PURPOSE: Polymorphisms of several candidate genes have been studied and associated with the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). One such candidate is the SERPINE2 (Serpin peptidase inhibitor, clade E member 2) gene. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To assess whether the SERPINE2 gene is associated with COPD in a Chinese Han population. Samples were collected from a Chinese Han population and analyzed for the association of single nucleotide polymor phisms (SNPs) or haplotypes of SERPINE2 gene with COPD in a case-control study. Three SNPs including rs840088 G/A in intron 1, rs1438831 A/G in 5' upstream sequence and rs3795879 G/A in intron 3 were detected using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based restriction fragment length polymorphism technique in 409 COPD subjects and 411 controls. Genotyping of the SREPINE2 polymorphisms at positions rs840088, rs1438831and rs3795879 was performed. RESULTS: We found that none of the rs840088G/A, rs1438831G/A and rs3795879 G/A polymorphisms were associated with the disease. The p-values were 0.630, 0.208 and 0.398 respectively. CONCLUSION: Our data suggested that there was no significant association between SERPINE2 polymorphism and COPD susceptibility in the Chinese Han population.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease/genetics ; Genotype ; Haplotypes/genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length/genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/*genetics ; Serpin E2/*genetics

Objective To explore the histomorphology and related indicators in a rat model of skeletal muscle injury in an artificial experimental chamber as special environment in Northwest China to stimulate a hot and dry desert environment in order to screen the evaluation indicators of skeletal muscle injury in a hot and dry environment.Methods Eighteen male SD rats (8 weeks old)were randomly divided into blank control group (room temperature,free movement),room temperature exercise group,and hot and dry exercise group,with 6 rats in each group.After the rats were subjected to adaptation training for 3 d (a 3-D exercise treadmill,speed:16 m/min,slope:-16°,time:5～10 min),the rats in the 2 exercise groups were subjected to a treadmill once per day at a speed of 19.3 m/min and a slope of-16°till the end of exhaustion,and those in the hot and dry exercise group were housed in an artificial experimental chamber at a temperature of (40±1 )℃,a humidity of (10±2)％.After 6 d of continuous exercise,the rat soleus muscle tissue was taken to observe the pathological changes,and the serum samples were detected for skeletal muscle injury markers,inflammatory factors,oxidative stress related factors,hormones and other related indicators. Results When compared with the blank control group and the room temperature exercise group,the hot and dry exercise group had significantly higher concentrations of creatine kinase (CK),creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB)and muscle-specific creatine kinase (CK-MM)(P<0.05 ),elevated contents of TNF-α,IL-1βand IL-6 (P<0.05),raised malondialdehyde (MDA)content and lower superoxide dismutase (SOD)activity (P<0.05 ),lower testosterone (T)but higher corticosterone (Cort)levels and thus lower testosterone/corticosterone (T/Cort)ratio (P<0.05 ).The markers of skeletal muscle injury,CK,CK-MB and CK-MM were positively correlated with the pro-inflammatory cytokines,TNF-α,IL-1βand IL-6 (P<0.05),positively with the antioxidant indicator MDA but negatively with SOD (P<0.05 ),and positively correlated with Cort level and negatively with T level and T/Cort ratio (P<0.05).Conclusion A stable rat model of skeletal muscle injury in a hot and dry desert environment is successfully constructed.The severity of skeletal muscle injury is greater in rats in a hot and dry desert environment than those in a normal temperature environment. TNF-α and IL-1β are found to be indirect indicators to evaluate skeletal muscle injury in the environment.