Segregation of a haplotype encompassing FEB1 with genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus in a Colombian family.

Febrile seizures and epilepsy are believed to be linked and some forms of epilepsy are associated with a history of febrile seizures (FS). Linkage analysis to seven known loci for FS and/or genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS plus) was performed in a small Colombian family. Short tandem repeat (STR) markers were genotyped and two-point linkage analysis and haplotype reconstruction were conducted. A maximum LOD score of 0.75 at marker D8S533 for FEB1 at a recombination fraction (θ) of 0 and a segregating haplotype were identified. FEB1 was the first locus to be associated with FS and this is the second report to describe this association. Two genes in this region, CRH and DEPDC2, are good putative candidate genes that may play a role in FS and/or GEFS plus.

Diffusion Mechanism Modeling of Metformin in Human Organic Cationic Amino Acid Transporter one and Functional Impact of S189L, R206C, and G401S Mutation.

Metformin used as a first-line drug to treat Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is transported via organic cation channels to soft tissues. Mutations in the SLC22A1 gene, such as Gly401Ser, Ser189Leu, and Arg206Cys, may affect the drug's therapeutic effect on these patients. This study aims at proposing a potential structural model for drug interactions with the hOCT1 transporter, as well as the impact of these mutations at both topological and electronic structure levels on the channel's surface, from a chemical point of view with, in addition to exploring the frequency distribution. To chemically understand metformin diffusion, we used an open model from the protein model database, with ID PM0080367, viewed through UCSF Chimera. The effect of the mutations was assessed using computational hybrid Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics, based on the Austin Model 1 semi-empirical method using Spartan 18' software. The results demonstrate coupling energy for metformin with amino acids F, W, H and Y, because of the interaction between the metformin dication and the electron cloud of π orbitals. The mutations analyzed showed changes in the chemical polarity and topology of the structure. The proposed diffusion model is a possible approach to the interaction mechanism between metformin and its transporter, as well as the impacts of variants, suggesting structural changes in the action of the drug. Metformin efficacy considerably varies from one patient to another; this may be largely attributed to the presence of mutations on the SLC22A1 gene. This study aims at proposing a potential structural model for metformin-hOCT1 (SLC22A1) transporter interaction, as well as the identification of the effect of mutations G401S (rs34130495), S189L (rs34104736), and R206C (616C > T) of the SLC22A1 gene at the topological and electronic structure levels on the channel surfaces, from a chemical viewpoint. Our results demonstrated that the coupling energies for metformin with aromatic amino acids F, W, H and Y, because of the interaction between the metformin dication and the electron cloud of π orbitals. Changes in the chemical environment's polarity and the structure's topology were reported in the mutations assessed. The diffusion model proposed is a potential approach for the mechanism of interaction of metformin with its transporter and the effects of variants on the efficacy of the drug in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The assessment of the frequency of these mutations in a sample of Colombian type 2 diabetes patients suggests that different SLC22A1 gene variants might be involved in reduced OCT1 activity in the Colombian population since none of these mutations were detected.

Association of Native American ancestry and common variants in ACE, ADIPOR2, MTNR1B, GCK, TCF7L2 and FTO genes with glycemic traits in Colombian population.

Insulin resistance and defects in other related glycemic traits are common findings in the context of Metabolic Syndrome. Although genetic factors are clearly implied in susceptibility, and some gene variants have been identified mainly in populations of European ancestry, little is known about this aspect in admixed populations. The association of insulin resistance, ß-cell function, fasting insulin and glucose levels with 48 gene variants, previously related to metabolic syndrome components, and with the ancestral genetic composition, estimated on 50 ancestry informative markers, was evaluated in 417 individuals from the Colombian admixed population. The Native American genetic ancestry was associated with a low ß-cell function (odds ratio (OR) of 1.73 and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of 1.07-2.81, p = 0.026). Significant genotypic associations were obtained (q-value < 0.05) for gene variants in ACE (rs4340; OR (95% CI): 2.79 (1.58-4.91), insulin resistance; mean difference (95% CI): 0.273 (0.141; 0.406), fasting insulin), ADIPOR2 (rs11061971; OR (95% CI): 0.14 (0.04-0.48), low ß-cell function), MTNR1B (rs10830963; mean difference (95% CI): 0.032 (0.013; 0.051), fasting glucose) and GCK (rs4607517; mean difference (95% CI): 0.038 (0.020;0.056) and rs1799884; mean difference (95% CI): 0.027 (0.013-0.041), fasting glucose). Also the well-known gene variants rs7903146 in TCF7L2, and rs17817449 in FTO, were nominally associated with hyperglycemia (rs7903146), as well as with higher fasting insulin levels (rs17817449). Our findings indicate that gene variants in ACE, ADIPOR2, MTNR1B, GCK, TCF7L2 and FTO, are associated with glycemic traits in the admixed Colombian population, while a higher Native American genetic component is related to lower ß-cell function.

Insulin resistance and ß-cell function in Colombian mestizo and Embera-Chamí populations and their relation with adiposity degree.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Insulin resistance (IR) is a condition favored by metabolic and endocrine changes experienced by adipose tissue in the context of obesity. The prevalence and the presentation of both IR and obesity vary among the populations, and may be affected by ancestral genetic composition among other factors. The aim of this study was to compare the presence of IR and obesity in Amerindians of the Embera-Chamí ethnicity and Colombian mestizo population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A sample of 630 individuals, 471 mestizos and 159 Amerindians of the Embera-Chamí ethnicity, from the general population of Colombia were studied. For each participant, anthropometric and biochemical measurements, as well as blood pressure and the Homeostatic Model Assessment (HOMA) of IR and ß-cell function (%B) were recorded. These values were compared between the two populations. RESULTS: While prevalence of central obesity was similar in both populations (48.7% and 42.6% in the mestizo and Embera groups respectively; p=0.148), body mass index (BMI) values suggested a higher prevalence of overweight in the Embera than in mestizo population (43.4% Embera, 31.8% mestizo; p=0.027). Despite the similarities in the prevalence of HOMA-IR and HOMA-%B status between both populations, the Embera population had a significantly greater pancreatic ß-cell function, higher insulin levels, and better glucose control, across BMI and central obesity categories, than the mestizo population. CONCLUSION: There are differences in aspects related to energy metabolism between the samples of the mestizo and Amerindian populations analyzed.