Calpain ; genetics ; Diabetes, Gestational ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Haploidy ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Pregnancy

Muscular dystrophy (MD), a group of inherited disorders characterized by progressive skeletal muscle wasting and weakness, can be classified into several groups according to Mendelian inheritance patterns and clinical features. Many genes related to MD have been identified and cloned by genetic linkage analysis and positional cloning strategy. Our understanding of the molecular mechanisms giving rise to muscular dystrophy have made a progress by the functional analysis of proteins encoded by candidate genes for MD. This article reviews genes and their functional mechanisms in the pathogenesis of muscular dystrophy.
Calpain ; genetics ; Dystrophin ; genetics ; Humans ; Lamin Type A ; genetics ; Muscle Proteins ; genetics ; Muscular Dystrophies ; etiology ; genetics ; Myostatin ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; genetics ; Tripartite Motif Proteins ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; genetics

In order to determine whether the variations in the calpain-10 gene constitutes risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in Chinese, the frequency of UCSNP-43, 44 in 268 adults newly diagnosed with T2DM (according to the 1999 ADA criteria) and 153 non-diabetic control subjects was investigated. For all subjects, the height, weight, waist-to-hip ratio (W/H) and blood pressure, as well as following parameters were measured: (1) 75-g oral glucose tolerance test with insulin, C-peptide, HbA1c and blood lipid profiles; (2) Genomic DNA extracted from peripheral blood lymphocytes was genotyped for UCSNP-43 (calpain-10-g. 4852 G/A) and UCSNP-44 (calpain-10-g. 4841 T/C) by sequencing a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified fragment. PCR product was selected by single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and then sequenced. The results showed that there was significant difference between T2DM group and normal control group in allele frequencies, haplotype frequencies, or haplotype combinations of UCSNP-43 and -44 either. But in newly diagnosed T2DM group, it was found that the individuals with the genotype UCSNP-44 T/C + C/C had significantly increased fasting and post-challenge insulin levels (Fins and P2hIns), consistent with reduced insulin sensitivity. In the BMI> 25 subgroup, the differences were even more significant. It was demonstrated that the Calpain-10 gene polymorphism UCSNP-44 was associated with insulin sensitivity and Fins and P2hIns in newly diagnosed T2DM, although Calpain-10 doesn't appear as a major diabetes susceptible gene in this population.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Calpain/*genetics ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/*genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease/genetics ; Insulin Resistance/*genetics ; Phenotype ; Point Mutation ; Polymorphism, Genetic/*genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the splice variants of the calpain 3 gene existing in human skeletal muscle tissue and white blood cells, and to explore the feasibility of gene diagnosis using CAPN3 mRNA extracted from peripheral leukocytes.

METHODSTotal RNA was extracted from peripheral blood and skeletal muscle tissue in healthy individuals. CAPN3 cDNAs were determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing. CAPN3 cDNAs from peripheral leukocytes were compared with sequences obtained from skeletal muscle tissue.

RESULTSRT-PCR and DNA sequencing showed that the CAPN3 cDNAs comprised 24 exons in human skeletal muscle tissue, while the number of exons was 23 in white blood cells. Exon 15 was spliced out in human white blood cells.

CONCLUSIONSplice variants exist in human skeletal muscle tissue and white blood cells. Gene diagnosis may omit the mutations of exon 15 using mRNA extracted from peripheral leukocytes. These findings suggest that mutation analysis of the CAPN3 cDNA should use skeletal muscle tissue as materials instead of peripheral blood.

Calpain ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Exons ; genetics ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; metabolism ; Muscle Proteins ; genetics ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVEThis is an investigation made in Korean population with regard to the distribution of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in calpain-10 gene that was discovered in Mexican American.

METHODSBy utilizing the techniques of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), the authors analyzed the polymorphisms for calpain-10 SNP-43, -19 and -63 genotype, evaluated the gene types, and calculated their frequencies and combined genotypes in 312 healthy Korean.

RESULTSThe calpain-10 UCSNP-43 genotype frequencies for types 1/1, 1/2, and 2/2 were found to be 86.2%, 13.5%, and 0.3% respectively, with the allele frequencies 0.930 for G and 0.070 for A. The UCSNP-19 genotype frequencies were 9.9% for type 1/1, 44.6% for type 1/2, 45.5% for type 2/2, with the allele frequencies 0.322 for D and 0.678 for I. The UCSNP-63 genotype frequencies were 57.4% for type of 1/1, 35.9% for type of 1/2, 6.7% for type of 2/2, with the allele frequencies 0.754 for C and 0.246 for T. All of the gene distributions matched the equilibrium law of Hardy-Weinberg. A total of 12 genotype combinations of three SNPs were observed in Korean. Seventy-five point six per cent of the Korean was composed of three genotype combinations in the order of UCSNP-43,-19 and -63, i.e., GG-DI-CC(haplotype combination 111/121, frequency=10.6%, GG-DI-CT(haplotype combination 112/121, frequency=28.8%), and GG-II-CC(haplotype combination 121/121, frequency=36.2%).

CONCLUSIONThe distribution of SNPs in calpain-10 gene in Korean is similar to that in Chinese and Japanese, but different from that reported in Caucasian, American Mexicans and American Pima Indians.

Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Calpain ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; Female ; Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

The purpose of this study was to study the role of neurofilament (NF) mRNA and calpain in NF reduction of acrylamide (ACR) neuropathy. Male Wistar adult rats were injected i.p. every other day with ACR (20 mg/kg·bW or 40 mg/kg·bW) for 8 weeks. NF mRNA expression was detected using RT-PCR and the calpain concentration was determined using western blot analysis. The NF mRNA expression significantly decreased while the level of m-calpain and μ-calpain significantly increased in two ACR-treated rats groups regardless of the ACR dose. The light NF (NF-L) protein expression was significantly correlated with NF-L mRNA expression. Combined with previous data, the concentrations of three NF subunits were negatively correlated with the calpain levels. These findings suggest that NF-L mRNA and calpain mediated the reduction in NF of ACR neuropathy.
Acrylamide ; toxicity ; Animals ; Calpain ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Intermediate Filaments ; genetics ; Male ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; chemically induced ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats

Primary neuronal culture is a powerful tool to study neuronal development, aging, and degeneration. However, cultured neurons show signs of cell death after 2 or 3 weeks. Although the mechanism underlying this phenomenon has not been elucidated, several preventive methods have been identified. Here we show that the neuronal loss in primary cortical culture involves calpain activation and subsequent neuronal cell death. Neuronal loss during cultivation showed destruction of neurites and synapses, and a decrease in neuron numbers. micro-Calpain and micro-calpain were initially activated and accumulated by increased RNA expression. This neuronal death exhibited neurodegenerative features, such as conversion of p35 to p25, which is important in the developmental process and in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. But, postnatal and aged rat cortex did not show calpain activation and prolonged processing of p35 to p25, in contrast to the long-term culture of cortical neurons. In addition, the inhibition of calpains by ALLM or ALLN blocked the conversion of p35 to p25, indicating that the calpain activity is essential for the neurodegenerative features of cell death. Taken together, this study shows that the neuronal loss in primary cortical cultures involves neurodegeneration-like cell death through the activation of calpains and the subsequent processing of p35 to p25, but not developmental apoptosis or aging. Our results suggest that the long term primary culture of cortical neurons represent a valuable model of neurodegeneration, such as Alzheimer's disease.
Transcription, Genetic/genetics ; Time Factors ; Rats ; Phosphotransferases/*metabolism ; Neurons/*cytology/*metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Cell Shape ; Caspases/antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Calpain/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/*metabolism ; *Apoptosis ; Animals

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CAPN10 gene in Chinese population and their relation with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Han people of Northern China.

METHODSCAPN10 gene was sequenced to detect SNPs in different nationalities of China. Five SNPs were chosen to perform case-control study and haplotype analysis in 156 normal Han people of Northern China and 173 type 2 diabetes. One SNP was also analyzed with transmission-disequilibrium test (TDT) and sib transmission-disequilibrium test (STDT) in 68 type 2 diabetes pedigrees (377 people).

RESULTSA total of 40 SNPs were identified in length of 8,936 bp, with an average of 1 in every 223 bp. The SNPs in CAPN10 gene did not distribute evenly and the SNPs in Chinese were different from those reported in Mexican American. There was no significantly statistical difference in the allele frequency of the 5 SNPs between case and control, and the haplotype frequencies in the two groups were not significantly different. No positive results was found in TDT and STDT analysis.

CONCLUSIONSThe SNP distribution of CAPN10 gene differs in different nationalities. The studied SNPs in CAPN10 gene may not be the major susceptibility ones of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Han people of Northern China.

Calpain ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; ethnology ; genetics ; Ethnic Groups ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Entamoeba histolytica is an enteric tissue-invading protozoan parasite that can cause amebic colitis and liver abscess in humans. E. histolytica has the capability to kill colon epithelial cells in vitro; however, information regarding the role of calpain in colon cell death induced by ameba is limited. In this study, we investigated whether calpains are involved in the E. histolytica-induced cell death of HT-29 colonic epithelial cells. When HT-29 cells were co-incubated with E. histolytica, the propidium iodide stained dead cells markedly increased compared to that in HT-29 cells incubated with medium alone. This pro-death effect induced by ameba was effectively blocked by pretreatment of HT-29 cells with the calpain inhibitor, calpeptin. Moreover, knockdown of m- and micro-calpain by siRNA significantly reduced E. histolytica-induced HT-29 cell death. These results suggest that m- and micro-calpain may be involved in colon epithelial cell death induced by E. histolytica.
Calpain/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/*metabolism ; *Cell Death ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Dipeptides/metabolism ; Entamoeba histolytica/*pathogenicity ; Epithelial Cells/*parasitology ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Humans

In order to determine whether the variations in the calpain-10 gene constitutes risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in Chinese, the frequency of UCSNP-43, 44 in 268 adults newly diagnosed with T2DM (according to the 1999 ADA criteria) and 153 non-diabetic control subjects was investigated. For all subjects, the height, weight, waist-to-hip ratio (W/H) and blood pressure, as well as following parameters were measured: (1) 75-g oral glucose tolerance test with insulin, C-peptide, HbA1c and blood lipid profiles; (2) Genomic DNA extracted from peripheral blood lymphocytes was genotyped for UCSNP-43 (calpain-10-g. 4852 G/A) and UCSNP-44 (calpain-10-g. 4841 T/C) by sequencing a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified fragment. PCR product was selected by single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and then sequenced. The results showed that there was significant difference between T2DM group and normal control group in allele frequencies, haplotype frequencies, or haplotype combinations of UCSNP-43 and -44 either. But in newly diagnosed T2DM group, it was found that the individuals with the genotype UCSNP-44 T/C + C/C had significantly increased fasting and post-challenge insulin levels (Fins and P2hIns), consistent with reduced insulin sensitivity. In the BMI> 25 subgroup, the differences were even more significant. It was demonstrated that the Calpain-10 gene polymorphism UCSNP-44 was associated with insulin sensitivity and Fins and P2hIns in newly diagnosed T2DM, although Calpain-10 doesn't appear as a major diabetes susceptible gene in this population.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Calpain ; genetics ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phenotype ; Point Mutation ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics