The effects of Advanced Glycation End Products (RAGE)-374T/A and Gly82Ser variants and soluble-RAGE levels to obesity in children.

In recent years, studies related to advanced glycation end products (AGE) and their interaction with their receptors (RAGE) have advanced our knowledge of the roles of these molecules in different diseases. However, studies concerning AGE-RAGE interaction in obesity are limited and the results are conflicting. RAGE gene is located on 6p21.3, has several polymorphic sites including -374T/A, a functional polymorphism in the promoter region, and Gly82Ser, present within the ligand-binding domain. In the present study, the determination of possible risks in the development of obesity according to RAGE polymorhisms and plasma levels of RAGE (sRAGE) was aimed. 87 obese and 78 healthy children were included in this study. Genomic DNA was isolated with salting-out procedure. RAGE polymorphisms were analyzed by PCR based techniques. In contrast to Gly82Ser, -374T/A allelic and genotypic frequencies were not different between study groups. Ser(SerSer+GlySer genotype) allele frequency was higher in obese cases than controls (74.20%→25.80%,OR:2.573,95%CI:1.789-3.699;p<0.01). In obese cases, blood glycose (92.50±2.80→87.00±1.16; p=0.025) and HDL-C (46.14±2.75→39.84±1.82;p=0.057) levels were higher than TT genotype carriers. As for Gly82Ser polymorphism, HDL-C (p=0.004) and FT4 (p=0.020) levels were different in obese cases, the order was SerSer>GlySer>GlyGly for HDL-C, and opposite for FT4. Besides, Ser carriers had lower insulin (p=0.038) and homa-IR (p=0.081) levels than GG genotype. sRAGE levels were different between obese and control seperately or in combination with RAGE polymorphisms (p<0.05), the order of sRAGE was TT>TA>AA for -374T/A and SerSer>GlyGly>GlySer for Gly82Ser. According to our results SerSer genotype could have significant effects on sRAGE levels, and increased sRAGE levels and Gly82Ser polymorphism either combinatorially or seperately increased the propensity towards obesity.

Are there possible associations between MnSOD and GPx1 gene variants for laryngeal cancer risk or disease progression?

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a multifaceted and genomically complex disease and cellular and preclinical studies have demystified wide ranging molecular mechanisms which underpin its development and progression and resistance against wide ranging molecular therapeutics. Oxidative stress is a widely studied molecular mechanism and reportedly involved in carcinogenesis. Increasingly it is being realized that accumulation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) activates defensive mechanism to counteract oxidative stress induced damage. Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) are important members of defensive machinery. We investigated whether the polymorphisms of MnSOD (Ala-9Val, rs4880) and GPx1 (Pro198Leu, rs1050450) are associated with LSCC and also evaluated possible interactions between these polymorphisms and various lifestyle factors or pathological features of patients. For this purpose, 67 LSCC patients and 73 healty controls were enrolled. Molecular assessment of MnSOD and GPx1 variants were determined with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques. We found that the frequency of both heterozygous PL genotype and P allele was considerably higher in patients with advanced tumor stage (T3/T4) than in those with early tumor stage (T1/T2) (OR= 5.106; 95% CI=1.372-19.004; p<0.001, OR=5.787; 95% CI =1.564-21.414; p<0.001 respectively). Although the frequency of ValVal/LL combine genotype was significantly decreased (OR=0.204, 95% CI=0.055-0.760; p=0.021), the frequency of ValAla/PL combine genotypes was higher in patients with stage T3/T4 than in those patients with stage T1/T2 (p=0.027). Consequently, we have concluded that variants of GPx1 and MnSOD should not be considered as a risk factor of LSCC, only may be accepted as a prognostic markers. Use of new technologies such as metabolomics and deep DNA sequencing will prove to be helpful in developing a deeper knowledge related to how cancer cell metabolism adapts and provides a buffer against increased oxidative stress.

Relation between Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Genotypes and Oxidative Stress Markers in Larynx Cancer.

Nitric oxide synthase (eNOS/NOS3) is responsible for the endothelial synthesis of nitric oxide (NO(•)). G894T polymorphism leads to the amino acid substitution from Glu298Asp that causes lower NOS3 activity and basal NO(•) production in NOS3 894T (298Asp) allele carriers compared with the GG homozygotes. NO(•) acts as an antioxidant protecting against Fenton's reaction which generates highly reactive hydroxyl radicals. Allelic variation of NOS3 may influence an individual's risk of laryngeal cancer (LC). In the current study we have examined the possible relationship between NOS3 G894T genotypes and various systemic oxidative damage markers such as protein carbonyl, advanced oxidation protein products, Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase, thiol group fractions, and lipid hydroperoxides in LC patients. Genotyping was carried out by PCR-RFLP. In LC patients with TT genotype, Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase activities and nonprotein thiol levels were significantly higher than the controls. In patients with GT and GG genotype, high levels of lipid hydroperoxides showed statistical significance when compared to controls. Our results indicate a potential relationship among G894T polymorphism of NOS3, and impaired redox homeostasis. Further studies are required to determine the role of NOS3 gene polymorphism and impaired plasma redox homeostasis.

Natural products are the future of anticancer therapy: Preclinical and clinical advancements of Viscum album phytometabolites.

Cancer is a multifaceted and genomically complex disease. Research over the years has gradually provided a near complete resolution of cancer landscape and it is now known that genetic/epigenetic mutations, inactivation of tumor suppressors, Overexpression of oncogenes, spatio-temporally dysregulated intracellular signaling cascades, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), metastasis and loss of apoptosis are some of the most extensively studied biological mechanisms that underpin cancer development and progression. Increasingly it is being realized that current therapeutic interventions are becoming ineffective because of tumor heterogeneity and rapidly developing resistance against drugs. Considerable biological activities exerted by bioactive ingredients isolated from natural sources have revolutionized the field of natural product chemistry and rapid developments in preclinical studies are encouraging. Viscum album has emerged as a deeply studied natural source with substantial and multifaceted biological activities. In this review we have attempted to provide recent breakthroughs in existing scientific literature with emphasis on targeting of protein network in cancer cells. We partition this review into different sections, highlighting latest information from cell culture studies, preclinical and clinically oriented studies. We summarized how bioactive ingredients of Viscum album modulated extrinsic and intrinsic pathways in cancer cells. However, surprisingly, none of the study reported stimulatory effects on TRAIL receptors. The review provided in-depth analysis of how Viscum album modulated Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in cancer cells and how bioactive chemicals tactfully targeted cytoskeletal machinery in cancer cells as evidenced by cell culture studies. It is noteworthy that Viscum album has entered into various phases of clinical trials, however, there are still knowledge gaps in our understanding regarding how various bioactive constituents of Viscum album modulate intracellular signaling cascades in cancer. Better and deeper comprehension oncogenic signaling cascades will prove to be helful in getting a step closer to individualized medicine.