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Kowalski TW, Fraga LR, Tovo-Rodrigues L, Sanseverino MTV, Hutz MH, Schuler-Faccini L, Vianna FSL. Angiogenesis-related genes and thalidomide teratogenesis in humans: an approach on genetic variation and review of past in vitro studies. Reprod Toxicol 2017; 70:133-140. [PMID: 28161597 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2017.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Revised: 01/19/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Thalidomide embryopathy (TE) has affected more than 10,000 babies worldwide. The hypothesis of antiangiogenesis as the teratogenic mechanism of thalidomide has been investigated in several experimental models; but, in humans, it has only been accessed by in vitro studies. Here, we hypothesized the effect of thalidomide upon angiogenesis-related molecules or proteins, previously identified in human embryonic cells, through the in silico STRING-tool. We also investigated ten polymorphisms in angiogenesis-related genes in 38 Brazilian TE individuals and 136 non-affected Brazilians. NOS2, PTGS2, and VEGFA polymorphisms were chosen for genotyping. The STRING-tool suggested nitric oxide and β-catenin as the central angiogenesis-related molecules affected by thalidomide's antiangiogenic property. We did not identify a significant difference of allelic, genotypic or haplotypic frequencies between the groups. We could not predict a risk allele or a protective one for TE in NOS2, PTGS2, or VEGFA, although other genes should be analyzed in larger samples. The role of nitric oxide and β-catenin must be further evaluated, regarding thalidomide teratogenesis complex etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thayne Woycinck Kowalski
- INAGEMP-Instituto Nacional de Genética Médica Populacional, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Post-Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Lucas Rosa Fraga
- INAGEMP-Instituto Nacional de Genética Médica Populacional, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Post-Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Luciana Tovo-Rodrigues
- Post-Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Post-Graduate Program of Epidemiology, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Maria Teresa Vieira Sanseverino
- INAGEMP-Instituto Nacional de Genética Médica Populacional, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Post-Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Teratogen Information Service, Medical Genetics Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Mara Helena Hutz
- Post-Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Lavínia Schuler-Faccini
- INAGEMP-Instituto Nacional de Genética Médica Populacional, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Post-Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Teratogen Information Service, Medical Genetics Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Sales Luiz Vianna
- INAGEMP-Instituto Nacional de Genética Médica Populacional, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Post-Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Teratogen Information Service, Medical Genetics Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil; Service of Experimental Research, Genomics Medicine Laboratory, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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