Association of PHACTR1 intronic variants with the first myocardial infarction and their effect on PHACTR1 mRNA expression in PBMCs.

Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) and underlining atherosclerosis are the main causes of death worldwide. Phosphatase and actin regulator 1 (PHACTR1) variants have been associated with early onset MI, coronary artery disease and carotid dissection. PHACTR1 mRNA expression has been detected in tissues and cells related to atherosclerosis.

The Effects of Juice Consumption on the mRNA Expression Profile in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Subjects at Cardiovascular Risk.

Foods and food products that contain polyphenols are proposed to modulate risk of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this three-arm, crossover, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention study was to examine the impact of juice (AMJ), high-polyphenol (AMJ treatment, 1.17 g/100 mL polyphenols) and low-polyphenol (dAMJ treatment, 0.

CDKN2B gene expression is affected by 9p21.3 rs10757278 in CAD patients, six months after the MI.

Background: Chromosomal region 9p21.3 is most robustly associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) in western European populations. However, heterogeneity in CAD phenotypes leads to uncertainty whether 9p21.

PHACTR1 haplotypes are associated with carotid plaque presence and affect PHACTR1 mRNA expression in carotid plaque tissue.

Background: Carotid plaque is a hallmark of advanced carotid atherosclerosis and there is evidence of phosphatase and actin regulator 1 (PHACTR1) involvement in the processes that lead to atherosclerosis. PHACTR1 intronic variants have been associated with coronary artery disease and carotid dissection. Up to date the PHACTR1 haplotypes were not investigated in association with carotid plaque presence (CPP).

Transcriptome-driven integrative exploration of functional state of ureter tissue affected by CAKUT.

Aims: (1) to identify the most dysregulated genes in ureter tissue affected by congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) and to extract the biological meaning of these markers; (2) to describe the key molecular networks in CAKUT and to provide expression validation of the genes selected from these networks.

Main Methods: Transcriptome data was obtained from ureter samples of CAKUT patients and controls by Illumina iScan microarray. Identification of differentially expressed genes was coupled with subsequent bioinformatics analyses.

Left ventricular remodeling after the first myocardial infarction in association with LGALS-3 neighbouring variants rs2274273 and rs17128183 and its relative mRNA expression: a prospective study.

Post-infarct left ventricular remodeling (LVR) process increases the risk of heart failure (HF). Circulating galectin-3 has been associated with fibrosis, inflammation and cardiac dysfunction during the remodeling process after myocardial infarction (MI). The aims of this prospective case study were to investigate the association of potentially functional variants in the vicinity of LGALS-3 locus, rs2274273 and rs17128183 with maladaptive LVR and whether these variants could affect LGALS-3 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients 6 months after the first MI.

The HACD4 haplotype as a risk factor for atherosclerosis in males.

The 9p21.3 region is rich in regulatory elements and the variants in this region had been robustly associated with carotid plaque (CP) and coronary artery disease (CAD). Recently, the HACD4 was detected as one of the six 9p21.

Regulation of hepatic Na/K-ATPase in obese female and male rats: involvement of ERK1/2, AMPK, and Rho/ROCK.

In this study, we assessed whether the disturbed regulation of sodium/potassium-adenosine-triphosphatase (Na/K-ATPase) occurs as a consequence of obesity-induced IR in sex-specific manner. We also assessed whether alterations of IRS/PI3K/Akt, ERK1/2, AMPKα, and RhoA/ROCK signaling cascades have an important role in this pathology. Female and male Wistar rats (150-200 g, 8 weeks old) were fed a standard laboratory diet or a high-fat (HF) diet (42% fat) for 10 weeks.

Changes in cardiac Na/K-ATPase expression and activity in female rats fed a high-fat diet.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the presence of endogenous estradiol alters the effects of a high-fat (HF) diet on activity/expression of the cardiac Na/K-ATPase, via PI3K/IRS and RhoA/ROCK signalling cascades in female rats. For this study, female Wistar rats (8 weeks old, 150-200 g) were fed a standard diet or a HF diet (balanced diet for laboratory rats enriched with 42% fat) for 10 weeks. The results show that rats fed a HF diet exhibited a decrease in phosphorylation of the α subunit of Na/K-ATPase by 30% (p < 0.

Genetic Variants in the Vicinity of LGALS-3 Gene and LGALS-3 mRNA Expression in Advanced Carotid Atherosclerosis: An Exploratory Study.

Background: Previous research has shown that there is an association between galectin-3 (gal-3) protein and cardiovascular pathology. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of rs2274273 and rs17128183 on genetic susceptibility to advanced carotid atherosclerosis (CA) and its complications. The rs2274273 has been singled out as the lead SNP of the haplotype block containing LGALS-3 (gal-3 gene) associated with gal-3 circulating levels, while rs17128183 constitutes a potentially functional SNP of the same hap-block.

Transcriptome-wide based identification of miRs in congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) in children: the significant upregulation of tissue miR-144 expression.

Background: The genetic cause of most congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) cases remains unknown, therefore the novel approaches in searching for the common disease denominators are required. miRs regulate gene expression in humans and therefore have potentially therapeutic and biomarker properties. No studies thus far have attempted to explore the miRs in human CAKUT.

Gender-Specific Association between Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor -1332 A/G Gene Polymorphism and Advanced Carotid Atherosclerosis.

Background: The angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R) -1332 A/G polymorphism has been denoted as functional and associated with certain cardiovascular disease phenotypes. However, there are no studies considering the association of this gene polymorphism with carotid atherosclerosis (CA) and cerebrovascular events. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate a possible association of the AT2R -1332 A/G polymorphism with the occurrence of carotid plaques (CPs) and history of cerebrovascular insult (CVI) in advanced CA.

Angiotensin receptor type 1 polymorphism A1166C is associated with altered AT1R and miR-155 expression in carotid plaque tissue and development of hypoechoic carotid plaques.

Background And Aims: The principal biologic effects of the renin-angiotensin system are mediated by activation of the AT1R receptor. The microRNA miR-155 regulates AT1R expression, with both its, and AT1R's activity, linked to atherosclerosis. Target sites for miR-155 lie within the 3' UTR of the human AT1R gene, and include the AT1R A1166C polymorphism.

Renin-angiotensin system gene polymorphisms as risk factors for multiple sclerosis.

The components of renin-angiotensin system, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensin II and angiotensin II receptor type 1 and 2 (AT1R and AT2R), are expressed in the central nervous system and leukocytes and proposed to be involved in the inflammation and pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). ACE I/D, AT1R 1166A/C and AT2R -1332A/G are functional polymorphisms associated with phenotypes of diverse chronic inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between ACE I/D, AT1R 1166A/C and AT2R -1332A/G gene polymorphisms and MS in Serbian population.

9p21 locus rs10757278 is associated with advanced carotid atherosclerosis in a gender-specific manner.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms from the chromosome locus 9p21 are reported to carry a risk for various cardiovascular diseases. One of the lead single nucleotide polymorphisms, rs10757278, was mostly investigated in association with coronary artery disease but rarely with carotid atherosclerosis. In this study, we aimed to analyze the association of rs10757278 A/G polymorphism with carotid plaque presence in advanced carotid atherosclerosis.

CXCL16 in Vascular Pathology Research: from Macro Effects to microRNAs.

Chemokines and their receptors have become significant factors in atherosclerosis research. CXCL16 is a multifunctional agent located on a separate locus to all other known chemokines and binds only to its "unique" receptor named CXCR6. As a scavenger receptor, adhesion molecule, and chemokine, it quickly became an interesting target in atherosclerosis research as all its functions have a role in vascular pathology.

CXCL16 haplotypes in patients with human carotid atherosclerosis: preliminary results.

Aim: Chemokine CXC ligand 16 (CXCL16) has chemoattractive, adhesive and scavenging properties and may play a role in the formation of atherosclerotic lesions. However, studies of CXCL16 polymorphisms in patients with atherosclerosis are scarce. The missense polymorphisms I123T and A181V are potentially important factors in the regulation of presentation and shedding of the CXCL16 chemokine domain.

The gender-specific association of CXCL16 A181V gene polymorphism with susceptibility to multiple sclerosis, and its effects on PBMC mRNA and plasma soluble CXCL16 levels: preliminary findings.

CXC ligand 16 (CXCL16) is a multifunctional chemokine involved in cell adhesion and chemoattraction as well as in the scavenging of oxidized lipoproteins. Experimental data suggest the roles of CXCL16 in pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). A181V polymorphism in the human CXCL16 gene has been associated with the clinical course of certain chronic inflammatory diseases.

Effects of glutathione S-transferase T1 and M1 deletions on advanced carotid atherosclerosis, oxidative, lipid and inflammatory parameters.

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) carry out a wide range of functions in cells, such as detoxification of endogenous compounds, removal of reactive oxygen species, and even catalysis of reactions in metabolic pathways beyond detoxification. Based on previous research, GSTM1 and GSTT1 might modify the risk of atherosclerosis. The aim of our study was to analyze the possible association of GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms with the occurrence of carotid plaque (CP); and biochemical parameters of oxidative stress, lipid profile and inflammation, in 346 consecutive patients with advanced atherosclerosis that underwent endarterectomy.

The role of G protein coupled receptor kinases in neurocardiovascular pathophysiology.

In coronary artery disease the G protein related kinases (GRKs) play a role in desensitization of β-adrenoreceptors (AR) after coronary occlusion. Targeted deletion and lowering of cardiac myocyte GRK-2 decreases the risk of post-ischemic heart failure (HF). Studies carried out in humans confirm the role of GRK-2 as a marker for the progression of HF after myocardial infarction (MI).

Matrix metalloproteinase-1 promoter genotypes and haplotypes are associated with carotid plaque presence.

Objectives: Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 degrades fibrillar collagens suggesting important role in vascular remodeling. Data about MMP-1 promoter polymorphisms and carotid atherosclerosis (CA) are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate association of MMP-1 genotypes/haplotypes with carotid plaque (CP) presence in Serbian population.

The association of V249I and T280M fractalkine receptor haplotypes with disease course of multiple sclerosis.

We investigated the association of CX3CR1 genotypes/haplotypes with MS and performed the prediction analysis of protein sequence variants' effects on CX3CL1/CX3CR1 interaction. We found no association of CX3CR1 with MS susceptibility. Frequency of I(249)T(280) haplotype was significantly lower in SP compared to RR patients (RR>10 years, OR=0.

The association of ACE I/D gene polymorphism with severe carotid atherosclerosis in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy.

Introduction: The ACE I/D polymorphism was mostly investigated in association with intima-media thickness, rarely with severe atherosclerotic phenotype.

Materials And Methods: We investigated the association of I/D polymorphism with severe carotid atherosclerosis (CA) (stenosis > 70%) in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. The 504 patients subjected to endarterectomy and 492 healthy controls from a population in Serbia were investigated as a case-control study.

Association of MMP-8 promoter gene polymorphisms with carotid atherosclerosis: preliminary study.

Objective: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in the remodeling of the extracellular matrix in the arterial wall. Collagen I is associated with vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration and monocyte differentiation. MMP-8 is expressed in atherosclerotic plaque and preferentially cleaves collagen type I.