1.
Effects of APOA5 -1131T>C (rs662799) on fasting plasma lipids and risk of metabolic syndrome: evidence from a case-control study in China and a meta-analysis.
Xu, C, Bai, R, Zhang, D, Li, Z, Zhu, H, Lai, M, Zhu, Y
PloS one. 2013;(2):e56216
Abstract
The apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5) gene -1131T>C (rs662799) has been suggested to be involved in the pathway of lipid homeostasis and the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, the findings are not consistent. To systematically evaluate the associations between -1131T>C polymorphism and fasting lipid parameters and the risk of MetS, we conducted a case-control study in a Chinese population and a meta-analysis. The findings from 1840 Chinese participants indicated that the C allele carriers had significantly higher fasting total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and lower HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) than the TT homozygotes carriers. The -1131C allele was also found to be significantly associated with increased risk of MetS (OR = 1.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.15, 1.69) compared to the TT homozygotes. In the meta-analysis of 51,868 participants from 46 East Asian studies, 26 European studies and 19 studies of other ethnic groups, the -1131C allele was associated with higher fasting TC (weighted mean difference (WMD) = 0.08 mmol/L, 95% CI = 0.05, 0.10, P = 1.74×10(-9)), TG (WMD = 0.30 mmol/L, 95% CI = 0.26, 0.33, P = 1.87×10(-55)), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) (WMD = 0.04 mmol/L, 95% CI = 0.02, 0.07, P = 0.002), and lower HDL-C (WMD = -0.05 mmol/L, 95% CI = -0.06,-0.04, P = 1.88×10(-21)), respectively. Based on 12 studies with 5,573 MetS cases and 8,290 controls from 5 East Asian studies, 5 European studies and 2 studies of other ethnic groups, the -1131C allele was associated with increased risk of MetS with an OR (95% CI) = 1.33 (1.16, 1.53) in the overall population, 1.43 (1.29, 1.58) in East Asian and 1.30 (0.94, 1.78) in European populations. In conclusion, the -1131C allele may be associated with elevated levels of fasting TG, TC, LDL-C and decreased HDL-C, and increased risk of MetS, especially in East Asians.
2.
Cationic compounds used in lipoplexes and polyplexes for gene delivery.
Zhang, S, Xu, Y, Wang, B, Qiao, W, Liu, D, Li, Z
Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society. 2004;(2):165-80
Abstract
Gene transfer represents an important advance in the treatment of both genetic and acquired diseases. Many cationic lipids and cationic polymers naturally occurred or synthesized have been used for gene transfer. They have the advantages over viral gene transfer as non-immunogenic, easy to produce and not oncogenic. These cationic compounds, however, have the major limitations of inefficient transfection and toxicity to cells. For overcoming these problems, many new cationic compounds were developed since the first cationic lipid, DOTMA, was found usage in gene therapy. This article reviews cationic lipids for gene therapy from chemistry viewpoint and we classify these compounds as monovalent cationic lipids, polyvalent cationic lipids, cationic polymers, guanidine containing compounds, cationic peptides and cholesterol containing compounds, and hope to provide suggestions on the development of this variety of cationic compounds through the discussion.