Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.7.7.49 (reverse transcriptase)
 31,746 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Hyperhomocysteinemia (HH) is an independent risk factor for thrombosis although the precise pathogenesis is still unresolved. Previous studies have demonstrated that HH changes whole blood coagulation by increasing the velocity, increasing the firmness of the formed clot, and by prolonging the initiation phase of the coagulation. With the aim of elucidating the genetic pathogenesis which might be responsible for the changes in whole blood coagulation, we applied oligo-array technology to RNA from buffycoat-cells comparing animals suffering from hyperhomocysteinemia (42 micromol/l) with controls (6 micromol/l). Data mining identified a number of relevant genes, and the expression pattern was validated by real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. An upregulation of integrin beta-3, Rap 1b, glycoprotein V, platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) led us to deduce increased platelet activation/aggregation. Coagulation factor XIIIa was upregulated and may contribute in increasing the firmness of the formed clot. Impaired fibrinolysis was anticipated, since an upregulation of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and a downregulation of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) were detected. Reduced spontaneous contact activation was anticipated due to a downregulation of the kallikrein gene. Upregulation of selectins may contribute to increased tethering and rolling of leukocytes. In conclusion, folate deficiency induced hyperhomocysteinemia changes in the gene expression of buffy coat cells which was characterized by increased platelet activation, impaired fibrinolysis and a reduced contact activation of the coagulation. These changes may contribute to explain the increased risk of thrombosis seen in hyperhomocysteinemia individuals. This pattern of the hyperhomocysteinemia-affected genes may represent a reference for further studies at the protein level to define the folate depletion effects in blood cells.
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PMID:Folate deficiency induced hyperhomocysteinemia changes the expression of thrombosis-related genes. 1665 72

Patients with Down syndrome appear to be protected from the development of atherosclerosis. On the contrary, hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with an increased risk for atherosclerosis. As hyperhomocysteinemia due to cystathionine beta synthase deficiency is associated with a decreased expression of paraoxonase-1, a major anti-atherosclerotic component secreted by the liver, we aimed to analyze the expression of paraoxonase-1 and cystathionine beta synthase in Down syndrome fetal liver by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Paraoxonase-1 was up-regulated in Down syndrome fetal liver, while cystathionine beta synthase gene expression in Down syndrome fetuses was similar to the gene level in control fetuses. Moreover, there was no evidence for an association between paraoxonase-1 genotypes influencing paraoxonase-1 gene expression and Down syndrome. Since most serum paraoxonase-1 is synthesized in the liver, an increase of hepatic paraoxonase-1 expression might be one of the factors which could explain the low incidence of atherosclerotic vascular disease in Down syndrome.
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PMID:Paraoxonase-1 expression is up-regulated in Down syndrome fetal liver. 1680 76

The study has been designed to investigate the effect of 8-Br-cAMP, an activator of protein kinase A (PKA), in diabetes mellitus- and hyperhomocysteinemia-induced vascular endothelial dysfunction. Streptozotocin (55 mg kg-1, i.v.) and methionine (1.7% w/w, p.o., 4 weeks) were administered to rats to produce diabetes mellitus (serum glucose >200 mg dL-1) and hyperhomocysteinemia (serum homocysteine >10 microM), respectively. Vascular endothelial dysfunction was assessed using isolated aortic ring preparation, electron microscopy of thoracic aorta, and serum concentration of nitrite/nitrate. The expression of mRNA for p22phox and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was assessed by using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (TBARS) (RT-PCR). Serum thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) concentration and aortic superoxide anion concentration were estimated to assess oxidative stress. 8-Br-cAMP (5 mg kg-1, i.p.) or atorvastatin (30 mg kg-1, p.o.) prevented diabetes mellitus- and hyperhomocysteinemia-induced attenuation of acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation, impairment of vascular endothelial lining, decrease in expression of mRNA for eNOS, serum nitrite/nitrate concentration, and increase in expression of mRNA for p22phox, superoxide anion, and serum TBARS. The ameliorative effect of 8-Br-cAMP was prevented by N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (25 mg kg-1, i.p.) and glibenclamide (5 mg kg-1, i.p.). Therefore, it may be concluded that 8-Br-cAMP-induced activation of PKA may improve vascular endothelial dysfunction.
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PMID:Activation of protein kinase A improves vascular endothelial dysfunction. 1699 Jan 83

DNA methylation is coupled with one-carbon metabolism involving homocysteine/methionine interconversion. Correlation between plasma homocysteine levels and leukocyte global DNA methylation was reported but not always replicated. Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) is a determinant of plasma homocysteine levels. Findings suggest alteration of one-carbon metabolism in schizophrenia etiology; hyperhomocysteinemia was observed in schizophrenia. A recent study carried out by the authors of this paper found an association between NNMT and schizophrenia and decreased post-mortem brain NNMT mRNA levels. The present study assessed the interrelationship between brain and leukocytes global DNA methylation and plasma homocysteine levels, and between hyperhomocysteinemia and brain NNMT expression. Mice were administered homocysteine in drinking water. Percentage global genome DNA methylation was measured using the cytosine-extension method, and NNMT expression was measured using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR). Homocysteine administration resulted in a 10-fold increase in plasma homocysteine. However, there was no change in global DNA methylation in lymphocytes or in the frontal cortex. No significant intra-individual correlation was found between global DNA methylation in leukocytes and frontal cortex, suggesting that leukocyte global DNA methylation may not serve as a marker for brain global DNA methylation. No difference was found in NNMT expression in homocysteine-treated mice compared with control mice. In conclusion, relatively short-term hyperhomocysteinemia in mice does not reproduce or lead to alterations reported in one-carbon metabolism in disorders associated with lifelong elevated plasma homocysteine.
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PMID:Hyperhomocysteinemia does not affect global DNA methylation and nicotinamide N-methyltransferase expression in mice. 2116 89

Hyperhomocysteinemia leads to several clinical manifestations and, particularly, liver disease. Lowering homocysteine through nutrition or other means might offer preventive or therapeutic benefits. Polyphenols are natural compounds known for their antioxidant and healing properties for vessels. In a previous study we have shown a beneficial effect of a red wine polyphenolic extract (PE) administration on plasma homocysteine level in cystathionine beta synthase deficient mice, a murine model of hyperhomocysteinemia. These mice also develop hepatic fibrosis. As increased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 has been shown to be involved in the development of hepatic fibrosis, we then focused on the effect of PE administration on expression and activity of MMP-2 in liver of hyperhomocysteinemic mice and its impact on hepatic fibrosis development. PE was added for four weeks to the drinking water of heterozygous cystathionine beta synthase-deficient mice fed a high-methionine diet. Effects of PE administration were examined by histological analysis with Sirius red staining, zymography, immunobloting, real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, peroxynitrite level, catalase activity and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity. We show that administration of PE had a beneficial effect (i) on MMP-2 expression via modulation of nitrotyrosine-modified total protein level and (ii) on MMP-2 activity via modulation of its activator/inhibitor balance. We also demonstrated a reversal effect of PE supplementation on hepatic fibrosis development. Our results demonstrate a preventive action of PE administration on biomarkers of hepatic dysfunction due to hyperhomocysteinemia.
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PMID:Protection and reversal of hepatic fibrosis by red wine polyphenols in hyperhomocysteinemic mice. 2118 9