Marta Roszczynko

Influence of Renin-Angiotensin System Gene Polymorphisms on the Risk of ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Association with Coronary Artery Disease Risk Factors

AbstractBackground: Recent advances in molecular biology have made it possible to identify numerous polymorphisms of the renin-angiotensin system, which play an important role in the etiology of cardiovascular disease. Objective: The aims of the study were (i) to assess the distribution of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AGTR1) gene 1166A/C polymorphism and two polymorphisms of the angiotensinogen (AGT) gene (Met235Thr and Thr174Met) in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent coronary angiography, compared with healthy volunteers; (ii) to determine if there was any correlation between these polymorphisms and risk of STEMI; and (iii) to assess the association of the examined polymorphisms with such classic cardiovascular risk factors as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity (based on a body mass index ≥25 kg/m2), smoking, dyslipidemia, and family history of cardiovascular disease. Methods: A total of 100 patients (mean age 57 ± 10 years [range 31–76 years]; 21% women) with diagnosed STEMI and a control group consisting of 95 healthy volunteers (mean age 38 ± 11 years [range 17–60 years]; 20% women) were investigated for the AGTR1 1166A/C polymorphism and two variants of AGT (Met235Thr and Thr174Met). All patients received standard therapy for STEMI. Results: There were significant differences in the distribution of genotypes and the AGT Met174 allele for AGT Thr174Met polymorphism between patients and healthy subjects (p<0.05). The AGTR1 1166A/C polymorphism genotype frequencies were significantly different in patients with hypertension compared with normotensive individuals. Specifically, the AGTR1 1166 AA genotype was twice as common in patients with hypertension as in those without (67% vs 33%), while the AC and CC genotypes were found predominantly in normotensive patients (p = 0.0016). The variant 1166C allele was much more common in patients without hypertension (67%) than in patients with hypertension (33%; p=0.0006). The variant AGT Thr235 allele was more common in patients without a family history of cardiovascular disease than in patients with this risk factor (p<0.05). The odds ratio (OR) for STEMI in patients with the heterozygous AGT 174 Thr/Met genotype was increased to 1.884 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03, 3.446; p<0.05), while the OR calculated for carriers of the AGT Met174 allele was 2.038 (95% CI 1.129, 3.68; p=0.0182). Significant genotypic associations of combinations of reninangiotensin system gene polymorphisms in STEMI were not observed. Conclusions: The most powerful predictive value for STEMI was represented by the Thr/Met genotype and the Met174 allele of the AGT Thr174Met gene polymorphism. In our study, in contrast to observations reported by other authors, the AA genotype of the AGTR1 1166A/C gene polymorphism — much more than other genotypes — was associated with hypertension.

Mediastinal paragangliomas related to SDHx gene mutations

Introduction Paragangliomas (PGLs) related to hereditary syndromes are rare mediastinal tumors. Paragangliomas are caused by mutations in genes encoding subunits of succinate dehydrogenase enzyme (SDH). Aim To evaluate clinical, anatomical and functional characteristics of mediastinal paragangliomas related to SDHx gene mutations. Material and methods Retrospective analysis of 75 patients with confirmed SDHx gene mutations (24 patients with SDHB, 5 SDHC, 46 with SDHD mutations) was performed. Patients underwent evaluation using computed tomography (CT), somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) (99mTc-[HYNIC,Tyr3]-octreotide), 123I mIBG scintigraphy and urinary excretion of total methoxycatecholamines. Results Out of 75 patients, 16 (21%) patients (1 SDHB, 15 SDHD mutations) had 17 PGLs localized in the mediastinum. Fourteen PGLs were localized in the middle mediastinum (intrapericardial) and 3 PGLs in the posterior mediastinum. The median diameter of paragangliomas measured on the axial slice was 24.3 mm (interquartile range (IQR): 14.7–36.6), and the median volume was 2.78 ml (IQR: 0.87–16.16). Twelve out of 16 patients (75%) underwent SRS, and 11 of them (92.3%) had pathological uptake of the radiotracer. Eleven (68.75%) out of 16 patients underwent 123 I mIBG, with only 3 positive results. Symptoms of catecholamine excretion were observed in 3 patients with PGLs localized in the posterior mediastinum. All PGLs were benign except in 1 patient with the SDHB mutation and PGL detected in the posterior mediastinum, who had a metastatic disease. Conclusions Most mediastinal paragangliomas were related to SDHD gene mutations. They were asymptomatic, localized in the medial mediastinum, intrapericardially.

A novel life-threatening mutation in long QT2 syndrome

BACKGROUND AND AIM The aim of the report was to present a novel mutation in KCNH2 in a family with life-threatening long QT syndrome. METHODS A genetic study using the method of next generation sequencing was performed in a 47-year-old woman after several episodes of syncope and torsade de pointes after sudden stress, with familial history of sudden death in first-degree female relatives. The study was performed also in her three asymptomatic children. Prolongation of QTc and typical ECG pattern of long QT2 were seen in the index case and in her youngest son. RESULTS Novel mutations (p.F617V) in exon 7 of KCNH2 were found in the index case and in her youngest son. CONCLUSIONS A novel heterozygous missense mutation in exon 7 of KCNH2 gene, causing a protein change p.F617V, was found in a family with life-threatening arrhythmias in women and clinical outcome typical for long QT2 syndrome.

Identification novel LQT syndrome-associated variants in Polish population and genotype-phenotype correlations in eight families

Congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a primary cardiac channelopathy. Genetic testing has not only diagnostic but also prognostic and therapeutic implications. At present, 15 genes have been associated with the disease, with most mutations located in 3 major LQTS-susceptibility genes. During a routine genetic screening for KCNQ1, KCNH2 and SCN5A genes in index cases with LQTS, seven novel variants in KCNH2 and SCN5A genes were found. Genotype-phenotype correlations were analysed in these patients and their families. An open reading frame and splice site analysis of the exons was conducted using next-generation sequencing. In novel variants, phenotypes of carriers and their affected relatives were analysed. In 39 unrelated patients, 40 pathogenic/putative pathogenic mutations were found. Thirty-three of them, predominantly missense, were reported previously: 11 were in the KCNQ, 17 in the KCNH2 and 5 in the SCN5A gene. Seven novel missense variants were found in eight families. Among them, four variants were in typical for LQTS location. Two variants in the KCNH2 gene (p.D803Y and p.D46F) and one in the SCN5A gene (G1391R) were in amino acid (AA) position which up to present has not been reported in LQTS. Phenotype analysis showed the life-threatening course of the disease in index cases with a history of sudden cardiac death in six families. Mutation carriers presented with ECG abnormalities and some of them received beta-blocker therapy. We report three novel variants (KCNQ1 p.46, KCNH2 p.D803Y, SCN5A p.G1391R) which have never been reported for this AA location in LQTS; the phenotype-genotype correlation suggests their pathogenicity.