Coronary artery aneurysms occurrence risk analysis between Kawasaki disease and LRP1B gene in Taiwanese children

LDL Receptor-Related Protein 1B Polymorphisms Associated with Increased Risk of Lymph Node Metastasis in Oral Cancer Group with Diabetes Mellitus

Oral cancer ranks fourth among malignancies among Taiwanese men and is the eighth most common cancer among men worldwide in terms of general diagnosis. The purpose of the current study was to investigate how low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1B (LDL receptor related protein 1B; LRP1B) gene polymorphisms affect oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) risk and progression in individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM). Three LRP1B single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including rs10496915, rs431809, and rs6742944, were evaluated in 311 OSCC cases and 300 controls. Between the case and control groups, we found no evidence of a significant correlation between the risk of OSCC and any of the three specific SNPs. Nevertheless, in evaluating the clinicopathological criteria, individuals with DM who possess a minimum of one minor allele of rs10496915 (AC + CC; p = 0.046) were significantly associated with tumor size compared with those with homozygous major alleles (AA). Similarly, compared to genotypes homologous for the main allele (GG), rs6742944 genotypes (GA + AA; p = 0.010) were more likely to develop lymph node metastases. The tongue and the rs6742944 genotypes (GA + AA) exhibited higher rates of advanced clinical stages (p = 0.024) and lymph node metastases (p = 0.007) when compared to homozygous alleles (GG). LRP1B genetic polymorphisms appear to be prognostic and diagnostic markers for OSCC and DM, as well as contributing to genetic profiling research for personalized medicine.

Prevalence of antecedent Kawasaki disease in young adults with suspected acute coronary syndrome in high incidence cohort

Background

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in early adulthood (<40 years old) may be associated with unrevealed diagnoses of Kawasaki disease (KD) in childhood. Daniels et al. showed that 5% of young adults with acute coronary syndrome might have antecedent Kawasaki disease in a cohort with Kawasaki disease incidence rates ranging from about 9 to 20 per 100,000 children under 5 years of age. However, there is no relevant research from the cohort with higher incidence rates (>80-100 per 100,000 children under 5 years of age) of Kawasaki disease.

Methods

We conducted a multicenter, retrospective study by reviewing medical records and angiographic data from two institutions (middle and southern Taiwan, respectively) of adults <40 years of age who underwent coronary angiography for clinically suspected acute coronary syndrome (2009-2019). Angiographic images were independently analyzed by three cardiologists who were blinded to the medical records. Demographic and laboratory data and risk factors of coronary artery disease were integrated to assess the likelihood of antecedent KD.

Results

All 323 young adults underwent coronary angiography, and 27 had coronary aneurysms. The patients' clinical and angiographic characteristics were evaluated, and 7.4% had aneurysms likely to be associated with KD. Most subjects were male (23/24), and their low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were significantly higher (p = 0.028) than those of subjects unlikely to have KD.

Conclusion

This study proposed that the cohort with higher Kawasaki disease incidence rates may have a higher prevalence of young adult ACS associated with antecedent KD. The importance of determining the clinical therapeutic significance of antecedent Kawasaki disease in young adult ACS warrants advanced research. Higher LDL levels may have a long-term cardiovascular impact in KD patients with persistent coronary aneurysms.

Whole Exome Sequencing Revealed Variants That Predict Pulmonary Artery Involvement in Patients with Takayasu Arteritis

Purpose

To conduct the first whole exome sequencing (WES) on Takayasu arteritis (TAK) to identify common and rare variants responsible for disease susceptibility.

Patients and Methods

A total of 200 patients and 1675 healthy controls from China were recruited for this study. Site-based association analysis for common variants and gene-based burden analysis for rare variants were conducted. A weighted genetic risk score (wGRS) was calculated for each patient with TAK based on the independent risk alleles identified in the association analyses. The ability of the patient wGRS to discriminate between different phenotypes was evaluated.

Results

In the site-based analysis, the top association signal was CCHCR1 (rs1265067, p = 8.27 × 10^-12, OR = 2.41), a proxy for HLA-B*52:01. HLA-DQB1 (rs9273902), HLA-DQB2 (rs34109750), and a haplotype block in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class III region (represented by rs3130618) also exhibited significant associations independently. In addition, four novel non-HLA susceptibility loci were identified: PRRT4, TLL2, LRP1B, and DLGAP2. Twelve independently associated single nucleotide polymorphisms were used to calculate the wGRS. TAK patients with a higher wGRS were found to have an increased risk of pulmonary artery involvement compared with those with a lower wGRS (p = 5.76 × 10^-7, OR = 13.92). The wGRS algorithm showed good predictive capability for pulmonary artery involvement in TAK (sensitivity, 92.1%; specificity, 59.9%). In the gene-based analysis, risk genes that reached exome-wide significance were not identified.

Conclusion

This WES study on TAK supports a previously reported association within the HLA region. Moreover, novel susceptibility loci were identified outside the HLA region. These risk alleles showed potential associations with pulmonary artery involvement in TAK. However, additional studies are warranted to verify our findings.

Association of human height-related genetic variants with familial short stature in Han Chinese in Taiwan

Human height can be described as a classical and inherited trait model. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revealed susceptible loci and provided insights into the polygenic nature of human height. Familial short stature (FSS) represents a suitable trait for investigating short stature genetics because disease associations with short stature have been ruled out in this case. In addition, FSS is caused only by genetically inherited factors. In this study, we explored the correlations of FSS risk with the genetic loci associated with human height in previous GWAS, alone and cumulatively. We systematically evaluated 34 known human height single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in relation to FSS in the additive model (p < 0.00005). A cumulative effect was observed: the odds ratios gradually increased with increasing genetic risk score quartiles (p < 0.001; Cochran-Armitage trend test). Six affected genes-ZBTB38, ZNF638, LCORL, CABLES1, CDK10, and TSEN15-are located in the nucleus and have been implicated in embryonic, organismal, and tissue development. In conclusion, our study suggests that 13 human height GWAS-identified SNPs are associated with FSS risk both alone and cumulatively.

Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with rs17337023 polymorphism and increased serum level of the EGFR protein

Objective

We have previously described the association of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) prevalence and two epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) SNPs (rs17337023 and rs2227983) among the Taiwanese population. This present study aimed to elucidate whether the SNPs can alter the expression of EGFR in the progression of RA.

Methods

The cohort study included 366 Taiwan’s Han Chinese RA patients and 326 age and gender matched healthy controls. Blood samples collected from the participants were analyzed to determine their serum EGFR levels and to identify EGFR SNPs from their genomic DNA. Genotyping for EGFR SNPs was performed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assay. The relationship between EGFR SNP and the clinical manifestations of RA was evaluated.

Results

Our results showed that a statistically significant difference in genotype frequency distributions at rs17337023 SNP for RA patients and controls (p ˂ 0.05). In addition, compared with the haplotype frequencies between case and control groups, the RA patient with the GT haplotype appeared to be a significant “protective” haplotype compared with other haplotypes (OR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.59–0.91; p = 0.005). Furthermore, the increased serum level of EGFR was also observed in RA patients (p ˂ 0.001).

Conclusion

Our study showed that RA is associated with rs17337023 SNP in EGFR gene and increased serum level of the EGFR protein. These findings suggest EGFR is worthy of further investigation as a therapeutic target for RA.

KCNQ1 variants associate with hypertension in type 2 diabetes and affect smooth muscle contractility in vitro

KCNQ1 encodes a potassium voltage-gated channel and represents a susceptibility locus for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Here, we explored the association between KCNQ1 polymorphisms and hypertension risk in individuals with T2DM, as well as the role of KCNQ1 in vascular smooth muscle cell contraction in vitro. To investigate the relationship between KCNQ1 and the risk of developing hypertension in patients with T2DM, we divided the T2DM cohort into hypertension (n = 452) and non-hypertension (n = 541) groups. The Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test, and multivariate regression analyses were used to assess the clinical characteristics and genotypic frequencies. In vitro studies utilized the rat aortic smooth muscle A10 cell line. Patients in the hypertension group were significantly older at the time of enrollment and had higher levels of body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and triglyceride than those in the non-hypertension group. The KCNQ1 rs3864884 and rs12576239 genetic variants were associated with hypertension in T2DM. KCNQ1 expression was lower in the individuals with the CC versus the CT and TT genotypes. Smooth muscle cell contractility was inhibited by treatment with a KCNQ1 inhibitor. These results suggest that KCNQ1 might be associated with hypertension in individuals with T2DM.

Polymorphism and protein expression of MUTYH gene for risk of rheumatoid arthritis

Background

We have previously described the association between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) prevalence and the two mutY Homolog (E. coli) (MUTYH) SNPs (rs3219463 and rs3219476) among the Taiwanese population. This present study will aim to elucidate whether the SNPs can alter the expression of EGFR in the progression of RA.

Methods

The cohort study included 368 Taiwan’s Han Chinese RA patients and 364 healthy controls. Blood samples collected from the participants were analyzed to determine their serum MUTYH levels and to identify rs3219463 SNP of MUTYH from their genomic DNA.

Results

Our data resulted in a statistically significant difference in genotype frequency distributions at rs3219463 for RA patients and controls (p < 0.0002). Also, the patients with G carrier at rs3219463 were less likely to suffer from painful joints (p < 0.006) and DAS28 scores (p < 0.003). Furthermore, the increase in serum level of MUTYH was also observed in RA patients (p < 0.005).

Conclusions

Our study showed that RA is associated with rs3219463 SNP in EGFR gene and an increased serum level of the MUTYH protein. These findings suggest MUTYH is worthy of further investigation as a therapeutic target for RA.

Fragility Extraordinaire: Unsolved Mysteries of Chromosome Fragile Sites

Chromosome fragile sites are a fascinating cytogenetic phenomenon now widely implicated in a slew of human diseases ranging from neurological disorders to cancer. Yet, the paths leading to these revelations were far from direct, and the number of fragile sites that have been molecularly cloned with known disease-associated genes remains modest. Moreover, as more fragile sites were being discovered, research interests in some of the earliest discovered fragile sites ebbed away, leaving a number of unsolved mysteries in chromosome biology. In this review we attempt to recount some of the early discoveries of fragile sites and highlight those phenomena that have eluded intense scrutiny but remain extremely relevant in our understanding of the mechanisms of chromosome fragility. We then survey the literature for disease association for a comprehensive list of fragile sites. We also review recent studies addressing the underlying cause of chromosome fragility while highlighting some ongoing debates. We report an observed enrichment for R-loop forming sequences in fragile site-associated genes than genomic average. Finally, we will leave the reader with some lingering questions to provoke discussion and inspire further scientific inquiries.

Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies Novel Susceptibility Genes Associated with Coronary Artery Aneurysm Formation in Kawasaki Disease

Kawasaki disease (KD) or Kawasaki syndrome is known as a vasculitis of small to medium-sized vessels, and coronary arteries are predominantly involved in childhood. Generally, 20–25% of untreated with IVIG and 3–5% of treated KD patients have been developed coronary artery lesions (CALs), such as dilatation and aneurysm. Understanding how coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs) are established and maintained in KD patients is therefore of great importance. Upon our previous genotyping data of 157 valid KD subjects, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) has been conducted among 11 (7%) CAA-developed KD patients to reveal five significant genetic variants passed pre-defined thresholds and resulted in two novel susceptibility protein-coding genes, which are NEBL (rs16921209 (P = 7.44 × 10⁻⁹; OR = 32.22) and rs7922552 (P = 8.43 × 10⁻⁹; OR = 32.0)) and TUBA3C (rs17076896 (P = 8.04 × 10⁻⁹; OR = 21.03)). Their known functions have been reported to associate with cardiac muscle and tubulin, respectively. As a result, this might imply their putative roles of establishing CAAs during KD progression. Additionally, various model analyses have been utilized to determine dominant and recessive inheritance patterns of identified susceptibility mutations. Finally, all susceptibility genes hit by significant genetic variants were further investigated and the top three representative gene-ontology (GO) clusters were regulation of cell projection organization, neuron recognition, and peptidyl-threonine phosphorylation. Our results help to depict the potential routes of the pathogenesis of CAAs in KD patients and will facilitate researchers to improve the diagnosis and prognosis of KD in personalized medicine.