Polymorphisms of Genes in Neurotransmitter Systems Were Associated with Alcohol Use Disorders in a Tibetan Population

Studies of linkage and association in various ethnic populations have revealed many predisposing genes of multiple neurotransmitter systems for alcohol use disorders (AUD). However, evidence often is contradictory regarding the contribution of most candidate genes to the susceptibility of AUD. We, therefore, performed a case-control study to investigate the possible associations of genes selected from multiple neurotransmitter systems with AUD in a homogeneous Tibetan community population in China. AUD cases (N = 281) with an alcohol use disorder identification test (AUDIT) score ≥10, as well as healthy controls (N = 277) with an AUDIT score ≤5, were recruited. All participants were genotyped for 366 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of 34 genes selected from those involved in neurotransmitter systems. Association analyses were performed using PLINK version 1.07 software. Allelic analyses before adjustment for multiple tests showed that 15 polymorphisms within seven genes were associated with AUD (p<0.05). After adjustment for the number of SNPs genotyped within each gene, only the association of a single marker (rs10044881) in HTR4 remained statistically significant. Haplotype analysis for two SNPs in HTR4 (rs17777298 and rs10044881) showed that the haplotype AG was significantly associated with the protective effect for AUD. In conclusion, the present study discovered that the HTR4 gene may play a marked role in the pathogenesis of AUD. In addition, this Tibetan population sample marginally replicated previous evidence regarding the associations of six genes in AUD.     

Molecular Variant Estimation of SLC11A1 Related Microsatellites in Chinese Indigenous Goats

Russian Journal of Genetics - The aim of this study was to investigate the polymorphism of the SLC11A1 gene in Chinese indigenous goats. A total of 215 individuals from nine goat breeds were...     

北京黑猪FSHb 亚基基因的多态性与繁殖性状的关联分析

本研究以北京黑猪为研究对象, 以FSHb 亚基基因为产仔性状的候选基因, 分别采用PCR产物直接电泳和PCR-RFLP方法来检测FSHβ亚基基因2个位点的多态性。结合测序发现: FSHb-1位点上, 北京黑猪BB型的134与135 bp (D00621序列的6 473与6 474 bp) 之间插入273 bp的片段而产生多态, 序列分析表明该插入片段为一典型的逆转座子, 在插入片段中还发现了一个RNA 聚合酶Ⅲ内部启动子; FSHb-2位点上, 由于扩增片段173 bp处存在C→T的突变, 使得HaeⅢ酶切位点消失而产生多态; 2个位点的A、B等位基因在北京黑猪群体中都有分布, 且处于低度多态。χ2适合性检验结果表明, 该群体在这2个位点的突变都达到Hardy-Weinberg平衡状态 (P>0.05)。用SAS 8.2 软件最小二乘法拟合线性模型, 将基因座不同基因型与繁殖性状总产仔数 (TNB)、产活仔数 (NBA) 和出生重 (WB) 进行了关联分析, 结果表明: 就初产母猪而言, FSHb-1位点上, AA型比AB和BB型个体的TNB分别多0.96头和1.85头 (P＜0.05), AA和AB型比BB型个体的NBA分别多0.95头和1.69头(P＜0.05)。FSHb-2位点上, AA型比AB型和BB型个体的TNB分别多1.57头和2.15头 (P＜0.05); AA和AB型比BB型个体的NBA分别多1.00头和0.94头 (P＜0.05); 就经产母猪而言, FSHb-2位点上, AA型个体的WB比BB型的WB重0.25 kg (P＜0.05)。全部群体的FSHb-1位点的A等位基因和初产母猪FSHb-2位点的A等位基因对TNB、NBA和WB表现为正效应。     

Evolutionary significance of selected EDAR variants in Tibetan high-altitude adaptations

Humans have been exposed to many environmental challenges since their evolutionary origins in Africa and subsequent migrations to the rest of the world. A severe environmental challenge to human migrants was hypoxia caused by low barometric oxygen pressure at high altitudes. Several genome-wide scans have elucidated the genetic basis of human high-altitude adaptations.However, the dearth of functional variant information has led to the successful association of only a few candidate genes. In the present study, we employed a candidate gene approach and re-sequenced the EDAR locus in 45 Tibetan individuals to identify mutations involved in hypoxia adaptation. We identified 10 and five quantitative trait-associated mutations for oxygen saturation (SaO_2) and blood platelet count, respectively, at the EDAR locus. Among these, rs10865026 and rs3749110 (associated with SaO_2 and platelet count, respectively) were identified as functional candidate targets. These data demonstrate that EDAR has undergone natural selection in recent human history and indicate an important role of EDAR variants in Tibetan high-altitude adaptations.     

Genetic variations in Tibetan populations and high-altitude adaptation at the Himalayas

Modern humans have occupied almost all possible environments globally since exiting Africa about 100,000 years ago. Both behavioral and biological adaptations have contributed to their success in surviving the rigors of climatic extremes, including cold, strong ultraviolet radiation, and high altitude. Among these environmental stresses, high-altitude hypoxia is the only condition in which traditional technology is incapable of mediating its effects. Inhabiting at >3,000-m high plateau, the Tibetan population provides a widely studied example of high-altitude adaptation. Yet, the genetic mechanisms underpinning long-term survival in this environmental extreme remain unknown. We performed an analysis of genome-wide sequence variations in Tibetans. In combination with the reported data, we identified strong signals of selective sweep in two hypoxia-related genes, EPAS1 and EGLN1. For these two genes, Tibetans show unusually high divergence from the non-Tibetan lowlanders (Han Chinese and Japanese) and possess high frequencies of many linked sequence variations as reflected by the Tibetan-specific haplotypes. Further analysis in seven Tibetan populations (1,334 individuals) indicates the prevalence of selective sweep across the Himalayan region. The observed indicators of natural selection on EPAS1 and EGLN1 suggest that during the long-term occupation of high-altitude areas, the functional sequence variations for acquiring biological adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia have been enriched in Tibetan populations.     

拉萨世居藏族青年的最大氧摄取和氧转运功能

对拉萨市(海拔3658m)16名世居藏族和20名已习服的移居汉族健康青年男性的最大氧摄取、最大运动负荷及其影响因素进行了对此研究。结果发现在最大努力作功时,藏族的最大氧摄取量、最大运动负荷量、潮气量、肺通气量以及氧脉搏等均大于移居汉族。说明西藏高原世居藏族具有更佳的氧转运功能,对高原低氧已获得了良好的生理适应。     

HIF2A Variants Were Associated with Different Levels of High-Altitude Hypoxia among Native Tibetans

Hypoxia inducible factors, including HIF1A and HIF2A, play central roles in response to high-altitude hypoxia and genetic variants of HIF1A or HIF2A were associated with high-altitude sickness or adaptation. However, it remains to determine whether they are associated with tolerance to different levels of high-altitude selection pressure among native Tibetans. We recruited 189 Tibetan subjects living at 2,700 meters (Low level of high altitude, LHA), 197 at 3,200 meters (Middle level of high altitude of high altitude, MHA), 249 at 3,700 meters (High level of high altitude, HHA) and 269 at 4,700 meters (Very high level of high altitude, VHA) and performed association analysis of twelve tSNPs (tagging SNPs) in HIF1A and HIF2A with high-altitude. We found (1) a increasing trend of HIF2A rs5621780-C(18.4%, 15.9%, 32.8% and 31.1%, respectively, in LHA, MHA, HHA and VHA)(P = 3.56E-9); (2) increasing trends of HIF2A rs6756667-A(68.7%, 73.4%, 79.9% and 89.6%), rs7589621- G(74.6%, 77.9%, 83.7%, and 92.1%) and rs1868092-A(64.1%, 67.3%, 75.1% and 84.4%) (P = 3.56E-9, 4.68E-16, 1.17E-13 and 7.09E-14, respectively); (3) a increasing trend of haplotype AG (68.7%, 73.1%, 79.9% and 89.6%) (P = 2.22E-7) which was constructed by rs6756667 and rs7589621; (4) a strong linear correlation between major alleles of rs6756667-A (R ² = 0.997, P = 0.002), rs7589621-G (R ² = 0.994, P = 0.003), rs1868092-A (R ² = 0.985, P = 0.008) and altitude by linear correlation test. The associations between HIF2A variants and different level of high altitude support that extremely high-altitude hypoxia challenge imposes selective effects on HIF2A variants among native Tibetans.     

拉萨高原居民肺容量的测定

对年龄、身高和体重相同的拉萨男性世居藏族39人和男性移居汉族43人的肺容量进行了测定。结果显示:藏族组的肺活量(VC)、肺总容量、胸围均大于汉族组,残气量有大于汉族组之趋势(P=0.06)。胸围的大小与VC呈正相关。5岁前和18岁后移居高原者之肺容量无差别。结果提示,拉萨世居藏族具有较大的肺容量,这对提高肺弥散功能和维持运动时的血氧饱和度有重要意义。     

北京黑猪FSHβ亚基基因的多态性与繁殖性状的关联分析

本研究以北京黑猪为研究对象,以FSHβ亚基基因为产仔性状的候选基因,分别采用PCR产物直接电泳和PCR-RFLP方法来检测FSHβ亚基基因2个位点的多态性.结合测序发现:FSHβ-1位点上,北京黑猪BB型的134与135 bp(D00621序列的6473与6474bp)之间插入273 bp的片段而产生多态,序列分析表明该插入片段为一典型的逆转座子,在插入片段中还发现了一个RNA聚合酶Ⅲ内部启动子;FSHβ-2位点上,由于扩增片段173 bp处存在C→T的突变,使得HaeⅢ酶切位点消失而产生多态;2个位点的A、B等位基因在北京黑猪群体中都有分布,且处于低度多态.x2适合性检验结果表明,该群体在这2个位点的突变都达到Hardy-Weinberg平衡状态(P＞0.05).用SAS 8.2软件最小二乘法拟合线性模型,将基因座不同基因型与繁殖性状总产仔数(TNB)、产活仔数(NBA)和出生重(WB)进行了关联分析,结果表明:就初产母猪而言,FSHβ-1位点上,AA型比AB和BB型个体的TNB分别多0.96头和1.85头(P＜0.05),AA和AB型比BB型个体的NBA分别多0.95头和1.69头(P＜0.05).FSHβ-2位点上,AA型比AB型和BB型个体的TNB分别多1.57头和2.15头(P＜0.05);AA和AB型比BB型个体的NBA分别多1.00头和0.94头(P＜0.05);就经产母猪而言,FSHβ-2位点上,AA型个体的WB比BB型的WB重0.25 kg(P＜0.05).全部群体的FSHβ-1位点的A等位基因和初产母猪FSHβ-2位点的A等位基因对TNB、NBA和WB表现为正效应.