Association of polymorphisms in stress-related TNFα and NPY genes with the metabolic syndrome in Han and Hui ethnic groups

-308G/A polymorphism of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) gene and metabolic syndrome susceptibility: a meta-analysis

Many studies tried to assess the relationship between -308G/A polymorphism of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) gene and risk of metabolic syndrome (MS), but their results were contradictory. This meta-analysis aimed to precisely evaluate this association. A systematic literature search was performed in Pubmed database and WanFang Med Online, STATA software 14.0 was used for the meta-analysis. Eleven independent studies containing 3277 cases and 3312 controls were included in our meta-analysis. In overall analysis, significant association was found between -308G/A polymorphism of TNF-α and MS in both allele model (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.09–1.98, P 0.013) and dominant model (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.21–2.58, P 0.003). In the subgroup analysis, the A allele was associated with increased risk of MS in Asia group (allele model: OR 1.82 95% CI 1.31–2.53, P < 0.001; dominant model: OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.64–3.21 P < 0.001; homozygous model: OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.31–4.01, P 0.004), and decreased risk of MS in Europe group (dominant model: OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.70–0.99, P < 0.001; recessive model: OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.28–0.92, P 0.025; homozygous model: OR 0.49 95% CI 0.27–0.89, P 0.02). The A allele also appeared to linked to increased risk of MS in CDS group and IDF groups. No significant association was observed in NCEPATPIII group. Our results suggested that -308G/A of TNF-α gene was a risk factor for MS, but it may played different roles in different ethnics, further studies with larger sample size and more other ethnics should be performed to confirm our conclusions.

Association of Stress, Mental Health, and VEGFR-2 Gene Polymorphisms with Cardiometabolic Risk in Chinese Malaysian Adults

Gene-environment (G × E) interactions involving job stress and mental health on risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) are minimally explored. This study examined the association and G × E interaction effects of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) gene polymorphisms (rs1870377, rs2071559) on cardiometabolic risk in Chinese Malaysian adults. Questionnaires: Job Stress Scale (JSS); Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21); and Rhode Island Stress and Coping Inventory (RISCI) were used to measure job stress, mental health, and coping with perceived stress. Cardiometabolic risk parameters were evaluated in plasma and genotyping analysis was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The subjects were 127 Chinese Malaysian adults. The allele frequencies for rs1870377 (A allele and T allele) and rs2071557 (A allele and T allele) polymorphisms were 0.48 and 0.52, and 0.37 and 0.63, respectively. Significant correlations include scores from JSS dimensions with blood glucose (BG) (p = 0.025-0.045), DASS-21 dimensions with blood pressure, BMI, and uric acid (p = 0.029-0.047), and RISCI with blood pressure and BG (p = 0.016-0.049). Significant G × E interactions were obtained for: rs1870377 with stress on total cholesterol (p = 0.035), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.019), and apolipoprotein B100 (p = 0.004); and rs2071559 with anxiety on blood pressure (p = 0.006-0.045). The significant G × E interactions prompt actions for managing stress and anxiety for the prevention of CVD.

Comparison of Genetic Variants in Cancer-Related Genes between Chinese Hui and Han Populations

Background

The Chinese Hui population, as the second largest minority ethnic group in China, may have a different genetic background from Han people because of its unique demographic history. In this study, we aimed to identify genetic differences between Han and Hui Chinese from the Ningxia region of China by comparing eighteen single nucleotide polymorphisms in cancer-related genes.

Methods

DNA samples were collected from 99 Hui and 145 Han people from the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in China, and SNPs were detected using an improved multiplex ligase detection reaction method. Genotyping data from six 1000 Genomes Project population samples (99 Utah residents with northern and western European ancestry (CEU), 107 Toscani in Italy (TSI), 108 Yoruba in Ibadan (YRI), 61 of African ancestry in the southwestern US (ASW), 103 Han Chinese in Beijing (CHB), and 104 Japanese in Tokyo (JPT)) were also included in this study. Differences in the distribution of alleles among the populations were assessed using χ² tests, and F_ST was used to measure the degree of population differentiation.

Results

We found that the genetic diversity of many SNPs in cancer-related genes in the Hui Chinese in Ningxia was different from that in the Han Chinese in Ningxia. For example, the allele frequencies of four SNPs (rs13361707, rs2274223, rs465498, and rs753955) showed different genetic distributions (p<0.05) between Chinese Ningxia Han and Chinese Ningxia Hui. Five SNPs (rs730506, rs13361707, rs2274223, rs465498 and rs753955) had different F_ST values (F_ST>0.000) between the Hui and Han populations.

Conclusions

These results suggest that some SNPs associated with cancer-related genes vary among different Chinese ethnic groups. We suggest that population differences should be carefully considered in evaluating cancer risk and prognosis as well as the efficacy of cancer therapy.