Association between miR-202, miR-211, and miR-1238 gene polymorphisms and risk of vitiligo.

Vitiligo, as a common pigment defect in the skin, hair, and mucous membranes, results from the destruction of melanocytes. Recent investigations have shown that miRNA dysregulation contributes in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. Therefore, in this research, our aim is to explore the relationship between miR-202 rs12355840, miR-211 rs8039189, and miR-1238 rs12973308 polymorphisms and susceptibility to vitiligo. A total number of 136 vitiligo patients and 129 healthy individuals as a control group were included in this research. The salting out approach was implemented to extraction genomic DNA. The genetic polymorphisms of miR-202 rs12355840, miR-211 rs8039189, and miR-1238 rs12973308 were determined using PCR-RFLP approach. The findings revealed that miR-202 rs12355840 polymorphism under codominant (CT and TT genotypes), dominant, recessive, overdominant, and also allelic models is correlated with increased risk of vitiligo. In addition, codominant, dominant, overdominant, as well as allelic models of miR-211 rs8039189 polymorphism decrease risk of vitiligo. No significant relationship was observed between the miR-1238 rs12973308 polymorphism and susceptibility to vitiligo. The miR-211 rs8039189 polymorphism may serve a protective effect on vitiligo development and miR-202 rs12355840 polymorphism may act as a risk factor for vitiligo susceptibility.

Effects of the mTOR and AKT genes polymorphisms on systemic lupus erythematosus risk.

The systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease, leading to inflammatory response and systemic consequences. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a therapeutic target for autoimmune diseases like SLE. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the mTOR rs2295080 and rs2536 polymorphisms and AKT1 rs2494732 gene polymorphism on SLE development. 2 ml of peripheral blood was collected from 165 SLE patients and 170 controls in EDTA-containing tubes. The salting-out and PCR-RFLP methods were used for DNA extraction and genotype analysis, respectively. Based on the regression analysis, the frequency of TT genotype of mTOR rs2295080 polymorphism was significantly higher in the case group than that of the control group, with a 2.6-fold increased risk of SLE. There was also a significant difference between the two groups in terms of allelic distribution. No statistically significant association was found between The AKT1 rs2494732 and mTOR rs2536 polymorphisms and SLE development. Our results showed that the TT genotype and T allele of mTOR rs2295080 polymorphism were risk factors for developing SLE. However, there was no significant association between mTOR rs2536 and AKT1 rs2494732 polymorphisms and the SLE risk.

The Impact of TRAIL (C1595T and G1525A) and DR4 (rs20576) Gene Polymorphisms on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Apoptosis dysregulation is a distinct hallmark of several disorders like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In fact, SLE has two special features for apoptosis: irregular apoptosis and decline in clearing of apoptotic bodies. Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) is a death ligand that causes to apoptosis via attaching to its receptors such as death receptor-4 (DR4). The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of TRAIL G1525A and C1595T and DR4 A683C (rs20576) gene polymorphisms on SLE development. 160 SLE patients and 160 healthy individuals as the control group participated in the study. Genotype analysis was performed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). With regard to TRAIL (C1595T) polymorphism, the frequency of CT genotype was significantly higher in the case group than the control with 3-fold increase in SLE development risk (P = 0.0001). Furthermore, the frequency of the TT genotype also was higher in the case group than the control group with 3.2-fold increase in SLE development risk. The allelic distribution analysis defined the T allele as a risk factor for SLE development (P = 0.0001). The frequency of AA genotype and allele A of TRAIL (G1525A) polymorphism also was statistically higher in the case group than the control group (P = 0.0001). There was no significant association between DR4 rs20576 polymorphism and SLE development. TRAIL C1595T and G1525A gene polymorphisms are suggested as the risk factors for SLE development, although the results showed no association between DR4 rs20576 polymorphism and SLE.