Prediction and Analysis of Breast Cancer Related Deleterious Non-Synonymous Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the PTEN Gene

Role of androgen receptor splice variant-7 (AR-V7) in prostate cancer resistance to 2nd-generation androgen receptor signaling inhibitors

The role of truncated androgen receptor splice variant-7 (AR-V7) in prostate cancer biology is an unresolved question. Is it simply a marker of resistance to 2^nd generation androgen receptor signaling inhibitors (ARSi) like Abiraterone Acetate (Abi) and Enzalutamide (Enza) or a functional driver of lethal resistance via its ligand-independent transcriptional activity? To resolve this question, the correlation between resistance to ARSi and genetic chances and expression of full length AR (AR-FL) vs. AR-V7 were evaluated in a series of independent patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). While all PDXs lack PTEN expression, there is no consistent requirement for mutation in TP53, RB1, BRCA2, PIK3CA, or MSH2, or expression of SOX2 or ERG and ARSi-resistance. Elevated expression of AR-FL alone is sufficient for Abi- but not Enza-resistance, even if AR-FL is gain-of-function (GOF) mutated. Enza-resistance is consistently correlated with enhanced AR-V7 expression. In vitro and in vivo growth responses of Abi-/Enza-resistant LNCaP-95 cells in which CRISPR-Cas9 was used to knockout AR-FL or AR-V7 alone or in combination were evaluated. Combining these growth responses with RNAseq analysis demonstrates that both AR-FL and AR-V7 dependent transcriptional complementation are needed for Abi/Enza resistance.

Correlations of PTEN genetic polymorphisms with the risk of depression and depressive symptoms in a Chinese population

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the correlations of three common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the PTEN gene (rs701848 T>C, rs2735343 G>C and rs112025902 A>T) with the risk of depression and depressive symptoms in a Chinese population.

METHODS

From July 2011 to June 2013, a total of 384 patients with depression and 400 healthy individuals were included in this study. These SNPs in the PTEN gene were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and direct sequencing. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) was used to evaluate the severity of depression.

RESULTS

The C allele of rs701848, the C allele of rs2735343 and the T allele of rs112025902 were associated with an increased risk of depression (odds ratio [OR]=3.814, 95% CI: 3.093-4.703, P<0.001; OR=2.642, 95% CI: 2.152-3.242, P<0.001; OR=2.882, 95% CI: 2.347-3.539, P<0.001; respectively). Depression patients carrying C allele (TC+CC) of rs701848 and carrying T allele (AT+TT) of rs112025902 had higher HAMD total scores and HAMD anxiety factor scores than those carrying TT genotype of rs701848 and carrying AA genotype of rs112025902 (all P<0.05). Furthermore, depression patients carrying C allele (GC+CC) of rs2735343 had lower HAMD total scores and HAMD factors associated with depression scores than those carrying GG genotype (both P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that rs701848, rs2735343 and rs112025902 polymorphisms in the PTEN gene may be independent risk factors of depression (relative risk [RR]=1.807, 95% CI=1.023-3.193, P=0.042; RR=1.759, 95% CI=1.033-2.995, P=0.038; RR=1.646, 95% CI=1.018-2.663, P=0.042; respectively).

CONCLUSION

Our findings provide evidence that rs701848, rs2735343 and rs112025902 polymorphisms in the PTEN gene may be correlated with the risk of depression and depressive symptoms in the Chinese population.