ObjectiveTo investigate the role of leptin receptor gene Gln223Arg polymorphism in pathogenesis of asthma. MethodsOne hundred and eighty-five asthmatic outpatients and inpatients in the Qingdao Municipal Hospital between June 2009 and May 2012 were recruited in the study.Two hundred and seven healthy volunteers were recruited as control.Peripheral blood was sampled from all subjects for measuring serum leptin level by ELISA,and analyzing leptin receptor gene Gln223Arg genotypes by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) in white blood cells. ResultsThere was significant difference in frequency distribution of leptin receptor gene Gln223Arg genotype between the asthma group and the health group (χ2=6.173,P=0.013,OR=1.697,95%CI 1.115-2.585).The GG genotype was associated with a 1.895-fold increased risk for asthma than the GA+AA genotype (χ2=7.283,P=0.007,OR=1.895,95%CI 1.187-3.024).The serum leptin level of the GG genotype group was significantly higher than that in the GA+AA genotype group[(2.56±1.47) ng/mL vs.(2.16±1.66) ng/mL]. ConclusionLeptin receptor gene Gln223Arg polymorphism is correlated with asthma, and the G allele might be the genetic factor that contributes to individual susceptibility for asthma by causing high serum leptin level.
ObjectiveTo investigate the association of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) TaqIB mutation with non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NA-AION) in the Shaanxi Han ethnic population. MethodsThe study cohort consisted of 45 individuals that had been diagnosed with NA-AION and 45 healthy controls (matched for age, gender). None of the cases or controls had a history of diabetes, serious cardio-cerebral vascular diseases, liver and kidney dysfunction that might influence plasma lipid levels. Plasma HDL-C was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent one-step, through the Toshiba TBA-40FR automatic biochemical analyzer. CETP TaqIB gene polymorphism was determined by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) techniques for analysis. B2B2 genotype was only a fluorescence band with 535 bp; B1B1 genotype was 2 fluorescence bands with 361, 174 bp; B1B2 genotype was 3 fluorescence bands with 535, 361, 174 bp. The relative risk of genotype, HDL-C and disease occurrence was analyzed by logistics regression analysis. ResultsThere have no significant difference between NA-AION patients and controls about plasma total cholesterol level and triglyceride level (t=1.907, 1.877; P > 0.05). The plasma HDL-C levels were significantly lower in NA-AION patients than in controls (t=2.367, P=0.022). Compared with controls, the prevalence of B1B1 genotype and B1 allele was higher (χ2=17.289, P=0.001), the prevalence of B2 allele (χ2=15.648, P=0.000) was lower in NA-AION patients. The lower concentration of HDL-C was risk factor of NA-AION (odds ratio=6.143, 95% confidence interval 1.262-29.895, χ2=27.676;P=0.013). The proportion of B1B1 genotype was significantly higher in NA-AION patients than in controls (odds ratio=2.24, 95% confidence interval 2.427-36.323, χ2=10.526; P=0.001). ConclusionsThe low plasma HDL-C is independent risk factor for NA-AION and is associated with the development of NA-AION in the Shaanxi Han ethnic population. CETP TaqIB mutation is associated with low plasma HDL-C in NA-AION in the Shaanxi Han ethnic population.