Nicotine is the main component for smoking addiction. It is widely believed that nicotine dependence is heritable. Many studies are committed to study the effects of specific gene polymorphisms connect with nicotine dependence. Release of dopamine has been considered the most important channel for nicotine dependence. This paper provides a review for recent advance in studies on dopamine system related genetic polymorphisms associated with nicotine dependence.
Animals ; Dopamine ; metabolism ; Humans ; Nicotine ; metabolism ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Tobacco Use Disorder ; genetics ; metabolism

Hereditary diffuse leukoencephalopathy with neuroaxonal spheroids (HDLS) is a rare autosomal dominant leukoencephalopathy disease, and colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) is the only gene in which mutations are known to cause HDLS. HDLS should be suspected in individuals with progressive neurological decline, characteristic MR imaging findings, and positive family history. This article reviews recent advance in imaging findings, clinical manifestations, genetic counseling and management in HDLS.
Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Leukoencephalopathies ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Radiography ; Spheroids, Cellular ; cytology

The design of twins reared apart, very rare genetic epidemiological resources has been hailed as fascinating experiment of nature. However, not so many studies have been based on it due to the difficulty in recruiting the participants. It also makes the only existing research on twins raised apart particularly valuable. How to utilize these resources fully will be the focus of this research area. This review will overview its design background, basic hypothesis, and current status of research and give advice for the research in this field in China.
China ; Humans ; Research Design ; trends ; Twin Studies as Topic ; trends ; Twins ; genetics ; statistics & numerical data

OBJECTIVESTo identify a NFB responsive element within the dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 2 gene (DDAH) promoter and demonstrate its role in DDAH2 transactivation.

METHODSDDAH2 promoter was analyzed with software to identify potential binding sites of transcription factors. A series of truncated DDAH2 promoter luciferase reporter plasmids were constructed and transfected into human embryonic kidney derived HEK293 cells. Luciferase assays were carried out to analyze the activity of the promoter. Electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) were used to identify the NFB responsive element in vitro and in vivo. DDAH2 promoter luciferase reporter plasmid with mutated NFB site was constructed and transfected into cells, and its activity was compared with that of the wild-type plasmid.

RESULTSPotential bindings sites of many transcription factors were found within the DDAH2 promoter. The transcription activity of the DDAH2 promoter was high, and -530 to -437 was a positive regulating region. -476 to -469 of the DDAH2 promoter was a NFB responsive element, to which NFB can specifically bind. Mutation of the NFB element could significantly decrease the DDAH2 promoter activity.

CONCLUSION-476 to -469 of the DDAH2 promoter was a NFB responsive element and is important for the transactivation of DDAH2.

Amidohydrolases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Protein Binding ; Response Elements

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor (PPAR) in human glioma tissue and its influence on tumor growth.

METHODSExpression of PPAR mRNA in glioma tissue was determined by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Subsequently, MTT (3-(4, 5)-dimethylthiahiazo(-z-y1)-3, 5-di-phenytetrazoliumromide) assay, flow cytometry, reactive oxygen species assay kit and Western blotting were used to assay U87 cells with agonist activity of PPAR.

RESULTSThe data demonstrated that the expression of PPAR in glioma was low and negatively correlated with its pathological grade. Activation of PPAR suppresses tumor cell proliferation, delays the cell cycle at G1 phrase, and induces apoptosis and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in U87 cells.

CONCLUSIONThe expression of PPAR mRNA in human glioma was low. PPAR protein plays a critical role in the progression of glioma via the PPAR signal pathway.

Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Gene Expression ; Glioma ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Humans ; PPAR alpha ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of PARP1 inhibitor PJ34 on multi-drug resistance in a human multiple myeloma cell line and its connection with FA/BRCA pathway in DNA damage repair.

METHODSA CCK8 assay was used to measure the inhibition rate. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect expression changes of DNA repair genes involved in the FA/BRCA pathway. Western blotting assay was used to detect expression of key protein FANCD2 in the FA/BRCA pathway. Annexin VFITC/PI double staining flow cytometry was used to measure cell apoptosis induced by PJ34. A COMET assay was used to detect the effect of PJ34 on DNA damage repair.

RESULTSPJ34 could significantly enhance the sensitivity of RPMI8226/R cells to melphalan. The IC50 value of melphalan was dropped from 20.43 mol/L to 7.8 mol/L. PJ34 could inhibit the DNA damage repair, and the effect was related with the inhibition of FA/BRCA pathway. PJ34 and melphalan showed a synergistic effect in promoting the apoptosis of RPMI8226/R cells.

CONCLUSIONPJ34 can reverse the resistance of RPMI8226/R cells to melphalan by inhibiting the FA/BRCA pathway, which in turn can induce suppression of DNA damage repair. Therefore, PJ34 may have clinical value in overcoming the multi-drug resistance of multiple myeloma.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; BRCA2 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group D2 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; metabolism ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1 ; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors ; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the impact of Line-1 methylation on clinical features of non-small cell lung cancer and its connection with smoking and other living habits.

METHODSPyrosequencing was used to determine the extent of Line-1 methylation in cancer and adjacent tissues derived from 197 patients with primary non-small cell lung cancer. Non-conditional logistic regression analysis was performed to correlate the level of Line-1 methylation with clinical features and living habits of the patients.

RESULTSLine-1 methylation for cancer tissue and adjacent tissue has measured 68.20±11.63 and 78.90±2.09, respectively (P < 0.01), and has been associated with TNM staging, smoking history and histopathological types.

CONCLUSIONLung cancer tissue Line-1 methylation level is closely related with clinical features and smoking. There is also a correlation between histopathological types of lung cancer and relative hypomethylation of Line-1.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Humans ; Long Interspersed Nucleotide Elements ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate chromosomal euploidies in early-stage arrested human embryos.

METHODSTo determine the euploidy status of the 24 chromosomes, 13 embryos were analyzed, which included 5 arrested at 4-cell stage, 4 arrested at 8-cell stage, and 4 embryos at blastocyst stage regardless of their morphological scores. All embryos were subjected to biopsy, whole genome amplification, and array comparative genome hybridization analysis.

RESULTSChromosome euploidies of the arrested embryos can be normal, aberrant and chaotic. Mosaicism is prevalent in early stage cleavage, whilst most of the blastocysts, even with poor morphology, are normal diploid.

CONCLUSIONArrested embryo may have normal chromosomes euploidy. Mosaicism is common in cleavage stage embryos. Early stage embryo arrest may not be solely attributable to chromosomal aneuploidies and needs further research.

Adult ; Blastocyst ; cytology ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; Embryo Loss ; genetics ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Infertility ; genetics ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVEMutations of presenilin 1 (PSEN1) gene are the most frequent cause for familial Alzheimers disease (AD). This study was set to explore potential mutation of PSEN1 gene in a Chinese family featuring early-onset Alzheimers disease (FAD).

METHODSDNA was isolated from peripheral blood samples from 17 members of the FAD family as well as 10 patients with sporadic Alzheimers disease and 100 healthy subjects. With polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Sanger sequencing, exons 113 of the PSEN1 gene were analyzed.

RESULTSDNA sequencing has revealed a heterozygous point mutation from G to A at position 1133 (Gly378Glu) of exon 11 of PSEN1 gene in 6 members from the family, among whom 5 were patients with dementia, whilst the remaining 1 was clinically normal but under onset age. The same mutation was not found in all other patients and the normal controls.

CONCLUSIONA novel missense mutation of the PSEN1 gene, Gly378Glu, probably underlies the autosomal dominant early-onset FAD in this Chinese family.

Adult ; Aged ; Alzheimer Disease ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedigree ; Presenilin-1 ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate STK11 gene mutation in a pedigree with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS).

METHODSA pedigree of PJS was investigated. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples from affected and unaffected members of the pedigree and 100 unrelated healthy controls. PCR was performed to amplify all of the 9 coding exons of STK11 gene. PCR products were directly sequenced to detect mutation.

RESULTSA missense mutation p.F354L (c.1062C>G) in exon 8 of the STK11 gene has been identified in all patients with PJS, but was not found in normal individuals from the pedigree and 100 unrelated controls.

CONCLUSIONA missense mutation p.F354L of STK11 gene probably underlies the disease in this pedigree.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pedigree ; Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome ; diagnosis ; enzymology ; genetics ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics