P2 promoter variants of the hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha gene are associated with type 2 diabetes in Mexican Americans.

Common and rare variants of the hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha (HNF4A) gene have been associated with type 2 diabetes and related traits in several populations suggesting the involvement of this transcription factor in diabetes pathogenesis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within a large haplotype block surrounding the alternate P2 promoter, located approximately 45 kb upstream from the coding region, have been investigated in several populations of varying ethnicity with inconsistent results. Additionally, SNPs located within the P1 promoter and coding region have also been inconsistently associated with type 2 diabetes.

Interleukin-18 knockout mice display maladaptive cardiac hypertrophy in response to pressure overload.

Interleukin (IL)-18 is a cardiotropic proinflammatory cytokine chronically elevated in the serum of patients with cardiac hypertrophy (LVH). The purpose of this study was to examine the role of IL-18 in pressure-overload hypertrophy using wild type (WT) and IL-18 -/- (null) mice. Adult male C57Bl/6 mice underwent transaortic constriction (TAC) for 7days or sham surgery.