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  • Polymorphisms in the putative micro-RNA-binding sites of mesothelin gene are associated with serum levels of mesothelin-related protein

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Original article
Polymorphisms in the putative micro-RNA-binding sites of mesothelin gene are associated with serum levels of mesothelin-related protein
  1. Alfonso Cristaudo1,
  2. Rudy Foddis1,
  3. Alessandra Bonotti1,
  4. Silvia Simonini1,
  5. Agnese Vivaldi1,
  6. Giovanni Guglielmi1,
  7. Rossella Bruno2,
  8. Debora Landi2,
  9. Federica Gemignani2,*,
  10. Stefano Landi2,*
  1. 1Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Occupational Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy
  2. 2Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Italy
  1. Correspondence to Alfonso Cristaudo, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Occupational Medicine, University of Pisa, via Paradisa, 2 Pisa 56124, Italy; a.cristaudo{at}med.unipi.it

Abstract

Background Serum mesothelin, also known as soluble mesothelin-related protein (SMRP), reportedly shows increased levels in epithelial-type malignant pleural mesothelioma, but sometimes also arrives at high values in healthy asbestos-exposed subjects.

Objectives This study aimed to investigate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms in the 3′untranslated region (3′UTR) of the mesothelin-encoded gene (MSLN) are associated with the SMRP levels measured in serum.

Methods The 3′UTR of the mesothelin gene was genotyped in 59 healthy asbestos-exposed subjects, selected on the basis of their SMRP levels. Direct sequencing did not show any new polymorphism, but enabled us to genotype two known SNPs (rs1057147, rs57272256). Differences in the mean values of SMRP in wild-type and variant heterozygote groups were calculated.

Results High levels of SMRP in healthy asbestos-exposed subjects were significantly associated with polymorphism rs1057147 (G<A). Regarding rs57272256, there was no statistically significant difference between wild-type and heterozygote groups.

Our study suggests that rs1057147 polymorphism can affect mesothelin expression. Although these data need to be confirmed with a larger number of cases, this study warrants further research in order to better understand the relationship between mesothelin polymorphisms and SMRP.

  • Polymorphism
  • mesothelin
  • marker
  • occupational health practice
  • asbestos

http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/oem.2009.049205

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    Footnotes

    • ↵* These authors contributed equally to the manuscript.

    • Competing interest None.

    • Ethics approval This study was conducted with the approval of the institutional ethical committee for pharmaceutical experimentation of the University Hospital of Pisa.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.