Associations of content and gene polymorphism of macrophage inhibitory factor-1 and chronic hepatitis C virus infection

BACKGROUND The expression of macrophage inhibitory factor-1(MIC-1) is increased in peripheral blood of patients with chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. However, whether MIC-1 gene polymorphism is correlated with relevant diseases is not yet reported.AIM To explore the correlation between gene polymorphism in MIC-1 exon region and chronic hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection.METHODS This case-control study enrolled 178 patients with chronic hepatitis C(CHC) in the case group, and 82 healthy subjects from the same region who had passed the screening examination comprised the control group. The genotypes of rs1059369 and rs1059519 loci in the MIC-1 gene exon were detected by DNA sequencing. Also, the MIC-1 level, liver function metrics, liver fibrosis metrics, and HCV RNA load were determined. Univariate analysis was used to compare the differences and correlations between the two groups with respect to these parameters. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the independent relevant factors of CHC.RESULTS The plasma MIC-1 level in the CHC group was higher than that in the control group(P < 0.05), and it was significantly positively correlated with alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase(AST), type III procollagen N-terminal peptide(known as PIIINP), type IV collagen, and HCV RNA(P < 0.05), whereas negatively correlated with total protein and albumin(P < 0.05). The genotype and allele frequency distribution at the rs1059519 locus differed between the two groups(P < 0.05). The allele frequency maintained significant difference after Bonferroni correction(Pc < 0.05). Logistic multiple regression showed that AST, PIIINP, MIC-1, and genotype GG at the rs1059519 locus were independent relevant factors of CHC(P < 0.05). Linkage disequilibrium(LD) was found between rs1059369 and rs1059519 loci, and significant difference was detected in the distribution of haplotype A-C between the CHC and control groups(P < 0.05). Meanwhile, we found the MIC-1 level trend to increase among rs1059519 genotypes(P = 0.006) and the level of MIC-1 in GG genotype to be significantly higher than CC genotype(P = 0.009, after Bonferroni correction).CONCLUSION Plasma MIC-1 level was increased in CHC patients and correlated with liver cell damage, liver fibrosis metrics, and viral load. The polymorphism at the MIC-1 gene rs1059519 locus was correlated with HCV infection, and associated with the plasma MIC-1 level. G allele and GG genotype may be an important susceptible factor for CHC.

The variety of intestinal flora in Korean medicine Sasang people

Background:To confirm that the four constitutions of the Korean medicine is closely related to the intestinal flora,and explore the influence of specific intestinal microbes on these four populations.Methods:We collect stool samples of four different physiques of the Taeeum,Soeum,Taeyang,and Shaoyang.Based on 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing,SPSS 18.0 statistical software and GraphPad Prism 8.0 mapping software,the body weight,body mass index,cholesterol and intestinal microcommunity composition of the four groups were analyzed and compared.Results:The results found that the body weight and body mass index of the Taeeum group were significantly higher than the Shaoyang group and the Soeum group,the body weight,cholesterol and body mass index of the Taeyang group were significantly higher than the Soeum Group.In the analysis of gut microbiota,the richness and diversity of intestinal microorganisms and the abundance ratio of posterior firmicutes to bacteroides were all different in the four populations,and there were 24 gut microbiota with significant differences(P<0.05).Among them,the abundance of[Eubacterium]coprostanoligenes group of Taeyang people,Taeeum people,Shaoyang people,and Soeum people were 3.71,9.62,9.36 and 9.33,respectively.Conclusion:[Eubacterium]coprostanoligenes group may be related to the differences in cholesterol content of the four populations.Similarly,the firmicutes/bacteroidetes abundance ratio may also be related to the differences in body weight,blood glucose and blood lipid among the four groups.