C-C motif Chemokine Ligand 3 Like 1 (CCL3L1) is characterized as a gene with copy number variable (CNV) and clustered at the segmental duplication on chromosome 17q12. CCL3L1 is responsible for the production of mac- rophage inflammatory protein (MIP) 1α that plays an important function in the immune system and host defense. Various copies range of CCL3L1 have been reported and associated with the diseases in different populations. Thus, this review aimed to summarise the distribution of CCL3L1 copy number from different populations according to the geographical region and highlighted the lacking of data from Malaysian population, which is one of the multi-ethnic countries due to the impacts of CCL3L1 copies on various diseases. Besides, we also outlined the methodologies available for the copy number typing. In overall, this review could provide significant information on the role of CCL3L1 copies in disease association and as well as providing evidence on the population diversity.
Glutathione s-transferases (GSTs) are the vital enzymes involved in Phase II metabolism to detoxify a wide range of carcinogenic metabolites in the body. GST class mu-1 (GSTM1) and GST class theta-1 (GSTT1) are the genes encoding for the GST isoenzymes. Nevertheless, both genes were frequently reported absent (null) in most of the populations at different frequencies. Null polymorphism will affect the production of GSTs and impair the ability to eliminate carcinogenic compounds which had been shown to expose null individuals to high risk of several cancers such as gastric and lung cancer. Thus, this review will briefly summarize on the GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms, frequencies of null variants in populations worldwide, including Malaysian, and their relevancy to the underlying basis of toxicological response to xenobiotics. Additionally, the genotyping assays used in GST studies will also be discussed.
Exposure to PM2.5 from traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) can cause health risk among residents in the urban area. Those who work outdoors are vulnerable to TRAP. PM2.5 from TRAP contain various carcinogenic and mutagenic compounds that can cause genotoxicity to human health. This study indicated that exposure to the higher level of PM2.5 in the urban areas had exhibited an increased in the formation of micronucleus (MN) among respondents. Traf- fic policemen experienced a high concentration of PM2.5 that lead to higher MN frequency compared to the office workers.
Introduction: Eating seafood has become a major health concern for many people due to the present of heavy met- al especially cadmium (Cd). Cd can accumulate in the body and disrupt the normal cellular processes which will eventually lead to organ damage. This study aims to determine the seafood consumption pattern and blood cadmium (BCd) as well as the association between these two variables among respondents living along the coastal area of Melaka. Methods: Pretested questionnaires were used to collect background and food frequency intake from coastal villagers through convenient sampling method. Venous blood samples were analysed by using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for BCd determination. Results: A total of 63 respondents who 54% were female with median age of 34 years old provided complete data in this study. The most frequently consumed seafood and its product were shrimp paste (31.5%) followed by mackerel (13.6%), hardtail-scad (6.2%), flatfish (4.5%) and fish ball (4.0). All blood samples showed the present of Cd with median (IQR) = 0.076 (0.1) μg/L and ranged between 0.007 to 1.284 μg/L. The finding showed no association between frequently consumed seafood and low BCd of the respondents. On the other hand, gender was found to be significantly associated with the BCd. Conclusion: Seafood consumption pattern was not significantly associated with BCd which suggests that frequent seafood consumption may not contribute much to BCd level among the respondents as well as it may indicates safe consumption of these seafood available in the study location.
Introduction: Accumulation of heavy metals through seafood consumption constitutes a significant potential threat to human health. Biomonitoring of whole blood heavy metals level gave an insight into the internal body burden to the exposure of heavy metals. The aims of this study were to assess the blood heavy metals (arsenic and lead) level among the coastal community of Melaka and to determine their association with sociodemographic background and potential sources of heavy metals accumulation. Methods: Respondents were recruited through purposive sampling technique based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The questionnaires were distributed to obtain sociodemograph- ic information, the frequency of seafood intake and smoking habit. Blood samples were obtained on a voluntary basis. A total of 63 respondents completed all the information required. The heavy metals concentration in blood was determined by inductively coupled plasma- mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results: The blood arsenic (BAs) con- centration of respondents was 0.076 (0.059 – 0.107) µg/L and the blood lead (BPb) concentration of respondents was 1.204 (0.670 – 2.094) µg/L respectively. A significant association was observed between seafood-based product frequency intake and BPb concentration (p < 0.05). Other seafood frequency intake and background factors were not significantly associated with the BAs and BPb concentration of respondents. Conclusion: The findings showed that arsenic and lead levels in the blood of respondents along the coastal area of Melaka did not exceed the blood heavy metals reference levels and there was also lack of associations between blood heavy metals concentration and the potential factors of heavy metals accumulation studied.
Introduction: Association studies between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have been abundant. However, there are limited reports on copy number variations (CNVs) of beta-defen- sins (DEFB) gene in relation to T2DM. In this study, DEFB copy numbers were quantified in T2DM with nephropathy, T2DM without nephropathy and non-diabetic control groups to investigate its influence in chronic inflammation in Malaysian individuals. Methods: DEFB copy number in Malaysian individuals were quantified by using paralogue ratio tests (PRT) which allow direct quantification of gene copy number by using PRT107A and HSPD21 PRT primers. The copy number generated was then validated from insertion/deletion ratio measurement 5DEL (rs5889219) and two microsatellite analyses (EPEV-1 and EPEV-3). Results: DEFB copy number was found extending from 2 to 8 cop- ies in the non-diabetic group (n=146), while in T2DM group (n=392), copy numbers were more extensive, ranging between 1 and 12 copies; with 1, 10 and 12 copies detected in T2DM with nephropathy group (n=202). Statistically, there is no significant difference in DEFB copy number between T2DM and the non-diabetic group (p=0.209) as well as between diabetic nephropathy and without nephropathy of the T2DM group (p=0.522). However, significant white blood cell (WBC) count was found between T2DM groups with and without diabetic nephropathy (p=0.000). Conclusion: Extreme DEFB copy numbers in T2DM with nephropathy group suggest future studies with bigger sam- ple size are necessary to elucidate the true impact of CNVs of DEFB gene in promoting early onset of nephropathy in T2DM.