Association of the IL1A and IL6 polymorphisms with posttraining changes in body mass, composition, and biochemical parameters in Caucasian women

Polymorphisms located in IL1A and IL6 are promising markers of obesity-related traits; however, studies concerning their potential impact on the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions are lacking. Therefore, the aim was to examine the association between the polymorphic sites located in IL1A (rs1800587) and IL6 (rs1800795, rs1800796, and rs1800797) and the body's response to a 12-week training program. We studied the genotype distribution in a group of 168 Caucasian females in whom body mass and composition parameters, the lipid profile, and glucose levels were measured before and after the exercise period. Our results showed that carriers of the IL1A rs1800597 CC genotype exhibited a significant decrease in total body water (TBW) in response to training (p = 0.045). Additionally, carriers of the IL6 rs1800797 GG and GA genotypes demonstrated a posttraining decrease in body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.039). Haplotype analysis revealed that only rare haplotypes, namely, GGA, CGG and CCG (rs1800795, rs1800796, and rs1800797, respectively), were linked to changes in phenotype, yet assessing individual haplotype effects was not possible. Studies of the interactions between these genes showed that carrying the TC-GG genotype (rs1800587-rs1800795 and rs1800587-rs1800796) may be associated with greater posttraining decreases in fat mass percentage (%FM) and fat-free mass (FM). Carriers of the CC-CG genotype (rs1800587-rs1800795) had significantly greater changes in triglycerides (TGL) over the training period. Our study showed that the IL1A and IL6 genotypes, either individually, in haplotype, or in gene-gene combination, may modify training-induced changes in body mass, composition, glucose levels, and the lipid profile in healthy women.

Genetic variants in myostatin and its receptors promote elite athlete status

BACKGROUND

While product of the myostatin gene (MSTN) is an important factor influencing muscle growth, which is well confirmed in nonhuman species, it has not been clearly confirmed whether MSTN expression influences interindividual differences in skeletal muscle mass, affects posttraining changes, or plays a role in the age-related loss of muscle mass and function in humans. Although the inconclusive results are usually explained by ethnic differences and the low frequency of some alleles, it is possible that the role of receptors (ACVR2A and ACVR2B) that affect the biological activity of myostatin is crucial. Therefore, we investigated the sequences of the MSTN, ACVR2A, and ACVR2B genes and determined the interaction between allelic variants and athletic performance and competition level in the Caucasian population. One hundred-two athletes were recruited for the sequencing study, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed. Second, 330 athletes and 365 controls were included, and real-time PCR was performed.

RESULTS

The sequence analysis revealed two polymorphisms relatively common in the athlete cohort, and the alternate allele showed overrepresentation in athletes: MSTN rs11333758 and ACVR2A rs3764955. Regarding the polymorphic site MSTN rs11333758, there was a significant overrepresentation of the -/- genotype in all high-elite and mixed-sport high-elite athletes. Carriers of the ACVR2A rs3764955 CC and GG genotypes were more likely to be elite and high-elite athletes. In addition, carriers of the CC genotype were more likely to be in the mixed-sport subelite group. The gene‒gene interaction analysis revealed that mixed-sport high elite athletes showed significant underrepresentation of the ACVR2A rs3764955 GC - MSTN rs11333758 AA genotype combination. In the same group, we observed a significant overrepresentation of the ACVR2A rs3764955 GC - MSTN rs11333758 -/- and the ACVR2A rs3764955 CC - MSTN rs11333758 -/- genotype combinations.

CONCLUSIONS

We showed that the specific genotypes of the MSTN rs11333758 and ACVR2A rs3764955, either individually or in gene‒gene combination, are significantly associated with athletes' competition level in the Polish population, especially in the mixed-sports athlete group. Thus, although further research is required, these polymorphisms, alone or in combination with other polymorphisms, are among the numerous candidates that could explain individual variations in muscle phenotypes.

Are COL22A1 Gene Polymorphisms rs11784270 and rs6577958 Associated with Susceptibility to a Non-Contact Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Polish Athletes?

Understanding the risk factors and etiology of ACL ruptures (anterior cruciate ligament) is crucial due to the injury’s high occurrence, significant financial cost to the healthcare sector, and clinical consequences. In this study, we investigated the hypothesis that rs11784270 A/C and rs6577958 C/T SNPs (single gene polymorphism) within COL22A1 are associated with ACL ruptures (ACLR) in Polish soccer players. Methods: 228 athletes with ACLR (157 male, age 26 ± 4, 71 female, age 26 ± 6) and 202 control athletes (117 male, age 26 ± 6, 85 female, age 29 ± 2) engaged in the study. The buccal cell swabs were genotyped using TaqMan® pre-designed SNP genotyping assays, following the manufacturer’s recommendations. The R program and SNPassoc package were used to determine the genotype and allele frequency distributions under the various inheritance models (co-dominant, dominant, recessive, and over-dominant). Further, p-values of <0.05 were considered statistically significant. We found no association between the analyzed polymorphisms and the risk of non-contact ACL ruptures in any of the studied models. Although the genetic variants investigated in this study were not associated with the risk of non-contact ACL ruptures, we assumed that the COL22A1 gene remains a candidate for further investigations in musculoskeletal injuries.

Genome-Wide Association Study of Exercise-Induced Fat Loss Efficiency

There is a wide range of individual variability in the change of body weight in response to exercise, and this variability partly depends on genetic factors. The study aimed to determine DNA polymorphisms associated with fat loss efficiency in untrained women with normal weight in response to a 12-week aerobic training program using the GWAS approach, followed by a cross-sectional study in athletes. The study involved 126 untrained young Polish women (age 21.4 ± 1.7 years; body mass index (BMI): 21.7 (2.4) kg/m2) and 550 Russian athletes (229 women, age 23.0 ± 4.1; 321 men, age 23.9 ± 4.7). We identified one genome-wide significant polymorphism (rs116143768) located in the ACSL1 gene (acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 1, implicated in fatty acid oxidation), with a rare T allele associated with higher fat loss efficiency in Polish women (fat mass decrease: CC genotype (n = 122) -3.8%; CT genotype (n = 4) -31.4%; p = 1.18 × 10-9). Furthermore, male athletes with the T allele (n = 7) had significantly lower BMI (22.1 (3.1) vs. 25.3 (4.2) kg/m2, p = 0.046) than subjects with the CC genotype (n = 314). In conclusion, we have shown that the rs116143768 T allele of the ACSL1 gene is associated with higher fat loss efficiency in response to aerobic training in untrained women and lower BMI in physically active men.

TTN Variants Are Associated with Physical Performance and Provide Potential Markers for Sport-Related Phenotypes

TTN encodes the third myofilament, titin, which plays structural, mechanical, regulatory, and developmental roles in sarcomeres. The aim of this research was to determine the interaction between novel and previously described TTN variants and athletic performance, as well as competition level, in Caucasians. Firstly, 100 athletes and 47 controls were recruited, and whole-genome sequencing was performed. Secondly, 348 athletes (108 endurance, 100 sprint/power, 140 mixed-sport athletes) and 403 volunteers were included, and real-time PCR was performed. We found a significant overrepresentation of the rs10497520 CT and TT genotypes in the sprint/power athlete group (95% CI, 1.41-3.66, p = 0.0013). The rs10497520 T carriers were 2.17 times more likely to become sprint/power athletes (95% CI 1.35-3.49, p = 0.0021). We also found that the likelihood of having the TT genotype was higher for the highly elite and sub-elite sprint/power athletes. Possessing at least one TAA (rs10497520, rs55837610, rs72648256) haplotype resulted in an increase in the log-odds ratio by 0.80 (p = 0.0015), 1.42 (p = 0.003), and 0.77 (p = 0.044) for all, highly elite, and sub-elite sprint/power athletes, respectively. We demonstrated that harbouring the rs10497520 T allele, individually and in a haplotype combination, increased the chance of being an elite sprint/power athlete, indicating that this allele may be favourable for sprint/power performance.

The Influence of FTO, FABP2, LEP, LEPR, and MC4R Genes on Obesity Parameters in Physically Active Caucasian Men

Obesity is a complex multifactorial abnormality that has a well-confirmed genetic basis. However, the problem still lies in identifying the polymorphisms linked to body mass and composition. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze associations between FTO (rs9939609), FABP2 (rs1799883), and LEP (rs2167270), LEPR (rs1137101), and MC4R (rs17782313) polymorphisms and obesity-related parameters. Unrelated Caucasian males (n = 165) were recruited. All participants had similar physical activity levels. The participants were divided into two groups depending on their body mass index (BMI) and fat mass index (FMI). All samples were genotyped using real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). When tested individually, only one statistically significant result was found. The FTO A/T polymorphism was significantly associated with FMI (p = 0.01). The chance of having increased FMI was >2-fold higher for the FTO A allele carriers (p < 0.01). Gene−gene interaction analyses showed the additional influence of all investigated genes on BMI and FMI. In summary, it was demonstrated that harboring the FTO A allele might be a risk factor for elevated fat mass. Additionally, this study confirmed that all five polymorphisms are involved in the development of common obesity in the studied population and the genetic risk of obesity is linked to the accumulation of numerous variants.

The interactions between interleukin-1 family genes: IL1A, IL1B, IL1RN, and obesity parameters

Background

Obesity has been recognized as a worldwide growing problem, producing many pathologies including the promotion of “proinflammatory state.” The etiology of human obesity is still only partially understood; however, the genetic background has been proved. Its nature is complex, and currently, it appears that the combined effects of the interactions among multiple genes should receive more attention. Due to the fact that obesity promotes proinflammatory conditions, in this study, we investigated the genetic polymorphism of IL-1 family genes in healthy people with normal and elevated body mass index (BMI) and fat %.

Results

The single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the IL1A -889C > T (rs1800587), IL1B + 3954 T > C (rs1143634), and IL1RN -87G > A (rs2234677) genes alone were associated neither with BMI nor fat % values in tested group. The associations between SNP–SNP interaction and BMI for the IL1B × IL1RN interactions were significant for dominant model (p = 0.02) and codominant model (p = 0.03). The same SNP-SNP interaction (IL1B × IL1RN) was associated also with fat % for codominant (p = 0.01) and recessive (p = 0.002) models.

Conclusions

This study further confirmed that IL-1 family genes are involved in genetic background of obesity. It has been shown that interaction IL1B × IL1RN was associated with both BMI and fat % with rare T allele protecting form higher values. Thus, even if certain polymorphisms in single genes of IL-1 family cannot be defined as related to obesity in examined population, the genetic interrelationships should be analyzed.

Physical activity and gene association with human obesity

The obesity is a leading cause of health problems all over the world. It is a comlex health abnormality that is influenced by developmental, behavioural, environmental, and genetic factors. Although the role of physical activity and diet in regulation of body weight is well described, the genetic variants potentially influencing the characteristics and range of the body’s adaptive response to physical activity in healthy individuals still remains mostly unknown. The main aim of this study is to review current evidence, through a literature review and the results of our studies, on the influence of selected molecular markers on the development of obesity, as well as the body composition changes in response to regular physical activity. We studied the most reliable candidate genes with a focus on catechol-O-methyltransferase gene (COMT), dopamine deceptor D2 gene (DRD2), fatty acid binding protein 2 gene (FABP2), fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO), and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP-1). This review provides information about recent genetic research progressions in adiposity, as well as molecular mechanisms, associated phenotypes, as well as their implications for human health, physical performance, and adaptive changes in response to physical activity.

Evaluation of the Association of COMT Rs4680 Polymorphism with Swimmers' Competitive Performance

Swimmers' competitive performance is a result of complicated interactions between physiological, biochemical, physical and psychological factors, all of which are strongly affected by water. Recently, great attention has been paid to the role of genetic factors such as the catechol-O-methyltransferase gene (COMT) influencing motivation, emotions, stress tolerance, self-control, sleep regulation, pain processing and perception, addictive behaviour and neurodegeneration, which may underlie differences in achieving remarkable results in sports competition. Thus, this study was performed to investigate the association between the COMT Val158Met (rs4680) polymorphism and athletic performance in Caucasian swimmers. A total of 225 swimmers (171 short distance (SDS) and 54 long distance swimmers (LDS)) of national or international competitive standard and 379 unrelated sedentary controls were genotyped using real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). We found no significant differences in genotypic or allelic distributions between (1) male and female athletes; (2) SDS and LDS; (3) all athletes and sedentary controls (under codominant, dominant, recessive, and overdominant genetic models). No association was found between the COMT rs4680 polymorphism and elite swimming athlete status of the studied population. However, more replication studies are needed.

Association between the FTO A/T Polymorphism and Elite Athlete Status in Caucasian Swimmers

The FTO A/T polymorphism (rs9939609) has been strongly associated with body mass-related traits in nonathletic populations, but rarely with elite athletic performance. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between the A/T polymorphism and athlete status in elite swimmers. Polish swimmers (n = 196) who competed in national and international competition at short- (SDS; 50-200 m; n = 147) and long-distance events (LDS; ≥400 m; n = 49) were recruited. The control group included 379 unrelated, sedentary young participants. The participants were all Caucasians. Genotyping was carried out using real-time PCR. It was found that the chance of being an elite swimmer was lower in carriers of the AT and AA genotype compared with TT homozygotes (1.5 and 2.0 times, respectively). These findings were confirmed in an allelic association; the A allele was less frequent in the swimmers compared with controls (p = 0.004). However, when SDS were compared against LDS, no significant differences were observed in genotypic and allelic distribution. The results of our experiment suggest that the variation within the FTO gene can affect elite athlete status. It was demonstrated that harboring the T allele may be beneficial for achieving success in a sport such as swimming.

TTN GENE’S VARIANTS AS POTENTIAL MARKERS ASSOCIATED WITH MUSCLE TISSUE’S DISFUNCTIONS AND PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE

A titin, encoded by a TTN gene, is a third most abundant sarcomere component. Although, this myofilament plays a wide range of key roles in muscle tissue such as structural, developmental, mechanical, and regulatory functions, it is a usually missed aspect of the muscle properties formation. At first, the TTN gene variants was described in development of skeletal and cardiac muscle diseases. Recently, the gene is also considered a very promising genetic marker for sport performance which may underlie differences in the potential to be an elite athlete. The aim of the present study is to provide the comprehensive update of the titin protein and the TTN gene variants role in formation of skeletal and cardiac muscle properties. We review function and structure of the protein, the gene, and the isoforms, as well as molecular mechanisms, disease-causing mutations, associated phenotypes, and their implications for human health, physical performance, adaptive changes of muscles in response to training, and injury risk.

Can Injuries Have a Lasting Effect on the Perception of Pain in Young, Healthy Women and Men?

BACKGROUND

Pain is a characteristic, unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Pain is a subjective sensation, modulated by many factors such as age, sex, emotional state, national origin, or physical activity. Moreover, it is closely associated with intense physical activity, injuries, and traumas, which can significantly modulate pain tolerance.

HYPOTHESIS

We postulate that there are correlations between past injuries, physical activity, and intensity of pain perception (pain threshold and pain tolerance) in a population of healthy men and women.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 4.

METHODS

A total of 302 participants aged 18 to 32 years were included. The participants were divided into 2 groups (active and inactive individuals), in accordance with the scope of physical activity they had indicated. The test of pressure pain threshold and pressure pain tolerance was performed using an algometer.

RESULTS

Active women achieved significantly higher pain threshold and pain tolerance values in all measurements on the upper limb (except for the pain threshold on the left hand) compared with inactive women. In mediation analysis, the effect of injury remained significant only for the pressure pain tolerance in the dominant arm and the left hand in the female group. In the case of men, there were no significant differences in all measurements in view of the threshold and tolerance for pain between the groups of active and inactive and between men with injuries and without injuries.

CONCLUSION

Intense, regular physical activity is a factor modulating the perception of pain. This was demonstrated as lowered sensitivity to pain stimuli in a population of healthy women.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Injuries should be treated as an important factor modulating the perception of pain. We recommend detailed monitoring of injuries during treatment and control of pain sensation.

Placebo Effect of Caffeine on Maximal Strength and Strength Endurance in Healthy Recreationally Trained Women Habituated to Caffeine

Background: By using deceptive experimental designs, several investigations have observed that trained individuals may increase their performance when told they were given caffeine, when in fact they received a placebo (i.e., the placebo effect of caffeine). However, most of these investigations on the placebo effect of caffeine used individuals with low caffeine consumption or did not report habitual caffeine consumption, especially in studies analyzing resistance-based exercise. Hence, it is unknown if habitual caffeine consumers benefit from the placebo effect of caffeine on exercise performance. Thus, the aim of the present study was to analyze the placebo effect of caffeine on maximal strength and strength-endurance performance during the bench press exercise (BP) in women with mild–moderate daily consumption of caffeine. Methods: Thirteen resistance-trained women (BP one-repetition maximum (1RM) = 40.0 ± 9.7 kg) habituated to caffeine (4.1 ± 1.7 mg/kg/day) completed a deceptive randomized experimental design with two experimental trials. On one occasion, participants were told that they would receive 6 mg/kg of caffeine but received a placebo (PLAC), and on other occasions, participants did not receive any substance and were told that this was a control situation (CONT). In each experimental trial, participants underwent a 1RM BP test and a strength-endurance test consisting of performing the maximal number of repetitions at 50% of their 1RM. Results: In comparison to CONT, PLAC did not enhance 1RM (40.0 ± 10.5 kg vs. 41.0 ± 9.5 kg, respectively; p = 0.10), nor did it enhance the number of repetitions (32.2 ± 5.1 vs. 31.8 ± 4.5; p = 0.66) or mean power (130 ± 34 vs. 121 ± 26; p = 0.08) in the strength-endurance test. Conclusion: Informing participants that they were given caffeine, when in fact they received a placebo, did not modify any performance variable measured in this investigation. Thus, the use of the placebo effect of caffeine seemed an ineffective strategy to enhance muscle strength and strength endurance during the BP exercise in women with mild–moderate consumption of caffeine.

Are KIF6 and APOE polymorphisms associated with power and endurance athletes?

Genetic polymorphisms within physiologically relevant KIF6 and APOE genes were examined in the context of athletic performance. KIF6 and ApoE are involved in cardiovascular health, modulation of lipid level and neurotransmission amongst others. The aim of this study was to examine whether three polymorphisms, KIF6 rs20455T > C, APOE rs429358T > C and APOE rs7412 C > T, were associated with athletic status of an athlete defined as performance type (endurance or power). Genotyping was performed using real-time PCR on buccal genomic DNA from 204 Polish athletes including 104 endurance and 100 power athletes, and 161 sedentary individuals. APOE rs429358 genotype frequencies differed significantly between power athletes and sedentary individuals (p = 0.046). KIF6 rs20455 and APOE rs7412 were found to be epistatically associated with the power athletic status (p = 0.032). KIF6 rs20455, APOE rs429358 and APOE rs7412 were associated with athletic status of Polish athletes. In the future, these polymorphisms could contribute to predictive models aimed at assessment of an individual's athletic status.

A Genome-Wide Association Study of Sprint Performance in Elite Youth Football Players

Pickering, C, Suraci, B, Semenova, EA, Boulygina, EA, Kostryukova, ES, Kulemin, NA, Borisov, OV, Khabibova, SA, Larin, AK, Pavlenko, AV, Lyubaeva, EV, Popov, DV, Lysenko, EA, Vepkhvadze, TF, Lednev, EM, Leońska-Duniec, A, Pająk, B, Chycki, J, Moska, W, Lulińska-Kuklik, E, Dornowski, M, Maszczyk, A, Bradley, B, Kana-ah, A, Cięszczyk, P, Generozov, EV, and Ahmetov, II. A genome-wide association study of sprint performance in elite youth football players. J Strength Cond Res 33(9): 2344-2351, 2019-Sprint speed is an important component of football performance, with teams often placing a high value on sprint and acceleration ability. The aim of this study was to undertake the first genome-wide association study to identify genetic variants associated with sprint test performance in elite youth football players and to further validate the obtained results in additional studies. Using micro-array data (600 K-1.14 M single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs]) of 1,206 subjects, we identified 12 SNPs with suggestive significance after passing replication criteria. The polymorphism rs55743914 located in the PTPRK gene was found as the most significant for 5-m sprint test (p = 7.7 × 10). Seven of the discovered SNPs were also associated with sprint test performance in a cohort of 126 Polish women, and 4 were associated with power athlete status in a cohort of 399 elite Russian athletes. Six SNPs were associated with muscle fiber type in a cohort of 96 Russian subjects. We also examined genotype distributions and possible associations for 16 SNPs previously linked with sprint performance. Four SNPs (AGT rs699, HSD17B14 rs7247312, IGF2 rs680, and IL6 rs1800795) were associated with sprint test performance in this cohort. In addition, the G alleles of 2 SNPs in ADRB2 (rs1042713 & rs1042714) were significantly over-represented in these players compared with British and European controls. These results suggest that there is a genetic influence on sprint test performance in footballers, and identifies some of the genetic variants that help explain this influence.

Novel Associations Between Interleukin-15 Polymorphisms and Post-training Changes of Body Composition Parameters in Young Nonobese Women

Based on the important role of interleukin-15 (IL-15) in human metabolism and, in consequence, in body composition modulation, we examined whether rs1589241 and rs1057972 polymorphisms, analyzed individually or in combination, would influence the effects of a training program. Accordingly, we studied the allele and genotype distribution in a group of 163 young nonobese Caucasian women measured for selected body mass and composition, as well as biochemical parameters before and after the completion of a 12-week endurance training program. After a week-long familiarization stage, low-high impact aerobics were conducted three times a week for 60 min, at an increasing intensity from about 50 to 80% of HRmax. With reference to rs1057972 genotypes, there were two significant genotype × training interactions, in which (i) fat mass percentage (FM%) significantly decreased among the AA homozygotes (p = 0.00002) and AT heterozygotes (p = 0.00002), and (ii) fat free mass (FFM) increased only among the AT heterozygotes (p = 0.0003), whereas in the AA homozygotes there was only a borderline significance (p = 0.065). No genotype × training interactions were found for the second rs1589241 polymorphism. Moreover, the carriers of the[T;A] haplotype (when compared with reference haplotype) displayed significant decrease in FM% (p = 0.027) and increase in FFM (p = 0.014) in response to the applied training program. Our data highlight novel associations between specific IL-15 genotype and different post-training changes of FM% and FFM parameters. The results suggest that harboring the rs1057972 A allele and/or the [T;A] haplotype is favorable for achieving specific positive training-induced body composition changes.

Assessing effect of interaction between the FTO A/T polymorphism (rs9939609) and physical activity on obesity-related traits

BACKGROUND

The first described obesity-susceptibility gene was the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene. However, knowledge about FTO's potential modifying effect on changes in body weight achieved through a training program is still limited. We decided to study the association between the FTO A/T polymorphism (rs9939609) and obesity-related traits. Additionally, we investigated whether body mass and body composition, as well as metabolic variables observed in physically active participants, are modulated by the FTO polymorphism.

METHODS

A group of 201 young Polish women were recruited for the study. The genotype distribution was examined in participants measured for selected changes before and after the completion of a 12-week training program.

RESULTS

Our results confirm the association between the common FTO A/T polymorphism and increased body mass index (BMI). Subjects with AA and AT genotypes had higher BMI during the entire study period compared with the TT genotype. Although parameters such as BMI, basal metabolism rate, tissue independence, fat mass percentage, fat mass, fat-free mass, total body water, high-density lipoprotein, and glucose changed significantly during the training program, none of the examined parameters changed significantly across the FTO genotypes (genotype × training interaction).

CONCLUSION

We confirm an association between the FTO A/T polymorphism and increased BMI; this polymorphism is therefore a candidate for influencing obesity and other disease-related phenotypes. Although the gene × physical activity interaction was not shown, we want to point out that promoting physical activity is an important approach to controlling the increasing obesity epidemic.

The polymorphisms of the PPARD gene modify post-training body mass and biochemical parameter changes in women

In this study we examined the genotype distribution of the PPARD rs2267668, rs2016520, and rs1053049 alleles in a group of women, before and after the completion of a 12-week training program. There were two significant genotype × training interactions resulting in decreases of total cholesterol (Chol) through training in rs2267668 G allele carriers and significant increases of triglyceride (TGL) levels in rs2267668 AA homozygotes. Carriers of rs2016520 PPARD C allele exhibited a significant decrease in Chol through training with an accompanying decrease in TGL. There was also overrepresentation of PPARD rs1053049 TT homozygotes in the group with higher post-training TGL levels. Moreover (rs2267668/rs2016520/rs1053049) G/C/T haplotype displayed smaller post-training body mass decrease, suggesting that harboring this specific G/C/T haplotype is unfavorable for achieving the desired training-induced body mass changes. On the other hand, the G/C/C haplotype was significantly associated with post-training increase in fat free mass (FFM) and with lower levels of Chol as well as TGL as observed in the blood of the participants in response to applied training. This observation constitutes the second important finding of the study, implying that when specific training-induced biochemical changes are taken into account, some individuals may benefit from carrying the G/C/C haplotype.

Leptin and Leptin Receptor Genes Are Associated With Obesity-Related Traits Changes in Response to Aerobic Training Program

Leońska-Duniec, A, Jastrzębski, Z, Jażdżewska, A, Krzysztof, F, and Cięszczyk, P. Leptin and leptin receptor genes are associated with obesity-related traits changes in response to aerobic training program. J Strength Cond Res 32(4): 1036-1044, 2018-Leptin (LEP) and leptin receptor (LEPR) genes have been studied for their potential association with development of human obesity and its related complications. Therefore, we have decided to check whether selected body mass, body composition, and metabolic variables observed in physically active participants will be modulated by the polymorphisms. The genotype distribution was examined in a group of 201 women measured for chosen traits before and after the completion of a 12-week aerobic training program. Our results revealed a significant interaction between training and LEP genotype for glucose level. A training-related decrease in plasma glucose concentration in the LEP AG heterozygotes differed significantly from the change in the homozygotes. The polymorphism was also associated with fat-free mass (FFM), total body water (TBW), total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. Another finding was a significant interaction between training and LEPR for LDL-C level. As opposed to AG and GG, AA homozygotes demonstrated a training-related decrease in LDL-C level. Our findings also showed that the LEPR G allele is connected with obesity-related traits. The participants with the GG genotype had higher body mass, body mass index (BMI), FFM, and TBW during the entire study period. This study provides evidence that polymorphisms in the LEP and LEPR genes are associated with the magnitude of the effects of regular physical activity on glucose and LDL-C levels, respectively. In addition, we found the association of the G allele of the LEPR polymorphism with body mass and BMI.

Impact of the Polymorphism Near MC4R (rs17782313) on Obesity- and Metabolic-Related Traits in Women Participating in an Aerobic Training Program

The C/T polymorphism (rs17782313) mapped 188 kb downstream of the melanocortin-4 receptor gene (MC4R) shows a strong relationship with an increased body mass index (BMI) and the risk of type 2 diabetes. However, the information on polymorphism’s potential modifying effect on obesity- and metabolic-related traits achieved through training is still unknown. Therefore, we decided to check if selected body measurements observed in physically active participants would be modulated by the genotype. The genotype distribution was examined in a group of 201 Polish women measured for chosen traits before and after the completion of a 12 week moderate-intensive aerobic training program. A statistically significant relationship between the glucose level and the genotype was identified (p = 0.046). Participants with CC and CT genotypes had a higher glucose level during the entire study period compared with the TT genotype. However, our results did not confirm the relationship between the C allele and an increased BMI or other obesity-related traits. Additionally, we did not observe a near MC4R C/T polymorphism x physical activity interaction. However, our results revealed that majority of obesity-related variables changed significantly during the 12 week training program. The effect sizes (d) of these changes ranged from small to medium (d = 0.11-0.80), whereas the largest effect (d = 0.80; i.e. medium) was reported for the fat mass content (FM). We found a relationship between the near MC4R C/T polymorphism and an increased glucose level, and it is thus a candidate to influence type 2 diabetes. Interestingly, after the 12 week training program, participants with the C (risk) allele with fasting hyperglycemia had a normal glucose level. Although, this change was not statistically significant, it shows an important trend which needs further investigation.

Does the MTHFR A1298C Polymorphism Modulate the Cardiorespiratory Response to Training?

The 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR) A1298C polymorphic variant is a candidate to explain the individual differences in trainability and response to exercise training. Therefore, the aim of the study was to verify whether the A1298C polymorphism influenced the aerobic and anaerobic performance as well as body and mass composition in young Polish women following low-high impact aerobic exercise training. Two hundred and one women aged 21 ± 1 years (range 19–24) were included in the study. All of them completed a 12-week exercise training program and were measured for selected somatic features, aerobic capacity and cardiorespiratory fitness indices as well as peak anaerobic power and anaerobic capacity, before and after the intervention. A mixed 2 x 2 ANOVA for 20 dependent variables grouped in three categories was conducted. No significant interaction of the genotype with training for body mass and body composition variables was observed. Although, there were three significant genotype x training interactions for maximal oxygen uptake variables, regardless of body mass i.e.: for VO2max (p < 0.05), HRmax (p < 0.0001) and HRAT/HRmax (p < 0.0001). Significantly greater improvement in VO2max was gained by the CC+AC group compared to the AA genotype group. The present results support the hypothesis that individual differences in trainability are at least in part determined by the genetic component and MTHFR A1298C seems to be one of the many polymorphisms involved.

Influence of biological factors on injuries occurrence in the Polish population

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE

Anterior cruciate ligament rupture is one of the most common knee injuries in sports. Although various intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors have been identified, the exact aetiology of the injury is not yet fully understood. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the collagen type I (COL1A1) gene have been shown to be associated with several complex connective tissue disorders. The aim of this study was to examine the association of -1997G/T polymorphisms in the COL1A1 gene with ACL ruptures in Polish recreational skiers in a case-control study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 180 male and female recreational skiers with surgically diagnosed with primary ACL ruptures were recruited for the study, all of whom qualified for ligament reconstruction. The control group was comprised of 245 apparently healthy male and female skiers with a comparable level of exposure to ACL injury, none of whom had any self-reported history of ligament or tendon injury. DNA samples extracted from the oral epithelial cells were genotyped for -1997G/T polymorphisms using PCR method.

RESULTS

Genotype distribution in the cases (GG-82.2% GT-16.7%; TT-1.1%) showed significant difference (P=0.036) compared to controls (GG-71.4% GT-26.5%; TT-2.2%). The frequency of the GG genotype in the ACL rupture group was also statistically significant (p=0.011, Fisher's exact test recessive mode: GG vs GT+TT). The frequency of the G allele was higher in these cases (90.6%), and also statistically significant (p=0.012) when compared with controls (84.7%).

CONCLUSION

The results obtained indicate that the -1997G/T COL1A1 gene is one of the genetic markers to be taken into the consideration in the identification of the risk of ACL injury.

Genetic variants influencing effectiveness of exercise training programmes in obesity - an overview of human studies

Frequent and regular physical activity has significant benefits for health, including improvement of body composition and help in weight control. Consequently, promoting training programmes, particularly in those who are genetically predisposed, is a significant step towards controlling the presently increasing epidemic of obesity. Although the physiological responses of the human body to exercise are quite well described, the genetic background of these reactions still remains mostly unknown. This review not only summarizes the current evidence, through a literature review and the results of our studies on the influence of gene variants on the characteristics and range of the body's adaptive response to training, but also explores research organization problems, future trends, and possibilities. We describe the most reliable candidate genetic markers that are involved in energy balance pathways and body composition changes in response to training programmes, such as FTO, MC4R, ACE, PPARG, LEP, LEPR, ADRB2, and ADRB3. This knowledge can have an enormous impact not only on individualization of exercise programmes to make them more efficient and safer, but also on improved recovery, traumatology, medical care, diet, supplementation and many other areas. Nevertheless, the current studies still represent only the first steps towards a better understanding of the genetic factors that influence obesity-related traits, as well as gene variant x physical activity interactions, so further research is necessary.

Effect of BDKRB2 Gene -9/+9 Polymorphism on Training Improvements in Competitive Swimmers

The aim of the study was to investigate the possible association between the BDKRB2 gene and training-induced improvements in swimming performance in well-trained swimmers. One hundred Polish swimmers (52 men and 48 women, aged 18.1 ± 1.9 years), who competed in national and international competitions at middle- (200 m) and long-distance events (≥400 m), were included in the study. Athletes' genotype and allele distributions were analyzed in comparison to 230 unrelated sedentary subjects, who served as controls, with the χ test. All samples were genotyped for the BDKRB2 -9/+9 polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction. The effects of genotype on swimming performance improvements were analyzed with two-way (3 × 2; genotype × time) analysis of variance with metric age as a covariate. The training period of 1.9 ± 0.4 years had a significant (p < 0.01) effect on swimming performance, both in female and male athletes. Both in female and male athletes, the BDKRB2 gene -9/+9 polymorphism had no significant effect on swimming performance. An interaction effect of BDKRB2 gene -9/+9 polymorphism × time was found for swimming performance only in male athletes. Post hoc analyses showed that swimmers with the +9/+9 BDKRB2 genotype had a greater improvement in swimming performance than swimmers with the -9/+9 polymorphism (p ≤ 0.05). No interaction effects for gender × BDKRB2 gene -9/+9 polymorphism were found for either swimming performance or improvement in swimming performance. These results suggest that the response to long-term exercise training could be modulated by the BDKRB2 gene -9/+9 polymorphism in male athletes. In well-trained swimmers, BDKRB2 gene variation was not found to be an independent determinant of swimming performance.

Variation in the Ace Gene in Elite Polish Football Players

Purpose. A common polymorphism in the angiotensin converting enzyme I gene (the ACE I/D variant) represents one of the first characterized and the most widely studied genetic variants in the context of elite athletes status and performance related traits. The aim of the study was to determine the genotype and allele distribution of the allele and genotype of the ACE gene in Polish male football players. Methods. The total of 106 Polish male professional football players were recruited. They were divided into groups according to the position in the field: forwards, defenders, midfielders, and goalkeepers. For controls, samples were prepared with 115 unrelated volunteers. DNA was extracted from the buccal cells donated by the subjects, and the PCR amplification of the polymorphic region of the ACE gene containing either the insertion (I) or deletion (D) fragment was performed. Results. The genotype distribution and allele frequencies among all football players did not differ significantly when compared with sedentary control individuals (p = 0.887, p = 0.999, respectively). Likewise, the analysis of forwards, defenders, midfielders, and goalkeepers revealed no significant differences in either ACE genotype or allele frequencies. Conclusions. We did not provide evidence for difference of variation of the ACE I/D polymorphism between Polish football players and controls, as we did not obtain any statistically significantly higher frequency of either of the analysed alleles (I and D) or genotypes (DD, ID, and II) in the studied subgroups. It may be suspected that harbouring of I/D allelic variants of the ACE gene neither decreases nor increases the probability of being a professional football player in Poland.

The Variants Within the COL5A1 Gene are Associated with Reduced Risk of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Skiers

The purpose of this study was to examine the association of the BstUI RFLP C/T (rs 12722) and DpnII RFLP C/T (rs 13946) COL5A1 polymorphisms, individually and as haplotypes, with anterior cruciate ligament ruptures in recreational skiers. Subjects were 138 male recreational skiers with surgically diagnosed primary anterior cruciate ligament ruptures. The control group consisted of 183 apparently healthy male recreational skiers, who were without any self-reported history of ligament or tendon injury. DNA was extracted from buccal cells donated by the subjects and genotyping was carried out using real-time PCR. The genotype distributions for both polymorphisms met Hardy-Weinberg expectations in both groups. There were no significant differences in genotype distribution of allele frequencies of COL5A1 BstUI RFLP C/T and COL5A1 DpnII RFLP C/T polymorphisms between the ACL rupture and control groups. The T-T (BstUI RFLP T, DpnII RFLP T) haplotype was the most common (55.6%). The haplotype T-C was not present in any of the subjects. There was an underrepresentation tendency of the C-T haplotype in the study group compared to controls under recessive mode of inheritance. Higher frequency of the COL5A1 BstUI RFLP C/T and COL5A1DpnII RFLP C/T polymorphisms haplotype is associated with reduced risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury in a group of apparently healthy male recreational skiers.

Effect of 12-week-long aerobic training programme on body composition, aerobic capacity, complete blood count and blood lipid profile among young women

BACKGROUND

Numerous data suggest that aerobic-type exercise improves lipoprotein-lipid profiles, cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition in young women. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biological response to high-low impact aerobic fitness among young women.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-four young women aged 22 (19-24) years were divided into three groups: underweight (N=10), normal weight (N=12) and overweight (N=12). Aerobic capacity, anthropometry and body composition together with complete blood count and lipid profile were determined before and after completion of a 12-week-long training period.

RESULTS

The training programme caused a significant decrease in weight (by 4.3 kg, P=0.003), body mass index (by 1.3 kg/m2, P=0.003), free fat mass (by 2.1 kg, P=0.002), total body water (by 0.4 kg, P=0.036), percentage of fat (by 3 percent points, P=0.002), all analyzed skinfolds thicknesses, as well as the lipid profile in overweight group, and no changes in normal weight group. Significant changes in weight (by 4.2 kg, P=0.005), body mass index (by 0.9 kg/m2, P=0.005), crus skinfold thickness (by 3.3 mm, P=0.028), and in maximum oxygen uptake (by 2.49 mL/kg/min; P=0.047) were observed among underweight women. No change in total blood count was observed in all groups.

CONCLUSION

Twelve-week-long fitness training programme of two alternating styles (low and high impact) has a beneficial effect on overweight young women.

Elite athletes' genetic predisposition for altered risk of complex metabolic traits

BACKGROUND

Genetic variants may predispose humans to elevated risk of common metabolic morbidities such as obesity and Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). Some of these variants have also been shown to influence elite athletic performance and the response to exercise training. We compared the genotype distribution of five genetic Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) known to be associated with obesity and obesity co-morbidities (IGF2BP2 rs4402960, LPL rs320, LPL rs328, KCJN rs5219, and MTHFR rs1801133) between athletes (all male, n = 461; endurance athletes n = 254, sprint/power athletes n = 207), and controls (all male, n = 544) in Polish and Russian samples. We also examined the association between these SNPs and the athletes' competition level ('elite' and 'national' level). Genotypes were analysed by Single-Base Extension and Real-Time PCR. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the association between genotypes and athletic status/competition level.

RESULTS

IGF2BP2 rs4402960 and LPL rs320 were significantly associated with athletic status; sprint/power athletes were twice more likely to have the IGF2BP2 rs4402960 risk (T) allele compared to endurance athletes (OR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.03-4.30, P <0.041), and non-athletic controls were significantly less likely to have the T allele compared to sprint/power athletes (OR = 0.62, 95% CI =0.43-0.89, P <0.0009). The control group was significantly more likely to have the LPL rs320 risk (G) allele compared to endurance athletes (OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.05-1.52, P <0.013). Hence, endurance athletes were the "protected" group being significantly (p < 0.05) less likely to have the risk allele compared to sprint/power athletes (IGF2BP2 rs4402960) and significantly (p < 0.05) less likely to have the risk allele compared to controls (LPL rs320). The other 3 SNPs did not show significant differences between the study groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Male endurance athletes are less likely to have the metabolic risk alleles of IGF2BP2 rs4402960 and LPL rs320, compared to sprint/power athletes and controls, respectively. These results suggest that some SNPs across the human genome have a dual effect and may predispose endurance athletes to reduced risk of developing metabolic morbidities, whereas sprint/power athletes might be predisposed to elevated risk.

THE GSTP1 c.313A>G POLYMORPHISM MODULATES THE CARDIORESPIRATORY RESPONSE TO AEROBIC TRAINING

The GSTP1 c.313A>G polymorphism is a candidate to explain some of the individual differences in cardiorespiratory fitness phenotypes’ responses to aerobic exercise training. We aim to explore the association between the GSTP1 c.313A>G polymorphism and the response to low-high impact aerobic exercise training. Sixty-six Polish Caucasian women were genotyped for the GSTP1 c.313A>G polymorphism; 62 of them completed 12-week aerobic (50-75% HR_max) exercise training and were measured for selected somatic features (body mass and BMI) and cardiorespiratory fitness indices – maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max, maximum heart rate (HR_max), maximum ventilation (V_Emax) and anaerobic threshold (AT) – before and after the training period. Two-factor analysis of variance revealed a main training effect for body mass reduction (p=0.007) and BMI reduction (p=0.013), improvements of absolute and relative VO_2max (both p<0.001), and increased V_Emax (p=0.005), but not for changes in fat-free mass (FFM) (p=0.162). However, a significant training x GSTP1 c.313A>G interaction was found only for FFM (p=0.042), absolute and relative VO_2max (p=0.029 and p=0.026), and V_Emax (p=0.005). As the result of training, significantly greater improvements in VO_2max, V_Emax and FFM were gained by the GG+GA group compared to the AA genotype group. The results support the hypothesis that heterogeneity in individual response to training stimuli is at least in part determined by genetics, and GSTP1 c.313A>G may be considered as one (of what appear to be many) target polymorphisms to influence these changes.

Bdkrb2 gene -9/+9 polymorphism and swimming performance

The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between swimming performance and the -9/+9 (rs5810761) polymorphism within the BDKRB2 gene in successful competitive swimmers. Best individual swimming results expressed in FINA points achieved at short, middle and long distance events of 157 well-trained Polish swimmers were incorporated into an analysis. Athletes' genotype and allele distributions were analysed in comparison to 230 unrelated sedentary subjects who served as controls with the χ(2) test. All samples were genotyped for the BDKRB2 -9/+9 polymorphism using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The effects of genotype on swimming performance were analysed with two-way (3 x 2; genotype x gender) analysis of variance with metrical age as a covariate for each distance specialization. No statistical differences in the genotype and allele frequencies were found in long distance swimmers when compared with the total group of swimmers or controls. The BDKRB2 +9/-9 genotype had no significant effect on swimming performance at short, middle or long distance, regardless of gender. The results of this study do not support the hypothesis that the BDKRB2 -9/+9 polymorphism is associated with swimming performance in Polish swimmers.

Association of rs699 (M235T) polymorphism in the AGT gene with power but not endurance athlete status

Thus far, genetic studies of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) with respect to athletic performance or athlete status have mainly focused on the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene and its insertion/deletion polymorphism. The aim of this study was to investigate the functional rs699 (M235T) polymorphism in angiotensinogen (AGT), the second most important gene of the RAS, for association with athletic status and level of performance. The study included 123 endurance athletes and 100 power-oriented athletes, who were classified as elite or sub-elite according to competitive achievements at the international level, and 354 unrelated sedentary control subjects. The M235T genotype and allele distributions differed significantly between power and endurance athletes (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0002, genotypes and alleles, respectively) and between power athletes and control subjects (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0002, genotypes and alleles, respectively). The frequency of the CC genotype in the power athlete group was 2.2 times higher and 3.1 times higher than in the control and endurance groups, respectively. No difference was found in M235T allele distribution between elite and sub-elite athletes, either in power- or endurance-oriented athletes. We conclude that the CC genotype of the M235T polymorphism is overrepresented in Polish power athletes, suggesting that the AGT M235T variant is associated with power athletes' status.

Is gnb3 c825t polymorphism associated with elite status of polish athletes?

The GNB3 gene encodes the beta 3 subunit of heterotrimeric G-proteins that are key components of intracellular signal transduction between G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) and intracellular effectors and might be considered as a potential candidate gene for physical performance.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to compare frequency distribution of the common C to T polymorphism at position 825 (C825T) of the GNB3 gene between athletes and nonathletic controls of the Polish population as well as to compare the genotype distribution and allele frequency of C825T variants within a group of athletes, i.e. between athletes of sports of different metabolic demands and competitive levels.

METHODS

The study was performed in a group of 223 Polish athletes of the highest nationally competitive standard (123 endurance-oriented athletes and 100 strength/ power athletes). Control samples were prepared from 354 unrelated, sedentary volunteers.

RESULTS

The χ(2) test revealed no statistical differences between the endurance-oriented athletes and the control group or between sprint/strength athletes and the control group across the GNB3 825C/T genotypes. There were no male-female genotype or allele frequency differences in controls or in either strength/power or endurance-oriented athletes. No statistically significant differences in either allele frequencies or genotype distribution were noted between the top-elite, elite or sub-elite of endurance-oriented and strength/power athletes and the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

No association between elite status of Polish athletes and the GNB3 C825T polymorphic site has been found.

Association of the 174 G/C polymorphism of the IL6 gene in Polish power-orientated athletes

AIM

Interleukin-6 (IL6), has been called by some authors "an exercise factor" due to its pleiotropic effects during physical training. Several studies indicated that change in the guanine bases to cytosine at position -174 affects the transcription of the IL6 gene, and finally IL6 production level. The aim of this study was to perform confirmation studies to analyze the possible importance of the IL6 -174 G/C (rs1800795) polymorphism gene in Polish power-orientated athletes.

METHODS

The study was carried out on two groups of men of the same Caucasian descent: 158 power-orientated athletes and 254 volunteers not involved in competitive sport. DNA was extracted from buccal cells donated by the subjects. Genotyping was carried out by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Significance was assessed by Chi square (χ2) analysis.

RESULTS

The results revealed that the frequency of the IL6 -174 GG genotype (53.16% vs. 35.82%; P=0.002) and G allele (68.67% vs. 57.87%; P=0.03) were significantly higher in the Polish power-orientated athletes compared to controls.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that the G allele could be one of the factors influencing the power-orientated sport performance. However, these conclusions should be supported with more experimental studies on other IL6 polymorphisms and other genes.

The +1245g/t polymorphisms in the collagen type I alpha 1 (col1a1) gene in polish skiers with anterior cruciate ligament injury

Objectives

The aim of this study was to examine the association of +1245G/T polymorphisms in the COL1A1 gene with ACL ruptures in Polish male recreational skiers in a case-control study.

Methods

A total of 138 male recreational skiers with surgically diagnosed primary ACL ruptures, all of whom qualified for ligament reconstruction, were recruited for this study. The control group comprised 183 apparently healthy male skiers with a comparable level of exposure to ACL injury, none of whom had any self-reported history of ligament or tendon injury. DNA samples extracted from the oral epithelial cells were genotyped for the +1245G/T polymorphisms using real-time PCR method.

Results

Genotype distributions among cases and controls conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p = 0.2469 and p = 0.33, respectively). There was a significant difference in the genotype distribution between skiers and controls (p = 0.045, Fisher's exact test). There was no statistical difference in allele distribution: OR 1.43 (0.91-2.25), p = 0.101 (two-sided Fisher's exact test).

Conclusions

The risk of ACL ruptures was around 1.43 times lower in carriers of a minor allele G as compared to carriers of the allele T.

Recovery of DNA of Giardia intestinalis cysts from surface water concentrates measured with PCR and real time PCR

The most important restriction for the detection in water samples is the low concentration of Giardia intestinalis cysts, additional difficulty is the presence of PCR inhibitors. We have carried out trials in order to assess the sensitivity of semi-nested PCR and TaqMan real time PCR on the basis of DNA extracted from G. intestinalis cysts coming from spiked environmental and distilled water samples, filtrated with the use of Filta-Max® equipment (1623 Method). Removal of inhibitors was carried out with addition of BSA in different concentrations. During the filtration and concentration of water samples, losses of cysts have been recorded. Moreover, addition of BSA to the PCR and real time PCR mix increases the sensitivity of reaction. The optimal concentration of BSA for semi‑nested PCR was 15 and 20 ng/μl, whereas for real time PCR 5 ng/μl.

PCR and real time PCR for the detection of Cryptosporidium parvum oocyst DNA

Three DNA extraction kits were used, all without preliminary procedures, then DNA extraction was preceded with freeze/thaw cycles in three versions. A lack of desired effect resulted in the application of liquid nitrogen/water bath cycles before the use of the extractions in further experiments. The effectiveness of DNA extraction was measured by PCR signal and C(T) values of real time PCR. A comparison of the efficiency of various Cryptosporidium parvum undiluted oocyst treatments prior to DNA extraction with the use of three kits has shown that the best results were obtained after extraction of DNA with the QIAamp DNA Tissue Mini Kit (T kit), preceded by triple liquid nitrogen/water bath in 100 degrees C for 2 minutes and with overnight proteinase K digestion. After extraction with the T kit, the detection limit was 50 oocysts per 200 microl when effectiveness was evaluated with PCR and 10 oocysts in the case of real time PCR.

Is the C34T polymorphism of the AMPD1 gene associated with athlete performance in rowing?

The skeletal muscle-specific isoform of adenosine monophosphate deaminase (AMPD) is one of the most important regulators of muscle energy metabolism. A nonsense C to T transition in nucleotide 34 (C34T) in exon 2 of AMPD1 gene converts the codon CAA into the premature stop-codon TAA. 127 Polish male rowers including Olympic and world champions were recruited for this study. Controls samples were obtained from 251 unrelated volunteers. Statistically significant differences in genotype distribution were observed when only a whole group of rowers (88.19% CC, 11.81% CT, 0% TT; p=0.009) were compared with controls (75.31% CC, 23.10% CT, 1,59% TT). A significant deficiency of the T allele compared to control samples was noted in the elite rowers (4.55%, p=0.021) and non-elite rowers (6.63%, p=0.023), whereas this trend was even stronger when compared with the controls for the whole group of rowers (5.91%, p=0.002). Our results suggest that the T allele is associated with physical performance level, therefore, it may be included in the group of performance altering polymorphisms as a negative factor to athletic performance.

Comparison of efficiency of various DNA extraction methods from cysts of Giardia intestinalis measured by PCR and TaqMan real time PCR

The aim of the presented study was to work out an effective method of extraction of DNA from Giardia intestinalis cysts as well as a sensitive and specific method for detection of DNA of this protozoan using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Twelve protocols for DNA extraction have been compared. Purification and extraction of DNA were preceded by additional actions in order to destroy the cysts' wall. The highest effectiveness of DNA extraction was obtained in case of alternating application of freezing the samples in liquid nitrogen and their incubation in water bath in the temperature of 100 degrees C, and then the extraction with the QIAamp DNA Tissue Mini Kit (QIAGEN)--T kit--with an all night long incubation with proteinase K in 56 degrees C. Effectiveness of DNA extraction with the use of each kit after extraction with each treatment was measured by nested PCR product of beta-giardin gene fragment and C(T) values of real time PCR of the SSU rRNA gene of G. intestinalis. The detection limit, defined as the lowest number detected in 100% cases, was 100 cysts per 200 microl when effectiveness was evaluated with nested PCR and 50 oocysts with real time PCR after extraction DNA with T kit. Results of our comparative studies have shown that all stages preceding the molecular detection of G. intestinalis DNA are equally important, and materially influence on the final effect and this version of method seems to be very useful for the sensitive detection of DNA of G. intestinalis.

[Biology, epidemiology and diagnostics of pathogenic waterborne protozoan parasites]

Cryptosporidium, Giardia intestinalis, Cyclospora cayetanensis, Isosopra belli and micropsoridia are the most important and common pathogens found in humans and many other species of vertebrates. In humans, mainly in immunocompromised patients, children, pregnant women and elderly people, they are the most frequently identified protozoan parasites causing gastrointestinal disease worldwide. These pathogens have several transmission routes, including anthroponotic and zoonotic transmission. What is more, in many cases of epidemics caused by mentioned pathogens the major cause of infection was contaminated with these organisms water and food. In spite of many existing regulations of clearing and making use of drinking water supplies and recreational water, cosmopolitan protozoan parasites are still the danger of public health. These organisms are responsible for many waterborne outbreaks worldwide. Light microscopy and immunofluorescence assay have been used to identify these organisms in most laboratories. However, these traditional techniques have major limitations in the specific diagnosis, these methods are not sensitive enough to detect cysts or oocysts in environmental samples, so the new molecular tools must be applied. Recently, PCR-based techniques have been developed for detection and genetic characterization of the different species and population variants of protozoan parasites is central to the prevention, surveillance and control of gastrointestinal diseases. In this review were characterized biology, epidemiology and the progress in technology for detection and surveillance of the most important waterborne protozoan parasites.