Regulatory Roles of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Arterial Stiffness and Hypertension: Insights from Two African American Studies.

Background: Arterial stiffness, commonly assessed via pulse wave velocity (PWV), is marked by reduced arterial elasticity and serves as a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease and an early indicator of hypertension. This study investigated the regulatory roles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in modulating mRNAs associated with arterial stiffness and hypertension, with a particular focus on African Americans, a population disproportionately impacted by hypertension.

Methods: We utilized whole-blood transcriptome sequencing data from two African American (AA) cohorts with high hypertension prevalence: the GENE-FORECAST study (436 subjects) and the MH-GRID study (179 subjects).

Genomic study of taste perception genes in African Americans reveals SNPs linked to Alzheimer's disease.

While previous research has shown the potential links between taste perception pathways and brain-related conditions, the area involving Alzheimer's disease remains incompletely understood. Taste perception involves neurotransmitter signaling, including serotonin, glutamate, and dopamine. Disruptions in these pathways are implicated in neurodegenerative diseases.

Relationship between LDL-cholesterol, small and dense LDL particles, and mRNA expression in a cohort of African Americans.

Understanding the characteristics and behavior of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles provides insights into the atherogenic risk of elevated LDL cholesterol in hypercholesterolemia, cardiovascular disease risks. Studying LDL particles helps identify specific LDL subtypes [e.g.

Transcriptome Study of 2 Black Cohorts Reveals Long Noncoding RNAs Associated With Hypertension-Related mRNAs.

Background: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as critical regulators of the expression of genes involved in cardiovascular diseases. This project aims to identify circulating lncRNAs associated with protein-coding mRNAs differentially expressed between hypertensive and normotensive individuals and establish their link with hypertension.

Methods And Results: The analyses were conducted in 3 main steps: (1) an unbiased whole blood transcriptome-wide analysis was conducted to identify and replicate protein-coding genes differentially expressed by hypertension status in 497 and 179 Black individuals from the GENE-FORECAST (Genomics, Environmental Factors and the Social Determinants of Cardiovascular Disease in African-Americans Study) and MH-GRID (Minority Health Genomics and Translational Research Bio-Repository Database) studies, respectively.

Leveraging the transcriptome to further our understanding of GWAS findings: eQTLs associated with genes related to LDL and LDL subclasses, in a cohort of African Americans.

GWAS discoveries often pose a significant challenge in terms of understanding their underlying mechanisms. Further research, such as an integration with expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analyses, are required to decipher the mechanisms connecting GWAS variants to phenotypes. An eQTL analysis was conducted on genes associated with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and its subclasses, with the aim of pinpointing genetic variants previously implicated in GWAS studies focused on lipid-related traits.

Malaria in Senegal: Recent and Future Changes Based on Bias-Corrected CMIP6 Simulations.

Malaria is a constant reminder of the climate change impacts on health. Many studies have investigated the influence of climatic parameters on aspects of malaria transmission. Climate conditions can modulate malaria transmission through increased temperature, which reduces the duration of the parasite's reproductive cycle inside the mosquito.

"Black Lives Matter and Black Research Matters": the African Society of Human Genetics' call to halt racism in science.

The African Society of Human Genetics (AfSHG) was formed to provide a forum for human genetics and genomics scientists in Africa to interact, network, and collaborate. This is critical to facilitate development of solutions to the public health burden of many rare and common diseases across the continent. AfSHG fully supports the Black Lives Matter movement, which is dedicated to fighting racism and ensuring that society values the lives and humanity of Black people.

Adiposity and Leukocyte Telomere Length in US Adults by Sex-Specific Race/Ethnicity: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Objective: Little is known about the relationship between adiposity and telomere length in the United States population. The objective of our research was to examine this relationship in a representative, socioeconomically and sex-specific, diverse racial/ethnic population in the United States.

Methods: Body mass index (BMI), % total body fat (TBF) and waist circumference (WC) with leukocyte telomere length (LTL) were examined according to sex-specific race/ethnicity using separate adjusted multivariate linear regressions on a sample of 4,919 respondents aged 20-84 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey's 1999-2002 data.

Modifiable mediators associated with the relationship between adiposity and leukocyte telomere length in US adults: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Obesity is associated with age-related health conditions and telomere attrition - a marker of cellular aging. Obesity is attributable to adverse modifiable lifestyle factors. Little is known about the mediation effect of lifestyle factors associated with the relationship between obesity and telomere length.

Climate Variability and Malaria over West Africa.

Malaria is a major public health problem in West Africa. Previous studies have shown that climate variability significantly affects malaria transmission. The lack of continuous observed weather station data and the absence of surveillance data for malaria over long periods have led to the use of reanalysis data to drive malaria models.

Developing a Road Map to Spread Genomic Knowledge in Africa: 10th Conference of the African Society of Human Genetics, Cairo, Egypt.

The tenth conference of the African Society of Human Genetics was held in Egypt with the theme "Human Genetics and Genomics in Africa: Challenges for Both Rare and Common Genetic Disorders." Current research was presented, and we discussed visions for the future of genomic research on the African continent. In this report, we summarize the presented scientific research within and relevant to Africa as presented by both African and non-African scientists.

ARMC 5 Variants and Risk of Hypertension in Blacks: MH- GRID Study.

Background We recently found that ARMC 5 variants may be associated with primary aldosteronism in blacks. We investigated a cohort from the MH - GRID (Minority Health Genomics and Translational Research Bio-Repository Database) and tested the association between ARMC 5 variants and blood pressure in black s. Methods and Results Whole exome sequencing data of 1377 black s were analyzed.

Associations of smoking indicators and cotinine levels with telomere length: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

The influence of smoking exposure on telomere length with a focus on the impact of race has rarely been discussed. We performed a cross sectional analysis into the associations of smoking indicators with leukocyte telomere length (LTL) by race among 5864 nationally representative sample of US adults (≥20 years). Data from 1999 to 2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was used for the analysis.

Human monocyte transcriptional profiling identifies IL-18 receptor accessory protein and lactoferrin as novel immune targets in hypertension.

Background And Purpose: Monocytes play a critical role in hypertension. The purpose of our study was to use an unbiased approach to determine whether hypertensive individuals on conventional therapy exhibit an altered monocyte gene expression profile and to perform validation studies of selected genes to identify novel therapeutic targets for hypertension.

Experimental Approach: Next generation RNA sequencing identified differentially expressed genes in a small discovery cohort of normotensive and hypertensive individuals.

Circulating MiR-374a-5p is a potential modulator of the inflammatory process in obesity.

Obese individuals without expected metabolic co-morbidities are referred to as metabolically healthy obese (MHO). The molecular mechanisms underlying this phenotype remain elusive. MicroRNAs may be involved in the MHO phenotype.

Whole-genome transcriptomic insights into protective molecular mechanisms in metabolically healthy obese African Americans.

Several clinical guidelines have been proposed to distinguish metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) from other subgroups of obesity but the molecular mechanisms by which MHO individuals remain metabolically healthy despite having a high fat mass are yet to be elucidated. We conducted the first whole blood transcriptomic study designed to identify specific sets of genes that might shed novel insights into the molecular mechanisms that protect or delay the occurrence of obesity-related co-morbidities in MHO. The study included 29 African-American obese individuals, 8 MHO and 21 metabolically abnormal obese (MAO).

Influence of socioeconomic status on the whole blood transcriptome in African Americans.

Background: The correlation between low socioeconomic status (SES) and poor health outcome or higher risk of disease has been consistently reported by many epidemiological studies across various race/ancestry groups. However, the biological mechanisms linking low SES to disease and/or disease risk factors are not well understood and remain relatively under-studied. The analysis of the blood transcriptome is a promising window for elucidating how social and environmental factors influence the molecular networks governing health and disease.

Genetic model misspecification in genetic association studies.

Objective: The underlying model of the genetic determinant of a trait is generally not known with certainty a priori. Hence, in genetic association studies, a dominant model might be erroneously modelled as additive, an error investigated previously. We explored this question, for candidate gene studies, by evaluating the sample size required to compensate for the misspecification and improve inference at the analysis stage.

Residential Air Pollution and Associations with Wheeze and Shortness of Breath in Adults: A Combined Analysis of Cross-Sectional Data from Two Large European Cohorts.

Background: Research examining associations between air pollution exposure and respiratory symptoms in adults has generally been inconclusive. This may be related in part to sample size issues, which also preclude analysis in potentially vulnerable subgroups.

Objectives: We estimated associations between air pollution exposures and the prevalence of wheeze and shortness of breath using harmonized baseline data from two very large European cohorts, Lifelines (2006-2013) and UK Biobank (2006-2010).

Comparison of Malaria Simulations Driven by Meteorological Observations and Reanalysis Products in Senegal.

The analysis of the spatial and temporal variability of climate parameters is crucial to study the impact of climate-sensitive vector-borne diseases such as malaria. The use of malaria models is an alternative way of producing potential malaria historical data for Senegal due to the lack of reliable observations for malaria outbreaks over a long time period. Consequently, here we use the Liverpool Malaria Model (LMM), driven by different climatic datasets, in order to study and validate simulated malaria parameters over Senegal.

Differentially conserved transcriptomic response to adversity related to self-rated health in the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis.

Self-rated health (SRH) is considered a strong indicator of well-being and clinical health status and has been linked to inflammatory markers. The objective of this work was to examine how self-rated physical health (SRPH) and mental health (SRMH) influence the immune system through the regulation of a stress-related gene expression profile known as the 'conserved transcriptional response to adversity' (CTRA), which involves the up-regulation of pro-inflammatory genes and down-regulation of genes involved in type I interferon (IFN) response and antibody synthesis. CTRA expression data were derived from genome-wide transcriptional data on purified monocytes in 1264 adult participants from the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis.

Circadian CLOCK gene polymorphisms in relation to sleep patterns and obesity in African Americans: findings from the Jackson heart study.

Background: Circadian rhythms regulate key biological processes and the dysregulation of the intrinsic clock mechanism affects sleep patterns and obesity onset. The CLOCK (circadian locomotor output cycles protein kaput) gene encodes a core transcription factor of the molecular circadian clock influencing diverse metabolic pathways, including glucose and lipid homeostasis. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the associations between CLOCK single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and body mass index (BMI).