Long non-coding RNA ANRIL polymorphisms in papillary thyroid cancer and its severity.

Background: Long non-coding RNAs are likely to have a role in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including cancer. We hypothesised an effect of certain ANRIL single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in papillary thyroid cancer. Methods: Genomic ANRIL SNPs in rs11333048, rs4977574, rs1333040 and rs10757274 were determined in 134 papillary thyroid cancer patients and 155 age- and sex-matched controls. Results: None of the ANRIL SNPs were individually linked to papillary thyroid cancer. However, the AAAC haplotype (A from rs11333048, A from rs4977574, A from rs1333040 and C from rs10757274, respectively) showed a protective effect from papillary thyroid cancer whilst the CAAC and CAGT haplotypes were associated with cancer. The rs1333048 CC variant was more frequent in patients with larger tumour size (≥1 cm) in a recessive model (OR 3.4 [95%CI, 1.1-11], P = 0.035). The rs4977574 AC variant was associated with smaller tumour size in an over-dominant model (OR 0.4 [95%CI, 0.2-1.0], P = 0.041). SNPs in rs10757274 (AA: p = 0.045) and rs1333040 (CC: p = 0.019) are linked to a lower likelihood of III-IV cancer stages in dominant or codominant models. Conclusions: Certain haplotypes of ANRIL SNPs are associated with papillary thyroid cancer. ANRIL rs1333048 and rs4977574 variants were associated with larger and smaller tumour sizes, respectively. rs10757274 and rs1333040 variants might lead to lower III-IV cancer stages. These SNPs may be important in the diagnosis of this form of thyroid cancer.

The relationships between maternal and placental polymorphisms of miR-196a2 and miRNA-499 genes and preeclampsia.

Background: miRNAs are small non-coding RNAs with potential roles in the complications of pregnancy. We hypothesised links between polymorphisms in miRNA-196a2 and miRNA-499 in maternal blood and the placentas of patients with preeclampsia. Methods: The blood of 315 women with preeclampsia and 317 controls and the placentas of 103 PE and 133 healthy women were collected. The genotyping of both polymorphisms was performed by PCR-RFLP. Results: The maternal blood rs11614913 was unrelated to preeclampsia in genotype and allele models, but in placental tissue, the CT (odds ratio [95% CI] 0.5 [0.3-0.9, p = 0.018) and TT (0.4 [0.2-0.9] p = 0.033) genotypes alone and together (CT+TT v CC 0.5 [0.3-0.8] p = 0.009), and the T allele (0.6 [0.4-0.9], p = 0.019) were associated with lower risk of preeclampsia. The maternal blood rs3746444 CC genotype was more frequent in preeclampsia (2.2 [1.2-3.8] p = 0.008) and the recessive model (CC v TC+TT) was also significant (1.9 [1.1-3.3], p = 0.018), as was the C allele (1.4 [1.1-1.7] p = 0.014). In placental tissue, the increase in the frequency of the CC genotype was marginally significant (2.4 [1.0-5.8] p = 0.046). The maternal or placental miRNA-196a2 rs11614913 and miRNA-499 rs3746444 polymorphisms were unrelated to the severity of preeclampsia. Conclusion: The placental but not maternal miRNA-196a2 rs11614913 variant could be a protective factor for preeclampsia predisposition in all models except the recessive model. The maternal/placental rs3746444 CC genotype was in association with higher preeclampsia risk.