Von Willebrand factor (vWF) in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF): A retrospective observational study.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is associated with endothelial damage and inflammation. In addition, von Willebrand factor (vWF) has been discovered as a biomarker of endothelial dysfunction. Therefore, the study aims to investigate the association between vWF level and HFpEF. Moreover, we analyzed a potential correlation between vWF and inflammatory factors, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin (IL)-6. We recruited altogether 272 hospitalized patients from The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, 88 of whom were HFpEF patients, 88 were non-heart failure patients, and 96 were healthy controls from the medical examination center of the hospital. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and double antibody sandwich immunochromatography were used for testing vWF, tissue plasminogen activator, galectin-3, nitric oxide, TNF-α, IL-6, and CRP. The HFpEF group's levels of vWF, IL-6, TNF-α, CRP, tissue plasminogen activator, galectin-3, and nitric oxide were statistically higher than those of non-heart failure and healthy control ones (F = 403.563, 21.825, 20.678, 39.609, 35.411, 86.407, 74.605; all P = .000). the highest level of vWF was observed in class IV (New York Heart Association) of HFpEF patients and the significant difference is <.05 (P < .001). An increasing level of vWF were shown in groups (CRP: CRP >3 mg/L group and CRP ≤3 mg/L group; IL-6: IL-6 <7.0 pg/mL group and IL-6 ≥7.0 pg/mL group; TNF-α: TNF-α <5.5 pg/mL group and TNF-α ≥5.5 pg/mL group) with higher level of IL-6, TNF-α, CRP. A multiple regression analysis regarding the relationship of vWF and inflammation markers was performed among the HFpEF patients. Further, statistical significance of the analysis remained after adjusting variables such as body mass index, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, coronary artery disease, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (ß = 0.406, t = 4.579, P < .001; ß = 0.323, t = 3.218, P < .001; ß = 0.581, t = 6.922, P < .001). Our study shows that elevated vWF levels are associated with HFpEF, and it may serve as a potential biomarker for HFpEF severity. We also found that increased vWF levels are positively correlated to IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP, which may provide a clue for further researching the pathogenesis of HFpEF.

Investigation of the association between obesity and insulin-induced gene 1 polymorphism at 7q36.3 region in Uygur population in Xinjiang, China.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a common heritable trait and a major risk factors of chronic and metabolic diseases. Insulin-induced gene 1 (INSIG1) is known to play important roles in cholesterol and triacylglycerol (TAG) metabolism. In the present study, our primary objective was to explore whether the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in INSIG1 gene were associated with obesity in Uygur subjects, in Xinjiang, China. METHODS: We designed a case-control study including 516 obese patients and 463 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Three SNPs (rs2721, rs9767875 and rs9719268) were genotyped using TaqMan SNP genotyping assays. RESULTS: For rs2721, the distribution of genotypes, dominant model (GT + TT vs GG), recessive model (TT vs GT + GG) showed significant differences between obese patients and the controls (P = 0.008, P = 0.005 and P = 0.035, respectively). For rs9719268, the distribution of genotypes showed significant differences between obese patients and the controls (P = 0.004). The dominant model (GT + TT vs GG) of rs2721 and rs9719268 GT genotype remain significantly associated with obesity after adjustment for confounders (OR = 1.393, 95% CI = 1.047-1.853, P = 0.023; OR = 1.631, 95% CI = 1.059-2.512, P = 0.026). The TG levels were significantly higher in rs2721 GT/TT genotypes than that in GG genotypes (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Rs2721 and rs9719268 of INSIG1 gene are associated with obesity in Uygur subjects. Subjects with GT/TT genotype or T allele of rs2721 and GT genotype of rs9719268 were associated with an increased risk of obesity.

CYP19A1 polymorphisms associated with coronary artery disease and circulating sex hormone levels in a Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between CYP19A1 genetic polymorphisms and coronary artery disease (CAD) remains unclear. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the association of CYP19A1 genetic polymorphisms with CAD in Han and Uygur populations and to characterize the association between the levels of sex hormones and aromatase with single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CYP19A1 genes in Chinese women. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the genotype distributions of rs2236722 and rs4646 between CAD patients and control subjects in the Uygur population. The rs4646 was found to be associated with CAD in the dominant model (CC vs. CA + AA) and the additive model (CA vs. CC + AA) (both P ≤ 0.001). The difference remained statistically significant after multivariate adjustment (OR = 0.483, 95% CI: 0.338-0.690, P = 0.000; and OR = 1.844, 95% CI: 1.300-2.617, P = 0.001, respectively). In normal Uygur postmenopausal women, there were significant differences in the genotype distributions of rs4646 and the circulating hormone and aromatase levels between CAD patients and control subjects. The differences in estradiol and aromatase levels remained statistically significant after multivariate adjustment (OR = 0.889, 95% CI: 0.817-0.969, P = 0.007; and OR = 0.947, 95% CI: 0.936-0.957, P = 0.000, respectively). Additionally, there were differences in sex hormone levels between the different ethnicities among the Xinjiang Chinese population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among a total of 1,064 Han individuals (614 men and 450 women) and 790 Uygur individuals (484 men and 306 women), 498 postmenopausal women (265 Han and 233 Uygur individuals) were selected. Four SNPs (rs2236722, rs2304463, rs4646, and rs4275794) were genotyped using the improved multiplex ligation detection reaction (iMLDR) technique. The estradiol and testosterone levels were determined using a radioimmunoassay based on GC-2016γ. In addition, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to determine the serum P450 aromatase levels. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that the rs2236722 and rs4646 of the CYP19A1 gene are associated with CAD and circulating sex hormone levels in the Xinjiang population of China.

Association of genetic variations in the Wnt signaling pathway genes with myocardial infarction susceptibility in Chinese Han population.

Numerous studies have implicated the Wnt pathway in the development and progression of myocardial infarction (MI); however, there are very few investigations addressing the effects of polymorphisms in the Wnt pathway genes on MI susceptibility. We investigated the possible correlation between genetic variations in Wnt pathway genes and MI risk. Three polymorphisms (rs7832767 C > T in SFRP1 gene, rs2293303 C > T in CTNNB1 gene, rs16893344 C > T in WISP1 gene) were finally selected and genotyped in 465 MI patients and 485 healthy controls, using the PCR-RFLP method. We found that the SFRP1 rs7832767 variant allele (T) was associated with a significantly increased risk of MI [TT vs. CC: adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.13, 95% CI = 1.78-5.51; CT/TT vs. CC: AOR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.12-2.08; TT vs. CC/CT: AOR = 2.87, 95% CI = 1.66-4.97)]. The significant association with MI risk was also found for the CTNNB1 rs2293303 (CT vs. CC: AOR = 3.48, 95% CI = 2.28-5.33; TT vs. CC: AOR = 7.37, 95% CI = 2.08-26.16; CT/TT vs. CC: AOR = 3.72, 95% CI = 2.46-5.62; TT vs. CC/CT: AOR = 5.52, 95% CI = 1.58-19.28), and WISP1 rs16893344 polymorphisms (CT vs. CC: AOR = 2.43, 95% CI = 1.70-3.47; TT vs. CC: AOR = 5.17, 95% CI = 1.85-14.41; CT/TT vs. CC: AOR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.83-3.66; TT vs. CC/CT: AOR = 3.88, 95% CI = 1.41-10.64). The associations remain significant in stratified analysis by demographic and clinical characteristics of participants, with few exceptions. Our study provided the first evidence of the association between polymorphisms in the Wnt pathway genes and MI susceptibility in Chinese Han population. Epidemiological studies with larger samples and functional analyses are warranted to further verify our results.

Secreted frizzled related protein 1 protects H9C2 cells from hypoxia/re-oxygenation injury by blocking the Wnt signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: In animal models, secreted frizzled related protein 1 (Sfrp1) inhibition of the Wnt signaling pathway is beneficial because Sfrp1 reduces myocardial apoptosis and prevents heart failure. The mechanisms mediating the cellular survival effect of Sfrp1 has not been completely elucidated. The present study was designed to investigate the possible protective actions of Sfrp1 on cardiac muscle cells using an in vitro model of ischemia/reperfusion, and to evaluate the possible involvement of the Wnt signaling pathway. METHODS: We used a recombinant AAV9 vector to deliver the Sfrp1 gene into H9C2 rat cardiomyoblasts and adopted an in vitro model of ischemia/reperfusion. Cell vitality was measured by CKK-8 and the trypan blue exclusion assay. Western blot was used to evaluate the expression of Dvl-1, ß-catenin, c-Myc, Bax, and Bcl-2. Flow cytometry analysis of cardiomyocyte apoptosis was performed. RESULTS: We confirmed that Sfrp1 significantly increased cell viability (assayed by trypan blue and CKK-8) and decreased apoptosis (assayed by flow cytometry analysis and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio). These effects were partly attributable to the ability of Sfrp1 to down-regulate Wnt signaling pathway (assayed by Western blot to evaluate the expression of Dvl-1, ß-catenin, and c-Myc). Indeed, reactivation of the Wnt signaling pathway activity with the specific activator, Licl, reduced Sfrp1-induced cardioprotection during hypoxia and reoxygenation. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that Sfrp1 directly protected H9C2 cells from hypoxia and reoxygenation-induced reperfusion injury and apoptosis through inhibition of the Wnt signaling pathway, and added new mechanistic insight regarding the cardioprotective role of Sfrp1 on ischemic damage.

Relationships between genetic polymorphisms of E670G in PCSK9 gene and coronary artery disease: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Proprotein convertase subtilisin-like kexin type 9 (PCSK9) gene E670G Polymorphism has been reported to be associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) and risk factors. However, the results remain controversial. We sought to perform a meta-analysis to investigate the relationships between genetic polymorphisms of E670G in PCSK9 gene and the risk of CAD. METHODS: Literature searches were performed to identify all published relevant case-control studies without any language restrictions. Meta-analysis was conducted using the Review Manager software (version 5.2). Heterogeneity was investigated and measured using Cochran's Q-statistic and the inconsistency index (I(2)) test; Crude odds ratios (OR) with their corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 5 case-control studies among 871 patients with CAD and 1144 control subjects were included in the meta-analysis. we found a correlation between PCSK9 genetic polymorphisms and increased risk for CAD under all of the genetic model (allele model: OR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.21-2.01, P < 0.001; dominant model: OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.14-1.88, P = 0.003; recessive model: OR: 3.46, 95% CI: 1.19-10.10, P = 0.02; homozygous model: OR: 3.89, 95% CI: 1.35-11.20, P = 0.01; Heterozygous model: OR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.08-1.92, P = 0.01; respectively). CONCLUSION: The results of the meta-analysis indicated that genetic polymorphism of E670G in PCSK9 gene might be involved in pathogenesis of CAD; the 670G carriers may be closely related to the risk of CAD.

The association of cholesterol absorption gene Numb polymorphism with Coronary Artery Disease among Han Chinese and Uighur Chinese in Xinjiang, China.

BACKGROUND: Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). As Numb is an important regulating factor for intestinal cholesterol absorption and plasma cholesterol level, the aim of the present study is to assess the association between human Numb gene polymorphism and CAD among Han and Uighur Chinese. METHODS: We have conducted two independent case-control studies in Han Chinese (384 CAD patients and 433 controls) and Uighur Chinese (506 CAD patients and 351 controls) subjects. All subjects were genotyped for four kinds of SNPs (rs12435797, rs2108552, rs1019075 and rs17781919) and SNP is used as a genetic marker for human Numb gene. Genotyping was undertaken using TaqMan SNP genotyping assay, and the subjects' ethnicity and gender were considered in the analysis. RESULTS: We found that rs2108552 was associated with CAD in the dominant model (CC vs CG + GG) for the total Han Chinese population (n = 200) and Han Chinese males (n = 115) (P = 0.004 and P = 0.001, respectively). The difference remained statistically significant after multivariate adjustment (total: OR = 1.687, P = 0.004; male: OR = 1.498, P = 0.006). Further, for the total (n = 817) and male (n = 490) Han Chinese, the frequency of the haplotype (T-C-T-C) was significantly higher in the CAD patients than in the controls (P = 0.004 and P = 0.002), and the frequency of the haplotype (G-G-T-C) was significantly lower in the CAD patients than in the control subjects (P = 0.013, P = 0.007). In addition, for the total (n = 857) and male (n = 582) Uighur Chinese, we observed that rs12435797 was associated with CAD in an additive and recessive model (P = 0.021 and P = 0.009; P = 0.048 and P = 0.034). However, the difference did not remain statistically significant after multivariate adjustment. The overall distribution of rs2108552, rs1019075 and rs17781919 genotypes, alleles and the frequency of the haplotype established by four SNPs showed no significant difference between CAD patients and control subjects in the total, male and female Uighur Chinese. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that CC genotype of rs2108552 and T-C-T-C haplotypes in Numb gene is a possible risk genetic marker and G allele and G-G-T-C haplotypes is a possible protective genetic marker for CAD in male Han Chinese.

Genetic variants of numb gene were associated with elevated total cholesterol level and low density lipoprotein cholesterol level in Chinese subjects, in Xinjiang, China.

BACKGROUND: Hypercholesterolemia is one of the most common risk factors for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), which is the leading cause of death worldwide. As Numb is an important regulating factor regarding intestinal cholesterol absorption and plasma cholesterol level, the aim of the present study is to investigate the relationship between human Numb gene polymorphism and cholesterol level in Chinese subjects. METHODS: All participants came from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University (Male: 1052 and Female: 596), and four tagging SNPs (rs2108552, rs12435797, rs1019075 and rs17781919) of Numb gene were genotyped by using TaqMan assays and analyzed in an ABI 7900HT Fast Real-Time PCR System. Further, general liner model was applied for assessing the relationship between cholesterol level and genotypes. RESULTS: By analyzing a dominant model, recessive model and an additive model, we have found that SNP rs2108552 was associated with total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol level (LDL-C) (P = 0.000 and P = 0.007; P =0.042 and P =0.009; P = 0.006 and P = 0.030). C allele of SNP rs17781919 had significantly lower plasma TC level (3.46 ± 0.74 mmol/L vs 4.27 ± 1.1 mmol/L) and LDL-C level (0.98 ± 0.55 mmol/L vs 2.64 ± 0.93 mmol/L) when compared with T allele. Additionally, SNP rs12435797 was associated with TC level and SNP rs1019075 was associated with LDL-C level by analyses of a dominant model, recessive model and an additive model (P = 0.000, P = 0.005 and P = 0.004; P = 0.016, P = 0.008 and P = 0.033). Further, the association of rs2108552, rs12435797, rs1019075 and rs17781919 with aforementioned different kinds of cholesterol levels remained statistically significant after multivariate adjustment of ethnicity, gender, age, smoking and obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that both rs2108552 and rs17781919 in the Numb gene were associated with total cholesterol level and density lipoprotein-cholesterol level in Chinese subjects.