Epigenetic and genetic investigation of SOCS-1 gene in patients with multiple myeloma

Background@#The suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS-1) functions to induce an appropriate immune response and is an essential physiological regulator of interferon signaling. DNA methylation involves adding a methyl group to the carbon 5 position of cytosine. Besides comparing SOCS-1 gene methylation status between patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and healthy controls, this study also aimed to demonstrate the effect of SOCS-1 gene distribution and the effect of methylation of SOCS-1 on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). @*Methods@#This study included 120 patients diagnosed with MM between January 2018 and 2020 and 80 healthy individuals. The distribution of the SOCS-1 genotypes was statistically compared between MM patients and healthy controls. Additionally, the statistically significant effects of these genotypes on survival were examined. @*Results@#The CA/CA genotype of SOCS-1 was significantly higher in healthy controls (P =0.001), while the Del/Del genotype was significantly higher in patients with MM (P =0.034). The percent methylated reference (PMR) value of the SOCS-1 gene was significantly higher in the healthy controls (median, 43.48; range, 2.76‒247.75; P =0.001). Patients with a PMR value of ≥43.48 were 3.125 times more likely to develop progression than those with a PMR value of ＜43.48. @*Conclusion@#The effects of SOCS-1 polymorphisms on the pathogenesis of MM and SOCS-1 methylation will further shed light on the pathophysiology of MM.

First genetic screening for maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 7 in Turkish silver-Russell syndrome patients

Silver-Russell syndrome [SRS] is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous syndrome which is characterized by severe intrauterine and postnatal growth retardation, and typical characteristic facial dysmorphisms. It has been associated with maternal uniparental disomy [UPD] for chromosome 7 and hypomethylation of imprinting control region 1 [IGF2/H19] in 11p15. UPD refers to the situation in which both copies of a chromosome pair have originated from one parent. UPD can be presented both as partial heterodisomy and isodisomy. The aim of this study was to determine the maternal UPD7 [matUPD7] in 13 Turkish SRS patients. Genotyping for matUPD7 was performed with microsatellite markers by polymerase chain reaction. The maternal UPD7 including the entire chromosome was identified in 1/13 [7.6%] of individuals within SRS patients. There were no significant differences between clinical features of matUPD7 case and other SRS cases except congenital heart defects. It is often difficult to establish diagnosis of a child with intrauterine growth retardation [IUGR], growth failure and dysmorphic features. Thus, screening for matUPD7 in IUGR children with growth failure and mild SRS features might be a valuable diagnostic tool