Circulation. Cardiovascular genetics
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Circ Cardiovasc Genet · Jun 2014
Sequencing of SCN5A identifies rare and common variants associated with cardiac conduction: Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology (CHARGE) Consortium.
The cardiac sodium channel SCN5A regulates atrioventricular and ventricular conduction. Genetic variants in this gene are associated with PR and QRS intervals. We sought to characterize further the contribution of rare and common coding variation in SCN5A to cardiac conduction. ⋯ By sequencing SCN5A, we identified novel common and rare coding variants associated with cardiac conduction.
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Circ Cardiovasc Genet · Jun 2014
Induction of microRNA-21 with exogenous hydrogen sulfide attenuates myocardial ischemic and inflammatory injury in mice.
Maintaining physiological levels of hydrogen sulfide during ischemia is necessary to limit injury to the heart. Because of the anti-inflammatory effects of hydrogen sulfide, we proposed that the hydrogen sulfide donor, sodium sulfide (Na2S), would attenuate myocardial injury through upregulation of protective microRNA-21 (miR-21) and suppression of the inflammasome, a macromolecular structure that amplifies inflammation and mediates further injury. ⋯ Na2S induces cardioprotective effects through miR-21-dependent attenuation of ischemic and inflammatory injury in cardiomyocytes.
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Circ Cardiovasc Genet · Jun 2014
Meta AnalysisGenome-wide association study of plasma N6 polyunsaturated fatty acids within the cohorts for heart and aging research in genomic epidemiology consortium.
Omega6 (n6) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and their metabolites are involved in cell signaling, inflammation, clot formation, and other crucial biological processes. Genetic components, such as variants of fatty acid desaturase (FADS) genes, determine the composition of n6 PUFAs. ⋯ Our findings suggest that along with the FADS gene cluster, additional genes may influence n6 PUFA composition.
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Circ Cardiovasc Genet · Jun 2014
Sequencing of 2 subclinical atherosclerosis candidate regions in 3669 individuals: Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology (CHARGE) Consortium Targeted Sequencing Study.
Atherosclerosis, the precursor to coronary heart disease and stroke, is characterized by an accumulation of fatty cells in the arterial intimal-medial layers. Common carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) and plaque are subclinical atherosclerosis measures that predict cardiovascular disease events. Previously, genome-wide association studies demonstrated evidence for association with cIMT (SLC17A4) and plaque (PIK3CG). ⋯ Common and rare variants in PIK3CG and SLC17A4 regions demonstrated modest association with subclinical atherosclerosis traits. Although not conclusive, these findings may help to understand the genetic architecture of regions previously implicated by genome-wide association studies and identify variants within these regions for further investigation in larger samples.