Single nucleotide polymorphism of transforming growth factor-β1 and interleukin-6 as risk factors for ovarian cancer.

Introduction: We investigated the association between common variants in TGF-1, IL-6 and the risk of ovarian cancer (OC) in Tunisian patients and control women.

Material Methods And Results: Study subjects comprised 71 OC cases and 74 control women. Genotyping of TGF-1 and IL-6 SNPs was done by real-time PCR.

TLR3 and TLR4 SNP variants in the liver disease resulting from hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection.

Background: Chronic infection with hepatitis B (HBV) and C virus (HCV) is linked with a pro-inflammatory state, predisposing to cirrhosis and liver cancer, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A role for Toll-like receptor (TLR) signalling in hepatocarcinogenesis was recently documented. We hypothesised a link TLR3 and TLR4 polymorphisms and HCC, as surrogates for the significance of TLR signalling in the promotion and initiation of HCC.

Common variants in IL-1RN, IL-1β and TNF-α and the risk of ovarian cancer: a case control study.

Aim Of The Study: Several studies implicated altered inflammatory response in the susceptibility to ovarian cancer, and polymorphisms in inflammatory cytokines were shown to play an important role in the development of malignancies, including ovarian cancer (OC). Here we investigated the relationship between polymorphisms in IL-1 (-511C>T), IL-1RN VNTR, TNF- (-308G>A), and TNF RII (-322 VNTR) and OC risk in Tunisian women.

Methods And Results: Study subjects comprised 62 OC patients and 126 healthy women.

IL-10 and IL-28B gene variants as predictors of sustained response to peginterferon and ribavirin therapy in chronic HCV infection.

Objectives: Interleukin-10 (IL-10) plays an important role in the immunity to hepatitis C virus (HCV). Insofar as IL-10 variants are associated with altered levels of IL-10, previous studies that examined the association of IL-10 polymorphisms with the susceptibility to and progression of chronic HCV, and response to anti-viral treatment were inconsistent. We investigated the association between common IL-10 variants in the intron and the promotor region with HCV and associated features.

Genetic variants in IL-6 and IL-10 genes and susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma in HCV infected patients.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a common primary liver malignancy, and the third leading cause of cancer-related death. The HCC risk increases with the severity of liver inflammation, and the clinical course of HCV infection depends on a balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The former includes interleukin (IL)-6, while the latter includes IL-10.

[Penetrance of BRCA1 gene mutation and DNA mitochondrial in Tunisian breast cancer occurrence].

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the implication of BRCA1 gene and the mitochondrial micro satellite (situated between 303 and 315 positions) mutations in the occurrence of breast cancer in Tunisia.

Methods: Nine Tunisian patients with hereditary breast cancer have been analyzed. For each patient, total genomic DNA was extracted and used as a template for the amplification of 24 exons of the BRCA1 gene and an hyper variable mitochondrial region.

Are HLA DQB1 alleles correlated with breast cancer histopronostic parameters in Tunisia?

Background: Tumor cells express surface structures different from normal cells. These structures may be recognized by the immune system, which ensure anti-tumoral surveillance. Antigenic presentation requires HLA molecules role.

HLA class II genetic diversity in southern Tunisia and the Mediterranean area.

North Africa is populated by many Arab- and Berber-speaking populations whose genetic history is still poorly understood. In this study, we analyse the HLA-DRB1 and DQB1 molecular diversity in three populations from the south of Tunisia--Berbers from Jerba, Berbers from Matmata and Arabs from Gabes--and we compare them to a large set of populations from the whole Mediterranean region. Among the three populations studied, the Berbers from Jerba are the most peculiar, as they diverge significantly from other North Africans while being genetically highly diversified and close to populations from the Near East.

Islands inside an island: reproductive isolates on Jerba island.

Jerba Island, located in South Eastern Tunisia, is inhabited by four ethnic groups: Berbers, Arabs, sub-Saharans, and Jews. All live in distinct areas, although the Arabs are also distributed all over the island. The first Arab settlement was founded in the 7th century A.

Female gene pools of Berber and Arab neighboring communities in central Tunisia: microstructure of mtDNA variation in North Africa.

North African populations are considered genetically closer to Eurasians than to sub-Saharans. However, they display a considerably high mtDNA heterogeneity among them, namely in the frequencies of the U6, East African, and sub-Saharan haplogroups. In this study, we describe and compare the female gene pools of two neighboring Tunisian populations, Kesra (Berber) and Zriba (non-Berber), which have contrasting historical backgrounds.

Y-chromosomal STR haplotypes in three ethnic groups and one cosmopolitan population from Tunisia.

The 11 Y-chromosomal short tandem repeats (STRs) included in the Promega Corporation PowerPlex Y System (DYS19, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS385, DYS437, DYS438 and DYS439) were typed in three ethnic groups ("Andalusians", Berber and Arab) and one cosmopolitan population (Tunis) from Tunisia, summing up 247 individuals, and 139 different haplotypes. Focusing the analysis on the seven Y-STRs of the YHRD Minimal Haplotype Core (DYS385 excepted), "Andalusians" showed no differences from the Cosmopolitan and the Arab samples previously published (our Arab sample presented an extremely low haplotype diversity), but were different from the Berbers. The Berbers from Tunisia were not different from those from Morocco.

Distribution of Y chromosome lineages in Jerba island population.

We have analysed Y chromosome polymorphism on six STR markers (DYS19, DYS389I, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, and DYS393) and eight classical UEP markers (SRY10831a, YAP, SRY4064, M2, 92R7, M9, SRY2627 and 12f2) in three distinct ethnical, linguistic and cultural groups of Jerba island (Berbers, Arabs and a Jerban group of Sub-Saharan origin). Fst genetic distance and principal co-ordinate analysis based on STR haplotype frequencies, showed a genetic differentiation between the three Jerban groups and a genetic relationship between Jerban Berbers and Mozabites (a well defined Berber group in Algeria). Compound use of UEP and STR markers have increased discriminatory capacity.