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Guojun Li

Publications and source records attributed to Guojun Li.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

Accelerated Biological Aging Increases the Risk of Head and Neck Cancer: Insights From Genetic Instruments of Epigenetic Clocks.

Epigenetic clocks are robust biomarkers of biological aging and have been associated with cancer susceptibility. However, the relationship between genetically predicted epigenetic age acceleration and head and neck cancer risk remains unclear. Using a large case-control study of 2189 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cases and 2189 age- and sex-matched controls, we investigated the associations between polygenic scores (PGSs) for multiple epigenetic clocks and HNSCC risk, and evaluated their potential causal roles using two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR). Genome-wide association study (GWAS)-identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with four epigenetic clocks (HannumAge, HorvathAge, GrimAge, and PhenoAge) were used to construct clock-specific PGSs. Logistic regression models were applied to assess associations between PGSs and HNSCC risk, while MR analyses, including inverse-variance weighted (IVW), weighted median, and MR-Egger methods, were used to infer potential causal relationships. Among the 48 epigenetic clock-associated SNPs, 12 showed nominal associations with HNSCC risk, and one variant (rs2275558 in PBX1) remained significant after Bonferroni correction (OR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.60-0.76). PGSs for all four epigenetic clocks were higher in cases than in controls. In logistic regression analyses, each standard deviation increase in HannumAge PGS was associated with a 25% higher risk of HNSCC (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.10-1.41), whereas HorvathAge, GrimAge, and PhenoAge PGSs showed weaker positive associations (ORs ranging from 1.06 to 1.10). Individuals in the highest PGS quartile for all four epigenetic clocks exhibiting 14%-25% higher risk than those in the lower three quartiles. MR analyses supported potential causal effects of genetically predicted HannumAge (IVW OR = 1.24 per SD increase, 95% CI: 1.09-1.42) and GrimAge (IVW OR = 1.23 per SD increase, 95% CI: 0.98-1.56) on HNSCC risk, with consistent estimates in weighted median analyses. Our results highlight biological aging as a potential etiologic mechanism for HNSCC and suggest that epigenetic clock-related genetic profiles may improve HNSCC risk stratification.

Humans↗

Detecting uber-operons in prokaryotic genomes.

We present a study on computational identification of uber-operons in a prokaryotic genome, each of which represents a group of operons that are evolutionarily or functionally associated through operons in other (reference) genomes. Uber-operons represent a rich set of footprints of operon evolution, whose full utilization could lead to new and more powerful tools for elucidation of biological pathways and networks than what operons have provided, and a better understanding of prokaryotic genome structures and evolution. Our prediction algorithm predicts uber-operons through identifying groups of functionally or transcriptionally related operons, whose gene sets are conserved across the target and multiple reference genomes. Using this algorithm, we have predicted uber-operons for each of a group of 91 genomes, using the other 90 genomes as references. In particular, we predicted 158 uber-operons in Escherichia coli K12 covering 1830 genes, and found that many of the uber-operons correspond to parts of known regulons or biological pathways or are involved in highly related biological processes based on their Gene Ontology (GO) assignments. For some of the predicted uber-operons that are not parts of known regulons or pathways, our analyses indicate that their genes are highly likely to work together in the same biological processes, suggesting the possibility of new regulons and pathways. We believe that our uber-operon prediction provides a highly useful capability and a rich information source for elucidation of complex biological processes, such as pathways in microbes. All the prediction results are available at our Uber-Operon Database: http://csbl.bmb.uga.edu/uber, the first of its kind.

Algorithms↗

MDM2 gene promoter polymorphisms and risk of lung cancer: a case-control analysis.

The MDM2 protein negatively regulates p53 expression level in modulating DNA repair, cell-cycle control, cell growth and apoptosis. Polymorphisms in the promoter region of the MDM2 gene have been shown to alter protein expression and may, thus, play a role in carcinogenesis. To test our hypothesis that the MDM2 promoter polymorphisms are associated with risk of lung cancer, we conducted a hospital-based, case-control study of 1026 non-Hispanic white patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer and 1145 cancer-free controls who were frequency-matched by age (+/-5 years), sex, ethnicity and smoking status. We genotyped for the MDM2 promoter G2580T (also called SNP309) and G2164A polymorphisms that have a minor allele frequency >0.05. The distributions of the MDM2-2580G variant allele and genotypes were significantly less common among the cases than among the controls (P = 0.038 and 0.045, respectively), but this was not evident for MDM2-2164G (P = 0.865 and 0.614, respectively). Compared with the MDM2-2580TT genotype, the MDM2-2580G variant genotypes were associated with a decreased risk of lung cancer [odds ratio = 0.81 and 95% confidence interval = 0.67-0.98 for GT, 0.83 (0.63-1.08) for GG, and 0.81 (0.68-0.97) for the combined GT/GG genotype]. However, no significant association was observed between the MDM2-2164G variant genotypes and lung cancer risk. Our results suggest that the MDM2-2580G allele may be a marker of reduced genetic susceptibility to lung cancer in the non-Hispanic white population, a finding that seems to contradict previous reports.

Adult↗

Identification and characterization of the human retinoid X receptor alpha gene promoter.

Retinoid X receptors (RXRs) comprise a family of nuclear retinoid activated transcription factors that are members of the steroid hormone receptor superfamily. RXRs are obligate heterodimerization partners with several other hormone receptor family members, making them critical mediators of a wide range of signaling pathways. Retinoids have been used successfully for the prevention of a number of epithelial cancers, including skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The reduced expression levels of retinoid receptors including RXRalpha, the predominant RXR expressed in skin, is associated with malignancy in skin SCC. In order to study the regulation of RXRalpha in skin SCC carcinogenesis we have previously mapped the majority of the human RXRalpha gene. In the present study we have identified its first exon and promoter region. Exon 1, which contains the translation start site, is located in a highly G+C rich region of the genome at least 58 kb centromeric from exon 2. The promoter region itself is unusually G+C rich (75% G+C in 1200 bp of upstream sequence), has 17 putative SP1 transcription factor binding sites and no TATA or CAAT boxes. Transient transfection experiments with RXRalpha promoter-luciferase reporter constructs in SRB12-p9 skin SCC cells, as well as with PC3 prostate carcinoma cells, revealed that RXRalpha transcription is relatively weak compared to the positive control thymidine kinase (TK) promoter and is stimulated by treatment with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), the biologically active form of vitamin A. These results indicate that the RXRalpha gene is transcribed at stable levels, similar to most housekeeping genes, and its transcription is regulated by ATRA. In addition, the 5' untranslated region of RXRalpha is highly G+C rich, resulting in a potentially stable folding pattern, that would place RXRalpha amongst a group of genes that are subject to regulation at the translational level.

Animals↗

Nutritional support treatment for severe chronic hepatitis and posthepatitic cirrhosis.

The therapeutic effectiveness of nutritional support in the treatment of severe chronic hepatitis and posthepatitic cirrhosis was evaluated. 143 patients with severe chronic hepatitis and 83 with posthepatitic cirrhosis were evaluated with SGA for assessing the nutritional status before the treatment. Patients with severe chronic hepatitis were divided into three groups: group A subject to enteral nutrition (EN) and parenteral nutrition (PN), group B subject to comprehensive treatment (CT)+PN; group C subject to CT+EN. The patients with posthepatitic cirrhosis were divided into two groups: group D receiving CT and group E receiving CT+PN+EN. The function of liver and kidney and nutritional status were monitored to assess the therapy in 6 weeks. The results showed before treatment, over 90 % patients had moderate to severe malnutrition. After nutritional support, the liver function (ALT, T-bil) and nutritional status (TP, TC) in group A was improved significantly as compared with that in groups B and C (P<0.05). Compared with group D, the values of TP and Alb were increased significantly in group E (P<0.05), but the levels of ALT, AST and T-bil had no obvious change. It was suggested that most patients with severe chronic hepatitis or posthepatitic cirrhosis had malnutrition to varying degrees. The nutritional support treatment could obviously improve the nutritional status of these patients, and was helpful to ameliorate the liver function of the patients with severe chronic hepatitis. Among the methods of nutritional support treatment, PN combined with EN had the best effectiveness.

Adolescent↗

The role of human papillomavirus in squamous carcinoma of the head and neck.

Human papillomavirus type-16 infection is associated with a significant portion of squamous carcinoma of the head and neck, particularly for the oropharynx and for those lacking the other risk factors of tobacco and alcohol. The link between human papillomavirus type-16 and carcinoma of the oropharynx is based on the identification of human papillomavirus type-16 in oropharyngeal tumors and the association of human papillomavirus type-16 with the risk of oropharyngeal cancer estimated in case-control epidemiologic studies. This review highlights the molecular mechanism of human papillomavirus carcinogenesis and the association of human papillomavirus type-16 as a risk factor for squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx as well as recent research efforts utilizing human papillomavirus as a biomarker of clinical outcomes.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Combined effects of the p53 and p73 polymorphisms on lung cancer risk.

Lung cancer is a multigenic disease where one variant single nucleotide polymorphism may have only a modest independent effect on the disease phenotype, yet in aggregate, multiple biologically relevant single nucleotide polymorphisms may provide a more accurate representation of risk. Polymorphisms in members of the p53 family, such as p53 and p73, that have a functional relevance would be predicted to contribute to the disease phenotype. In this analysis, we used genotype data from 863 lung cancer cases and 852 healthy controls to test for multigenetic effects of polymorphisms at p53 exon 4, introns 3 and 6, and at p73 exon 2. All individuals in this analysis were self-reported non-Hispanic Caucasians. When the p73 and p53 variant alleles were combined and analyzed as a continuous variable, there was a 13% increase [odds ratios (OR), 1.13; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 1.05-1.21] in lung cancer risk for each additional variant allele. Furthermore, when the number of variant alleles was categorized into three groups (zero, one to three, and four or more variants), there was evidence of a gene-dosage effect with increased risks for individuals with one to three variants (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.05-1.61) and four or more variants (OR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.23-2.56). When the data were stratified by smoking status, an increased risk for lung cancer was evident only in current (OR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.25-4.33) and former smokers (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.02-2.94) with four or more variants. Younger individuals with four or more variants were also at a significantly increased risk for lung cancer (OR, 3.15; 95% CI, 1.62-6.12). This study provides support for the multigenetic effects of variant alleles from p53 exon 4, and introns 3 and 6, and p73, and their interplay with smoking, resulting in a significantly increased risk for lung cancer in this Caucasian population.

Aged↗

Genetic polymorphisms of p21 are associated with risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

The p21 (Waf1/Cip1/CDKN1A) protein regulates the transition from the G1 to the S phase and has an important role in modulating cell-cycle control, apoptosis and cell growth. Two polymorphisms of the p21 gene at codon 31 (p21 C98A, dbSNP rs1801270) and at the 3' untranslated region (p21 T70C, dbSNP rs1059234) may have an effect on the protein function and may thus play a role in the development of cancer. We hypothesized that these two p21 polymorphisms are associated with the risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). We tested this hypothesis in a hospital-based case-control study of 712 patients newly diagnosed with SCCHN and 1222 cancer-free controls who were frequency-matched by age, sex and ethnicity. All subjects were non-Hispanic whites. Our results showed that the variant alleles and genotypes were more common among cases than among controls (P < 0.001 and P = 0.013 for p21C70T, and P < 0.001 and P = 0.035 for p21C98A, respectively). Compared with the p21 70CC genotype, there was a significantly greater risk of SCCHN associated with the variant p21 70TC [odds ratio (OR) = 1.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.12-1.93] and combined p21 70TC/TT (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.14-1.95) genotypes. Similarly, compared with the p21 98CC genotype, there was also a significantly greater SCCHN risk associated with the variant p21 98AC (OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.00-1.73) and combined p21 98AC/AA (OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.05-1.79) genotypes. When these two polymorphisms were evaluated together by the number of risk alleles, there was a significant increase in SCCHN risk that was dependent on the number of risk alleles (P(trend) = 0.001). Our results suggest that the presence of these two p21 polymorphisms may be a marker of genetic susceptibility to SCCHN.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

Polymorphisms of methionine synthase and methionine synthase reductase and risk of lung cancer: a case-control analysis.

Although tobacco is the major lung cancer risk factor, folate deficiency has also been implicated as a risk. Methionine synthase (MS; gene symbol, MTR) and methionine synthase reductase (MSR; gene symbol, MTRR) play important roles in the folate metabolism pathway. It was hypothesized that polymorphisms of MTR and MTRR are associated with lung cancer risk and interact with dietary intake of folate-related nutrients in lung cancer etiology. In a hospital-based, case-control study of 1,035 lung cancer cases and 1,148 controls of non-Hispanic whites, frequency matched by age, sex, ethnicity and smoking status, the MTR 2756A>G and MTRR 66A>G polymorphisms were genotyped. It was found that the MTRRG allele was associated with a significantly increased lung cancer risk [adjusted odd ratio (OR)=1.34, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.06-1.70 for the AG genotype and OR=1.39, 95% CI=1.08-1.78 for the GG genotype compared to the AA genotype]. Further analysis suggested some evidence of gene-diet interactions between the MTRR 66A>G polymorphism and dietary intake of total folate and vitamin B12. When the two polymorphisms were evaluated together by the number of the variant alleles (i.e. the MTR2756G and MTRR66A), lung cancer risk was significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner (Ptrend=0.045). The risk of lung cancer was 1.29 (0.98-1.69) for one variant allele, and 1.36 (1.04-1.77) for two or more variant alleles compared to the wild-type (0 variant allele) genotype. In conclusion, our data provide evidence supporting the association between the MTR 2756A>G and MTRR 66A>G polymorphisms and lung cancer risk, which may be modulated by dietary nutrient intake.

5-Methyltetrahydrofolate-Homocysteine S-Methyltran↗

RET polymorphisms and haplotypes and risk of differentiated thyroid cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether common (allele frequencies > 5%) single nucleotide polymorphisms located in exons 2, 7, 11, 13, 14, and 15 of the RET proto-oncogene are associated with risk of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). STUDY DESIGN: Hospital-based case-control study. METHODS: Patients with DTC or benign thyroid disease (BTD) were frequency matched with cancer-free controls on age and sex. Only non-Hispanic whites were included to avoid racial confounding. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment-length polymorphism assays were used for genotyping. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Haplotype distributions were estimated using Bayesian analyses. RESULTS: DTC cases and controls had similar rates of tobacco, alcohol, and radiation exposure. The genotype distributions were similar between DTC cases (n = 101) and controls (n = 174) except for RET 7 and RET 14 (P = .003 and P = .047, respectively) and between BTD cases (n = 62) and controls except for RET 14 (borderline; P = .064). Polymorphic allele frequencies were similar between the cases and controls except for RET 14 (borderline; P = .051 and P = .068 for DTC and BTD, respectively). The RET 7 heterozygous polymorphic genotype was associated with a significantly increased risk of DTC after multivariate adjustment (OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.2-3.4, P = .012). Compared with the most common haplotype (GGGTCC), no RET haplotype was associated with a significantly increased risk of DTC. CONCLUSIONS: Exon 7 (and possibly 14) polymorphism of RET may be associated with increased risk of DTC. However, the sample size is relatively small, and larger investigations are needed.

Female↗

Sex differences in risk of lung cancer associated with methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphisms.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) catalyzes the metabolism of folate and nucleotides needed for DNA synthesis and repair. Variations in MTHFR functions likely play roles in the etiology of lung cancer. The MTHFR gene has three nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (i.e., C677T, A1298C, and G1793A) that have a minor allele frequency of >5%. We investigated the associations between the frequencies of MTHFR variant genotypes and risk of lung cancer in a hospital-based case-control study of 1,051 lung cancer patients and 1,141 cancer-free controls in a non-Hispanic White population. We found that compared with the MTHFR 1298AA genotype, the 1298CC genotype was associated with a significantly increased risk of lung cancer in women [(odds ratio (OR), 2.09; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.32-3.29)] but not in men (OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.62-1.45). The MTHFR 677TT genotype was associated with a significantly decreased risk of lung cancer in women (OR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.40-0.92) but not in men. No association was found between the MTHFR G1793A polymorphism and risk of lung cancer. Further analysis suggested evidence of gene-dietary interactions between the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and dietary intake of vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and methionine in women and evidence of gene-environment interactions between the MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms and tobacco smoking in men. In conclusion, the polymorphisms of MTHFR may contribute to the risk of lung cancer in non-Hispanic Whites and modify the risk associated with the dietary and environmental exposure in a sex-specific manner.

Aged↗

Case-control analysis of thymidylate synthase polymorphisms and risk of lung cancer.

Although tobacco smoking is the primary risk factor for lung cancer, low dietary folate intake and suboptimal DNA repair capacity also contribute to lung cancer risk. Thymidylate synthase (TYMS) is involved in the metabolism of folate and the provision of nucleotides needed for DNA synthesis and repair. Thus, a variation in TYMS functions likely plays a role in the etiology of lung cancer. The TYMS gene has a tandem repeat polymorphism (two or three 28 bp) in the TYMS enhancer region (TSER) and a 6 bp deletion/insertion polymorphism in the TS 3'-untranslated region (TS3'UTR or 1494del6). We investigated the frequencies of these two polymorphisms in a hospital-based case-control study of 1055 lung cancer patients and 1140 cancer-free controls in a non-Hispanic white population and genotyped for these two polymorphisms. We found that the TS3'UTR, but not the TSER, variant was associated with the risk of lung cancer. Compared with homozygotes for the TS3'UTR 6 bp deletion (0bp/0bp), the 6bp/0bp+6bp/6bp genotypes were associated with a significantly increased risk of lung cancer [odds ratio (OR) = 1.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.12-2.06]. In stratification analysis the risk associated with the 0bp/6bp+6bp/6bp genotype was more pronounced in subjects who were >55 years old (OR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.10-2.23), males (OR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.22-2.89), current (OR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.26-3.29) and heavy smokers (OR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.10-2.70) and current drinkers (OR = 3.17, 95% CI = 1.78-5.64).Furthermore, significant gene-dietary interactions were found between TS3'UTR and alcohol consumption and between TSER and vitamin B(12) intake. In conclusion, the polymorphisms of TYMS are likely to contribute to the risk of lung cancer in non-Hispanic whites and interact with dietary factors in lung cancer development.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

p73 G4C14-to-A4T14 polymorphism and risk of lung cancer.

Genetic variants in genes controlling cellular processes such as cell cycle, DNA repair, and apoptosis may modulate lung cancer risk. p73 has some p53-like activity and plays an important role in modulating these processes. The noncoding region of exon 2 of the p73 gene has two polymorphisms that are in complete linkage disequilibrium with one another, which may alter translation efficiency of the p73 protein. To test the hypothesis that this p73 polymorphism plays a role in the etiology of lung cancer, we conducted a hospital-based case-control study of 1054 patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer and 1139 cancer-free controls and evaluated the association between the p73 variant AT allele and risk of lung cancer. Cancer-free controls were frequency matched to the cases by age (+/-5 years), sex, and smoking status, and all subjects were non-Hispanic whites. The variant AT allele and genotypes were more common among the cases than among the controls (P = 0.0007 and P < 0.001, respectively). Compared with the GC/GC genotype, the variant GC/AT and AT/AT genotypes were associated with a statistically significantly increased risk for lung cancer [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.32, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.10-1.59 and OR = 1.54, 95% CI, 1.05-2.26, respectively] in an allele dose-effect relationship (trend test: P < 0.001). The risk associated with the AT allele (GC/AT+AT/AT) was more pronounced in younger (</=50 years) individuals (OR = 1.53, 95% CI, 1.00-2.37), men (OR = 1.61, 95% CI, 1.26-2.06), light smokers (OR = 1.58, 95% CI, 1.17-2.14), and squamous cell lung carcinoma (OR = 1.79, 95% CI, 1.32-2.42). These results suggest that this p73 polymorphism may be a marker for susceptibility to lung cancer.

Adult↗

Association between the V109G polymorphism of the p27 gene and the risk and progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Abnormalities in p27 may alter cell cycle delay required for DNA repair after exposure to carcinogens. A coding exon 1 polymorphism at codon 109 (T-->G) in p27 was identified and thought to have an effect on the functions of its protein. We hypothesized that this p27 T109G polymorphism is associated with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) risk. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We tested this hypothesis in a hospital-based case-control study of 713 patients newly diagnosed with SCCHN and 1224 cancer-free controls frequency matched to the cases by age (+/-5 years), sex, and smoking status. All subjects were non-Hispanic whites. We genotyped for this p27 variant using genomic DNA from each subject. RESULTS: Compared with the p27 109VV variant, the p27 109GG variant was associated with a nonsignificantly increased risk of SCCHN [crude odds ratio (OR) = 1.29; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.88-1.90; adjusted OR = 1.20; 95% CI = 0.81-1.77], but the risk was statistically significant among men (adjusted OR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.00-2.42), current alcohol users (adjusted OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.01-2.82), and patients with oral cavity cancer (adjusted OR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.03-3.04). The p27 109GG variant was also associated with oral tumor overall stage, suggesting that it may play a role in tumor progression. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the p27 109GG variant genotype may not play a major role in the etiology of SCCHN but may be associated with an increased risk in at-risk subgroups or subsets of SCCHN, particularly oral cavity cancer and possibly tumor progression. Larger studies with oral squamous cell carcinoma are needed to verify these findings.

Adolescent↗

Association of a p73 exon 2 G4C14-to-A4T14 polymorphism with risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

p73, a novel p53 homolog, has some p53-like activity and plays an important role in modulating cell-cycle control, apoptosis and cell growth. p73 regulates differentiation of head and neck squamous epithelium, and changes in p73 may lead to the development of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Two linked non-coding exon 2 polymorphisms (designated as G4C14-to-A4T14) were identified recently but their functional relevance is unknown. We hypothesized that this p73 polymorphism plays a role in the etiology of SCCHN. Therefore, in this hospital-based case-control study of 708 patients newly diagnosed with SCCHN and 1229 cancer-free controls, we evaluated the association between the p73 AT variant allele and risk of SCCHN. The controls were frequency-matched to the cases by age (+/-5 years), sex and smoking status, and all subjects were non-Hispanic whites. Our results showed that the frequencies of variant AT allele and genotypes were more common in the cases than in the controls (P = 0.029 and P = 0.009, respectively). Compared with the GC/GC genotype, the variant genotypes (GC/AT + AT/AT) were associated with a statistically significantly increased risk for SCCHN [odds ratio (OR) = 1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.10-1.60]. Further stratification analyses by age, sex, smoking and alcohol status and by cancer sites within the head and neck region indicated that this significantly increased risk was more pronounced in younger (< or =50 years) individuals (adjusted OR = 1.70; 95% CI, 1.19-2.43), women (1.61; 1.09-2.37), current smokers (1.77; 1.25-2.51) and patients with oral cancer (1.54; 1.15-2.07). Our results suggest that this p73 polymorphism may be a risk marker for genetic susceptibility to SCCHN.

Adolescent↗

[Effects of manganese with different valences to apoptosis of SH-SY5Y cell].

To study the effect of manganese with different valences to apoptosis, human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y) has been chosen to study the induction of Mn2+ and Mn3+ on apoptosis and the content of dopamine in vitro. The results showed that both Mn2+ and Mn3+ induced a time-dependent decrease in SH-SY5Y cell viability, as determined by MMT assay. In the meantime, apoptosis was inducted by flow cytometer analysis (FCAS) after culture of Mn2+ or Mn3+ (0.5-2 mmol/L) with SH-SY5Y cell for 24-72 h. The ultrastructural changes of apoptosis such as nuclear chromosome condensation, was seen by transmission electron microscope. In addition, DA content was decreased by measured with HPLC. The major path of cell death induced by Mn2+ and Mn3+ may be due to apoptosis. Both Mn2+ and Mn3+ could induce the reduction of DA content. All these results suggest that Mn3+ appeared to be more cytotoxic than Mn2+.

Apoptosis↗