Analysis of genetic polymorphisms for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Chinese Tujia ethnic minority group

RP1L1 rs3924612 gene polymorphism and RP1L1 protein associations among patients with early age-related macular degeneration

BACKGROUND

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the most common causes of blindness in developed world countries. It mainly affects the elderly. The incidence of the disease is only slightly below that of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to determine the association of RP1L1 single nucleotide polymorphism and serum RP1L1 levels with the onset of the early AMD.

AIM

The aim of this study was to determine the association of RP1L1 single nucleotide polymorphism with the onset of the early age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

METHODS

The study examined 615 subjects: 309 with a diagnosis of the early AMD and 306 healthy controls. Samples of DNA from peripheral blood leukocytes were extracted by the DNA salting-out method. Genotyping was carried out by the real-time polymerase chain reaction. Serum levels of RP1L1 protein were evaluated using an ELISA kit. The results were assessed using the statistical analysis method of "IBM SPSS Statistics 23.0".

RESULTS

We have found that the RP1L1 rs3924612 C/G genotype increases the odds of the early AMD development in females (p <.05/2). Also, we found that RP1L1 rs3924612 C/G and G/G genotypes increase the odds of the early AMD in the age group of 56-68 years (p < .05/2). Serum RP1L1 levels were evaluated in study groups but no statistically significant associations were found.

CONCLUSION

Based on these results we concluded that RP1L1 rs3924612 polymorphism was associated with the early AMD development, but not with the RP1L1 level changes.

Association of HTRA1 and CFH gene polymorphisms with age-related macular degeneration in Ningbo, China

BACKGROUND

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the major causes of blindness, and the incidence of this disease has been increasing in recent years.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the high temperature requirement factor A-1 (HTRA1) and complement factor H (CFH) genes and susceptibility to AMD in Ningbo, China.

METHODS

Ninety-eight patients with AMD and seventy-three controls were recruited at the Sixth Hospital of Ningbo from August 2017 to April 2019 in China. Genomic DNA was extracted from the venous blood provided by the hospital, and the genotypes of the AMD susceptibility genes CFH and HTAR1 were detected by polymerase chain reaction and sequenced directly. The SNPs rs11200638 on the HTRA1 gene and rs3753394 on the CFH gene were selected for genotype and association analysis. The correlations between the different genotypes of HTRA1 and CFH and AMD were analysed by the Chi-squared test.

RESULTS

All the genotypes adhered to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. There were three genotypes (AA, AG and GG) in HTRA1 (rs11200638). The differences in genotypes and allele frequency between the AMD group and the control group were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The A allele was a risk allele (OR: 4.19, 95% Cl: 2.28 ~ 7.70, P < 0.05), with a frequency of 61.7% in patients versus 43.8% in controls. However, the rs3753394 SNP in CFH was not associated with AMD in our study (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The rs11200638 SNP of the HTRA1 gene is associated with AMD, and the AA genotype is a risk factor for AMD in the Ningbo population. There is no significant correlation between the rs3753394 SNP of the CFH gene and AMD.

Clinical outcomes and safety of apatinib monotherapy in the treatment of patients with advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma who progressed after standard regimens and the analysis of the VEGFR2 polymorphism

The aims of the present study were to investigate the clinical outcomes and safety of apatinib monotherapy in the treatment of patients with advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) who have progressed after standard regimens, and to analyze the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) rs2071559 polymorphism. A total of 118 patients with advanced EOC who received apatinib treatment were included in the study. Tumor response was evaluated using progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) time, and safety data were documented. Additionally, peripheral blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) specimens from the patients with EOC were collected to perform the genotyping of genetic polymorphism and assess the mRNA expression of VEGFR2, respectively. The objective response rate across the 118 patients with advanced EOC was 38.98%, the disease control rate was 63.56%, the median PFS time was 4.65 months and the median OS time was 15.10 months. Regarding the polymorphism analysis, the prevalence of rs2071559 in VEGFR2 among the 118 patients with advanced EOC was recorded as the TT genotype in 72 cases (61.02%), TC genotype in 41 cases (34.75%) and CC genotype in 5 cases (4.23%), and the minor allele frequency of rs2071559 was 0.22. The distribution of the three genotypes was in accordance with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P=0.781). TC and CC genotypes were merged in the subsequent analysis. The prognosis analyses suggested that the median PFS time of patients with the TC/CC genotype and the TT genotype was 3.10 and 5.40 months, respectively (P=0.015). Moreover, the median OS time of the two genotypes was 12.60 and 17.50 months, respectively (P=0.009). However, no association was noted between genotype status of the polymorphism and adverse reactions. Additionally, the mRNA expression analysis indicated that the mRNA expression levels of VEGFR2 in PBMC specimens were significantly different between TT and TC/CC genotypes (P<0.001). The present study suggested that the clinical outcomes of patients with advanced EOC, who progressed after standard regimens and received apatinib treatment, might be influenced by the VEGFR2 rs2071559 polymorphism.

Interaction of two functional genetic variants LOXL1 rs1048661 and VEGFA rs3025039 on the risk of age-related macular degeneration in Chinese women

Background

Cumulative evidence indicates that LOXL1 and VEGF-a play important roles in extracellular matrix formation and angiogenesis, respectively. The disorder of extracellular matrix and angiogenesis are the key factors of pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We hypothesized that rs1048661 (T>G) in the LOXL1 gene and rs3025039 (C>T) in the VEGFA gene might be associated with risk of AMD.

Methods

A total of 533 unrelated Chinese subjects, 286 cases (247 with early AMD and 39 with late neovascular AMD) and 247 controls, were included in the study. The gene sequences of LOXL1 rs1048661 and VEGFA rs3025039 were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and genotyped. Interaction between rs1048661 and rs3025039 on AMD risk was also assessed.

Results

LOXL1 rs1048661 but not VEGFA rs3025039 was associated with a significantly increased risk of AMD. The adjusted odds ratio was 1.6 (95% CI, 1.1-2.5) for rs1048661 TT + GT genotype compared with GG homozygotes in the dominant model analysis. Moreover, there was a significant gene-gene interaction between these two polymorphic loci. In VEGFA rs3025039 CC + CT genotype which indicated sufficient expression of VEGF-a, LOXL1 rs1048661 had odds ratios of 1.7 (95% CI, 1.1-2.7) for early AMD and 3.6 (95% CI, 1.1-12.3) for late neovascular AMD in the dominant model analysis. However, LOXL1 rs1048661 did not confer the risk of AMD in subjects harboring VEGFA rs3025039 TT genotype which indicated decreased expression of VEGF-a.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that LOXL1 rs1048661 (T>G) may be involved in the risk of AMD. In addition, LOXL1 rs1048661 and VEGFA rs3025039 interacted to confer the development of AMD, especially for late-stage neovascular AMD. Our data need to be further validated.

KCTD10 Biology: An Adaptor for the Ubiquitin E3 Complex Meets Multiple Substrates: Emerging Divergent Roles of the cullin-3/KCTD10 E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Complex in Various Cell Lines

Protein ubiquitination constitutes a post-translational modification mediated by ubiquitin ligases whereby ubiquitinated substrates are degraded through the proteasomal or lysosomal pathways, or acquire novel molecular functions according to their "ubiquitin codes." Dysfunction of the ubiquitination process in cells causes various diseases such as cancers along with neurodegenerative, auto-immune/inflammatory, and metabolic diseases. KCTD10 functions as a substrate recognition receptor for cullin-3 (CUL3), a scaffold protein in RING-type ubiquitin ligase complexes. Recently, studies by ourselves and others have identified new substrates that are ubiquitinated by the CUL3/KCTD10 ubiquitin ligase complex. Moreover, the type of polyubiquitination (e.g., K27-, K48-, or K63-chain) of various substrates (e.g., RhoB, CEP97, EIF3D, and TRIF) mediated by KCTD10 underlies its divergent roles in endothelial barrier formation, primary cilium formation, plasma membrane dynamics, cell proliferation, and immune response. Here, the physiological functions of KCTD10 are summarized and potential mechanisms are proposed.

The efficacy and safety of Apatinib mesylate in the treatment of metastatic osteosarcoma patients who progressed after standard therapy and the VEGFR2 gene polymorphism analysis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of Apatinib mesylate in the treatment of metastatic osteosarcoma patients who progressed after standard therapy and the VEGFR2 gene polymorphism analysis.

METHODS

Designed as a retrospective study, a total of 105 metastatic osteosarcoma patients who progressed after standard therapy were included in this study. The metastatic osteosarcoma patients received 500-750 mg Apatinib mesylate according to body surface area until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity with 28 days one cycle. Overall response was evaluated after two cycles Apatinib treatment, then progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated, and safety data were recorded. Additionally. peripheral blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) specimens in the osteosarcoma patients were collected for the genotyping of VEGFR2 genetic variation and mRNA expression, respectively. Analysis on the association between genotype and baseline characteristics and VEGFR2 gene mRNA expression was analyzed. The univariate analysis of genotypes and prognosis was carried out by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and multivariate analysis was adjusted by Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

The objective response rate (ORR) of the 105 metastatic osteosarcoma patients was 37.14%, disease control rate (DCR) was 77.14%, median PFS was 4.1 months, and median OS was 9.0 months. Regarding the VEGFR2 gene polymorphisms analysis, only - 906 T > C was of clinical significance. The prevalence of - 906 T > C in VEGFR2 among the study population was as follows: TT genotype 62 cases (59.05%), TC genotype 36 cases (34.29%) and CC genotype 7 cases (6.66%), minor allele frequency of - 906 T > C was 0.24. Compared with patients with TC/CC genotype, patients with TT genotype showed longer median PFS (5.0 versus 3.1 months, P = 0.011) and median OS (9.8 versus 7.6 months, P = 0.032). There was no correlation between the polymorphism and adverse reactions. Additionally, the mRNA expression in 69 randomly selected sample indicated that the mRNA expression of VEGFR2 of the patients with CC/TC genotypes were significantly higher than those of the TT genotype patients (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Apatinib was safe and effective in the treatment of metastatic osteosarcoma patients who progressed after standard therapy. The clinical outcomes of Apatinib may be influenced by the polymorphism - 906 T > C of VEGFR2 through mediating the mRNA expression of VEGFR2.

Clinical Outcomes and Safety of Apatinib Mesylate in the Treatment of Advanced Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in Patients Who Progressed After Standard Therapy and Analysis of the KDR Gene Polymorphism

Purpose

This study investigated the clinical outcomes and safety of apatinib mesylate in the treatment of advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients who progressed after standard therapy, and analyzed the kinase insert domain receptor (KDR) gene polymorphism.

Methods

A total of 135 patients with advanced non-squamous NSCLC who received apatinib mesylate were included. Objective response rates were evaluated. Subsequently, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed and safety data were recorded. Additionally, peripheral blood and biopsy cancer tissue specimens were collected from the patients with NSCLC for the genotyping of the genetic polymorphism and mRNA expression of the KDR gene, respectively. Analysis on the association between genotypes and prognosis was conducted.

Results

The objective response rate of the 135 patients with NSCLC was 18.52%, disease control rate was 65.19%, median PFS was 3.95 months, and median OS was 10.05 months. Regarding the KDR gene polymorphism analysis, the distribution of the 4397T>C polymorphism genotypes was in accordance with the Hardy–Weinberg Equilibrium (P=0.868). Moreover, the prognosis analysis indicated that the median PFS of patients with the CC/TC and TT genotypes was 2.80 and 4.80 months, respectively (P=0.002). Furthermore, the median OS of patients with the two genotypes was 9.10 and 10.56 months, respectively (P=0.041). The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the TC/CC genotypes were an independent factor for PFS (odds ratio: 1.72, P=0.009). There was no correlation between the polymorphism and adverse reactions. Additionally, the mRNA expression analysis suggested that the mRNA levels of KDR in cancer tissues were significantly different between the TT and TC/CC genotypes (P<0.001).

Conclusion

The clinical outcomes of treatment with apatinib mesylate for advanced non-squamous NSCLC in patients who progressed after standard therapy may be influenced by the KDR 4397T>C polymorphism through mediation of the mRNA expression of KDR.