STUDY OF THE DELETION MUTATION OF GLUTATHIONE S TRANSFERASE M1 GENE AND ITS ROLE IN SUSCEPTIBILITYTO HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA

Objection: To investigate the glutathione S transferase M1 (GSTM1) gene inherent deletion and its relation to prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Guangxi, China. Methods: The GSTM1 gene polymorphism of 120 HCC patients and 100 healthy subjects both from the same high aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contaminated area were detected using PCR technique with special primers. Another 40 patients from AFB1 low risk area were also tested. Results: In HCC high risk area, it was found that the frequencies of GSTM1 null genotype in HCC patients and healthy subjects were 59% and 51% respectively, with no significant difference. However, the frequency of GSTM1-null genotype in control group from AFB1 low risk area was lower than those from high risk area (P<0.01). Conclusion: Populations in this HCC endemic region show a higher rate of GSTM1-null genotype, which may be partially responsible for the susceptibility to AFB1 induced HCC. But the detoxification effect of GSTM1 alone is not sufficient to resist the genetic toxicity of AFB1, especially in those people who expose to excess AFB1. The GSTM1 gene deletion would not be suitable as an independent predictor of susceptibility to HCC.

Molecular evaluation of glutathione S transferase family genes in patients with sporadic colorectal cancer

AIM To evaluate the association between polymorphismsin glutathione S transferases(GSTs) and the risk of sporadic colorectal cancer(SCRC), tumor progression and the survival of patients.METHODS A case-control study of 970 individuals from the Brazilian population was conducted(232 individuals from the case group with colorectal cancer and 738 individuals from the control group without a history of cancer). PCR multiplex and PCR-RFLP techniques were used to genotype the GST polymorphisms. The tumors were categorized according to the TNM classification: tumor extension(T), affected lymph nodes(N), and presence of metastasis(M). Logistic regression, multiple logistic regression and survival analysis were used to analyze the data. The results are presented in terms of odds ratio(OR) and 95% confidence interval(CI). The level of significance was set at 5%(P ≤ 0.05).RESULTS Age equal to or over 62 years(OR = 8.79; 95%CI: 5.90-13.09, P < 0.01) and female gender(OR = 2.91; 95%CI: 1.74-4.37; P < 0.01) were associated with increased risk of SCRC. Analysis of the polymorphisms revealed an association between the GSTM1 polymorphisms and a risk of SCRC(OR = 1.45; 95%CI: 1.06-2.00; P = 0.02), as well as between GSTT1 and a reduced risk of the disease(OR = 0.65; 95%CI: 0.43-0.98; P = 0.04). An interaction between the presence of the wild-type allele of GSTP1 Ile105 Val polymorphism and tobacco consumption on risk of SCRC(OR = 2.33; 95%CI: 1.34-4.05; P = 0.05) was observed. There was an association between the GSTM1 null genotype and the presence of advanced tumors(OR = 2.33; 95%CI: 1.23-4.41; P = 0.009), as well as increased risk of SCRC in the presence of a combination of GSTT1 non-null/GSTM1 null genotypes(OR = 1.50; 95%CI: 1.03-2.19; P = 0.03) and GSTT1 non-null/GSTM1 null/GSTP1 Val~*(OR = 1.85; 95%CI: 1.01-3.36, P = 0.04). Combined GSTT1 non-null/GSTM1 null genotypes(OR = 2.40; 95%CI: 1.19-4.85; P = 0.01) and GSTT1 non-null/GSTM1 null/GSTP1 Val~*(OR = 2.92; 95%CI: 1.05-8.12; P = 0.04) were associated with tumor progression. Polymorphisms were not associated with the survival of patients with SCRC.CONCLUSION Females aged 62 years or older are more susceptible to SCRC. Polymorphisms of GSTT1 and GSTM1 null genotypes modulated the susceptibility to SCRC in the population studied.

Role of microRNA-21 in uveal melanoma cell invasion and metastasis by regulating p53 and its downstream protein

AIM： To reveal the insight mechanism of liver metastasis in uveal melanoma, we investigated cell functions of microRNA-21 in three different uveal melanoma cell lines and analyze the relationship of target gene p53 and its downstream targets which been found significant expression in our previous study.METHODS： Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction （qRT-PCR） was used to detect microRNA-21 expression in normal uveal tissue and uveal melanoma cell lines. Lenti-virus expression system was used to construct OCM-1, MuM-2B and M619 cell line with stable overexpression and inhibition of microRNA-21. In vitro cell function tests such as cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, cell circle and abilities of migration and invasion were examined by MTT, BrdU assay, flow cytometry, transwell assay and Matrigel invasion assay respectively. The target gene was predicted by bioinformatics and confirmed by using a dual luciferase reporter assay. The expression of p53 and its suspected downstream targets LIM and SH3 protein 1 （LASP1） and Glutathione S Transferase pi （GST-Pi） were determined by qRT-PCR in mRNA level and western blotting analysis in protein level. Finally, the effect of microRNA-21 in a xenograft tumor model was assessed in four-week-old BALB/c nude mice. RESULTS： Compared to normal uveal melanoma, expressions of microRNA-21 were significantly higher in uveal melanoma cell lines. Overexpression of microRNA-21 promoted proliferation, migration, and invasion of OCM-1, M619 and MuM-2B cells, while inhibition of microRNA-21 reveal opposite effects. Wild type p53 was identified as a target gene of microRNA-21-3p, and proved by dual luciferase reporter assay. Up-regulated microRNA-21 inhibited the expression of wild type p53 gene, and the increased expression of LASP1 in mRNA level and protein level, while down-regulated microRNA-21 presented opposite way. However, GST-pi showed the potential pattern as expected, but relative mRNA level showed no statistically significant difference in OCM-1 cells. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of GST-pi was decreased in microRNA-21 overexpressing MuM-2B, and increased in M619 cells with inhibition of microRNA-21. In vivo, inhibition of microRNA-21 reduced tumor growth with statistically significant difference.CONCLUSION： These findings provide novel insight into molecular etiology of microRNA-21 in uveal melanoma cell lines, and suggest that microRNA-21 might be a potential candidate for the diagnosis and prognostic factor of human uveal melanoma in future.

Human GSTs Polymorphisms in the Hakka Population of South China and Their Associations with Family History of Several Chronic Diseases

Objective To investigate the associations of genetic polymorphisms in GSTs genes of the Hakka population of south China with family histories of certain chronic diseases.Methods Five hundred and thirty‐nine healthy Hakka natives of Meizhou city of Guangdong province in south China were involved.The genotypes of GSTM1,GSTT1,GSTP1,GSTM3,and GSTA1 were determined using PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.The observed polymorphisms were analyzed by Chi‐square and Hardy‐Weinberg equilibrium tests.Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the associations of the distributions of GST genotypes with family history of certain chronic diseases.Results The distributions of polymorphisms in GSTP1,GSTM3,and GSTA1 conformed to the Hardy‐Weinberg equilibrium.Compared to the Cantonese,the Hakka had a lower distribution of the GSTM3 deletion genotype （3.15% vs.11.9%）.A weak association was observed between the GSTM1 genetic polymorphism and family history of hypertension.Alcohol drinkers had a higher frequency of the null‐GSTM1 genotype,while smokers had a higher frequency of a variant GSTP1 genotype.Conclusion The results suggest that the Hakka is a special and distinctive Han Chinese ethnic group with different GSTs genetic polymorphisms.Smoking and drinking might be related to the distribution of GST genotypes.