[The two sides of ADAM17 in inflammation: implications in atherosclerosis and obesity]

Genetic analysis of atherosclerosis and glucose homeostasis in an intercross between C57BL/6 and BALB/cJ apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

BACKGROUND

Diabetic patients have an increased risk of developing atherosclerosis and related complications compared with nondiabetic individuals. The increased cardiovascular risk associated with diabetes is due in part to genetic variations that influence both glucose homeostasis and atherosclerotic lesion growth. Mouse strains C57BL/6J (B6) and BALB/cJ (BALB) exhibit distinct differences in fasting plasma glucose and atherosclerotic lesion size when deficient in apolipoprotein E (Apoe(-/-)). Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis was performed to determine genetic factors influencing the 2 phenotypes.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Female F(2) mice (n=266) were generated from an intercross between B6.Apoe(-/-) and BALB.Apoe(-/-) mice and fed a Western diet for 12 weeks. Atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic root, fasting plasma glucose, and body weight were measured. 130 microsatellite markers across the entire genome were genotyped. Four significant QTLs, Ath1 on chromosome (Chr) 1, Ath41 on Chr2, Ath42 on Chr5, and Ath29 on Chr9, and 1 suggestive QTL on Chr4, were identified for atherosclerotic lesion size. Four significant QTLs, Bglu3 and Bglu12 on Chr1, Bglu13 on Chr5, Bglu15 on Chr12, and 2 suggestive QTLs on Chr9 and Chr15 were identified for fasting glucose levels on the chow diet. Two significant QTLs, Bglu3 and Bglu13, and 1 suggestive locus on Chr8 were identified for fasting glucose on the Western diet. One significant locus on Chr1 and 2 suggestive loci on Chr9 and Chr19 were identified for body weight. Ath1 and Ath42 coincided with Bglu3 and Bglu13, respectively, in the confidence interval.

CONCLUSIONS

We have identified novel QTLs that have major influences on atherosclerotic lesion size and glucose homeostasis. The colocalization of QTLs for atherosclerosis and diabetes suggests possible genetic connections between the 2 diseases.

[Nectin and nectin-like molecules as markers, actors and targets in cancer]

Nectin and nectin-like (necl) proteins form a family of 9 adhesion molecules that belong to the immunoglobulin superfamily. They play a key role in different biological processes such as cell polarity, proliferation, differentiation and migration in epithelial, endothelial, immune and nervous systems. Besides their role in physiology, they have been involved in different pathological processes in humans. They serve as virus receptors (poliovirus and herpes simplex virus), they are involved in orofacial malformation (CLPED1) and recently they have been described as markers, actors and potential therapeutics targets in cancer. Among them, necl-5, nectin-2 and nectin-4 are overexpressed in tumors, and are associated with a poor prognosis. On the opposite, necl-1, necl-2 and necl-4 act as tumor suppressors and are repressed in cancer. The involvement of nectins and necls molecules in cancer and their potential used in therapy is discussed in this review.