Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Siest

Publications and source records attributed to G Siest.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Multilocus approach to cardiovascular risk.

Until now, our familial studies have showed that shared genetic and environmental factors are involved on lipid parameters variability. More precisely, being working on 119 families we have showed that: a) The apolipoprotein E (apo E) common polymorphism is involved in the total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-Chol), apo E, apo B levels variability, b) the apolipoprotein A-IV gene had no effect on lipid metabolism parameters variability, apo A-IV levels included, c) the apolipoprotein B gene was associated with total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-Chol, triglycerides and apo B levels genetic variability, d) the lipoproteine lipase (LPL) gene was responsible for 6.5% of the triglycerides variability, e) the apo E and LPL 447 polymorphisms influence in conjunction lipid parameters. These preliminary results on effects and combination effects of polymorphic genes show the interest of a multilocus approach. We have used in a subgroup of 416 individuals of a familial cohort (Stanislas Cohort) a prototype assay that genotypes a panel of 35 polymorphic sites on 15 candidate genes of Cardiovascular diseases. Each sample is amplified by two multiplex polymerase chain reactions, then hybridized to an array of immobilized, oligonucleotide probes. The frequencies of the rare alleles were in agreement with those reported by others in caucasian populations. The realisation of this multiplex assay in the 1,006 families of the Stanislas Cohort, which is underway, will allow us a better understanding of the inter-individual variability of lipids and will contribute to the determination of the genetic susceptibility of one's individual to cardiovascular risk.

Adult↗

Characterization and quantification of serum lipoprotein subfractions by capillary isotachophoresis: relationships with lipid, apolipoprotein, and lipoprotein levels.

Human serum lipoproteins are currently defined according to their density as well as according to their electrophoretic mobility. They can be fractionated into discrete subspecies which exhibit variations in their structure and function. Capillary electrophoresis has been suggested to be a potential analytical strategy in understanding metabolic lipoprotein heterogeneity. In a sample of 35 normolipidemic subjects, we analyzed ceramide-labeled serum lipoproteins by capillary isotachophoresis linked to laser-induced fluorescent detection. Capillary isotachophoresis showed advantage to be an automated, rapid (6 min) and reproducible (CV < 7%) separation mode, on-line monitoring lipoprotein subfractions according to net charge. HDL were separated into three subfractions: i) the fast migrating HDL correlated positively with serum apoA-I (P < 0.05) and negatively with triglyceride (P < 0.01) concentrations, ii) the intermediate migrating HDL involved in HDL-cholesterol delivery and inversely related to LDL particles concentration (P < 0.001), and iii) the slow migrating prebeta(1)HDL. Triglyceride level was significantly associated with two fractions: i) the VLDL fraction correlated positively with apoE serum concentration (P < 0.01), and ii) the IDL fraction closely and positively associated with apoC-III-containing lipoprotein level (P < 0.001). Two LDL subfractions were positively related to LDL-cholesterol (0.05 </= P < 0.01) and might characterize, respectively, small dense and large buoyant LDL subfractions: i) the fast migrating LDL, positively linked to apoB concentration and to LpCIII:B (P < 0.01) reflecting altered IDL metabolism, and ii) the slow migrating LDL. Analytical capillary isotachophoresis of fluorescent-stained lipoprotein subfractions might represent an efficient qualitative and quantitative tool which would afford complementary information on lipoprotein metabolism to current clinical lipoprotein analysis.

Adult↗

gamma-Glutamyltransferase dependent generation of reactive oxygen species from a glutathione/transferrin system.

In the presence of molecular oxygen and iron or copper ions, a number of antioxidants paradoxically generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) leading to free radical damage of nucleic acids and oxidative modification of lipids and proteins. The present work demonstrates that the combination of three components, which are often considered as part of an antioxidant protection system, can generate ROS. Purified human gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) in the presence of 2 mM glutathione (GSH) and 80 microM transferrin, as an iron source, at pH 7.4 generates ROS, as measured by chemiluminescence of luminol. Initiated by the addition of purified GGT, generation of ROS reached a maximal rate in the first 6 min. Intensity of the chemiluminescence was only slightly enhanced by addition of 200 microM hydrogen peroxide. Generation of ROS was also investigated in transfected V79 cells expressing human GGT. In comparison with GGT negative V79 cells, only recombinant cells expressing a high level of GGT on the cell membrane were able to generate ROS. Generation of ROS in these cells reached a maximum within 2 min and was enhanced by 200 microM hydrogen peroxide. We further confirmed the hypothesis that cysteinylglycine (CysGly), a product of GGT/GSH reaction, identified by high-performance liquid chromatography, but not GSH, was responsible for ROS formation initiated by the reductive release of iron from transferrin. These data clearly indicate that under physiological conditions, GGT is directly involved in ROS generation.

Animals↗

An intronic promoter controls the expression of truncated human gamma-glutamyltransferase mRNAs.

We have identified and characterized a genomic DNA fragment containing the coding sequences corresponding to the human gamma-glutamyltransferase type 1 mRNA. The coding part of the gene spans over 16 kb and comprises 12 exons and 11 introns exhibiting a similar organization as for the mouse and rat GGT genes. The exons 1-7 encode the heavy subunit whereas exons 8-12 which encode the carboxy-terminal part of the heavy subunit (exon 8) and the light subunit are clustered in a 1.6-kb BglII fragment. Exons 7 and 8 are separated by a 3.9-kb intron containing in its 3' part the sequences corresponding to the 5'-UTRs of the truncated GGT mRNAs described for human lung. Sequence analysis upstream this transcribed region exhibited putative promoter sequences and after transient transfection significant promoter activities were measured in V79 lung fibroblasts and KYN-2 hepatoma cells but not in A2780 ovarian cells. This specificity disappeared when only 550 bp upstream the transcription start site were used as promoter. These results argue for a promoter of truncated GGT mRNAs in intron 7, specifically regulated in human tissues.

Animals↗

Apolipoprotein E, transthyretin and actin in the CSF of Alzheimer's patients: relation with the senile plaques and cytoskeleton biochemistry.

We measured the levels of two beta-amyloid (Abeta)-sequestering proteins, apolipoprotein (Apo) E and transthyretin (TTR), in ventricular human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and controls in relation to brain histological findings. We also studied actin levels in CSF as a marker of the biochemical role of these two proteins in the cytoskeleton. We show that TTR levels in CSF were significantly decreased in AD patients compared to controls and negatively correlated with the senile plaque (SP) abundance. Moreover, actin levels were positively linked to TTR levels and increased in CSF samples of patients homozygous for the ApoE epsilon4-allele. We propose that TTR and ApoE4 may have competition in the aggregation of Abeta and its deposition in the SP of AD brain. The relationships between ApoE, TTR and actin could suggest a metabolic implication of ApoE genetics and TTR levels in cytoskeletal biochemistry which may be relevant to the pathogenesis of AD.

Actins↗

Apolipoprotein AIV codon 360 mutation increases with human aging and is not associated with Alzheimer's disease.

In order to evaluate genetic apolipoprotein polymorphisms as risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD), we studied apolipoprotein (apo) AIV after apoE, an apolipoprotein also present in the brain. The allelic distribution of apoAIV codon 360 polymorphism was no different in AD group (n = 120) compared with elderly healthy individuals (n = 119). Surprisingly, this polymorphism was over-represented (11.40%, vs. 5.7% P < 0.005) in all these aged subjects (74.29 +/- 8.46 years) and independently of the clinical and mental status compared with the younger population (39.00 +/- 9.69 years) of the same regional recruitment. These results suggest that the apoAIV (360:His) allele could be a marker of aging and longevity.

Aged↗

Genetics strongly determines the wall thickness of the left and right carotid arteries.

In 76 supposedly healthy families, we investigated the familial resemblance of left and right carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) measured by B-mode ultrasonography and the impact of the common apolipoprotein E (apo E) polymorphism and the insertion/deletion polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). Genetic factors accounted for about 30% of IMT variation. The insertion/deletion ACE polymorphism did not influence carotid IMT, whereas apoE polymorphism explained about 1.5% of only right carotid IMT variability independently of cholesterol levels. The apo epsilon2 and apo epsilon4 alleles were associated with lower right carotid IMT than was the apo epsilon3 allele. We conclude that genetic factors strongly contribute to IMT variability in healthy people and that the apo E polymorphism may be one of these factors.

Analysis of Variance↗

Apolipoprotein E4, lipoprotein lipase C447 and angiotensin-I converting enzyme deletion alleles were not associated with increased wall thickness of carotid and femoral arteries in healthy subjects from the Stanislas cohort.

Studies have shown contrasting results concerning the relation between carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and apolipoprotein E (apo E) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) polymorphisms. Subjects, 76 men and 74 women, between 33 and 50 years, without any history of cardiovascular disease and without any anti-hypertensive or lipid lowering medication were selected from the Stanislas cohort. The IMT of carotid and femoral arteries were investigated by B-mode ultrasonography. The common apo E, (C/G)447 lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and I/D ACE gene polymorphisms and serum ACE activity were determined. In the overall sample, male sex, age, systolic blood pressure, BMI, serum apo B level and tobacco consumption were positively correlated with carotid and femoral IMT. The common apo E polymorphism, the (C/G)LPL447 polymorphism and ACE activity were not related to carotid and femoral IMT variability in either men or women. Unexpectedly, the I allele of the ACE gene was related to higher femoral IMT than the D allele in non-smokers only. Similar results were observed after adjustment for the main covariates of IMT variability. In conclusion, amongst our young adult sample the candidate risk factors for cardiovascular disease, apo epsilon4, C447-LPL and D-ACE alleles and ACE activity were not associated with increased carotid and femoral IMT.

Adult↗

Increased levels of apolipoprotein D in cerebrospinal fluid and hippocampus of Alzheimer's patients.

Apolipoprotein D (apoD) is a member of the lipocalin family of proteins. Most members of this family are transporters of small hydrophobic ligands, although in the case of apoD, neither its physiological function(s) nor its putative ligand(s) have been unequivocally identified. In humans, apoD is expressed in several tissues, including the CNS, and its synthesis is greatly increased during regeneration of rat peripheral nerves. As apoD may have an important function in the nervous system and, particularly, in nerve regeneration, we measured immunoreactive apoD levels in the hippocampus and in CSF of patients with either Alzheimer's disease (AD) or other neuropathologies. In parallel, we determined the concentrations of apolipoprotein E (apoE), another apolipoprotein also implicated in nerve regeneration and in the etiology of AD. Levels of apoD but not apoE were increased in the hippocampus of AD patients compared with controls. ApoD concentrations, as determined by radioimmunoassay, were significantly increased in the CSF of AD patients (4.23 +/- 1.58 microg/ml) and patients with other pathologies (3.29 +/- 1.35 microg/ml) compared with those in the CSF of normal subjects (1.15 +/- 0.71 microg/ml). Although the differences were smaller than for apoD, the mean apoE concentrations in the CSF of both groups of patients were also significantly higher than those of controls. In AD patients, apoD, but not apoE, levels in CSF and hippocampus increased as a function of inheritance of the epsilon4 apoE allele. This study therefore demonstrates that increased apoD levels in the hippocampus and in CSF are a marker of neuropathology, including that associated with AD, and are independent of apoE concentrations.

Aged↗

5-Azacytidine modulates gamma-glutamyltransferase and glutathione levels in two human prostatic adenocarcinoma cell lines.

Two human prostate adenocarcinoma cell lines, LNCaP and PC-3, were used to study the effect of 5-azacytidine on GGT gene expression, via genomic DNA methylation, and GSH content. When the cells were treated with 5-azaC, the specific GGT activity increased in a dose and time-dependent manner and was accompanied by the elevation of intracellular glutathione content. Southern blot analysis of DNA digested with MspI or HpaII showed negative correlation between the methylation pattern of GGT DNA and GGT activity, either in control or 5-azaC treated cells. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis revealed that GGT mRNA types I are expressed and induced in a cell type-specific manner in control and 5-azacC treated cells respectively. Overall, our investigations suggest that DNA methylation and other mechanisms combine to regulate GGT gene expression in studied prostate adenocarcinoma derived cells.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Diet, antioxidant status, and smoking habits in French men.

The aim of this study was to assess the association between smoking, food consumption, and antioxidant vitamin intake and plasma indexes of oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses in French adults. Food and nutrient intakes of 459 healthy men aged 23-57 y were estimated by the diet history method and analyzed by smoking status. Plasma alpha-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, and carotenoids were measured as antioxidants and malondialdehyde, protein Schiff bases, and autoantibodies against malondialdehyde-protein adducts as oxidative stress indexes. Smokers ate less fruit and vegetables than nonsmokers, leading to lower vitamin E, vitamin C, and carotene intakes, even after adjustment for age, education, and marital status. Unlike vitamin E, plasma ascorbic acid and beta-carotene concentrations were reduced in smokers compared with nonsmokers and were inversely related to cigarette consumption. This difference remained significant after adjustment for alcohol and dietary intakes. Among the measured oxidative stress indexes, only Schiff base concentration was positively related to the number of cigarettes smoked. In our sample of French men, smoking had an adverse effect on antioxidant status; vitamin intakes were reduced in smokers and plasma antioxidant indexes were altered independently of dietary intakes. As in other countries, in France smokers require particular attention in terms of public health intervention.

Adult↗

Intima-media thickness and diameter of carotid and femoral arteries in children, adolescents and adults from the Stanislas cohort: effect of age, sex, anthropometry and blood pressure.

OBJECTIVES: To study carotid and femoral intima-media thicknesses and diameters in relation to age, sex, morphologic status and blood pressure. PARTICIPANTS: The subjects were 369 men and women (aged 10-54 years) from the Stanislas cohort, with no known cardiovascular disease. METHODS: Intima-media thicknesses and diameters were measured by B-mode ultrasonography. The effects of sex, age, smoking, anthropometric variables, cholesterol and blood pressure were studied using bivariate and regression analysis. RESULTS: Carotid and femoral intima-media thicknesses were not affected by age nor by sex up to 18 years of age. Thereafter, they increased sharply in men and remained higher than in women. Values were correlated with systolic blood pressure only in men, and with fat-free mass in children and young adults only at the femoral site. Smoking, body mass index and fat mass were associated with intima-media thicknesses only in adults. Carotid diameter was little affected by age during childhood and in adults. Femoral diameter increased up to the age of 18 in both sexes and remained unaffected by age thereafter. This increase was more pronounced in boys, and so values became consistently greater in males aged over 14 years. Carotid diameter was correlated with body mass index or fat mass whereas femoral diameter was correlated with weight or fat-free-mass in children and men. The opposite was observed in women. CONCLUSION: Sex differences occur before adolescence for arterial diameter, but only at an adult age for intima-media thickness. In young subjects, carotid geometry seems to be influenced by blood pressure and excess body weight, while femoral artery geometry seems to be related to blood pressure and body growth.

Adolescent↗

Metabolic determinants are much more important than genetic polymorphisms in determining the PAI-1 activity and antigen plasma concentrations: a family study with part of the Stanislas Cohort.

Increased plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) concentration has been identified as a risk factor for coronary heart disease. We investigated the relative contribution of both metabolic factors involved in the insulin resistance (IR) syndrome and polymorphisms of the PAI-1 gene to plasma levels of PAI-1 in 228 healthy nuclear white families from the Stanislas Cohort. Variables related to IR included body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, fasting insulin, triglyceride, and HDL cholesterol. Five PAI-1 gene polymorphisms were studied, including a newly described G+12078A substitution in the 3' region. A sex difference was observed, with fathers exhibiting higher IR state and PAI-1 levels and stronger correlations between PAI-1 and IR variables than mothers. Such a difference was not observed in offspring. Family correlations were of similar magnitude for fibrinolytic parameters and IR variables. The PAI-1 genotypes A-844G, -675 4G/5G, and G+12078A polymorphisms, which were in strong linkage disequilibrium, were associated with plasma PAI-1 levels. In multivariate analysis, IR explained a major part of PAI-1 variability (49% in fathers, 29% in mothers), whereas polymorphisms had only a minor contribution, explaining 3% of variability in women and having no significant effect in men. We conclude that plasma levels of PAI-1 are, in a healthy population, primarily determined by the IR syndrome, this relationship being stronger in males. The contribution of the PAI-1 gene seems larger in females. These results deserve special attention for understanding the relationships observed between fibrinolytic parameters and the risk of developing a cardiovascular ischemic event.

Adolescent↗

Objectives, design and recruitment of a familial and longitudinal cohort for studying gene-environment interactions in the field of cardiovascular risk: the Stanislas cohort.

The main objective of the Stanislas cohort is to study the role and the contribution of genetic and environmental factors to cardiovascular status. We plan: a) to describe the degree of association of a large number of cardiovascular risk indicators with cardiovascular endpoints, b) to evaluate the contribution of genetic and that of environmental factors to this association, c) to follow the evolution of these risk indicators during a period of at least ten years, d) to search for the determinants influencing this evolution. The principal variables studied are: a) blood pressure, cardiac mass, and wall thickness of carotid and femoral arteries, b) obesity and fat mass, c) indicators of lipid metabolism, d) genetic polymorphisms of several cardiovascular risk candidate genes, e) food, tobacco and alcohol consumption, f) consumption of drugs and anti-oxidant vitamins. Between September 1993 and August 1995, 1006 families consisting of the two biological parents with at least two children were recruited totalling 4295 individuals. This cohort will be followed up until 2004. There will be two health examinations five and ten years after the initial examination. A bank of blood samples (serum and plasma) in liquid nitrogen and DNA (-80 degrees C) has been established.

Adult↗

A multilocus genotyping assay for cardiovascular disease.

In our efforts to develop diagnostic tests for complex multifactorial disorders, and to assist the research community in evaluating genetic markers for predisposition to cardiovascular disease, we have developed a prototype assay to genotype up to 35 variable sites among 15 genes. The candidate markers in this panel were selected from biological pathways likely to contribute to the development and progression of cardiovascular disease. Each sample is amplified in two multiplex polymerase chain reactions that are then hybridized to an array of immobilized oligonucleotide probes. The assay has been applied to a population-based cohort representing 238 families; allele frequencies observed among 455 unrelated parents from this cohort agree with available literature values. Data from a cohort of 142 lipid-clinic patients were used to explore locus associations with arterial occlusion, as measured by quantitative angiography. This prototype assay provides a research tool for studies to assess the association of multiple markers with disease, and for clinical studies to evaluate marker association with patient responsiveness to experimental therapies.

Adult↗

Association of apolipoprotein E polymorphism and concentration with serum lipids and apolipoprotein level in the Chinese from Shanghai.

The influence of apolipoprotein E polymorphism and apoE level on serum lipids and apolipoproteins was investigated in 71 healthy people and 43 patients with coronary artery disease from Shanghai. The frequency of apoE alleles was 0.06 for epsilon2, 0.86 for epsilon3, and 0.07 for epsilon4 in the healthy group, and 0.14 for epsilon2, 0.77 for epsilon3, and 0.09 for epsilon4 in the coronary artery disease group. There was no significant difference in the frequency of apoE alleles between these two groups. Serum levels of triglyceride and apo AI did not differ according to apoE genotypes, whereas serum level of apoB was significantly different according to apoE genotypes (p<0.05) both in healthy and coronary artery disease groups. However, in the healthy group, apo epsilon2 allele carriers had significantly higher level of apoE than apo epsilon3 and epsilon4 allele carriers (p<0.001) and apo epsilon4 allele carriers had significantly higher level of total cholesterol than apo epsilon3 and epsilon2 allele carriers. These were not observed in the coronary artery disease group. ApoE concentration was positively correlated with cholesterol, apoAI, and apoB levels in the control subjects and no significant correlation was observed with triglyceride level. In contrast, apoE level was positively related only to triglyceride level in the coronary artery disease group. In the control group, apoE genotypes and apoE level explained together 19.3% and 26.6% of the variability of apoB and cholesterol level, respectively, apoE polymorphism explained 23% of the variability of apoE level and apoE level explained 13.2% of the variability of apoAI level. In the coronary artery disease group, only apoE level explained 41.7% of triglyceride variability. Finally we compared our results with those previously obtained in a French healthy population, the Stanislas cohort. Results suggested that there were some difference between the Chinese control and the French subjects.

Adult↗

Biological effects of eleven combined oral contraceptives on serum triglycerides, gamma-glutamyltransferase, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin and other biochemical variables.

The objectives of this paper are to update and quantify the biological effects of the most commonly used oral contraceptives (OC) on 15 biochemical tests currently determined in clinical laboratories and to compare these effects between the different types of OC. The sample population was constituted by 1604 women using combined OCs and the control group comprised 3466 women in the same age range not taking medication. Women taking OC were divided into 11 groups according to the estrogen/progestogen combination. The effects of OCs were studied after adjustment for age, weight, height, body mass index and alcohol and tobacco consumption. The changes observed with the new progestogens were less important than in the past. In comparison with the controls, the mean serum triglyceride concentration was significantly increased by +8.5% to +36.0% (p<0.05 to p<0.001) in each group while those of total cholesterol and gamma-glutamyltransferase were increased only in 3 and 4 estrogen/progestogen combinations respectively. Conversely, the mean concentrations of alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, phosphate and albumin were significantly decreased. Using a discriminant analysis, three main groups according to the type of progestogen were defined: cyproterone acetate, DL-norgestrel and levonorgestrel, and all other progestogens. The changes in serum triglyceride concentration induced by OC intake must be considered by the clinician and are useful for taking a clinical and risk decision in an individual woman.

Adolescent↗