CBS gene polymorphism and promoter methylation-mediating effects on the efficacy of folate therapy in patients with hyperhomocysteinemia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

A decrease in cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) enzyme activity could lead to hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy). Studies have revealed that DNA methylation has a mediating effect on the development of diseases. The present study aimed to explore CBS promoter methylation-mediating effects on the efficacy of folate treatment for HHcy.

METHODS:

HHcy patients were treated with folate (5 mg/day) for 90 days and then divided into a failure group (Hcy ≥ 15 μmol/l) and a success group (Hcy < 15 μmol/l) according to post-treatment plasma Hcy levels. Genotyping of CBS gene (rs2851391 and rs706209) in patients (n = 638) was detected using a MassArray system (Sequenom, San Diego, CA, USA). The baseline DNA methylation levels of patients (n = 299) were detected using MethylTarget™ technology (Genesky Biotechnologies Inc., Shanghai, China).

RESULTS:

The CBS rs2851391 TC + CC genotype was related to a 57% reduction of failure risk in HHcy treatment compared to the TT genotype (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.19-0.97). The CBS rs706209 CT + TT genotype had a 2.97-fold increased risk of failure to treatment compared to the CC genotype (95% CI = 1.52-5.80). After adjustment for confounding factors, the odds ratio (95% CI) for the risk of failure in HHcy treatment in total and male patients was 0.55 (0.32-0.93) and 0.34 (0.16-0.69), respectively, for patients with higher methylation levels (≥ methylation median). Additionally, baseline CBS promoter methylation mediated 33.39% of the effect of rs2851391 on the efficacy of folate treatment for HHcy (ACME [average causal mediation effects]: -0.05, 95% CI = -0.11 to 0.00, p = 0.046).

CONCLUSIONS:

The present study indicates that CBS gene polymorphism and promoter methylation could affect the efficacy of HHcy. There were potentially causal effects of genetic, epigenetic variations at the CBS rs2851391 locus on the efficacy of HHcy therapy with folate.

• Authors: Qinglin Zhao, Chengda Zhang, Dankang Li, Xiaowen Huang, Bingnan Ren, Limin Yue, Binghui Du, Opolot Godfrey, Weidong Zhang
• Journal: The journal of gene medicine (J Gene Med) Vol. 22 Issue 4 Pg. e3156 (04 2020) ISSN: 1521-2254 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 31864233 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Folic Acid
• Cystathionine beta-Synthase

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Alleles
• Biomarkers
• Cystathionine beta-Synthase (genetics)
• DNA Methylation
• Female
• Folic Acid (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Gene Frequency
• Genotype
• Humans
• Hyperhomocysteinemia (drug therapy, genetics)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Odds Ratio
• Pharmacogenetics (methods)
• Pharmacogenomic Variants
• Polymorphism, Genetic
• Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
• Promoter Regions, Genetic
• Treatment Outcome