The -44 C/G (rs1800972) polymorphism of the β-defensin 1 is associated with increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus

The DEFB1 gene rs11362 A/G genetic variant is associated with risk of developing CAD: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

In the present study, we evaluated whether DEFB1 gene polymorphisms are associated with the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD).

METHODS

Two rs11362 A/G, and rs1800972 C/G gene polymorphisms of DEFB1 gene were genotyped by 5'exonuclease TaqMan assays in 219 patients with CAD and 522 control individuals.

RESULTS

The distribution of rs1800972 C/G polymorphisms was similar in patients with CAD and healthy controls. Nonetheless, under the co-dominant, dominant, recessive, and additive models, the AA genotype of the rs11362 A/G polymorphism was associated with the risk of developing CAD (OR = 1.89 pCCo-Dom = 0.041, OR = 1.46, pCDom = 0.034, OR = 1.69, pCRes = 0.039, and OR = 1.37, pCAdd = 0.012, respectively). In addition, the linkage disequilibrium showed that the 'AG' haplotype was associated with an increased risk of developing CAD (OR = 1.23, p = 0.042). According, with the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) consortium data, the rs11362 AA genotype is associated with a low mRNA expression of the β-defensin-1 in tissues, such as artery aorta, artery coronary, heart left ventricle, and heart atrial appendage (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that rs11362 A/G polymorphism of the DEFB1 gene is involved in the risk of developing CAD, and with a low RNA expression of the β-defensin-1 in heart tissue.

β-defensin 1 Gene Polymorphisms are Associated with Kidney Disease in Northwestern Mexicans with Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is one of the more limiting complications to the quality of life of diabetes mellitus patients. Studies including cultured cells, animal models, and case-control studies highlight the role of human β-defensin-1 (hBD-1) in diabetes.This study assessed the association of hBD-1 gene (DEFB1) functional variations -52 G/A (rs1799946), -44 C/G (rs1800972) and -20 G/A (rs11362) with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in order to investigate its effects on genetic susceptibility and progression to DKD in a Mexican population. A total of 214 T2DM patients with and without DKD (n = 102 and n = 112, respectively) and 117 healthy subjects participated in this case-control study. Genotyping was made by PCR-RFLPs. Clinical and biochemical parameters of all patients were measured. There was no statistically significant difference in genotype or allele frequencies between patients and healthy individuals. Nevertheless, compared with patients without DKD, DKD patients have a reduced prevalence of AA genotype of -52 G/A (OR = 0.307, 95% CI = 0.104-0.905, p =.026), as well as a higher frequency of GA genotype of -20 G/A variant (OR = 1.875, 95%CI = 1.031-3.409, p = .038). Our results suggest that rs1799946 and rs11362 could be useful variants to stratify T2DM Mexican patients in order to prescribe closer follow-up to prevent or retard DKD. Further tests in different ethnic groups are encouraged.

Non-invasive prenatal testing reveals copy number variations related to pregnancy complications

Background

Pregnancy complications could lead to maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosing and managing complications have been associated with good outcomes. The placenta was an important organ for development of pregnancy complications. Thus, non-invasive prenatal testing technologies could detect genetic variations, such as aneuploidies and sub-chromosomal copy number variations, reflecting defective placenta by maternal plasma cffDNAs. Maternal cffDNAs had been proved to derive from trophoblast cells of placenta.

Results

In order to find out the relationship between genetic variations and pregnancy complications, we reviewed NIPT results for subchromosomal copy number variations in a cohort of 3890 pregnancies without complications and 441 pregnancies with pregnancy complications including gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) and placenta implantation abnormalities (PIA). For GDMs, we identified three CNV regions containing some members of alpha- and beta-defensins, such as DEFA1, DEFA3, DEFB1. For PIHs, we found three duplication and one deletion region including Pcdhα, Pcdhβ, and Pcdhγ, known as protocadherins, which were complicated by hypertensive disorders. For PPROMs and PIAs, we identified one and two CNV regions, respectively. SFTPA2, SFTPD and SFTPA1, belonging to surfactant protein, was considered to moderated the inflammatory activation within the fetal extra-embryonic compartment, associated to duration of preterm prelabor rupture of fetal membranes, while MEF2C and TM6SF1 could be involved in trophoblast invasion and differentiation.

Conclusions

Our findings gave a clue to correlation between genetic variations of maternal cell-free DNAs and pregnancy complications.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13039-019-0451-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

GHRL Gene Leu72Met Polymorphism and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis Involving 8,194 Participants

Background: Although many studies indicate a positive correlation between GHRL gene Leu72Met polymorphism and an increased susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), inconsistencies between independent studies still remain. Objective: Considering the inconsistencies between them, we have performed the current meta-analysis study. The objective of this study is to better examine the correlation of the GHRL gene Leu72Met polymorphism and T2DM. Methods: The current meta-analysis, involving 8,194 participants from 11 independent studies, was performed. A fixed effect model was used to evaluate the pooled odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Results: A significant association was found between T2DM and GHRL gene Leu72Met polymorphism under recessive (OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.01-1.76, P = 0.04), and homozygous genetic models (OR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.01-1.78, P = 0.04) in the whole population. The correlation was more distinct in our subgroup analysis of the Chinese population under recessive (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.07-2.15, P = 0.02), dominant (OR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.38-2.10, P < 0.00001), additive (OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.02-1.33, P = 0.02), and homozygous genetic models (OR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.07-2.20, P = 0.02). Conclusions: In short, GHRL gene Leu72Met polymorphism was significantly correlated with increased T2DM risk, particularly in the Chinese population. Individuals carrying the Met72 allele of GHRL Leu72Met gene polymorphism, particularly those of Chinese ancestry, may be more susceptible to developing T2DM disease.

The -44 C/G (rs1800972) polymorphism of the β-defensin 1 is associated with increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background

The aim of this study was to establish the association of two polymorphisms of the β‐defensin 1 gene (DEFB1, OMIM#602056) with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a group of Mexican patients.

Methods

The 5′UTR −20 G/A, and −44 C/G polymorphisms of DEFB1 gene were genotyped by 5′ exonuclease TaqMan assays in a group of 252 patients with T2DM and 522 healthy control.

Results

Under dominant and additive models adjusted for the risk factors, the C allele of the −44 C/G polymorphism was associated with increased risk of T2DM (OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.07–2.48, pC_dom = 0.021 and OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.05–1.91, pC_add = 0.023, respectively). In addition, the linkage disequilibrium analysis showed that AC haplotype was associated with an increased risk of developing T2DM (OR = 4.39, p = 0.04). The in‐silico analysis showed that the −44 C allele produces a binding site for the transcription factor Ikaros (IK).

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that the C allele of −44 C/G polymorphism, as well as haplotype AC are associated with the presence of T2DM in the Mexican population. The variation in this polymorphism of the DEFB1 gene could increase the migration of the macrophages to pancreatic islets accelerate the β‐cell dysfunction in T2DM.