The Association of SNPs Located in the CDKN2B-AS1 and LPA Genes With Carotid Artery Stenosis and Atherogenic Stroke

ANRIL rs4977574 Gene Polymorphism in Women with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

BACKGROUND

ANRIL rs4977574 gene polymorphism has been associated with arterial thrombosis and cardiovascular disease development. ANRIL rs4977574 gene polymorphism could also be associated with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) since there is increasing evidence in favor of a potential shared pathophysiological mechanism with cardiovascular disease, potentially through arterial thrombosis. This study's goal is to investigate the differences in ANRIL rs4977574 gene polymorphism between women with and without RPL, if any, as well as a potential association with the number of pregnancy losses.

METHODS

DNA was isolated from peripheral blood samples, and the sequence containing the polymorphism of interest was amplified with PCR. Results were visualized under UV light following electrophoresis in 3% agarose gel with ethidium bromide. ANRIL rs4977574 (A>G) prevalence was compared between 56 women with and 69 without RPL. Results were adjusted for women's age and BMI, while a stratified analysis was performed according to number of pregnancy losses.

RESULTS

Allele A was significantly more prevalent in the control group compared to RPL women [31 (44.9%) vs. 14 (25%), p = 0.021]. Although not reaching statistical significance, a gradually decreasing prevalence of allele A with an increasing number of pregnancy losses was observed [31 (44.9%) in control, eight (30.7%) with two, six (23.1%) with three, and 0 (0.0%) with four pregnancy losses, p = 0.078]. Results were also similar following adjustment.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study that demonstrates an association between RPL presence and ANRIL rs4977574 gene polymorphism (lower prevalence of allele A), while a difference according to the number of pregnancy losses cannot be excluded.

Elevated lipoprotein(a) and genetic polymorphisms in the LPA gene may predict cardiovascular events

Elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD), but there are few studies on the prediction of future cardiovascular events by Lp(a) and its LPA single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The aim of this study was to investigate whether elevated Lp(a) and its SNPs can predict cardiovascular events. We evaluated whether Lp(a) and LPA SNPs rs6415084 and rs12194138 were associated with the incidence rate and severity of CHD. All participants were followed up for 5 years. Elevated Lp(a) is an independent risk factor for the risk and severity of CHD (CHD group vs. control group: OR = 1.793, 95% CI: 1.053–2.882, p = 0.043; multiple-vessel disease group vs. single-vessel disease group: OR = 1.941, 95% CI: 1.113–3.242, p = 0.027; high GS group vs. low GS group: OR = 2.641, 95% CI: 1.102–7.436, p = 0.040). Both LPA SNPs were risk factors for CHD, and were positively associated with the severity of CHD (LPA SNPs rs6415084: CHD group vs. control group: OR = 1.577, 95% CI: 1.105–1.989, p = 0.004; multiple-vessel disease group vs. single-vessel disease group: OR = 1.613, 95% CI: 1.076–2.641, p = 0.030; high GS group vs. low GS group: OR = 1.580, 95% CI: 1.088–2.429, p = 0.024; LPA SNPs rs12194138: CHD group vs. control group: OR = 1.475, 95% CI: 1.040–3.002, p = 0.035; multiple-vessel disease group vs. single-vessel disease group: OR = 2.274, 95% CI: 1.060–5.148, p = 0.038; high GS group vs. low GS group: OR = 2.067, 95% CI: 1.101–4.647, p = 0.021). After 5 years of follow-up, elevated Lp(a) and LPA SNPs rs6415084 and rs12194138 can independently predict cardiovascular events. The increase of serum Lp(a) and LPA SNPs rs6415084 and rs12194138 are associated with increased prevalence and severity of CHD, and can independently predict cardiovascular events.

Sex, age, and ethnic dependency of lipoprotein variants as the risk factors of ischemic heart disease: a detailed study on the different age-classes and genders in Tehran Cardiometabolic Genetic Study (TCGS)

Biological processes involving environmental and genetic factors drive the interplay between age- and sex-regulating lipid profile. The relation between variations in the LPA gene with increasing the risk of coronary heart disease is dependent on population differences, sex, and age. The present study tried to do a gene candidate association analysis in people with myocardial infarction (MI) in a 22 year cohort family-based longitudinal cohort study, Tehran Cardiometabolic Genetic Study (TCGS). After adjusting p value by the FDR method, only the association of rs6415084 with the MI probability and the age-of-CHD-onset was significant in males in their middle age (p < 0.005). Surprisingly, a lack of association was observed for the rest of the markers (16 SNPs). These results revealed the moderator effects of age and sex on the association between the genetic variants (SNPs) of LPA and heart disease risk. Our observations may provide new insights into the biology that underlies lipid profile with age or the sexual dimorphism of Lp(a) metabolism. Finally, Lp(a) appears to be an independent risk factor; however, the role of sex and ethnicity is important.

CDKN2B-AS1 Aggravates the Pathogenesis of Human Thoracic Aortic Dissection by Sponge to miR-320d

In the present study, the role and molecular mechanism of long noncoding RNA CDKN2B-AS1 in human thoracic aortic dissection (TAD), a highly lethal cardiovascular disease, was investigated. The expression of CDKN2B-AS1 in human TAD and normal aortic tissues of donors were examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. RNA pull-down assay and a series of luciferase reporter assays were performed to predict the relationships between CDKN2B-AS1, miR-320d, and STAT3. Cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8), TUNEL, and western blot assays were applied to validate the biological functions of CDKN2B-AS1 in rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells. Results showed that CDKN2B-AS1 was expressed at a higher level in human TAD than in normal aortic tissues. CDKN2B-AS1 overexpression significantly promoted apoptosis and suppressed the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. CDKN2B-AS1 silence exhibited the opposite effects. Mechanistically, CDKN2B-AS1 was identified as a molecular sponge for miR-320d and positively modulated STAT3 expression via repressing miR-320d. In conclusion, our study revealed that CDKN2B-AS1 was dysregulated and displayed multiple potential functions in human TAD. These findings suggested that CDKN2B-AS1 was a novel potential therapeutic target for human TAD.

An update: mechanisms of microRNA in primary open-angle glaucoma

Glaucoma is a disease with characteristic optic neuropathy and loss of vision, leading to blindness, and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the most common glaucoma type throughout the world. Genetic susceptibility is the main factor in POAG, and most susceptibility genes cause changes in microRNA expression and function, thereby leading to POAG occurrence and development. Increasing evidence indicates that many microRNAs are involved in the regulation of intraocular pressure (IOP) and play an important role in the increase in IOP in POAG. Additionally, microRNA is closely related to optic nerve damage factors (mechanical stress, hypoxia and inflammation). This review discusses the effect of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in POAG-related genes on microRNA and the value of microRNA in the diagnosis and treatment of POAG.

LncRNA CDKN2B-AS1 Promotes Cell Viability, Migration, and Invasion of Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Sponging miR-424-5p

Objective

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) results in high mortality and metastasis. In this study, the effects of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) CDKN2B-AS1 on the progression of HCC were investigated.

Materials and Methods

LncRNA CDKN2B-AS1 expression of HCC cancer and adjacent tissues, and HCC cells were detected. Subsequently, CDKN2B-AS1 was overexpressed and silenced in HCC cells to observe the effects of CDKN2B-AS1 on the cell viability, migration, invasion, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HCC cells by performing cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), wound-healing, Transwell, and Western blot. The target gene of CDKN2B-AS1 was predicted and verified to be miR-424-5p, whose expression in HCC cells with up- or down-regulation of CDKN2B-AS1 expression was determined. Moreover, the effects of miR-424-5p on cell viability, migration, and invasion and EMT of HCC cells were investigated with miR-424-5p up-regulation or down-regulation, together with overexpression or silencing of CDKN2B-AS1.

Results

CDKN2B-AS1 expression was increased in HCC tissues and cells. Silencing of CDKN2B-AS1 suppressed cell viability, migration, invasion, and EMT, while overexpression of CDKN2B-AS1 produced the opposite results. Furthermore, CDKN2B-AS1 was predicted and verified to target miR-424-5p and was confirmed to negatively modulate miR-424-5p expression. Moreover, overexpression of miR-424-5p partially suppressed the previously high cell viability, migration, and invasion, and activated EMT resulted from up-regulation of CDKN2B-AS1, while silencing of miR-424-5p elevated the cellular processes inhibited by silencing the expression of CDKN2B-AS1.

Conclusion

The present study revealed that high-expressed CDKN2B-AS1 may associate with the progression of HCC by affecting the cell viability, migration, invasion, and EMT of HCC cells by negatively regulating miR-424-5p.