Association between genetic variants of the VEGFR-2 gene and the risk of developing endometriosis in Northern Chinese Women

A functional promoter polymorphism in interleukin 12B gene is associated with an increased risk of ovarian endometriosis

OBJECTIVE

To explore the role of functional genetic variant of IL12B in the pathogenesis of ovarian endometriosis.

STUDY DESIGN

This study included 815 patients with ovarian endometriosis and 788 women in the control group. Two polymorphisms were genotyped by a method of polymerase chain reaction and ligase detection reaction. To assess the biological significance of polymorphisms, we detected the level of IL12p40 protein expression in patients' eutopic endometrial tissues using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

RESULT(S)

Compared with the CTCTAA/CTCTAA genotype, the GC/GC and GC/CTCTAA genotypes of rs17860508 could significantly increase the risk of ovarian endometriosis development (OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.19-2.09; OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.08-1.74, respectively). Moreover, the IL12B mRNA was expressed at significantly higher levels in the eutopic endometrial tissue of patients with the GC/GC genotype than in patients with the CTCTAA/CTCTAA genotype. However, the rs3212227 polymorphism may not be associated with a risk of ovarian endometriosis.

CONCLUSION(S)

The rs17860508 polymorphism in the IL12B promoter region may influence the risk of developing ovarian endometriosis by altering the endometrial expression of IL12B of in Northern Chinese women.

A review of the risk factors, genetics and treatment of endometriosis in Chinese women: a comparative update

Endometriosis is one of the major causes of economic burden and compromised quality of life in a very large percentage of Asian women. While it is perceived as a benign condition, recent research has shown that it may be a significant cause of infertility and metastatic cancer. It has also been associated with other diseases linked to the functioning of the immune system. Genetic as well as environmental factors are known to affect the manifestation and progression of endometriosis. This review aims to summarize recent research pertaining to the risk factors, diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis in Chinese women. It also provides an overview of identified genetic mutations and polymorphisms and their effects on the risk of developing endometriosis in the Chinese population. A comparison has been drawn between Asian and European-American female populations and the differences in risk factors and treatment responses have been summarized. Since traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is often used to treat endometriosis, wherever possible, a comparison between efficacies of Western medicine and TCM in the Chinese population has also been provided. Although much progress has been made in the treatment and resolution of endometriosis, several gaps remain and this review also highlights possible areas of future research and advancement that can result in an improvement in patient outcomes and quality of life.

Polymorphisms in VEGF and KDR genes in the development of endometriosis: a systematic review

Abstract Objectives: to review studies that used case-control design to verify the association of polymorphisms in VEGF and KDR genes in the development of endometriosis. Methods: the systematic review selected articles published until September 1, 2015 from PubMed, MEDLINE, BVS, SciELO databases, considering the following key words: endometriosis and ("polymorphism" or "SNP" or "genetic polymorphism") and ("VEGF" OR "Vascular endothelial growth factor" or "VEGFR-2" or "Vascular endothelial growth factor-2" or "KDR" or "Kinase Insert Domain Receptor"). Results: 106 articles were identified, only 11 were eligible. Discrepant results were observed regarding polymorphisms in VEGF gene in the development of endometriosis, which can be explained by methodological differences, sample size, eligible control type, using the unadjusted risk estimates and the heterogeneity of the studied population. Only one study investigated polymorphisms in KDR gene in the development of endometriosis, however it was ineligible for this review. Conclusions: to avoid discrepancy in the results, we suggest that the ideal control group should be formed by fertile women and free of gynecological diseases. Multicentric studies with adequate design, involving different population besides the combined analysis on polymorphisms in VEGF and KDR genes are still necessary to contribute in the understanding of this disease, which are social, clinical and economical problems.

Genetics of endometriosis

Endometriosis is a heritable complex disorder that is influenced by multiple genetic and environmental factors. Identification of these genetic factors will aid a better understanding of the underlying biology of the disease. In this article, we describe different methods of studying genetic variation of endometriosis, summarize results from genetic studies performed to date and provide recommendations for future studies to uncover additional factors contributing to the heritable component of endometriosis.

Genetic Variations of Kinase Inserts Domain Receptor (KDR) Gene Are Associated with the Risk of Astrocytomas

Astrocytomas is one of the most common central nervous system (CNS) tumors with high mortality rate. Kinase insert domain receptor (KDR) is involved in the regulation of tumor angiogenesis, migration, and vascular permeability. The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between KDR polymorphisms and risk of astrocytomas. Blood samples were collected from 157 astrocytomas patients and 160 healthy controls. Three tag-SNPs (rs2071559C/T, rs2305948T/C, and rs1870377A/T) were identified from the International HapMap Project Databases and genotyped using the method of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). We evaluated the astrocytomas risk caused by individual SNPs and haplotype using odds ratios (ORs) and their 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). In the overall individual SNP analysis, the C allele of rs2071559 was correlated with an increased risk of astrocytomas. However, individuals with mutant allele A and genotype TA + AA of rs1870377 showed a protective effect against astrocytomas. Subgroup analysis based on WHO tumor grade revealed that the C allele of rs2071559 had more influence with the risk of astrocytomas in the grade III-IV (OR = 1.91) subgroup than the grade I-II (OR = 1.47) group. Genotype TT of rs2305948 was found to be significantly associated with susceptibility of astrocytomas only in the grade III-IV subgroup. The protective effect of rs1870377 did not reveal significant difference between the grade III-IV and grade I-II subgroups. Meanwhile, stratified analysis demonstrated that mutation of rs2071559 and rs2305948 could elevate the risk of astrocytomas more significantly in the subgroup of smokers than the nonsmokers. Interestingly, the protective effect of rs1870377 was more obvious in the nonsmokers than the smokers. Additionally, haplotype-specific analysis showed that haplotype CCT and CTT were related with an increased risk of astrocytomas. We found that individual with variants of rs2071559*C and rs2305948*T might significantly elevate the risk of astrocytomas, while mutants of rs1870377*A was associated with the decreased risk of astrocytomas. Further studies about ethnically diverse populations with larger sample size should be performed to confirm the correlation between KDR gene polymorphisms and risk of astrocytomas.

A multifactorial analysis of the pregnancy outcomes in cytomegalovirus-infected women

AIMS

To investigate the impacts of cytomegalovirus (CMV) viral load, TORCH (toxoplasmosis, others, rubella, CMV and herpes) coinfections, CMV glycoprotein B (gB) genotypes and maternal genetic polymorphisms on pregnancy outcomes among CMV-infected women.

METHODS

A total of 731 CMV-infected pregnant women (634 and 97 with normal and adverse pregnancy outcomes, respectively) were recruited. CMV load quantification and screening of TORCH coinfections were performed by using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunodetection techniques, respectively. Genotyping of CMV gB and maternal NFKB1 -94 ins/del, NFKBIA -826C/T and -881A/G polymorphisms was performed by using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism.

RESULTS

We found that the mean CMV viral load in women with adverse pregnancy outcomes was significantly higher than that in women with normal outcomes at all pregnancy stages (p < 0.01). We also found that TORCH coinfections resulted in a 1.65-fold (95% CI = 1.00-2.73) increase in the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes (p = 0.05). Additionally, we noticed no significant difference in the distribution of CMV gB genotypes between women with normal and adverse pregnancy outcomes (p = 0.42). We also observed that the ins/ins variant genotype of the NFKB1 polymorphism could reduce the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes (OR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.15-0.98; p = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

CMV viral load, TORCH coinfections and maternal NFKB1 polymorphism could influence pregnancy outcomes among CMV-infected women.

Human chorionic gonadotropin improves endometriosis through downregulation of leptin expression in rats

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether and how human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) treatment ameliorates endometriosis in an endometriotic rat model.

METHODS

Twenty-four endometriosis rats were established and were randomly divided into four groups, and then the rats were treated with 19.4, 25.8, and 51.6 IU/100 g weight/day of HCG, respectively. The control group was treated with 0.9% NaCl. After 15 days (3 estrous cycles), the ectopic lesion volume and the expression of leptin protein in eutopic and ectopic endometrium were investigated.

RESULTS

After HCG treatment, the volumes of endometriotic lesions were significantly smaller than those before treatment. During endometriosis development, the expression of leptin protein in eutopic and ectopic endometrium was remarkably increased. HCG administration reversed leptin upregulation in endometriotic tissues.

CONCLUSION

HCG therapy appears to be an effective treatment for endometriosis in rats through down-regulation of leptin expression in eutopic and ectopic endometrium.

Association between polymorphisms in sclerostin, dickkopfs and secreted frizzled-related protein genes and bone mineral density in postmenopausal Korean women

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in sclerostin (SOST), dickkopf (DKK), secreted frizzled-related protein (sFRP) genes and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal Korean women.

METHODS

The SOST, Wnt inhibitory factor 1 (WIF1), sFRP1,sFRP2,sFRP3, sFRP4, sFRP5, DKK1, DKK2 and DKK3 polymorphisms were analyzed in 399 postmenopausal Korean women. Serum levels of bone turnover markers were measured, and BMDs at the lumbar spine and femoral neck were also examined.

RESULTS

No significant differences in adjusted BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck were noted according to any single and combined polymorphisms measured in SOST, DKKs and sFRPs. However, osteoporosis at the femoral neck was 2.35 times more frequently observed in the AA genotype of the sFRP4 c.958C>A polymorphism compared to the non-AA genotype (95% CI 1.09-5.08, p = 0.03). Also, the CC genotype of the sFRP3 c.970C>G polymorphism had a higher rate of osteoporosis at the femoral neck compared to the GC genotype (OR 8.47, 95% CI 1.37-52.63, p = 0.049).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that the sFRP3 c.970C>G and sFRP4 c.958C>A polymorphisms may be genetic factors associated with the prevalence of osteoporosis at the femoral neck in postmenopausal Korean women.

Regression of experimentally induced endometriosis with a new selective cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme inhibitor

BACKGROUND

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) levels increase in women with endometriosis. COX-2, via increasing prostaglandin E2, contributes to an increase in vascular endothelial growth factor. In this way, COX-2 may contribute to the progression and continuity of endometriosis. We investigated the effect of dexketoprofen trometamol, a new selective COX-2 enzyme inhibitor, on experimentally induced endometriotic cysts.

METHODS

Experimental endometriotic cysts were created in 60 adult female Wistar albino rats. The rats were randomized to 2 equal groups, a control (group Con) and a dexketoprofen (group Dex) group. Six weeks later, cyst volumes were measured as in vivo (volume 1). Following volume 1 measurement, for 4 weeks group Con received 0.1 ml distilled water; group Dex received 0.375 mg dexketoprofen trometamol/0.1 ml distilled water, intramuscularly, twice a day. At the end of administration, the cyst volumes were remeasured (volume 2), and the cysts totally excised and weighed. Glandular (GT) and stromal tissues (ST) and natural killer (NK) cell contents in the cyst wall were scored.

RESULTS

NK cell content and volume 1 were not different between the 2 groups. Volume 2, cyst weight, and GT and ST contents in group Dex were significantly lower than those in group Con.

CONCLUSION

Dexketoprofen trometamol significantly reduced the development of experimentally induced endometriotic cysts both macroscopically and microscopically.