Cardiovascular diseases-related GNB3 C825T polymorphism has a significant sex-specific effect on serum soluble E-selectin levels

Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism in Genes Encoding G Protein Subunits GNB3 and GNAQ Increase the Risk of Cardiovascular Morbidity among Patients Undergoing Renal Replacement Therapy

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in G protein subunits are linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular events among the general population. We assessed the effects of GNB3 c.825C > T, GNAQ -695/-694GC > TT, and GNAS c.393C > T polymorphisms on the risk of cardiovascular events among 454 patients undergoing renal replacement therapy. The patients were followed up for a median of 4.5 years after the initiation of dialysis. Carriers of the TT/TT genotype of GNAQ required stenting because of coronary artery stenosis (p = 0.0009) and developed cardiovascular events involving more than one organ system (p = 0.03) significantly earlier and more frequently than did the GC/TT or GC/GC genotypes. Multivariate analysis found that the TT/TT genotype of GNAQ was an independent risk factor for coronary artery stenosis requiring stent (hazard ratio, 4.5; p = 0.001), cardiovascular events (hazard ratio, 1.93; p = 0.04) and cardiovascular events affecting multiple organs (hazard ratio, 4.9; p = 0.03). In the subgroup of male patients left ventricular dilatation with abnormally increased LVEDD values occurred significantly more frequently in TT genotypes of GNB3 than in CT/CC genotypes (p = 0.007). Our findings suggest that male dialysis patients carrying the TT genotype of GNB3 are at higher risk of left ventricular dilatation and that dialysis patients carrying the TT/TT genotype of GNAQ are prone to coronary artery stenosis and severe cardiovascular events.

Summary of Known Genetic and Epigenetic Modification Contributed to Hypertension

Hypertension is a multifactorial disease due to a complex interaction among genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. Characterized by raised blood pressure (BP), it is responsible for more than 7 million deaths per annum by acting as a leading preventable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Reports suggest that genetic factors are estimated to be involved in approximately 30 to 50% of BP variation, and epigenetic marks are known to contribute to the initiation of the disease by influencing gene expression. Consequently, elucidating the genetic and epigenetic mediators associated with hypertension is essential for better discernment of its pathophysiology. By deciphering the unprecedented molecular hypertension basis, it could help to unravel an individual's inclination towards hypertension which eventually could result in an arrangement of potential strategies for prevention and therapy. In the present review, we discuss known genetic and epigenetic drivers that contributed to the hypertension development and summarize the novel variants that have currently been identified. The effect of these molecular alterations on endothelial function was also presented.

Increased Serum E-Selectin Levels Were Associated with Cognitive Decline in Patients with Stroke

Background

Previous studies have reported that patients with stroke have a high incidence of cognitive decline. The aim was to elucidate the association between serum E-selectin levels and cognitive function in stroke patients.

Materials and Methods

Serum levels of E-selectin were measured in 322 patients with stroke at baseline. Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to evaluate the predictive value of serum E-selectin for predicting cognitive decline (end point) in patients with stroke.

Results

Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that serum E-selectin levels were independently associated with MOCA score after adjusting for age, gender, BMI, current smoker, current drinker, admission systolic and diastolic BP, CVD history and laboratory measurements in patients with stroke at baseline (Sβ= −0.156; 95% CI, - 0.170– - 0.074; P<0.001). The multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis revealed that serum E-selectin (HR=2.481, 95% CI 1.533–4.327, P-trend <0.001) was an independent prognostic factor for cognitive decline in these patients with stroke during the follow-up period.

Conclusion

Our results showed that increased serum E-selectin levels were significantly and independently associated with cognitive decline and had independent predictive value for cognitive decline in patients with stroke. Serum E-selectin might enable early recognition of cognitive decline among stroke patients.