G501C polymorphism of the oxidized LDL receptor gene is associated with albuminuria in Chinese essential hypertension patients

LOX-1 in Atherosclerosis and Myocardial Ischemia: Biology, Genetics, and Modulation

Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1), one of the scavenger receptors for oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (ox-LDL), plays a crucial role in the uptake of ox-LDL by cells in the arterial wall. Mounting evidence suggests a role for LOX-1 in various steps of the atherosclerotic process, from initiation to plaque destabilization. Studies of the genetic structure of LOX-1 have also uncovered various genetic polymorphisms that could modulate the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular events. As evidence supporting the vital role of LOX-1 in atherogenesis keeps accumulating, there is growing interest in LOX-1 as a potential therapeutic target. This review discusses the discovery and genetics of LOX-1; describes existing evidence supporting the role of LOX-1 in atherogenesis and its major complication, myocardial ischemia; and summarizes LOX-1 modulation by some naturally occurring compounds and efforts toward development of small molecules and biologics that could be of therapeutic use.

The association of lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor 1 (LOX-1) K167N and 3'UTR188CT polymorphisms with maternal plasma soluble LOX-1 levels and preeclampsia risk in Turkish population

PURPOSE

To investigate the main effect of polymorphisms in genes involved in endothelial pathophysiological mechanisms, LOX-1 K167N and 3'UTR188CT single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in relation to preeclampsia (PE) risk and possible interactions between the gene polymorphisms and plasma oxLDL and soluble LOX-1 (sLOX-1) levels on PE in Turkish population.

METHODS

LOX-1 K167N and 3'UTR188CT polymorphisms were studied in 113 pregnant women with preeclampsia and 96 healthy pregnant women by the PCR-RFLP techniques. sLOX-1 and oxLDL levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in all study subjects.

RESULTS

Patients having LOX-1 3'UTR188CT (OR 3.55, 95% CI 1.89-6.67, P = 0.001) or 3'UTR188CC (OR 3.04, 95% CI 1.25-7.38, P = 0.012) genotype had a significantly higher risk of PE than those with 3'UTR188TT genotype. Also, patients having K167N KK (OR 2.73, 95% CI 1.33-5.61, P = 0.005) genotype had a significantly higher risk of PE than those with K167N NN genotype. LOX-1 3'UTR188TT and LOX-1 K167N NN genotype carriers were associated with significantly increased serum sLOX-1 level (P = 0.001). We further investigated the potential combined effect of these polymorphic variants on risk of PE development. According to the combined genotype analysis of LOX-1 3'UTR188TT and K167N NN polymorphisms, sLOX-1 and oxLDL levels also showed significant differences between PE patients and controls with or without combined TT/NN genotype carriers.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that higher plasma sLOX-1 and oxLDL concentrations, and the LOX-1 3'UTR188C>T and LOX-1 K167N gene polymorphisms were significantly associated with risk of developing preeclampsia. Plasma sLOX-1 may be a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of preeclampsia.

OPN Polymorphism Is Related to the Chemotherapy Response and Prognosis in Advanced NSCLC

Background. Osteopontin (OPN) is associated with prognosis of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, little is known about the association between OPN gene polymorphism and the chemotherapy response in NSCLC patients. Methods. A total of 497 patients with inoperable advanced stage of NSCLC (stages III B and IV NSCLC) were enrolled. All patients had received platinum-based chemotherapy. OPN gene polymorphisms at 156 GG/G, 443 C/T, and -66T/G were determined. Results. The genotypes and allele frequency of -443C>T were significantly different between the responders and nonresponders. Responders had a markedly higher frequency of -443TT genotype than responders (40.71% versus 19.09%, P < 0.001). With CC as reference, the TT genotype carriers had a higher chance to be well responders (adjusted OR = 4.43, 95% CI: 2.60-7.53, adjusted P < 0.001). The median overall survival time for patients with -443CC, -443CT, and -443TT genotype carriers was significantly different. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models showed that OPN -443C>T gene polymorphisms were closely correlated to poor NSCLC prognosis. Conclusion. OPN -443C>T gene polymorphism may be used as a molecular marker to predict the treatment response to chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC patients.

The sirtuin 3 expression profile is associated with pathological and clinical outcomes in colon cancer patients

AIM

To investigate the correlation between Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) expression and the clinical outcome of patients with colon cancer.

METHODS

The tumor specimens from 127 patients with colon cancer were obtained for SIRT3 immunohistochemical staining. Patients were followed up. In in vitro study, SIRT3 gene was inhibited to observe the effects of SIRT3 on the biological behavior of cultured colon cells.

RESULTS

The SIRT3 expression level was found to be significantly associated with the lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001) and tumor stages (P < 0.001). The colon cancer-specific survival was 64.6% among patients with high SIRT3 expressions and 88.6% among patients with low SIRT3 expressions (log-rank P = 0.016). The overall survival was 80.2% among patients with low SIRT3 expressions and 55.9% among patients with high SIRT3 expressions (log-rank P = 0.002). In vitro study showed that silencing of SIRT3 gene inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and cells migration but increased the apoptosis in the cultured colon cell lines.

CONCLUSION

This study provides evidence supporting that SIRT3 is closely associated with the clinical outcomes of colon cancer. SIRT3 may be considered as a marker for colon cancer.