Lipid Peroxidation and Mitochondrial Superoxide Dismutase-2 Gene in Adolescents with Essential Hypertension

Alpha Diversity Indices as Indicators of the Variability of Gut Microbiota in Obese Adolescents of Different Ethnicities

We compared alpha diversity indices of the intestinal microbiota in adolescents with obesity and normal body weight, taking into account their ethnicity. Intestinal biocenosis was studied by metasequencing of amplicon libraries of V3-V4 fragments of the 16S rRNA gene. The alpha diversity of the microbiota was assessed using classical and alternative indices. Statistically significant differences in intestinal microbiota were observed between Russians with obesity and Buryats with normal body weight, as well as between Russians with obesity and Buryats with obesity when assessing the Shannon-Weaver, Chao1 indices, Faith phylogenetic diversity index, ACE, Fisher, Gini coefficient, Margalef, and Menkhinik indices. It was shown that alpha diversity indices can be used to assess significance of differences and variability of the intestinal microbiota in multifactorial diseases such as obesity in adolescents; however, the scope of application of the criteria should be considered.

Analysis of the influence of glutathione S-transferase (GSTM1 and GSTT1) genes on the risk of essential hypertension

BACKGROUND

Essential hypertension (EH) results from a complex interaction between environmental factors and an individual's genetic background.

AIM

To assess the relationship between polymorphisms in GSTM1 and GSTT1 and the risk of EH.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A multiplex-PCR was used to identify the genotypic profiles of GSTM1 and GSTT1 in 160 patients and 210 controls.

RESULTS

The frequency of GSTM1-null genotype was higher in patients younger than 61 years when compared to those over 61 years. Interestingly, GSTT1-null was significantly associated with the risk of EH (OR 4; 95% CI 2.6-6.3; p < 0.0001). While GSTM1-null showed no trend (OR 0.7; 95% CI 0.5-1.1, p = 0.12). Individuals carrying the combined GSTT1-null/GSTM1-null were 2.4 times more at risk for hypertension compared to those harbouring the combined GSTT1-present/GSTM1-present genotype (OR 2.4; 95% CI 1.3-4.4; p = 0.005). Additionally, the presence of the combined GSTT1-null/GSTM1-present was associated with an increased risk of EH compared to GSTT1-present/GSTM1-present carriers (OR 6.75; 95% CI 3.4-13.2; p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

This study showed that the GSTT1-null alone or in interaction with GSTM1-present or GSTM1-null was associated with higher risk of hypertension. Moreover, the GSTM1-null seems to be associated with the age of onset of hypertension.

Change of Lipid Peroxidation System – Antioxidant Protection Parameters in Adolescents with Obesity and Fatty Hepatosis

Background. Spread of childhood obesity is associated with social and economic factors of modern lifestyle that alter food preferences and lead to sedentary life. Nowadays fatty hepatosis is considered a hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome, which is linked to the rising prevalence of obesity among the population. There is evidence of a correlation between metabolic disorders and oxidative stress reactions.

Aims. To study characteristics of lipid peroxidation system and antioxidant defense processes in adolescents with fatty hepatosis.

Materials and methods. We examined 15 adolescents with obesity and fatty hepatosis, 20 adolescents with obesity and without fatty hepatosis, and 20 apparently healthy adolescents, who formed the control group. Spectrophotometric and fluorometric methods were used in the research.

Results. We found that some components of antioxidant status of adolescents with obesity and fatty hepatosis were decreased, both in comparison with the group with obesity without hepatosis and control group.

Conclusions. It is recommended that patients with obesity and fatty hepatosis take antioxidants in addition to metabolic therapy.

FREQUENCIES OF POLYMORPHISMS IN THE CYTOCHROME’S P450 GENES OF WARFARIN TRANSFORMATION IN A EUROPEAN POPULATION OF EASTERN SIBERIA

Background. Genotypes of the cytochrome p450 isoform (CYP2C9 and CYP4F2) determine warfarin dose requirements. Frequencies of risk alleles and genotypes of CYP2C9 and CYP4F2 gene vary in different races and ethnic groups.

Aim. This study analyzed the frequencies of *2, *3 alleles of CYP2C9 gene and the 1347 C>T allele of CYP4F2 gene in the Caucasians of Eastern Siberia, and compare with other populations.

Materials and methods. Participants were 147 patients (Caucasians): 67 (45.58 %) man and 80 (54.42 %) women), taking warfarin for the prevention of thrombosis with a mean age of 64.74 ± 14.29 years. There were patients with atrial fibrillation – 77 (52.38 %) persons, coronary artery disease – 10 (6.80 %), pulmonary embolism – 5 (3.40 %), 15 (10.20 %) patients after implantation of an mechanical heart valve, etc. The subjects were genotyped for CYP2C9 (*1,*2,*3), and CYP4F2 (1347 C>T) by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using “Pharmacogenetics Warfarin” reagent kits (DNA technology, Russia).

Results. 69.4 % of Caucasians of Eastern Siberia (Russians), have two functional alleles (*1/*1) of CYP2C9 (they’re extensive/normal metabolizers), the number of intermediate metabolizers (*1/*2, *1/*3) was 29.8 % and 0.68 % of slow metabolizers (*3/*3). Homozygous carriers of two non-functional alleles *2 and *3 (*2/*2, *2/*3) were absent. Carriers of one coumarin-resistant Т-allele of CYP4F2 were 57 (38.7 %) respondents, two coumarin-resistant alleles – 10 (6.8 %) respondents.

Conclusions. Frequencies of polymorphisms in the Cytochrome’s p450 genes of warfarin transformation in a European population of Eastern Siberia have no differences with other European populations of the world

Polymorphism T3111C of the Clock gene in ethnic groups of women from Russia and Buryatia

Biological rhythms of organisms depend on both changing conditions of the external environment and internal “biological clock”. Circadian rhythms are the response of the organism to the change of day and night. They are some of the most important biological rhythms of organisms. Circadian rhythms are regulated by the group of circadian genes. It is known that women suffer from sleep disorders more often than men. Up to 50 % of menopausal women complain of problems associated with sleeping. The study involved 403 menopausal women aged from 45 to 60 years: 214 Russians (the average age is 52.74±6.28 years) and 189 Buryats (the average age is 51.95±5.13 years) living in Eastern Siberia (Irkutsk region, Irkutsk and Republic of Buryatia, Ulan-Ude). The prevalence of genotypes and alleles of the polymorphism T3111C of the circadian rhythm gene Clock (rs1801260) was studied in these groups. To this end, we conducted genotyping of DNA samples by polymerase chain reaction. It was shown that the compared groups have statistically significant differences in genotypes frequency (р = 0.001). It was found that in the group of Russian women the frequency of the TC genotype (p = 0.004) was significantly higher and the frequency of the TT genotype (p = 0.0001) was significantly lower than those in the sample of women of Buryatia. It was shown that in the group of Russian women allele 3111C is found in 30.4 % of cases, which is statistically significantly more often than in the group of Buryat women, where the frequency of allele 3111C was 19.3 % (p = 0.014).

Maternal protein restriction induced-hypertension is associated to oxidative disruption at transcriptional and functional levels in the medulla oblongata

Maternal protein restriction during pregnancy and lactation predisposes the adult offspring to sympathetic overactivity and arterial hypertension. Although the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood, dysregulation of the oxidative balance has been proposed as a putative trigger of neural-induced hypertension. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between the oxidative status at transcriptional and functional levels in the medulla oblongata and maternal protein restriction induced-hypertension. Wistar rat dams were fed a control (normal protein; 17% protein) or a low protein ((Lp); 8% protein) diet during pregnancy and lactation, and male offspring was studied at 90 days of age. Direct measurements of baseline arterial blood pressure (ABP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded in awakened offspring. In addition, quantitative RT-PCR was used to assess the mRNA expression of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and 2 (SOD2), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), Glutamatergic receptors (Grin1, Gria1 and Grm1) and GABA(A)-receptor-associated protein like 1 (Gabarapl1). Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, CAT and SOD activities were examined in ventral and dorsal medulla. Lp rats exhibited higher ABP. The mRNA expression levels of SOD2, GPx and Gabarapl1 were down regulated in medullary tissue of Lp rats (P<.05, t test). In addition, we observed that higher MDA levels were associated to decreased SOD (approximately 45%) and CAT (approximately 50%) activities in ventral medulla. Taken together, our data suggest that maternal protein restriction induced-hypertension is associated with medullary oxidative dysfunction at transcriptional level and with impaired antioxidant capacity in the ventral medulla.