No abstract

We replicated the association between Graves' disease and PTPN22 'T' reported in British Caucasians. We also found a gene dose-dependent effect of PTPN22 'T' on the age of onset of Graves' disease.

Objective: The development and severity of Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) may result from a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) gene polymorphism and non-genetic factors (age, sex, cigarette smoking) with GO in two different populations, Polish-Caucasians and Japanese. Design: We investigated the distribution of CTLA-4 A49G polymorphism in 264 Caucasian patients with Graves' disease (GD), of which 95 had clinically evident GO (NOSPECS class $ 3) and 319 Japanese patients with GD, of which 99 had ophthalmopathy. The control groups consisted of healthy Polish adults ðn ¼ 194Þ; Polish centenarians ðn ¼ 51Þ and Japanese adults ðn ¼ 112Þ: Results: Allele G and G/G genotype were significantly increased in Caucasian patients with GD (48% and 25% respectively) and in Japanese patients with GD (69% and 47% respectively) compared with control groups. There were no significant differences in the G allele and G/G genotype frequencies in GO patients compared with GD patients without ophthalmopathy. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that cigarette smoking ðP ¼ 0:03; odds ratio ðORÞ ¼ 1:7Þ and age of onset of GD over 42 years ðP ¼ 0:08; OR ¼ 1:6Þ were contributing factors associated with susceptibility to GO in Polish patients. In Japanese patients, a younger age of onset of GD had an effect on the development of GO ðP ¼ 0:02; OR ¼ 1:8Þ: Conclusions: (i) Allele G and G/G genotype confer genetic susceptibility to GD; (ii) CTLA-4 A49G polymorphism is not associated with the development of GO; (iii) different non-genetic factors may contribute to GO in different populations.

Thyroid hormone (T(3)) regulates proliferation and differentiation of cells, via its nuclear receptors (TRs). These processes have been shown to be abnormally regulated during carcinogenesis. We have previously found aberrant expression of TRalpha and TRbeta mRNAs in renal clear cell carcinoma (RCCC), suggesting possible involvement of TRs in the carcinogenesis of RCCC. To understand the molecular actions of TRs in RCCC, cDNAs for TRbeta1 and TRalpha1 were cloned from 22 RCCC tissues and 20 surrounding normal tissues. Mutations were found in seven TRbeta1 and three TRalpha1 cDNAs. Two TRbeta1 cDNAs had a single mutation, while five TRbeta1 and three TRalpha1 had two or three mutations. Most of the mutations were localized in the hormone-binding domain. Using the TRs prepared by in vitro transcription/translation, we found that these mutations led to a loss of T(3) binding activity and/or impairment in binding to thyroid hormone response elements (TREs). Furthermore, nuclear extracts from RCCC tissues also exhibited impairment in binding to TREs. These results indicate that the normal functions of TRs in RCCC tissues were impaired. Together with the aberrant expression patterns, these mutated TRs could contribute to the carcinogenesis of RCCC.