The Impact of STAT3 rs1053005 Variation on Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Susceptibility: Association Study and in Silico Analysis

Influence of rs1292037 Genetic Variant on miR-21 Gene Expression in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Case-Control Study

Background and Aims

Alterations in the expression pattern of miRNAs seem to be linked with autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Regarding the importance of assessing this potential link, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between miR-21 rs1292037 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and T1DM susceptibility. Furthermore, we investigated the miR-21 expression level in T1DM.

Methods

A total of 250 T1DM patients and 250 controls were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and miR-21 expression levels were assessed using real-time PCR. Moreover, the potential targets of miR-21 were investigated using different bioinformatics web servers.

Results

Our results showed that the T/C genotype and the C allele were more frequent in T1DM patients than in controls. Individuals carrying the T/C genotype in overdominant model were 2.74-fold at a higher risk of T1DM (OR = 2.74; 95%CI, 1.78-4.27; p < 0.0001). In addition, miR-21 expression was more than twofold higher in patients than in controls (p < 0.0001) and it was found to be significantly upregulated when carrying the T/C genotype. Regarding miR-21 predicted target genes, its overexpression may be associated with beta cell death, diabetic nephropathy, inflammatory responses, impaired insulin production or secretion, and T-cell cytotoxicity, which are important in the initiation and progression of T1DM.

Conclusion

Our results suggested that miR-21 rs1292037 may confer genetic susceptibility to T1DM. Therefore, it seems that this genetic link should be further investigated to enhance diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in these patients.

Using heat shock protein (HSP) inducers as an approach to increase the viability of sterlet (Pisces; Acipenseridae; Acipenser ruthenus) cells against environmental diazinon toxicity

Diazinon (DZN) is an organophosphate pesticide frequently used in agriculture and released into aquatic environments. In this study, sterlet sturgeon cells were exposed to DZN to investigate possible defense mechanisms via HSP induction (HSPi). Liver, kidney, and gill cells of Acipenser ruthenus were isolated and cultured and then treated with HSPi (Pro-Tex®, amygdalin, and a novel pirano-piranazole-based synthesized compound: SZ) in the presence and absence of DZN. MTT assays were used to evaluate the effects of different HSPis and their combinations with DZN. Western blotting analysis was conducted to evaluate HSP27, HSP70, and HSP90 expression patterns in each group. The highest rates of caspase-3 and caspase-8 activities were found in the DZN group, whereas HSPi treatment resulted in the lowest rates. The combination of HSPi+DZN resulted in increased HSP levels and antioxidant parameters but decreased cortisol, immune parameters, and metabolic enzymes. Many of the studied parameters (caspases, acetylcholinesterase, antioxidant, immune, and metabolic parameters) showed significant correlations with HSP expression, indicating that HSPs may be associated with markers of sterlet cell health. The results of this study demonstrate that using HSP inducers may be a powerful and reliable way to increase A. ruthenus resistance prior to exposure to DZN.

STAT3 and STAT6 polymorphisms predict the severity of adverse reactions in Chinese NSCLC patients receiving EGFR-TKIs therapy

A total of 162 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients were divided into discovery (N = 68) and validation (N = 94) groups. Nine Janus kinase/Signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway-related single nucleotide polymorphisms were selected to explore the potential associations between genetic polymorphisms and adverse drug reactions (ADRs). The TT genotype of STAT6 rs324011 was significantly associated with severe ADRs in the recessive genetic model (TT vs. CC + CT, OR = 13.5, 95% CI = 2.12-86.09, p = 0.006 in the discovery group; OR = 8.41, 95% CI = 1.95-36.19, p = 0.004 in the validation group). The T allele was associated with a higher incidence of severe ADRs than was the C allele of rs324011 (OR = 3.67, 95% CI = 1.46-9.19, p = 0.006 in the discovery group; OR = 3.17, 95% CI = 1.44-6.99, p = 0.004 in the validation group). Patients with the CC genotype in STAT3 rs1053023 (and rs1053005) or the TT genotype of STAT6 rs324011 were likely to experience severe epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) related ADRs.