Search

Gene expression and cell behavior are regulated by several factors, including small non-coding RNAs. Micro RNAs affecting cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis are thought to play an important role in tumorigenesis. The levels of miR-146 appear to be associated with cancer development and progression, including that of oral squamous cell carcinoma. The aim of this investigation was to ascertain whether the single nucleotide polymorphism, rs2910164, mapping in the MIR146A gene, has a role in oral squamous cell carcinoma progression. A genetic association study was performed with a sample set of 346 oral squamous cell carcinomas collected in Italy. Our data indicate that the rs2910164 polymorphism is not associated with tumor development. However, a slight increase in the frequency of the variant allele was observed in Stage II tumors. Further investigations are needed to verify a possible role of the variant allele or rs2910164 in oral squamous cell carcinoma progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Martinelli M, Masiero E, Carinci F, Morselli PG, Pezzetti F, Scapoli L. New evidence for the role of cystathionine beta-synthase in non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate. Eur J Oral Sci 2011; 119: 193-197. © 2011 Eur J Oral Sci Orofacial clefts have a multifactorial aetiology encompassing both genetic and environmental components. While there is wide agreement on the importance of both genetic and nutritional factors, genetic influence in particular has not been well defined. As genetic variants in folate and homocysteine metabolism have been reported to influence the risk of orofacial clefts, an Italian cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) data set was enrolled for an analysis based on family association to test betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase ( BHMT and BHMT2) and cystathionine beta-synthase ( CBS) variants. No significant level of association was found between BHMT and BHMT2 variants, while evidence of an allelic association with CL/P was found for the single nucleotide polymorphism rs4920037, mapping at the CBS gene. A log-linear approach indicated that the best genetic model takes into account both mother and child genotypes. This suggests that human orofacial development is influenced by CBS genotypes that possibly operate through intergenerational fetal-maternal interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]