MicroRNA-Mediated Suppression of Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Expression Is Modulated by a Schizophrenia-Associated Non-Coding Polymorphism.

Plasma levels of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), a pivotal regulator of differentiation and survival of dopaminergic neurons, are reportedly decreased in schizophrenia. To explore the involvement of GDNF in the pathogenesis of the disease, a case-control association analysis was performed between five non-coding single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) across the GDNF gene and schizophrenia. Of them, the 'G' allele of the rs11111 SNP located in the 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) of the gene was found to associate with schizophrenia. In silico analysis revealed that the rs11111 'G' allele might create binding sites for three microRNA (miRNA) species. To explore the significance of this polymorphism, transient co-transfection assays were performed in human embryonic kidney 293T (HEK293T) cells with a luciferase reporter construct harboring either the 'A' or 'G' allele of the 3'-UTR of GDNF in combination with the hsa-miR-1185-1-3p pre-miRNA. It was demonstrated that in the presence of the rs11111 'G' (but not the 'A') allele, hsa-miR-1185-2-3p repressed luciferase activity in a dose-dependent manner. Deletion of the miRNA binding site or its substitution with the complementary sequence abrogated the modulatory effect. Our results imply that the rs11111 'G' allele occurring more frequently in patients with schizophrenia might downregulate GDNF expression in a miRNA-dependent fashion.

Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Elevated Expression of a Potentially Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Associated SCD1 Variant.

Disturbances in lipid metabolism related to excessive food intake and sedentary lifestyle are among major risk of various metabolic disorders. Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) has an essential role in these diseases, as it catalyzes the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, both supplying for fat storage and contributing to cellular defense against saturated fatty acid toxicity. Recent studies show that increased activity or over-expression of SCD1 is one of the contributing factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We aimed to investigate the impact of the common missense rs2234970 (M224L) polymorphism on SCD1 function in transfected cells. We found a higher expression of the minor Leu224 variant, which can be attributed to a combination of mRNA and protein stabilization. The latter was further enhanced by various fatty acids. The increased level of Leu224 variant resulted in an elevated unsaturated: saturated fatty acid ratio, due to higher oleate and palmitoleate contents. Accumulation of Leu224 variant was found in a T2DM patient group, however, the difference was statistically not significant. In conclusion, the minor variant of rs2234970 polymorphism might contribute to the development of obesity-related metabolic disorders, including T2DM, through an increased intracellular level of SCD1.

The molecular effect of a polymorphic microRNA binding site of Wolfram syndrome 1 gene in dogs.

BACKGROUND: Although the molecular function of wolframin remains unclear, the lack of this protein is known to cause stress in the endoplasmic reticulum. Some variants in the Wolfram Syndrome 1 gene (WFS1) were associated with various neuropsychiatric disorders in humans, such as aggressiveness, impulsivity and anxiety. RESULTS: Here we present an in silico study predicting a single nucleotide polymorphism (rs852850348) in the canine WFS1 gene which was verified by direct sequencing and was genotyped by a PCR-based technique. We found that the rs852850348 polymorphism is located in a putative microRNA (cfa-miR-8834a and cfa-miR-1838) binding site. Therefore, the molecular effect of allelic variants was studied in a luciferase reporter system that allowed assessing gene expression. We demonstrated that the variant reduced the activity of the reporter protein expression in an allele-specific manner. Additionally, we performed a behavioral experiment and investigated the association with this locus to different performance in this test. Association was found between food possessivity and the studied WFS1 gene polymorphism in the Border collie breed. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our findings, the rs852850348 locus might contribute to the genetic risk of possessivity behavior of dogs in at least one breed and might influence the regulation of wolframin expression.

Gene-sex interaction in Hypercompetitive Attitude suggests beneficial effect of the DRD4 7-repeat allele in adaptation.

Twin studies provide evidence for the heritability of social attitudes, e.g. competitiveness, however, there are no psychogenetic association results linking competitive attitudes to genetic polymorphisms. Candidate gene studies report association with competitiveness-related phenotypes, risk taking for example was linked with the 7-repeat allele of the dopamine D4 receptor gene. This polymorphism has been studied extensively with novelty seeking and certain psychiatric disorders, as it plays a crucial role in molecular genetic mechanisms driving behavioral responses to the environment, especially modulating behavior through the reward circuitry. In the present study, we examined association of the DRD4 48-bp VNTR and competitiveness using self-report data from 399 non-related Caucasians. We found an interesting gene-sex interaction: 7-carrier males were more hypercompetitive as compared to non-carriers, while 7-carrier females were less hypercompetitive as compared to non-carriers. This finding remained significant after Bonferroni correction for multiple testing. Interestingly, among females we observed a significant positive correlation between hypercompetitiveness and mood characteristic variables, however, no such relationship could be detected in males. In 7-carrier females the association of hypercompetitiveness and anxiety or depression was more robust as compared to non-carrier females. These results highlight the importance of cultural influences in interpreting gene-sex interaction effects. Our results underlies interaction between genes and the environment; suggesting that the 7-repeat allele plays an important role in adaptivity, enabling sex-specific behavior to social expectations.

[Investigation of the genetic background of complex diseases]. / Komplex jellegek genetikai hátterének elemzése.

Although the Human Genome Project discovered the sequence of the human genetic information 15 years ago, genetic background of the diseases - primarily that of complex disorders - is still not known. The sum of the not yet discovered inherited risk factors is termed the missing heritability; the identification of these genetic components is, however, essential, as it is the base of the understanding of the molecular pathomechanism of diseases. It is not only of theoretical importance: this knowledge can be used in the clinical practice, as it offers the possibility of improvement of diagnostics, prevention as well as targeted and individualized therapy. Application of novel and more efficient molecular biological tools contribute to the discovery of unknown genetic factors, the complete goal can only be achieved, however, by re-conceptualization of several clinical and genetic points. Our knowledge was established by genome-wide studies, however, further knowledge must be acquired according to the following points: (1) genotype and association analysis of repeat variations (VNTRs and CNVs) besides SNPs, (2) investigation of gene-gene and gene-environment interactions, (3) epigenetic studies, (4) assessing the biological function of polymorphisms, (5) application of biologically relevant diagnostic categories and endophenotypes. Although it is only 1.2% of the whole genome that codes for proteins, however, as much as 90% is transcribed to RNA, consequently it can be hypothesized that gene expression analyses might offer promising starting points for further studies, as they can shed light on the molecular processes that contribute to the development of diseases. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(31): 1254-1261.

DNA methylation patterns of behavior-related gene promoter regions dissect the gray wolf from domestic dog breeds.

A growing body of evidence highlights the relationship between epigenetics, especially DNA methylation, and population divergence as well as speciation. However, little is known about how general the phenomenon of epigenetics-wise separation of different populations is, or whether population assignment is, possible based on solely epigenetic marks. In the present study, we compared DNA methylation profiles between four different canine populations: three domestic dog breeds and their ancestor the gray wolf. Altogether, 79 CpG sites constituting the 65 so-called CpG units located in the promoter regions of genes affecting behavioral and temperamental traits (COMT, HTR1A, MAOA, OXTR, SLC6A4, TPH1, WFS1)-regions putatively targeted during domestication and breed selection. Methylation status of buccal cells was assessed using EpiTYPER technology. Significant inter-population methylation differences were found in 52.3% of all CpG units investigated. DNA methylation profile-based hierarchical cluster analysis indicated an unambiguous segregation of wolf from domestic dog. In addition, one of the three dog breeds (Golden Retriever) investigated also formed a separate, autonomous group. The findings support that population segregation is interrelated with shifts in DNA methylation patterns, at least in putative selection target regions, and also imply that epigenetic profiles could provide a sufficient basis for population assignment of individuals.

Multicapillary gel electrophoresis based analysis of genetic variants in the WFS1 gene.

The WFS1 gene is one of the thoroughly investigated targets in diabetes research, variants of the gene were suggested to be the genetic components of the common forms (type 1 and type 2) of diabetes. Our project focused on the analysis of polymorphisms (rs4689388, rs148797429, rs4273545) localized in the WFS1 promoter region. Although submarine gel electrophoresis based approaches were also employed in the genetic tests, it was demonstrated that multicapillary electrophoresis offers a state of the art approach for reliable high-throughput SNP and VNTR analysis. Association studies were carried out in a case-control setup. Luciferase reporter assay was employed to test the effect of the investigated loci on the activity of gene expression in vitro. Significant association could be demonstrated between all three polymorphisms and type 2 diabetes in both allele- and genotype-wise settings even using Bonferroni correction. It is notable; however, that the three loci were in strong linkage disequilibrium, thus the observed associations cannot be considered as separate effects. Molecular analyses showed that the rs4273545 GT SNP played a role in the regulation of transcription in vitro. However, this effect took place only in the presence of the region including the rs148797429 site, although this latter locus did not have its own impact on the regulation of gene expression. The paper provides genotyping protocols readily applicable in any multiplex SNP and VNTR analyses, moreover confirms and extends previous results about the role of WFS1 polymorphisms in the genetic risk of diabetes mellitus.

Rapid analysis of colipase gene variants by multicapillary electrophoresis.

Despite of the fact that the Human Genome Project was completed more than a decade ago, identification of the genetic background of polygenic diseases is still challenging. Several somewhat different approaches are available to investigate inheritable factors of complex phenotypes, all require, however efficient, high-throughput techniques for SNP genotyping. In this paper, we report a robust and reliable multiplex PCR-RFLP for genotype and haplotype analysis of six SNPs (rs41270082, rs3748051, rs142027015, rs3748048, rs73404011, and rs72925892) of the colipase (CLPS) gene. A multicapillary (12 capillaries) electrophoresis unit was used for high throughput and sensitive analysis of the digestion fragments. A Microsoft Excel-based spreadsheet was designed for the flexible visualization and evaluation of the electrophoretic separations, which is readily adaptable for any kind of electrophoresis application. Haplotype analysis of the two loci localized in close proximity of each other was carried out by molecular method, extended haplotypes including all five SNPs in the 5' upstream region were calculated. The techniques were applied in a case-control association study of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Although, single marker analysis did not reveal any significant association, it was observed that the rare GGCCG haplotype of the five 5' upstream region SNPs was about three times more frequent among patients compared to healthy control population. Our results demonstrated the applicability of multicapillary CGE in large-scale, high-throughput SNP analysis, and suggested that the CLPS gene polymorphisms might be considered as genetic risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Rapid identification of human SNAP-25 transcript variants by a miniaturized capillary electrophoresis system.

The 25 kDa synaptosomal-associated protein (SNAP-25) is a crucial component of the soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor complex and plays an important role in neurotransmission in the central nervous system. SNAP-25 has two different splice variants, SNAP-25a and SNAP-25b, differing in nine amino acids that results in a slight functional alteration of the generated soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor complex. Two independent techniques, a PCR-miniaturized CE method and a real-time PCR based approach were elaborated for the specific and quantitative detection of the two SNAP-25 transcription variants. DNA-constructs coding for the two isoforms were used for optimization. Excellent specificity was observed with the use of our previously described highly sensitive miniaturized CE system in combination with quantitative PCR. The ratio of the two isoforms were reliably detected in a range of at least four orders of magnitude with a linear regression of R(2) = 0.987. Expression of the two isoforms was determined in human samples, where SNAP-25 was detected even in non-neural tissues, although at approximately a 100-fold lower level compared to the central nervous system. The relative amount of the SNAP-25b isoform was higher in the brain, whereas expression of SNAP-25a variant proved to be slightly higher in extra-neural cell types. The genomics approach in conjunction with the miniaturized CE system introduced in this paper is readily applicable for rapid alternative splice variant analysis.

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta gene structural variants as possible risk factors of bipolar depression.

The glycogen synthase kinase 3B (GSK3B) is an important target protein of several antidepressants, such as lithium, a mood stabilizer. Recent studies associated structural variations of the GSK3B gene to bipolar disorder (BP), although replications were not conclusive. Here we present data on copy number variations (CNVs) of the GSK3B gene probing the 9th exon region in 846 individuals (414 controls, 172 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 260 with BP). A significant accumulation (odds ratio: 5.5, P = 0.00051) of the amplified exon 9 region was found in patients (22 out of 432) compared to controls (4 of 414). Analyzing patient subgroups, GSK3B structural variants were found to be risk factors of BP particularly (P = 0.00001) with an odds ratio of 8.1 while no such effect was shown in the MDD group. The highest odds (19.7 ratio) for bipolar disorder was observed in females with the amplified exon 9 region. A more detailed analysis of the identified GSK3B CNV by a set of probes covering the GSK3B gene and the adjacent NR1I2 and C3orf15 genes showed that the amplified sequences contained 3' (downstream) segments of the GSK3B and NR1I2 genes but none of them involved the C3orf15 gene. Therefore, the copy number variation of the GSK3B gene could be described as a complex set of structural variants involving partial duplications and deletions, simultaneously. In summary, here we confirmed significant association of the GSK3B CNV and bipolar disorder pointing out that the copy number and extension of the CNV varies among individuals.

Allele-specific effect of various dietary fatty acids and ETS1 transcription factor on SCD1 expression.

Overnutrition and genetic predisposition are major risk factors for various metabolic disorders. Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) plays a key role in these conditions by synthesizing unsaturated fatty acids (FAs), thereby promoting fat storage and alleviating lipotoxicity. Expression of SCD1 is influenced by various saturated and cis-unsaturated FAs, but the possible role of dietary trans FAs (TFAs) and SCD1 promoter polymorphisms in its regulations has not been addressed. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the impact of the two main TFAs, vaccenate and elaidate, and four common promoter polymorphisms (rs1054411, rs670213, rs2275657, rs2275656) on SCD1 expression in HEK293T and HepG2 cell cultures using luciferase reporter assay, qPCR and immunoblotting. We found that SCD1 protein and mRNA levels as well as SCD1 promoter activity are markedly elevated by elaidate, but not altered by vaccenate. The promoter polymorphisms did not affect the basal transcriptional activity of SCD1. However, the minor allele of rs1054411 increased SCD1 expression in the presence of various FAs. Moreover, this variant was predicted in silico and verified in vitro to reduce the binding of ETS1 transcription factor to SCD1 promoter. Although we could not confirm an association with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the FA-dependent and ETS1-mediated effect of rs1054411 polymorphism deserves further investigation as it may modulate the development of lipid metabolism-related conditions.

DRD4 and TH gene polymorphisms are associated with activity, impulsivity and inattention in Siberian Husky dogs.

Both dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) exon 3 and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) intron 4 repeat polymorphisms have been linked to activity and impulsivity in German Shepherd dogs (GSDs). However, the results in GSDs may not be generalisable to other breeds, as allelic frequencies vary markedly among breeds. We selected the Siberian Husky for further study, because it is highly divergent from most dog breeds, including the GSD. The study sample consisted of 145 racing Siberian Huskies from Europe and North America. We found that this breed possesses seven DRD4 length variants, two to five more variants than found in other breeds. Among them was the longest known allele, previously described only in wolves. Short alleles of the DRD4 and TH repeat polymorphisms were associated with higher levels of activity, impulsivity and inattention. Siberian Huskies possessing at least one short allele of the DRD4 polymorphism displayed greater activity in a behavioural test battery than did those with two long alleles. However, the behavioural test was brief and may not have registered variation in behaviour across time and situations. Owners also completed the Dog-Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale (Dog-ADHD RS), a more general measure of activity and attention. Siberian Huskies from Europe with two short alleles of the TH polymorphism received higher ratings of inattention on the Dog-ADHD RS than did those with the long allele. Investigation of the joint effect of DRD4 and TH showed that dogs possessing long alleles at both sites were scored as less active-impulsive than were others. Our results are aligned with previous studies showing that DRD4 and TH polymorphisms are associated with activity-impulsivity related traits in dogs. However, the prevalence of variants of these genes differs across breeds, and the functional role of specific variants is unclear.

Association of aggression with a novel microRNA binding site polymorphism in the wolframin gene.

Rare mutations in the WFS1 gene lead to Wolfram syndrome, a severe multisystem disorder with progressive neurodegeneration and diabetes mellitus causing life-threatening complications and premature death. Only a few association studies using small clinical samples tested the possible effects of common WFS1 gene variants on mood disorders and suicide, the non-clinical spectrum has not been studied yet. Self-report data on Aggression, Impulsiveness, Anxiety, and Depression were collected from a large (N = 801) non-psychiatric sample. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected to provide an adequate coverage of the entire WFS1 gene, as well as to include putative microRNA binding site polymorphisms. Molecular analysis of the assumed microRNA binding site variant was performed by an in vitro reporter-gene assay of the cloned 3' untranslated region with coexpression of miR-668. Among the 17 WFS1 SNPs, only the rs1046322, a putative microRNA (miR-668) binding site polymorphism showed significant association with psychological dimensions after correction for multiple testing: those with the homozygous form of the minor allele reported higher aggression on the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (P = 0.0005). Functional effect of the same SNP was also demonstrated in a luciferase reporter system: the minor A allele showed lower repression compared to the major G allele, if co-expressed with miR-668. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing a microRNA binding site polymorphism of the WFS1 gene and its association with human aggression based on a large, non-clinical sample.

Persistent sepsis-induced transcriptomic signatures in signaling pathways of peripheral blood leukocytes: A pilot study.

Sepsis is a dysregulated immune response to infections that frequently precipitates multiple organ dysfunction and death despite intensive supportive therapy. The aim of the present study was to identify sepsis-induced alterations in the signaling transcriptome of peripheral blood leukocytes that might shed light on the elusive transition from proinflammatory to anti-inflammatory responses and underlie long-term post-sepsis immunosuppression. Peripheral blood leukocytes were collected from subjects (i) with systemic inflammation, (ii) with sepsis in the acute phase and (iii) 6 months after recovery from sepsis, corresponding to progressive stages of the disease. Transcriptomic analysis was performed with the QuantStudio 12K Flex OpenArray Human Signal Transduction Panel analyzing transcripts of 573 genes playing a significant role in signaling. Of them, 145 genes exhibited differential expression in sepsis as compared to systemic inflammation. Pathway analysis revealed enhanced expression levels of genes involved in primary immune responses (proinflammatory cytokines, neutrophil and macrophage activation markers) and signatures characteristic of immunosuppression (increased expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines and proapoptotic genes; diminished expression of T and B cell receptor dependent activating and survival pathways). Importantly, sepsis-induced expression patterns of 39 genes were not normalized by the end of the 6-month follow-up period, indicating expression aberrations persisting long after clinical recovery. Functional analysis of these transcripts revealed downregulation of the antiapoptotic Wnt and mTOR signaling pathways that might explain the post-sepsis immunosuppression commonly seen in sepsis survivors.

Missense Variants of von Willebrand Factor in the Background of COVID-19 Associated Coagulopathy.

COVID-19 associated coagulopathy (CAC), characterized by endothelial dysfunction and hypercoagulability, evokes pulmonary immunothrombosis in advanced COVID-19 cases. Elevated von Willebrand factor (vWF) levels and reduced activities of the ADAMTS13 protease are common in CAC. Here, we aimed to determine whether common genetic variants of these proteins might be associated with COVID-19 severity and hemostatic parameters. A set of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the vWF (rs216311, rs216321, rs1063856, rs1800378, rs1800383) and ADAMTS13 genes (rs2301612, rs28729234, rs34024143) were genotyped in 72 COVID-19 patients. Cross-sectional cohort analysis revealed no association of any polymorphism with disease severity. On the other hand, analysis of variance (ANOVA) uncovered associations with the following clinical parameters: (1) the rs216311 T allele with enhanced INR (international normalized ratio); (2) the rs1800383 C allele with elevated fibrinogen levels; and (3) the rs1063856 C allele with increased red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and creatinine levels. No association could be observed between the phenotypic data and the polymorphisms in the ADAMTS13 gene. Importantly, in silico protein conformational analysis predicted that these missense variants would display global conformational alterations, which might affect the stability and plasma levels of vWF. Our results imply that missense vWF variants might modulate the thrombotic risk in COVID-19.

Parentage testing and looking for single nucleotide markers associated with antler quality in deer (Cervus elaphus).

To provide a cost-efficient parentage testing kit for red deer (Cervus elaphus), a 63 SNP set has been developed from a high-density Illumina BovineHD BeadChip containing 777 962 SNPs after filtering of genotypes of 50 stags. The successful genotyping rate was 38.6 % on the chip. The ratio of polymorphic loci among effectively genotyped loci was 6.5 %. The selected 63 SNPs have been applied to 960 animals to perform parentage control. Thirty SNPs out of the 63 had worked on the OpenArray platform. Their combined value of the probability of identity and exclusion probability was 4.9 × 10 - 11 and 0.99803, respectively. A search for loci linked with antler quality was also performed on the genotypes of the above-mentioned stags. Association studies revealed 14 SNPs associated with antler quality, where low-quality antlers with short and thin main beam antlers had values from 1 to 2, while high-quality antlers with long and strong main beams had values between 4 and 5. The chance for a stag to be correctly identified as having high-value antlers is expected to be over 88 %.

Haplotyping of putative microRNA-binding sites in the SNAP-25 gene.

Synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNAP-25) plays a crucial role in exocitosis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs3746544 and rs1051312) in the 3' un-translated region of the SNAP-25 gene have been described to be in association with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. As the disease affects millions of children world-wide, understanding the genetic background of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is of crucial importance. Efficient and reliable PCR-RFLP protocols were elaborated for the genotyping of the rs3746544 and rs1051312 SNPs employing a high-throughput capillary electrophoresis method for fragment analysis. A novel real-time PCR-based technique was used applying sequence specific TaqMan probes to haplotype the two SNPs, and the G-C haplotype could not be detected in a large Caucasian population (N=1376). These findings have been confirmed by molecular biology tools as well as by the PHASE Bayesian computational approach. In silico analyses have suggested that the two SNPs might alter microRNA binding and thus have an effect on SNAP-25 production. We have demonstrated that this biological information can be revealed only by direct haplotype analysis emphasizing the importance of our novel molecular haplotye analysis protocol. Results of the study of the two SNPs might shed light on the association of SNAP-25 variants and pathological phenotypes at the molecular level.

[Genetic variability of the oxytocine receptor: an in silico study]. / Az oxitocinreceptor genetikai variabilitásának in silico elemzése.

UNLABELLED: There is an ongoing extensive study on the polymorphisms of the oxytocine receptor (OXTR) gene and their relation to certain psychological traits and psychiatric disorders, however the results are contradictory. One of the sources of inconsistency could originate from the fact that the OXTR gene contains more than 270 SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) without clarified molecular effect. GOALS: The aim of this study was an in silico analysis of sequence variations between the human and dog OXTR gene. RESULTS: Comparative analysis of the human and the dog OXTR amino acid sequence revealed that the most robust difference between the two proteins is a five amino acid containing fragment which is present in the human but absent in the dog receptor. In silico addition of this sequence to the dog receptor resulted in a dramatic change in the conformation of the intracellular region. CONCLUSION: In silico comparative analysis of OXTR gene variants among species and individuals might serve as an important cue for predicting the functional effects of genetic variants.

Restrained expression of canine glucocorticoid receptor splice variants α and P prognosticates fatal disease outcome in SIRS.

Glucocorticoids play a central role in the inflammatory response and alleviate the symptoms in critically ill patients. The glucocorticoid action relies on the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) which translocates into the nucleus upon ligand-binding and regulates transcription of a battery of genes. Although the GR is encoded by a single gene, dozens of its splice variants have been described in diverse species. The GRα isoform encodes the full, functionally active protein that is composed of a transactivation, a DNA-binding, and a C-terminal ligand-binding domain. The second most highly expressed receptor variant, the GR-P, is formed by an intron retention that introduces an early stop codon and results in a probably dysfunctional protein with truncated ligand-binding domain. We described the canine ortholog of GR-P and showed that this splice variant is highly abundant in the peripheral blood of dogs. The level of cGRα and cGR-P transcripts are elevated in patients of SIRS and the survival rate is increased with elevated cGRα and cGR-P expression. The ratio of cGRα and cGR-P mRNA did not differ between the survivor and non-survivor patients; thus, the total GR expression is more pertinent than the relative expression of GR isoforms in assessment of the disease outcome.

Sequence analysis of the human tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase-2 gene in subjects with chronic pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Human trypsinogens are post-translationally sulfated on Tyr154 by the Golgi resident enzyme tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase-2 (TPST2). Tyrosine sulfation stimulates the autoactivation of human cationic trypsinogen. Because increased trypsinogen autoactivation has been implicated as a pathogenic mechanism in chronic pancreatitis, we hypothesized that genetic variants of TPST2 might alter the risk for the disease. METHODS: We sequenced the 4 protein-coding exons and the adjacent intronic sequences of TPST2 in 151 subjects with chronic pancreatitis and in 169 healthy controls. The functional effect of TPST2 variants on trypsinogen sulfation was analyzed in transfected HEK 293T cells. RESULTS: We detected 10 common polymorphic variants, including 6 synonymous variants and 4 intronic variants, with similar frequencies in patients and controls. None of the 8 common haplotypes reconstructed from the frequent variants showed an association with chronic pancreatitis. In addition, we identified 5 rare TPST2 variants, which included 3 synonymous alterations, the c.458G>A (p.R153H) nonsynonymous variant and the c.-9C>T variant in the 5' untranslated region. The p.R153H variant was found in a family with hereditary pancreatitis; however, it did not segregate with the disease. In functional assays, both the p.R153H and c.-9C>T TPST2 variants catalyzed trypsinogen sulfation as well as wild-type TPST2. CONCLUSION: Genetic variants of human TPST2 exert no influence on the risk of chronic pancreatitis.