Evaluation of mRNA expression of Nrf-2 and NQO-1 genes in the young patients of metabolic syndrome.

Aim of Study: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a chronic inflammatory state and is characterized by oxidative stress. This study aims to evaluate the expression of antioxidant genes i.e. nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2) and NAD (P) H:quinine oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) in young patients of MS. Materials and Methods: Participants were recruited from the undergraduate medical students of the parent institute. Patients (n = 15) of MS were diagnosed on the basis of NCEP- ATP III criteria. The mRNA expression of Nrf-2 and NQO-1 genes was measured in whole blood samples of patients as well as healthy controls (n = 15), with the help of real time PCR. The relative expression was analysed by qPCR using dye (Syto9, Invitrogen) based chemistry. Specific primers were used for Nrf-2 and NQO-1 genes while B2M and β-Actin was used as an internal control. Fold change in the expression was calculated using delta delta Ct method. Results: Mean age in control group was 19.7 years and in patient group was 20.6 years. The expression of both Nrf-2 and NQO-1 was increased in the patients. Keeping B2M as normalizer, expression of Nrf-2 was 3.2 times and NQO-1 was 3.4 times higher patients. Keeping β-Actin as normalizer, expression of Nrf-2 was found to be 2.3 times and NQO-1 was 2.4 times more in patients of MS. Conclusions: Nrf-2, a transcription factor is a key regulator of antioxidant genes. Various antioxidant genes including NQO-1 are its downstream targets. The results of our study indicate that expression of master regulator (Nrf-2) as well as the antioxidant gene (NQO- 1) is increased in young patients of MS. The increased expression of antioxidant enzymes indicate that the protective mechanism in the young patients to counter oxidative damage seen in MS may be mediated through increased expression of antioxidant enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]