Review on host-pathogen interaction in dermatophyte infections.

Dermatophytosis is a common superficial fungal infection of the skin and its appendages caused by dermatophytes. Recent times have witnessed a dynamic evolution of dermatophytes driven by their ecology, reproduction, pathogenicity and host immune response, influenced by population migration and socioeconomic status. Dermatophytes establish infection following successful adherence of arthroconidia to the surface of keratinized tissues. The proteolytic enzymes released during adherence and invasion not only ascertain their survival but also allow the persistence of infection in the host. While the cutaneous immune surveillance mechanism, after antigen exposure and presentation, leads to activation of T lymphocytes and subsequent clonal expansion generating effector T cells that differentially polarize to a predominant Th17 response, the response fails to eliminate the pathogen despite the presence of high levels of IFN-γ. In chronic dermatophytosis, antigens are a constant source of stimulus promoting a dysregulated Th17 response causing inflammation. The host-derived iTreg response fails to counterbalance the inflammation and instead polarizes to Th17 lineage, aggravating the chronicity of the infection. Increasing antifungal resistance and recalcitrant dermatophytosis has impeded the overall clinical remission. Human genetic research has the potential to generate knowledge to explore new therapeutic targets. The review focuses on understanding specific virulence factors involved in pathogenesis and defining the role of dysregulated host immune response against chronic dermatophytic infections for future management strategies.

A Snapshot of T Cell Subset Cytokines in Pemphigus Vulgaris: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the serum levels of cytokines produced by the Th1 (IFN-γ, IL-12), Th2 (IL-4), Th17 (IL-6, IL-17A, IL-23), and Treg (IL-10 and TGF-ß) pathways in individuals with active pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and to determine whether these levels were correlated with the severity of the disease condition. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was conducted with 90 individuals, of which 50 were PV patients and 40 healthy individuals (age and gender-matched) as controls. Serum samples were collected and tested for cytokine levels by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). The cytokine levels in the serum of PV patients and healthy controls were compared statistically using the Mann-Whitney test for nonparametric samples. The strength of the association between the variables was evaluated using the Spearman correlation test. RESULTS: The mean serum levels of IFN- γ (p < 0.001), IL-6 (p < 0.001), IL-10 (p < 0.001), IL-12 (p < 0.05), and IL-17 (p < 0.001) were significantly higher and TGF-ß were significantly low in the PV patients than those observed in the control group. The mean concentration of serum IL-4 in patients with PV did not differ from those in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: In active PV, the Th1 and Th17 pathways are involved in the development and progression of the disease, whereas the Th2 pathway is blocked. Both of these pathways play a significant role in the disease. It is possible that the Treg pathway acts as an antagonist to the Th1 and Th17 pathways, which would cause the disease to become more localised. This study lays the foundation for a better understanding of the aetiology of PV and implies that cytokines could be used as potential therapeutic targets and disease activity biomarkers.

Microbes in gynecologic cancers: Causes or consequences and therapeutic potential.

Gynecologic cancers, starting in the reproductive organs of females, include cancer of cervix, endometrium, ovary commonly and vagina and vulva rarely. The changes in the composition of microbiome in gut and vagina affect immune and metabolic signaling of the host cells resulting in chronic inflammation, angiogenesis, cellular proliferation, genome instability, epithelial barrier breach and metabolic dysregulation that may lead to the onset or aggravated progression of gynecologic cancers. While microbiome in gynecologic cancers is just at horizon, certain significant microbiome signature associations have been found. Cervical cancer is accompanied with high loads of human papillomavirus, Fusobacteria and Sneathia species; endometrial cancer is reported to have presence of Atopobium vaginae and Porphyromonas species and significantly elevated levels of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes phylum bacteria, with Chlamydia trachomatis, Lactobacillus and Mycobacterium reported in ovarian cancer. Balancing microbiome composition in gynecologic cancers has the potential to be used as a therapeutic target. For example, the Lactobacillus species may play an important role in blocking adhesions of incursive pathogens to vaginal epithelium by lowering the pH, producing bacteriocins and employing competitive exclusions. The optimum or personalized balance of the microbiota can be maintained using pre- and probiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantations loaded with specific bacteria. Current evidence strongly suggest that a healthy microbiome can train and trigger the body's immune response to attack various gynecologic cancers. Furthermore, microbiome modulations can potentially contribute to improvements in immuno-oncology therapies.

IFN-γ +874 A>T (rs2430561) gene polymorphism and risk of pulmonary tuberculosis: a meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The role of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) +874 A>T (rs2430561) gene polymorphism has been evaluated in different ethnicities with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) infection, and inconsistent results have been reported. In this study, a meta-analysis was performed to determine the precise association between IFN-γ +874 A>T gene polymorphism and PTB susceptibility. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 21 studies comprising 4281 confirmed PTB cases and 5186 healthy controls were included in this meta-analysis by searching the PubMed (Medline), EMBASE, and Google Scholar web-databases. RESULTS: We observed reduced risk of PTB in allelic contrast (T vs. A: p = 0.001; OR = 0.818, 95% CI: 0.723-0.926), homozygous (TT vs. AA: p = 0.017; OR = 0.715, 95% CI: 0.543-0.941), heterozygous (AT vs. AA: p = 0.002; OR = 0.782, 95% CI: 0.667-0.917), dominant (TT+AT vs. AA: p = 0.002; OR = 0.768, 95% CI: 0.652-0.906), and recessive (TT vs. AA+AT: p = 0.042; OR = 0.802, 95% CI: 0.649-0.992) genetic models. In ethnicity-wise subgroup analysis, reduced risk of PTB was found in the Caucasian population. However, we did not find an association with any of the genetic models in the Asian population. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the IFN-γ +874 A>T gene polymorphism is significantly associated with reduced risk of PTB, showing a protective effect in the overall and in the Caucasian population. However, this polymorphism is not associated with PTB risk in the Asian population.

Potency of inhibitors depends upon the accessibility of their aromatic rings within the hydrophobic specificity pocket: a novel avenue for future aldose reductase inhibitor design.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Integron mediated antimicrobial resistance in diarrheagenic Escherichia coli in children: in vitro and in silico analysis.

The exchange of genes between bacterial chromosome and plasmid(s) and their integration into integrons are mainly responsible for acquisition and dissemination of antibiotic resistance. We investigated the role of integrons and their underlying molecular mechanisms leading to development of adaptability in E. coli and eventual resistance to antimicrobials. Escherichia coli isolates (n = 120); including 40 diarrheagenic isolates, an even number of isolates from cases other than diarrhea, and equal number of isolates from healthy children recovered from fresh stool samples were used for identification of integron genes and gene cassettes. The association of integrons with antibiotic resistance was assayed before phylogenetic analysis. DNA sequence analysis revealed class 1 and 2 integrons in 55.83% and 21.66% isolates, respectively. The integron presence was found significantly associated with the probability of antibiotic resistance in E. coli; the association being highest with class 1 integron. Modelling and molecular docking along with molecular dynamics simulation analyses found ceftriaxone and amoxicillin as potential inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). The class 1 integrons of these pathogenic isolates can serve as prospective therapeutic targets using specific silencing strategies and combinational antimicrobial therapy. The findings may be useful for the development of a potent and versatile drug for DHFR inhibition.

Link between MnSOD Ala16Val (rs4880) polymorphism and asthma risk is insignificant from sequential meta-analysis.

The mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) enzyme protects lungs against oxidative stress by neutralizing the free radical superoxide produced in the respiratory function. This has relevance to asthma. Therefore, it is of interest to describe the potential effect of MnSOD Ala16Val genetic polymorphism to asthma risk. Known data in this context is inconclusive in nature. The possible link between MnSOD Ala16Val polymorphism and asthma is explored using sequence meta-analysis. Data from the pooled analysis of MnSOD Ala16Val polymorphism using five genetic models i.e., allelic (Val vs. Ala: p=0.846; OR=1.033, 95% CI=0.742 to 1.440) is discussed. Homozygous (Val Val vs. Ala Ala: p=0.517; OR=1.307, 95% CI=0.582 to 2.932) and heterozygous (Val Ala vs. Ala Ala: p=0.307; OR=1.138, 95% CI=0.888 to 1.459) data using the described models are documented. Data from the dominant model (Val Val + Val Ala vs. Ala Ala: p=0.301; OR=1.289, 95% CI=0.797 to 2.085) and the recessive model (Val Val vs. Val Ala + Ala Ala: p=0.761; OR=0.924, 95% CI=0.555 to 1.538) analyses for several ethnic subgroups in this context is reported.

A trial sequential meta-analysis of IFN-γ +874 A>T (rs2430561) gene polymorphism and extrapulmonary tuberculosis risk.

Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) plays a crucial role in immunological responses against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) infection. The polymorphism at +874 A > T (rs2430561) influences the levels of IFN-γ, which may further influence the susceptibility to extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB). This polymorphism has been investigated with respect to EPTB occurrence in different populations and provided contradictory and conflicting results. This study was performed to meta-statistically analyze the data and draw a more accurate conclusion regarding the association of IFN-γ +874 A > T gene polymorphism and EPTB susceptibility. A quantitative synthesis was executed for the pertinent studies retrieved from online web-databases viz. Google Scholar, PubMed/Medline and EMBASE. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated for all the genetic models by meta-analysis. A total of eight studies were retrieved which included 762 confirmed EPTB cases and 1341 controls. The meta-analysis results revealed reduced association of EPTB in allelic contrast (T vs. A: p = 0.001; OR = 0.668, 95% CI = 0.524 to 0.850), homozygous (TT vs. AA: p = 0.017; OR = 0.450, 95% CI = 0.234 to 0.868), heterozygous (AT vs. AA: p = 0.004; OR = 0.574, 95% CI = 0.395 to 0.835), dominant (TT + AT vs. AA: p = 0.003; OR = 0.536, 95% CI = 0.354 to 0.810) and recessive (TT vs. AA + AT: p = 0.039; OR = 0.662, 95% CI = 0.448 to 0.980) genetic models. Furthermore, re-sampling statistics also revealed reduced risk of EPTB in overall population and Asian subgroup. This meta-analysis concluded that IFN-γ +874 A > T gene polymorphism is meaningfully related with the reduced EPTB risk in overall and Asian population, and further necessitates larger studies to be conducted on this topic in other races.

Association of MBL2 gene polymorphisms with pulmonary tuberculosis susceptibility: trial sequence meta-analysis as evidence.

BACKGROUND: Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) or mannose-binding protein (MBP), encoded by MBL2 gene and secreted by the liver, activates complement system through lectin pathway in innate immunity against the host's infection. Conflictingly, a number of MBL2 variants, rs1800450 (A>B), rs1800451 (A>C), rs5030737 (A>D), rs7096206 (Y>X), rs11003125 (H>L), and rs7095891 (P>Q) allele, have been found to be associated with compromised serum levels and pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) susceptibility. The present meta-analysis study was performed to evaluate the potential association of these MBL2 gene variants with PTB susceptibility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A quantitative synthesis was performed on PubMed (Medline), EMBASE, and Google Scholar web database searches. A meta-analysis was performed to calculate the pooled odds ratios and 95% CIs for all the genetic models. RESULTS: A total of 14 eligible studies were included to analyze their pooled data for associations between alleles, genotypes, and minor allele carriers. The statistical analysis revealed the significant reduced PTB risk with homozygous variant genotype of rs1800451 polymorphism (CC vs AA: P=0.043; OR =0.828, 95% CI =0.689-0.994). Contrary to this, the variant allele of rs5030737 polymorphism showed association with increased PTB risk (D vs A: P=0.026; OR =1.563, 95% CI =1.054-2.317). However, the other genetic models of rs1800450 (A>B), rs7096206 (Y>X), and rs11003125 (H>L) MBL2 gene polymorphisms did not divulge any association with PTB susceptibility. CONCLUSION: The current meta-analysis concludes that rs1800451 (A>C) and rs5030737 (A>D) polymorphisms of MBL2 gene play a significant role in PTB susceptibility. Further, well-designed epidemiological studies with larger sample size including consideration of environmental factors are warranted for the future.

Pharmacogenetic association between NAT2 gene polymorphisms and isoniazid induced hepatotoxicity: trial sequence meta-analysis as evidence.

Hepatotoxicity is a severe problem generally faced by tuberculosis (TB) patients. It is a well-known adverse reaction due to anti-TB drugs in TB patients undergoing long-term treatment. The studies published previously have explored the connection of N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) gene polymorphisms with isoniazid-induced hepatotoxicity, but the results obtained were inconsistent and inconclusive. A comprehensive trial sequence meta-analysis was conducted employing 12 studies comprising 3613 controls and 933 confirmed TB cases using the databases namely, EMBASE, PubMed (Medline) and Google Scholar till December 2017. A significant association was observed with individuals carrying variant allele at position 481C>T (T vs. C: P = 0.001; OR = 1.278, 95% CI = 1.1100-1.484), at position 590G>A (A vs. G: P = 0.002; OR = 1.421, 95% CI = 1.137-1.776) and at position 857G>A (A vs. G: P = 0.0022; OR = 1.411, 95% CI = 1.052-1.894) to higher risk of hepatotoxicity vis-à-vis wild-type allele. Likewise, the other genetic models of NAT2 gene polymorphisms have also shown increased risk of hepatotoxicity. No evidence of publication bias was observed. These results suggest that genetic variants of NAT2 gene have significant role in isoniazid induced hepatotoxicity. Thus, NAT2 genotyping has the potential to improve the understanding of the drug-enzyme metabolic capacity and help in early predisposition of isoniazid-induced hepatotoxicity.

A trial sequential meta-analysis of TNF-α -308G>A (rs800629) gene polymorphism and susceptibility to colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE: Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), secreted by the activated macrophages, may participate in the onset and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). The association of TNF-α -308 G>A (rs1800629) single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) with CRC risk has been investigated by many studies but the results are inconclusive. A trial sequential meta-analysis was performed for precise estimation of the relationship between TNF-α -308 G>A gene polymorphism with CRC risk. METHODS: Medline (PubMed), EMBASE (Excerpta-Medica) and Google Scholar were mined for relevant articles. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to estimate the significance of association. RESULTS: The pooled analysis indicated no risk associated with TNF-α -308 G>A SNP and overall CRC risk in five genetic comparison models, i.e. allelic (A vs. G: P = 0.524; OR = 1.074, 95% CI = 0.863-1.335), homozygous (AA vs. GG: P = 0.489; OR = 1.227, 95% CI = 0.688-2.188), heterozygous (AG vs. GG: P = 0.811; OR = 1.024, 95% CI = 0.843-1.244), dominant (AA+AG vs. GG: P = 0.630; OR = 1.055, 95% CI = 0.849-1.311) and recessive (AA vs. AG+GG: P = 0.549; OR = 1.181, 95% CI = 0.686-2.033). Subgroup analysis revealed that TNF-α -308 G>A SNP is associated with reduced risk of CRC in Asian ethnicity. The study showed no publication bias. CONCLUSIONS: No association of TNF-α -308 G>A SNP with overall CRC risk was found. This SNP is likely to be protective against CRC in Asian population when compared with Caucasian population. Larger prospective-epidemiological studies are warranted to elucidate the roles of TNF-α -308 G>A SNP in the etiology of CRC and to endorse the present findings.

Niacin deficiency modulates genes involved in cancer: Are smokers at higher risk?

The role of niacin's metabolite, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), in DNA repair via base-excision repair pathway is well documented. We evaluated if niacin deficiency results in genetic instability in normal human fetal lung fibroblasts (MRC-5), and further, does it leads to enhanced accumulation of cigarette smoke-induced genetic damage? MRC-5 cells were grown discretely in niacin-proficient/deficient media, and exposed to nicotine-derived nitrosamine ketone (NNK, a cigarette smoke carcinogen). Niacin deficiency abated the NAD polymerization, augmented the spontaneous induction of micronuclei (MN) and chromosomal aberrations (CA) and raised the expression of 10 genes and suppressed 12 genes involved in different biological functions. NNK exposure resulted in genetic damage as measured by the induction of MN and CA in cells grown in niacin-proficient medium, but the damage became practically marked when niacin-deficient cells were exposed to NNK. NNK exposure raised the expression of 16 genes and suppressed the expression of 56 genes in cells grown in niacin-proficient medium. NNK exposure to niacin-deficient cells raised the expression of eight genes including genes crucial in promoting cancer such as FGFR3 and DUSP1 and suppressed the expression of 33 genes, including genes crucial in preventing the onset and progression of cancer like RASSF2, JUP, and IL24, in comparison with the cells grown in niacin-proficient medium. Overall, niacin deficiency interferes with the DNA damage repair process induced by chemical carcinogens like NNK, and niacin-deficient population are at the higher risk of genetic instability caused by cigarette smoke carcinogen NNK.

Impact of p53 arg72pro SNP on Breast Cancer Risk in North Indian Population.

BACKGROUND: Genetic changes in p53 gene contribute to breast cancer susceptibility. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: A case-control study and a meta-analysis were performed to investigate the role of p53 codon72 SNP with breast cancer susceptibility in Indian women. RESULTS: p53 heterozygous arginine variant was associated with decreased risk of breast cancer in total cohort. In meta-analysis, Allelic and GG vs. CC genetic comparison model were found to be associated with breast cancer risk. Moreover, recessive comparison model indicated a protective correlation with breast cancer occurrence. CONCLUSION: The findings of our case-control study and meta-analysis suggest a significant association between p53 Arg72Pro polymorphism and an increased risk of breast cancer in Indian population.

Developments in strategies for Quorum Sensing virulence factor inhibition to combat bacterial drug resistance.

Quorum sensing (QS) is a complex bacterial intercellular communication system. It is mediated by molecules called auto-inducers (AIs) and allows coordinated responses to a variety of environmental signals by inducing alterations in gene expression. Communication through QS can tremendously stimulate the pathogenicity and virulence via multiple mechanisms in pathogenic bacteria. The present review explores the major types of multitudinous QS systems known in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and their roles in bacterial pathogenesis and drug resistance. Because bacterial resistance to antibiotics is increasingly becoming a significant clinical challenge to human health; alternate strategies to combat drug resistance are warranted. Targeting bacterial pathogenicity by interruptions in QS using natural QS inhibitors and synthetic quorum-quenching analogs are being increasingly considered for development of next generation antimicrobials. The review highlights the recent advancements in discovery of promising new QS modulators and their efficiency in controlling infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens.

Meta-analysis reveals no correlation of caveolin-1 G14713A (G>A) gene polymorphism with increased cancer risk in Taiwanese population.

OBJECTIVES: The role of caveolin-1 (CAV1)(G>A, rs3807987) polymorphism is still dubious in cancer causation in Taiwanese population. The present study is an effort to assess the above relation for precise conclusion. METHODS: EMBASE and PubMed (MEDLINE) databases were explored for the pertinent case-control studies reporting the connection of CAV1 G14713A polymorphism to the vulnerability to cancer. A cumulative analysis using meta-analytic approach was accomplished and pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated for all the polymorphs. RESULTS: Overall, 2549 subjects and 3161 controls were analyzed from six selected studies. Our study showed no confirmation of noteworthy risk between CAV1 G14713A polymorphism and susceptibility to cancer in any of the polymorph, for instance, allele (A vs. G: P = 0.165; OR = 1.252, 95% CI = 0.911-1.721), homozygous (AA vs. GG: P = 0.252; OR = 1.328, 95% CI = 0.817-2.157), heterozygous (AG vs. GG: P = 0.091; OR = 1.356, 95% CI = 0.952-1.930), dominant (AA vs. GG + AG: P = 0.345; OR = 1.191, 95% CI = 0.829-1.709), and recessive (AA + AG vs. GG: P = 0.125; OR = 1.344, 95% CI = 0.921-1.961). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that CAV1 G14713A polymorphism does not contribute as an independent predisposing risk factor for developing cancer in Taiwanese population.

Recent developments and obstacles in the treatment of melanoma with BRAF and MEK inhibitors.

Metastatic melanoma is a least common form of cancer as it accounts only for 1% of all cancer cases. But, it is most deadly in nature and is haunting mankind for long emotionally as well as economically. The sites for the onset of the disease are pigment-producing cells of the skin, mucosa, eye etc. It has the potential to spread other sites like subcutaneous tissue, lymph nodes, lungs, liver, bone and brain. The United States Food & Drug Administration has approved various drug molecules from time to time. The molecules (Dabrafenib-BRAF inhibitor and Trametinib-MEK inhibitor) have proved their credentials alone and in combination as well. These molecules have demonstrated good results for various end points like median progression free survival, overall survival, objective response etc. The median progression free survival for patients using dabrafenib and trametinib were 5.1 and 4.8 months, respectively (administered singly). It has increased to 11.4 months in the combination treatment "dabrafenib + trametinib", which is approximately 104% and 138% greater than dabrafenib and trametinib treated groups alone. Similarly, the overall survival rate and objective response rate for the patients administered with "dabrafenib + trametinib" have been increased by 72% 64%, respectively. All these increments in these parameters were for a short period of time as the molecules were unable to withstand the pressure of resistance developed in the patients. So, the current review suggests the use of BRAF and MEK inhibitors as intermittent therapy along with heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) molecules.

Inhibition of C298S mutant of human aldose reductase for antidiabetic applications: Evidence from in silico elementary mode analysis of biological network model.

Human aldose reductase (hAR) is the key enzyme in sorbitol pathway of glucose utilization and is implicated in the etiology of secondary complications of diabetes, such as, cardiovascular complications, neuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy, and cataract genesis. It reduces glucose to sorbitol in the presence of NADPH and the major cause of diabetes complications could be the change in the osmotic pressure due to the accumulation of sorbitol. An activated form of hAR (activated hAR or ahAR) poses a potential obstacle in the development of diabetes drugs as hAR-inhibitors are ineffective against ahAR. The therapeutic efficacy of such drugs is compromised when a large fraction of the enzyme (hAR) undergoes conversion to the activated ahAR form as has been observed in the diabetic tissues. In the present study, attempts have been made to employ systems biology strategies to identify the elementary nodes of human polyol metabolic pathway, responsible for normal metabolic states, followed by the identification of natural potent inhibitors of the activated form of hAR represented by the mutant C298S for possible antidiabetic applications. Quantum Mechanical Molecular Mechanical docking strategy was used to determine the probable inhibitors of ahAR. Rosmarinic acid was found as the most potent natural ahAR inhibitor and warrants for experimental validation in the near future.

Impact of LMP7 (rs2071543) gene polymorphism in increasing cancer risk: evidence from a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.

Genetic variant LMP7 (low molecular weight polypeptide 7) -145 C > A may influence the function of immune surveillance of an individual and lead to cancer development. Various studies have investigated the relevance of LMP7 -145 C > A gene polymorphism with cancer risk; but, their results are conflicting and inconsistent. To obtain a comprehensive conclusion, a meta-analysis was performed by including eight eligible published studies retrieved from PubMed (Medline), EMBASE and Google Scholar web search until December 2016. Individuals with AA genotype (AA vs CC: p = 0.001; OR = 2.602, 95% CI = 1.780 to 3.803) of LMP7 -145 C > A were found to have 2 folds higher risk of cancer than those with CC genotype. The recessive genetic model (AA vs AC + CC) also indicated that individuals with AA genotype have 2 folds higher cancer risk than AC and CC genotypes (p = 0.001; OR = 2.216, 95% CI = 1.525 to 3.221). Also, significant increased cancer risk was observed in Asians but not in Caucasians. No publication bias was observed during the analysis. Trial sequential analysis also strengthened our current findings. These results suggest that genetic variant LMP7-145 C > A has significant role in increasing cancer risk in overall and Asian population, and could be useful as a prognostic marker for early cancer predisposition.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Gene I/D Polymorphism Is Associated With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Susceptibility: An Updated Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene is indispensable for endothelial control and vascular tone regulatory systems, usually affected in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). ACE insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism may influence the progress of SLE. Earlier studies have investigated this association without any consistency in results. We performed this meta-analysis to evaluate the precise association between ACE I/D polymorphism and SLE susceptibility. The relevant studies were searched until December, 2017 using Medline (PubMed), Google-Scholar and EMBASE search engines. Twenty-five published studies involving 3,308 cases and 4,235 controls were included in this meta-analysis. Statistically significant increased risk was found for allelic (D vs. I: p = 0.007; OR = 1.202, 95% CI = 1.052-1.374), homozygous (DD vs. II: p = 0.025; OR = 1.347, 95% CI = 1.038-1.748), dominant (DD+ID vs. II: p = 0.002; OR = 1.195, 95% CI = 1.070-1.334), and recessive (DD vs. ID+II: p = 0.023; OR = 1.338, 95% CI = 1.042-1.718) genetic models. Subgroup analysis stratified by Asian ethnicity revealed significant risk of SLE in allelic (D vs. I: p = 0.045; OR = 1.238, 95% CI = 1.005-1.525) and marginal risk in dominant (DD+ID vs. II: p = 0.056; OR = 1.192, 95% CI = 0.995-1.428) models; whereas, no association was observed for Caucasian and African population. Publication bias was absent. In conclusion, ACE I/D polymorphism has significant role in overall SLE risk and it can be exploited as a prognostic marker for early SLE predisposition.