ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: Osteoporosis along with decreased bone density can lead to bone structure loss which increases the risk of fractures. Recent identification of genetic factors impels researchers to assess association of genetic variations with osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between FokI and ApaI polymorphisms of vitamin D receptor [VDR] gene and serum calcium level, serum 25-OH vitamin D level and osteoporosis in Iranian postmenopausal women
Materials and Methods: In this study, we included 194 over 50 years old postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and osteopenia and 50 over 50 years old healthy postmenopausal women as the control group. To study the polymorphisms, genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples containing EDTA anticoagulant. Genotyping of FokI and ApaI polymorphisms of VDR gene was performed using PCR-RFLP method
Results: Weight, height, age, serum 25-OH vitamin D, and calcium level were compared in three groups of control, osteopenia, and osteoporosis. The mean of serum calcium level was not significantly different but the means of age, weight, height, and serum 25-OH vitamin D level were significantly different between the patients and control group. Also, the differences in the distribution of FokI and ApaI genotypes were not statistically significant among the patients with osteopenia, osteoporosis and the control group
Conclusion: It seems that there is no association between FokI and ApaI polymorphisms of VDR gene and osteoporosis
ABSTRACT
The Brucella melitensis virB operon, encoding a type IV secretion system [T4SS], is required for intracellular replication and persistent infection in the mouse model. The product of the second gene of the virB operon, virB2, is predicted to be localized at the bacterial surface, where they could potentially interact with host cells. Studies to date have focused on characterization of transposon mutations in this gene, which is expected to exert polar effects on downstream genes. We researched on the evaluation of relation between virB2 mutant with immunogenicity in mouse model and intracellular replication in macrophages J774. In order to determine whether VirB2 is required for the function of the T4SS apparatus, we constructed and characterized deletion mutation of virB2 and kanamycin resistance gene replaced instead of virB2. For demonstration of intracellular replication, macrophages J774 and BALB/c mices were infected with wild type Brucella melitensis and mutated. After 48 h, number of mutated Brucella severe decreased severly compaired to wild type in macrophages J774, and Brucella with virB2 deletion decreased from 1x10[6] CFU/spleen less than 1000 CFU/spleen during 8 weeks, also total IgG increased in both but IL-12 and IFN-gamma increased only in wild type. VirB2 was essential for intracellular replication in mouse models and J774 macrophages. The virB2 mutant was unable to cause persistent infection in the mouse model, demonstrating the essential role of VirB2 in the function of the T4SS apparatus during infection and secreting IL-12 and IFN-gamma, but VirB2 dispensable for secretion of total IgG