KRAS and EGFR Mutations Differentially Alter ABC Drug Transporter Expression in Cisplatin-Resistant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Lung carcinoma is still the most common malignancy worldwide. One of the major subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is adenocarcinoma (AC). As driver mutations and hence therapies differ in AC subtypes, we theorized that the expression and function of ABC drug transporters important in multidrug resistance (MDR) would correlate with characteristic driver mutations KRAS or EGFR. Cisplatin resistance (CR) was generated in A549 (KRAS) and PC9 (EGFR) cell lines and gene expression was tested. In three-dimensional (3D) multicellular aggregate cultures, both ABCB1 and ABCG2 transporters, as well as the WNT microenvironment, were investigated. ABCB1 and ABCG2 gene expression levels were different in primary AC samples and correlated with specific driver mutations. The drug transporter expression pattern of parental A549 and PC9, as well as A549-CR and PC9-CR, cell lines differed. Increased mRNA levels of ABCB1 and ABCG2 were detected in A549-CR cells, compared to parental A549, while the trend observed in the case of PC9 cells was different. Dominant alterations were observed in LEF1, RHOU and DACT1 genes of the WNT signalling pathway in a mutation-dependent manner. The study confirmed that, in lung AC-s, KRAS and EGFR driver mutations differentially affect both drug transporter expression and the cisplatin-induced WNT signalling microenvironment.

Wnt signaling regulates trans-differentiation of stem cell like type 2 alveolar epithelial cells to type 1 epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 alveolar epithelial cells (AT2s) behave as stem cells and show clonal proliferation upon alveolar injury followed by trans-differentiation (TD) into Type 1 alveolar epithelial cells (AT1s). In the present study we identified signaling pathways involved in the physiological AT2-to-AT1 TD process. METHODS: AT2 cells can be isolated from human lungs and cultured in vitro where they undergo TD into AT1s. In the present study we identified signaling pathways involved in the physiological AT2-to-AT1 TD process using Affymetrix microarray, qRT-PCR, fluorescence microscopy, and an in vitro lung aggregate culture. RESULTS: Affymetrix microarray revealed Wnt signaling to play a crucial role in the TD process. Wnt7a was identified as a ligand regulating the AT1 marker, Aquaporin 5 (AQP5). Artificial Neural Network (ANN) analysis of the Affymetrix data exposed ITGAV: Integrin alpha V (ITGAV), thrombospondin 1 (THBS1) and epithelial membrane protein 2 (EMP2) as Wnt signaling targets. CONCLUSIONS: Wnt signaling targets that can serve as potential alveolar epithelial repair targets in future therapies of the gas exchange surface after injury. As ITGAV is significantly increases during TD and is regulated by Wnt signaling, ITGAV might be a potential target to speed up the alveolar healing process.

miRNAs as Predictors of Barrier Integrity.

The human body has several barriers that protect its integrity and shield it from mechanical, chemical, and microbial harm. The various barriers include the skin, intestinal and respiratory epithelia, blood-brain barrier (BBB), and immune system. In the present review, the focus is on the physical barriers that are formed by cell layers. The barrier function is influenced by the molecular microenvironment of the cells forming the barriers. The integrity of the barrier cell layers is maintained by the intricate balance of protein expression that is partly regulated by microRNAs (miRNAs) both in the intracellular space and the extracellular microenvironment. The detection of changes in miRNA patterns has become a major focus of diagnostic, prognostic, and disease progression, as well as therapy-response, markers using a great variety of detection systems in recent years. In the present review, we highlight the importance of liquid biopsies in assessing barrier integrity and challenges in differential miRNA detection.

Interaction between CTLA4 gene and IBD5 locus in Hungarian Crohn's disease patients.

BACKGROUNDS AND AIMS: The IGR2198a_1 and IGR2096a_1 variants of the IBD5 region were found to be associated with Crohn's disease (CD) in the Hungarian population, while IGR2230a_1 does not seem to confer risk for the disease. In the present study, our aim was to investigate the statistical interaction of these three IBD5 polymorphisms with the +49 A/G substitution within the cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA4) gene, detected previously as neutral gene variant in Hungarian IBD patients. METHODS: A total of 305 unrelated subjects with CD and 310 healthy controls were genotyped with PCR-RFLP methods. RESULTS: In contrast with single gene effects, after genotype stratification, the IGR2198a_1 C and IGR2096a_1 T variants were found to confer susceptibility only in subjects with CTLA4 +49 AA genotype (P = 0.008; OR = 1.86 and P = 0.016; OR = 1.74, respectively), for IGR2230a_1 no such effect on disease risk could be demonstrated. CONCLUSION: Analysis of specific genotype combinations unfolded a possible association between the CTLA4 +49 A/G substitution and two of the observed IBD5 variants with respect to disease risk.

GCKR gene functional variants in type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome: do the rare variants associate with increased carotid intima-media thickness?

BACKGROUND: Recent studies revealed that glucokinase regulatory protein (GCKR) variants (rs780094 and rs1260326) are associated with serum triglycerides and plasma glucose levels. Here we analyzed primarily the association of these two variants with the lipid profile and plasma glucose levels in Hungarian subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome; and also correlated the genotypes with the carotid intima-media thickness records. METHODS: A total of 321 type 2 diabetic patients, 455 metabolic syndrome patients, and 172 healthy controls were genotyped by PCR-RFLP. RESULTS: Both GCKR variants were found to associate with serum triglycerides and with fasting plasma glucose. However, significant association with the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome could not be observed. Analyzing the records of the patients, a positive association of prevalence the GCKR homozygous functional variants and carotid intima-media thickness was found in the metabolic syndrome patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support that rs780094 and rs1260326 functional variants of the GCKR gene are inversely associated with serum triglycerides and fasting plasma glucose levels, as it was already reported for diabetic and metabolic syndrome patients in some other populations. Besides this positive replication, as a novel feature, our preliminary findings also suggest a cardiovascular risk role of the GCKR minor allele carriage based on the carotid intima-media thickness association.

Interleukin-23 receptor gene variants in Hungarian systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the association between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and polymorphisms of interleukin-23 receptor (IL23R) gene, which was recently found to be associated with autoimmune diseases, including Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and ankylosing spondylitis. SUBJECTS: We analysed 383 SLE patients and 253 controls for rs11805303, rs10889677, rs1004819, rs2201841, rs11209032, 11209026, rs10489629, rs7517847 and rs7530511 variants. METHODS: The analysis was carried out using PCR-RFLP methods. Logistic regression analysis was used to compare the genotype distributions of the polymorphisms and haplotypes between the SLE patients and healthy controls. RESULTS: We observed no significant difference of the examined variants between the patient and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that neither single nucleotide variants nor haplotypes of IL23R indicate susceptibility to developing SLE in the Hungarian population.

IGR2096a_1 T and IGR2198a_1 C alleles on IBD5 locus of chromosome 5q31 region confer risk for Crohn's disease in Hungarian patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We investigated the possible association of IBD with C1672T of SLC22A4 and G-207C of SLC22A5 alleles, and with the novel IGR2096a_1 (rs12521868) and IGR2198a_1 (rs11739135) susceptibility loci, all located on IBD5 locus of chromosome 5q31. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DNA of 217 Crohn's disease, 252 ulcerative colitis, and 290 control patients were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism methods. RESULTS: Neither the C1672T and G-207C alleles, nor the TC haplotype were found to be risk factors. By contrast, the minor allele frequencies of IGR2096a_1 T (47.2%) and IGR2198a_1 C (45.9%) were increased in Crohn's disease compared with the controls (38.2% and 37.7%, respectively; p < 0.05); multivariate regression analysis revealed a risk nature for Crohn's disease (OR = 1.748, 95% CI 1.186-2.574; p = 0.007 for T allele, OR = 1.646, 95% CI 1.119-2.423, p = 0.011 for C allele of IGRs). CONCLUSION: The data suggest a special haplotype arrangement of susceptibility genes at the IBD5 locus in Hungarians, which nation differs historically from the surrounding Caucasian ethnicities in its origin.

[Possible role of selected IGR and SLC22A4/SLC22A5 loci in development of inflammatory bowel diseases]. / Az 5q31 IBD5-régióban található IGR és SLC22A4/SLC22A5 variánsok lehetséges szerepe a gyulladásos bélbetegség kialakulásában.

UNLABELLED: The IBD5 locus (MIM#606348) on chromosome 5q31 has been demonstrated to confer increased risk for inflammatory bowel disease. Controversial reports have been published about the significance of individual loci located in this region. Here we investigated the possible genetic association of inflammatory bowel diseases with C1672T of SLC22A4 and G-207C SLC22A5 alleles, and with IGR2096a_1 (rs12521868) and IGR2198a_1 (rs11739135) susceptibility variants of the IBD5 region located on chromosome 5q31. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Total of 440 patients, 206 with Crohn's disease, 234 with ulcerative colitis, and 279 controls were studied by PCR-RFLP methods. RESULTS: Neither the C1672T, and G-207C alleles, nor the TC haplotype were found to confer risk for Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. By contrast, both of the minor allele frequencies of IGR2096a_1 T (48.1%) and IGR2198a_1 C (46.1%) were increased in Crohn's disease subjects as compared with the controls (38.5% and 38.4%, respectively; p<0.05). Using regression analysis adjusted to age and gender these alleles were found to confer risk for Crohn's disease (OR=1.694, 95% CI: 1.137-2.522; p=0.010 for T allele, OR=1.644, 95% CI=1.103-2.449; p=0.015 for C allele of IGRs). In UC no such associations were found. CONCLUSIONS: Our results revealed the susceptibility nature of the examined IGR minor alleles in Hungarians, which nation differs historically from the surrounding Caucasian populations in origin of the founders of the state.

[Pseudo-Bartter syndrome in a case of cystic fibrosis caused by C1529G and G3978A compound heterozygosity]. / Pszeudo-Bartter-szindróma kialakulása kapcsán felismert C1529G- és G3978A-mutációk együttese által okozott cisztás fibrosis.

The 8-month-old patient was hospitalized after a few days of apathy and feeding difficulty with moderate exsiccation. Severe hypokalemia, hyponatremia, hypochloremia associated with alkalosis were found, which were accompanied by the decreased urinary electrolytes and elevated serum renin and aldosterone, therefore the condition corresponded to a pseudo-Bartter syndrome. The diagnosis of cystic fibrosis was arisen, which was established by the elevated sweat chloride levels. Sequencing of the 27 exons of the cystic transmembrane regulator gene two rare mutations were detected in compound heterozygous form: in the exon 10 a C1529G transversion, whereas in the exon 20 a G3978A transition was verified, both of them result in development of premature stopcodons (S466X and W1282X, respectively). Carriage of first mutation could be found in the asymptomatic mother, while the other one was identified in the father. In the proband and in the mother a G3341A mutation was also detected in exon 17, which causes an R1070Q amino acid change. However, this likely cannot associate with pathology since the existing premature stopcodon on the same allele does not allow synthesis of protein. These mutations have been described in combination with delta F508 mutation, however, their simultaneous presence in the same subject has not been reported. During the one and half year follow-up the clinical picture appeared benign.

Apolipoprotein A5 T-1131C variant confers risk for metabolic syndrome.

The -1131C is a naturally occurring variant of the apolipoprotein A5 (ApoA5) gene, which has been shown to associate with increased triglyceride levels. This variant has also been shown to confer risk for development of ischemic heart disease and stroke. The gene is in linkage disequilibrium with factors known to correlate with impaired glucose homeostasis. These observations prompted us to study the prevalence of the ApoA5 -1131C allele in patients with metabolic syndrome. A total of 201 metabolic syndrome patients and 210 controls were studied. In both groups the triglyceride levels of patients with -1131C allele were significantly increased compared to the subjects with -1131T allele (3.22+/-0.43 mmol/l vs. 2.24+/-0.12 mmol/l, p<0.01 in the metabolic syndrome patients; 2.10+/-0.19 mmol/l vs. 1.22+/-0.05 mmol/l, p<0.01 in the controls). In metabolic syndrome patients the prevalence of the ApoA5 -1131C variant was increased compared to the healthy controls (11% vs. 6.20%). Multiplex regression analysis model adjusted for age, gender, serum total cholesterol levels, acute myocardial infarction and stroke events revealed that the examined ApoA5 variant confers risk for the development of metabolic syndrome: the odds ratio at 95% confidence interval was 3.622 (1.200-10.936), p=0.02. Our findings strongly suggest that this variant is a risk factor for the development of hypertriglyceridemia and metabolic syndrome.

Prevalence of SLC22A4 1672T and SLC22A5 -207C combination defined TC haplotype in Hungarian ulcerative colitis patients.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to verify the prevalence rate of the haplotype called TC, determined by combination of two functional alleles of OCTN cation transporter genes (SLC22A4 1672T and SLC22A5 -207C combination variants) in ulcerative colitis patients and unrelated healthy controls. The "TC haplotype" has recently been suggested to confer risk for UC. A total of 121 unrelated Hungarian subjects with UC and 110 matched controls were genotyped for the two single nucleotide polymorphisms. The genotypes were determined by using PCR/RFLP assay and direct sequencing. The SLC22A4 1672T allele frequency was 46.7% in the patients with UC and 46.4% in the controls, whereas the SLC22A5 -207C allele occurred in 48.8% of the patients and 51.4% of the controls. The prevalence of the TC haplotype was 19% in the patient group and 22.7% in controls. Since there was no accumulation of the TC haplotype in the patient group, our observation suggests that carrying the TC haplotype is not associated with a higher risk for UC in the Hungarian population.

[Mitochondrial DNA and its mutations: new advances in a new field]. / A mitokondriális DNS és mutációi: újabb ismeretek egy új területen.

The past two decades are considered as the golden age of the clinical research of mitochondrial DNA. The number of disease-associated pathologic variants is still expanding; the available knowledge about the entities caused by the abnormalities of the mitochondrial DNA is gradually increasing. The inheritance of the mitochondrial DNA exhibits maternal transmission; the properties are different from the nuclear genome in many respects. Albeit the establishment of correct diagnosis of several mitochondrial diseases still means diagnostic challenge, more and more entities can be identified due to the available molecular biology methods. Nowadays, significant progress of mitochondrial medicine can be observed in relation to several medical subspecialties; thus, mitochondrial gastroenterology, endocrinology, otology, ophthalmology, nephrology, hematology, oncology, reproductive medicine and psychiatry have been partially separated as the more or less circumscribed territory of the specific subspecialty. Besides the short overview of the general aspects of the mitochondrial medicine the present review provides an outlook to these chapters.

IL23R single nucleotide polymorphisms could be either beneficial or harmful in ulcerative colitis.

AIM: To investigate the association of seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the IL23R gene with the clinical picture of ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: Genomic DNA samples of 131 patients (66 males, 65 females, mean age 55.4 ± 15.8 years) with Caucasian origin, diagnosed with UC were investigated. The diagnosis of UC was based on the established clinical, endoscopic, radiological, and histopathological guidelines. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes by routine salting out method. Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism were used to identify the alleles of seven SNPs of IL23R gene (rs11209026, rs10889677, rs1004819, rs2201841, rs7517847, rs10489629, rs7530511). RESULTS: Four out of seven analyzed SNPs had statistically significant influence on the clinical picture of UC. Two SNPs were associated with greater colonic extension (rs2201841 P = 0.0084; rs10489629 P = 0.0405). For two of the SNPs, there was more frequently need for operations (rs2201841 P = 0.0348, OR = 8.0; rs10889677 P = 0.0347, OR = 8.0). The rs2201841 showed to be a risk factor for the development of iron deficiency (P = 0.0388, OR = 6.1837). For patients with the rs10889677, a therapy with azathioprine was more frequently necessary (P = 0.0116, OR = 6.1707). Patients with rs10489629 SNP had a lower risk for weight loss (P = 0.0169, OR = 0.3394). Carriers of the heterozygous variant had a higher risk for an extended disease (P = 0.0284). The rs7517847 showed a protective character leading to mild bowel movements. Three SNPs demonstrated no statistically significant influence on any examined clinical features of UC. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated susceptible or protective character of the investigated IL23R SNPs on the phenotype of UC, confirming the genetic association.

Susceptibility to ulcerative colitis in Hungarian patients determined by gene-gene interactions.

AIM: To study the inflammatory bowel disease-5 locus (IBD5) and interleukin-23 receptor (IL23R) gene variants in UC patients and test for gene-gene interaction. METHODS: The study population (n = 625) was comprised of 320 unrelated ulcerative colitis (UC) patients with Caucasian origin and 316 age- and gender-matched, healthy controls. Five variants in the IBD5 locus (IGR2198a_1 rs11739135, IGR2096a_1 rs12521868, IGR2230a_1 rs17622208, SLC22A4 rs1050152 and SLC22A5 rs2631367) and two of the IL23R gene (rs1004819, rs2201841) were analysed. PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism methods were used for genotyping, the SLC22A4 rs1050152 genotypes were determined by direct sequencing. Interactions and specific genotype combinations of the seven variants were tested by binary logistic regression analysis. The IL23R genotypes were stratified by IBD5 genotypes for further interaction analyses. RESULTS: For the IL23R rs1004819 A allele we found significantly higher allele frequency (P = 0.032) in UC patients compared to control subjects. The SNP rs1004819 showed significant association with UC risk for carriers (P = 0.004, OR = 1.606; 95%CI: 1.160-2.223) and the SNP rs2201841 for homozygotes (P = 0.030, OR = 1.983; 95%CI: 1.069-3.678). Individually none of the IBD5 markers conferred risk to UC development. There was no evidence for statistical interaction either between IBD5 loci and IL23R genes using logistic regression analysis. After genotype stratification, we could detect a positive association on the background of rs1004819 A allele for SLC22A4 T, SLC22A5 C, IGR2198a_1 C or IGR2096a_1 T allele, the highest OR was calculated in the presence of SLC22A4 T allele (P = 0.005, OR = 2.015; 95%CI: 1.230-3.300). There was no association with UC for any combinations of rs1004819 and IGR2230a_1. The IL23R rs2201841 homozygous genotype and IBD5 carrier status together did not confer susceptibility for UC. CONCLUSION: The present study has shown that UC susceptibility genes are likely to act in a complex interactive manner similar to CD.

Alteration in the Wnt microenvironment directly regulates molecular events leading to pulmonary senescence.

In the aging lung, the lung capacity decreases even in the absence of diseases. The progenitor cells of the distal lung, the alveolar type II cells (ATII), are essential for the repair of the gas-exchange surface. Surfactant protein production and survival of ATII cells are supported by lipofibroblasts that are peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ)-dependent special cell type of the pulmonary tissue. PPARγ levels are directly regulated by Wnt molecules; therefore, changes in the Wnt microenvironment have close control over maintenance of the distal lung. The pulmonary aging process is associated with airspace enlargement, decrease in the distal epithelial cell compartment and infiltration of inflammatory cells. qRT-PCR analysis of purified epithelial and nonepithelial cells revealed that lipofibroblast differentiation marker parathyroid hormone-related protein receptor (PTHrPR) and PPARγ are reduced and that PPARγ reduction is regulated by Wnt4 via a ß-catenin-dependent mechanism. Using a human in vitro 3D lung tissue model, a link was established between increased PPARγ and pro-surfactant protein C (pro-SPC) expression in pulmonary epithelial cells. In the senile lung, both Wnt4 and Wnt5a levels increase and both Wnt-s increase myofibroblast-like differentiation. Alteration of the Wnt microenvironment plays a significant role in pulmonary aging. Diminished lipo- and increased myofibroblast-like differentiation are directly regulated by specific Wnt-s, which process also controls surfactant production and pulmonary repair mechanisms.

Down-regulation of canonical and up-regulation of non-canonical Wnt signalling in the carcinogenic process of squamous cell lung carcinoma.

The majority of lung cancers (LC) belong to the non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) type. The two main NSCLC sub-types, namely adenocarcinoma (AC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), respond differently to therapy. Whereas the link between cigarette smoke and lung cancer risk is well established, the relevance of non-canonical Wnt pathway up-regulation detected in SCC remains poorly understood. The present study was undertaken to investigate further the molecular events in canonical and non-canonical Wnt signalling during SCC development. A total of 20 SCC and AC samples with matched non-cancerous controls were obtained after surgery. TaqMan array analysis confirmed up-regulation of non-canonical Wnt5a and Wnt11 and identified down-regulation of canonical Wnt signalling in SCC samples. The molecular changes were tested in primary small airway epithelial cells (SAEC) and various lung cancer cell lines (e.g. A549, H157, etc). Our studies identified Wnt11 and Wnt5a as regulators of cadherin expression and potentiated relocation of ß-catenin to the nucleus as an important step in decreased cellular adhesion. The presented data identifies additional details in the regulation of SCC that can aid identification of therapeutic drug targets in the future.

Genetic variability and haplotype profile of MDR1 (ABCB1) in Roma and Hungarian population samples with a review of the literature.

The genetic variability, haplotype profile and ethnic differences of MDR1 polymorphisms in healthy Roma and Hungarian populations were analyzed and the results were compared with those of other populations available from the literature. Healthy subjects (465 Roma and 503 Hungarian) were genotyped for C1236T, G2677T/A and C3435T variants of MDR1 by PCR-RFLP assay. Differences were found between the Roma and Hungarian populations in the frequencies of MDR1 1236 CC (20.7 vs. 33.2%) and TT genotypes (30.8 vs. 21.9%), in T allele frequency (0.551 vs. 0.443) (p < 0.002), and in 3435T allele frequency (0.482 vs. 0.527, p < 0.04). Furthermore, the frequency of CGC, CGT and CTT haplotypes was significantly higher in the Hungarian population than in Roma (41.4 vs. 35.3%, 9.04 vs. 6.02% and 2.88 vs. 1.08%, respectively; p < 0.009), whereas the frequency of TGC and TTC haplotypes was higher in the Roma population than in the Hungarian (7.31 vs. 1.68% and 6.67 vs. 2.08%, respectively; p < 0.001). The prevalence of MDR1 polymorphisms in the Hungarian population is similar to that of other European populations; however, some differences were observed in the haplotype structures. In contrast, the Roma population differs from Hungarians, from Caucasians and from populations from India in the incidence of MDR1 common variants and haplotypes.

Multiple suppression pathways of canonical Wnt signalling control thymic epithelial senescence.

Members of the Wnt family of secreted glyco-lipo-proteins affect intrathymic T-cell development and are abundantly secreted by thymic epithelial cells (TECs) that create the specific microenvironment for thymocytes to develop into mature T-cells. During ageing, Wnt expression declines allowing adipoid involution of the thymic epithelium leading to reduced naïve T-cell output. The protein kinase C (PKC) family of serine-threonine kinases is involved in numerous intracellular biochemical processes, including Wnt signal transduction. In the present study, PKCδ expression is shown to increase with age and to co-localise with Wnt receptors Frizzled (Fz)-4 and -6. It is also demonstrated that connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a Wnt-4 target gene and is potentially involved in a negative feed-back loop of Wnt signal regulation. Down-regulation of Wnt-4 expression and activation of multiple repressor pathways suppressing ß-catenin dependent signalling in TECs contribute to the initiation of thymic senescence.

Polymorphisms of the IL23R gene are associated with psoriasis but not with immunoglobulin A nephropathy in a Hungarian population.

Recently, associations were found between autoimmune diseases and variants of interleukin-23 receptor (IL23R) gene; here, we analyzed the association of nine IL23R polymorphisms with psoriasis and with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). Groups of patients with psoriasis, IgAN, and controls were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methods. We observed a significant increase in the carriage of the minor allele of rs11805303 in psoriasis patients compared to controls. Similarly, for rs2201841 prevalence of the CC genotype and for rs10889677, the AA genotype showed a more than two- and threefold increase, respectively in patients compared to controls. There was no difference in the distribution of IL23R variants between controls and IgAN patients. We confirmed the association of IL23R with psoriasis in a Hungarian population and demonstrated the effect of the rs11805303 SNP, which was tested so far only for other autoimmune diseases. We could not detect any association between the IL23R variants and IgAN.

Triglyceride level-influencing functional variants of the ANGPTL3, CILP2, and TRIB1 loci in ischemic stroke.

Stroke is a common multifactorial disease, and the third leading cause of death worldwide, which results in serious long-term mental and physical disability among survivors. The role of affected triglyceride metabolism in the development of ischemic stroke is under extensive investigations. Here, we examined three SNPs, rs12130333 located within the ANGPTL3 locus; rs16996148 residing at the CILP2 gene locus; and rs17321515 at the TRIB1 locus, which were originally reported in association with decreased triglyceride levels; therefore, we investigated their possible protective effect against the development of ischemic stroke. A total of 459 Caucasian stroke patients, stratified as large-vessel, small-vessel, and mixed stroke groups, and 168 control subjects were genotyped using PCR-RFLP methods. As a result, we could not detect any differences in triglyceride or total cholesterol levels in relation to any allelic variants of rs16996148, rs17321515, or rs12130333 SNPs. No correlation was found between the minor alleles rs16996148-T (P = 0.881), rs17321515-G (P = 0.070), or rs12130333-T allele (P = 0.757) and the risk for development of stroke. The data presented here suggest different scale of effect of triglyceride modifier alleles and also their variable susceptibility or protective nature.