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Polymorphic structure of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) locus: an NcoI polymorphism in the first intron of the human TNF-beta gene correlates with a variant amino acid in position 26 and a reduced level of TNF-beta production.

Since a dysregulated synthesis of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) may be involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, it was of interest to precisely locate the recently reported NcoI restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the TNF-alpha region. However, by mapping of 56.8 kb of overlapping cosmid clones and direct sequencing, we could localize the polymorphic NcoI restriction site within the first intron of the TNF-beta gene and not in the TNF-alpha gene. To study whether regulatory mechanisms are affected by this polymorphism, we analyzed the TNF-alpha/TNF-beta production of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells of individuals homozygous for the TNF-beta NcoI RFLP by ELISA and concomitant Northern blot analysis. On days 2-4 after stimulation with mitogen, the TNFB*1 allele corresponding to a 5.3-kb NcoI fragment presented with a significantly higher TNF-beta response. A mRNA analysis demonstrated that higher protein levels of TNF-beta correlate also with increased amounts of TNF-beta transcripts. No allelic association was found in respect to TNF-alpha production. To further investigate a possible allelic influence on transcription, we determined the DNA sequence of 2 kb of the 5' portion of our cloned TNFB*2 allele and compared it with the available TNF-beta sequences. By computer-aided recognition motif search of DNA binding factors, we report putative binding sites conserved between mouse and man in the 5' flanking region as well as in intron 1 of the TNF-beta gene, found also in other cytokine promoter sequences. In addition, by polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing of 740 bp of the 5' part of TNF-beta of individuals typed homozygously for the NcoI RFLP, we could show that amino acid position 26 is conserved as asparagine in the TNFB*1 and as threonine in the TNFB*2 sequence. A previously reported, EcoRI RFLP in the 3' untranslated region of TNF-beta does not segregate with either of the two alleles. Thus, four TNFB alleles can be defined at the DNA level.

Alleles↗

Analysis and metaanalysis of two polymorphisms within the tyrosine hydroxylase gene in bipolar and unipolar affective disorders.

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of dopamine and noradrenaline. While positive associations between TH and bipolar affective disorder have been found in several studies, many studies have failed to reproduce these results. In order to clarify this situation, association studies of bipolar and unipolar affective disorder groups and metaanalyses of published data on the TH tetranucleotide repeat polymorphism were done. The association studies used the TH tetranucleotide repeat polymorphism in intron 1 and a PstI polymorphism at the 3' end of the gene. The study comprised 124 unrelated bipolar patients, 126 unipolar patients, and 242 controls. There was no significant association of either bipolar or unipolar affective disorder with the TH tetranucleotide repeat polymorphism. However, a weak association (chi2 = 3.946, 1 df, P = 0.047; odds ratio, allele 2 vs. allele 1 = 0.71 (95% CI, 0.51-0.996)) was observed in the unipolar sample with the TH-PstI polymorphism. Three metaanalyses of published data on the TH tetranucleotide repeat polymorphism in major affective disorder were performed: bipolar I + II vs. control using 583 cases and 745 controls; unipolar vs. control using 204 cases and 359 controls; and bipolar + unipolar vs. control using 846 cases and 823 controls. In each analysis there was no association of the TH tetranucleotide repeat polymorphism and affective disorder. These results do not support the tyrosine hydroxylase gene having a major role in the etiology of bipolar affective disorder. However, our data suggest that this locus should be examined in larger samples of unipolar affective disorder.

Adolescent↗

NURR1 promoter polymorphisms: Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, and personality traits.

We have previously identified mutations in exon three in NURR1 (NR4A2) in two patients with schizophrenia (SZ) and one patient with bipolar disease with psychotic symptoms. In the present study we analyzed the promoter region of NURR1 and identified five polymorphic sites: three were found to be in strong linkage disequilibrium with a previously identified polymorphic site in the sixth intron. One polymorphism of this haplotype and the two other independent polymorphisms were investigated for their possible association with SZ and Parkinson's disease (PD) by comparing their frequencies in a Swedish material consisting of 134 subjects with SZ and 207 matched controls and 108 subjects with PD and 125 matched controls. Exon 1 was also investigated in our Parkinson and control material but no variances were found. The distributions of the two most informative polymorphisms in the promoter were investigated in an American material as well consisting of 141 subjects with SZ and 139 matched controls. Furthermore, the identified markers were screened for association with putative endophenotypes of SZ in the Swedish material. The distribution of sequence variants among the Swedish controls matched for SZ was investigated with regard to personality. No significant genotype or allelic association of the three sequence variants with SZ or PD was found. Several comparisons regarding endophenotypes or personality indicated association at the 5% confidence level, although correction for multiple testing rendered none of these findings significant. We conclude that the identified polymorphic sites in the human NURR1 are unlikely to be involved in conferring susceptibility for SZ or PD in our patient material.

Adult↗

Effect of ecNOS polymorphisms and coronary artery disease upon exhaled nitric oxide.

Exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) is thought to arise principally from the airway epithelium. NO regulates smooth muscle tone, and abnormal activity of NO synthase has been implicated in coronary artery disease (CAD). Polymorphisms of endothelial constitutive NO synthase (ecNOS) may affect NO generation and be associated with CAD. It was hypothesised that a polymorphism, such as the ecNOS intron 4 polymorphism (ecNOS4a), affects the levels of eNO via airway epithelial NOS. eNO levels were measured in 53 patients with ischaemic chest pain who had previously been genotyped for ecNOS polymorphisms, with sample enrichment for the ecNOS4a allele. Subjects were also assessed for two other ecNOS polymorphisms (T-786C substitution in the promoter region, and G5557T in exon 7), variably associated with vascular disease. Those homozygous for the 'a' allele (ecNOS4a/a) had a lower mean eNO (9.0 ppb) than those who were heterozygous (ecNOS4a/b, 13.6 ppb), who in turn had a lower level than those homozygous for the wild-type ecNOS4b/b (16.1 ppb). No association of eNO levels was found with the other polymorphisms. Levels of eNO remained significantly lower in the ecNOSa/a subjects than in the ecNOSa/b and ecNOSb/b subjects, even when controlled for angiographic CAD, and smoking habit. In addition, all subjects with CAD had a significantly lower mean eNO (12.1 ppb) than subjects without angiographic CAD (19.9 ppb). In this selected population low levels of eNO were thus associated with presence of the ecNOS4a allele and also with CAD.

Administration, Oral↗

Variability in the serotonin transporter gene and increased risk for major depression with melancholia.

The serotonin transporter (SERT) gene is a particularly interesting candidate for genetic involvement in affective disorders owing to its role in both the regulation of serotonergic neurotransmission and the mechanism of action of many antidepressant drugs. In this study, variability in the SERT gene was analyzed for the first time in a sample of patients with major depression with melancholia (MDDM) in the context of a genetic association study. Two different polymorphisms of the SERT gene (17q11.1-17q12) were analyzed: a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism in intron 2, and a deletion/insertion polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) in the promoter region of the gene, the short variant of which (allele 484) reduces the transcriptional efficiency of the SERT gene. Our sample consisted of 74 unrelated subjects who strictly met DSM-IV criteria for MDDM and 84 healthy controls, all of Spanish origin. The analysis of haplotype distribution for both polymorphisms showed significant differences between cases and controls (log-likelihood ratio chi2=11.15, df=4, P=0.025). Moreover, when the frequencies of the 484-STin2.10 haplotype were considered in comparison with any other haplotype combination, a significant increase in this haplotype was found in patients with MDDM [z=2.53 (95% CI, 1.21-5.34), P=0.007]. According to these results, variability in the SERT gene has a small effect on liability to MDDM. Our findings are compatible with an additive effect of both the 484 low-activity allele and a mutation elsewhere within the transporter gene or a susceptibility locus nearby in linkage disequilibrium with the VNTR marker.

Carrier Proteins↗

Genes encoding for AP-2beta and the Serotonin Transporter are associated with the Personality Character Spiritual Acceptance.

In several twin studies the relative contribution of genetic factors for personality traits has amounted to figures between 40 and 60%. In the present study we investigated to which degree polymorphisms in the 5-HTT and AP-2beta genes are implicated in the neural processes involved in the formation of Temperament and Character traits, as estimated by Cloninger's TCI. Considering the background of previous reports, associations with the character Self-Transcendence and its sub-scale Spiritual Acceptance in particular, were of interest. A stratified random sample of 200 individuals (total population=5173), matched for age, gender and risk behaviors, from volunteering 16- and 19-year-old adolescents students in Sweden was investigated. Cloninger's TCI inventory was used for investigation of temperament and character traits. Blood samples were used for analyses of a promoter serotonin transporter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) and an intron 2 polymorphism in the transcription factor AP-2beta gene. Among boys individuals with presence of the short 5-HTTLPR genotype showed lower scores, whereas individuals with presence of the short AP-2beta genotype showed higher scores of personality character Self-Transcendence and its sub-scale Spiritual Acceptance. Among girls no effect of either genotype was found. Both among boys and girls, significant interactive effects were found between 5-HTTLPR and AP-2beta genotypes, with regard to Self-Transcendence and Spiritual acceptance. Boys and girls with the combination of presence of the short 5-HTTLPR, and homozygosity for the long AP-2beta genotype scored significantly lower on Self-Transcendence and Spiritual Acceptance.

Adolescent↗

[Diagnosis of hemophilia A by a combination of St14(DXS52) VNTR polymorphism and (CA)n repeat polymorphism within FVIII gene].

OBJECTIVE: To improve the accuracy and the diagnostic rate of gene diagnosis and prenatal gene diagnosis for hemophilia A (HA) families. METHODS: Linkage analysis was performed by using St14(DXS52) VNTR polymorphism and intron 13 (CA)n repeat polymorphism of the factor VIII gene among HA families for indirect diagnosis. RESULTS: The diagnostic rates using linkage analysis based upon one of the above mentioned two polymorphic loci among 9 HA families were 66.7% and 66.7%, respectively. The diagnostic rate rose to 88.9% by using a combination of the two polymorphic loci. Prenatal gene diagnoses were performed for 4 HA families. A wrong prenatal diagnosis which may happen when linkage analysis was performed by using only St14 VNTR was monitored. CONCLUSION: The rapid and accurate gene diagnosis and prenatal gene diagnosis could be performed by a combination of the two polymorphic loci for about 90% HA families.

Chromosomes, Human, X↗

[Angiotensin-I converting enzyme].

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) converts the largely inactive decapeptide angiotensin I to the active octapeptide angiotensin II. ACE is a key component of the renin-angiotensin system that has long been suspected to play a role in the pathogenesis of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. The ACE gene spans 21 kilobases and consists of 26 exons, and two different mRNAs and endothelial and testicular ACE are transcribed from the ACE gene. Circulating ACE probably originates from proteolytic cleavage of the hydrophobic anchor and passive leakage of the membrane-bound enzyme. Normal serum ACE by spectrophotometric assay is very low (8.3-21.4 microliters/ml). The abnormally elevated ACE levels is indeed a diagnostic aid in sarcoidosis. The ACE gene has 287 base pair insertion/deletion polymorphism in intron 16. The ACE deletion polymorphism appears to be associated with increased risk for myocardial infarction in the Caucasian and Japanese population. Recently in multicenter clinical trials (SAVE), administration of inhibitors of ACE were shown to decrease cardiac events after myocardial infarction.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

Association between SAH, an acyl-CoA synthetase gene, and hypertriglyceridemia, obesity, and hypertension.

BACKGROUND: The SA gene (SAH) has been isolated by differential screening from a genetically hypertensive rat strain as a candidate gene that may contribute to hypertension. Recently, the SA protein has been reported to be highly homologous to bovine xenobiotic-metabolizing medium-chain fatty acid:CoA ligase. METHODS AND RESULTS: To clarify the pathophysiological significance of SAH, we searched for polymorphisms of human SAH and performed association studies using a large cohort (4000 subjects) representing the general population in Japan. We found 2 polymorphisms in the promoter region and single-nucleotide polymorphisms in introns 5, 7, and 12 and exon 8. One of the variants, an A/G polymorphism in intron 12, just 7 bp upstream from exon 13, strongly affected plasma triglyceride, plasma cholesterol, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (W/H), and blood pressure status. The effect of this genotype on blood pressure seems to be conveyed through its effects on BMI and W/H. Transient expression of the SA protein in mammalian cells confirmed that it is expressed in mitochondria and has medium-chain fatty acid:CoA ligase activity. The A/G polymorphism was found to be associated with the expression level of SA mRNA in peripheral mononuclear cells in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: The G allele of SAH was found to be associated with multiple risk factors, including hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, obesity, and hypertension. This observation should open a new area for future research in multiple-risk-factor syndromes.

Alleles↗

Tryptophan hydroxylase gene polymorphism (A218C) and idiopathic recurrent miscarriage.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequency of a polymorphism in intron 7 of the tryptophan hydroxylase gene among women with idiopathic recurrent miscarriage and healthy controls. METHODS: In a case control study, we studied 125 women with a history of three or more consecutive pregnancy losses before 20 weeks' gestation and 137 healthy controls with at least two live births and no history of pregnancy loss. Peripheral venous puncture, DNA extraction, and polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis were used to genotype women for the presence of the A218C polymorphism in intron 7 of the tryptophan hydroxylase gene. RESULTS: Allele frequencies among women with idiopathic recurrent miscarriage and controls were 32.4% and 38.7%, respectively, for allele A (wild type) and 67.6% and 61.3%, respectively, for allele C (mutant). No association between the presence of allele C and idiopathic recurrent miscarriage was found (P = .3; odds ratio 1.31; 95% confidence interval 0.93, 1.87). Genotype frequencies also were not significantly different between the study group (C/C: 44.8%; A/C: 45.6%; A/A: 9.6%) and the control group (C/C: 37.2%; A/C: 48.2%; A/A: 14.6%; P = .2). Between women with primary and women with secondary idiopathic recurrent miscarriage, no statistically significant differences with respect to allele frequencies were observed (63% vs 62% for allele C and 31% vs 38% for allele A; P = .3). CONCLUSION: The A218C polymorphism in intron 7 of the tryptophan hydroxylase gene is not associated with idiopathic recurrent miscarriage.

Abortion, Habitual↗

A novel polymorphic triplet repeat in intron five of the alpha-synuclein gene: no evidence of expansion or allelic association with idiopathic Parkinson's disease in the Irish.

The recent discovery of two mutations associated with autosomal dominant Parkinson's disease (PD) has led to the hypothesis that the alpha-synuclein gene plays a role in the pathogenesis of PD. Here we report a novel triplet CAA repeat within the unusually large intron 5 sequence of the alpha-synuclein gene. Microsatellite analysis revealed a high degree of polymorphism within the Irish population with seven alleles detected, ranging from eight to 17 CAA repeats. Analysis of the allele/genotype frequency differences observed between an Irish idiopathic PD cohort (eta = 98) and a healthy aged control group ( eta= 92) revealed no strong association with either group. All PD subjects displaying homozygous profiles were examined for expansion of the trinucleotide repeat, but no expansion was observed. These results would suggest that polymorphism of the alpha-synuclein gene may not play as significant a role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic PD as previously hypothesised.

Adult↗

A sequence-based genetic map of Medicago truncatula and comparison of marker colinearity with M. sativa.

A core genetic map of the legume Medicago truncatula has been established by analyzing the segregation of 288 sequence-characterized genetic markers in an F(2) population composed of 93 individuals. These molecular markers correspond to 141 ESTs, 80 BAC end sequence tags, and 67 resistance gene analogs, covering 513 cM. In the case of EST-based markers we used an intron-targeted marker strategy with primers designed to anneal in conserved exon regions and to amplify across intron regions. Polymorphisms were significantly more frequent in intron vs. exon regions, thus providing an efficient mechanism to map transcribed genes. Genetic and cytogenetic analysis produced eight well-resolved linkage groups, which have been previously correlated with eight chromosomes by means of FISH with mapped BAC clones. We anticipated that mapping of conserved coding regions would have utility for comparative mapping among legumes; thus 60 of the EST-based primer pairs were designed to amplify orthologous sequences across a range of legume species. As an initial test of this strategy, we used primers designed against M. truncatula exon sequences to rapidly map genes in M. sativa. The resulting comparative map, which includes 68 bridging markers, indicates that the two Medicago genomes are highly similar and establishes the basis for a Medicago composite map.

Base Sequence↗

HLA-DQA1 allele and suballele typing using noncoding sequence polymorphisms. Application to 4AOHW cell panel typing.

HLA-DQA1 typing of the 4AOHW cell panel is presented using a novel strategy that exploits both intron and exon polymorphisms. Intron sequences adjacent to the variable HLA-DQA1 second exon exhibit stable polymorphisms that are specific for locus alleles and certain suballelic DR/DQ haplotypes. A PCR-RFLP method has been developed that is based on amplification of a 780-bp segment extending from intron 1 through exon 2 to intron 2. Stable sequence polymorphisms provide restriction enzyme sites and confer mobility variations detected on polyacrylamide minigel electrophoresis. Direct band comparison of amplified products and restriction fragments with known standards facilitates pattern comparison, obviating the requirement for accurate molecular weight determination. This method, using only two enzymes, identifies a total of 11 allelic and suballelic groups, including all eight DQA1 alleles encoded at the second exon.

Alleles↗

The interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene: a single-copy variant of the intron 2 variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism.

A variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism exists within intron 2 of the human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene, consisting of perfect repeats of an 86-bp sequence. Five allelic variants have been identified wherein the number of repeats varies from two to six. This is the first report of a rare, single-copy allele designated IL1RN*0.

Adult↗

Intronic single-nucleotide polymorphisms in Bcl-2 are associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease severity.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: COPD is a multifactorial disease influenced by genetic and environmental factors, and gene-by-environmental interactions. There is considerable variability in the degree of airflow obstruction, moreover only 10-15% of chronic smokers develop COPD. These observations indicate that additional risk factors, possibly genetic, contribute to not only the susceptibility to COPD but also the development and severity of COPD. Recent paradigms highlight the presence and causal role of apoptosis in emphysema. There is a large amount of information on the genes involved in the regulation of apoptosis and one of the most studied is Bcl-2. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic association of Bcl-2 gene with the level of lung function, that is, the severity, of COPD. METHODS: The genetic association of Bcl-2 polymorphisms with lung function was investigated in 261 Japanese patients with COPD using 12 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Bcl-2. RESULTS: Four SNPs showed a significant association between the high and low lung function groups in a dominant trait comparison. Subsequent linkage-disequilibrium mapping and analyses of haplotype structure also showed a significant association between the level of lung function and two haplotypes comprised of the associated SNPs in Bcl-2. CONCLUSIONS: Although the linkage between Bcl-2 gene and the susceptibility to COPD remains to be clarified, the findings of the current study indicate that Bcl-2 might be influencing the level of lung function, that is, the development and severity of COPD.

Aged↗

The 5' region of the tryptophan hydroxylase gene: mutation search and association study with alcoholism.

A deficiency in the serotonergic system has been suggested as a negative reinforcer in alcoholism. Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) is critical in the fine-tuning of serotonergic neurotransmission. We observed a significantly high frequency of the A allele of the IVS7+218A>C polymorphism in intron 7 of the TPH gene in Japanese alcoholics with histories of drinking-related antisocial behaviors compared with that of Japanese controls (p = 0.006). However, this polymorphism is intronic, and a study of TPH mRNA did not detect aberrant splice products or polymorphic nucleotides linked to this polymorphism. Therefore, we screened for variations in the promoter and 5'-untranslated region of the gene. Three novel variants/polymorphisms, -1066G>A in the 5' flanking region, IVS1B+23(GTTTT)4-5 in intron 1B, and IVS1C+50T>C in intron 1C, were identified. The -1066G>A and IVS1C+50T>C polymorphisms were in modest linkage disequilibrium with the IVS7+218A>C polymorphism. However, no significant association was found between the three novel polymorphisms and alcoholism. Although our findings reiterate that TPH may play some role in the genetic predisposition to alcoholism, the mechanism remains unknown.

Adult↗