Glucocorticoid Receptor Gene (NR3C1) Polymorphisms and Metabolic Syndrome: Insights from the Mennonite Population.

The regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is associated with polymorphisms and the methylation degree of the glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) and is potentially involved in the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS). In order to evaluate the association between MetS with the polymorphisms, methylation, and gene expression of the NR3C1 in the genetically isolated Brazilian Mennonite population, we genotyped 20 NR3C1 polymorphisms in 74 affected (MetS) and 138 unaffected individuals without affected first-degree relatives (Co), using exome sequencing, as well as five variants from non-exonic regions, in 70 MetS and 166 Co, using mass spectrometry. The methylation levels of 11 1F CpG sites were quantified using pyrosequencing (66 MetS and 141 Co), and the NR3C1 expression was evaluated via RT-qPCR (14 MetS and 25 Co). Age, physical activity, and family environment during childhood were associated with MetS. Susceptibility to MetS, independent of these factors, was associated with homozygosity for rs10482605*C (OR = 4.74, pcorr = 0.024) and the haplotype containing TTCGTTGATT (rs3806855*T_ rs3806854*T_rs10482605*C_rs10482614*G_rs6188*T_rs258813*T_rs33944801*G_rs34176759*A_rs17209258*T_rs6196*T, OR = 4.74, pcorr = 0.048), as well as for the CCT haplotype (rs41423247*C_ rs6877893*C_rs258763*T), OR = 6.02, pcorr = 0.030), but not to the differences in methylation or gene expression. Thus, NR3C1 polymorphisms seem to modulate the susceptibility to MetS in Mennonites, independently of lifestyle and early childhood events, and their role seems to be unrelated to DNA methylation and gene expression.

Non-coding RNA network associated with obesity and rheumatoid arthritis.

Obesity causes epigenetic alterations mediated by non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that increase susceptibility to autoimmune and inflammatory pathways. Obese individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are particularly affected, with worse clinical outcomes and treatment responses. In order to identify micro RNAs (miRNAs) and long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) that may influence RA development, progression, treatment efficacy, and clinical outcomes in obese individuals, we systematically screened PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases for articles on these topics, published in the last decade. We ended up with 38 of initially 1110 documents and found that both obesity and RA share dysregulated expression of miR-21, miR-143, miR-146a, miR-155 miRNAs, H19, and HOTAIR lncRNAs (all but H19, up-regulated). With one exception (H19 and BMI in brown fat tissue), they correlated positively with clinical measures and disease activity. H19 and HOTAIR regulate 24 miRNAs, some differentially expressed in the investigated diseases. Both regulate miR-143-3p. We also investigated eleven GWAS-identified SNVs found in exonic lncRNA regions (there were none in exonic miRNA genes). Eight were associated with RA and three with obesity-related traits, seven change binding sites for miRNAs, especially on LINC01184 and GATA3-AS1, four were associated with gene expression in adipocytes (including LINC01184) and two may also change the secondary structure of ENSG00000284825 and LINC02656. These ncRNAs compose a unique regulatory network in obese RA patients, compiled for the first time in this review, which we suggest as future therapeutic targets in these simultaneous conditions.

Natural killer cell receptor variants and chronic hepatitis B virus infection in the Vietnamese population.

OBJECTIVES: Genes of host immunity play an important role in disease pathogenesis and are determinants of clinical courses of infections, including hepatitis B virus (HBV). Killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR), expressed on the surface of natural killer cells (NK), regulate NK cell cytotoxicity by interacting with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules and are candidates for influencing the course of HBV. This study evaluated whether variations in KIR gene content and HLA-C ligands are associated with HBV and with the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: A Vietnamese study cohort (HBV n = 511; controls n = 140) was genotyped using multiplex sequence-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR-SSP) followed by melting curve analysis. RESULTS: The presence of the functional allelic group of KIR2DS4 was associated with an increased risk of chronic HBV (OR = 1.86, pcorr = 0.02), while KIR2DL2+HLA-C1 (OR = 0.62, pcorr = 0.04) and KIR2DL3+HLA-C1 (OR = 0.48, pcorr = 0.04) were associated with a decreased risk. The pair KIR2DL3+HLA-C1 was associated with liver cirrhosis (OR = 0.40, pcorr = 0.01). The presence of five or more activating KIR variants was associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (OR = 0.53, pcorr = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: KIR gene content variation and combinations KIR-HLA influence the outcome of HBV infection.