MicroRNA-146a polymorphism is not associated with cardiovascular disease in the elderly / Polimorfismo MicroRNA 146a não está associado a doenças cardiovasculares em idosos

Abstract Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) figure among the most significant causes of morbidity and mortality in the world and, among genetic factors, the literature has demonstrated the crucial role of miRNAs and the relationship of physical activity with this pathology. Objective: To investigate the relationship between the functional capacity of exercise, the level of physical activity, and the polymorphism in the miRNA-146a gene in elderly individuals with and without CVD. Methods: This study, developed in a city in the southern region of Brazil, is characterized as cross-sectional. The sample for this study comprised 342 participants, aged 60 or over. The following aspects were analyzed: anthropometric characteristics, genetic profiles, diagnosis of CVD, functional capacity, and the level of physical activity. Results: A statistically significant association was observed between CVD and body mass index (BMI) (א² = 14.278; p = 0.0003), and 40.6% of elderly individuals with CVD were obese, while 31.5% of the normally developed elderly participants presented normal BMI. However, the genotype frequencies (p = 0.546; א² = 1.211) and 6MWT (p = 0.311; א² = 1.025) did not show a statistically signifi-cant association with CVD. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the polymorphism in the miRNA-146A (rs2910164) and functional capacity are not associated with CVD in the elderly. However, the BMI did demonstrate an association with this disease.

Resumo Introdução: As doenças cardiovasculares (DCV) figuram entre as causas mais significativas de morbimortalidade no mundo e, dentre os fatores genéticos, a literatura tem demonstrado o papel crucial dos miRNAs e a relação da atividade física com essa patologia. Objetivo: Investigar a relação entre a capacidade funcional do exercício, o nível de atividade física e o polimorfismo no gene miRNA-146a em idosos com e sem DCV. Métodos: Este estudo, desenvolvido em um município da região sul do Brasil, caracteriza-se como transversal. A amostra deste estudo foi composta por 342 participantes, com idade igual ou superior a 60 anos. Foram analisados ​​os seguintes aspectos: características antropométricas, perfis genéticos, diagnóstico de DCV, capacidade funcional e nível de atividade física. Resultados: Observou-se associação estatisticamente significativa entre DCV e índice de massa corporal (IMC) (א² = 14,278; p = 0,0003), sendo que 40,6% dos idosos com DCV eram obesos, enquanto 31,5% dos idosos normalmente desenvolvidos apresentaram IMC normal. No entanto, as frequências genotípicas (p = 0,546; א² = 1,211) e TC6 (p = 0,311; א² = 1,025) não mostraram associação estatisticamente significante com DCV. Conclusão: Os resultados do presente estudo sugerem que o polimorfismo no miRNA-146A (rs2910164) e a capacidade funcional não estão associados à DCV em idosos; no entanto, o IMC demonstrou associação com essa doença.

Lower limb muscle strength and serotonin receptor gene polymorphism as factors associated in women with fibromyalgia

Abstract Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by generalized skeletal muscle chronic pain. Its etiology is not well defined, because there are several factors that may trigger it such as physical and/or emotional stresses, or a genetic susceptibility, involving serotonergic, dopaminergic and catecholaminergic paths. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between the strength of the lower limb, genetic polymorphism of the serotonin receptor gene HTR2a in women with fibromyalgia. Methods: In this observational study of case-control type 48 women were evaluated who belonged to the group with FM (52 ± 12 years) and 100 women in the control group (58±11 years). Socio demographic and anthropometric data were collected and peripheral blood samples for DNA extraction; genotypic analyzes were performed by means of PCR in real time by TaqMan® system. The lower limb muscle strength was assessed through the test of sitting down and standing up for 30 s. The chi-square test or Fischer Exact was used for possible associations among the variables; the t-test for independent samples was used to compare the averages among the groups; the value of significance adopted was 5%. Results: There was an association between the polymorphism of the HTR2A gene with FM, demonstrating that carriers of the genotype GG have 24.39 times more likely to develop the syndrome (IC95% 5.15-115.47; p = 0.01). It was observed an association between FM and the test to sit and stand up demonstrating that women with fibromyalgia have lower limb muscle strength ( p = 0.01). The study showed that the white race has 3.84 times more likely to develop FM (p = 0.01). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that women of Caucasian ethnicity with GG genotype or G allele presented greater risk of developing fibromyalgia and that these patients have lower limb muscle strength compared to the control group.