Role of heat shock proteins in the cardioprotection of regular moderate alcohol consumption
MEDICINA CLINICA
Authors: Concepcion Guisasola, Maria
Abstract
Background and objectives: To study whether the cardioprotective effect of regular alcohol consumption can be explained by the heat shock proteins (HSP), given their pathogenic role in atherosclerosis. Material and methods: Cross-sectional epidemiological study on 452 men and women aged 40-60. Clinical history, epidemiological survey (frequency of average alcohol consumption) and biochemical analysis was performed; Task Force Chart was applied for classification according to the risk of vascular disease. Intracellular HSPA1A, circulating HSPA1A and HSPD1, and anti-Hsp70/anti-Hsp60 antibodies were quantified by ELISA. Results: Two hundred and thirty-eight (52.7%) were abstemious or drank <20 g/d of alcohol; 123 (27.2%) drank 20-40 g/d, 66 (14.6%) 40-60 g/d and 25 > 60 g/d (5.5%). Two hundred and thirty-nine had no vascular risk (VR) factor or a risk <5%, 161 had moderate VR (10-20%) and 52 had established atherosclerotic disease. Drinkers of 40-60 g/d showed the highest concentrations of intracellular HSPA1A, which were not significant in subjects with moderate VR. Extracellular HSPA1A didn't differ and HSPD1 was undetectable. Drinkers of 40-60 g/d and moderate VR or atherosclerotic disease presented the lowest concentrations of anti-Hsp70. The highest levels of serum anti-Hsp60 were shown in heavy male drinkers of >60 g/d especially in subjects with moderate VR, and female drinkers of 40-60 g/d. Conclusions: The cardioprotective effect of 40-60 g/d of alcohol consumption could be due in part, to increased intracellular HSPA1A, a potent anti-inflammatory protein. Excessive intake of alcohol increases antibodies anti-Hsp60, stimulating proinflammatory cytokines. This fact may explain the mortality from cardiovascular disease in heavy drinkers. The clinical application of antibody anti-Hsps quantification has been proposed in patients at risk in order to detect atherosclerotic disease. (C) 2016 Elsevier Espatia, S.L.U. All rights reserved.
HNF1b is involved in prostate cancer risk via modulating androgenic hormone effects and coordination with other genes
GENETICS AND MOLECULAR RESEARCH
Authors: Hu, Y. L.; Zhong, D.; Pang, F.; Ning, Q. Y.; Zhang, Y. Y.; Li, G.; Wu, J. Z.; Mo, Z. N.
Abstract
Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed male malignancies. Genome wide association studies have revealed HNF1b to be a major risk gene for prostate cancer susceptibility. We examined the mechanisms of involvement of HNF1b in prostate cancer development. We integrated data from Gene Expression Omnibus prostate cancer genes from the Dragon Database of Genes Implicated in Prostate Cancer, and used meta-analysis data to generate a panel of HNF1b-associated prostate cancer risk genes. An RT-PCR was used to assess expression levels in DU145, PC3, LNCaP, and RWEP-1 cells. Twelve genes (BAG1, DDR1, ERBB4, ESR1, HSPD1, IGFBP2, IGFBP5, NR4A1, PAWR, PIK3CG, RAP2A, and TPD52) were found to be associated with both HNF1b and prostate cancer risk. Six of them (BAG1, ERBB4, ESR1, HSPD1, NR4A1, and PIK3CG) were mapped to the KEGG pathway, and submitted to further gene expression assessment. HNF1b, NR4A1, and HSPD1 were found to be highly expressed in the LNCaP androgenic hormone-dependent cell line. Compared to expression levels in wild-type prostate cancer cells, NR4A1, HSPD1, ERBB4, and ESR1 expression levels were also found to be significantly increased in the HNF1b-transfected cells. We conclude that the mechanism of action of HNF1b in prostate cancer involves modulation of the association between androgenic hormone and prostate cancer cells. Gene-gene interaction and coordination should be taken into account to determine relationships between specific loci and diseases.