Association of IL-8 gene promoter -251 A/T and IL-18 gene promoter -137 G/C polymorphisms with head and neck cancer risk: a comprehensive meta-analysis

Influence of interleukin-8 polymorphism on endometriosis-related pelvic pain

Endometriosis presents a pro-inflammatory microenvironment influenced by cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-8, which expression may be influenced by genetic polymorphisms. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the role of interleukin (IL)-8 rs4073 polymorphism in endometriosis' development and its related symptoms. A case-control study was conducted with 207 women with endometriosis and 193 healthy controls. Polymorphism was genotyped using a TaqMan validated assay. Associations were evaluated by binary logistic regression, using odds ratios (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI), and P ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Cases were younger (36 ± 6.8 versus 39 ± 8.4) and had lower body mass index (26.5 ± 5.3 versus 35.7 ± 6.3 Kg/m2) than controls (P < 0.001). Higher prevalence of symptoms and infertility was observed in cases, compared to controls (P < 0.001). Minor allele frequencies of IL-8 rs4073 (T) were 42.3 % and 39.9 % for cases and controls, respectively, and no associations were found between IL and 8 rs4073 polymorphism and endometriosis' prevalence or staging. However, the polymorphism was associated with chronic pelvic pain among cases (OR = 0.54; 95 %CI = 0.29-0.98). The IL-8 rs4073A > T polymorphism may contribute to lower IL-8 expression and, consequently, decrease endometriosis-related pelvic pain. These findings can support the early diagnosis of endometriosis' painful symptoms, preventing its complications, and allowing an individualized treatment.

Investigation of the roles of IL-18 (-607 C/A) and IL-18 (-137 G/C) gene variations in bladder cancer development: case-control study

BACKGROUND

The purpose of our study is to investigate the roles of IL-18 gene variations in bladder cancer development in Thrace population of Turkey.

METHODS

This study was carried out with 103 bladder cancer patients and 81 healthy controls. Genotype distributions of IL-18 (-137 G/C) and IL-18 (-607 C/A) gene variations were determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.

RESULTS

The CC homozygous genotype for IL-18 (-607 C/A) gene variation was significantly higher in patients with bladder cancer compared to healthy controls (OR 0.345, 95% Cl 0.186-0.639, p = 0.001). Besides this, allele frequencies of IL-18 (-137 G/C) and IL-18 (-607 C/A) gene variations in patient with bladder cancer and healthy control groups were significantly different from the Hardy-Weinberg distribution (p < 0.05). For IL-18 (-137 G/C) and IL-18 (-607 C/A) gene variations, significant difference was determined between the bladder cancer patient and healthy control groups in terms of GC-CA (OR 0.381, 95% Cl 0.203-0.714, p = 0.002), GC-CC (OR 2.147, 95% Cl 1.013-4.550, p = 0.043), GG-AA (OR 0.431, 95% Cl 0.365-0.509, p = 0.049), and GG-CC (OR 2.476, 95% Cl 1.177-5.208, p = 0.015) haplotypes.

CONCLUSION

In our study, CC genotype of IL-18 (-607 C/A) gene variation was determined as genetic risk factor for bladder cancer development. In bladder cancer patient and healthy control groups, G and C allele frequencies of IL-18 (-137 G/C) gene variation, and C and A allele frequencies of IL-18 (-607 C/A) gene variation were determined significantly different from the Hardy-Weinberg distribution.

Associations of TLR4 and IL-8 genes polymorphisms with age-related macular degeneration (AMD): a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The results of different studies have indicated the possible associations of TLR4 and IL-8 genes polymorphisms with Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). A meta-analysis study was designed to evaluate the possible associations of TLR4 (rs4986790/c.896A>G and rs4986791/ c.1196 C > T) and IL-8 (rs4073/c.251A>T and rs2227306/c.781 C > T) genes polymorphisms with AMD.

METHOD

A systematic literature search was carried out in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus databases to identify relevant publications. Pooled Odds Ratio (OR) with 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was used to evaluate the power of association.

RESULTS

A total of 12 case-control studies with 4804 AMD patients and 4422 healthy controls were included in this meta-analysis. The analysis of genotypic and allelic models demonstrated significant associations between IL-8 c.781 C > T (CC vs. TT+TC: OR = 0.62 [0.48-0.81], P < .01; CC vs. TC: OR = 0.65 [0.48-0.89], P < .01; TT vs. CC: OR = 1.64 [1.04-2.57], P = .03; and C vs. T: OR = 0.71 [0.65-0.79], P < .01) and risk of AMD, which all of them passed Bonferroni correction for multiple testing (P-value≤0.01), except for TT vs. CC model. In addition, we found associations under the genotypic model of TLR4 c.896A>G (AA vs. AG+GG: OR = 0.73 [0.55-0.97], P = .03; and AA vs. AG: OR = 0.71 [0.53-0.95], P = .02) although after Bonferroni correction (P'-value<0.02) none of these associations remained significant. However, the data from this meta-analysis declined the associations of TLR4 c.1196 C > T and IL-8 c.251A>T polymorphisms with AMD.

CONCLUSION

The current meta-analysis study suggested that IL-8 c.781 C > T polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to AMD.

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Associated with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas: A Review

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are aggressive, recurrent, and metastatic neoplasms with a high occurrence around the world and can lead to death when not treated appropriately. Several molecules and signaling pathways are involved in the malignant conversion process. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been described in HNSCCs, a major type of aggressive carcinoma. EMT describes the development of epithelial cells into mesenchymal cells, which depends on several molecular interactions and signaling pathways that facilitate mesenchymal conversion. This is related to interactions with the microenvironment of the tumor, hypoxia, growth factors, matrix metalloproteinases, and the presence of viral infections. In this review, we focus on the main molecules related to EMT, their interactions with the tumor microenvironment, plasticity phenomena, epigenetic regulation, hypoxia, inflammation, their relationship with immune cells, and the inhibition of EMT in the context of HNSCCs.

Study on the multi-targets mechanism of triphala on cardio-cerebral vascular diseases based on network pharmacology

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Numerous references made clear that Triphala is revered as a multiuse therapeutic and perhaps even panacea historically. Nevertheless, the protective mechanism of Triphala on cardio-cerebral vascular diseases (CCVDs) remains not comprehensive understanding. Hence, a network pharmacology-based method was suggested in this study to address this problem.

METHODS

This study was based on network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis. Information on compounds in herbal medicines of Triphala formula was acquired from public databases. Oral bioavailability as well as drug-likeness were screened by using absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) criteria. Then, components of Triphala, candidate targets of each component and known therapeutic targets of CCVDs were collected. Compound-target gene and compounds-CCVDs target networks were created through network pharmacology data sources. In addition, key targets and pathway enrichment were analyzed by STRING database and DAVID database. Moreover, we verified three of the key targets (PTGS2, MMP9 and IL6) predicted by using western blot analysis.

RESULTS

Network analysis determined 132 compounds in three herbal medicines that were subjected to ADME screening, and 23 compounds as well as 65 genes formed the principal pathways linked to CCVDs. And 10 compounds, which actually linked to more than three genes, are determined as crucial chemicals. Core genes in this network were IL6, TNF, VEGFA, PTGS2, CXCL8, TP53, CCL2, IL10, MMP9 and SERPINE1. And pathways in cancer, TNF signaling pathway, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, etc. related to CCVDs were identified. In vitro experiments, the results indicated that compared with the control group (no treatment), PTGS2, MMP9 and IL6 were up-regulated by treatment of 10 ng/mL TNF-α, while pretreatment with 20-80 μg/mL Triphala could significantly inhibit the expression of PTGS2, MMP9 and IL6. With increasing Triphala concentration, the expression of PTGS2, MMP9 and IL6 decreased.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed the complex components and pharmacological mechanism of Triphala, and obtained some potential therapeutic targets of CCVDs, which could provide theoretical basis for the research and development of new drugs for treating CCVDs.

Interleukin-18 in Health and Disease

Interleukin (IL)-18 was originally discovered as a factor that enhanced IFN-γ production from anti-CD3-stimulated Th1 cells, especially in the presence of IL-12. Upon stimulation with Ag plus IL-12, naïve T cells develop into IL-18 receptor (IL-18R) expressing Th1 cells, which increase IFN-γ production in response to IL-18 stimulation. Therefore, IL-12 is a commitment factor that induces the development of Th1 cells. In contrast, IL-18 is a proinflammatory cytokine that facilitates type 1 responses. However, IL-18 without IL-12 but with IL-2, stimulates NK cells, CD4⁺ NKT cells, and established Th1 cells, to produce IL-3, IL-9, and IL-13. Furthermore, together with IL-3, IL-18 stimulates mast cells and basophils to produce IL-4, IL-13, and chemical mediators such as histamine. Therefore, IL-18 is a cytokine that stimulates various cell types and has pleiotropic functions. IL-18 is a member of the IL-1 family of cytokines. IL-18 demonstrates a unique function by binding to a specific receptor expressed on various types of cells. In this review article, we will focus on the unique features of IL-18 in health and disease in experimental animals and humans.