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[The relationship between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphism and microsatellite instability in gastric cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphism and microsatellite instability (MSI) in patients with gastric cancer. METHODS: MTHFR gene C677T and A1298C polymorphism were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and MSI was examined with PCR. RESULTS: MTHFR gene C677T and A1298C polymorphisms were analyzed on 122 gastric cancers and 110 normal controls The genotype frequencies of MTHFR 677CC, 677CT and 677TT were 47.5%, 39.3% and 13.1% on patients with gastric cancer, and 48.5%, 42.6%, 8.9% in the controls respectively. There was no significant difference of genotype frequency between the two groups (P > 0.05). The individuals with 677CT genotype, 677TT genotype and 677CT + TT genotype exhibited significantly reduced risk (OR = 0.38,95% CI: 0.15-0.98; OR = 0.26,95% CI: 0.03-2.18 and OR = 0.36,95% CI: 0.07-0.98) of developing gastric cardia cancer compared with those harboring the wild-type(677CC). The individuals with 677TT genotype having a 3.03-fold (95% CI: 1.07-8.65) increased risk of developing gastric corpus cancer. The genotype frequency of MTHFR 1298AA, 1298AC and 1298CC were 59.8%, 36.1% and 4.1% in gastric cancer patients, and 57.4%, 7.6%, 5.0% in the controls, respectively. The distribution of MTHFR A1298C genotype was not significantly different between gastric cancer and controls (P > 0.05). The individuals with 1298CC genotype had a reduced risk of developing gastric antrum cancer (OR = 0.41- fold, 95% CI: 0.03-2.18, 0.05-3.72) when comparing with those having 1298AA genotype. Patients with MSI+ gastric cancer had an increased frequency of the MTHFR 677TT genotype when comparing with those suffering from MSI- gastric cancer (P = 0.009) and with controlled subjects (P = 0.008). There was no significant association found between MTHFR A1298C polymorphism and MSI (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Polymorphism of MTHFR C677T was associated with increased risk on gastric corpus cancer and reduced risk on gastric cardia cancer. The polymorphism of MTHFR A1298C was associated with reduced risk for gastric antrum cancer while MSI pathway was possibly involved in the development of gastric cancer with MTHFR 677TT genotype.

Adult↗

No association between TAP1 DpnII polymorphism and bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

The possibility that a family history of asthma may have a role in susceptibility to bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) had been raised in several reports, and there was evidence of a strong association between transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP1) polymorphism and asthma in Taiwanese population. To test whether TAP polymorphism has a role in the BPD, we investigated the association between TAP1 polymorphism and BPD by analyzing the results of genotype distribution. The study included 224 ventilated preterm infants (<30 weeks) who had respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and needed intermittent mandatory ventilation (IMV) during Jan. 1999 to July 2003. The typing of TAP1 polymorphism was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based restriction analysis. The demography between two groups of these ventilated preterm infants was not different. We observed no significant differences in genotype distribution or allele frequency of the TAPI polymorphisms between BPD and their respective control infants. There was also no significant difference in genotype distribution of the TAP1 polymorphism with duration of IMV. Therefor, we conclude that TAP1 polymorphism is not a useful marker for predicting the susceptibility or severity to BPD for Taiwanese.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Genetic polymorphism of folate and methionine metabolizing enzymes and their susceptibility to malignant lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Folate and methionine metabolism is involved in DNA synthesis and methylation. Polymorphisms in the genes of folate metabolism enzymes have been associated with some forms of cancer. In the present study, 2 polymorphisms were evaluated for a folate metabolic enzyme, methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), and one was evaluated for methionine synthase (MS). The 2 polymorphisms MTHFR 677 C-->T and MTHFR 1298 A-->C, are reported to reduce the enzyme activity, which causes intracellular accumulation of 5, 10- methylene-tetrahydrofolate and results in a reduced incidence of DNA double strand breakage. The MS 2756 A-->G polymorphism also reduces the enzyme activity and results in the hypomethylation of DNA. PATIENTS AND METHODS: To test this hypothesis, genetic polymorphisms in the folate metabolic pathway were investigated using the DNA from a case-control study on 31 patients having malignant lymphoma from the Oncology Outpatient Clinic of the New Children's Hospital, Cairo University and 30 controls who were actually normal children attending for vaccination to the same hospital. RESULTS: We found that there is a higher susceptibility with the MTHFR 677CC and MTHFR 1298 AA genotypes (OR=4.3, 95% CI 1.12-16). When those harbor at least one variant allele in either polymorphism of MTHFR they were defined as reference. For the MS 2756 AG genotype polymorphism there was also a higher susceptibility to developing malignant lymphoma (OR=2.6; 95% CI 1.1- 6.4). CONCLUSION: Results suggest that folate and methionine metabolism may play an important role in the pathogenesis of malignant lymphoma. Further studies to confirm this association and detailed biologic mechanisms are now required.

5-Methyltetrahydrofolate-Homocysteine S-Methyltran↗

Association study of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphisms with essential hypertension in northern Han Chinese.

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide (NO) synthesized by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) plays an important role in both the regulation of endothelial function and the control of blood pressure. Up to now, there has been conflicting data regarding the association between three clinically relevant polymorphisms (T-786C, intron4b/a and G894T) of the eNOS gene and essential hypertension. METHODS: To examine the contribution of the three eNOS gene polymorphisms to the development of hypertension in the northern Han Chinese, a case-control study including 503 hypertensive cases and 490 age-, gender-, and area-matched controls recruited from the International Collaborative Study of Cardiovascular Disease in Asia (InterASIA) was conducted. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). RESULTS: The T-786C and intron4b/a polymorphisms were observed in significant linkage disequilibrium (D' = 0.87, P < 0.001). The minor allele frequencies of these three polymorphisms in healthy controls were much lower than those of Caucasians (9.3% vs 39.6% - 42.0%, 8.9% vs 15.0% - 16.0% and 10.9% vs 34.5% - 34.9% for -786C, intron4a and 894T, respectively). Genotype distributions and allele frequencies of the three polymorphisms did not differ between cases and controls (all P > 0.05). In addition, none of the eight estimated haplotypes significantly increased or decreased the risk of hypertension before or after adjustment for several known risk factors. CONCLUSION: The study results suggest that the three eNOS gene polymorphisms are unlikely to be major genetic susceptibility factors for essential hypertension in the northern Han Chinese population.

Adult↗

A worldwide population study of the Ag-system haplotypes, a genetic polymorphism of human low-density lipoprotein.

The aim of this investigation is to examine the distribution of the Ag immunological polymorphism in human populations on a worldwide scale and to look for possible explanations of this distribution in the field of modern human peopling history and Ag-system evolution. Extensive Ag-antigene typings were carried out on 13 human population samples, including sub-Saharan African, European, west and east Asiatic, Melanesian, Australian aborigine, and Amerindian groups. Complete Ag-haplotype frequencies were estimated by maximum-likelihood-score procedures, and the data were analyzed by genetic distance computations and principal coordinate projections. With the exception of the Amerindian sample, the Ag polymorphism is shown to be highly polymorphic in all the populations tested. Their genetic relationships appear to be closely correlated to their geographical distribution. This suggests that the Ag system has evolved as a neutral or nearly neutral polymorphism and that it is highly informative for modern human peopling history studies. From the worldwide Ag haplotypic distributions, a model for the Ag molecular structure is derived. According to this model and to the most recent results obtained from molecular data, the establishment of the Ag polymorphism could be explained by several mutations and recombination events between the haplotypes most frequently found in human populations today. As a conclusion, genetic and paleontological data suggest that the genetic structure of caucasoid populations (located from North Africa to India) may be the least differentiated from an ancestral genetic stock. Worldwide genetic differentiations are properly explained as the results of westward and eastward human migrations from a Near East-centered but undefined geographical area where modern humans may have originated. The importance of Ag polymorphism analyses for the reconstruction of human settlement history and origins is discussed in the light of the main conclusions of the most recent genetic polymorphism studies.

Antigens↗

Investigations on the association between normal tension glaucoma and single nucleotide polymorphisms of the endothelin-1 and endothelin receptor genes.

PURPOSE: In normal tension glaucoma (NTG), intraocular pressure is within normal the range; thus, some mechanism other than increased pressure contributes to the optic neuropathy. Endothelin may be an important contributor to the development of the optic neuropathy characteristic of glaucoma. We investigated whether polymorphisms of the endothelin-1, endothelin receptor type A, and endothelin receptor type B genes were associated with NTG. METHODS: Sixty-seven Korean NTG patients and 100 healthy Korean subjects were enrolled. DNA from peripheral blood leukocytes was extracted and genotype distributions of six polymorphisms in genes encoding endothelin-1 (EDN1:c.-131dupA, EDN1:c.594G > T), endothelin receptor type A (EDNRA:c.-231G > A, EDNRA:c.*70C > G, EDNRA:c.*1222C > T), and endothelin receptor type B (EDNRB:c.831A > G) were determined. Genotype and allele distributions were compared between patients and controls. In NTG subjects, untreated baseline intraocular pressure and age at the time of diagnosis, as well as the mean deviation and pattern standard deviation values of automated static perimetry were examined for an association with these genetic polymorphisms. RESULTS: The polymorphism of EDNRA:c.*1222C > T was significantly associated with NTG (p = 0.028, OR = 3.33, 95% CI 1.05-10.24). In addition, the AA genotype of the EDNRA:c.-231G > A polymorphism was associated with a lower baseline intraocular pressure than in the GG+GA genotype group (14.0 +/- 2.8 mm Hg versus 16.2 +/- 2.3 mm Hg, p = 0.047). No polymorphism was associated with visual field parameters. CONCLUSIONS: A polymorphism of the endothelin receptor type A gene is associated with NTG.

Adult↗

DNA sequence polymorphism at the human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) locus. Numerous TNF/lymphotoxin alleles tagged by two closely linked microsatellites in the upstream region of the lymphotoxin (TNF-beta) gene.

TNF-alpha and lymphotoxin (LT, TNF-beta) genes are tandemly arranged and map within the MHC centromeric to HLA-B and telomeric to the class III genes. Both cytokines encoded by these genes are potent immunomodulators. On the other hand, some MHC-linked autoimmune diseases are characterized by abnormal levels of their expression or inducibility. A search for the putative disease-associated TNF/LT alleles depends on the informative genetic markers at the TNF locus. Previously, a low degree of genetic polymorphism at the human TNF locus has been reported, mostly bi-allelic RFLP. To localize and define additional polymorphic markers, we probed the collection of genomic clones with synthetic tandemly repeated dinucleotides, corresponding to the sequences known as microsatellites. We mapped and characterized three (TC/GA) and one (AC/GT) repeats within cloned 40-kb DNA comprising the human TNF locus. Using a polymerase chain reaction-based technique, we analyzed three of these four microsatellites and observed their length of polymorphism. Using DNA samples from blood donors, two families, and three human cell lines, we detected 13 distinct alleles of the AC/GT microsatellite neighboring human TNF genes. The variability was further increased by simultaneous analysis of the second linked microsatellite. This linked TC/GA repeat showed at least five alleles, whereas the least polymorphic TC/GA repeat located in the first intron of LT (TNF-beta) gene had two alleles. TNF alleles defined by microsatellites were stably inherited and segregated in the Mendelian way. Therefore, we describe thus far the most informative level of DNA sequence polymorphism in this part of human MHC. We propose a nomenclature for microsatellite tagged LT/TNF alleles based on their size and variability, which could also be extended to include RFLP and other not yet identified polymorphic markers. Microsatellite tagged polymorphism described here can be used in systematic linkage studies of HLA-associated diseases.

Alleles↗

HLA class II polymorphism: implications for genetic susceptibility to autoimmune disease.

Our understanding of HLA class II polymorphism has undergone a rapid evolution in the last few years. As in so many areas of modern biology, this progress has depended largely on the application of recombinant DNA techniques to the study of this gene family. In particular, the recent development of methods of gene amplification by means of the polymerase chain reaction has allowed for the rapid assessment of polymorphism in the human population. In addition, the elucidation by x-ray crystallographic analysis of the three-dimensional structure of an HLA molecule has been a major step. These areas of progress have now begun to converge to allow a more detailed approach to the problem of class II polymorphism and disease susceptibility. As discussed in this review, the data so far indicate that a few amino acid substitutions in class II molecules may exert a critical influence on susceptibility to autoimmune diseases such as RA and IDDM. The mechanism by which these class II polymorphisms predispose to autoimmune disease is still unknown. It is tempting to speculate that differences in the binding affinity of HLA molecules for autoantigens might be involved; however, as yet no specific autoantigen has been identified for either RA or IDDM. Intriguingly, sequence similarities have been observed between some viral proteins and class II molecules, raising the possibility that these infectious agents might induce autoimmunity by "molecular mimicry." Examples include the human cytomegalovirus protein, IE2 as well as the Epstein Barr virus gp110 protein. Other possible mechanisms involve more complex immunoregulatory effects, such as the absence of suppressor functions that appear to be under the influence of the HLA genes. To some extent, the persistent ignorance about the cause of autoimmunity reflects a general lack of knowledge concerning exactly how HLA polymorphisms exert immunoregulatory effects. For example, in addition to influencing antigen presentation, MHC molecules also affect the overall T cell repertoire during thymic selection. The relative importance of HLA class II polymorphism in exerting immunoregulatory effects by means of thymic selection of the T cell repertoire is unknown. For autoimmune diseases such as RA and IDDM, there is a need to identify a specific functional abnormality that is causing the disease before the etiological significance of the emerging associations with class II polymorphisms become clear.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Alleles↗

I-Ak polymorphisms define a functionally dominant region for the presentation of hen egg lysozyme peptides.

The class II molecules of the MHC not only bind processed antigenic peptides but also interact with the TCR. This latter interaction is thought to be the basis for allele specific "restriction" of Ag presentation to T cells. The specificity of this interaction is likely due to amino acid differences in a small number of polymorphic or "hypervariable" regions located in the amino terminal domains of the alpha- and beta-chains. We have explored the functional significance of these polymorphic regions in an I-Ak-restricted, hen egg lysozyme specific Ag presentation system in which the measurement of IL-2 production by T cell hybridomas was used as the indicator of TCR recognition of the I-A/Ag complex. Chimeric I-A molecules, in which b allelic residues were substituted in one or more of the polymorphic regions of the A alpha k chain or in which d allelic residues were substituted in one or more of the polymorphic regions of the A beta k chain, were used to examine the contribution of each polymorphic region of the molecule to its function. The results obtained demonstrate that the regions between residues 69 to 76 of the A alpha k chain and the regions between residues 63 to 67 and 75 to 78 of the A beta k-chain exert a dominant effect on the presentation of lysozyme peptides by I-Ak to the T cell hybridomas in our panel. These observations were confirmed and extended by the analysis of Ag presentation by seven serologically selected mutants, all of which have amino acid interchanges in or around the dominant polymorphic regions. The results suggest that the serologically selected mutants fail to present Ag not because they fail to bind the peptide Ag but because the amino acid substitutions destabilize the interaction between the Ia/peptide complex and the TCR. Use of the recently published hypothetical model for class II structure to interpret the Ag presentation results suggests that the dominant polymorphic regions lie across from one another near one end of the alpha-helices that form the two walls of the proposed Ag-binding cleft located on the top surface of the class II molecule. Furthermore, the majority of the amino acids which have been changed in the serologically selected mutants have side chains which are postulated to point up toward the exterior of the molecule and would, therefore, be potential contact residues for the TCR.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Preference of the early murine immune response for polymorphic determinants on human lymphoid-leukemia cells and the potential use of monoclonal antibodies to these determinants in leukemia-typing panel.

28 monoclonal antibodies (MCAs) which were produced following immunization of mice with human lymphoid leukemia or lymphoma cells were subjected to extensive specificity testing using immunofluorescence and complement-mediated cytotoxicity assays. All except one of the MCAs reacted with lymphocytes from at least one normal donor, but only 36% reacted with at least one subpopulation of lymphocytes from every normal donor tested. 60% of the MCAs detected polymorphic determinants, the frequency of polymorphism ranging from 27 to 91%, 50% of these MCAs reacting with B lymphocytes but not T lymphocytes. The marked heterogeneity observed when testing human lymphoid leukemias with these MCAs could be explained by both polymorphism and heterogeneity in lymphocyte differentiation marker expression. An awareness of the preferential murine immune response to polymorphic determinants on human lymphoid leukemia cells is essential when interpreting unexpected positive or negative results when testing with MCAs. An MCA believed to be detecting a monomorphic determinant may be detecting a high-frequency (supratypic) polymorphic determinant, and a putative leukemia-specific MCA may be detecting a low-frequency polymorphic determinant. Our panel, which includes MCAs which detect polymorphic determinants, appears useful in following the course of leukemia and may be useful for leukemia classification.

Animals↗

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms of the human N-myc gene in normal healthy individuals and oral cancer patients in India.

Southern blot hybridization with N-myc oncogene probes coding for different regions of the N-myc gene demonstrated three polymorphic restriction sites in the Indian population. The SphI and PvuII polymorphic pattern due to the SphI polymorphic site in the second intron and the PvuII polymorphic site in the 3'-region of the human N-myc oncogene respectively, was similar to that reported in the Japanese population. The allelic frequency distribution for SphI polymorphism did not differ significantly for the S1 and S2 alleles representing presence (allele S1) or absence (allele S2) of a SphI site. However, the allelic frequency distribution was distorted in the case of PvuII polymorphism, as the frequency of P1 allele (0.7) indicating presence of PvuII site, was higher than the P2 allele (0.3) indicating absence of PvuII site, in the Indian population. An additional polymorphic HindIII site localised in the second intron of the N-myc gene was also observed in both the Indian oral cancer patients and the normal healthy individuals, indicating that this RFLP was not tumor associated and may perhaps represent N-myc alteration in the Indian population.

Genes, myc↗

Conformation polymorphisms and targeted marker development.

Genetic markers were developed for three targeted bovine loci using both single-stranded and double-stranded DNA conformation polymorphisms. Eight of nine DNA fragments exhibited single-stranded conformation polymorphisms while only one of nine exhibited a double-strand conformation polymorphism. All but one of the polymorphic fragments exhibited two allelic forms, with the exception being a single-stranded conformation polymorphism with three alleles. Utility of conformation polymorphisms relative to microsatellite markers for linkage map development and quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping was assessed by comparing frequency of heterozygote parents from reference and resource families. Heterozygosity was greater for microsatellite markers (P < 0.01) and reference family parents (P < 0.01), though the disparity between marker types tended to be less dramatic for the reference family parents (P < 0.09). These results suggest conformation polymorphisms will be a useful tool for targeted marker development in linkage map and comparative map development provided genetically diverse families are studied.

Animals↗

Association of the widespread A149P hereditary fructose intolerance mutation with newly identified sequence polymorphisms in the aldolase B gene.

Hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI) is a potentially fatal autosomal recessive disease resulting from the catalytic deficiency of fructose 1-phosphate aldolase (aldolase B) in fructose-metabolizing tissues. The A149P mutation in exon 5 of the aldolase B gene, located on chromosome 9q21.3-q22.2, is widespread and the most common HFI mutation, accounting for 57% of HFI chromosomes. The possible origin of this mutation was studied by linkage to polymorphisms within the aldolase B gene. DNA fragments of the aldolase B gene containing the polymorphic marker loci from HFI patients homozygous for the A149P allele were amplified by PCR. Absolute linkage to a common PvuII RFLP allele was observed in 10 A149P homozygotes. In a more informative study, highly heterozygous polymorphisms were detected by direct sequence determination of a PCR-amplified aldolase B gene fragment. Two two-allele, single-base-pair polymorphisms, themselves in absolute linkage disequilibrium, in intron 8 (C at nucleotide 84 and A at nucleotide 105, or T at 84 and G at 105) of the aldolase B gene were identified. Mendelian segregation of these polymorphisms was confirmed in three families. Allele-specific oligonucleotide (ASO) hybridizations with probes for both sequence polymorphisms showed that 47% of 32 unrelated individuals were heterozygous at these loci; the calculated PIC value was .37. Finally, ASO hybridizations of PCR-amplified DNA from 15 HFI patients homozygous for the A149P allele with probes for these sequence polymorphisms revealed absolute linkage disequilibrium between the A149P mutation and the 84T/105G allele. These results are consistent with a single origin of the A149P allele and subsequent spread by genetic drift.

Autoradiography↗

Two DNA polymorphisms in the lipoprotein lipase gene and their associations with factors related to cardiovascular disease.

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) plays a crucial role in plasma lipoprotein processing by catalyzing the hydrolysis of core triglycerides of chylomicrons and very low density lipoproteins. Several polymorphic restriction sites have been reported in the LPL gene, including those identified by the enzymes HindIII and PvuII. We have determined the HindIII and PvuII polymorphisms in diabetic (D) and non-diabetic (ND) Hispanics (D = 195; ND = 384) and non-Hispanic Whites (D = 76; ND = 539) from the San Luis Valley, Colorado. Both polymorphisms showed comparable gene frequencies between diabetics and non-diabetics, and between the two ethnic groups. The HindIII and PvuII polymorphisms were in strong linkage disequilibrium in both Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites (P < 0.001). We estimated whether the two DNA polymorphisms have significant impact in determining interindividual differences in plasma levels of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose, and fasting insulin. Plasma triglyceride levels varied significantly among the HindIII genotypes in the normoglycemic sample. There was a clear gene dosage effect among the three HindIII genotypes, with the (-/-) genotype having the lowest and the (+/+) genotype having the highest triglyceride levels; these levels were intermediate in the (+/-) genotype. The average effect of the (-) allele of the HindIII polymorphism was to lower triglycerides by 12.85 mg/dl in non-Hispanic White males, 8.06 mg/dl in non-Hispanic White females, 10.91 mg/dl in Hispanic males, and 12.47 mg/dl in Hispanic females. The HindIII polymorphism also showed a significant association with HDL-cholesterol levels in the normoglycemic sample.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Analysis of HLA class II polymorphism using polymerase chain reaction.

A simple, rapid, and precise method of typing HLA class II polymorphism would be valuable in the areas of disease susceptibility, tissue transplantation, individual identification, and anthropological genetics. Herein, we describe a method of analyzing class II sequence polymorphism based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and hybridization with oligonucleotide probes. Many more DNA-defined alleles at the class II loci have been identified than can be distinguished by conventional serologic typing. Consequently, matching transplant donors and recipients by PCR/oligonucleotide typing should reduce graft rejection and graft-vs-host disease. Also, the ability to identify alleles conferring genetic predisposition to specific diseases (eg, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus) is significantly enhanced by distinguishing the many alleles or "subtypes" within a serologic type (eg, DR4). One valuable property of sequence-based HLA typing strategies, like oligonucleotide probe hybridization, is that they reveal how and where two alleles differ, not simply that they can be operationally distinguished. The nature and location of HLA polymorphisms appears to be critical in disease association studies and are important in tissue typing for transplantation. New alleles at the DRB1, DPB1, and DQB1 loci are likely to be identified as this technology is applied to more and more samples, particularly in nonwhite ethnic groups. A new allele is uncovered as an unusual pattern of probe binding and then confirmed by sequencing. This pattern is observed because class II polymorphism is localized to specific regions and virtually all "new" alleles represent "shuffled" combinations of polymorphic sequences found in previously known alleles. Since these polymorphisms are in the region of probe binding, these new alleles can be detected without increasing the probe panel. Obviously, any new allele with a new polymorphic sequence in a region for which typing probes are not available would not be revealed by oligonucleotide typing. With the PCR primers and probes described here, 7 DQ alpha 1 alleles, 15 DQ beta 1 alleles, 18 DPB1 alleles, and 32 DRB1 alleles are distinguished. Additional primers and/or probes can, of course, increase the allelic discrimination of PCR/oligonucleotide probe typing. These horseradish peroxidase-labeled oligonucleotide probes are stable (> 2 years when stored at 4 degrees C) and the typing system is simple and robust. Although this dot blot/oligonucleotide hybridization procedure is a powerful and precise method of HLA class II typing, the complexity of the procedure increases as the number of probes required for analysis increases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Alleles↗

Genetic polymorphisms in glutathione S-transferase mu and theta, N-acetyltransferase, and CYP1A1 and risk of gliomas.

The role of genetic polymorphisms in modulating susceptibility to carcinogenic exposures has been well explored for tobacco-related neoplasms but not for other neoplasms including gliomas. It is relevant to explore these polymorphisms because certain carcinogenic exposures such as nitrosamines are implicated in the risk of gliomas. We therefore conducted a pilot case-control study to examine the role of polymorphisms in GSTM1, GSTT1, NAT2 (rapid, intermediate, and slow acetylation), and CYP1A1 and risk of glioma. Ninety patients diagnosed with glioma were ascertained as part of an ongoing genetic epidemiological study and were age, gender, and race matched with 90 healthy controls. We used PCR based methodology to determine the prevalence of the above genetic polymorphisms using sequences and PCR conditions directly adapted from studies reported previously. We calculated univariate odds ratios and performed multiple logistic regression to assess interactions between polymorphisms. We found no statistically significant associations between the null genotypes of GSTM1 and GSTT1, and CYP1A1 and risk of gliomas. However, there was an intriguing pattern with NAT2 acetylation status (odds ratios, 1.81, 1.34, and 0.61 for rapid, intermediate, and slow acetylation, respectively; P = 0.10 for trend). It is unlikely that any single polymorphism is sufficiently predictive of risk, and a panel of markers integrated with epidemiological data should be conducted on a large number of study subjects to fully understand the role of genetic polymorphisms and brain tumor risk.

Adult↗

A single nucleotide polymorphism in the matrix metalloproteinase-1 promoter creates an Ets binding site and augments transcription.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) facilitate cellular invasion by degrading the extracellular matrix, and their regulation is partially dependent on transcription. Binding sites for members of the Ets family of transcription factors are present within MMP promoters and are potent positive regulators. We report a single nucleotide polymorphism at -1607 bp in the MMP-1 promoter, where an additional guanine (G) creates an Ets binding site, 5'-GGA-3'. This polymorphism displays significantly higher transcription in normal fibroblasts and in melanoma cells than the 1 G polymorphism, and it binds substantially more nuclear extract and recombinant ETS-1. Analysis of control DNAs from the Center d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain pedigrees reveals that this polymorphism is not a mutation, with a frequency of the 2 G polymorphism at 30%. In contrast, in eight tumor cell lines, this frequency increased to 62.5% (P < 0.0001). Thus, this MMP-1 polymorphism contributes to increased transcription, and cells expressing the 2 G polymorphism may provide a mechanism for more aggressive matrix degradation, thereby facilitating cancer progression.

Binding Sites↗

Association between apolipoprotein(a) polymorphism and Lp(a) levels in Koreans.

In view of the clinical importance of lipoprotein(a) [(Lp(a)] in coronary artery disease (CAD), we investigated the apo(a) size polymorphism, sequence polymorphisms of five base repeats [(TTTTA)n] in the noncoding region, and of Met/Thr in the coding region of the apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] gene. The apo(a) polymorphisms were examined in 184 Korean patients with CAD and 121 healthy subjects. In size polymorphism, there was an inverse association between plasma Lp(a) levels and the apo(a) isoforms in the CAD group (p < 0.005). For (TTTTA)n sequence polymorphism, subjects with the 8/8 genotype were most frequently observed in the two groups. Plasma Lp(a) levels showed a significant difference between the 8/5 versus the 8/8 genotype in the CAD group. On the other hand, Lp(a) levels varied significantly among the genotypes of a Met/Thr polymorphism in normal controls (P < 0.01). The heterozygous genotype had an intermediate level of Lp(a) between the two homozygous genotypes, thereby showing gene dosage effect. Thus, it is possible that the apo(a) polymorphisms are responsible for variations in the Lp(a) levels.

Adult↗