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Objective Current whole genome-wide association study has identified the association of JAZF1 with type 2 diabetes; its close relation with glucose and lipid metabolism has also been revealed. However, to date, JAZF1 remains a relatively new gene with unknown function. Materials/Methods We constructed JAZF1 overexpression vector and synthesized JAZF1 siRNA, then transfected them into 3T3-L1 adipocytes, investigated the relationship between the regulations of JAZF1, visfatin, and other adipokines, researched the specific function of JAZF1 in glucose and lipid metabolism. Results This study found that the expression of JAZF1 was gradually but significantly upregulated during the induced differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, and that the trend of its expression was consistent with that of visfatin. Further studies indicated that JAZF1 promoted the expressions of visfatin, PPARα, and PPARβ/δ in adipocytes but simultaneously inhibited the expressions of TAK1 and PPARγ. Luciferase reporter assay revealed that JAZF1 activated the transcription of visfatin, but ChIP assay results indicated that JAZF1 did not directly bind to visfatin PPRE. Our results also showed that the JAZF1 overexpression-increased visfatin expression was abolished by the addition of PPARα antagonist GW 6471 and PPARβ/δ antagonist GSK 3787 respectively. And these results were further confirmed by the experiment with PPARα and PPARβ/δ siRNAs. Meanwhile, we also found that JAZF1 inhibited the lipid accumulation during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 into mature adipocyte. Conclusions Our results indicate that JAZF1 might firstly upregulated the expression of PPARα and PPARβ/δ, which in turn activated the transcription of visfatin. JAZF1 plays an important role in lipid metabolism and may thus provide a potential tool for the treatment of obesity and lipid metabolism disorders among other diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to probe the effects of Huperzine A (HupA) on diabetes-associated cognitive decline (DACD) using a streptozotocin (STZ)-injected rat model. Diabetic rats were treated with HupA (0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg) for seven weeks. Memory functions were evaluated by the water maze test. Nissl staining was selected for detecting neuronal loss. Protein and mRNA levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were analyzed by ELISA and real-time PCR, respectively. The activities of choline acetylase (ChAT), Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), NF-κB p65 unit, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and caspase-3 were measured using corresponding kits. After seven weeks, diabetic rats exhibited remarkable reductions in: body weight, percentage of time spent in target quadrant, number of times crossing the platform, ChAT and BDNF levels, SOD, GSH-Px and CAT accompanied with increases in neuronal damage, plasma glucose levels, escape latency, mean path length, AChE, MDA level as well as CAT, NF-κB p65 unit, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and caspase-3 in cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Supplementation with HupA significantly and dose-dependently reversed the corresponding values in diabetes. It is concluded that HupA ameliorates DACD via modulating BDNF, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. The Chinese medicinal formula Guanxin II has been shown to have a favorable effect in the attenuation of angina. The aim of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetics of ferulic acid (FA), which is a vasorelaxant compound present in Guanxin II, in healthy volunteers and patients with angina pectoris following the administration of Guanxin II. Ex vivo experiments were performed in order to investigate the vasorelaxant effect of FA on the human internal mammary artery (IMA) to provide evidence that it is a bioactive component of Guanxin II. Following the oral administration of Guanxin II, the FA levels in the serum were quantified by a simple and rapid high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Treatment with FA (10-8-10-3 M) caused a concentration-dependent relaxation of endothelial IMA rings following precontraction with KCl. Statistically significant differences were identified between the pharmacokinetic parameters Cmax, t1/2 α, t1/2 ß and t1/2 Ka of the healthy volunteers and the patients with angina pectoris following the oral administration of Guanxin II. FA is a bioactive compound absorbed from Guanxin II that attenuates angina pectoris, a condition that may modify the pharmacokinetics of FA. Not only do the pharmacokinetic parameters direct the clinical use of Guanxin II, but they may also be useful for exploring the pathology of angina pectoris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Therapeutic interventions in prediabetes are important in the primary prevention of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its chronic complications. However, little is known about the pharmacogenetic effect of traditional herbs on prediabetes treatment. A total of 194 impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) subjects were treated with traditional hypoglycemic herbs (Tianqi Jiangtang) for 12 months in this study. DNA samples were genotyped for 184 mutations in 34 genes involved in drug metabolism or transportation. Multinomial logistic regression analysis indicated that rs1142345 (A > G) in the thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) gene was significantly associated with the hypoglycemic effect of the drug (P = 0.001, FDR P = 0.043). The "G" allele frequencies of rs1142345 in the healthy (subjects reverted from IGT to normal glucose tolerance), maintenance (subjects still had IGT), and deterioration (subjects progressed from IGT to T2D) groups were 0.094, 0.214, and 0.542, respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that rs1142345 was also significantly associated with the hypoglycemic effect of the drug between the healthy and maintenance groups (P = 0.027, OR = 4.828) and between the healthy and deterioration groups (P = 0.001, OR = 7.811). Therefore, rs1142345 was associated with the clinical effect of traditional hypoglycemic herbs. Results also suggested that TPMT was probably involved in the pharmacological mechanisms of T2D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine the pharmacogenetics of platinum-based chemotherapy in Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients. Methods: Publications were selected from PubMed, Cochrane Library and ISI Web of Knowledge. A meta-analysis was conducted to determine the association between genetic polymorphisms and platinum-based chemotherapy by checking odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Data were extracted from 24 publications, which included 11 polymorphisms in 8 genes for meta-analysis. MDR1 C3435T (OR = 1.97, 95% CI: 1.11-3.50, P = 0.02), G2677A/T (OR = 2.61, 95% CI: 1.44-4.74, P = 0.002) and GSTP1 A313G (OR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.17-0.58, P = 0.0002) were significantly correlated with platinum-based chemotherapy in Asian NSCLC patients. Conclusion: Attention should be paid to MDR1 C3435T, G2677A/T and GSTP1 A313G for personalized chemotherapytreatment for NSCLC patients in Asian population in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

S-nitrosoalbumin (SNO-Alb) has been shown to be an efficacious cytoprotective molecule in acute lung injury, as well as ischemia-reperfusion injury in heart and skeletal muscle. Nonetheless, limited information is available on the cellular mechanism of such protection. Accordingly, we investigated the protective effects of SNO-Alb [ and its denitrosated congener, reduced albumin (SH-Alb) ] on tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBH)-mediated cytotoxicity in cultured rat pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (RPMEC), as well as hydrogen sulfide (H2S)-mediated cytotoxicity in rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (RPASMC). We noted that tBH caused a concentration-dependent necrosis in RPMEC, and pretreatment of RPMEC with SNO-Alb dose-dependently decreased the sensitivity of these cells to tBH. A component of SNO-Alb cytoprotection was sensitive to NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester and was associated with activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), phenomena that could be reproduced with pretreatment with SH-Alb. Exogenous H2S caused concentration-dependent apoptosis in RPASMC due to activation of ERK1/2 and p38, as well as downregulation of Bcl-2. Pretreatment with SNO-Alb reduced H2S-mediated apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner that was associated with SNO-Alb-mediated inhibition of activation of ERK1/2 and p38. Pretreatment with SNO-Alb reduced toxicity of 1 mM sodium hydrosulfide in an NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester-sensitive fashion in RPASMC that expressed gp60 and neuronal NOS and was capable of transporting fluorescently labeled SH-Alb. Therefore, SNO-Alb is cytoprotective against models of oxidant-induced necrosis (tBH) and inhibitors of cellular respiration and apoptosis (H2S) in both pulmonary endothelium and smooth muscle, respectively, and a component of such protection can be attributed to a SH-Alb-mediated activation of constitutive NOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Translational control is one of primary regulation mechanisms of gene expression. Eukaryotic translational control mainly occurs at the initiation step, the speed-limiting step, which involves more than ten translation initiation factors [eIFs (eukaryotic initiation factors)]. Changing the level or function of these eIFs results in abnormal translation of specific mRNAs and consequently abnormal growth of cells that leads to human diseases, including cancer. Accumulating evidence from recent studies showed that the expression of many eIFs was associated with malignant transformation, cancer prognosis, as well as gene expression regulation. In the present paper, we perform a critical review of recent advances in understanding the role and mechanism of eIF action in translational control and cancer as well as the possibility of targeting eIFs for therapeutic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAim:To investigate whether the insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) rs1470579 and rs4402960 polymorphisms are associated with the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the repaglinide therapeutic efficacy in Chinese T2DM patients.Methods:A case-control study of a total of 350 patients with T2DM and 207 healthy volunteers was conducted to identify their genotypes for the IGF2BP2 rs1470579 and rs4402960 polymorphisms using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay. Forty-two patients were randomly selected to undergo an 8-week repaglinide treatment (3 mg/d). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial plasma glucose (PPG), glycated hemoglobin (HbAlc), fasting serum insulin (FINS), postprandial serum insulin (PINS), homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), serum triglyceride, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) were determined before and after repaglinide treatment.Results:The frequencies of the IGF2BP2 rs1470579 C allele and the rs4402960 T allele were higher in T2DM patients than in healthy controls (P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively). The effects of the repaglinide treatment on FPG (P<0.05) and PPG (P<0.05) were reduced in patients with the rs1470579 AC+CC genotypes compared with AA genotype carriers. Patients with the rs4402960 GT+TT genotypes exhibited an enhanced effect of repaglinide treatment on PINS (P<0.01) compared with GG genotype subjects.Conclusion:The IGF2BP2 rs1470579 and rs4402960 polymorphisms may be associated with the development of T2DM, and these polymorphisms may affect the therapeutic efficacy of repaglinide in Chinese T2DM patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guanxin II (GXII) is a traditional Chinese formula to treat coronary heart disease in China. Previous studies indicate cardioprotection of GXII are related to cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Akt is necessary and sufficient for inhibition of apoptosis in cardiomyocytes. Our aim was to examine whether or not the antiapoptotic mechanisms of GXII are related to the Akt pathway. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups: GXII administered at 2.5 or 0.5 g raw materials/kg, the vehicle control and sham-operated oral 0.9% NaCl. They were pretreated once a day for 15 consecutive days by gavage. Thirty min after the last administration, the left anterior descending coronary artery was occluded to induce myocardial ischemia except for the sham-operated rats. Compared with rats receiving vehicle, those rats pretreated with GXII at 2.5 g/kg significantly reduced infarct size and decrease apoptosis. Furthermore, GXII (2.5 g/kg) significantly activated Akt kinase, increased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, inhibited cytochrome c release, reduced caspase-9 activation, and attenuated subsequent caspase-3 activation. GXII at 0.5 g/kg have no noticeable effect on these parameters. Meanwhile, GXII at 2.5 g/kg did not change myocardial blood flow of ischemic zone, indicating a direct action on cardiomyocytes. These results suggest GXII at 2.5 g/kg ensures the survival of myocardium by enhancing the Akt-mediated antiapoptosis pathway. The findings provide new evidence of the effective and safe therapy with GXII for patients with chronic coronary heart disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT • Rosiglitazone is one of the thiazolidinedione medicines that is widely used in patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2DM); it acts by activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ. • There are no reports on the influence of genetic variations of UCP2 and ADRB3 on rosiglitazone response in Chinese T2DM patients. • The current study was designed to evaluate the relationship between the genetic polymorphisms of UCP2 –866G/A and ADRB3 Trp64Arg with susceptibility to T2DM development and the therapeutic efficacy of multiple-dose rosiglitazone in Chinese patients with T2DM. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS • The genetic polymorphisms of UCP2 –866G/A and ADRB3 Trp64Arg are associated with the therapeutic efficacy of multiple-dose rosiglitazone in Chinese T2DM patients. AIMS The aim of this study was to explore the impact of UCP2 and ADRB3 genetic polymorphisms on the therapeutic efficacy of rosiglitazone in Chinese Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients. METHODS A total of 199 T2DM patients and 155 healthy volunteers were enrolled to identify UCP2 –866 G/A genotypes, and 273 T2DM patients and 166 controls were genotyped for Trp64Arg of ADRB3 by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. Nine patients with GG genotype and 27 with GA+ AA genotype of UCP2 –866 G/A, 11 with Trp64Trp genotype and 25 with Trp64Arg genotype of ADRB3 received oral rosiglitazone as a single-agent therapy (4 mg day−1) for 12 weeks. Serum fasting plasma glucose, postprandial plasma glucose, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting serum insulin, postprandial serum insulin (PINS), triglycerol (TG), cholesterol, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance, leptin and adiponectin in all T2DM patients were determined before and after rosiglitazone treatment. RESULTS There were no differences in allele frequency of either ADRB3 Trp64Arg or UCP2 –866 G/A between T2DM patients and control subjects. The A allele carriers of UCP2 in the T2DM patients had significantly lower PINS (61.5 ± 34.3 vs. 41.6 ± 28.7 mU l−1, P < 0.01) (37.57, 59.16 vs. 34.82, 49.39) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol compared with GG genotypes (3.4 ± 1.1 vs. 2.7 ± 1.1 mmol l−1, P < 0.05) (2.64, 3.52 vs. 2.66, 3.15). After rosiglitazone treatment for 12 consecutive weeks, we found that A allele carriers of UCP2 in the T2DM patients had smaller attenuated PINS (−3.82 ± 13.2 vs.−42.1 ± 30.7 mU l−1, P < 0.01) (9.45, 51.31 vs. 0.48, 11.88) and greater attenuated HbA1c (−1.85 ± 1.62 vs.−0.61 ± 0.80, P < 0.05) (0.14, 1.37 vs. 1.10, 2.38) compared with GG genotypes, and ADRB3 Trp64Arg had greater attenuated serum TG (−3.88 ± 2.77 vs.−0.24 ± 1.16 mmol l−1, P < 0.05) (−0.19, 2.74 vs. 1.19, 1.45) and smaller attenuated LDL-cholesterol (1.08 ± 1.36 vs.−0.36 ± 0.99, P < 0.01) (−1.26, 0.78 vs.−1.26, 0.79) as well as reduced enhanced adiponectin (1.57 ± 1.10 vs. 3.15 ± 2.12 mmol l−1, P < 0.05) (1.68, 4.08 vs.−9.18, 11.40) compared with ADRB3 Trp64Trp. CONCLUSION UCP2 –866 G/A and ADRB3 Trp64Arg polymorphisms are associated with the therapeutic efficacy of multiple-dose rosiglitazone in Chinese T2DM patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the interaction between allicin and omeprazole and to observe the effects of allicin on CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 activity in healthy Chinese male volunteers with different CYP2C19 genotypes. Eighteen subjects (six CYP2C19*1/ CYP2C19*1, four CYP2C19*1/ CYP2C19*2, two CYP2C19*1/ CYP2C19*3, and six CYP2C19*2/ CYP2C19*2) were enrolled in a two-phase randomized crossover trial. In each phase, all subjects received placebo or a 180 mg allicin capsule once daily for 14 consecutive days. The pharmacokinetics of omeprazole (20 mg orally on day 15) was determined for up to 12 h following administration by high-performance liquid chromatography. In carriers of the CYP2C19*1/ CYP2C19*1 and CYP2C19*1/ CYP2C19*2 or *3 genotype, allicin treatment increased the peak plasma concentration (Cmax) of omeprazole by 49.7 ± 7.2 ( p < 0.001) and 54.2 ± 9.2% ( p < 0.001), and increased the area under the plasma time–concentration curve ( $${\text{AUC}}_{\left( {0 - \infty } \right)} $$ ) of omeprazole by 48.1 ± 9.0 ( p = 0.001) and 73.6 ± 26.7% ( p < 0.001), respectively. The ratio of $${\text{AUC}}_{\left( {0 - \infty } \right)} $$ of 5-hydroxyomeprazole to omeprazole (a marker for CYP2C19 activity) decreased significantly ( p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). However, no pharmacokinetic parameters were significantly changed by allicin in CYP2C19*2/ CYP2C19*2. The Cmax and $${\text{AUC}}_{\left( {0 - \infty } \right)} $$ of omeprazole sulfone were unchanged in all three genotypes. Allicin reduced the metabolism of omeprazole by inhibiting CYP2C19 activity in individuals with the CYP2C19*1/ CYP2C19*1 and CYP2C19*1/ CYP2C19*2 or *3 genotypes, but not in those with the CYP2C19*2/ CYP2C19*2 genotype. Allicin did not significantly affect the activity of CYP3A4 in all subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leptin and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) play important role in homeostasis and insulin resistance in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The aims of the present study were to investigate the association between leptin G-2548A and TNF-α G-308A polymorphisms and rosiglitazone response in T2DM patients. 245 patients with T2D and 122 health volunteers were enrolled to identify leptin G-2548A and TNF-α G-308A genotypes by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay. Forty-two T2D patients with different leptin G-2548A and TNF-α G-308A genotypes received orally rosiglitazone as a single-agent therapy (4 mg day−1 p.o.) for 12 weeks. Serum triglyceride (TG), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial plasma glucose (PPG), fasting serum insulin (FINs), glycated hemoglobin (HbAlc), postprandial serum insulin (PINS), homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) were determined before and after rosiglitazone treatment. A significant association between the variation of G-2548A allele with body mass index (BMI), serum leptin levels and FPG was observed in T2DM patients. Moreover, patients with G allele of leptin G-2548A had lower BMI and serum leptin concertration as well as bigger FPG than that in AA genotypes (P < 0.05). Moreover, we found an enhanced rosiglitazone effect in patients with AA genotype of leptin G-2548A on FINS and PINS compared with GG+GA genotype (P < 0.05). Finally, our results showed an attenuated rosiglitazone effect in patients with GA+AA genotype of TNF-α G-308A on FINS compared with GG genotype (P < 0.05). These data suggest there were not significantly differences in the frequencies of leptin G-2548A and TNF-α G-308A between patients with T2DM and health control. TNF-α G-308A polymorphism might be associated with the therapeutic efficacy of rosiglitazone in T2DM patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT • Rosiglitazone is able to increase serum adiponectin levels significantly in Type 2 diabetic patients. • The role of genetic factors that determine the marked interindividual variability in glucose-lowering efficacy of rosiglitazone in Chinese patients is not known. • The current study was designed to evaluate the impact of the adiponectin common allele 45T/G and − 11377C/G polymorphisms on the response to rosiglitazone monotherapy in Chinese patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2D). WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS • The genetic polymorphisms of adiponectin alleles 45T/G and − 11377C/G as well as their common diplotypes are significantly associated with an attenuated fasting plasma glucose, postprandial plasma glucose and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance as well as an enhanced adiponectin concentration in Chinese patients with T2D after rosiglitazone treatment. AIMS The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of adiponectin allele T45G and C-11377G genetic polymorphisms on efficacy of rosiglitazone in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). METHODS Patients with T2D (n = 255) and 120 healthy volunteers were enrolled to identify 45T/G and –11377C/G genotypes by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. Forty-two T2D patients with different 45T/G or –11377C/G genotypes received orally rosiglitazone as a single-dose therapy (4 mg day-1 p.o.) for 12 weeks. Serum triglyceride, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial plasma glucose (PPG), glycated hemoglobin, fasting serum insulin, postprandial serum insulin, total cholesterol, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) and adiponectin concentration were determined before and after rosiglitazone treatment. RESULTS We showed an attenuated rosiglitazone effect in patients with –11377CG+GG heterozygote genotype on FPG, PPG, HOMA-IR compared with –11377CC homozygote genotype. However, we found an enhanced rosiglitazone effect on serum adiponectin concentration in patients with –11377CC homozygote genotype compared with –11377CG+GG heterozygote genotype ( P = 0.000) and in patients with 45TG + GG heterozygote genotype compared with 45TT homozygote genotype ( P = 0.018). Finally, our results showed that there was an enhanced effect in patients with –11377/45 CGTT diplotype compared with other discovered diplotypes on FPG ( P = 0.001) and PPG ( P = 0.003) after rosiglitazone treatment. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that the adiponectin allele 45T/G and – 11377C/G polymorphisms are significantly associated with the therapeutic efficacy of multiple-dose rosiglitazone in Chinese patients with T2D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Elevated serum bilirubin levels are caused mainly by liver diseases, haematolysis, genetic defects and drug intake. Unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) is taken up into hepatocytes by human organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B1 (OATP1B1; encoded for by the SLCO1B1 gene). The present study was performed to determine the association between SLCO1B1 gene polymorphisms and serum bilirubin levels in vivo. Moreover, the effects of administration of low-dose rifampicin on serum bilirubin levels in different SLCO1B1 genotypes was examined. 2. Serum bilirubin levels were examined in 42 healthy volunteers who had been analysed for SLCO1B1 genotype (seven, 13, 14 and eight with SLCO1B1 genotypes * 1a/* 1a, * 1b/* 1b, * 1b/* 15 and * 15/* 15, respectively). Among them, 24 subjects (seven, seven, eight and two with SLCO1B1 genotypes * 1a/* 1a, * 1b/* 1b, * 1b/* 15 and * 15/* 15, respectively) were selected to participate in an open-label, two-phase clinical trial. Each was given 450 mg rifampicin orally once daily at 2000 hours for 5 consecutive days. Serum bilirubin concentrations at 0800 hours on the 1st and 6th days were compared between the different SLCO1B1 genotypes. 3. In the 42 volunteers, the mean (±SD) serum UCB in both SLCO1B1* 1b/* 15 and * 15/* 15 groups was significantly higher than that in the SLCO1B1* 1b/* 1b group (11.07 ± 2.31, 13.01 ± 3.87 and 8.21 ± 2.68 µmol/L, respectively; P = 0.009 and P < 0.001). Total bilirum (T.BIL) in both the SLCO1B1* 1b/* 15 and * 15/* 15 groups was significantly higher than that in the SLCO1B1* 1b/* 1b group (16.69 ± 4.09, 20.71 ± 5.12 and 13.06 ± 5.12 µmol/L, respectively; P = 0.029 and P < 0.001). The direct bilirubin (D.BIL) in the SLCO1B1* 15/* 15 group was significantly higher than that in the SLCO1B1* 1b/* 1b group (7.69 ± 1.81 vs 4.85 ± 1.81 µmol/L, respectively; P = 0.001). Rifampicin significantly increased UCB, T.BIL and D.BIL concentrations in 24 healthy volunteers (17.68 ± 5.96 vs 13.95 ± 4.44 µmol/L ( P = 0.040), 5.72 ± 2.01 vs 4.35 ± 1.50 µmol/L ( P = 0.028) and 12.00 ± 4.26 vs 9.61 ± 3.15 µmol/L ( P = 0.035), respectively). However, the extent of the increase in serum bilirubin caused by 450 mg rifampicin for 5 days was not affected by SLCO1B1 genotype. 4. Genetic polymorphism in SLCO1B1 is a major determinant of interindividual variability in the serum bilirubin level. SLCO1B1* 15 carriers had higher baseline serum UCB, T.BIL and D.BIL levels compared with subjects with the SLCO1B1* 1a/* 1a and SLCO1B1* 1b/* 1b genotypes. SLCO1B1* 15/* 15 homozygotes are more susceptible to hyperbilirubinaemia. Serum bilirubin levels could be increased by low-dose rifampicin administration, but the extent of the increase was not associated with SLCO1B1 genotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of rosiglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ2 (PPAR-γ2) agonist, on the expression of β3-adrenergic receptor (β3-AR) at transcriptional and translational level. Methods: We cloned the cDNA sequences of human PPAR-γ2 (hPPAR-γ2) gene and human wild type and mutant β3-adrenergic receptor ( hβ 3 -AR) genes and established their eukaryotic expression vectors. The pcDNA3.1/hβ3-AR (mutant and wild type) was transfected into SH-SY5Y cells using electroporation method. The expression level of β3-AR protein was determined by Western blot analysis. Results: Our results showed that the reverse transcription-PCR products were consistent with theoretical fragment sizes of human PPAR-γ2 (1544 bp) and human β 3- AR genes (1578 bp). The sequence analysis of PPAR-γ2 and β 3 -AR genes showed that the fragment sizes were the same as that of human PPAR-γ2 and human β3- AR genes in Genebank. The pcDNA3.1/hβ3-AR (mutant and wild type) was successfully cloned to SH-SY5Y cells. We found that the expression of β3-AR protein was significantly inhibited by rosiglitazone in a concentration-dependent manner in SH-SY5Y cell lines stably expressed β 3- AR genes. Conclusions: The results suggest that rosiglitazone has a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on the expression of β3-AR protein, and this inhibitory effect may be due to activation of PPAR-γ2 receptor. Clin Chem Lab Med 2007;45:1511–6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Genetic polymorphisms of β3-adrenergic receptor (AR) Trp64Arg and β2-AR Gln27Glu may result in significant change in the functions of these receptors. The aims of the present study were to investigate the association between Trp64Arg, Arg16Gly and Gln27Glu polymorphisms and the susceptibility to obesity and hypertension in a Chinese population. Methods: A total of 437 Chinese subjects including 149 obese hypertensive patients, 139 non-obese essential hypertensive patients, and 149 non-obese normotensive healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and allele-specific (AS)-PCR assays were used to identify Trp64Arg, Arg16Gly, and Gln27Glu genotypes. Results: The allele frequencies of 64Arg and 27Glu in the obese hypertensive group were 0.178 and 0.128, respectively. Both were significantly higher than in the non-obese hypertensive and the control groups (p<0.05). Further analysis showed that this association existed only in male hypertensive patients. Conclusions: These data reveal that frequencies of β3-AR 64Arg and β2-AR 27Glu were significantly higher in our obese hypertensive patients than in the non-obese hypertensive population and healthy controls. β3-AR Trp64Arg and β2-AR Gln27Glu genetic polymorphisms are associated with obesity in Chinese male hypertensive patients. Clin Chem Lab Med 2007;45:493–8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The human β1-adrenergic receptor, an important therapeutic target in cardiovascular diseases, has 2 common functional polymorphisms (Ser49Gly and Gly389Arg). Our study aimed to confirm that β1-adrenergic receptor polymorphisms affect the blood pressure response to metoprolol monotherapy in the Chinese population with hypertension.Methods: β1-Adrenergic receptor genotype was determined by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism assay for 223 patients with essential hypertension. Sixty-one patients with certain β1-adrenergic receptor diplotypes, 18 for 49Ser389Arg/49Ser389Arg, 15 for 49Ser389Arg/49Gly389Arg, 19 for 49Ser389Gly/49Gly389Arg, and 9 for 49Ser389Gly/49Ser389Gly, were selected from those 61 for measurement of the antihypertensive effect of metoprolol. Patients were given 25 mg metoprolol every 12 hours for 4 weeks. Heart rate and blood pressure were measured weekly for the duration of metoprolol therapy.Results: The descent of systolic blood pressure after metoprolol administration was significantly different among genotype groups (10.4% ± 4.0%, 2.8% ± 4.7%, and 1.1% ± 1.5% for Arg389Arg, Gly389Arg, and Gly389Gly patients, respectively; P < .001). We also found a similar difference in changes of diastolic blood pressure (6.1% ± 4.3%, 2.2% ± 4.2%, and 0.9% ± 4.0%, respectively; P < .001) and mean arterial pressure (8.1% ± 3.5%, 2.5% ± 3.0%, and 1.0% ± 2.5%, respectively; P > .001) for Arg389Arg, Gly389Arg, and Gly389Gly patients. Ser49Gly variance exhibited a smaller contribution to the antihypertensive effect of metoprolol. Systolic blood pressure decreased significantly in Ser49 homozygous patients compared with Ser49Gly patients (8.4% ± 3.2% versus 5.3% ± 5.2%, P = .047). There was a highly significant relationship between diplotype and blood pressure during treatment. Systolic blood pressure significantly decreased in 49Ser389Arg/49Ser389Arg (12.0% ± 3.8%, P < .001) and 49Ser389Arg/49Gly389Arg (8.4% ± 5.5%, P < .001) patients, with the decrease in the former being more pronounced (P = .023). We also found a significant decrease in diastolic blood pressure (6.5% ± 4.7% versus 5.7% ± 3.2%, respectively; both P < .001) and mean arterial pressure (8.8% ± 3.2% versus 6.9% ± 3.7%, respectively; both P < .001) in 49Ser389Arg/49Ser389Arg and 49Ser389Arg/49Gly389Arg patients. However, blood pressure did not change significantly in 49Ser389Gly/49Gly389Arg and 49Ser389Gly/49Ser389Gly patients (all P > .05).Conclusions: β1-Adrenergic receptor polymorphism was associated with different blood pressure responses to metoprolol therapy in patients with essential hypertension. 49Ser389Arg/49Ser389Arg and 49Ser389Arg/49Gly389Arg patients were good responders to metoprolol therapy; 49Ser389Arg/49Ser389Arg patients had a larger systolic blood pressure reduction than 49Ser389Arg/49Gly389Arg patients did. 49Ser389Gly/49Gly389Arg and 49Ser389Gly/49Ser389Gly patients were nonresponders to metoprolol antihypertensive therapy.Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2006) 80, 23–32; doi:10.1016/j.clpt.2006.03.004 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Genetic polymorphisms causing Ser49Gly and Gly389Arg mutants of β1- adrenoceptor may result in significant changes in the function of this receptor. The aim of the present study was to investigate the frequencies of the Ser49Gly and Gly389Arg mutant alleles in healthy Chinese populations and to investigate the differences between 2 Chinese ethnic groups (Han and Dai populations) with respect to the frequencies of these alleles. Methods: A total of 225 Han Chinese and 175 Dai Chinese unrelated healthy volunteers were recruited for this study. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes by using a standard manual chloroform-phenol extraction. Fragments spanning the 2 polymorphisms were amplified by using polymerase chain reaction with template genomic DNA and relevant primers. The DNA products including the polymorphic loci were subjected to restriction endonuclease digestion with Eco0109I and BcgI. Digested fragments were detected with an ultraviolet detector after electrophoresis (100 V for approximately 1.5 h). Results: The frequencies of the Gly49 and Arg389 alleles were, respectively, 16.2% and 76.4% in the Han population and 14.6% and 75.7% in the Dai population. Conclusion: The polymorphisms causing the Ser49Gly and Gly389Arg mutations of the β1-adrenoceptor existed in both healthy Han and Dai Chinese populations. The frequencies of the Ser49Gly and Gly389Arg mutant alleles were not significantly different in the Han and Dai populations. However, the frequency of the Gly389 variant seems to be significantly lower in these 2 populations than in an African-American population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To investigate the incidence of the CYP2C19 polymorphism in the Chinese Dai population. Methods: One hundred and ninety-three healthy Chinese Dai volunteers were identified with respect to CYP2C19 by genotype and phenotype analyses. A polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism method was performed for genotyping procedures. The 4′-hydroxymephenytoin (4′-OH-MP) and S/R-mephenytoin (S/R-MP) excreted in the urine were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography, respectively. Results: Eighteen subjects were identified as poor metabolisers (PMs). The frequency of PMs in the Chinese Dai subjects was 9.3% (95% confidence interval 5.2, 13.4), which is lower than that in the Chinese Han population (P<0.05). Chinese Dai subjects had a higher frequency of the mutant CYP2C19*2 allele (0.303) and a lower frequency of the mutant CYP2C19*3 allele (0.034). These two mutant alleles could explain all deficiencies of CYP2C19 activity in the Chinese Dai subjects. The frequency of the CYP2C19*3 allele is significantly lower than that in the Chinese Han population (P<0.05). The mean S/R ratio was lower in the homozygous extensive metabolisers (EMs) compared with that in heterozygous EMs (P<0.01), and the latter was lower than that in the PMs (P<0.01). Furthermore, the mean S/R ratio in CYP2C19*3/CYP2C19*2 heterozygous PMs was possibly lower than that in the CYP2C19*2/CYP2C19*2 homozygous PMs (P<0.05). Conclusion: The frequencies of PMs and CYP2C19*3 allele in the Chinese Dai population are significantly lower than those in the Han population. The CYP2C19 genotype analysis is largely consistent with the mephenytoin phenotype analysis. The variability of S/R ratios in EMs and PMs shows a gene–dosage effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postpartum depressive symptom (PDS) is a common psychological and mental disorder after giving birth. Our previous studies showing the application of dexmedetomidine, an α2-AR agonist, can significantly improve maternal sleep, as well as relieve and reduce the incidence of PDS. This study investigated the association between α2AAR gene polymorphisms and PDS. A total of 568 cesarean section patients were enrolled; the incidence of PDS is 18.13% (103 with PDS, 465 with non-PDS). The Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale score ≥10 was used to diagnose PDS at 42 days after delivery. The single-nucleotide polymorphisms of α2AR were sequenced by pyrosequencing. The effect of rs13306146 A > G polymorphism on α2AR transcription and the regulation of miR-646 on α2AR expression were assessed by dual luciferase reporter assays or gene transfection. Increased stress during pregnancy, poor relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, spousal relationship, domestic violence, antenatal depression, self-harm ideation, and stressful life events were all associated with increased PDS incidence (p < 0.05). The logistic regression analysis found that the α2AAR rs13306146 polymorphism was associated with PDS after adjusting confounding variables. The transcriptional function of the α2AAR rs13306146 A allele was decreased compared with the G allele, and the α2AAR expression level was correspondingly decreased (p < 0.05), as the strongest binding ability of miR-646 to the α2AAR rs13306146 AA genotype. The effect of α2AAR rs13306146 A > G polymorphism may change the binding ability of miR-646 at the 3′UTR of the α2AAR gene, affecting the expression of α2AAR. This study supports the involvement of the norepinephrine system in the pathogenesis of PDS. Genotypes of α2AAR may be novel and useful biomarkers for PDS.

Background: Epigenetic alterations are strongly associated with the development of cancer. The aim of this study was to identify epigenetic pattern in squamous cell lung cancer (LUSC) on a genome-wide scale. Results: Here we performed DNA methylation profiling on 24 LUSC and paired non-tumor lung (NTL) tissues by Illumina Human Methylation 450 K BeadArrays, and identified 5214 differentially methylated probes. By integrating DNA methylation and mRNA expression data, 449 aberrantly methylated genes accompanied with altered expression were identified. Ingenuity Pathway analysis highlighted these genes which were closely related to the carcinogenesis of LUSC, such as ERK family, NFKB signaling pathway, Hedgehog signaling pathway, providing new clues for understanding the molecular mechanisms of LUSC pathogenesis. To verify the results of high-throughput screening, we used 56 paired independent tissues for clinical validation by pyrosequencing. Subsequently, another 343 tumor tissues from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were utilized for further validation. Then, we identified a panel of DNA methylation biomarkers (CLDN1, TP63, TBX5, TCF21, ADHFE1 and HNF1B) in LUSC. Furthermore, we performed receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis to assess the performance of biomarkers individually, suggesting that they could be suitable as potential diagnostic biomarkers for LUSC. Moreover, hierarchical clustering analysis of the DNA methylation data identified two tumor subgroups, one of which showed increased DNA methylation. Conclusions: Collectively, these results suggest that DNA methylation plays critical roles in lung tumorigenesis and may potentially be proposed as a diagnostic biomarker. Trial registration: ChiCTR-RCC-12002830 Date of registration: 2012--12-17. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Resistance to the antiemetic ondansetron is still a major problem resulting in discomfort and poor compliance with chemotherapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. Based on our hypothesis that this clinical resistance to ondansetron is associated with ABCB1 genetic polymorphisms, we investigated whether ABCB1 gene variations affect the efficacy of ondansetron in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Methods: AML patients (n -- 215) treated for 3 days with high-dose cytarabine were enrolled in this study. Thirty minutes before the beginning of chemotherapy, 8 mg ondansetron was administered intravenously, followed by 24 mg by continuous infusion and 8 mg intravenously, once per day, until 2 days after chemotherapy. Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting occurrence in the acute and delayed phases was calculated. ABCB1 and CYP2D6 polymorphisms were analyzed by allele-specific matrix-assisted laser desorption. Basic clinical characteristics of the AML patients were collected from medical records. Findings: No differences in genotype distribution frequencies of ABCB1 polymorphisms and haplotypes were observed in patients with different CYP2D6- predicted phenotypes. During the acute phase, patients with the CG haplotype (C3435T and G2677T) were associated with a high risk of grade 3/4 nausea and vomiting (P -- 0.003 and P -- 0.026, respectively). After adjustment for age, sex, smoking status, alcohol drinking status, body surface area, body mass index, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group--Performance Status, multivariate survival analysis implicated the CG haplotype as a predictive marker of the risk of grade 3/4 chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in AML patients (P -- 0.003 and P -- 0.039, respectively). In addition, a significant association between the 3435CC genotype and grade 3/4 vomiting in AML patients was observed (P -- 0.016). However, no association between these ABCB1 gene polymorphisms and ondansetron efficacy was found in the delayed phase. Implications: These findings suggest that ABCB1 gene polymorphisms are associated with antiemetic efficacy of ondansetron in the acute phase after highdose cytarabine chemotherapy in AML patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]