Association of Myeloperoxidase Gene Polymorphism With Iron Deficiency Anemia in Turkish Children

This study was performed to investigate the gene polymorphisms of the myeloperoxidase (MPO) enzyme and to determine whether MPO gene polymorphisms influence the response to iron therapy in pediatric patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA). In this case-control study, 50 Turkish children with IDA and 50 healthy controls were enrolled. Three MPO gene alleles were selected for genotyping in the study: GG, AG, and AA. The relationships of alleles with IDA were analyzed and compared in patients and controls. Pretreatment and posttreatment laboratory parameters and gene polymorphisms were compared in the patient group. There was a significant difference between patients with IDA and controls regarding genotype frequencies of the AA, GG, and AG alleles (P=0.005). However, the AG allele was found to be associated with variations in hemoglobin, red blood cell, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volumes, and mean corpuscular Hb concentrations levels. The frequency of AA, GG, and AG alleles of the MPO gene was potentially associated with changes in iron metabolism and the AG allele led to variations in various hemogram parameters.

Inflammation and regulatory T cell genes are differentially expressed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of Parkinson's disease patients

Our aim was to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients and healthy controls by microarray technology and analysis of related molecular pathways by functional annotation. Thirty PD patients and 30 controls were enrolled. Agilent Human 8X60 K Oligo Microarray was used for gene level expression identification. Gene ontology and pathway enrichment analyses were used for functional annotation of DEGs. Protein–protein interaction analyses were performed with STRING. Expression levels of randomly selected DEGs were quantified by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for validation. Flow cytometry was done to determine frequency of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in PBMC. A total of 361 DEGs (143 upregulated and 218 downregulated) were identified after GeneSpring analysis. DEGs were involved in 28 biological processes, 12 cellular components and 26 molecular functions. Pathway analyses demonstrated that upregulated genes mainly enriched in p53 (CASP3, TSC2, ATR, MDM4, CCNG1) and PI3K/Akt (IL2RA, IL4R, TSC2, VEGFA, PKN2, PIK3CA, ITGA4, BCL2L11) signaling pathways. TP53 and PIK3CA were identified as most significant hub proteins. Expression profiles obtained by RT-PCR were consistent with microarray findings. PD patients showed increased proportions of CD49d⁺ Tregs, which correlated with disability scores. Survival pathway genes were upregulated putatively to compensate neuronal degeneration. Bioinformatics analysis showed an association between survival and inflammation genes. Increased CD49d⁺ Treg ratios might signify the effort of the immune system to suppress ongoing neuroinflammation.

The assessment of total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase levels, and the possible role of manganese superoxide dismutase polymorphism in acromegaly

Oxidative status is attributed to endothelial dysfunction and might be one of the key mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction in acromegaly. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of acromegaly on superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels, and the possible influence of human manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) polymorphism on these levels. 51 acromegaly patients and 57 age and sex matched healthy subjects were recruited to the study in Bezmialem Vakif University Hospital between 2011 and 2014. The median SOD and TAC levels were 42.7 (33-60) pg/mL and 1,313.7 (155-1,902) μM in acromegaly; and 46.3 (38-95) pg/mL and 1,607.3 (195-1,981) μM in healthy subjects (p < 0.001, p < 0.001). SOD levels were decreased in controlled and uncontrolled patients compared to healthy subjects (p = 0.05 and p = 0.002, respectively). Controlled and uncontrolled acromegaly displayed significantly decreased levels of TAC compared to healthy subjects (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). SOD levels were not associated with MnSOD polymorphisms in acromegaly. In conclusion, this study showed that acromegaly was associated with decreased levels of SOD and TAC, and controlling the disease activity could not adequately improve these levels.

The effects of Advanced Glycation End Products (RAGE)-374T/A and Gly82Ser variants and soluble-RAGE levels to obesity in children

In recent years, studies related to advanced glycation end products (AGE) and their interaction with their receptors (RAGE) have advanced our knowledge of the roles of these molecules in different diseases. However, studies concerning AGE-RAGE interaction in obesity are limited and the results are conflicting. RAGE gene is located on 6p21.3, has several polymorphic sites including -374T/A, a functional polymorphism in the promoter region, and Gly82Ser, present within the ligand-binding domain. In the present study, the determination of possible risks in the development of obesity according to RAGE polymorhisms and plasma levels of RAGE (sRAGE) was aimed. 87 obese and 78 healthy children were included in this study. Genomic DNA was isolated with salting-out procedure. RAGE polymorphisms were analyzed by PCR based techniques. In contrast to Gly82Ser, -374T/A allelic and genotypic frequencies were not different between study groups. Ser(SerSer+GlySer genotype) allele frequency was higher in obese cases than controls (74.20%→25.80%,OR:2.573,95%CI:1.789-3.699;p<0.01). In obese cases, blood glycose (92.50±2.80→87.00±1.16; p=0.025) and HDL-C (46.14±2.75→39.84±1.82;p=0.057) levels were higher than TT genotype carriers. As for Gly82Ser polymorphism, HDL-C (p=0.004) and FT4 (p=0.020) levels were different in obese cases, the order was SerSer>GlySer>GlyGly for HDL-C, and opposite for FT4. Besides, Ser carriers had lower insulin (p=0.038) and homa-IR (p=0.081) levels than GG genotype. sRAGE levels were different between obese and control seperately or in combination with RAGE polymorphisms (p<0.05), the order of sRAGE was TT>TA>AA for -374T/A and SerSer>GlyGly>GlySer for Gly82Ser. According to our results SerSer genotype could have significant effects on sRAGE levels, and increased sRAGE levels and Gly82Ser polymorphism either combinatorially or seperately increased the propensity towards obesity.

XPD and hOGG1 gene polymorphisms in reperfusion oxidative stress

Knee replacement surgery is an ischemia/reperfusion model, as it uses tourniquet applied to the knee area to stop the blood flow during the operation. Fifty patients that were undergoing elective arthroscopic knee surgery were included in our study. Human 8-oxoguanine glycosylase 1 (hOGG1) is an enzyme to repair specific DNA lesions and a good marker of hydroxyl radical damage to DNA. XPD is another DNA repair gene. We investigated the effect of hOGG1 (Ser326Cys) and XPD (Lys751Gln) polymorphisms on the oxidative stress level after reperfusion. To evaluate oxidative stress conditions, we measured 8-hydroxyguanosine and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Polymorphism analyses were done by PCR-RFLP; serum 8-hydroxyguanosine and MDA levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay. There were no significant differences between serum MDA and 8-hydroxyguanosine levels in the samples taken before and after tourniquet application; none of these parameters were related with hOGG1 genotypes. However, we observed increased MDA levels after tourniquet application in M allele carriers for the XPD gene; this could mean that M allele carriers are more prone to DNA damage due to oxidative activity.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T gene polymorphism in osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma patients

This study was designed to investigate the association of MTHFR C677T polymorphism and the risk of two common musculoskeletal sarcomas, osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma. MTHFR genotypes were determined in 56 patients (44 osteosarcoma, 12 chondrosarcoma) and 44 controls using the PCR-RFLP technique. In the gender subgroup analysis, wild-type A allele frequency was higher in male osteosarcoma patients than in male control subjects (P = 0.064). Mutant V allele and mutant VV genotype were similar in the control group compared to the sarcoma groups (P > 0.05). No correlation could be proved between patient tumour site, presence of metastasis, and local tumour relapse and MTHFR polymorphism. The MTHFR C677T polymorphism may not be important in an individual's susceptibility to osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma in Turkey and may not be a useful marker for identifying patients at high risk of developing sarcomas.

Effects of Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein TAQ1B Polymorphism in Renal Transplant Patients

BACKGROUND

Dyslipidemia is an important complication in renal transplant patients. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) mediates the exchange of cholesteryl ester between high density lipoproteins and low density lipoproteins. The aim of this study was to investigate CETP Taq1B gene polymorphism and lipid abnormalities in renal transplant patients.

METHODS

We studied 29 renal transplant patients and 29 healthy controls. CETP Taq1B polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques. Serum lipid levels were measured enzymatically. Statistical analyses was performed by SPSS for Windows version 7.5.

RESULTS

The frequencies of CETP Taq1B B1B1, B1B2, and B2B2 genotypes in patients were 44.8%, 34.5%, and 20.7%; and in control subjects, 37.9%, 37.9%, and 24.2%, respectively. The patients with B1B1 genotype displayed higher levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-C), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). (P<.05). Also, patients showing a B1 allele had higher levels of TC, LDL-C, VLDL-C, and DBP compared to healthy controls (P<.05).

CONCLUSION

We observed that CETP Taq1B B1 allele and B1B1 genotype have effects on the serum lipid profile among renal transplant patients.

Paraoxonase (PON1) 55 and 192 polymorphism and its effects to oxidant-antioxidant system in Turkish patients with type 2 diabetes mellıtus

Paraoxonase (PON1) is a serum enzyme with an antioxidant function, protecting the low density lipoproteins (LDL) from oxidative modifications. Because diabetic patients are at greater risk of oxidative stress, we investigated the effect of PON1 55 methione (M)/leucine (L) and PON1 192 glutamine (A)/arginine (B) polymorphisms on oxidant-antioxidant system in 213 individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 116 non-diabetic control subjects from Turkish population were included in the study. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), and agarose gel electrophoresis techniques were used to determine the PON1 genotypes. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), conjugated dienes levels in the serum and glutathione (GSH) levels in whole blood were measured spectrophotometrically. In both groups PON1 192 AA and PON1 55 MM genotypes had higher TBARS, conjugated dienes levels and lower GSH levels, whereas PON1 192 BB and PON1 55 LL genotypes had lower TBARS, conjugated diene levels and higher GSH level than other genotypes. We thus conclude that PON1 192 BB and PON1 55 LL alleles have protective effect against oxidative stress.

Paraoxonase (PON1) 55 and 192 polymorphism and its effects to oxidant-antioxidant system in turkish patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Paraoxonase (PON1) is a serum enzyme with an antioxidant function, protecting the low density lipoproteins (LDL) from oxidative modifications. Because diabetic patients are at greater risk of oxidative stress, we investigated the effect of PON1 55 methione (M)/leucine (L) and PON1 192 glutamine (A)/arginine (B) polymorphisms on oxidant-antioxidant system in 213 individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 116 non-diabetic control subjects from Turkish population were included in the study. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), and agarose gel electrophoresis techniques were used to determine the PON1 genotypes. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), conjugated dienes levels in the serum and glutathione (GSH) levels in whole blood were measured spectrophotometrically. In both groups PON1 192 AA and PON1 55 MM genotypes had higher TBARS, conjugated dienes levels and lower GSH levels, whereas PON1 192 BB and PON1 55 LL genotypes had lower TBARS, conjugated diene levels and higher GSH level than other genotypes. We thus conclude that PON1 192 BB and PON1 55 LL alleles have protective effect against oxidative stress.