Association between kidney function and genetic polymorphisms in atherosclerotic and chronic kidney diseases: A cross-sectional study in Japanese male workers

Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms in chronic kidney disease Egyptian children: effect on biochemical markers of bone mineral disorders

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to assess the association between four vitamin D receptor (VDR) single nucleotide polymorphisms BsmI (rs1544410), ApaI (rs7975232), FokI (rs2228570) and TaqI (rs731236) and the susceptibility to chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Egyptian children and to evaluate their association with mineral status in these patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The current study included 305 patients with CKD and 100 apparently healthy children. We measured the serum vitamin D (VD), para-thyroid hormone (PTH) level and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) levels by ELISA method. The genotyping of the four VDR gene variants was carried out by PCR-RFLP technique.

RESULTS

The TaqI AG & the BsmI TT genotypes were associated with a significantly higher risk of CKD. The expression of 25-OH D serum level was decreased in patients with TaqI GG & AG genotypes groups and in patients with BsmI TT genotype group The expression of PTH serum level was increased in patients with BsmI CT genotype group. The expression of FGF-23 serum level was increased in patients with Taq1 AG genotype group. We found 3 specific haplotypes; AGCA, AGCC and GGCA for healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed an association between VDR TaqI, BsmI polymorphisms and the susceptibility to CKD. The existence of VDR vari-ants affected the protein expression of VD, FGF-23 and PTH. The AGCA, AGCC and GGCA haplotypes were considered as protec-tive factors against the development of renal nephropathy in our population.

Bi-allelic variants in SPATA5L1 lead to intellectual disability, spastic-dystonic cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and hearing loss

Spermatogenesis-associated 5 like 1 (SPATA5L1) represents an orphan gene encoding a protein of unknown function. We report 28 bi-allelic variants in SPATA5L1 associated with sensorineural hearing loss in 47 individuals from 28 (26 unrelated) families. In addition, 25/47 affected individuals (53%) presented with microcephaly, developmental delay/intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, and/or epilepsy. Modeling indicated damaging effect of variants on the protein, largely via destabilizing effects on protein domains. Brain imaging revealed diminished cerebral volume, thin corpus callosum, and periventricular leukomalacia, and quantitative volumetry demonstrated significantly diminished white matter volumes in several individuals. Immunofluorescent imaging in rat hippocampal neurons revealed localization of Spata5l1 in neuronal and glial cell nuclei and more prominent expression in neurons. In the rodent inner ear, Spata5l1 is expressed in the neurosensory hair cells and inner ear supporting cells. Transcriptomic analysis performed with fibroblasts from affected individuals was able to distinguish affected from controls by principal components. Analysis of differentially expressed genes and networks suggested a role for SPATA5L1 in cell surface adhesion receptor function, intracellular focal adhesions, and DNA replication and mitosis. Collectively, our results indicate that bi-allelic SPATA5L1 variants lead to a human disease characterized by sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) with or without a nonprogressive mixed neurodevelopmental phenotype.

Validity of "One-size-fits-all" Approaches for the National Health Screening and Education Program: A Large-scale Cohort Study of Corporate Insurance Beneficiaries

Objective Metabolic syndrome represents a unified condition of atherosclerotic diseases caused by abdominal obesity. The aims of this study were to examine the applicability of the prevalent fixed cut-off values of the abdominal circumference (AC) and body mass index (BMI) to age and gender groups and to identify suitable lifestyle modification factors. Methods We defined an outcome as having ≥ 2 risk components that are necessary to diagnose metabolic syndrome and examined the cross-sectional association of the AC and BMI with the outcome. We also assessed the effects of time-updated lifestyle information on metabolic traits using longitudinal data. Patients We enrolled 22,953 beneficiaries of a corporate health insurance scheme who underwent annual health examinations between January 2004 and December 2014. Results The AC [per 5-cm increase, odds ratio (OR) 1.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12-1.24] and BMI (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.07-1.13) were significantly associated with the outcome, adjusted for age, gender, current smoking status, drinking habits, and other lifestyle information. The association between the outcome and AC was modified by gender (p for interaction = 0.033), and the association between the outcome and BMI was modified by age group (p for interaction = 0.049). In the longitudinal analysis, current smoking, drinking habits, and unhealthy eating habits were associated with an increased AC and BMI, whereas regular physical activity was associated with a decreased AC and BMI. Conclusion We showed that the association between the AC or BMI and metabolic syndrome was modified by gender or age group. Further studies will be needed to customize the national health screening and education programs.

Longevity-associated mitochondrial DNA 5178 C/A polymorphism modifies effect of aging on renal function in male Japanese health checkup examinees: an exploratory cross-sectional study

Background

Mitochondrial DNA 5178 (Mt5178) C/A polymorphism is reportedly associated with longevity in the Japanese population. The objective of this study was to investigate whether Mt5178 C/A polymorphism influences the effect of physiological aging on renal function in male Japanese health checkup examinees.

Methods

A total of 404 male subjects (mean age ± SD, 53.9 ± 7.8 years; range, 29–76 years) were selected from among individuals visiting the hospital for regular medical checkups. After Mt5178 C/A genotyping, a cross-sectional study assessing the joint effects of Mt5178 C/A polymorphism and aging on renal function was then conducted. Renal function was evaluated by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Subjects were divided into three age groups (< 50, 50–59, ≥ 60 years).

Results

In simple linear regression analysis, a significant negative association between aging and eGFR was observed in both Mt5178C and Mt5178A genotypic men (P < 0.001 and P = 0.003, respectively). However, in multiple linear regression analysis, a significant effect of aging on reduced eGFR was observed only in Mt5178C genotypic men (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that, in the case of reduced eGFR defined as < 75 mL/min/1.73 m², reduced eGFR was dependent on aging in both Mt5178C and Mt5178A genotypic men (P for trend < 0.001 and P for trend = 0.002, respectively). After adjusting for smoking status and alcohol consumption, reduced eGFR was also dependent on aging in both Mt5178C and Mt5178A genotypic men (P for trend < 0.001 and P for trend = 0.014, respectively). However, in reduced eGFR defined as < 90 mL/min/1.73 m², reduced eGFR was dependent on aging only in Mt5178C genotypic men (P for trend < 0.001).

Conclusions

This cross-sectional study suggests that Mt5178 C/A polymorphism modulates the effects of physiological aging on kidney function in Japanese men.

Short stature-related single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) activates endothelial repair activity in elderly Japanese

Background

Hypertension and atherosclerosis are bidirectionally related, while platelet count could serve as an indicator of endothelial repair. Therefore, high platelet counts could be associated with hypertension by indicating more intense endothelial repair activity. Furthermore, short stature has been shown to constitute a risk of atherosclerosis. Since inflammation-related single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP (rs3782886)) is reportedly associated with myocardial infarction and short stature, rs3782886 could be associated with a high platelet count and thus more intense endothelial repair activity.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study of 988 elderly Japanese who participated in a general health check-up. Short stature was defined as a height of at or under the 25th percentile of the study population, and high platelet count as the highest tertiles of the platelet levels.

Results

High platelet counts were found to be independently and positively associated with hypertension while rs3782886 was independently associated with high platelet levels and short stature. The classical cardiovascular risk factor-adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of high platelet count for hypertension was 1.34 (1.02, 1.77). With non-minor homo of the rs3782886 as the reference group, the adjusted OR and 95% CI for high platelet count and short stature of minor home were 2.40 (1.30, 4.42) and 2.21 (1.16, 4.21), respectively.

Conclusion

SNP (rs3782886) was shown to be associated with high platelet count and short stature. This result partly explains how a genetic factor can influence the impact of height on endothelial repair.