The role of hesperidin as a cardioprotective strategy against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity: The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and cytoprotective potentials.

Background: Doxorubicin (DOX), an anthracycline antibiotic, is a powerful chemotherapeutic agent effective against multiple types of cancer, particularly lung, breast, bladder and hematologic neoplasia (lymphomas and leukemia). However, its therapeutic usage is restricted by its known cardiotoxicity, which is associated with the production of oxidative stress. Enhancing antioxidant capacity represents a promising approach to mitigate DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. Hesperidin (HES), a citrus bioflavonoid, possesses several pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics. Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the cardiotoxicity of DOX and assess the possible cardioprotective role of HES. Methods: Groups of Wistar rats were either treated with DOX (4 mg/kg. bw., once a week for five consecutive weeks, intraperitoneally) or received co-treatment with HES (100 mg/kg. bw./day in distilled water, 5 days in a week for five consecutive weeks, administered orally). Heart and blood samples were obtained for histological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical assessments. Results: DOX administration resulted in severe cardiotoxicity, as evidenced by significant elevations in cardiac biomarkers, including Troponin I (CTnI), Creatine kinase (CK-Total), Creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and Aspartate aminotransferase (AST). DOX also elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as Interferon γ (IFN-γ), Interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß), and Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Furthermore, DOX-induced oxidative stress and substantially reduced the levels of antioxidant enzymes, including Glutathione peroxidase (GPX), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), and Catalase (CAT). Histopathologically, DOX caused severe Zenker's necrosis, cardiomyocyte disarray, sarcoplasmic vacuolizations, cardiomyocyte congestion, and inflammatory cell infiltration. Immunohistochemically, DOX exhibited extensive apoptosis, as indicated by strong positive immuno-localization against anti-caspase-3 antibody. In contrast, co-treatment with HES protected cardiac tissues against cardiotoxicity of DOX, as indicated by the amelioration of histological abnormalities and the normalization of biochemical values. Conclusion: We can conclude that DOX induces severe cardiotoxicity characterized by oxidative stress, inflammation, pathological alterations, and apoptosis. Co-treatment with HES demonstrates significant cardioprotective effects by virtue of its potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cytoprotective, and antiapoptotic characteristics.

Correction to: Association of the genetic variants of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) with type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Saudi population.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Q192R polymorphism in the PON1 gene and familial hypercholesterolemia in a Saudi population.

BACKGROUND: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant condition characterized by abnormal levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the blood. FH is a risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. The relationship between the paraoxonase 1 (PON1) gene, atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease has not been studied in Saudi patients. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the genetic associations of the Q192R polymorphism in the PON1 gene with FH in Saudi patients. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Tertiary care center, Riyadh. METHODS: Two hundred Saudi patients were enrolled in this study, including 100 patients with FH and 100 healthy controls, during the period from January 2012 to March 2013. Serum was separated from coagulated blood (3 mL) and used for analysis of lipid profiles. Genomic DNA was isolated from anticoagulant-treated blood (2 mL). Genotyping for the Q192R polymorphism was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, followed by 3% agarose gel electrophoresis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The strength of association between the Q192R polymorphism and FH in the Saudi population. RESULTS: We confirmed that QR versus QQ (odds ratio [OR]: 1.55; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-3.43; P=.03), QR+RR versus QQ (OR: 1.98; 95% CI: 1.13-3.49; P=.01), and R versus Q (OR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.09- 2.59; P=.01) in the Q192R polymorphism were associated with FH in the Saudi population. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the Q192R polymorphism in the PON1 gene is associated with FH in the Saudi population. Our results confirmed that the R allele, QR, and dominant model genotypes were associated with FH. LIMITATION: Only a single variant (Q192R) was analyzed, and the medical and family histories of the patients were not known.

Association of Apolipoprotein E Polymorphism with Impact on Overweight University Pupils.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is known to be a complex disorder caused by both genetic and environmental factors. Patients with obesity tend to develop cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Previous studies have revealed that obesity is associated with genetic variations including those found in the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene, which also affects lipid profiles. Hence, in this study, we aimed to perform a molecular characterization of APOE gene polymorphisms found in overweight subjects within a Saudi population. METHODS: A case-control study was performed consisting of 198 cases and 198 controls, selected from participants at the King Saud University. TaqMan genotyping was performed to characterize the APOE gene polymorphisms. RESULTS: The present study identified the E4 allele of the APOE gene as being significantly associated with obesity in the Saudi population (p = 0.0001). We found a statistically significant difference in the genotype distribution between cases and controls [for E3/E4: OR, 2.16 (95% CI: 1.19-3.91); p = 0.009]. DISCUSSION: Significant differences were observed in the APOE allele profiles (p < 0.001) and lipid profile parameters, including triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein among the obese patients compared with the non-obese control population. CONCLUSION: Our results confirm that APOE variants are associated with obesity in the Saudi population.

Association of JAZF1 and TSPAN8/LGR5 variants in relation to type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Saudi population.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic and multifactorial disease with a rapidly rising incidence in Saudi Arabia. Various genes including zinc finger protein 1 (JAZF1) and tetraspanin 8/leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor (TSPAN8/LGR5) have been previously described to be associated with T2DM. This study investigated the association of JAZF1 (rs864745) and TSPAN8 (rs7961581) with T2DM in a Saudi population. METHODS: Genomic DNA samples from 400 Saudi T2DM patients and 400 healthy controls were genotyped and analyzed using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. The difference between the genotype frequencies were carried out with Chi-square test. Odds ratio, 95 % confidence intervals and p values were calculated using multinomial logistic regression. Dominant and recessive models were implemented to show the statistical significances. Analysis of variance was used to compare differences between genotypes for the various parameters. RESULTS: Distribution frequencies of the AA, AG, and GG genotypes of JAZF1 (rs864745) differed significantly among T2DM patients and healthy controls (p < 0.05). The AG and GG genotypes were independently and significantly associated with a T2DM risk after adjusting for factors such as age, sex, and body mass index [odds ratio (OR) 2.1 (95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.3-3.4); p = 0.002] and [OR 1.9 (95 % CI 1.2-3.1); p = 0.005], respectively. A genotype-based stratification of anthropometric and biochemical data revealed that the AG + GG genotype is associated with waist circumference (p = 0.04) and fasting blood glucose (p = 0.01) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (p = 0.02). None of the allele or genotype showed the significant association between the T2DM cases and control subjects in rs7961581 polymorphism in TSPAN8/LGR5 gene. CONCLUSION: The rs864745 variant in JAZF1 gene may act as genetic risk factors for the development of T2DM in a Saudi population.

Lack of association between UBE2E2 gene polymorphism (rs7612463) and type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Saudi population.

The ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2E 2 (UBE2E2) gene plays an important role in insulin synthe-sis and secretion under conditions in which stress to the endoplasmic reticu-lum is increased in ß-cells. In this case-control study, we have selected rs7612462 polymorphism within UBE2E2 gene to identify in a Saudi population the type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) subjects. In total, 376 subjects with T2DM and 380 controls were enrolled in this study. We have collected 5 mL of peripheral blood from each participant for biochemical and molecular analyses. PCR-RFLP was used to generate genotypes at rs7612462 in all of the study subjects. Clinical data and anthropometric measurements of the patients were significantly different from those of the controls (p<0.05). All of the subjects used in this study were non-obese (25

A54T polymorphism in the fatty acid binding protein 2 studies in a Saudi population with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Fatty acid-binding protein 2 (FABP2) is an intracellular protein expressed exclusively in the enterocytes of proximal small intestine. FABP2 has a high affinity for saturated and unsaturated long-chain fatty acids and is believed to be involved in the absorption and transport of dietary fatty acids. METHODS: This is a case-control study conceded in 438 T2DM cases and 460 subjects with normal glucose levels and non-obese considered as healthy controls. Allelic discrimination was performed using TaqMan single-nucleotide polymorphism was carried out by real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays using purified DNA. RESULTS: Clinical data and anthropometric measurements except age, glucose levels and lipid profile of the patients were significantly different from those of the controls (p < 0.05). Statistical analyses failed to show any type of significant association of the polymorphism between cases and controls. However logistic regression analyses was suggests that the TT genotype is significantly associated with male patients (p = 0.001). None of the allele or genotypes of FABP2 A54T was associated with T2DM cases versus the controls (AT genotype, OR = 0.85 (0.64-1.12), p = 0.25; TT genotype, OR = 0.66 (0.39-1.11), p = 0.11; T allele, 0.82 (0.67-1.02), p = 0.08). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study suggests that the above named variant in FABP2 gene is not potential contributor to the risk of T2DM and related traits in a Saudi population. However TT genotype is a risk factor for the disease in males.

Association of the genetic variants of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) with type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Saudi population.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic degenerative disease, phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous, characterized by high levels of glucose and metabolic complications. Insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) plays a key role in the insulin-stimulated signal transduction pathway. A glycine-to-arginine substitution at codon 972 (G972R) (rs1801278) in the IRS-1 gene has been associated with impaired insulin action. Another SNP rs2943641 in the IRS-1 gene has been found to be associated with T2DM and insulin resistance in genome-wide association studies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether rs1801278 and rs2943641 are associated with increased risk of T2DM in the Saudi population. The study included 376 T2DM cases and 380 healthy controls. Genomic DNA was isolated using a commercially available kit supplied by Norgen Biotech Corp. Genotyping was performed by PCR and RFLP analysis. There was a significant difference in the genotypic distribution as well as allelic frequency between the T2DM cases and controls in case of both the polymorphisms for rs1801278 (1.752, 95 % CI 1.002-3.121; p = 0.04), and for rs2943641 (OR = 1.482, 95 % CI 1.176-1.867; p = 0.001). In conclusion, both the (rs1801278 and rs2943641) polymorphisms are associated with T2DM in the Saudi population.