Impact of estrogen receptor α gene and oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms on female sexuality

Over the past decades, research attention has increasingly been paid to the neurobiological component of sexual behavior. The aim of the present study was to investigate the correlation of estrogen receptor α (ERA) gene polymorphism (rs2234693-PvuII) (T→C substitution) and oxytocin receptor gene polymorphism (rs53576) (G→A substitution) with sexuality parameters of young, healthy women. One hundred thirty-three Greek heterosexual women, students in higher education institutions, 20-25 years of age, sexually active, with normal menstrual cycles (28-35 days), were recruited in the study. Exclusion criteria were chronic and/or major psychiatric diseases, use of oral contraceptive pills (OCs), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), thyroid diseases as well as drugs that are implicated in hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis. T allele (wildtype) of rs2234693 (PvuII) polymorphism of ERA gene was correlated with increased levels of arousal and lubrication, whereas A allele (polymorphic) of rs53576 (OXTR) polymorphism was correlated with increased arousal levels. The simultaneous presence of both T allele of rs2234693 (PvuII) and A allele of rs53576 (OXTR) polymorphisms (T + A group) was correlated with increased arousal, orgasm levels as well as female sexual function index full score. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the interaction between ERA and OXTR with regard to sexual function in women. Female sexuality is a complex behavioral trait that encompasses both biological and psychological components. It seems that variability in female sexual response stems from genetic variability that characterizes endocrine, neurotransmitter and central nervous system influences.

Association of Calpain (CAPN) 10 (UCSNP-43, rs3792267) gene polymorphism with elevated serum androgens in young women with the most severe phenotype of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

OBJECTIVES

To highlight a possible association of Calpain (CAPN 10) gene UCSNP-43 polymorphism with hormonal and metabolic traits of young women with different phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

DESIGN

PCOS women were genotyped for the CAPN 10 gene UCSNP-43 polymorphism. A comparison of clinical and biochemical features of women with PCOS stratified on the basis of the CAPN 10 gene UCSNP-43 variants was assessed.

METHODS

Anthropometric, hormonal and biochemical measurements were carried out in 668 PCOS women and 200 healthy controls. Subjects were also genotyped for the CAPN 10 gene UCSNP-43 polymorphism. The genotype frequency distributions between groups and controls were compared using the chi-square test. The association of the polymorphism with the clinical and biochemical features of the study cohort was estimated as well.

RESULTS

No association of the frequency of CAPN 10 gene UCSNP-43 polymorphism with PCOS was detected. No association of the polymorphism with the anthropometric, biochemical and hormonal features was detected both in PCOS and control women. The polymorphism was associated with serum Δ4 androstenedione (p = 0.018), as well as with 17-OH progesterone (17-hydroxyprogesterone) among women with PCOS phenotype A (p = 0.012).

CONCLUSIONS

CAPN 10 gene polymorphism UCSNP-43 is deprived of a metabolic contribution to cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, due to its association with androgen excess in phenotype A, CAPN 10 gene polymorphism UCSNP-43 could be used as a genetic marker for CVD in young PCOS women.

Increased frequency of the anti-mullerian-inhibiting hormone receptor 2 (AMHR2) 482 A>G polymorphism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: relationship to luteinizing hormone levels

CONTEXT

The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common and complex disease without a clear pattern of inheritance. Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) has an inhibitory effect on FSH-stimulated follicle growth. Serum AMH levels are higher in women with PCOS than in normo-ovulatory women. The elevated AMH levels may reflect abnormalities in AMH signaling.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of the anti-Müllerian hormone receptor 2 (AMHR2) -482 A>G polymorphism (rs2002555) with the pathophysiology of PCOS.

DESIGN

AMHR2 -482 A>G polymorphism genotyping were performed in a large cohort of women with PCOS and in a healthy control group.

SETTING/SUBJECTS

A total of 858 Caucasian Greek women with PCOS and 309 healthy control women were studied.

INTERVENTIONS

Genotyping and hormonal measurements were preformed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Hormone levels in women with PCOS were analyzed.

RESULTS

The AMHR2 polymorphism was more common in women with PCOS than in control women (P = .026). Homozygous AMHR2 -482 A>G gene polymorphisms (GG) were associated with decreased levels of LH (P = .003) and lower LH to FSH ratios (P = .01) in women with PCOS, as well as with lower prolactin levels (P = .004). No other associations related to AMHR2 -482 A>G polymorphisms were observed in women with PCOS or control women.

CONCLUSION

In this study, the role of the AMHR2 -482 A>G gene polymorphism in the pathogenesis of PCOS was suggested by the association of the variant with PCOS risk. Thus, further research is needed to elucidate a possible association of the AMHR2 -482 A>G gene polymorphism with AMH signaling and impaired ovarian function and its clinical significance in women with PCOS.

Cloning and characterization of the trout perforin

The pore-forming protein, perforin is one of the effectors of cell-mediated killing. A perforin cDNA clone was isolated from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) after screening of a spleen cDNA library. The full-length cDNA is 2070 bp in size, encoding for a polypeptide of 589 amino acids. The predicted amino acid sequence of the trout perforin is 64, 58 and 40% identical to those of Japanese flounder, zebrafish and human perforins, respectively. Although its membrane attack complex/perforin (MACPF) domain is conserved, trout perforin shows low homology to human and trout terminal complement components (C6, C7, C8 and C9), ranging from 19 to 26% identity. Expression analysis reveals that the trout perforin gene is expressed in the blood, brain, heart, kidney, intestine and spleen. Phylogenetic analysis of proteins which belong to the MACPF superfamily clusters the trout perforin in the same group with other known perforins.

CR3 complement receptor: cloning and characterization in rainbow trout

The beta 2 integrin CR3 is a leukocyte adhesion heterodimeric glycoprotein which functions both as receptor for iC3b and in several cell-cell and cell-substrate adhesion interactions. In order to elucidate the molecular evolution of the CR3 receptor, here we report the cloning and characterization of its beta2 (CD18) and aM (CD11b) subunits in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The predicted polypeptide sequences of trout CD18 and CD11b-like exhibit 50, 49, or 61% and 25, 25, or 30% identity with human, mouse, and zebrafish orthologs, respectively. The 'domain' architecture of trout CD18 and CD11b-like subunits retains several characteristics of the mammalian ortholog proteins, such as cysteine-rich regions, N-linked glycosylation sites and several proposed domains and signal sequences (von Willebrand factor type A, Integrin alpha, Integrin B tail, EGF, and Transmembrane domain). The tissue expression profiles of trout CR3 subunits diverge from those of mammalian counterparts, showing the kidney as the main source of the trout CD18 and CD11b-like mRNA transcripts. This is the first report of cloning and characterization of the CR3 receptor in low vertebrates.

[Study of lymphocyte subpopulations in chronic autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases. I) Polymyalgia rheumatica]

AIM

The polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic disorder, characterised by pain and stiffness on the shoulder and pelvic girdles, increasing of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and good clinical and laboratory recovery by steroid therapy with a good outcome of the disease. There is now a wide agreement about an alteration of the distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations, characterised by a decreasing of CD8+ subset, at the onset of PMR. The aim of this paper is to study the distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations and their soluble receptors and the distribution of CD4+ and CD8+ subsets in patients with active PMR.

METHODS

Forty-eight patients (9 males and 39 females, mean age 69.4+/-6.5 years) with active PMR (ESR 74+/-18 mm, 1st hour) were studied. In order to determine the distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations a panel of monoclonal antibodies was utilised. Flow cytometry was performed with a FACSCAN machine.

RESULTS

The absolute number of CD4-/CD8+ cells were reduced (p<0.05) in comparison to normal subjects (356+/-112/ml vs 564+/-132/ml); the reduction was due to a decrease (p<0.001) of CD8+bright cells (224+/-86/ml vs 426+/-124/ml) and of CD8+bright/CD57- subset (123+/-44/ml vs 256+/-58/ml); an increase (p<0.001) of sCD8 (514+/-123 U/ml vs 312+/-102 U/ml) and an increase (p<0.0005) of sIL-2r (984+/-346 U/ml vs 244+/-58 U/ml) were also observed in comparison to normal subjects. No alterations of CD4+/CD8, CD8+bright/CD57+, CD8+dim/ CD57+/- cells and sCD4 were observed.

CONCLUSION

Our study seems to confirm that in early and active PMR there are significant alterations of lymphocyte subpopulations and their subsets as well as of soluble receptors.

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis in diabetes mellitus, impaired glucose tolerance and obesity

BACKGROUND

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is a rheumatic disease characterized by a significant association with metabolic alterations, such as an impaired lipidic profile.

METHODS

One-hundred-thirty consecutive patients and 40 normal subjects were studied. The patients were affected by type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, impaired glucose tolerance and obesity. The diagnosis of DISH was performed by clinical examination and X-ray study of the thoracolumbar spine. The determination of total cholesterol, triglycerides, HLD-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol was realized by routine biochemical methods; an oral glucose tolerance test was performed in order to determine the levels of C-peptide and blood glucose.

RESULTS

We demonstrate a high incidence of the disease in a cohort of patients affected by overt and non-overt diabetes mellitus (T1DM and T2DM) as well as in obese subjects and a correlation between this disorder and hypertryglyceridemia (T1DM, obese-T2DM and obese patients), hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia (obese-T2DM, non-obese-T2DM and obese patients) and hyper-LDL-cholesterolemia (obese patients). In obese-T2DM patients, as well as in obese patients, we observed 40% of DISH, in non obese-T2DM patients the presence of DISH was 30%, while in T1DM patients and impaired glucose tolerance 26.6% and 22.2, respectively. However, a correlation between DISH and the relative hyperinsulinemia in obese patients during an oral glucose tolerance test is not documented.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirms the prevalence of DISH in diabetes mellitus and obesity, the association with an impaired lipidic profile and the low percentage of symptomatic patients.

Impaired cutaneous cell-mediated immunity in newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by an impaired immune response and a defective cutaneous cell-mediated immunity has been reported. This study was realised in order to determine the characteristics of cutaneous cell-mediated immunity in patients affected by recent-onset and untreated rheumatoid arthritis.

METHODS

Forty-eight patients affected by newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis were studied by skin testing with seven common recall antigens. The skin tests were performed before the administration of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (methotrexate, cyclosporine-A, hydroxychloroquine) and were repeated after four months of therapy.

RESULTS

43.75% of the RA patients (21 out of 48) were defined as anergic compared with 2% of the normal control subjects and the rate of depression of cutaneous cell-mediated immunity was not related either with the markers of disease activity or with the clinical assessment. The impaired cutaneous cell-mediated immunity shows a slight improvement after methotrexate therapy, while cyclosporine-A and hydroxychloroquine were not able to achieve the same result.

CONCLUSIONS

Rheumatoid arthritis shows a defective cutaneous cell-mediated immunity when the patients are studied in the early phase of the disease and before a second-line of therapy with disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. The anergy does not correlate either with the disease activity or with the short-term response to treatment. The prognostic significance of these data remains uncertain.

[Intra-articular administration of galactosaminoglucuronoglycan sulfate in moderate primary gonarthritis. A pilot study]

BACKGROUND

The present study has been carried out in order to assess the clinical and functional efficacy and tolerability of galactosa-minoglucuronoglycan sulphate (GGGS). The molecule has been intra-articularly administered in patients affected by moderate primary gonarthritis, according to clinical and functional parameters.

METHODS

At the beginning and at the end of each period of treatment the following parameters have been evaluated: spontaneous pain, provoked pain, pain during active movement, pain during passive movement, pain at rising (7-8:00 a.m.) pain at bed time (10:00 p.m.), execution time (expressed in seconds) of up-down from a chair (five times), execution time (expressed in seconds) to walk 15 meters. Fifty patients affected by osteoarthritis of the knee were treated weekly, during one year, for two periods of six weeks each with a total amount of 12 injections.

RESULTS

Treatment with Galactosaminglucuronoglycan sulphate (GGGS) seems to be effective in the therapy of osteoarthritis of the knee. The pain scores decreased and the functional levels significantly (p < 0.01) improved in a large proportion of patients and GGGS was very well tolerated.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that intra-articular treatment is a substantially new way for GGGS administration in the therapy of osteoarthritis of the knee.