BackgroundMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a novel class of endogenous, non-coding, single-stranded RNAs capable of regulating gene expression by suppressing translation or degrading mRNAs. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) can alter miRNA expression, resulting in diverse functional consequences. Previous studies have examined the association of miRNA SNPs with breast cancer (BC) susceptibility. The contribution of miRNA gene variants to BC susceptibility in South American women had been unexplored. Our study evaluated the association of the SNPs rs895819 in pre-miR27a, rs11614913 in pre-miR-196a2, rs6505162 in pre-miR-423, rs4919510 in miR-608, and rs2682818 in pre-mir-618 with familial BC and early-onset non-familial BC in non-carriers of BRCA1/2 mutations from a South American population.ResultsWe evaluated the association of five SNPs with BC risk in 440 cases and 807 controls. Our data do not support an association of rs11614913:C > T and rs4919510:C > G with BC risk. The rs6505162:C > A was significantly associated with increased risk of familial BC in persons with a strong family history of BC (OR = 1.7 [95 % CI 1.0–2.0] p = 0.05). The rs2682818:C > A genotype C/A is associated with an increased BC risk in non-familial early-onset BC. For the rs895819:A > G polymorphism, the genotype G/G is significantly associated with reduced BC risk in families with a moderate history of BC (OR = 0.3 [95 % CI 0.1–0.8] p = 0.01).ConclusionsThe contribution of variant miRNA genes to BC in South American women had been unexplored. Our findings support the following conclusions: a) rs6505162:C > A in pre-miR-423 increases risk of familial BC in families with a strong history of BC; b) the C/A genotype at rs2682818:C > A (pre-miR-618) increases BC risk in non-familial early-onset BC; and c) the G/G genotype at rs895819:A > G (miR-27a) reduces BC risk in families with a moderate history of BC.

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most frequent tumors affecting women worldwide. microRNAs (miRNAs) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) likely contribute to BC susceptibility. We evaluated the association of five SNPs with BC risk in non-carriers of the BRCA1/2-mutation from a South American population. The SNPs were genotyped in 440 Chilean BRCA1/2-negative BC cases and 1048 controls. Our data do not support an association between rs2910164:G>C or rs3746444:A>G and BC risk. The rs12975333:G>T is monomorphic in the Chilean population. The pre-miR-605 rs2043556-C allele was associated with a decreased risk of BC, both in patients with a strong family history of BC and in early-onset non-familial BC (Odds ratio (OR) = 0.5 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.4–0.9] p = 0.006 and OR = 0.6 [95% CI 0.5–0.9] p = 0.02, respectively). The rs4541843-T allele is associated with increased risk of familial BC. This is the first association study on rs4541843 and BC risk. Previously, we showed that the TOX3-rs3803662:C>T was significantly associated with increased risk of familial BC. Given that TOX3 mRNA is a target of miR-182, and that both the TOX3 rs3803662-T and pri-miR-182 rs4541843-T alleles are associated with increased BC risk, we evaluated their combined effect. Risk of familial BC increased in a dose-dependent manner with the number of risk alleles (p-trend = 0.0005), indicating an additive effect.

Sticholysin II (St II) is a haemolytic toxin isolated from the sea anemone Stichodactyla helianthus. The high haemolytic activity of this toxin is strongly dependent on the red cell status and the macromolecule conformation. In the present communication we evaluate the effect of human serum albumin on St II haemolytic activity and its capacity to form pores in the bilayer of synthetic liposomes. St II retains its pore forming capacity in the presence of large concentrations (up to 500 μM) of human serum albumin. This effect is observed both in its capacity to produce red blood cells haemolysis and to generate functional pores in liposomes. In particular, the capacity of the toxin to lyse red blood cells increases in the presence of human serum albumin (HSA). Regarding the rate of the pore forming process, it is moderately decreased in liposomes and in red blood cells, in spite of an almost total coverage of the interface by albumin. All the data obtained in red cells and model membranes show that St II remains lytically active even in the presence of high HSA concentrations. This stubbornness can explain why the toxin is able to exert its haemolytic activity on membranes immersed in complex plasma matrixes such as those present in living organisms.