Validation of rapid polymerase chain reaction-based detection of all length polymorphisms in the UGT 1A1 gene promoter.

UDP glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A1 gene promoter polymorphism can affect the expression level of the UGT 1A1 enzyme. The polymorphism consists of an insertion of a TA nucleotide sequence into a (TA)6TAA sequence in the gene promoter resulting in (TA)7TAA (UGT1A1*28). This results in a reduced UGT 1A1 expression with 70% less glucuronidation capacity for bilirubin and other UGT1A1 substrates. Other polymorphisms include (TA)8TAA (UGT1A1*37) and (TA)5TAA (UGT1A1*36). The longer the TA repeats the lower the enzyme expression level. The anticancer agent irinotecan is metabolized to the active SN-38, which is further glucuronidated and detoxified by UGT 1A1. Decreased glucuronidation leads to SN-38 accumulation with severe neutropenia and diarrhea. We have developed a rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based detection of all length polymorphisms in the UGT 1A1 gene promoter. It uses PCR and DNA fragment analysis using an ABI Genetic Analyzer. Thirty-two blood samples were analyzed for UGT 1A1 promoter polymorphism. We found 2 (TA)(5)TAA/(TA)(5)TAA, 4 (TA)(5)TAA/(TA)(6)TAA, 2 (TA)(5)TAA/(TA)(7)TAA, 9 (TA)(6)TAA/(TA)(6)TAA, 11 (TA)(6)TAA/(TA)(7)TAA, 2 (TA)(7)TAA/(TA)(7)TAA, and 2 (TA)(7)TAA/(TA)(8)TAA in our sample group. To confirm the results, 6 samples with different repeats were also analyzed by DNA sequencing method. This is a rapid and reliable method for analysis of the promoter length polymorphisms of UGT 1A1 gene.

Erythropoietin mediates tissue protection through an erythropoietin and common beta-subunit heteroreceptor.

The cytokine erythropoietin (Epo) is tissue-protective in preclinical models of ischemic, traumatic, toxic, and inflammatory injuries. We have recently characterized Epo derivatives that do not bind to the Epo receptor (EpoR) yet are tissue-protective. For example, carbamylated Epo (CEpo) does not stimulate erythropoiesis, yet it prevents tissue injury in a wide variety of in vivo and in vitro models. These observations suggest that another receptor is responsible for the tissue-protective actions of Epo. Notably, prior investigation suggests that EpoR physically interacts with the common beta receptor (betacR), the signal-transducing subunit shared by the granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, and the IL-3 and IL-5 receptors. However, because betacR knockout mice exhibit normal erythrocyte maturation, betacR is not required for erythropoiesis. We hypothesized that betacR in combination with the EpoR expressed by nonhematopoietic cells constitutes a tissue-protective receptor. In support of this hypothesis, membrane proteins prepared from rat brain, heart, liver, or kidney were greatly enriched in EpoR after passage over either Epo or CEpo columns but covalently bound in a complex with betacR. Further, antibodies against EpoR coimmunoprecipitated betacR from membranes prepared from neuronal-like P-19 cells that respond to Epo-induced tissue protection. Immunocytochemical studies of spinal cord neurons and cardiomyocytes protected by Epo demonstrated cellular colocalization of Epo betacR and EpoR. Finally, as predicted by the hypothesis, neither Epo nor CEpo was active in cardiomyocyte or spinal cord injury models performed in the betacR knockout mouse. These data support the concept that EpoR and betacR comprise a tissue-protective heteroreceptor.