Genetic variation at ERBB3/IKZF4 and sexual dimorphism in epitope spreading in single autoantibody-positive relatives.

Aims/hypothesis: We examined whether the non-HLA susceptibility locus ERBB3/IKZF4 influences progression of type 1 diabetes stage specifically according to sex.

Methods: SNPs of ERBB3 (rs2292239 T/G) and IKZF4 (rs1701704 G/T) were screened by allelic discrimination quantitative PCR assay in first-degree relatives of type 1 diabetes patients who had developed at least one circulating autoantibody. The effect of ERBB3/IKZF4 genotypes and sex, on the progression of single autoantibody positivity to multiple autoantibody positivity and from multiple autoantibody positivity to diabetes, was studied by Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariate Cox regression.

Correlation between IDH1 gene mutation status and survival of patients treated for recurrent glioma.

Somatic mutations in the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) gene have been frequently found in low-grade glioma and secondary glioblastoma and are associated with a significantly younger age at diagnosis and a superior overall survival. We investigated the IDH1 gene mutation status by nested PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) on DNA extracted from archival tumor blocks of 63 glioma patients who were treated following recurrence with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted blocking monoclonal antibody cetuximab, or the vascular endothelial growth factor (receptor) (VEGF(R))-targeted agents sunitinib malate and bevacizumab. In our study population, IDH1 mutation was significantly correlated with a longer overall survival (OS) from the time of initial diagnosis.

Association of IL-2RA/CD25 with type 1 diabetes in the Belgian population.

Our goals were to study the proposed association of IL-2RA /CD25 with type 1 diabetes in the Belgian population over a broad age range, and to explore possible correlations with disease phenotypes, immune markers, HLA-DQ, INS, and PTPN22. Patients (n = 1954), healthy controls (n = 2082), and families (n = 420) were genotyped for IL-2RA/CD25 rs41295061(C>A), HLA-DQ, INS-VNTR and PTPN22. IL-2RA/CD25 was associated with type 1 diabetes (χ(2) = 26.

IFIH1 gene polymorphisms in type 1 diabetes: genetic association analysis and genotype-phenotype correlation in the Belgian population.

The evaluation of susceptibility loci in a registry-based setting could be an important addition to the current predictive and screening models in T1D. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of one of these loci, IFIH1. T1D patients (n=1981), control subjects (n=2092) and 430 families were genotyped for HLA-DQ and IFIH1 nsSNP rs1990760 (Ala946Thr).

TNFa microsatellite polymorphism modulates the risk of type 1 diabetes in the Belgian population, independent of HLA-DQ.

To determine the contribution of the tumor necrosis factor alpha gene (TNFA) to the immunogenetic risk prediction of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in the Belgian population, well-characterized antibody-positive patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D), nondiabetic control subjects, and nuclear families were analyzed for HLA-DQA1-DQB1, TNFA -308 G/A promoter single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and TNFa microsatellite markers in both case-control and transmission studies. A total of 1,029 patients (mean age at onset, 18 years; male/female ratio, 1.2), 575 control subjects and 179 nuclear families were analyzed for the -308 SNP and 1,082 patients (mean age at onset, 17 years; and male/female ratio, 1.

MICA is associated with type 1 diabetes in the Belgian population, independent of HLA-DQ.

To ascertain association of MICA with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in the Belgian population, well-characterized antibody-positive patients were analyzed for MICA transmembrane gene polymorphism in both an association study and a nuclear family study. The frequency of MICA5 was significantly increased in the T1D patient group (18%) compared with the control population (12%, OR=1.6, pc<10(-3)), whereas MICA9 was decreased (11% versus 16%, OR=0.

Metformin reduces adiponectin protein expression and release in 3T3-L1 adipocytes involving activation of AMP activated protein kinase.

The drugs troglitazone and metformin are used to reduce the degree of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes. Both compounds act through different mechanisms which might include opposing effects on the production of adiponectin, an insulin-sensitizer released by adipocytes. This study compared the effects of troglitazone and metformin on adiponectin production by 3T3-L1 adipocytes during 48 h culture.

Differential modulation of rat hepatic stellate phenotype by natural and synthetic retinoids.

Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) is a central event in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis during chronic liver injury. We examined the expression of retinoic acid (RAR) and retinoid X receptors (RXR) during HSC activation and evaluated the influence of natural and synthetic retinoic acids (RA) on the phenotype of culture-activated HSC. The expression of the major RAR/RXR subtypes and isoforms was analyzed by Northern hybridization.

PPARbeta regulates vitamin A metabolism-related gene expression in hepatic stellate cells undergoing activation.

Activation of cultured hepatic stellate cells correlated with an enhanced expression of proteins involved in uptake and storage of fatty acids (FA translocase CD36, Acyl-CoA synthetase 2) and retinol (cellular retinol binding protein type I, CRBP-I; lecithin:retinol acyltransferases, LRAT). The increased expression of CRBP-I and LRAT during hepatic stellate cells activation, both involved in retinol esterification, was in contrast with the simultaneous depletion of their typical lipid-vitamin A (vitA) reserves. Since hepatic stellate cells express high levels of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor beta (PPARbeta), which become further induced during transition into the activated phenotype, we investigated the potential role of PPARbeta in the regulation of these changes.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-beta signaling contributes to enhanced proliferation of hepatic stellate cells.

Background & Aims: The peroxisome proliferator-activated nuclear receptors (PPAR-alpha, PPAR-beta, and PPAR-gamma), which modulate the expression of genes involved in energy homeostasis, cell cycle, and immune function, may play a role in hepatic stellate cell activation. Previous studies focused on the decreased expression of PPAR-gamma in hepatic stellate cell activation but did not investigate the expression and role of the PPAR-alpha and -beta isotypes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of the different PPARs during hepatic stellate cell activation in vitro and in situ and to analyze possible factors that might contribute to their expression.