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Biomedical subjects

Wenfu Lu

Publications and source records attributed to Wenfu Lu.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

A functional polymorphism in the matrix metalloproteinase-2 gene promoter (-1306C/T) is associated with risk of development but not metastasis of gastric cardia adenocarcinoma.

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) has been shown to play an importantrole in multiple ways to all stages of cancer initiation and development.We have reported previously a strong association between a functional single nucleotide polymorphism (-1306C/T) in the MMP2 promoter and risk of lung cancer (C. Yu et al., Cancer Res., 62: 6430-6433, 2002). This case control study was to assess the contribution of this MMP2 polymorphism to risk of development and metastasis of gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA). MMP2 genotypes were determined by PCR-based denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography analysis and direct DNA sequencing in 356 patients with GCA and 789 frequency-matched controls in an ethnic Chinese population. We found that subjects with the CC genotype had >3-fold increased risk [adjusted odds ratio 3.36, 95% confidence interval 2.34-4.97] for developing GCA compared with those with the variant CT or TT genotype. Furthermore, the increased risk was found to be more pronounced in smokers and younger subjects. However, no significant association was demonstrated between the MMP2 polymorphism and risk of metastasis of the cancer at the time of diagnosis, with the odds ratio being 0.90 (95% confidence interval 0.36-2.20) for the CC genotype. These findings are consistent with our initial observation for lung cancer and further support the hypothesis that MMP2 genotype may influence individual susceptibility to the development of certain cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2003

Sequence variations in the DNA repair gene XPD and risk of lung cancer in a Chinese population.

Variation in DNA repair capacity, which is believed to be largely determined by genetic traits, is linked to risk of certain cancers. The Asp312Asn and Lys751Gln polymorphisms in the xeroderma pigmentosum complementary group D (XPD) gene may alter DNA repair capacity. We thus examined the hypothesis that these 2 XPD polymorphisms are associated with risk of lung cancer via a large hospital-based, case-control study among Chinese. The study subjects consisted of 1,006 patients with primary lung cancer and 1,020 age- and sex-matched population controls. XPD genotypes were determined using PCR-RFLP techniques, and the associations between genotypes and risk of lung cancer were estimated by odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) calculated by unconditional logistic regression. Subjects homozygous for the 312Asn/Asn genotype had an increased risk of lung cancer (adjusted OR = 10.33, 95% CI = 1.29-82.50) compared with subjects homozygous for the 312Asp/Asp genotype. The 751Gln/Gln genotype was also associated with increased risk for the cancer compared with the 751Lys/Lys genotype (adjusted OR = 2.71, 95% CI = 1.01-7.24). Stratification analysis revealed that the increased risk was mainly confined to lung squamous cell carcinoma, with the ORs being 20.50 (95% CI = 2.25-179.05) for the 312Asn/Asn genotype and 4.24 (95% CI = 1.34-13.38) for the 751Gln/Gln genotype, respectively. Haplotype analysis with the 2 polymorphisms suggested these polymorphisms might be in linkage disequilibrium with a different causative locus or act together with other functional variants in or close to the XPD locus.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Inactivation of DNA repair gene O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase by promoter hypermethylation and its relation to p53 mutations in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

The development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has been linked to exposure to carcinogens such as nitrosamines that cause various alkyl DNA damages and O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is a primary defence against alkylation-induced mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. This study was to investigate the role of inactivation of MGMT by promoter hypermethylation and its relation to p53 mutations in ESCC. Methylation of MGMT promoter was determined by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction in 119 ESCC specimens, 22 corresponding tissue samples adjacent to the tumors, and 21 normal epithelial specimens of the esophagus. The levels of MGMT protein in ESCC with methylated or unmethylated MGMT were analyzed by quantitative immunohistochemistry. Mutations of p53 in 119 ESCC were detected by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography and sequencing. We found that all 21 normal esophageal tissues had unmethylated MGMT; however, among 119 ESCC, 46 (38.7%) had hypermethylated MGMT. This epigenetic change also occurred in some normal tissues adjacent to the tumors. The level of MGMT protein in MGMT-methylated ESCC was significantly lower than that in MGMT-unmethylated ESCC, whereas great inter-individual variation and poor expression was also observed among MGMT-unmethylated ESCC. Fifty-one percent (61/119) ESCC showed p53 mutations but the distribution of the mutations did not differ significantly between MGMT-methylated ESCC (44%) and MGMT-unmethylated ESCC (56.2%; P = 0.18). MGMT promoter hypermethylation was neither associated with overall G:C to A:T mutations nor associated with this type of mutations in non-CpG dinucleotides in p53. Our results demonstrate that inactivation of MGMT by aberrant promoter methylation is a frequent molecular event in ESCC. This epigenetic alteration is an important, but may not be the sole, mechanism leading to the impaired expression of MGMT. Aberrant MGMT methylation seemed not to be associated with overall frequency and spectrum of p53 mutations in ESCC.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed2002

Genetic polymorphism in myeloperoxidase but not GSTM1 is associated with risk of lung squamous cell carcinoma in a Chinese population.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO), an enzyme derived from neutrophils, metabolically activates a wide range of carcinogens, whereas glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) detoxifies various electrophilic metabolites. A -463G-->A polymorphism in the promoter region of the MPO gene diminishes the expression of MPO and has been consistently shown to be associated with reduced risk of lung cancer in different ethnic populations. In our study, we have assessed the role of this polymorphism in lung cancer risk in a Chinese population. Genotypes of MPO and GSTM1 were determined by PCR-SSCP and multiplex PCR in 314 patients with lung cancer and 320 frequency-matched controls. The allele frequency for MPO -463A was found to be 0.155 in controls and 0.114 in cases. Subjects with the MPO -463GG genotype were at an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lung compared to those having at least one -463A variant allele (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.35; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.40-3.94). Stratified analysis suggested an interaction between heavy smoking (> or =26 pack-years) and the MPO-463GG genotype. The adjusted OR of lung SCC for those having MPO-463GG genotype and smoked > or =26 pack-years was 20.50 (95% CI 5.58-75.33) compared to 6.22 (95% CI 1.72-22.47) for those smoked > or =26 pack-years but having at least one variant A allele (p = 0.023, test for homogeneity). This effect of the MPO polymorphism was not observed in lung adenocarcinoma. GSTM1 deletion was quite common in both controls (49.4%) and cases (50.3%) but was not associated with risk of lung cancer alone or in combination with the MPO polymorphism. Our results confirm the previous reports showing that the variant A allele of MPO has a protective effect against risk of lung cancer.

Alleles↗
PubMed2002

Polymorphisms of DNA repair genes XRCC1 and XPD and their associations with risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in a Chinese population.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), which is prevalent in China, is believed to be induced by environmental carcinogens. Accumulating evidence has shown that individual variation in DNA repair capacity resulting from genetic polymorphism influences risk of environmental carcinogenesis. We therefore investigated the associations between genetic polymorphisms in the DNA repair genes XRCC1 (Arg194Trp and Arg399Gln) and XPD (Asp312Asn and Lys751Gln) and risk of ESCC in an at-risk Chinese population. Genotypes were determined by a PCR-based approach in 433 patients with ESCC and 524 frequency-matched normal controls. We found that individuals with Trp/Trp genotype at XRCC1 Arg194Trp site had a 2-fold increased risk of this disease compared to Arg/Arg genotype (adjusted OR = 1.98; 95% CI 1.26-3.12). Furthermore, when compared to Arg/Arg and Arg/Trp genotype combined, homozygote for Trp/Trp genotype significantly increased the risk of developing ESCC, with the adjusted OR being 2.07 (95% CI 1.34-3.20). However, the XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism was not significantly associated with risk of ESCC, with the adjusted OR being 0.87 (95% CI 0.55-1.37). Neither Asp312Asn nor Lys751Gln polymorphisms in the XPD gene influenced risk of ESCC in our study. These findings suggest that DNA repair gene XRCC1 but not XPD might play a role in esophageal carcinogenesis and might represent a genetic determinant in the development of the cancer.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2002

Protective effects of atypical antipsychotic drugs on PC12 cells after serum withdrawal.

Atypical antipsychotic drugs are widely used in the treatment of schizophrenia, and clinical evidence has shown that early and prolonged intervention with these drugs will improve the long-term outcome. It is still unclear, however, whether the atypical antipsychotic drugs are also neuroprotective. To clarify this matter, we used PC12 cell cultures and the MTT assay for cell viability to determine whether various concentrations of the atypical antipsychotics clozapine, quetiapine, and risperidone are neuroprotective after serum withdrawal. In addition, to explore the drugs' actions, Northern blot was used to examine the gene expression of SOD1 (Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase) and p75NTR (p75 neurotrophin receptor). The results demonstrated that 1) the antipsychotic drugs can protect PC12 cells from death after serum withdrawal; cell viability in these drug treatment groups is significantly different from that in the groups without serum in the medium (P < 0.01); and 2) these drugs up-regulated the SOD1 gene expression to more than 120% (P < 0.05) and also down-regulated p75NTR mRNA levels to less than 65% of their respective control values (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that the atypical antipsychotics clozapine, quetiapine, and risperidone may exert a neuroprotective function through the modulation of SOD1 and p75NTR expression.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

[Single nucleotide polymorphisms in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene and susceptibility to cancer of the gastric cardia in Chinese population].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between genetic polymorphisms in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), a central enzyme in folate metabolism that affects DNA methylation and synthesis, and the risk of adenocarcinoma of the gastric cardia (AGC). METHODS: Genomic DNA was isolated from the peripheral lymphocytes of 205 patients with AGC and 360 age-and-sex-matched control subjects. Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism were used to examine the polymorphisms of MTHFR genes C6677T and A1298C and the relation between these genotypes and risk of AGC was analyzed. RESULTS: The genotype frequency of MTHFR C677CC was 35.0% among the controls and was 20.5% among the AGC patients; the genotype frequency of 677CT was 47.8% among the controls and 50.7% among the AGC patients, and the genotype frequency of 677TT was 17.2% among the controls and 28.8% among the AGC patients % (chi(2) = 17.63, P = 0.0002). The individuals with 677CT genotype or 677TT genotype had a 1.76-fold [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.13 - 2.76] or 2.97-fold (95% CI, 1.75 - 5.05) increased risk of developing AGC compared with those who had 677CC genotype. The distribution of MTHFR A1298C genotype was not significantly different between the two groups (chi(2) = 0.08, P = 0.96). The value of odd ratio (OR) in the individuals with 677CT//1298AA genotype (95% CI, 1.48 approximately 6.48), and the value of OR in the individuals with 677CT/1298CC genotype was 17.00 (95% CI, 1.26 approximately infinity; P = 0.042). CONCLUSION: Single nucleotide polymorphism in the MTHFR gene is a risk factor of carcinogenesis of AGC in the Chinese population. Although the MTHFR A1298C polymorphism was not associated with AGC, The risk of developing AGC in the individuals with MTHFR677CT/1298CC was 17 times higher than that in the individuals with MTHFR677CC/1298AA, thus showing that a joint effect exists between the MTHFR 677 and 1298 polymorphisms on the risk of AGC.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2002

Quetiapine attenuates the immobilization stress-induced decrease of brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in rat hippocampus.

Quetiapine is a new atypical antipsychotic drug widely used in the treatment of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. This study examined the influence of quetiapine on the decrease of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression, induced by chronic immobilization stress, in the hippocampus of the rat. Pretreatment with 10 mg/kg of quetiapine markedly attenuated the stress-induced decrease in levels of BDNF protein, as determined by Western blot analyses, and the reduction of BDNF immunoreactivity, in hippocampal pyramidal and dentate granular neurons. These results suggest that the chronic administration of quetiapine could be neuroprotective to hippocampal neurons in schizophrenia and this effect may be related to its antipsychotic effect in patients with schizophrenia.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Susceptibility to gastric cardia adenocarcinoma and genetic polymorphisms in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase in an at-risk Chinese population.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) plays a centralrole in converting folate to methyl donor for DNA methylation, an epigenetic modification known to be dysregulated in carcinogenesis. Our previous study revealed that MTHFR polymorphisms contribute to a great risk of esophageal cancer in a Chinese population. This case-control study was to examine the association between MTHFR polymorphisms and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA), which is also prevalent in high-risk areas of esophageal cancer and thus may share common etiological factors with esophageal cancer in this population. The study subjects were 217 patients with GCA and 468 population controls matched on sex and age. The MTHFR C677T and A1298C genotypes were detected by a PCR-based RFLP assay. It was found that subjects with the MTHFR 677TT variant genotype had a 2-fold increased risk of GCA (odds ratio, 2.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.28-3.26). Moreover, a significantly elevated risk was also seen among the MTHFR 677CT heterozygotes (odds ratio, 1.56; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-2.36). The MTHFR A1298C polymorphism had no effect on risk of GCA. These findings are generally consistent with our initial observation for esophageal cancer and suggest that the MTHFR genotype may be a determinant of GCA among this at-risk Chinese population.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2002

[Lung cancer risk associated with genetic polymorphism in myeloperoxidase (-463 G/A) in a Chinese population].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between susceptibility to lung cancer among Chinese and genetic polymorphism at nucleotide -463 (G/A) in myeloperoxidase (MPO), an enzyme found in lysosomes of phagocytes and involved in the formation of hydroxyl radicals and activation of various smoking-related carcinogens. METHODS: The association of this polymorphism with lung cancer in a hospital-based case-control study of 314 patients and 320 age- and sex-matched controls was tested. The MPO genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP). RESULTS: The allele frequency for MPO-463A was found to be 11.0% for controls, compared with 15.0% for patients. Multivariate analysis showed an increased risk for overall lung cancer in subjects having GG genotype (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2 - 2.5), however, the elevated risk was limited to squamous cell carcinoma (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.4 - 3.9; n = 177) but not to adenocarcinoma (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.8 - 2.1; n = 137). In addition, the risky effect of the GG genotype on squamous cell carcinoma of the lung was evident only in the smokers and those who smoked >/= 26 pack-years (OR, 20.5; 95% CI, 5.6 - 75.3) as compared with GA and AA genotypes (OR, 6.2; 95% CI, 1.7 - 22.5) but not in the nonsmokers or those who smoked < 26 pack-years. CONCLUSION: Our data support the hypothesis that -463A polymorphism in the MPO gene may reduce the susceptibility to lung cancer in the Chinese.

Asian People↗