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M A Zago

Publications and source records attributed to M A Zago.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Identification of polymorphisms in the 5'-untranslated region of the TAFI gene: relationship with plasma TAFI levels and risk of venous thrombosis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) plays an important role in hemostasis, functioning as a potent fibrinolysis inhibitor. TAFI gene variations may contribute to plasma TAFI levels and thrombotic risk. DESIGN AND METHODS: We sequenced a 2083-bp region of the 5'-regulatory region of the TAFI gene in 127 healthy subjects searching for variations, and correlated identified polymorphisms with plasma TAFI levels. TAFI polymorphisms were examined as risk factors for venous thrombosis by determining their prevalence in 388 patients with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and in 388 controls. RESULTS: Seven novel polymorphisms were identified: -152 A/G, -438 A/G, -530 C/T, -1053 T/C, -1102 T/G, -1690 G/A, and -1925 T/C. -152 A/G, -530 C/T and -1925 T/C were found to be in strong linkage disequilibrium, as were the -438 A/G, -1053 T/C, -1102 T/G and -1690 G/A. Plasma TAFI levels were higher in -438GG/-1053CC/-1102GG/-1690AA homozygotes than in -438AG/-1053TC/-1102TG/-1690GA heterozygotes, and -438AA/-1053TT/-1102TT/-1690GG homozygotes had the lowest TAFI levels (p=0.0003). TAFI concentrations in -152AA/-530CC/-1925TT homozygotes were somewhat higher but not significantly different from levels observed for -152AG/-530CT/-1925TC heterozygotes. Taken in combination, -438AG/-1053TC/-1102TG/-1690GA and -438AA/-1053TT/-1102TT/-1690GG yielded an OR for DVT of 0.8 (95%CI: 0.6-1). In subjects aged <35 years the OR was 0.7 (95%CI: 0.5-1.1). The OR for -152AG/-530CT/-1925TC was 1 (95%CI: 0.5-2.2) in the whole group of patients and controls, whereas in subjects aged <35 years the OR was 0.1 (95%CI: 0.02-0.9). INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: Polymorphisms in the TAFI promoter determine plasma antigen levels and may influence the risk of venous thrombophilia.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

Gene polymorphisms in the TNF locus and the risk of myocardial infarction.

We investigated two genetic polymorphisms in the tumor necrosis factor locus (TNF-alpha -308 G-->A and LT-alpha +252 A-->G) as risk factors for coronary atherothrombotic disease (CAD) by determining its prevalence in 148 survivors of myocardial infarction (MI) with angiographically-proven severe CAD, and in 148 age-, gender- and race-matched controls. The odds ratio (OR) for MI related to the mutant TNF-alpha and LT-alpha alleles was 0.8 (CI95: 0.4-1.3) and 1. 3 (CI95: 0.8-2.0), respectively. We also sought interaction of smoking and metabolic risk factors for MI with each mutant genotype. Smokers not carrying the LT-alpha +252 A-->G mutation had a risk of MI of 2.7 (CI95: 1.4-5.4) whereas in smoking carriers the risk was 6. 9 (CI95: 3.4-14.1). An interactive effect of the LT-alpha mutation may also exist with dyslipidemia (OR for MI in non-carriers was 12 [CI95: 3.2-41.3] and in carriers the OR was 39, [CI95: 5.1-301] and with obesity (OR for MI was 2.7, [CI95: 1-7.2] in non-carriers and in carriers the OR was 6 [CI95: 2.1-16.8]). Lastly, the OR for MI in obese non-carriers of TNF-alpha -308 G-->A was 2.8 (CI95: 1.3-6) and in obese carriers the OR was 14.5 (CI95: 1.8-113). Although significant interactive effects could not be detected, the findings suggest that interaction of polymorphisms in the TNF locus with major risk factors for CAD may exist, and should be explored in larger studies.

Adult↗

Identification of human chromosome 22 transcribed sequences with ORF expressed sequence tags.

Transcribed sequences in the human genome can be identified with confidence only by alignment with sequences derived from cDNAs synthesized from naturally occurring mRNAs. We constructed a set of 250,000 cDNAs that represent partial expressed gene sequences and that are biased toward the central coding regions of the resulting transcripts. They are termed ORF expressed sequence tags (ORESTES). The 250,000 ORESTES were assembled into 81,429 contigs. Of these, 1, 181 (1.45%) were found to match sequences in chromosome 22 with at least one ORESTES contig for 162 (65.6%) of the 247 known genes, for 67 (44.6%) of the 150 related genes, and for 45 of the 148 (30.4%) EST-predicted genes on this chromosome. Using a set of stringent criteria to validate our sequences, we identified a further 219 previously unannotated transcribed sequences on chromosome 22. Of these, 171 were in fact also defined by EST or full length cDNA sequences available in GenBank but not utilized in the initial annotation of the first human chromosome sequence. Thus despite representing less than 15% of all expressed human sequences in the public databases at the time of the present analysis, ORESTES sequences defined 48 transcribed sequences on chromosome 22 not defined by other sequences. All of the transcribed sequences defined by ORESTES coincided with DNA regions predicted as encoding exons by genscan. (http://genes.mit.edu/GENSCAN.html).

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22↗

Shotgun sequencing of the human transcriptome with ORF expressed sequence tags.

Theoretical considerations predict that amplification of expressed gene transcripts by reverse transcription-PCR using arbitrarily chosen primers will result in the preferential amplification of the central portion of the transcript. Systematic, high-throughput sequencing of such products would result in an expressed sequence tag (EST) database consisting of central, generally coding regions of expressed genes. Such a database would add significant value to existing public EST databases, which consist mostly of sequences derived from the extremities of cDNAs, and facilitate the construction of contigs of transcript sequences. We tested our predictions, creating a database of 10,000 sequences from human breast tumors. The data confirmed the central distribution of the sequences, the significant normalization of the sequence population, the frequent extension of contigs composed of existing human ESTs, and the identification of a series of potentially important homologues of known genes. This approach should make a significant contribution to the early identification of important human genes, the deciphering of the draft human genome sequence currently being compiled, and the shotgun sequencing of the human transcriptome.

Animals↗

Atypical beta(s) haplotypes are generated by diverse genetic mechanisms.

The majority of the chromosomes with the beta(S) gene have one of the five common haplotypes, designated as Benin, Bantu, Senegal, Cameroon, and Arab-Indian haplotypes. However, in every large series of sickle cell patients, 5-10% of the chromosomes have less common haplotypes, usually referred to as "atypical" haplotypes. In order to explore the genetic mechanisms that could generate these atypical haplotypes, we extended our analysis to other rarely studied polymorphic markers of the beta(S)-gene cluster, in a total of 40 chromosomes with uncommon haplotypes from Brazil and Cameroon. The following polymorphisms were examined: seven restriction site polymorphisms of the epsilongammadeltabeta-cluster, the pre-(G)gamma framework sequence including the 6-bp deletion/insertion pattern, HS-2 LCR (AT)xR(AT)y and pre-beta (AT)xTy repeat motifs, the GC/TT polymorphism at -1105-1106 of (G)gamma-globin gene, the C/T polymorphism at -551 of the beta-globin gene, and the intragenic beta-globin gene framework. Among the Brazilian subjects, the most common atypical structure (7/16) was a Bantu 3'-subhaplotype associated with different 5'-sequences, while in two chromosomes a Benin 3'-subhaplotype was associated with two different 5'-subhaplotypes. A hybrid Benin/Bantu configuration was also observed. In three chromosomes, the atypical haplotype differed from the typical one by the change of a single restriction site. In 2/134 chromosomes identified as having a typical Bantu RFLP-haplotype, a discrepant LCR repeat sequence was observed, probably owing to a crossover 5' to the epsilon-gene. Among 80 beta(S) chromosomes from Cameroon, 22 were associated with an atypical haplotype. The most common structure was represented by a Benin haplotype (from the LCR to the beta-gene) with a non-Benin segment 3' to the beta-globin gene. In two cases a Bantu LCR was associated with a Benin haplotype and a non-Benin segment 3' to the beta-globin gene. In three other cases, a more complex structure was observed that can be considered as a hybrid of Benin, Bantu, Senegal, or other chromosomes was observed. These data suggest that the atypical beta(S) haplotypes are not uncommon in America and in Africa. These haplotypes are probably generated by a variety of genetic mechanisms including (a) isolated nucleotide changes in one of the polymorphic restriction sites, (b) simple and double crossovers between two typical beta(S) haplotypes or much more frequently between a typical beta(S) haplotype and a different beta(A)-associated haplotype that was present in the population, and (c) gene conversions.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗

Gene frequencies of the HPA-3 and HPA-5 platelet antigen alleles among the Amerindians.

Platelet antigens are of importance in several clinical situations and in population genetics. Data are scarce on allele frequencies in ethnic groups other than whites, Asians and African Americans. The frequencies of the alleles of the systems HPA-3 and HPA-5 were determined using the allele-specific restriction enzyme for five South American Amerindian populations and compared with those obtained for Afro-Americans, Japanese and whites from Brazil. The frequency of the HPA-3a allele among the Amerindians as a group did not differ from the values obtained for the other populations. However, differences were observed among the Amerindians, varying from 0.27 to 0.75, the highest frequency thus far observed for a population of Asian origin. Only the HPA-5a allele was found among 130 Amerindian chromosomes. The determination of gene frequencies of the HPA systems in different populations allows inference of gene flows and genetic constitution of populations and the estimation of the risk of platelet-specific alloimmunization.

Alleles↗

Porphyria cutanea tarda in Brazilian patients: association with hemochromatosis C282Y mutation and hepatitis C virus infection.

OBJECTIVE: Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is commonly associated with iron overload and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Association between hemochromatosis C282Y or H63D mutations and PCT has been observed, although not uniformly, and iron overload is also commonly found in chronic HCV hepatitis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the frequency of C282Y and H63D mutations and HCV infection in Brazilian patients with PCT and their relationship with iron overload. METHODS: Twenty-three patients (19 men) aged 39.6 +/- 11.1 yr were studied. All had dermatological lesions of PCT and high levels of urinary uroporphyrin. HCV infection and iron overload were investigated. DNA samples were analyzed for the presence of HFE mutations. RESULTS: The frequency of C282Y was significantly higher in PCT patients than in 278 healthy individuals (17.4% vs 4%, odds ratio = 5.1, 95% confidence interval 1.5-17.6, p = 0.02), whereas no difference was observed regarding the H63D mutation (30.4% vs 31%, odds ratio = 1, 95% confidence interval 0.4-2.4, p = 1). Biochemical tests in PCT patients showed iron overload with transferrin saturation = 47.3 +/- 20.7% and ferritin = 566.8 +/- 425 ng/ml. Fifteen of 23 (65.2%) patients had HCV infection and alcohol ingestion was observed in 17 of 23 (73.9%). CONCLUSIONS: PCT patients exhibited evidence of iron overload, a high frequency of HCV, and an association with C282Y mutation. These data further support the notion that both acquired and inherited factors contribute to the occurrence of PCT, and indicate that screening for C282Y may be justified in PCT patients.

Adult↗

Are haemochromatosis mutations related to the severity of liver disease in hepatitis C virus infection?

It has been proposed that iron overload may adversely affect liver disease outcome. The recent identification of 2 mutations in the HFE gene related to hereditary haemochromatosis (Cys282Tyr and His63Asp) provided an opportunity to test whether they are associated with hepatic iron accumulation and the activity and severity of liver disease in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We investigated the prevalence of HFE mutations in 135 male patients with chronic HCV hepatitis, and correlated genotype distribution with different parameters of iron status and the activity and severity of liver disease. Of these 135 patients, 6 (4.4%) carried Cys282Tyr and 32 (23.7%) carried His63Asp, frequencies which were similar to those observed in healthy controls. Serum iron levels and transferrin saturation (but not ferritin levels or liver iron content) were significantly higher in carriers than in non-carriers of HFE mutations. No difference was observed in serum ALT, AST and GGT levels between carriers and non-carriers. Finally, scores for necroinflammatory activity and fibrosis in the liver were significantly higher in HFE carriers than in non-carriers. Patients with chronic HCV infection carrying HFE mutations tend to present more evident body iron accumulation and a higher degree of necroinflammatory activity and fibrosis in the liver. HFE gene mutations might be an additional factor to be considered among those implicated in the determination of a worse prognosis of the liver disease in chronic HCV infection.

Adolescent↗

HFE gene mutations in coronary atherothrombotic disease.

Although iron can catalyze the production of free radicals involved in LDL lipid peroxidation, the contribution of iron overload to atherosclerosis remains controversial. The description of two mutations in the HFE gene (Cys282Tyr and His63Asp) related to hereditary hemochromatosis provides an opportunity to address the question of the association between iron overload and atherosclerosis. We investigated the prevalence of HFE mutations in 160 survivors of myocardial infarction with angiographically demonstrated severe coronary atherosclerotic disease, and in 160 age-, gender- and race-matched healthy control subjects. PCR amplification of genomic DNA followed by RsaI and BclI restriction enzyme digestion was used to determine the genotypes. The frequency of the mutant Cys282Tyr allele was identical among patients and controls (0.022; carrier frequency, 4.4%), whereas the mutant His63Asp allele had a frequency of 0.143 (carrier frequency, 27.5%) in controls and of 0.134 (carrier frequency, 24.5%) in patients. Compound heterozygotes were found in 2 of 160 (1.2%) controls and in 1 of 160 (0.6%) patients. The finding of a similar prevalence of Cys282Tyr and His63Asp mutations in the HFE gene among controls and patients with coronary atherothrombotic disease, indirectly questions the possibility of an association between hereditary hemochromatosis and atherosclerosis.

Adult↗

Factor XIII val34leu and the risk of myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have suggested an association between a genetic variation in the coagulation factor XIII (FXIII Val34Leu) and decreased risk of vascular thrombosis. DESIGN AND METHODS: We investigated the frequency of the FXIII Val34Leu polymorphism in 150 consecutive, unrelated and relatively young (<55 years) survivors of myocardial infarction (MI) with angiographically-proven severe coronary atherosclerosis and in 150 age-, gender- and race-matched controls. RESULTS: FXIII Val34Leu was detected in 54/150 patients and 73/150 controls, yielding an overall odds ratio (OR) for MI of 0.6 (CI95: 0.4-0.9). Homozygosity for FXIII Val34Leu was found in 4/150 patients and in 12/150 controls, yielding an OR for MI of 0.26 (CI95: 0.08-0.9). The OR for heterozygotes was 0.65 (CI95: 0.4-1.1). FXIII Val34Leu carriership decreased the risk of MI related to metabolic risk factors (RF) (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and obesity): non-carriers in the presence of a metabolic RF had a 13.9-fold higher risk of MI, whereas in carriers with a metabolic RF the risk was reduced to 6.8. FXIII Val34Leu also attenuated the risk of MI among smokers. Non-carrier smokers had a 6.1-fold higher risk (CI95: 3.1-11.9), whereas the risk among smokers carrying FXIII Val34Leu was 3.9 (CI95: 1.9-8.1). INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: FXIII Val34Leu confers a significant protective effect against the occurrence of MI in relatively young patients. FXIII Val34Leu exhibits a gene dosage effect: the protective effect was particularly strong in homozygous carriers, and heterozygosity conferred moderate protection. Finally, FXIII Val34Leu seems to reduce the risk of MI related to major cardiovascular risk factors.

Adult↗

Ethnic heterogeneity of the factor XIII Val34Leu polymorphism.

A polymorphism in the coagulation factor XIII gene (FXIII Val34Leu) has been recently described to confer protection for arterial and venous thrombosis and to predispose to intracerebral hemorrhage. At present it is known that FXIII Val34Leu is prevalent in Caucasians, but information upon its distribution in different ethnic groups is scarce. We investigated the prevalence of FXIIIVal34Leu in 450 unrelated subjects of four ethnic groups: 97 Caucasians (Brazilians of European descent and Portuguese), 149 Blacks (Brazilians, and Africans from Cameroon, Zaire and Angola), 40 Asians (Japanese descendents) and 164 Amerindians from South America. PCR amplification of exon 2 of FXIII gene followed by MseI restriction-digestion was employed to define the genotypes. FXIIIVal34Leu was detected in 44.3% of the Caucasians, in 28.9% of the Blacks, in 2.5% of the Asians and in 51.2% of the Amerindians. These data confirm that FXIII Val34Leu is highly prevalent in Caucasians and indicate that it is rarer in populations of African origin. The very high frequency among Amerindians indicates that FXIII Val34Leu is not absent among Asians, and since it has a very low prevalence in Japanese, a heterogeneity in its distribution in Asia may be inferred. Taken together, our data showed that FXIII Val34Leu exhibits a significant ethnic heterogeneity, a finding that is relevant for studies relating this polymorphism with thrombotic and bleeding disorders.

Factor XIII↗

Differential contribution of indigenous men and women to the formation of an urban population in the Amazon region as revealed by mtDNA and Y-DNA.

The human populations of the Brazilian Amazon were formed by interethnic crosses between Europeans, Africans, and Amerindians. The relative contribution of men and women of different ethnic groups was not homogeneous, since the social policies of the first three centuries of Brazilian colonization encouraged mating between European men and indigenous women and, later on, African women. In order to test this model based on historical data, we compared the relative contribution of the Y-DNA and mtDNA of Amerindian and non-Amerindian populations to the formation of the urban population of the town of Belém, in the Amazon region, on the basis of a C-->T mutation at locus DYS199 present in 90% of the Amerindian Y-DNA and of five markers that define 99% of the mitochondrial sequences of Amerindians. The contribution of indigenous men to the formation of this population was less than 5%, whereas the contribution of indigenous women was estimated at more than 50% of the mitochondrial sequences of the same population. Thus, the present results demonstrate that the contribution of indigenous women to the formation of the Belém population was 10 times higher than the contribution of indigenous men, a genetic consequence of social behavior and attitudes of the past; our results also help clarify the process of integration of indigenous communities into the urban societies in Brazil and possibly in other countries.

Brazil↗

Genetic diversity of two African and sixteen South American populations determined on the basis of six hypervariable loci.

A total of 582 individuals (1,164 chromosomes) from two African, eight African-derived South American, five South American Amerindian, and three Brazilian urban populations were studied at four variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) and two short tandem repeat (STR) hypervariable loci. These two sets of loci did not show distinct allele profiles, which might be expected if different processes promoted their molecular differentiation. The two African groups showed little difference between them, and their intrapopulational variation was similar to those obtained in the African-derived South American communities. The latter showed different degrees of interpopulation variability, despite the fact that they presented almost identical average degrees of non-African admixture. The F(ST) single locus estimates differed in the five sets of populations, probably due to genetic drift, indicating the need to consider population structure in the evaluation of their total variability. A high interpopulational diversity was found among Amerindian populations in relation to Brazilian African-derived isolated communities. This is probably a consequence of the differences in the patterns of gene flow and genetic drift that each of these semi-isolated groups experienced.

Alleles↗

Factor V leiden and factor II G20210A mutations in patients with recurrent abortion.

Recurrent abortion (RA) represents an intriguing problem in obstetric practice in which genetic and acquired factors may play a role. In the present investigation we sought to assess the possibility that inherited thrombophilia might determine the risk of RA. We therefore investigated the prevalence of two genetic abnormalities frequently associated with venous thrombosis [factor V Leiden (FVL) and factor II G20210A] in 56 patients with primary or secondary abortion and in 384 healthy control women. Polymerase chain reaction amplification followed by digestion with the restriction enzymes MnlI and HindIII was used to define the FVL and FII G20210A genotypes respectively. FVL was found in 4/56 patients (7.1%) and in 6/384 controls (1.6%), yielding an odds ratio (OR) for RA related to FVL of 4.9 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3-17.8]. FII G20210A was detected in 2/56 (3.6%) patients and in 4/384 (1%) controls (OR for RA: 3.5, CI: 0.6-19.7). In conclusion, FVL and FII G20210A mutations in patients with RA were more prevalent in comparison with controls. These data support a role for both mutations as determinants of the risk of RA and strengthen the notion that thrombophilia plays a role in this clinical entity.

Abortion, Habitual↗

The Lebanese mutation as an important cause of familial hypercholesterolemia in Brazil.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common autosomal disorder that affects about one in 500 individuals in most Western populations and is caused by a defect in the low-density-lipoprotein receptor (LDLr) gene. In this report we determined the molecular basis of FH in 59 patients from 31 unrelated Brazilian families. All patients were screened for the Lebanese mutation, gross abnormalities of the LDLr gene, and the point mutation in the codon 3500 of the apolipoprotein B-100 gene. None of the 59 patients presented the apoB-3500 mutation, suggesting that familial defective ApoB-100 (FDB) is not a major cause of inherited hypercholesterolemia in Brazil. A novel 4-kb deletion in the LDLr gene, spanning from intron 12 to intron 14, was characterized in one family. Both 5' and 3' breakpoint regions were located within Alu repetitive sequences, which are probably involved in the crossing over that generated this rearrangement. The Lebanese mutation was detected in 9 of the 31 families, always associated with Arab ancestry. Two different LDLr gene haplotypes were demonstrated in association with the Lebanese mutation. Our results suggest the importance of the Lebanese mutation as a cause of FH in Brazil and by analogy the same feature may be expected in other countries with a large Arab population, such as North American and Western European countries.

Adolescent↗

A second mutation in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene and the risk of venous thrombotic disease.

We assessed the effect of a recently described mutation in the MTHFR gene (1298 A --> C) on the risk of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) by determining its prevalence in 190 patients with verified DVT and in age-, race- and gender-matched controls. MTHFR 1298 A --> C was found in 42.1% of patients and in 41.1% of controls. The OR for venous thrombosis was 1.07 (95% CI 0.70-1.65) for heterozygotes and 0.83 (95% CI 0.33-2.08) for homozygotes. The OR for the factor V Leiden (FVL) mutation was 3.40 (95% CI 1.22-9.48), for FII 20210 G --> A was 5.22 (95% CI 1.12-24.2) and for MTHFR 677 C --> T, 1.24 (95% CI 0.82-1.87). No significant increased risk for venous thrombosis was found when MTHFR 1298 A --> C was coinherited with FVL (OR 2.85, 95% CI 0.88-9.23), FII 20210 G --> A (OR 7.19, 95% CI 0.87-59.4) or MTHFR 677 C --> T (OR 1.44, 95% CI 0.71-2.92). These data do not support a critical role of MTHFR 1298 A --> C in the predisposition to DVT.

Adolescent↗

Factor XIII Val34Leu is a genetic factor involved in the etiology of venous thrombosis.

A mutation in the factor XIII gene (FXIII Val34Leu) gene was recently reported to confer protection against myocardial infarction, but its relationship with venous thrombosis is unknown. In addition, a mutation in the 5'-untranslated region of the FXII gene (46 C->T) was identified which is associated with low plasma levels of the protein. Its prevalence in patients with venous thrombosis is also unknown. We investigated the frequency of the FXIII Val34Leu and FXII 46 C->T mutations in 189 patients with deep venous thrombosis and in 187 age-, gender- and race-matched controls. FXIII Val34Leu was detected in 38.6% of the patients and in 41.2% of the controls. Interestingly, homozygosity for the FXIII mutation was found in 1.6% of the patients and in 9.6% of the controls, yielding an odds ratio (OR) for venous thrombosis of 0.16 (95% CI: 0.05-0.5). The OR for heterozygotes was 1.1 (95% CI: 0.7-1.7). The FXII 46 C->T mutation was detected in 46.0% of the patients and in 48.6% of the controls. The OR for heterozygotes was 0.9 (95% CI: 0.6-1.4) and for homozygotes the OR was 0.8 (95% CI: 0.3-1.9). Our data indicate that the FXII 46 C->T mutation is unlikely to be a major risk factor for venous thrombotic disease. In contrast, the homozygous state for FXIII Val34Leu is a strong protective factor against venous thrombosis, which emerges as a novel genetic factor involved in the aetiology of thrombophilia.

Adolescent↗