Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:1.5.7.1 (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase)
2,116 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We report a 13-year-old girl with nephropathic cystinosis on chronic peritoneal dialysis who presented with two episodes of stroke. Laboratory evaluation showed severe hyperhomocysteinemia (108 mumol/l). Further testing revealed that she was homozygous for the thermolabile variant of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene. Treatment with folic acid and vitamin B12 lowered plasma homocysteine to less than 20 mumol/l. No further episodes of stroke occurred over a follow-up of 12 months. Homocysteine levels should be measured in patients with chronic renal failure, since simple and safe treatment with folic acid and vitamin B12 is effective in lowering the plasma homocysteine level in patients with the thermolabile MTHFR allele.
...
PMID:Cerebral vascular complication and hyperhomocysteinemia in a cystinotic uremic child. 1010 Feb 95

The alterations of the metabolism of methionine determining an accumulation of homocysteine in blood (hyperhomocysteinemia) recognize a multifactorial etiology, hereditary as well as acquired. To date several case-control studies have documented that the condition of hyperhomocysteinemia can be considered an independent risk factor of coronary disease and its noxious effects are dose-dependent. It exerts its effect by different mechanisms both prothrombotic and endothelial. In our study we started from an initial cohort of 2227 subjects (1210 males, 1017 females) aged between 45 and 64 years among which we selected 22 persons with at least 2 first-degree relatives below age 50 who had had either a major cardiovascular event (acute myocardial infarction or sudden death) or angiographically documented cardiac disease. We reconstructed the proper pedigrees obtaining 22 families in whom we identified four main subgroups to carry out analyses and comparisons: case-control, composed respectively of all the subjects who survived a major cardiovascular event or a coronary disease documented angiographically and clinically healthy subjects; affected line and non affected line, composed respectively of members belonging to the family line of the proband and members of collateral family line. Each of the subjects involved in the study underwent a complete history regarding job and sports activities, a standardized physical examination, 12-lead digital ECG according to the European Standard Communication Protocol. A blood sample was taken in fasting conditions to determine total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, glycemia, fibrinogen, plasma homocysteine. The results indicate how among the cases there were more subjects with homocysteine higher than the 95 degrees percentile in males alone (p = 0.03), the estimated odds ratio calculated from Fisher's test was 8.34 (95% confidence interval 1.32-52.7). Despite the fact that mean age was significantly lower (p = 0.01) in males of the affected line compared to those of the non affected line, the results show much higher homocysteine values in the affected family line in both males and females: a difference quite evident in the distribution especially as regards the 95 degrees percentile. These results obtained in the subjects belonging to the same families emphasize that familial aggregation, which influences the sharing of the genetic patrimony, socio-cultural environment and food habits can induce a differential risk for homocysteinemia. The study of mutations of genes coding for the key enzymes of the metabolism of homocysteine, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and cystathionine beta-synthase, which we prepared, will enable use to evaluate the relative influence feeding habits and genetic factors have in the development of hyperhomocysteinemia.
...
PMID:[A hyperhomocysteinemia study in a population with a familial factor for acute myocardial infarct and sudden cardiac death at a young age]. 1018 34

Mild hyperhomocysteinemia is associated to mutations either in cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) or in 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) genes. In 1995, Sebastio et al. characterized a 68 bp insertion in cis with the most common CBS mutation (T833C) detected in homocystinuric patients. Recently, this double mutation has been detected in Italian and North-American controls. Compared to a group of patients affected by coronary artery disease, North-American controls showed not statistically significant difference. Moreover, Italian controls displayed a microheterogeneity in the mutant allele frequency distribution depending on their geographical origin (North or South of Italy). Aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of the double in cis mutation in different populations. We studied 377 healthy subjects belonging to various human groups. Genomic DNA, extracted from peripheral blood samples, was amplified using specific primers; PCR fragments were digested with Bsr I restriction enzyme to detect the double mutation. Our data show a significant heterogeneity among the populations studied, therefore this mutation turned out to be a reliable anthropogenetic marker. The distribution of the double mutation will contribute, with other DNA polymorphisms, to evaluate the genetic admixture of mixed populations such as Afro-Americans.
...
PMID:World distribution of the T833C/844INS68 CBS in cis double mutation: a reliable anthropological marker. 1019 Mar 22

Elevated plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) levels, either measured in the fasting state or after oral methionine loading, are associated with an increased risk of atherothrombotic disease. Fasting and post-methionine hyperhomocysteinemia (HHC) overlap to a limited extent; both can occur as familial traits. We investigated determinants of fasting, postmethionine and delta (ie, post-methionine minus fasting levels) tHcy levels in 510 subjects of 192 HHC-prone families including 161 patients with clinical vascular disease and 349 without vascular disease. We focused on tHcy levels in relation to levels of vitamin B12, B6 and folate and the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T mutation. Multivariate linear analyses adjusted for the presence of vascular disease showed that fasting tHcy was significantly related to folate and vitamin B12, and the presence of the MTHFR TT genotype and the T allele, and to age, smoking habits, and serum levels of creatinine. Both post-methionine and delta tHcy levels were related to serum folate levels, and the presence of the MTHFR TT genotype and the T allele, and to postmenopausal status, and body mass index. An interaction was found between MTHFR TT genotype and serum folate levels for both fasting and post-methionine tHcy, ie, for a given decrease in serum folate, homocysteine levels increased more in subjects with the TT genotype than in those with the CC genotype. Fasting, post-methionine and delta tHcy were higher in patients with vascular disease than in their healthy siblings, but these levels were less dependent on serum folate levels (P<0.05), whereas the effect of MTHFR genotype was stronger (P=0.01). This study found evidence that post-methionine and delta tHcy levels are not only influenced by factors affecting homocysteine transsulfuration but also by factors that affect remethylation. The explained variances of fasting, post-methionine and delta tHcy were 49%, 62%, and 78%, respectively. We also found evidence, in patients with premature vascular disease but not in their healthy siblings, for a factor that increases tHcy levels but weakens the normal inverse relation between folate and tHcy and amplifies the effect of the MTHFR genotype.
...
PMID:Determinants of fasting and post-methionine homocysteine levels in families predisposed to hyperhomocysteinemia and premature vascular disease. 1032 85

Hyperhomocysteinemia is frequently found in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations may be reduced by supplementation with folic acid or combinations of folic acid, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6. Supplementation studies with vitamin B12 alone in patients with ESRD have not yet been published. In this study, we investigated the effects of intravenous injection of cyanocobalamin (1 mg/wk for 4 weeks) in ESRD patients (N = 14) with low serum cobalamin concentrations (<180 pmol/L). All patients had elevated levels of plasma tHcy, methylmalonic acid (MMA), and cystathionine before supplementation. After supplementation, plasma tHcy and MMA decreased 35% and 48%, respectively; however, cystathionine levels were unchanged. The extent of the plasma tHcy reduction tended to be influenced by the C677T polymorphism of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR). Serum cobalamin increased significantly upon supplementation, whereas serum folate levels were substantially reduced by 47%. In contrast, red blood cell (RBC) folate was unchanged. This study shows that vitamin B12 supplementation effectively decreases both MMA and plasma tHcy in ESRD patients with low B12 levels. Furthermore, it illustrates the close interrelation between vitamin B12 and folate metabolism.
...
PMID:Supplementation with vitamin B12 decreases homocysteine and methylmalonic acid but also serum folate in patients with end-stage renal disease. 1033 65

Moderately elevated plasma homocysteine levels have been established as an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and its complications, including cerebrovascular disease. A common mutation (C677T) in the gene encoding for the enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) has been linked to increased plasma homocysteine levels in homozygous carriers, particularly in the presence of low folate levels. However, the results of most of the previous studies suggest that the C677T MTHFR mutation is not a significant risk factor for arterial disease. This discrepancy might, at least partly, be due to the fact that plasma homocysteine levels are influenced by several other factors, including age, gender, renal function, and vitamin status. We investigated the relation between plasma homocysteine levels, the C677T MTHFR mutation, and these other factors in a population of 96 patients with transient ischemic attacks or minor strokes and in 96 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. We further tested the value of a multivariate model for the prediction of plasma homocysteine levels under particular consideration of the MTHFR mutation status. In the patients, plasma homocysteine levels were significantly higher than in the healthy control subjects. With regard to the MTHFR mutation, the distribution of the C/C, C/T, and T/T genotypes was not significantly different between patients and healthy control subjects. Univariate (linear regression) analysis revealed significant (positive) correlations between plasma homocysteine levels on the one hand and age and creatinine on the other, the latter particularly in subjects with creatinine levels in the upper quartile. Significant (negative) correlations were found between plasma homocysteine levels, vitamin B12, and folate levels. However, these relations could much better be expressed by means of a multiplicative regression model. T/T subjects exhibited slightly higher homocysteine levels than C/C and C/T subjects; however, the differences between the 3 genotypes were not significant. Multivariate (stepwise regression) analysis revealed age, vitamin B12 levels, folate levels, and creatinine levels as significant independent variables influencing plasma homocysteine levels, whereas the MTHFR mutation status and gender were removed from the model. Considering all 192 subjects, only 28.8% of the variance of plasma homocysteine levels could be accounted for by the model. However, in homozygous carriers of the MTHFR mutation, the predictive power of the model is very high, explaining 76.1% of the variance of plasma homocysteine levels. According to our results, the C677T mutation does not constitute a major risk factor for transient ischemic attack or minor stroke, even under consideration of other possibly confounding factors that are known to affect plasma homocysteine levels. However, it is possible to predict plasma homocysteine levels in homozygous carriers of the mutation with high accuracy. The knowledge of the MTHFR mutation status may therefore help to identify subjects at high risk for hyperhomocysteinemia.
...
PMID:Genetic and nongenetic factors influencing plasma homocysteine levels in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease and in healthy control subjects. 1036 Jun 32

Moderate hyperhomocysteinemia is an atherogenic risk factor and plays an important role in geriatrics. Here, we have investigated the role of hyperhomocysteinemia in two elderly groups: 104 longeval subjects of 85-102 years, 100 seniors aged 65-75 years, and 75 controls of 19-60 years. Elevated homocysteine levels were found in 58% of longeval subjects in comparison with 32% in seniors. The homocysteine level in serum correlated positively with age as well as serum creatinine, and inversely with serum folate, but there was no correlation with serum B-vitamins. The frequency of vitamin B deficiency in serum of longeval subjects compared to seniors was as follows: vitamin B6 43% vs. 22%, vitamin B12 20% vs. 8%, and folic acid 1% in both groups. Increased serum creatinine levels (> 1.1 mg/dl) were found in 63% of the longeval subjects and in 32% of seniors. The 677-missense mutation in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, responsible for moderate homocysteine elevation, was found in 35, 37 and 27% of alleles in longeval persons, senior subjects and younger controls, respectively, showing no significant difference in frequency distributions of the MTHFR gene mutation. It can be concluded that hyperhomocysteinemia is very common with increased age. Its importance as an atherogenic risk factor with advanced age has to be clarified.
...
PMID:Hyperhomocysteinemia in high-aged subjects: relation of B-vitamins, folic acid, renal function and the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase mutation. 1038 Dec 82

Hyperhomocysteinaemia is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The C677T mutation of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a common genetic cause of increased homocysteine (HCY) levels. Post-methionine-load HCY concentrations allow identification of certain cases of hyperhomocysteinaemia not demonstrated by fasting levels. This study investigated the relationship between MTHFR polymorphism and (1) fasting HCY levels (77 patients); (2) post-methionine HCY levels (54 patients); and (3) postprandial HCY concentrations (36 patients) in cardiovascular disease. As expected, mean fasting HCY value was higher in the +/+ patients. Moreover, patients who were homozygous for the mutation exhibited significantly increased mean post-methionine-load HCY; in contrast, literature results are conflicting. Mean postprandial HCY, which is not known to be increased in controls, was also increased in the (+/+) patients, although the difference did not reach statistical significance, probably owing to the small size of the sample. MTFHR polymorphism is known to be aggravated by a drop in circulating folate. Additional risk factors may be more prevalent in patients with cardiovascular disease.
...
PMID:Fasting, postprandial, and post-methionine-load homocysteinaemia and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism in vascular disease. 1039 90

A common mutation in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), a homocysteine metabolic pathway enzyme, has been associated with increased homocysteine levels and increased risk for premature cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between the prevalence of the MTHFR mutation, hyperhomocysteinemia, and subtypes of ischemic stroke in an elderly population comprised of three age-balanced groups of patients. The presence of the C677T MTHFR mutation was determined by a direct polymerase chain reaction-based assay performed on blood samples from 136 patients with acute ischemic stroke, 95 patients with atherosclerotic risk factors for stroke (including some with a history of previous stroke or transient ischemic attack), and 52 healthy control subjects. The prevalence of the homozygous C677T mutation was not significantly higher in the elderly stroke patients (7%) than in the atherosclerotic risk (8%) or healthy elderly control (2%) groups. Plasma homocysteine levels were higher in the acute stroke patient group (14.5+/-4.5 micromol/L) and atherosclerotic risk patient group (14.6+/-6.2 micromol/L) compared with the control subjects (10.3+/-3.1 micromol/ L, P < 0.03). Homozygotes for the C677T MTHFR mutation did not have significantly higher homocysteine levels than non-homozygotes. Moderate hyperhomocysteinemia, though common in older patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease, is not attributable, at least in this patient group, to a higher prevalence of the C677T MTHFR mutation.
...
PMID:Role of a common mutation in the homocysteine regulatory enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase in ischemic stroke. 1040 94

Disturbances in methyl-carbon metabolism, which result in hyperhomocysteinemia, have been associated with schizophrenia. Homozygosity for the T677 allele of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, which encodes for a thermolabile enzyme associated with hyperhomocysteinemia, has been found to be increased in schizophrenic patients. We have investigated whether plasma homocysteine concentration and the frequency of C677T MTHFR variant were increased in schizophrenic inpatients of a psychiatric hospital (n=210) compared with controls (n=218). There were no significant differences in plasma homocysteine concentrations between the schizophrenia and the control group. The distributions of T allele and TT genotype frequencies were similar in both groups (40% and 15%). These results show that impaired homocysteine metabolism is unlikely in schizophrenia.
...
PMID:Plasma homocysteine and the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T gene variant: lack of association with schizophrenia. 1042 70


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>