Analysis of the association between MICA gene polymorphisms and schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) has been implicated in schizophrenia. This study aimed to explore the correlation between the major histocompatibility complex class I polypeptide-related sequence A (MICA) polymorphisms and schizophrenia. METHODS: A total of 220 Han schizophrenia patients, 47 Han healthy controls, 155 Li schizophrenia patients, and 48 Li controls were selected from Hainan Province, China. The diagnosis was made according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, criteria. Sequencing-based-typing (PCR-SBT) technology was used for MICA allele typing, and the correlation analyses of MICA gene polymorphism and schizophrenia were performed. RESULTS: In the Han group, the three allele frequencies of MICA*002:01, MICA*A4, and MICA*A9 in the schizophrenia group were significantly higher than those in the healthy control group, and the differences were statistically significant (pc < 0.05; pc values were 0.024, 0.030, and 0.031, respectively). Yet, there was no difference in the MICA gene between the schizophrenia group and the healthy controls group in the Li population. CONCLUSION: We found MICA*002:01, MICA*A4, and MICA*A9 may be susceptibility alleles for schizophrenia in the Han population, while the MICA allele polymorphism in the Li population is not associated with schizophrenia in Chinese.

Correlation between SEPS1 gene polymorphism and type 2 diabetes mellitus: A preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: The protein encoded by the selenoprotein S gene is considered to be an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant protein and is involved in a variety of diseases. Therefore, we want to study the distribution characteristics of this gene in Chinese diabetic population. METHODS: A total of 170 patients with DM (including 100 patients with T2DM and 70 patients with diabetic nephropathy [DN]) and 100 healthy controls (HC) were selected from Haikou People's Hospital (China) between January 2017 and July 2017. The polymorphisms of three SEPS1 genes (SNP ID: rs4965814, rs28665122, and rs34713741) were measured by massARRAY method, while the polymorphisms of SEPS1 genes (SNP ID: rs4965373) were detected by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: Comparing three groups, the results were the following: (a) There was a significant difference in the genotype and allele distribution of rs34713741 between DN group and HC group and between T2DM group and DN group; For this gene locus, the risk of diabetic nephropathy in healthy individuals with T allele was 0.6 times higher than that in individuals with GG genotype (OR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.46 ~ 0.77). (b) There was a significant difference in the distribution of rs4975814 genotype between DN group and HC group; for this gene locus, the risk of diabetic nephropathy in healthy individuals with T allele was 2.71 times higher than that in individuals with GG genotype (OR = 2.71, 95% CI: 1.66 ~ 4.45). CONCLUSION: We conclude that rs34713741 (GT + TT) may be a protective gene for DN and the rs4975814 (GT + TT) may be a susceptibility gene for DN.

P5CR1 protein expression and the effect of gene-silencing on lung adenocarcinoma.

The present study aimed to investigate the expression of pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase 1 (P5CR1) protein in lung adenocarcinoma and paracancerous tissues and to explore the effect of silencing the encoding gene PYCR1 on the proliferation, migration, invasion, and cisplatin sensitivity in lung adenocarcinoma cells, thereby providing a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of the disease. Immunohistochemistry staining was used to detect the P5CR1 protein expression in lung adenocarcinoma and paracancerous tissues, and statistical analysis evaluated the correlation between P5CR1 protein expression and gender, age, tissue part, or pathological grade. The CCK8 assay was performed to detect the proliferation and cisplatin sensitivity, while the effect of PYCR1 on the migration and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells was detected by scratch test and transwell chamber assay. The findings demonstrated that the P5CR1 protein expression was significantly elevated in lung adenocarcinoma tissues and correlated with the pathological grade, whereas no significant correlation was established between the protein expression and gender, age, or tissue part. Furthermore, after PYCR1 gene silencing, the proliferation and invasion were significantly suppressed, while the sensitivity to cisplatin was significantly enhanced. Therefore, it can be speculated that the PYCR1 gene affects the biological behavior of lung adenocarcinoma and cisplatin resistance, serving as a potential therapeutic target for lung adenocarcinoma.