ABSTRACT
Essential hypertension (EH) is affected by both genetic and environmental factors.The polymorphism of connexin (Cx) genes is found associated with the development of hypertension.However,the association of the polymorphism of Cxs with EH has not been investigated.This study aimed to investigate the association of the polymorphism of connexin (Cx) genes Cx37,Cx40,and Cx43 with EH in Kazak and Han Chinese in Xinjiang,China.Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) were used to analyze the polymorphism of Cx genes in Kazak and Han EH patients as well as their normotensive controls.The results showed that there were no significant differences in the frequencies of different three genotypes (A/A,A/G,and G/G) and A and G alleles of Cx40 rs35594137 and rs11552588 between EH patients and normotensive controis.However,in Kazak EH patients,the frequencies of three genotypes (A/A,A/G;and G/G) of Cx37 rs1630310 were 24.8％,47.2％ and 28.0％,respectively,which were significantly different from those in Han EH patients.In Han EH patients,the frequencies of the three genotypes (C/C,C/G and G/G) of Cx43 rs1925223 were 6.4％,35.6％ and 58.0％,respectively.Frequencies of the other four genotypes had no statistical differences among Kazak and Hart EH patients and their normotensive controls.These results suggest polymorphisms of Cx37 rs 1630310 and Cx43 rs 1925223 genes may be associated with the pathogenesis of EH.Carrying Cx37 rs1630310-A or Cx43 rs1925223-G genotypes may protect against the development of EH.
ABSTRACT
Taurine has positive effects on bone metabolism. However, the effects of taurine on osteoblast apoptosis in vitro have not been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the activity of taurine on apoptosis of mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. The data showed that 1, 5, 10, or 20 mM taurine resulted in 16.7, 34.2, 66.9, or 63.75 percent reduction of MC3T3-E1 cell apoptosis induced by the serum deprivation (serum-free α-MEM), respectively. Taurine (1, 5, or 10 mM) also reduced cytochrome c release and inhibited activation of caspase-3 and -9, which were measured using fluorogenic substrates for caspase-3/caspase-9, in serum-deprived MC3T3-E1 cells. Furthermore, taurine (10 mM) induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation in MC3T3-E1 cells. Knockdown of the taurine transporter (TAUT) or treatment with the ERK-specific inhibitor PD98059 (10 μM) blocked the activation of ERK induced by taurine (10 mM) and abolished the anti-apoptotic effect of taurine (10 mM) in MC3T3-E1 cells. The present results demonstrate for the first time that taurine inhibits serum deprivation-induced osteoblast apoptosis via the TAUT/ERK signaling pathway.