- Genetic effects of one-carbon metabolism on cardiovascular disease risk and interaction with environment and diet
- R-based data mining methods integrated with risk prediction models in acute myocardial infarction development and prognosis
Ding Y, Gao Y, Sun H, Han H, Wang W, Ji X, Liu X, Sun D. The relationships between low levels of urine fluoride on children's intelligence, dental fluorosis in endemic fluorosis areas in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia, China. J Hazard Mater 186(2-3):1942-6. Epub 12/2011. PMID: 21237562
Degree-Granting Education
2012-present
University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway, PhD Candidate, Genetic Epidemiology and Statistics
2011
Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China, MS, Epidemiology and Health Statistics
2008
Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China, Bachelor in Preventive Medicine
Homocysteine is a well-known marker for cardiovascular disease (CVD). But several clinical trials failed to establish the causal relationship between homocysteine and the occurrence of cardiovascular artery disease (CAD), which means the role of one-carbon metabolism in the pathogenesis of CVD is still uncertain. From this aspect, genetic research may provide more insightful information about the development of CAD since it is less likely to be affected by traditional confounding.
In the folate-mediated one carbon metabolism, there are two enzymes considered to play important roles: methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase 1 (MTHFD1) and Serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT). MTHFD1 locates at the up-stream of one-carbon metabolism, and has known to be involved in DNA, RNA biosynthesis and epigenetic regulation. There is one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) locates on the promoter region of this gene, which has been showed in vitro experiments that the mutant type could decrease the enzyme activity to only 38.5% comparing with the wild-type. My project mainly focuses on the association between this SNP and the occurrence of myocardial infarction (MI), as well as the interaction between this SNP and other SNPs in folate network.
Basically, my project comprises of three parts. We first examine the independent effect of this promoter SNP in MTHFD1 gene on the occurrence of MI, mainly by using generalized logistic models and Cox proportional hazard models. And then we explore the potential causal relations by involving other SNPs and clinical parameters in one-carbon metabolism to detect the interactions. For example, we have already researched the relation between this SNP and cellular inflammation activation and cell apoptosis, and we are going to analyze the relations between this SNP and lipid metabolism as well as dietary intake. Data mining approaches, like random survival forests and nest recursive analysis are carried out in this phase. Finally, we will manage to do mediation analysis trying to investigate the potential mediator(s) between MTHFD1 and MI risk. After those steps, hopefully we would gain our knowledge in the role of folate metabolism relating to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease.
Presentations in conferences
2013 “11th Annual Center for Heart Failure Research Symposium” in Oslo, Norway
- Poster presentation: Gene-environment interactions in folate network affect the incidence of myocardial infarction
2013 “9th International Conference of homocysteine and one-carbon metabolism” in Dublin, Ireland
- Oral presentation: Plasma neopterin does not modify the risk of acute myocardial infarction associated with a common -105C>T polymorphism in Methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase 1 gene
- Poster presentation: Plasma troponin T levels and the risks of myocardial infarction associated with a promoter variant in MTHFD1 gene
2013 “EuroPRevent”—The EACPR annual meeting in Rome, Italy
- Poster presentation: A common genetic variant in folate metabolism is associated with major coronary events in patients with stable angina. <Winner of The Best Poster>