The frequency of TLR2 (rs3804099, rs3804100, and rs5743708) and TLR4 (rs4986790 and rs4986791) polymorphisms in women with polycystic ovary syndrome - preliminary study

INTRODUCTION

Low-grade chronic inflammation may participate in PCOS etiology. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) may play a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of inflammatory process. We examined TLR2 and TLR4 gene polymorphisms in women with PCOS and their associations with metabolic/hormonal parameters.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Sixty-eight women qualified for the study. PCOS was diagnosed in 40 women. The control group consisted of 28 women. All patients underwent anamnesis, physical examination, anthropometric measurements, and biochemical/hormonal assessments. The TLRs gene polymorphism was tested using PCR and the minisequencing method.

RESULTS

The frequency of TLR2 gene polymorphisms genotypes (rs3804099, rs3804100, and rs5743708) did not differ significantly between the groups. The difference in frequency of genotypes of TLR4 gene polymorphisms (rs4986790 and rs4986791) was close to the statistical significance level. No significant correlations between TLR2/TLR4 polymorphisms and anthropometric/metabolic parameters in PCOS group were observed. However, the relationship between HDL concentration and TLR2 S450S (rs3804100) polymorphism was close to the statistical significance level. Positive correlations between the two TLR4 polymorphisms (rs4986790 and rs4986791) were found, as well as between the TLR2 S450S (rs3804100) gene polymorphism and FSH concentration.

CONCLUSIONS

The TLR4 gene polymorphism may play a role in the PCOS etiopathogenesis but this observation needs further investigation.

Etiology, baseline clinical profile and comorbidities of patients with Cushing's syndrome at a single endocrinological center

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to compare phenotype of patients with pituitary, adrenal and ectopic CS and identify the differences regarding biochemical parameters, clinical presentations, and comorbidities in CS patients who were diagnosed at the single endocrinological center in Wroclaw.

METHODS

The study population involved 64 patients with CS (53 women and 11 men) diagnosed in Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Isotope Therapy in 2000-2018. Patients were divided into three etiologic groups: pituitary dependent-CS (P-CS) (64%), adrenal dependent CS (A-CS) (25%), and CS from an ectopic source (E-CS) (11%).

RESULTS

Percentage of men in the A-CS group was significantly higher than in the other etiologic groups. ACTH, UFC, and cortisol in DST were significantly higher in E-CS group compare to P-CS and A-CS (p < 0.05). Mean potassium level in E-CS group was significantly lower than in P-CS and A-CS (p < 0.05). Median of time elapsed to diagnosis was significantly lower in the E-CS group compared with either the P-CS and the A-CS group (p < 0.01). The most frequently symptoms in CS patients were skin alterations (82.8%), weight gain (81.2%), and hypertension (81.2%).

CONCLUSIONS

The epidemiology of CS is changing toward a growing proportion of A-CS. All patients with E-CS presented a profound hypokalemia. Salient hypokalemia could be a biochemical marker more suggestive for E-CS rather than P-CS. The incidence of diabetes is more frequent in E-CS group than in P-CS and A-CS groups.

The polycystic ovarian syndrome and chronic inflammation: The role of Toll-like receptors

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrinopathies in reproductive-aged women. The pathogenesis of this syndrome is not yet fully understood. Previous studies indicate the coexistence of low-grade chronic inflammation and PCOS. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a key role in the inflammatory reactions. They induce an innate immune response when in contact with pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP). TLRs expression on several cell types has been described, including immune cells, epithelial and endothelial cells, adipocytes, pancreatic beta-cells and ovarian tissue. The stimulation of TLRs triggers signaling pathways, which in turn leads to proinflammatory cytokines production, including IL-6 and TNF alpha. Elevated concentrations of these cytokines were also observed in patients with PCOS. Currently, there are few studies about the role of TLRs in the pathogenesis of PCOS. Women with this syndrome are more frequently diagnosed with metabolic disorders, such as obesity or insulin resistance (IR). The substances released from adipose tissue, including free fatty acids, contribute to the increased activation of the two TLRs - 2 and 4. Recent data also confirms their overexpression in women with PCOS. Increased activation and the presence of specific gene polymorphisms for TLR2 and TLR4 is presumed to be a contributor to the development of IR and hyperandrogenism in women with PCOS.

Global analysis of gene expression in maize leaves treated with low temperature. II. Combined effect of severe cold (8 °C) and circadian rhythm

In maize seedlings, severe cold results in dysregulation of circadian pattern of gene expression causing profound modulation of transcription of genes related to photosynthesis and other key biological processes. Plants live highly cyclic life and their response to environmental stresses must allow for underlying biological rhythms. To study the interplay of a stress and a rhythmic cue we investigated transcriptomic response of maize seedlings to low temperature in the context of diurnal gene expression. Severe cold stress had pronounced effect on the circadian rhythm of a substantial proportion of genes. Their response was strikingly dual, comprising either flattening (partial or complete) of the diel amplitude or delay of expression maximum/minimum by several hours. Genes encoding central oscillator components behaved in the same dual manner, unlike their Arabidopsis counterparts reported earlier to cease cycling altogether upon cold treatment. Also numerous genes lacking circadian rhythm responded to the cold by undergoing up- or down-regulation. Notably, the transcriptome changes preceded major physiological manifestations of cold stress. In silico analysis of metabolic processes likely affected by observed gene expression changes indicated major down-regulation of photosynthesis, profound and multifarious modulation of plant hormone levels, and of chromatin structure, transcription, and translation. A role of trehalose and stachyose in cold stress signaling was also suggested. Meta-analysis of published transcriptomic data allowed discrimination between general stress response of maize and that unique to severe cold. Several cis- and trans-factors likely involved in the latter were predicted, albeit none of them seemed to have a major role. These results underscore a key role of modulation of diel gene expression in maize response to severe cold and the unique character of the cold-response of the maize circadian clock.

Cloning and sequencing of full-length cDNAs of RNA1 and RNA2 of a Tomato black ring virus isolate from Poland

Full-length cDNA clones corresponding to the RNA1 and RNA2 of the Polish isolate MJ of Tomato black ring virus (TBRV, genus Nepovirus) were obtained using a direct recombination strategy in yeast, and their complete nucleotide sequences were established. RNA1 is 7358 nucleotides and RNA2 is 4633 nucleotides in length, excluding the poly(A) tails. Both RNAs contain a single open reading frame encoding polyproteins of 254 kDa and 149 kDa for RNA1 and RNA2 respectively. Putative cleavage sites were identified, and the relationships between TBRV and related nepoviruses were studied by sequence comparison.

Evaluation of HBV and HCV antigens expression in correlation with HBV DNA and HCV RNA occurrence in liver biopsy specimens of patients with chronic hepatitis type B and chronic hepatitis type C, respectively

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The material studied consisted of single liver biopsy specimens and serum samples from 97 patients diagnosed by clinical and serological criteria as having chronic hepatitis of either type B (38 patients seropositive for HBsAg) or type C (59 patients seropositive for anti-HCV). Diagnosis of chronic hepatitis, including grading and staging of the process, was established by histopathological examination of routinely stained serial paraffin sections. The expression of HBV and HCV antigens was detected in frozen sections by amplified immunoperoxidase method (EnVision, DAKO) with the use of monoclonal anti-HBs antibodies (DAKO), polyclonal anti-HBc antibodies (Biogenex) and FITC-labeled human antibodies to HCV antigens. HBV DNA and HCV RNA were searched for in tissue homogenates with PCR (In Gen; Terpol, Sieradz) and RT PCR (Cobas Amplicor HCV RNA, Roche), respectively.

RESULTS

HBsAg was detected in all and HBcAg in 26 of the 38 biopsy specimens with chronic hepatitis type B from patients who were seropositive for HBsAg and anti-HBc, and for either HBeAg (25 cases) or anti-HBe (13 cases). HBV DNA was identified in 32 out of 38 liver biopsy specimens. Out of the 32 HBV DNA positive specimens, 6 that had been obtained from patients seropositive for anti-HBe, lacked HBcAg expression. HCV antigens were found in 27 (50%) out of 54 specimens which showed the presence of HCV RNA.

CONCLUSIONS

These results are indicative for a strong positive correlation between the expression of HBV antigens and that of HBV DNA in liver biopsy specimens. The detection of HCV antigens has proved to positively correlate with that of HCV RNA in 50% of the specimens examined. It appears, therefore, that testing of liver biopsy specimens for HBV and HCV antigens may, in a significant proportion of cases, extend the histopathological diagnosis as to include identification of the etiologic factor.

[Hepatitis A in 1998]

2011 cases of hepatitis A were reported in 1998. The incidence rate was estimated to be 5.2 per 100,000; that represents almost 50% decrease compared to the preceding year. The incidence rates within rural and urban populations were similar. The highest incidence rates were reported in the NW and Central parts of the country. 19.6% of all reported cases occurred among children 10-14 years old. Evaluation of the efficacy of vaccination against HAV showed an incidence rate substantially lower in flooded area compared to the neighbouring one during the 1997 deluge. After the deluge epidemic of hepatitis A was not reported.

[Humoral response to HBV antigens in acute and chronic hepatitis B]

Sera of patients with acute and chronic hepatitis B and antigenemia were tested for the presence of anti-HBe and anti-HBs antibodies, free or bound in immune complexes. The possible occurrence of immune complexes of HBcAg in these sera was also investigated. Immune complexes were identified by antigen specific enzyme immunoassay, in which polyclonal antibodies against synthetic fragments of proteins S and C of HBV and mono- and polyclonal anti-HBc antibodies were used as a solid phase. Free and/or antigen bound anti-HBe antibodies were detected in 100% of patients with acute (81% HBeAg positive) and in 37% of patients with chronic hepatitis, all HBeAg positive. Anti-HBs antibodies or their immune complexes were found in 83% and 37% of patients, respectively. In not any patient circulating complexes of HBcAg could be identified. The results obtained support the observations that humoral immune response to HBeAg and HBsAg can be detected earlier than generally accepted; they also suggest that the detection of anti-HBs in a single sample of serum should not be considered as the evidence of elimination of infection.

[Etiology of chronic hepatitis as evaluated by liver biopsy and serum samples submitted to the Department of Immunopathology of the National Institute of Hygiene in 1993-1995]

The purpose of this study was to assess the relative incidence of chronic hepatitis in a population of patients with chronic liver disease and to determine the etiological spectrum of this syndrome with special reference to its defined histopathological forms. Histopathology aided by immunohistochemistry, and serology aided by the PCR method were employed in studies of liver biopsy specimens and serum samples, respectively. Out of 1150 patients with chronic liver disease examined, chronic hepatitis was diagnosed in 685 (60% of all cases examined). In this group, there were 308 males aged 18-74 yrs (mean 32 yrs), 153 females aged 18-71 yrs (mean 43 yrs), and 213 children aged 1-17 yrs (mean 8 yrs). Viral infections documented in these patients included HBV (50.4%), HCV (36.2%), HBV/HCV (7.2%) and HBV/HDV (0.7%); cryptogenic and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) accounted for 2.9% and 2.6% all cases, respectively. In the group of minimal hepatitis (16.1%), HBV infection was documented in 66.4% of cases, HCV-in 29.1%, HBV/HCV-in 3.6% (one case of AIH was included into this group). In the group of mild hepatitis (44.2%), HBV infection accounted for 47.3% of cases, HCV-for 41.9%, HBV/HCV-for 9.9%, and 0.9% was diagnosed as cryptogenic. In the group of moderate hepatitis (19.6%), HBV infection accounted for 50% of cases, HCV-for 37.3%, and HBV/HCV-for 4.5%; cases of cryptogenic and AIH accounted for 3.7% and 4.5%, respectively. In the group of severe hepatitis (20.1%), HBV etiology was found in 44.9% of cases, HCV-in 28.3%, HBV/HCV-in 6.5% and HBV/HDV-in 3.6%; cryptogenic and AIH accounted for 6.5% and 8.0% of cases, respectively. There was a high incidence of low-titer autoantibodies (SMA, ANA and LKM) ranging from 75% in cryptogenic hepatitis and 51% in each HBV and HBV/HCV hepatitis to 46.3% in HCV hepatitis.