Single nucleotide polymorphism and FMR1 CGG repeat instability in two Basque valleys.

Fragile X Syndrome (FXS, MIM 309550) is mainly due to the expansion of a CGG trinucleotide repeat sequence, found in the 5' untranslated region of the FMR1 gene. Some studies suggest that stable markers, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the study of populations with genetic identity, could provide a distinct advance to investigate the origin of CGG repeat instability. In this study, seven SNPs (WEX28 rs17312728:G>T, WEX70 rs45631657:C>T, WEX1 rs10521868:A>C, ATL1 rs4949:A>G, FMRb rs25707:A>G, WEX17 rs12010481:C>T and WEX10 ss71651741:C>T) have been analyzed in two Basque valleys (Markina and Arratia). We examined the association between these SNPs and the CGG repeat size, the AGG interruption pattern and two microsatellite markers (FRAXAC1 and DXS548). The results suggest that in both valleys WEX28-T, WEX70-C, WEX1-C, ATL1-G, and WEX10-C are preferably associated with cis-acting sequences directly influencing instability. But comparison of the two valleys reveals also important differences with respect to: (1) frequency and structure of "susceptible" alleles and (2) association between "susceptible" alleles and STR and SNP haplotypes. These results may indicate that, in Arratia, SNP status does not identify a pool of susceptible alleles, as it does in Markina. In Arratia valley, the SNP haplotype association reveals also a potential new "protective" factor.

Assessment of the genotoxicity of atenolol in human peripheral blood lymphocytes: correlation between chromosomal fragility and content of micronuclei.

The antihypertensive drug atenolol was found to induce chromosome loss, detected as micronuclei in the peripheral lymphocytes of treated patients. The fundamental question which chromosomes the micronuclei were derived from remains to be answered. Analysis of structural chromosomal aberrations (CAs) and expression of fragile sites (FS) were pursued in this study. They revealed a significantly higher incidence of chromosomal aberrations (chromatid and chromosome breaks) in patients compared with controls, where 10 FS emerged as specific. Also, the band 17q12-21, where known fragile sites have not been reported, was only expressed in atenolol-treated patients. Fluorescence in situ hybridization using chromosome-specific probes revealed the preferential involvement of chromosomes 7, 11, 17 and X in the micronuclei (MN) of patients. The results also suggest a correlation between chromosomal fragility and content of MN, and support the findings for a linkage between hypertension and a locus on chromosome 17.

Genotoxic evaluation of five Angiotesin II receptor blockers: in vivo and in vitro micronucleus assay.

Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are a new class of drugs for the treatment of hypertension. In this study, we studied the potential genotoxic effects of five ARBs in vivo and in vitro in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) by means of the cytokinesis-block micronucleous (CBMN) assay in combination with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with a centromeric probe. The nuclear division index (NDI) was used as a measure of cytotoxicity. We also analyzed the association between sex, age, duration of treatment and MN formation. The in vivo study was carried out in 55 hypertensive patients. The in vitro study was performed in 10 control individuals by adding the drugs to the culture medium at a final concentration similar to the levels found in plasma in patients. Our results showed a significant increase in the frequencies of MN and binucleated cells with MN (BNMN) in vivo and especially in vitro. We observed variability in the mean frequency of MN and BNMN among the five drugs analyzed. In vivo, patients treated with Candesartan, Telmisartan and Valsartan showed a statistical significant increase in these parameters, while Olmesartan showed the highest effect in vitro. We also found that the drugs inhibit the NDI in vitro and that Eprosartan, Olmesartan and Telmisartan are the ARBs studied with the highest effect in decreasing the proliferation of the cells. FISH analysis revealed no significant difference between patients and controls in the frequency of centromeric signals. A slight variability, without statistical significance, in the frequency of micronuclei with a centromere signal (CN(+)MN) was found among the different ARBs analyzed, ruling out an aneugenic potential. When accounting for risk factors, we found that in patients there is a positive correlation between MN, BNMN and sex and a negative correlation with duration of treatment.