDAT), Rome, Italy
| | - Jhessica Alessandroni
- Interinstitutional Multidisciplinary Biobank (BioBIM), Biomarker Discovery and Advanced Technologies (BioDAT), Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella Egeo
- Headache and Pain Unit, Department of Neurological, Motor and Sensorial Sciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy
| | - Cinzia Aurilia
- Headache and Pain Unit, Department of Neurological, Motor and Sensorial Sciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy
| | - Luisa Fofi
- Headache and Pain Unit, Department of Neurological, Motor and Sensorial Sciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Patrizia Ferroni
- Interinstitutional Multidisciplinary Biobank (BioBIM), Biomarker Discovery and Advanced Technologies (BioDAT), Rome, Italy
| | - David Della-Morte
- Interinstitutional Multidisciplinary Biobank (BioBIM), Biomarker Discovery and Advanced Technologies (BioDAT), Rome, Italy
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata,” Rome, Italy
| | - Fiorella Guadagni
- Interinstitutional Multidisciplinary Biobank (BioBIM), Biomarker Discovery and Advanced Technologies (BioDAT), Rome, Italy
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Abstract
This chapter presents an overview of the gene polymorphisms underlying the functions of ovarian receptors and their clinical implications in the female fecundity. A selection of genetic studies revealing significant associations between receptor polymorphisms, gene mutations, and some pathological conditions (i.e., female infertility, premature ovarian failure, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis) are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livio Casarini
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Universtita 4, Modena, 41121, Italy
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Rowe EJ, Eisenstein TK, Meissler J, Rockwell LC. Gene x environment interactions impact endometrial function and the menstrual cycle: PROGINS, life history, anthropometry, and physical activity. Am J Hum Biol 2013; 25:681-94. [PMID: 23907837 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.22430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2013] [Revised: 06/18/2013] [Accepted: 06/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We assessed the impact of a high frequency, functionally significant allelic variant of the progesterone receptor gene (PROGINS) on endometrial function and menstrual cycle characteristics. Further we asked whether PROGINS moderates the impact of life history characteristics, anthropometric measures, and physical activity on endometrial function. METHODS Fifty-two women were genotyped for the PROGINS variant, provided life history information, and had anthropometric measurements made. Women monitored their menstrual bleeding for three cycles, performed mid-cycle urinary ovulation tests, and recorded physical activity. A subset of women provided daily saliva samples and had mid-luteal endometrial thickness measurements taken during the third menstrual cycle. Salivary progesterone was assayed using ELISAs. The direct impact of PROGINS on endometrial and menstrual cycle characteristics was determined via independent t-tests with Bonferroni correction. Interactions between PROGINS and covariates were assessed by moderated regression. RESULTS PROGINS did not directly impact any indicator of endometrial function. However, PROGINS caused an increase in menstrual cycle length with increasing mid-luteal progesterone levels; the opposite relationship was present in noncarriers (P < 0.05). Additionally, PROGINS interacted with four of six anthropometric measures (BMI, waist circumference, height, and waist-hip ratio) to impact endometrial function, however, interactions between PROGINS and life history variables, or physical activity was limited. CONCLUSIONS The gene x environment interactions we report suggest that PROGINS alters endometrial sensitivity to maternal energetic condition. Thus, the possibility of genetically-based variation in sensitivity to energetic stress should be considered in future adaptive models of women's reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth J Rowe
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern, Statesboro, Georgia, 30460
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Shui IM, Mucci LA, Kraft P, Tamimi RM, Lindstrom S, Penney KL, Nimptsch K, Hollis BW, Dupre N, Platz EA, Stampfer MJ, Giovannucci E. Vitamin D-related genetic variation, plasma vitamin D, and risk of lethal prostate cancer: a prospective nested case-control study. J Natl Cancer Inst 2012; 104:690-9. [PMID: 22499501 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djs189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The association of vitamin D status with prostate cancer is controversial; no association has been observed for overall incidence, but there is a potential link with lethal disease. METHODS We assessed prediagnostic 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in plasma, variation in vitamin D-related genes, and risk of lethal prostate cancer using a prospective case-control study nested within the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. We included 1260 men who were diagnosed with prostate cancer after providing a blood sample in 1993-1995 and 1331 control subjects. Men with prostate cancer were followed through March 2011 for lethal outcomes (n = 114). We selected 97 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genomic regions with high linkage disequilibrium (tagSNPs) to represent common genetic variation among seven vitamin D-related genes (CYP27A1, CYP2R1, CYP27B1, GC, CYP24A1, RXRA, and VDR). We used a logistic kernel machine test to assess whether multimarker SNP sets in seven vitamin D pathway-related genes were collectively associated with prostate cancer. Tests for statistical significance were two-sided. RESULTS Higher 25(OH)D levels were associated with a 57% reduction in the risk of lethal prostate cancer (highest vs lowest quartile: odds ratio = 0.43, 95% confidence interval = 0.24 to 0.76). This finding did not vary by time from blood collection to diagnosis. We found no statistically significant association of plasma 25(OH)D levels with overall prostate cancer. Pathway analyses found that the set of SNPs that included all seven genes (P = .008) as well as sets of SNPs that included VDR (P = .01) and CYP27A1 (P = .02) were associated with risk of lethal prostate cancer. CONCLUSION In this prospective study, plasma 25(OH)D levels and common variation among several vitamin D-related genes were associated with lethal prostate cancer risk, suggesting that vitamin D is relevant for lethal prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene M Shui
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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Dvornyk V, Waqar-ul-Haq. Genetics of age at menarche: a systematic review. Hum Reprod Update 2012; 18:198-210. [PMID: 22258758 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmr050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Menarche is the first menstrual period of a girl at puberty. The timing of menarche is important for health in later life. Age at menarche is a complex trait and has a strong genetic component. This review summarizes the results of the genetic studies of age at menarche conducted to date, highlights existing problems in this area and outlines prospects of future studies on genetic factors for the trait. METHODS PubMed and Google Scholar were searched until May 2011 using the keywords: 'menarche', 'puberty' and 'age at menarche' in combination with the keywords 'polymorphism', 'candidate gene', 'genome-wide association study' and 'linkage'. RESULTS Our search yielded 170 papers, 35 of which were selected for further analysis. Several large-scale genome-wide association studies along with a powerful meta-analysis of their aggregated data identified about 50 candidate genes for the trait. Some genes were replicated in different studies of Caucasians (e.g. LIN28B, TMEM38B) or in different ethnicities (e.g. SPOCK, RANK and RANKL). However, despite the large volume of results obtained, there is a huge gap in relevant data on ethnic groups other than Caucasians. CONCLUSIONS The reviewed studies laid a solid basis for future research on genetics of age at menarche. However, as yet specific genes for this trait have not been identified consistently in all ethnicities and types of studies. We suggest expanding the research to different ethnicities and propose several methodologies to increase the efficiency of studies in this area, including a systems approach, which combines existing high-throughput methods in a single pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volodymyr Dvornyk
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, PR China.
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