Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor and Autophagy-Related Protein Microtubule-Associated Protein Light Chain 3 Expression in Psoriasis

Background

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and autophagy are both important to maintain skin homeostasis. However, they are also involved in skin disorders. So far, their roles in psoriasis pathogenesis are unknown.

Objective

We studied the immunohistochemical and gene expression of AHR, CYP1A1, and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) in lesional skin of psoriasis patients to determine correlations among them.

Methods

We included 24 psoriasis patients and ten healthy volunteers. Skin biopsies were collected. AHR, CYP1A1, and LC3 protein expression was examined by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and western blotting. AHR, CYP1A1, LC3, ATG5, BECN1 and Nrf2 mRNA levels were measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Results

AHR and CYP1A1 protein expression were higher in psoriasis lesional skin than in normal skin. LC3 protein expression was lower in psoriasis lesions than in normal controls. AHR and CYP1A1 protein expression in psoriasis lesions showed significant positive correlations with mean epidermal thickness and inflammatory cell density. Significant negative correlations were noted between LC3 protein expression in psoriasis lesions and the mean epidermal thickness or inflammatory cell density. A significant negative correlation was found between AHR and LC3 expression in psoriatic skin. AHR, CYP1A1 and Nrf2 mRNA expression were upregulated while LC3, ATG5, and BECN1 mRNA were down-regulated, in psoriatic lesional skin compared with normal controls.

Conclusion

AHR and autophagy could play a role in psoriasis pathogenesis by modifying epidermal hyperproliferation and inflammation. AHR and autophagy regulation are potential therapeutic targets in chronic inflammatory skin diseases.

Relationship between MspI polymorphism of CYP1A1 gene and the risk of endometriosis in an Iranian population: A case-control study

BACKGROUND

Endometriosis is a disease that affects women of reproductive age. This disease is characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissues (endometrial or stromal glands) outside the uterus and shows significantly elevated prevalence in industrial regions. Additionally, an interaction between genetics and environmental factors is assumed for the disease. Enzymes belonging to the cytochrome P450 (CYP) family are participated in detoxification process of a wide range of environmental toxins and carcinogens. Thereby, they are good link for the interaction. CYP1A1 which belong to cytochrome P450 (CYPs) superfamily, is a very important gene for the metabolism of carcinogens.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency of the MspI polymorphism of CYP1A1 gene and its relation to endometriosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Genomic DNA was isolated from 93 endometriosis women and 139 healthy controls. Genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.

RESULTS

Frequencies of the TT, TC, and CC genotype of CYP1A1 gene polymorphism in patients were 73.1%, 22.6%, and 4.3%, while frequencies in controls were 74.1%, 22.3%, and 3.6%, respectively. So there was no significant differences between the genotypes in two groups (p=0.961).

CONCLUSION

According to our study, MspI polymorphism of CYP1A1 gene appears to be not associated with the risk of endometriosis in the studied population. However, additional studies, especially with larger sample size are needed to validate these findings.

CYP1A1 gene polymorphisms modify the association between PM10 exposure and lung function

Genetic epidemiological studies have provided evidence that several genes modify the link between air pollution and lung function. We assessed whether the adverse impacts of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm (PM₁₀) on lung function are modified by CYP1A1 gene polymorphisms in Korean adults. We used health check-up data from 1817 men, and the annual mean concentrations of ambient PM₁₀ estimated from the ambient data. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CYP1A1 were selected for our study. We identified significant CYP1A1 SNPs-by-PM₁₀ interactions for forced expiratory volume 1 s (FEV₁) and forced vital capacity (FVC) (all p_int < 0.05). Minor allele carriers of the SNPs were more susceptible to PM₁₀-induced FEV₁ and FVC reduction. The subgroup analysis of SNP genotypes showed that no significant association between PM₁₀ and FEV₁ or FVC was observed in homozygous reference genotype groups of all SNPs (all p_assoc > 0.05), whereas in heterozygous or homozygous alternate genotype groups, PM₁₀ was significantly associated with decreased FEV₁ (all p_assoc for FEV₁ < 0.05). The association between persistent exposure to PM₁₀ and lung function decline in Korean men may be determined in part by several functional variants of the CYP1A1 gene.

CYP1A1, CYP2E1 and EPHX1 polymorphisms in sporadic colorectal neoplasms

AIM

To investigate the contribution of polymorphisms in the CYP1A1, CYP2E1 and EPHX1 genes on sporadic colorectal cancer (SCRC) risk.

METHODS

Six hundred forty-one individuals (227 patients with SCRC and 400 controls) were enrolled in the study. The variables analyzed were age, gender, tobacco and alcohol consumption, and clinical and histopathological tumor parameters. The CYP1A1*2A, CYP1A1*2C CYP2E1*5B and CYP2E1*6 polymorphisms were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The EPHX1 Tyr113His, EPHX1 His139Arg and CYP1A1*2C polymorphisms were detected by real-time PCR. Chi-squared test and binary logistic regression were used in the statistical analysis. Haplotype analysis was conducted using the Haploview program, version 2.05.

RESULTS

Age over 62 years was a risk factor for SCRC development (OR = 7.54, 95%CI: 4.94-11.50, P < 0.01). Male individuals were less susceptible to SCRC (OR = 0.55, 95%CI: 0.35-0.85, P < 0.01). The CYP2E1*5B polymorphism was associated with SCRC in the codominant (heterozygous genotype: OR = 2.66, 95%CI: 1.64-4.32, P < 0.01), dominant (OR = 2.82, 95%CI: 1.74-4.55, P < 0.01), overdominant (OR = 2.58, 95%CI: 1.59-4.19, P < 0.01), and log-additive models (OR = 2.84, 95%CI: 1.78-4.52, P < 0.01). The CYP2E1*6 polymorphism was associated with an increased SCRC risk in codominant (heterozygous genotype: OR = 2.81, 95%CI: 1.84-4.28, P < 0.01; homozygous polymorphic: OR = 7.32, 95%CI: 1.85-28.96, P < 0.01), dominant (OR = 2.97, 95%CI: 1.97-4.50, P < 0.01), recessive (OR = 5.26, 95%CI: 1.35-20.50, P = 0.016), overdominant (OR = 2.64, 95%CI: 1.74-4.01, P < 0.01), and log-additive models (OR = 2.78, 95%CI: 1.91-4.06, P < 0.01). The haplotype formed by the minor alleles of the CYP2E1*5B (C) and CYP2E1*6 (A) polymorphisms was associated with SCRC (P = 0.002). However, the CYP1A1*2A, CYP1A1*2C, EPHX1 Tyr113His and EPHX1 His139Arg polymorphisms were not associated with SCRC.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the results demonstrated that CYP2E1*5B and CYP2E1*6 minor alleles play a role in the development of SCRC.