Zonulin reversibly modulate intestinal permeability (IP), the circulating zonulin levels were increased in diabetes, obesity, all of which are risk factors for atherosclerosis.
Increased expression of oxidation-specific epitopes and apoptosis are associated with haptoglobin genotype: possible implications for plaque progression in human atherosclerosis.
Beyond the conventional view of haptoglobin as a marker of hemolysis, several findings point towards an immunomodulatory effect of haptoglobin in B-cell mediated progression of atherosclerosis.
These findings should foster research investigating the role of Hp polymorphism in human disease, and in vitamin C deficiency and atherosclerosis in particular.
Iron and infection: effects of host iron status and the iron-regulatory genes haptoglobin and NRAMP1 (SLC11A1) on host-pathogen interactions in tuberculosis and HIV.
The Hp polymorphism is related to the prevalence and the outcome of various pathological conditions with altered iron metabolism such as hemochromatosis, infections, and atherosclerotic vascular disease.
Variation at the haptoglobin locus could have a direct effect on the degradation of elastin in atherosclerotic aorta, whereas variation at the cholesterol ester transfer protein locus could affect lipid metabolism and promote atherosclerosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)