BACKGROUND: Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) is a cell surface receptor expressed on neutrophils and monocytes. TREM-1 acts to amplify infl ammation and serves as a critical mediator of infl ammatory response in the context of sepsis. To date, the predisposition of TREM-1 gene polymorphisms to septic shock has not been reported. This study was designed to investigate whether TREM-1 genomic variations are associated with the development of septic shock. METHODS:We genotyped two TREM-1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs, rs2234237 and rs2234246) and evaluated the relationships between these SNPs and septic shock on susceptibility and prognosis.RESULTS: TREM-1 rs2234246 A allele in the promoter region was signifi cantly associated with the susceptibility of septic shock in recessive model (AA, OR=3.10, 95%CI 1.15 to 8.32, P=0.02), and in codominant model (AG, OR=0.72, 95%CI 0.43-1.19, P=0.02; AA, OR=2.71, 95%CI 1.00-7.42; P=0.03). However, in three inherited models (dominant model, recessive model, and codominant model), none of the assayed loci was signifi cantly associated with the prognosis of septic shock. The nonsurvivor group demonstrated higher plasma IL-6 levels (99.7±34.7 pg/mL vs. 61.2±26.5 pg/mL, P<0.01) than the survivor group. Plasma concentrations of IL-6 among the three genotypes of rs2234246 were AA 99.4±48.9 pg/mL, AG 85.4±43 pg/mL, and GG 65.3±30.7 pg/mL (P<0.01). The plasma concentrations of IL-6 in patients with AA genotypes were signifi cantly higher than those in patients with GG genotypes (P<0.01).CONCLUSION: TREM-1 genetic polymorphisms rs2234246 may be significantly correlated only with susceptibility to septic shock in the Chinese Han population.

Objective. To investigate the association of serum sTREM-1 with myocardial dysfunction in patients with severe sepsis. Methods. A total of 85 patients with severe sepsis were divided into severe sepsis group (n = 40) and septic shock group (n = 45). Serum levels of sTREM-1, NT-proBNP, APACHE II score, SOFA score, cardiac index, cardiac function index, global ejection fraction, and left ventricular contractility index were measured on days 1, 3, and 7 after admission to ICU. Results. Serum sTREM-1 levels of patients with septic shock were significantly higher than those with severe sepsis on days 1, 3, and 7. Serum sTREM-1 was positively correlated with APACHE II scores, SOFA scores, and NT-proBNP. However, The sTREM-1 level was markedly negatively correlated with CI, CFI, GEF, and dP/dt max, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that sTREM-1 was independent risk factor to NT-proBNP increasing. The optimal cut-off point of sTREM-1 for detecting patients with myocardial dysfunction was 468.05 ng/mL with sensitivity (80.6%) and specificity (75.7%). There is no difference in TREM-1-mRNA expression between the two groups. Conclusions. Serum sTREM-1 is significantly associated with myocardial dysfunction and may be a valuable tool for determining the presence of myocardial dysfunction in patients with severe sepsis.

ABSTRACT. Previous studies suggested that dopamine receptors may be associated with drug dependence and impulsive behavior. In this study, we examined whether dopamine receptor D1 (DRD1) is associated with heroin dependence and the impulsive behavior in patients with heroin dependence. The participants included 367 patients with heroin dependence and 372 healthy controls from a Chinese Han population. We examined the potential association between heroin dependence and 8 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rs686, rs4867798, rs1799914, rs4532, rs5326, rs265981, rs10078714, rs10078866) of DRD1, and the associations between single single-nucleotide polymorphism, haplotypes, and impulsive behavior. Compared with the healthy controls, heroin dependence patients showed a significantly lower frequency of GG homozygotes of rs5326 (P = 0.027), significantly lower frequency of the G allele of rs5326 (P = 0.007, odds ratio = 0.718, J.H. Liu et al. 4042©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 14 (2): 4041-4050 (2015) 95% confidence interval = 0.565-0.913), and higher frequency of the rs265981 G allele (P = 0.0002, odds ratio = 1.711, 95% confidence interval = 1.281-2.287). Furthermore, strong linkage disequilibrium was observed in 2 blocks (D' > 0.9). However, no association was observed between haplotypes and heroin dependence in the 2 blocks. This genetic behavior correlation study showed that the 2 singlenucleotide polymorphisms, rs5326 and rs265981, were not associated with the impulsive behavior in patients with heroin dependence. These findings indicate that DRD1 gene polymorphisms are related to heroin dependence in a Chinese Han population and may be informative for future genetic or biological studies on heroin dependence.