Aryl hydrocarbon receptor: Linking environment to aging process in elderly patients with asthma / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Aging is a significant risk factor for various diseases, including asthma, and it often leads to poorer clinical outcomes, particularly in elderly individuals. It is recognized that age-related diseases are due to a time-dependent accumulation of cellular damage, resulting in a progressive decline in cellular and physiological functions and an increased susceptibility to chronic diseases. The effects of aging affect not only the elderly but also those of younger ages, posing significant challenges to global healthcare. Thus, understanding the molecular mechanisms associated with aging in different diseases is essential. One intriguing factor is the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), which serves as a cytoplasmic receptor and ligand-activated transcription factor and has been linked to the aging process. Here, we review the literature on several major hallmarks of aging, including mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, autophagy, mitophagy, epigenetic alterations, and microbiome disturbances. Moreover, we provide an overview of the impact of AhR on these hallmarks by mediating responses to environmental exposures, particularly in relation to the immune system. Furthermore, we explore how aging hallmarks affect clinical characteristics, inflammatory features, exacerbations, and the treatment of asthma. It is suggested that AhR signaling may potentially play a role in regulating asthma phenotypes in elderly populations as part of the aging process.

Correlation between IFNGR gene polymorphism and atherosclerotic plaque stability in Yunnan Han nationality / 重庆医学

Objective to explore the correlation between interferon-γ receptor(IFNGR)2 amino acid sites Val14Met and GIn64Arg polymorphism and atherosclerosis plaque stability in Yunnan Han nationality.Methods The patients with unstable atherosclerotic plaque in our hospital from March 2014 to March 2015 were collected as the observation group and contemporaneous patients with stable atherosclerotic plaque/non-plaque as the control group.The peripheral venous blood was collected for extracting genomic DNA.IFNGR Va114Met and GIn64Arg loci genotype was detected by the PCR product direct sequencing method.The sequencing results were analyzed by adopting the DNAStar and GeneTool software.The levels of plasma cytokines(IFN-γ)was detected by the flow cytometry.Results Two hundreds and four native Han patients were included in this study,including the observation group,109 cases,age(76.89±12.08)years old;the control group,95 cases,age(65.99±16.32)years old.The polymorphism change of IFNGR1 Vall4Met loci was not found irn the two groups.In the observation group,the frequency of IFNGR2 Gln64Arg genotype AA was 51.95％(40/77),which of AGwas 53.06 ％(52/98)and which of GG was 58.62％(17/29);in the control group,the frequencies were 48.05 ％ (37/77),46.94 ％ (46/98) and 41.38 ％ (12/29),chi-square test,P =0.824.The IFNGR2 Gln64Arg genotypes AA,AG and GG had no relation with atherosclerotic plaque stability.The A and G allele frequencies in the observation group were 52.38％ (132/252)and 55.13 ％ (86/156)respectively,which of the control group were 47.62 ％ (120/252)and 44.87％ (70/156),chi-square test's P=0.661.The IFNGR2 Gln64Arg A/G allele had no relation with atherosclerotic plaque stability.By Hardy-Weinberg genetic balance test,the gene frequency in this sample population was in accordance with the genetic equilibrium law.The plasma IFN-γ level in the observation group was(4.60 ± 1.91)ng/mL,which in the control group was (4.88 ± 2.10)ng/ mL,the difference was not statistically significant(P=0.318);the plasma IFN-γ content had no relation with atherosclerotic plaque stability(P=0.308).Conclusion The genetic polymorphisms of IFNGR can not serve as a warning indicator of atherosclerotic plaque stability.