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Zucco J, Baldan F, Allegri L, Bregant E, Passon N, Franzoni A, D'Elia AV, Faletra F, Damante G, Mio C. A bird's eye view on the use of whole exome sequencing in rare congenital ophthalmic diseases. J Hum Genet 2024; 69:271-282. [PMID: 38459225 PMCID: PMC11126393 DOI: 10.1038/s10038-024-01237-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity in congenital ocular diseases, especially in anterior segment dysgenesis (ASD), have created challenges for proper diagnosis and classification of diseases. Over the last decade, genomic research has indeed boosted our understanding in the molecular basis of ASD and genes associated with both autosomal dominant and recessive patterns of inheritance have been described with a wide range of expressivity. Here we describe the molecular characterization of a cohort of 162 patients displaying isolated or syndromic congenital ocular dysgenesis. Samples were analyzed with diverse techniques, such as direct sequencing, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, and whole exome sequencing (WES), over 20 years. Our data reiterate the notion that PAX6 alterations are primarily associated with ASD, mostly aniridia, since the majority of the cohort (66.7%) has a pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant in the PAX6 locus. Unexpectedly, a high fraction of positive samples (20.3%) displayed deletions involving the 11p13 locus, either partially/totally involving PAX6 coding region or abolishing its critical regulatory region, underlying its significance. Most importantly, the use of WES has allowed us to both assess variants in known ASD genes (i.e., CYP1B1, ITPR1, MAB21L1, PXDN, and PITX2) and to identify rarer phenotypes (i.e., MIDAS, oculogastrointestinal-neurodevelopmental syndrome and Jacobsen syndrome). Our data clearly suggest that WES allows expanding the analytical portfolio of ocular dysgenesis, both isolated and syndromic, and that is pivotal for the differential diagnosis of those conditions in which there may be phenotypic overlaps and in general in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Zucco
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASUFC), Udine, Italy
| | - Federica Baldan
- Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Allegri
- Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Elisa Bregant
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASUFC), Udine, Italy
| | - Nadia Passon
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASUFC), Udine, Italy
| | - Alessandra Franzoni
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASUFC), Udine, Italy
| | - Angela Valentina D'Elia
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASUFC), Udine, Italy
| | - Flavio Faletra
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASUFC), Udine, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Damante
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASUFC), Udine, Italy
- Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Catia Mio
- Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
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2
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Thöny B, Ng J, Kurian MA, Mills P, Martinez A. Mouse models for inherited monoamine neurotransmitter disorders. J Inherit Metab Dis 2024; 47:533-550. [PMID: 38168036 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Several mouse models have been developed to study human defects of primary and secondary inherited monoamine neurotransmitter disorders (iMND). As the field continues to expand, current defects in corresponding mouse models include enzymes and a molecular co-chaperone involved in monoamine synthesis and metabolism (PAH, TH, PITX3, AADC, DBH, MAOA, DNAJC6), tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) cofactor synthesis and recycling (adGTPCH1/DRD, arGTPCH1, PTPS, SR, DHPR), and vitamin B6 cofactor deficiency (ALDH7A1), as well as defective monoamine neurotransmitter packaging (VMAT1, VMAT2) and reuptake (DAT). No mouse models are available for human DNAJC12 co-chaperone and PNPO-B6 deficiencies, disorders associated with recessive variants that result in decreased stability and function of the aromatic amino acid hydroxylases and decreased neurotransmitter synthesis, respectively. More than one mutant mouse is available for some of these defects, which is invaluable as different variant-specific (knock-in) models may provide more insights into underlying mechanisms of disorders, while complete gene inactivation (knock-out) models often have limitations in terms of recapitulating complex human diseases. While these mouse models have common phenotypic traits also observed in patients, reflecting the defective homeostasis of the monoamine neurotransmitter pathways, they also present with disease-specific manifestations with toxic accumulation or deficiency of specific metabolites related to the specific gene affected. This review provides an overview of the currently available models and may give directions toward selecting existing models or generating new ones to investigate novel pathogenic mechanisms and precision therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beat Thöny
- Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Joanne Ng
- Genetic Therapy Accelerator Centre, University College London, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Manju A Kurian
- Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, GOS Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Neurology, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK
| | - Philippa Mills
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Aurora Martinez
- Department of Biomedicine and Center for Translational Research in Parkinson's Disease, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Neuro-SysMed, Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
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3
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Caiazza M, Budillon A, Monda E, Aruta G, Esposito A, Del Vecchio Blanco F, Piluso G, Nigro V, Scarano G, Limongelli G. An atypical Aymé-Gripp phenotype detected by exome sequencing. Am J Med Genet A 2024; 194:70-76. [PMID: 37712597 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Aymé-Gripp Syndrome (AGS) is an ultra-rare syndrome characterized by peculiar facial traits combined with early bilateral cataracts, sensorineural hearing loss, and variable neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Only a few cases carrying a pathogenic variant in MAF have been described to date. A significant effort is then required to expand the genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of this condition. In this paper, we report the peculiar case of a 6-year-old girl carrying a de novo missense pathogenic variant in MAF, being the first case reported to show a milder phenotype with no cataracts and deafness displayed. Furthermore, we performed a systematic review of previously published cases, focusing on clinical manifestation and genotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Caiazza
- Inherited and Rare Cardiovascular Diseases Unit, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy
| | - Alberto Budillon
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Emanuele Monda
- Inherited and Rare Cardiovascular Diseases Unit, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy
| | - Giustina Aruta
- Inherited and Rare Cardiovascular Diseases Unit, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy
| | - Augusto Esposito
- Inherited and Rare Cardiovascular Diseases Unit, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Giulio Piluso
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Nigro
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Gioacchino Scarano
- Inherited and Rare Cardiovascular Diseases Unit, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy
- U.O.S.D. Genetica Medica, A.O.R.N. San Pio, Benevento, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Limongelli
- Inherited and Rare Cardiovascular Diseases Unit, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London and St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK
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4
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Tangeman JA, Rebull SM, Grajales-Esquivel E, Weaver JM, Bendezu-Sayas S, Robinson ML, Lachke SA, Del Rio-Tsonis K. Integrated single-cell multiomics uncovers foundational regulatory mechanisms of lens development and pathology. Development 2024; 151:dev202249. [PMID: 38180241 PMCID: PMC10906490 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Ocular lens development entails epithelial to fiber cell differentiation, defects in which cause congenital cataracts. We report the first single-cell multiomic atlas of lens development, leveraging snRNA-seq, snATAC-seq and CUT&RUN-seq to discover previously unreported mechanisms of cell fate determination and cataract-linked regulatory networks. A comprehensive profile of cis- and trans-regulatory interactions, including for the cataract-linked transcription factor MAF, is established across a temporal trajectory of fiber cell differentiation. Furthermore, we identify an epigenetic paradigm of cellular differentiation, defined by progressive loss of the H3K27 methylation writer Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2). PRC2 localizes to heterochromatin domains across master-regulator transcription factor gene bodies, suggesting it safeguards epithelial cell fate. Moreover, we demonstrate that FGF hyper-stimulation in vivo leads to MAF network activation and the emergence of novel lens cell states. Collectively, these data depict a comprehensive portrait of lens fiber cell differentiation, while defining regulatory effectors of cell identity and cataract formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared A. Tangeman
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
- Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology Program, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Sofia M. Rebull
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Erika Grajales-Esquivel
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Jacob M. Weaver
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
- Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology Program, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Stacy Bendezu-Sayas
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
- Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology Program, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Michael L. Robinson
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
- Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology Program, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Salil A. Lachke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
- Center for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19713, USA
| | - Katia Del Rio-Tsonis
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
- Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology Program, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
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5
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Sun Q, Li J, Ma J, Zheng Y, Ju R, Li X, Ren X, Huang L, Chen R, Tan X, Luo L. JAM-C Is Important for Lens Epithelial Cell Proliferation and Lens Fiber Maturation in Murine Lens Development. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2023; 64:15. [PMID: 38095908 PMCID: PMC10723223 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.64.15.15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The underlying mechanism of congenital cataracts caused by deficiency or mutation of junctional adhesion molecule C (JAM-C) gene remains unclear. Our study aims to elucidate the abnormal developmental process in Jamc-/- lenses and reveal the genes related to lens development that JAM-C may regulate. Methods Jamc knockout (Jamc-/-) mouse embryos and pups were generated for in vivo studies. Four key developmental stages from embryonic day (E) 12.5 to postnatal day (P) 0.5 were selected for the following experiments. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used for histological analysis. The 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assay and TUNEL staining were performed to label lens epithelial cell (LEC) proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. Immunofluorescence and Western blot were used to analyze the markers of lens epithelium, cell cycle exit, and lens fiber differentiation. Results JAM-C was expressed throughout the process of lens development. Deletion of Jamc resulted in decreased lens size and disorganized lens fibers, which arose from E16.5 and aggravated gradually. The LECs of Jamc-/- lenses showed decreased quantity and proliferation, accompanied with reduction of key transcription factor, FOXE3. The fibers in Jamc-/- lenses were disorganized. Moreover, Jamc-deficient lens fibers showed significantly altered distribution patterns of Cx46 and Cx50. The marker of fiber homeostasis, γ-crystallin, was also decreased in the inner cortex and core fibers of Jamc-/- lenses. Conclusions Deletion of JAM-C exhibits malfunction of LEC proliferation and fiber maturation during murine lens development, which may be related to the downregulation of FOXE3 expression and abnormal localization patterns of Cx46 and Cx50.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qihang Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiani Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingyu Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuxing Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rong Ju
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuri Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiangrong Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lijuan Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rongyuan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuhua Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lixia Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
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6
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Tangeman JA, Rebull SM, Grajales-Esquivel E, Weaver JM, Bendezu-Sayas S, Robinson ML, Lachke SA, Rio-Tsonis KD. Integrated single-cell multiomics uncovers foundational regulatory mechanisms of lens development and pathology. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.10.548451. [PMID: 37502967 PMCID: PMC10369908 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.10.548451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Ocular lens development entails epithelial to fiber cell differentiation, defects in which cause congenital cataract. We report the first single-cell multiomic atlas of lens development, leveraging snRNA-seq, snATAC-seq, and CUT&RUN-seq to discover novel mechanisms of cell fate determination and cataract-linked regulatory networks. A comprehensive profile of cis- and trans-regulatory interactions, including for the cataract-linked transcription factor MAF, is established across a temporal trajectory of fiber cell differentiation. Further, we divulge a conserved epigenetic paradigm of cellular differentiation, defined by progressive loss of H3K27 methylation writer Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2). PRC2 localizes to heterochromatin domains across master-regulator transcription factor gene bodies, suggesting it safeguards epithelial cell fate. Moreover, we demonstrate that FGF hyper-stimulation in vivo leads to MAF network activation and the emergence of novel lens cell states. Collectively, these data depict a comprehensive portrait of lens fiber cell differentiation, while defining regulatory effectors of cell identity and cataract formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared A Tangeman
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 USA
- Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology Program, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 USA
| | - Sofia M Rebull
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 USA
| | - Erika Grajales-Esquivel
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 USA
| | - Jacob M Weaver
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 USA
- Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology Program, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 USA
| | - Stacy Bendezu-Sayas
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 USA
- Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology Program, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 USA
| | - Michael L Robinson
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 USA
- Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology Program, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 USA
| | - Salil A Lachke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716 USA
- Center for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19713 USA
| | - Katia Del Rio-Tsonis
- Department of Biology and Center for Visual Sciences, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 USA
- Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology Program, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 USA
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Feng Y, Zhang H, Han J, Cui B, Qin L, Zhang L, Li Q, Wu X, Xiao N, Zhang Y, Lin T, Liu H, Sun T. HSF4/COIL complex-dependent R-loop mediates ultraviolet-induced inflammatory skin injury. Clin Transl Med 2023; 13:e1336. [PMID: 37461263 PMCID: PMC10352565 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Intense ultraviolet (UV) exposure can cause phototoxic reactions, such as skin inflammation, resulting in injury. UV is a direct cause of DNA damage, but the mechanisms underlying transcriptional regulation within cells after DNA damage are unclear. The bioinformatics analysis of transcriptome sequencing data from UV-irradiated and non-UV-irradiated skin showed that transcription-related proteins, such as HSF4 and COIL, mediate cellular response to UV irradiation. HSF4 and COIL can form a complex under UV irradiation, and the preference for binding target genes changed because of the presence of a large number of R-loops in cells under UV irradiation and the ability of COIL to recognize R-loops. The regulation of target genes was altered by the HSF4-COIL complex, and the expression of inflammation and ageing-related genes, such as Atg7, Tfpi, and Lims1, was enhanced. A drug screen was performed for the recognition sites of COIL and R-loop. N6-(2-hydroxyethyl)-adenosine can competitively bind COIL and inhibit the binding of COIL to the R-loop. Thus, the activation of downstream inflammation-related genes and inflammatory skin injury was inhibited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi‐qian Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of PharmacyNankai UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Heng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of PharmacyNankai UniversityTianjinChina
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Early Druggability Evaluation of Innovative Drugs and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug ResearchTianjin International Joint Academy of BiomedicineTianjinChina
| | - Jing‐xia Han
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of PharmacyNankai UniversityTianjinChina
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Early Druggability Evaluation of Innovative Drugs and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug ResearchTianjin International Joint Academy of BiomedicineTianjinChina
| | - Bi‐jia Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of PharmacyNankai UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Lu‐ning Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of PharmacyNankai UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Lei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of PharmacyNankai UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Qing‐qing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of PharmacyNankai UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Xin‐ying Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of PharmacyNankai UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Nan‐nan Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of PharmacyNankai UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Yan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of PharmacyNankai UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Ting‐ting Lin
- Medical Plastic and Cosmetic CentreTianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular DiseaseTianjin Medical University Eye HospitalTianjinChina
| | - Hui‐juan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of PharmacyNankai UniversityTianjinChina
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Early Druggability Evaluation of Innovative Drugs and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug ResearchTianjin International Joint Academy of BiomedicineTianjinChina
| | - Tao Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of PharmacyNankai UniversityTianjinChina
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Wang W, Lin P, Wang S, Zhang G, Chen C, Lu X, Zhuang Y, Su J, Wang H, Xu L. In-depth mining of single-cell transcriptome reveals the key immune-regulated loops in age-related macular degeneration. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1173123. [PMID: 37273909 PMCID: PMC10235539 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1173123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an ever-increasing ocular disease, has become one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness. Recent advances in single-cell genomics are improving our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of AMD. However, the pathophysiology of this multifactorial disease is complicated and still an ongoing challenge. To better understand disease pathogenesis and identify effective targets, we conducted an in-depth analysis of the single-cell transcriptome of AMD. Methods The cell expression specificity of the gene (CESG) was selected as an index to identify the novel cell markers. A computational framework was designed to explore the cell-specific TF regulatory loops, containing the interaction of gene pattern signatures, transcription factors regulons, and differentially expressed genes. Results Three potential novel cell markers were DNASE1L3 for endothelial cells, ABCB5 for melanocytes, and SLC39A12 for RPE cells detected. We observed a notable change in the cell abundance and crosstalk of fibroblasts cells, melanocytes, schwann cells, and T/NK cells between AMD and controls, representing a complex cellular ecosystem in disease status. Finally, we identified six cell type related and three disease-associated ternary loops and elaborated on the robust association between key immune-pathway and AMD. Discussion In conclusion, this study facilitates the optimization of screening for AMD-related receptor ligand pathways and proposes to further improve the interpretability of disease associations from single-cell data. It illuminated that immune-related regulation paths could be used as potential diagnostic markers for AMD, and in the future, also as therapeutic targets, providing insights into AMD diagnosis and potential interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wencan Wang
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Peng Lin
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Siyu Wang
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Guosi Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Chong Chen
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyan Lu
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Youyuan Zhuang
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jianzhong Su
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Institute of PSI Genomics Co., Ltd., Wenzhou, China
| | - Hong Wang
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Center of Optometry International Innovation of Wenzhou, Eye Valley, Wenzhou, China
| | - Liangde Xu
- National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Center of Optometry International Innovation of Wenzhou, Eye Valley, Wenzhou, China
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Wu J, Chen S, Xu J, Xu W, Zheng S, Tian Q, Luo C, Chen X, Shentu X. Insight into Pathogenic Mechanism Underlying the Hereditary Cataract Caused by βB2-G149V Mutation. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13050864. [PMID: 37238733 DOI: 10.3390/biom13050864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Congenital cataracts account for approximately 5-20% of childhood blindness worldwide and 22-30% of childhood blindness in developing countries. Genetic disorders are the primary cause of congenital cataracts. In this work, we investigated the underlying molecular mechanism of G149V point missense mutation in βB2-crystallin, which was first identified in a three-generation Chinese family with two affected members diagnosed with congenital cataracts. Spectroscopic experiments were performed to determine the structural differences between the wild type (WT) and the G149V mutant of βB2-crystallin. The results showed that the G149V mutation significantly changed the secondary and tertiary structure of βB2-crystallin. The polarity of the tryptophan microenvironment and the hydrophobicity of the mutant protein increased. The G149V mutation made the protein structure loose and the interaction between oligomers was reduced, which decreased the stability of the protein. Furthermore, we compared βB2-crystallin WT and the G149V mutant with their biophysical properties under environmental stress. We found that the G149V mutation makes βB2-crystallin more sensitive to environmental stresses (oxidative stress, UV irradiation, and heat shock) and more likely to aggregate and form precipitation. These features might be important to the pathogenesis of βB2-crystallin G149V mutant related to congenital cataracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310030, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, 158 Shangtang Road, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Silong Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310030, China
| | - Jingjie Xu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310030, China
| | - Wanyue Xu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 268 Kaixuan Road, Hangzhou 310030, China
| | - Sifan Zheng
- GKT School of Medical Education, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Qing Tian
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 268 Kaixuan Road, Hangzhou 310030, China
| | - Chenqi Luo
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310030, China
| | - Xiangjun Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310030, China
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 268 Kaixuan Road, Hangzhou 310030, China
| | - Xingchao Shentu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310030, China
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10
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Wang X, Chen X, Liu G, Cai H, Le W. The Crucial Roles of Pitx3 in Midbrain Dopaminergic Neuron Development and Parkinson's Disease-Associated Neurodegeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108614. [PMID: 37239960 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The degeneration of midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons, particularly in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), is one of the most prominent pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease (PD). To uncover the pathogenic mechanisms of mDA neuronal death during PD may provide therapeutic targets to prevent mDA neuronal loss and slow down the disease's progression. Paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 3 (Pitx3) is selectively expressed in the mDA neurons as early as embryonic day 11.5 and plays a critical role in mDA neuron terminal differentiation and subset specification. Moreover, Pitx3-deficient mice exhibit some canonical PD-related features, including the profound loss of SNc mDA neurons, a dramatic decrease in striatal dopamine (DA) levels, and motor abnormalities. However, the precise role of Pitx3 in progressive PD and how this gene contributes to mDA neuronal specification during early stages remains unclear. In this review, we updated the latest findings on Pitx3 by summarizing the crosstalk between Pitx3 and its associated transcription factors in mDA neuron development. We further explored the potential benefits of Pitx3 as a therapeutic target for PD in the future. To better understand the transcriptional network of Pitx3 in mDA neuron development may provide insights into Pitx3-related clinical drug-targeting research and therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- Institute of Neurology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Institute of Neurology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Guangdong Liu
- Institute of Neurology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Huaibin Cai
- Transgenic Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Weidong Le
- Institute of Neurology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu 611731, China
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11
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Gata2a Mutation Causes Progressive Microphthalmia and Blindness in Nile Tilapia. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043567. [PMID: 36834978 PMCID: PMC9958714 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The normal development of lens fiber cells plays a critical role in lens morphogenesis and maintaining transparency. Factors involved in the development of lens fiber cells are largely unknown in vertebrates. In this study, we reported that GATA2 is essential for lens morphogenesis in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). In this study, Gata2a was detected in the primary and secondary lens fiber cells, with the highest expression in primary fiber cells. gata2a homozygous mutants of tilapia were obtained using CRISPR/Cas9. Different from fetal lethality caused by Gata2/gata2a mutation in mice and zebrafish, some gata2a homozygous mutants of tilapia are viable, which provides a good model for studying the role of gata2 in non-hematopoietic organs. Our data showed that gata2a mutation caused extensive degeneration and apoptosis of primary lens fiber cells. The mutants exhibited progressive microphthalmia and blindness in adulthood. Transcriptome analysis of the eyes showed that the expression levels of almost all genes encoding crystallin were significantly down-regulated, while the expression levels of genes involved in visual perception and metal ion binding were significantly up-regulated after gata2a mutation. Altogether, our findings indicate that gata2a is required for the survival of lens fiber cells and provide insights into transcriptional regulation underlying lens morphogenesis in teleost fish.
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12
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Dang H, Peng M, Gu W, Ding G, Sun Y, Hao Z, Wei N, Wang X, Zhang C, Deng A. Investigating the Clinical Characteristics and PITX3Mutations of a Large Chinese Family with Anterior Segment Mesenchymal Dysgenesis and Congenital Posterior Polar Cataract. J Ophthalmol 2023; 2023:1397107. [PMID: 37139083 PMCID: PMC10151149 DOI: 10.1155/2023/1397107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and pathogenic genetic mutations of a Chinese family with anterior segment mesenchymal dysgenesis and congenital posterior polar cataract. Methods Through family investigation, the family members were examined via slit lamp anterior segment imaging and screened for eye and other diseases by eye B-ultrasound. Genetic test was performed on the blood samples of the fourth family generation (23 people) via whole exome sequencing (trio-WES) and Sanger sequencing. Results Among the 36 members in four family generations, there were 11 living cases with different degrees of ocular abnormalities, such as cataracts, leukoplakia, and small cornea. All patients who received the genetic test had the heterozygous frameshift mutation c.640_656dup (p.G220Pfs∗95) on exon 4 of the PITX3 gene. This mutation was cosegregated with the clinical phenotypes in the family and thus might be one of the genetic factors that cause the corresponding ocular abnormalities in this family. Conclusion The congenital posterior polar cataract with or without anterior interstitial dysplasia (ASMD) of this family was inherited in an autosomal dominant manner, and the frameshift mutation (c.640_656dup) in the PITX3 gene was the cause of ocular abnormalities observed in this family. This study is of great significance for guiding prenatal diagnosis and disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Dang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jinan Second People's Hospital, Jinan 250200, China
| | - Min Peng
- Zhigene Translational Medicine Research Center Co. Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Weiyue Gu
- Zhigene Translational Medicine Research Center Co. Ltd., Beijing 100176, China
| | - Gang Ding
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jinan Second People's Hospital, Jinan 250200, China
| | - Yuqin Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jinan Second People's Hospital, Jinan 250200, China
| | - Zhongkai Hao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jinan Second People's Hospital, Jinan 250200, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261000, China
| | - Ning Wei
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jinan Second People's Hospital, Jinan 250200, China
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jinan Second People's Hospital, Jinan 250200, China
| | - Chenming Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jinan Second People's Hospital, Jinan 250200, China
| | - Aijun Deng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261000, China
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Kovács D, Kovács M, Ahmed S, Barna J. Functional diversification of heat shock factors. Biol Futur 2022; 73:427-439. [PMID: 36402935 DOI: 10.1007/s42977-022-00138-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Heat shock transcription factors (HSFs) are widely known as master regulators of the heat shock response. In invertebrates, a single heat shock factor, HSF1, is responsible for the maintenance of protein homeostasis. In vertebrates, seven members of the HSF family have been identified, namely HSF1, HSF2, HSF3, HSF4, HSF5, HSFX, and HSFY, of which HSF1 and HSF2 are clearly associated with heat shock response, while HSF4 is involved in development. Other members of the family have not yet been studied as extensively. Besides their role in cellular proteostasis, HSFs influence a plethora of biological processes such as aging, development, cell proliferation, and cell differentiation, and they are implicated in several pathologies such as neurodegeneration and cancer. This is achieved by regulating the expression of a great variety of genes including chaperones. Here, we review our current knowledge on the function of HSF family members and important aspects that made possible the functional diversification of HSFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dániel Kovács
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c, Budapest, H-1117, Hungary
| | - Márton Kovács
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c, Budapest, H-1117, Hungary
| | - Saqib Ahmed
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c, Budapest, H-1117, Hungary
| | - János Barna
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c, Budapest, H-1117, Hungary. .,ELKH-ELTE Genetics Research Group, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c, Budapest, H-1117, Hungary.
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14
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Mapping the Universe of Eph Receptor and Ephrin Ligand Transcripts in Epithelial and Fiber Cells of the Eye Lens. Cells 2022; 11:cells11203291. [PMID: 36291158 PMCID: PMC9600312 DOI: 10.3390/cells11203291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The eye lens is a transparent, ellipsoid organ in the anterior chamber of the eye that is required for fine focusing of light onto the retina to transmit a clear image. Cataracts, defined as any opacity in the lens, remains the leading cause of blindness in the world. Recent studies in humans and mice indicate that Eph–ephrin bidirectional signaling is important for maintaining lens transparency. Specifically, mutations and polymorphisms in the EphA2 receptor and the ephrin-A5 ligand have been linked to congenital and age-related cataracts. It is unclear what other variants of Ephs and ephrins are expressed in the lens or whether there is preferential expression in epithelial vs. fiber cells. We performed a detailed analysis of Eph receptor and ephrin ligand mRNA transcripts in whole mouse lenses, epithelial cell fractions, and fiber cell fractions using a new RNA isolation method. We compared control samples with EphA2 knockout (KO) and ephrin-A5 KO samples. Our results revealed the presence of transcripts for 12 out of 14 Eph receptors and 8 out of 8 ephrin ligands in various fractions of lens cells. Using specific primer sets, RT-PCR, and sequencing, we verified the variant of each gene that is expressed, and we found two epithelial-cell-specific genes. Surprisingly, we also identified one Eph receptor variant that is expressed in KO lens fibers but is absent from control lens fibers. We also identified one low expression ephrin variant that is only expressed in ephrin-A5 control samples. These results indicate that the lens expresses almost all Ephs and ephrins, and there may be many receptor–ligand pairs that play a role in lens homeostasis.
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15
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Zhou L, Xu Z, Wu Q, Wei X. Unilateral buphthalmos, corneal staphyloma and corneal fistula caused by pathogenic variant in the PITX3 gene: a case report. BMC Ophthalmol 2022; 22:385. [PMID: 36153513 PMCID: PMC9509590 DOI: 10.1186/s12886-022-02573-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction
PITX3 has been reported to be associated with congenital cataracts, anterior segment mesenchymal dysgenesis, Peters’ anomaly, and microphthalmia. In this case, an infant with unilateral buphthalmos, corneal staphyloma and corneal fistula carrying a variant in PITX3 was reported.
Case description
We describe a 4-month-old female infant who was referred to our Eye Clinic because of gradual enlargement of the eyeball in the right eye and whitish opacity in both eyes. Buphthalmos with long axial length (22.04 mm), macrocornea with diffuse corneal oedema and opacity (14.50 mm*14.50 mm) and high intraocular pressure (23.78 mmHg) were detected in the right eye. Microphthalmia with short axial length (16.23 mm), microcornea with diffuse corneal oedema and opacity (7.50 mm*6.50 mm) were detected in the left eye. A 360° trabeculotomy was performed for the right eye. However, corneal staphyloma and corneal fistula in the right eye were detected 6 months after the surgery. A variant in exon 4 of PITX3 (c.640_656dup (p. Gly220Profs*95)) was identified in the proband but was not detected in her healthy parents.
Conclusion
A novel phenotype characterized by unilateral buphthalmos, corneal staphyloma and corneal fistula in an infant were reported to be associated with PITX3 in our study. Our study expands the scope of the clinical heterogeneity of PITX3 variants. It also improves our understanding and increases the attention given to patients with PITX3 variants.
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Patel SD, Anand D, Motohashi H, Katsuoka F, Yamamoto M, Lachke SA. Deficiency of the bZIP transcription factors Mafg and Mafk causes misexpression of genes in distinct pathways and results in lens embryonic developmental defects. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:981893. [PMID: 36092713 PMCID: PMC9459095 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.981893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Deficiency of the small Maf proteins Mafg and Mafk cause multiple defects, namely, progressive neuronal degeneration, cataract, thrombocytopenia and mid-gestational/perinatal lethality. Previous data shows Mafg -/-:Mafk +/- compound knockout (KO) mice exhibit cataracts age 4-months onward. Strikingly, Mafg -/-:Mafk -/- double KO mice develop lens defects significantly early in life, during embryogenesis, but the pathobiology of these defects is unknown, and is addressed here. At embryonic day (E)16.5, the epithelium of lens in Mafg -/-:Mafk -/- animals appears abnormally multilayered as demonstrated by E-cadherin and nuclear staining. Additionally, Mafg -/-:Mafk -/- lenses exhibit abnormal distribution of F-actin near the "fulcrum" region where epithelial cells undergo apical constriction prior to elongation and reorientation as early differentiating fiber cells. To identify the underlying molecular changes, we performed high-throughput RNA-sequencing of E16.5 Mafg -/-:Mafk -/- lenses and identified a cohort of differentially expressed genes that were further prioritized using stringent filtering criteria and validated by RT-qPCR. Several key factors associated with the cytoskeleton, cell cycle or extracellular matrix (e.g., Cdk1, Cdkn1c, Camsap1, Col3a1, Map3k12, Sipa1l1) were mis-expressed in Mafg -/-:Mafk -/- lenses. Further, the congenital cataract-linked extracellular matrix peroxidase Pxdn was significantly overexpressed in Mafg -/-:Mafk -/- lenses, which may cause abnormal cell morphology. These data also identified the ephrin signaling receptor Epha5 to be reduced in Mafg -/-:Mafk -/- lenses. This likely contributes to the Mafg -/-:Mafk -/- multilayered lens epithelium pathology, as loss of an ephrin ligand, Efna5 (ephrin-A5), causes similar lens defects. Together, these findings uncover a novel early function of Mafg and Mafk in lens development and identify their new downstream regulatory relationships with key cellular factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaili D. Patel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Deepti Anand
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Hozumi Motohashi
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging, and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Fumiki Katsuoka
- Department of Integrative Genomics, Tohoku University Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Sendai, Japan
| | - Masayuki Yamamoto
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Salil A. Lachke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States,Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States,*Correspondence: Salil A. Lachke,
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Chen X, Li S, Liu X, Zhao J, Wu L, You R, Wang Y. Stimulation of C-Kit+ Retinal Progenitor Cells by Stem Cell Factor Confers Protection Against Retinal Degeneration. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:796380. [PMID: 35431956 PMCID: PMC9008784 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.796380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
C-kit/CD117, expressed in a series of tissue-specific progenitor cells, plays an important role in tissue regeneration and tissue homeostasis. We previously demonstrated that organoid-derived c-kit+ retinal progenitor cells can facilitate the restoration of degenerated retina. Meanwhile, we have identified a population of endogenous c-kit+ cells in retinas of adult mouse. However, the exact role of these cells in retinal degeneration remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that stimulation of endogenous c-kit+ cells by stem cell factor (SCF) conferred protection against retinal degeneration. Retinal degeneration was induced by intravitreal injection of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA). NMDA challenge increased the total number of c-kit+ cells in the retinal ganglion cell layer (GCL), while deregulated the protein level of SCF, which was mainly expressed in Müller cells. Both flash electroretinogram (fERG) and light/dark transition tests showed that intravitreal injection of SCF effectively improved the visual function of NMDA-treated mice. Mechanistically, SCF administration not only prevented the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), but also maintained the function of RGCs as quantified by fERG. Further, we performed transcriptome sequencing analysis of the retinal cells isolated from SCF-treated mice and the parallel control. Gene Ontology analysis showed that SCF-induced transcriptome changes were closely correlated with eye development-related pathways. Crystallins and several protective factors such as Pitx3 were significantly upregulated by SCF treatment. Our results revealed the role of SCF stimulated c-kit+ cells in the protection of RGCs in NMDA-treated mice, via inhibiting the loss of RGCs. Administration of SCF can act as a potent strategy for treating retinal degeneration-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Xi Chen, ; Yanling Wang,
| | - Shanshan Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoli Liu
- Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jingjie Zhao
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Lanting Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ran You
- Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanling Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Xi Chen, ; Yanling Wang,
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18
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Mei S, Wu Y, Wang Y, Cui Y, Zhang M, Zhang T, Huang X, Yu S, Yu T, Zhao J. Disruption of PIKFYVE causes congenital cataract in human and zebrafish. eLife 2022; 11:71256. [PMID: 35023829 PMCID: PMC8758139 DOI: 10.7554/elife.71256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital cataract, an ocular disease predominantly occurring within the first decade of life, is one of the leading causes of blindness in children. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of congenital cataract remain incompletely defined. Through whole-exome sequencing of a Chinese family with congenital cataract, we identified a potential pathological variant (p.G1943E) in PIKFYVE, which is located in the PIP kinase domain of the PIKFYVE protein. We demonstrated that heterozygous/homozygous disruption of PIKFYVE kinase domain, instead of overexpression of PIKFYVEG1943E in zebrafish mimicked the cataract defect in human patients, suggesting that haploinsufficiency, rather than dominant-negative inhibition of PIKFYVE activity caused the disease. Phenotypical analysis of pikfyve zebrafish mutants revealed that loss of Pikfyve caused aberrant vacuolation (accumulation of Rab7+Lc3+ amphisomes) in lens cells, which was significantly alleviated by treatment with the V-ATPase inhibitor bafilomycin A1 (Baf-A1). Collectively, we identified PIKFYVE as a novel causative gene for congenital cataract and pinpointed the potential application of Baf-A1 for the treatment of congenital cataract caused by PIKFYVE deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoyi Mei
- Shenzhen Eye Institute, Shenzhen Eye Hospital Affiliated to Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yi Wu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Neuronal Structural Biology, Biomedical Research Institute, Shenzhen Peking University-The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yubo Cui
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The first Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, China
| | - Miao Zhang
- Shenzhen Eye Institute, Shenzhen Eye Hospital Affiliated to Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Shenzhen Eye Institute, Shenzhen Eye Hospital Affiliated to Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaosheng Huang
- Shenzhen Eye Institute, Shenzhen Eye Hospital Affiliated to Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Sejie Yu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The first Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, China
| | - Tao Yu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Neuronal Structural Biology, Biomedical Research Institute, Shenzhen Peking University-The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jun Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The first Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, China
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Jee D, Kang S, Park S. Association of age-related cataract risk high polygenetic risk scores involved in galactose-related metabolism and dietary interactions. Lifestyle Genom 2021; 15:55-66. [PMID: 34954695 DOI: 10.1159/000521548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cataracts are associated with the accumulation of galactose and galactitol in the lens. We determined the polygenetic risk scores for the best model(PRSBM) associated with age-related cataract(ARC) risk and their interaction with diets and lifestyles in 40,262 Korean adults aged over 50 years belonged to a hospital-based city cohort. METHODS The genetic variants for ARC risk were selected in lactose and galactose metabolism-related genes with multivariate logistic regression using the PLINK 1.9 version. PRSBM from the selected genetic variants was estimated by generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) after adjusting covariates. The interactions between the PRSBM and each lifestyle factor were determined to modulate ARC risk. RESULTS The genetic variants for ARC risk related to lactose- and galactose metabolism were SLC2A1_rs3729548, ST3GAL3_rs3791047, LCT_rs2304371, GALNT5_rs6728956, ST6GAL1_rs2268536, GALNT17_rs17058752, CSGALNACT1_rs1994788, GALNTL4_rs10831608, B4GALT6_rs1667288, and A4GALT_ rs9623659. In GMDR, the best model included all ten genetic variants. The highest odds ratio (OR) for a single SNP in the PRSBM was 1.26. However, subjects with a high-PRSBM had a higher ARC risk by 2.1-fold than a low-PRSBM after adjusting for covariates. Carbohydrate, dairy products, kimchi, and alcohol intake interacted with PRSBM for ARC risk: the participants with high-PRSBM had a much higher ARC risk than those with low-PRSBM when consuming diets with high carbohydrate and low dairy product and kimchi intake. However, only with low alcohol intake, the participants with high-PRSBM had a higher ARC risk than those with low-PRSBM. CONCLUSION Adults aged >50 years having high-PRSBM may modulate dietary habits to reduce ARC risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donghyun Jee
- Division of Vitreous and Retina, Department of Ophthalmology, St. Vincent's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Suna Kang
- Food and Nutrition, Obesity/Diabetes Research Center, Hoseo University, Asan, Republic of Korea
| | - Sunmin Park
- Food and Nutrition, Obesity/Diabetes Research Center, Hoseo University, Asan, Republic of Korea
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20
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Wang Y, Chen X, Wang Y, Li S, Cai H, Le W. The essential role of transcription factor Pitx3 in preventing mesodiencephalic dopaminergic neurodegeneration and maintaining neuronal subtype identities during aging. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:1008. [PMID: 34707106 PMCID: PMC8551333 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04319-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Pituitary homeobox 3 (Pitx3) is required for the terminal differentiation of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons during neuronal development. However, whether Pitx3 contributes to the normal physiological function and cell-type identity of adult neurons remains unknown. To explore the role of Pitx3 in maintaining mature neurons, we selectively deleted Pitx3 in the mesodiencephalic dopaminergic (mdDA) neurons of Pitx3fl/fl/DATCreERT2 bigenic mice using a tamoxifen inducible CreERT2/loxp gene-targeting system. Pitx3fl/fl/DATCreERT2 mice developed age-dependent progressive motor deficits, concomitant with a rapid reduction of striatal dopamine (DA) content and a profound loss of mdDA neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) but not in the adjacent ventral tegmental area (VTA), recapitulating the canonical neuropathological features of Parkinson's disease (PD). Mechanistic studies showed that Pitx3-deficiency significantly increased the number of cleaved caspase-3+ cells in SNc, which likely underwent neurodegeneration. Meanwhile, the vulnerability of SNc mdDA neurons was increased in Pitx3fl/fl/DATCreERT2 mice, as indicated by an early decline in glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1a1 (Aldh1a1) levels. Noticeably, somatic accumulation of α-synuclein (α-syn) was also significantly increased in the Pitx3-deficient neurons. Together, our data demonstrate that the loss of Pitx3 in fully differentiated mdDA neurons results in progressive neurodegeneration, indicating the importance of the Pitx3 gene in adult neuronal survival. Our findings also suggest that distinct Pitx3-dependent pathways exist in SNc and VTA mdDA neurons, correlating with the differential vulnerability of SNc and VTA mdDA neurons in the absence of Pitx3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory for Research on the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Neurological Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory for Research on the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Neurological Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, China
- Institute of Neurology and Department of Neurology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences-Sichuan Provincial Hospital, Medical School of UETSC, Chengdu, 610072, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wang
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory for Research on the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Neurological Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, China
| | - Song Li
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory for Research on the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Neurological Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, China
| | - Huaibin Cai
- Transgenic Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Weidong Le
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory for Research on the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Neurological Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, China.
- Institute of Neurology and Department of Neurology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences-Sichuan Provincial Hospital, Medical School of UETSC, Chengdu, 610072, China.
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21
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Zhu H, Zhang Z. Emerging Trends and Research Foci in Cataract Genes: A Bibliometric and Visualized Study. Front Genet 2021; 12:610728. [PMID: 34434212 PMCID: PMC8381374 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.610728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Approximately 50% of cataracts are associated with genetic factors. Genetic etiology and molecular mechanisms based on gene research increase the understanding of cataracts and provide direction for diagnosis and intervention. In the present study, SCIE papers related to the modeling of cataract gene research from 2010-2019 were evaluated and qualitative and quantitative analyses with modeling performed. Methods: The SCIE database was searched on July 6, 2021 for cataract gene publications and relevant papers published since 2010 were considered for review. Subsequently, 1,904 SCIE papers associated with cataract genes from 2010-2019 were analyzed using a bibliometric method. The publication, country, institution, journal, references, knowledgebase, keywords, and research hotspots of the papers were analyzed using an online analysis platform of literature metrology, bibliographic item co-occurrence matrix builder (BICOMB), CiteSpace V, and VOS viewer analysis tool. Results: 78 countries published the related articles, and the United States ranks of America had the most publications. Two thousand seven hundred and eighty three institutions contributed to the related publications. Fudan University had the most publications. The reference clusters of SCI papers were clustered into six categories, namely, causing congenital cataract-microcornea syndrome, functional snp, cataractous lenses, a1 mutation, foxe3 mutation, cell adhesion gene pvrl3, nid1 gene. The key words representing the research frontiers were cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (2017-2019), oxidative stress (2017-2019). Conclusion: This study provided a systematic, objective and comprehensive analysis of the literature related to gene research of cataract. Moreover, this study demonstrated the current hotspots and the future trends in the field of gene research of cataract. This review will help ophthalmologist to discern the dynamic evolution of cataract gene research, as well as highlight areas for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongli Zhu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The 4th People's Hospital of Shenyang, Shenyang, China
| | - Zhichang Zhang
- Department of Computer, School of Intelligent Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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22
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Kinoshita A, Ohyama K, Tanimura S, Matsuda K, Kishino T, Negishi Y, Asahina N, Shiraishi H, Hosoki K, Tomiwa K, Ishihara N, Mishima H, Mori R, Nakashima M, Saitoh S, Yoshiura KI. Itpr1 regulates the formation of anterior eye segment tissues derived from neural crest cells. Development 2021; 148:271160. [PMID: 34338282 DOI: 10.1242/dev.188755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in ITPR1 cause ataxia and aniridia in individuals with Gillespie syndrome (GLSP). However, the pathogenic mechanisms underlying aniridia remain unclear. We identified a de novo GLSP mutation hotspot in the 3'-region of ITPR1 in five individuals with GLSP. Furthermore, RNA-sequencing and immunoblotting revealed an eye-specific transcript of Itpr1, encoding a 218amino acid isoform. This isoform is localized not only in the endoplasmic reticulum, but also in the nuclear and cytoplasmic membranes. Ocular-specific transcription was repressed by SOX9 and induced by MAF in the anterior eye segment (AES) tissues. Mice lacking seven base pairs of the last Itpr1 exon exhibited ataxia and aniridia, in which the iris lymphatic vessels, sphincter and dilator muscles, corneal endothelium and stroma were disrupted, but the neural crest cells persisted after completion of AES formation. Our analyses revealed that the 218-amino acid isoform regulated the directionality of actin fibers and the intensity of focal adhesion. The isoform might control the nuclear entry of transcriptional regulators, such as YAP. It is also possible that ITPR1 regulates both AES differentiation and muscle contraction in the iris.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Kinoshita
- Department of Human Genetics, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Kaname Ohyama
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki 852-3131, Japan
| | - Susumu Tanimura
- Department of Cell Regulation, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki 852-3131, Japan
| | - Katsuya Matsuda
- Department of Tumor and Diagnostic Pathology, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Kishino
- Gene Research Center, Center for Frontier Life Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Yutaka Negishi
- Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya 467-8602, Japan
| | - Naoko Asahina
- Department of Pediatrics, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan
| | - Hideaki Shiraishi
- Department of Pediatrics, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan
| | - Kana Hosoki
- Department of Medical Genetics, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, Osaka 594-1101, Japan
| | - Kiyotaka Tomiwa
- Department of Pediatrics, Todaiji Ryoiku Hospital for Children, Nara 630-8211, Japan
| | - Naoko Ishihara
- Department of Pediatrics, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake 470-1192, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Mishima
- Department of Human Genetics, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Ryoichi Mori
- Department of Pathology, Nagasaki University School of Medicine and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Masahiro Nakashima
- Department of Tumor and Diagnostic Pathology, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Shinji Saitoh
- Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya 467-8602, Japan
| | - Koh-Ichiro Yoshiura
- Department of Human Genetics, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
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23
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Berry V, Ionides A, Pontikos N, Moore AT, Quinlan RA, Michaelides M. Variants in PAX6, PITX3 and HSF4 causing autosomal dominant congenital cataracts. Eye (Lond) 2021; 36:1694-1701. [PMID: 34345029 PMCID: PMC9307513 DOI: 10.1038/s41433-021-01711-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lens development is orchestrated by transcription factors. Disease-causing variants in transcription factors and their developmental target genes are associated with congenital cataracts and other eye anomalies. Methods Using whole exome sequencing, we identified disease-causing variants in two large British families and one isolated case with autosomal dominant congenital cataract. Bioinformatics analysis confirmed these disease-causing mutations as rare or novel variants, with a moderate to damaging pathogenicity score, with testing for segregation within the families using direct Sanger sequencing. Results Family A had a missense variant (c.184 G>A; p.V62M) in PAX6 and affected individuals presented with nuclear cataract. Family B had a frameshift variant (c.470–477dup; p.A160R*) in PITX3 that was also associated with nuclear cataract. A recurrent missense variant in HSF4 (c.341 T>C; p.L114P) was associated with congenital cataract in a single isolated case. Conclusions We have therefore identified novel variants in PAX6 and PITX3 that cause autosomal dominant congenital cataract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanita Berry
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK. .,Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
| | - Alex Ionides
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Nikolas Pontikos
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK.,Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Roy A Quinlan
- School of Biological and Medical Sciences, University of Durham, Durham, UK
| | - Michel Michaelides
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK. .,Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
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24
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Hong Y, Luo Y. Zebrafish Model in Ophthalmology to Study Disease Mechanism and Drug Discovery. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14080716. [PMID: 34451814 PMCID: PMC8400593 DOI: 10.3390/ph14080716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Visual impairment and blindness are common and seriously affect people’s work and quality of life in the world. Therefore, the effective therapies for eye diseases are of high priority. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is an alternative vertebrate model as a useful tool for the mechanism elucidation and drug discovery of various eye disorders, such as cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, photoreceptor degeneration, etc. The genetic and embryonic accessibility of zebrafish in combination with a behavioral assessment of visual function has made it a very popular model in ophthalmology. Zebrafish has also been widely used in ocular drug discovery, such as the screening of new anti-angiogenic compounds or neuroprotective drugs, and the oculotoxicity test. In this review, we summarized the applications of zebrafish as the models of eye disorders to study disease mechanism and investigate novel drug treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yan Luo
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-020-87335931
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25
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Kessel L, Bach-Holm D, Al-Bakri M, Roos L, Lund A, Grønskov K. Genetic disease is a common cause of bilateral childhood cataract in Denmark. Ophthalmic Genet 2021; 42:650-658. [PMID: 34169787 DOI: 10.1080/13816810.2021.1941128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: Bilateral childhood cataracts can be caused by a metabolic disease, constitute a part of a syndrome, run in families, be sporadic or iatrogenic. The amount of work-up needed to establish a cause is discussed and the aim of the present study was to evaluate causes of bilateral childhood cataract.Methods: Chart review of 211 Danish children with bilateral cataracts. Information on work-up was retrieved with special focus on general health, metabolic screening, evaluation for congenital infections and genetic testing.Results: Cataract was seen in combination with systemic disease in 40.8%, 29.4% had hereditary cataracts, 27.0% had isolated cataract, in 1.4% it was associated with ocular malformations and 1.4% had been born prematurely without any other sequelae than the cataract. A genetic cause could be demonstrated in 74 children.Conclusion: Systemic comorbidities are very common in children with cataract and are not always known prior to the diagnosis of cataract. Genetic evaluation, especially targeted analyses, provided a molecular genetic diagnosis in a large proportion of those tested but it also failed to provide a molecular genetic diagnosis in some patients with a family history suggesting autosomal dominant inheritance. Most importantly, in some patients, genetic work-up provided a diagnosis in patients where it had therapeutic consequences and where the systemic disease would have caused irreversible damage, had it not been treated timely. Given the high prevalence of systemic disease, it seems advisable to co-manage children with bilateral cataracts with a pediatrician and to include genetic evaluation as part of the work-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Line Kessel
- Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daniella Bach-Holm
- Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Moug Al-Bakri
- Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Laura Roos
- Departments of Clinical Genetics and Paediatrics, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Allan Lund
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Centre for Inherited Metabolic Diseases, Department of Paediatrics and Clinical Genetics, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Karen Grønskov
- Departments of Clinical Genetics and Paediatrics, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
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26
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Ma A, Grigg JR, Flaherty M, Smith J, Minoche AE, Cowley MJ, Nash BM, Ho G, Gayagay T, Lai T, Farnsworth E, Hackett EL, Slater K, Wong K, Holman KJ, Jenkins G, Cheng A, Martin F, Brown NJ, Leighton SE, Amor DJ, Goel H, Dinger ME, Bennetts B, Jamieson RV. Genome sequencing in congenital cataracts improves diagnostic yield. Hum Mutat 2021; 42:1173-1183. [PMID: 34101287 DOI: 10.1002/humu.24240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Congenital cataracts are one of the major causes of childhood-onset blindness around the world. Genetic diagnosis provides benefits through avoidance of unnecessary tests, surveillance of extraocular features, and genetic family information. In this study, we demonstrate the value of genome sequencing in improving diagnostic yield in congenital cataract patients and families. We applied genome sequencing to investigate 20 probands with congenital cataracts. We examined the added value of genome sequencing across a total cohort of 52 probands, including 14 unable to be diagnosed using previous microarray and exome or panel-based approaches. Although exome or genome sequencing would have detected the variants in 35/52 (67%) of the cases, specific advantages of genome sequencing led to additional diagnoses in 10% (5/52) of the overall cohort, and we achieved an overall diagnostic rate of 77% (40/52). Specific benefits of genome sequencing were due to detection of small copy number variants (2), indels in repetitive regions (2) or single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) in GC-rich regions (1), not detectable on the previous microarray, exome sequencing, or panel-based approaches. In other cases, SNVs were identified in cataract disease genes, including those newly identified since our previous study. This study highlights the additional yield of genome sequencing in congenital cataracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Ma
- Eye Genetics Research Unit, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Save Sight Institute, Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Western Sydney Genetics Program, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Specialties of Genomic Medicine & Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - John R Grigg
- Eye Genetics Research Unit, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Save Sight Institute, Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Department of Ophthalmology, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Specialty of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Save Sight Institute, Sydney Eye Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Maree Flaherty
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Specialty of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - James Smith
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Specialty of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Andre E Minoche
- Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mark J Cowley
- Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia.,Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.,St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Benjamin M Nash
- Eye Genetics Research Unit, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Save Sight Institute, Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Specialties of Genomic Medicine & Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Sydney Genome Diagnostics, Western Sydney Genetics Program, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Gladys Ho
- Specialties of Genomic Medicine & Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Sydney Genome Diagnostics, Western Sydney Genetics Program, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Thet Gayagay
- Sydney Genome Diagnostics, Western Sydney Genetics Program, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Tiffany Lai
- Sydney Genome Diagnostics, Western Sydney Genetics Program, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Farnsworth
- Sydney Genome Diagnostics, Western Sydney Genetics Program, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Emma L Hackett
- Sydney Genome Diagnostics, Western Sydney Genetics Program, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Katrina Slater
- Sydney Genome Diagnostics, Western Sydney Genetics Program, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Karen Wong
- Sydney Genome Diagnostics, Western Sydney Genetics Program, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Katherine J Holman
- Sydney Genome Diagnostics, Western Sydney Genetics Program, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Gemma Jenkins
- Sydney Genome Diagnostics, Western Sydney Genetics Program, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Anson Cheng
- Eye Genetics Research Unit, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Save Sight Institute, Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Frank Martin
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Specialty of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Natasha J Brown
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - David J Amor
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Himanshu Goel
- Hunter Genetics, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Marcel E Dinger
- Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Bruce Bennetts
- Specialties of Genomic Medicine & Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Sydney Genome Diagnostics, Western Sydney Genetics Program, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Robyn V Jamieson
- Eye Genetics Research Unit, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Save Sight Institute, Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Western Sydney Genetics Program, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Specialties of Genomic Medicine & Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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27
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Choquet H, Melles RB, Anand D, Yin J, Cuellar-Partida G, Wang W, Hoffmann TJ, Nair KS, Hysi PG, Lachke SA, Jorgenson E. A large multiethnic GWAS meta-analysis of cataract identifies new risk loci and sex-specific effects. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3595. [PMID: 34127677 PMCID: PMC8203611 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23873-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Cataract is the leading cause of blindness among the elderly worldwide and cataract surgery is one of the most common operations performed in the United States. As the genetic etiology of cataract formation remains unclear, we conducted a multiethnic genome-wide association meta-analysis, combining results from the GERA and UK Biobank cohorts, and tested for replication in the 23andMe research cohort. We report 54 genome-wide significant loci, 37 of which were novel. Sex-stratified analyses identified CASP7 as an additional novel locus specific to women. We show that genes within or near 80% of the cataract-associated loci are significantly expressed and/or enriched-expressed in the mouse lens across various spatiotemporal stages as per iSyTE analysis. Furthermore, iSyTE shows 32 candidate genes in the associated loci have altered gene expression in 9 different gene perturbation mouse models of lens defects/cataract, suggesting their relevance to lens biology. Our work provides further insight into the complex genetic architecture of cataract susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hélène Choquet
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC), Division of Research, Oakland, CA, USA.
| | | | - Deepti Anand
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Jie Yin
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC), Division of Research, Oakland, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Thomas J Hoffmann
- Institute for Human Genetics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - K Saidas Nair
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Anatomy, School of Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Pirro G Hysi
- King's College London, Section of Ophthalmology, School of Life Course Sciences, London, UK.,King's College London, Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, London, UK.,University College London, Great Ormond Street Hospital Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Salil A Lachke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.,Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Eric Jorgenson
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC), Division of Research, Oakland, CA, USA
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28
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Fernández-Alcalde C, Nieves-Moreno M, Noval S, Peralta JM, Montaño VEF, del Pozo Á, Santos-Simarro F, Vallespín E. Molecular and Genetic Mechanism of Non-Syndromic Congenital Cataracts. Mutation Screening in Spanish Families. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:580. [PMID: 33923544 PMCID: PMC8072554 DOI: 10.3390/genes12040580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Our purpose was to identify mutations responsible for non-syndromic congenital cataracts through the implementation of next-generation sequencing (NGS) in our center. A sample of peripheral blood was obtained from probands and willing family members and genomic DNA was extracted from leukocytes. DNA was analyzed implementing a panel (OFTv2.1) including 39 known congenital cataracts disease genes. 62 probands from 51 families were recruited. Pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants were identified in 32 patients and 25 families; in 16 families (64%) these were de novo mutations. The mutation detection rate was 49%. Almost all reported mutations were autosomal dominant. Mutations in crystallin genes were found in 30% of the probands. Mutations in membrane proteins were detected in seven families (two in GJA3 and five in GJA8). Mutations in LIM2 and MIP were each found in three families. Other mutations detected affected EPHA2, PAX6, HSF4 and PITX3. Variants classified as of unknown significance were found in 5 families (9.8%), affecting CRYBB3, LIM2, EPHA2, ABCB6 and TDRD7. Mutations lead to different cataract phenotypes within the same family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celia Fernández-Alcalde
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Universitario La Paz, 28046 Madrid, Spain; (M.N.-M.); (S.N.); (J.M.P.)
| | - María Nieves-Moreno
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Universitario La Paz, 28046 Madrid, Spain; (M.N.-M.); (S.N.); (J.M.P.)
| | - Susana Noval
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Universitario La Paz, 28046 Madrid, Spain; (M.N.-M.); (S.N.); (J.M.P.)
| | - Jesús M. Peralta
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Universitario La Paz, 28046 Madrid, Spain; (M.N.-M.); (S.N.); (J.M.P.)
| | - Victoria E. F. Montaño
- Department of Molecular Ophthalmology, Medical and Molecular Genetics Institute (INGEMM) IdiPaz, CIBERER, Hospital Universitario La Paz, 28046 Madrid, Spain; (V.E.F.M.); (E.V.)
| | - Ángela del Pozo
- Department of Clinical Bioinformatics, Medical and Molecular Genetics Institute (INGEMM) IdiPaz, CIBERER, Hospital Universitario La Paz, 28046 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Fernando Santos-Simarro
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Medical and Molecular Genetics Institute (INGEMM) IdiPaz, CIBERER, Hospital Universitario La Paz, 28046 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Elena Vallespín
- Department of Molecular Ophthalmology, Medical and Molecular Genetics Institute (INGEMM) IdiPaz, CIBERER, Hospital Universitario La Paz, 28046 Madrid, Spain; (V.E.F.M.); (E.V.)
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A novel missense mutation in the HSF4 gene of giant pandas with senile congenital cataracts. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5411. [PMID: 33686159 PMCID: PMC7940430 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84741-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cataracts are a common cause of visual impairment and blindness in mammals. They are usually associated with aging, but approximately one third of cases have a significant genetic component. Cataracts are increasingly prevalent among aging populations of captive giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) and it is therefore important to identify genetic determinants that influence the likelihood of cataract development in order to distinguish between congenital and age-related disease. Here we screened for cataract-related genetic effects using a functional candidate gene approach combined with bioinformatics to identify the underlying genetic defect in a giant panda with congenital cataracts. We identified a missense mutation in exon 10 of the HSF4 gene encoding heat shock transcription factor 4. The mutation causes the amino acid substitution R377W in a highly conserved segment of the protein between the isoform-specific and downstream hydrophobic regions. Predictive modeling revealed that the substitution is likely to increase the hydrophobicity of the protein and disrupt interactions with spatially adjacent amino acid side chains. The mutation was not found in 13 unaffected unrelated animals but was found in an unrelated animal also diagnosed with senile congenital cataract. The novel missense mutation in the HSF4 gene therefore provides a potential new genetic determinant that could help to predict the risk of cataracts in giant pandas.
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30
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Harding P, Cunha DL, Moosajee M. Animal and cellular models of microphthalmia. THERAPEUTIC ADVANCES IN RARE DISEASE 2021; 2:2633004021997447. [PMID: 37181112 PMCID: PMC10032472 DOI: 10.1177/2633004021997447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Microphthalmia is a rare developmental eye disorder affecting 1 in 7000 births. It is defined as a small (axial length ⩾2 standard deviations below the age-adjusted mean) underdeveloped eye, caused by disruption of ocular development through genetic or environmental factors in the first trimester of pregnancy. Clinical phenotypic heterogeneity exists amongst patients with varying levels of severity, and associated ocular and systemic features. Up to 11% of blind children are reported to have microphthalmia, yet currently no treatments are available. By identifying the aetiology of microphthalmia and understanding how the mechanisms of eye development are disrupted, we can gain a better understanding of the pathogenesis. Animal models, mainly mouse, zebrafish and Xenopus, have provided extensive information on the genetic regulation of oculogenesis, and how perturbation of these pathways leads to microphthalmia. However, differences exist between species, hence cellular models, such as patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) optic vesicles, are now being used to provide greater insights into the human disease process. Progress in 3D cellular modelling techniques has enhanced the ability of researchers to study interactions of different cell types during eye development. Through improved molecular knowledge of microphthalmia, preventative or postnatal therapies may be developed, together with establishing genotype-phenotype correlations in order to provide patients with the appropriate prognosis, multidisciplinary care and informed genetic counselling. This review summarises some key discoveries from animal and cellular models of microphthalmia and discusses how innovative new models can be used to further our understanding in the future. Plain language summary Animal and Cellular Models of the Eye Disorder, Microphthalmia (Small Eye) Microphthalmia, meaning a small, underdeveloped eye, is a rare disorder that children are born with. Genetic changes or variations in the environment during the first 3 months of pregnancy can disrupt early development of the eye, resulting in microphthalmia. Up to 11% of blind children have microphthalmia, yet currently no treatments are available. By understanding the genes necessary for eye development, we can determine how disruption by genetic changes or environmental factors can cause this condition. This helps us understand why microphthalmia occurs, and ensure patients are provided with the appropriate clinical care and genetic counselling advice. Additionally, by understanding the causes of microphthalmia, researchers can develop treatments to prevent or reduce the severity of this condition. Animal models, particularly mice, zebrafish and frogs, which can also develop small eyes due to the same genetic/environmental changes, have helped us understand the genes which are important for eye development and can cause birth eye defects when disrupted. Studying a patient's own cells grown in the laboratory can further help researchers understand how changes in genes affect their function. Both animal and cellular models can be used to develop and test new drugs, which could provide treatment options for patients living with microphthalmia. This review summarises the key discoveries from animal and cellular models of microphthalmia and discusses how innovative new models can be used to further our understanding in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mariya Moosajee
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath
Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust,
London, UK
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS
Foundation Trust, London, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
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31
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Liu Z, Wang R, Lin H, Liu Y. Lens regeneration in humans: using regenerative potential for tissue repairing. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2020; 8:1544. [PMID: 33313289 PMCID: PMC7729322 DOI: 10.21037/atm-2019-rcs-03] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The crystalline lens is an important optic element in human eyes. It is transparent and biconvex, refracting light and accommodating to form a clear retinal image. The lens originates from the embryonic ectoderm. The epithelial cells at the lens equator proliferate, elongate and differentiate into highly aligned lens fiber cells, which are the structural basis for maintaining the transparency of the lens. Cataract refers to the opacity of the lens. Currently, the treatment of cataract is to remove the opaque lens and implant an intraocular lens (IOL). This strategy is inappropriate for children younger than 2 years, because a developing eyeball is prone to have severe complications such as inflammatory proliferation and secondary glaucoma. On the other hand, the absence of the crystalline lens greatly affects visual function rehabilitation. The researchers found that mammalian lenses possess regenerative potential. We identified lens stem cells through linear tracking experiments and designed a minimally invasive lens-content removal surgery (MILS) to remove the opaque lens material while preserving the lens capsule, stem cells and microenvironment. In infants with congenital cataract, functional lens regeneration in situ can be observed after MILS, and the prognosis of visual function is better than that of traditional surgery. Because of insufficient regenerative ability in humans, the morphology and volume of the regenerated lens cannot reach the level of a normal lens. The activation, proliferation and differentiation of lens stem cells and the alignment of lens fibers are regulated by epigenetic factors, growth factors, transcription factors, immune system and other signals and their interactions. The construction of appropriate microenvironment can accelerate lens regeneration and improve its morphology. The therapeutic concept of MILS combined with microenvironment manipulation to activate endogenous stem cells for functional regeneration of organs in situ can be extended to other tissues and organs with strong self-renewal and repair ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenzhen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruixin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haotian Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yizhi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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32
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Bremond-Gignac D, Daruich A, Robert MP, Valleix S. Recent developments in the management of congenital cataract. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2020; 8:1545. [PMID: 33313290 PMCID: PMC7729375 DOI: 10.21037/atm-20-3033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Congenital cataract is a rare eye disease, one of the leading treatable causes of low vision in children worldwide. Hereditary cataracts can be divided in syndromic and non-syndromic cataracts. Early diagnosis in congenital cataracts is key to reach good visual function. Current surgical techniques, that combine microincision cataract extraction and primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, have improved childhood cataract outcome. Complications include posterior capsule opacification (PCO), aphakic or pseudophakic glaucoma, uveitis, pupil displacement and IOL decentration. A recent study using a modified Delphi approach identified areas of consensus and disagreement in the management of pediatric cataract. A consensus or near consensus was achieved for 79% of the questions, however 21% of the questions remained controversial, as for IOL implantation strategy. Congenital cataracts show a highly variable phenotype and genotype, and can be related to different mutations, genetic variance, and other risk factors. Congenital cataracts can be associated with other ocular developmental abnormalities, including microphthalmia, microcornea, or aniridia and with systemic findings. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and forthcoming new ultra-high-throughput sequencing represent excellent tools to investigate the genetic causes of congenital cataracts. A better recognition of different clinical presentations and underlying etiologies of congenital cataracts may lead to the development of new approaches to improve visual outcome after cataract surgery and promote early detection of systemic associated syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Bremond-Gignac
- Ophthalmology Department, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, Paris University, Paris, France.,INSERM UMRS 1138, Team 17, From Physiopathology of Ocular Diseases to Clinical Development, Université Sorbonne Paris Cité, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
| | - Alejandra Daruich
- Ophthalmology Department, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, Paris University, Paris, France.,INSERM UMRS 1138, Team 17, From Physiopathology of Ocular Diseases to Clinical Development, Université Sorbonne Paris Cité, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
| | - Matthieu P Robert
- Ophthalmology Department, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, Paris University, Paris, France.,Borelli Centre, UMR 9010 CNRS-SSA-ENS Paris Saclay-Paris University, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Valleix
- INSERM UMRS 1138, Team 17, From Physiopathology of Ocular Diseases to Clinical Development, Université Sorbonne Paris Cité, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France.,Molecular Genetics, University Hospital Necker-Enfants Malades, APHP, OPHTARA Center, Paris, France
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Rashid M, Qasim M, Ishaq R, Bukhari SA, Sajid Z, Ashfaq UA, Haque A, Ahmed ZM. Pathogenic variants of AIPL1, MERTK, GUCY2D, and FOXE3 in Pakistani families with clinically heterogeneous eye diseases. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0239748. [PMID: 32976546 PMCID: PMC7518604 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Significant number out of 2.2 billion vision impairments in the world can be attributed to genetics. The current study is aimed to decipher the genetic basis of Leber congenital Amaurosis (LCA), Anterior Segment dysgenesis (ASD), and Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), segregating in four large consanguineous Pakistani families. The exome sequencing followed by segregation analysis via Sanger sequencing revealed the LCA phenotypes segregating in families GCUF01 and GCUF04 can be attributed to c.465G>T (p.(Gln155His)) missense and novel c.139_140delinsA p.(Pro47Trhfster38) frameshift variant of AIPL1 and GUCY2D, respectively. The c.1843A>T (p.(Lys615*) truncating allele of MERTK is homozygous in all the affected individuals, presumably suffering with RP, of the GCUF02 family. Meanwhile, co-segregation of the ASD phenotype and the c.289A>G (p.(Ile97Val)) variant of FOXE3 was found in the GCUF06 family. All the identified variants were either absent or present in very low frequencies in the control databases. Our in-silico analyses and 3D molecular modeling support the deleterious impact of these variants on the encoded proteins. Variants identified in MERTK, GUCY2D, and FOXE3 were categorized as “pathogenic” or “likely pathogenic”, while the missense variant found in AIPL1 was deemed to have “uncertain significance” based upon the variant pathogenicity guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). This paper highlights the genetic diversity of vision disorders in the Pakistani population and reports the identification of four novel mutations in families who segregate clinically heterogeneous eye diseases. Our results give insight into the genotype-phenotype correlations of AIPL1, FOXE3, MERTK, and GUCY2D variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Rashid
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Muhammad Qasim
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
- * E-mail:
| | - Rafaqat Ishaq
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
- University Institute of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | | | - Zureesha Sajid
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Usman Ali Ashfaq
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Asma Haque
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Zubair M. Ahmed
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
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34
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Moazzeni H, Khani M, Elahi E. Insights into the regulatory molecules involved in glaucoma pathogenesis. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS PART C-SEMINARS IN MEDICAL GENETICS 2020; 184:782-827. [PMID: 32935930 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.31833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Glaucoma is an important cause of irreversible blindness, characterized by optic nerve anomalies. Increased intraocular pressure (IOP) and aging are major risk factors. Retinal ganglion cells and trabecular meshwork cells are certainly involved in the etiology of glaucoma. Glaucoma is usually a complex disease, and various genes and functions may contribute to its etiology. Among these may be genes that encode regulatory molecules. In this review, regulatory molecules including 18 transcription factors (TFs), 195 microRNAs (miRNAs), 106 long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and two circular RNAs (circRNAs) that are reasonable candidates for having roles in glaucoma pathogenesis are described. The targets of the regulators are reported. Glaucoma-related features including apoptosis, stress responses, immune functions, ECM properties, IOP, and eye development are affected by the targeted genes. The targeted genes that are frequently targeted by multiple regulators most often affect apoptosis and the related features of cell death and cell survival. BCL2, CDKN1A, and TP53 are among the frequent targets of three types of glaucoma-relevant regulators, TFs, miRNAs, and lncRNAs. TP53 was itself identified as a glaucoma-relevant TF. Several of the glaucoma-relevant TFs are themselves among frequent targets of regulatory molecules, which is consistent with existence of a complex network involved in glaucoma pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamidreza Moazzeni
- School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Marzieh Khani
- School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elahe Elahi
- School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
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35
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Barnum CE, Al Saai S, Patel SD, Cheng C, Anand D, Xu X, Dash S, Siddam AD, Glazewski L, Paglione E, Polson SW, Chuma S, Mason RW, Wei S, Batish M, Fowler VM, Lachke SA. The Tudor-domain protein TDRD7, mutated in congenital cataract, controls the heat shock protein HSPB1 (HSP27) and lens fiber cell morphology. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 29:2076-2097. [PMID: 32420594 PMCID: PMC7390939 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations of the RNA granule component TDRD7 (OMIM: 611258) cause pediatric cataract. We applied an integrated approach to uncover the molecular pathology of cataract in Tdrd7-/- mice. Early postnatal Tdrd7-/- animals precipitously develop cataract suggesting a global-level breakdown/misregulation of key cellular processes. High-throughput RNA sequencing integrated with iSyTE-bioinformatics analysis identified the molecular chaperone and cytoskeletal modulator, HSPB1, among high-priority downregulated candidates in Tdrd7-/- lens. A protein fluorescence two-dimensional difference in-gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE)-coupled mass spectrometry screen also identified HSPB1 downregulation, offering independent support for its importance to Tdrd7-/- cataractogenesis. Lens fiber cells normally undergo nuclear degradation for transparency, posing a challenge: how is their cell morphology, also critical for transparency, controlled post-nuclear degradation? HSPB1 functions in cytoskeletal maintenance, and its reduction in Tdrd7-/- lens precedes cataract, suggesting cytoskeletal defects may contribute to Tdrd7-/- cataract. In agreement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed abnormal fiber cell morphology in Tdrd7-/- lenses. Further, abnormal phalloidin and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) staining of Tdrd7-/- fiber cells, particularly those exhibiting nuclear degradation, reveals distinct regulatory mechanisms control F-actin cytoskeletal and/or membrane maintenance in post-organelle degradation maturation stage fiber cells. Indeed, RNA immunoprecipitation identified Hspb1 mRNA in wild-type lens lysate TDRD7-pulldowns, and single-molecule RNA imaging showed co-localization of TDRD7 protein with cytoplasmic Hspb1 mRNA in differentiating fiber cells, suggesting that TDRD7-ribonucleoprotein complexes may be involved in optimal buildup of key factors. Finally, Hspb1 knockdown in Xenopus causes eye/lens defects. Together, these data uncover TDRD7's novel upstream role in elevation of stress-responsive chaperones for cytoskeletal maintenance in post-nuclear degradation lens fiber cells, perturbation of which causes early-onset cataracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie E Barnum
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Salma Al Saai
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Shaili D Patel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Catherine Cheng
- School of Optometry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Deepti Anand
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Xiaolu Xu
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Soma Dash
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Archana D Siddam
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Lisa Glazewski
- Nemours Biomedical Research Department, Alfred I duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
| | - Emily Paglione
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Shawn W Polson
- Center for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Shinichiro Chuma
- Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Robert W Mason
- Nemours Biomedical Research Department, Alfred I duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
| | - Shuo Wei
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Mona Batish
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
- Department of Medical and Molecular Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Velia M Fowler
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Salil A Lachke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
- Center for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
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36
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Aryal S, Viet J, Weatherbee BAT, Siddam AD, Hernandez FG, Gautier-Courteille C, Paillard L, Lachke SA. The cataract-linked RNA-binding protein Celf1 post-transcriptionally controls the spatiotemporal expression of the key homeodomain transcription factors Pax6 and Prox1 in lens development. Hum Genet 2020; 139:1541-1554. [PMID: 32594240 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-020-02195-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The homeodomain transcription factors (TFs) Pax6 (OMIM: 607108) and Prox1 (OMIM: 601546) critically regulate gene expression in lens development. While PAX6 mutations in humans can cause cataract, aniridia, microphthalmia, and anophthalmia, among other defects, Prox1 deletion in mice causes severe lens abnormalities, in addition to other organ defects. Furthermore, the optimal dosage/spatiotemporal expression of these key TFs is essential for development. In lens development, Pax6 expression is elevated in cells of the anterior epithelium compared to fiber cells, while Prox1 exhibits the opposite pattern. Whether post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms control these precise TF expression patterns is unknown. Here, we report the unprecedented finding that the cataract-linked RNA-binding protein (RBP), Celf1 (OMIM: 601074), post-transcriptionally regulates Pax6 and Prox1 protein expression in lens development. Immunostaining shows that Celf1 lens-specific conditional knockout (Celf1cKO) mice exhibit abnormal elevation of Pax6 protein in fiber cells and abnormal Prox1 protein levels in epithelial cells-directly opposite to their normal expression patterns in development. Furthermore, RT-qPCR shows no change in Pax6 and Prox1 transcript levels in Celf1cKO lenses, suggesting that Celf1 regulates these TFs on the translational level. Indeed, RNA-immunoprecipitation assays using Celf1 antibody indicate that Celf1 protein binds to Pax6 and Prox1 transcripts. Furthermore, reporter assays in Celf1 knockdown and Celf1-overexpression cells demonstrate that Celf1 negatively controls Pax6 and Prox1 translation via their 3' UTRs. These data define a new mechanism of RBP-based post-transcriptional regulation that enables precise control over spatiotemporal expression of Pax6 and Prox1 in lens development, thereby uncovering a new etiological mechanism for Celf1 deficiency-based cataract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Aryal
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Justine Viet
- Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes, Univ Rennes, CNRS, IGDR-UMR 6290, 35000, Rennes, France
| | | | - Archana D Siddam
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | | | - Carole Gautier-Courteille
- Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes, Univ Rennes, CNRS, IGDR-UMR 6290, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Luc Paillard
- Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes, Univ Rennes, CNRS, IGDR-UMR 6290, 35000, Rennes, France.
| | - Salil A Lachke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA. .,Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA.
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37
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Ma P, Tang WG, Hu JW, Hao Y, Xiong LK, Wang MM, Liu H, Bo WH, Yu KH. HSP4 triggers epithelial-mesenchymal transition and promotes motility capacities of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via activating AKT. Liver Int 2020; 40:1211-1223. [PMID: 32077551 DOI: 10.1111/liv.14410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Heat shock factor (HSF4) plays a vital role in carcinogenesis and tumour progression. However, its clinical significance implications in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remained elusive. METHODS RT-PCR and western blot were used to detect the HSF4 expression levels in HCC cells and tissues. Immunohistochemistry staining was performed on a tissue microarray containing 104 HCC patients received radical resection. In vitro effects of HSF4 on proliferation, migration and invasion were determined by colony formation and transwell assays in HCCLM3, Huh7, MHCC97L and SMMC7721 cells. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was identified by RT-PCR, WB and immunofluorescence in HCCLM3 and MHCC97L cells. AKT pathway activation was detected by WB and dual luciferase report system in HCCLM3 and MHCC97L cells. RESULTS HSF4 expression was higher in primary HCC tissues derived from recurrent patients, and positively correlated with invasiveness potentials of cell lines. Clinically, patients with high HSF4 expression had significant poorer prognosis. In vitro experiments showed HSF4 silencing inhibited HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, whereas HSF4 overexpression had inverse effects. Moreover, silence of HSF4 induced an epithelial-like phenotype, whereas the overexpression of HSF4 resulted in a mesenchymal-like phenotype in HCC by activating AKT pathway. Further experiments showed that HSF4 could activate AKT pathway in a hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) dependent, but transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) independent manner. CONCLUSIONS HSF4 is upregulated in HCC, resulting in greater proliferation, migration and invasion capacities. Moreover, high HSF4 expression is a promising predictive indicator of poor outcome after radical resection. HSF4 may promote aggressive tumour behaviour by enhancing EMT through activating AKT pathway in a HIF1α-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Ma
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Wei-Guo Tang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China.,Institute of Fudan-Minhang Academic Health System, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Jin-Wu Hu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China.,Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Fudan University, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Ying Hao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Liang-Kun Xiong
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Mao-Ming Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Hao Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Wen-Hui Bo
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Kai-Huan Yu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P.R. China
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38
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Berry V, Georgiou M, Fujinami K, Quinlan R, Moore A, Michaelides M. Inherited cataracts: molecular genetics, clinical features, disease mechanisms and novel therapeutic approaches. Br J Ophthalmol 2020; 104:1331-1337. [PMID: 32217542 DOI: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2019-315282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Cataract is the most common cause of blindness in the world; during infancy and early childhood, it frequently results in visual impairment. Congenital cataracts are phenotypically and genotypically heterogeneous and can occur in isolation or in association with other systemic disorders. Significant progress has been made in identifying the molecular genetic basis of cataract; 115 genes to date have been found to be associated with syndromic and non-syndromic cataract and 38 disease-causing genes have been identified to date to be associated with isolated cataract. In this review, we briefly discuss lens development and cataractogenesis, detail the variable cataract phenotypes and molecular mechanisms, including genotype-phenotype correlations, and explore future novel therapeutic avenues including cellular therapies and pharmacological treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanita Berry
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Michalis Georgiou
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK.,Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Kaoru Fujinami
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK.,National Institute of Sensory Organs, National Hospital Organization, Tokyo Medical Centre, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Roy Quinlan
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK.,Department of Biosciences, School of Biological and Medical Sciences, University of Durham, Durham, UK
| | - Anthony Moore
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,Ophthalmology Department, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Michel Michaelides
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK .,Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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Bell SJ, Oluonye N, Harding P, Moosajee M. Congenital cataract: a guide to genetic and clinical management. THERAPEUTIC ADVANCES IN RARE DISEASE 2020; 1:2633004020938061. [PMID: 37180497 PMCID: PMC10032449 DOI: 10.1177/2633004020938061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Worldwide 20,000-40,000 children with congenital or childhood cataract are born every year with varying degrees and patterns of lens opacification with a broad aetiology. In most cases of bilateral cataract, a causative genetic mutation can be identified, with autosomal dominant inheritance being most common in 44% of cases. Variants in genes involve lens-specific proteins or those that regulate eye development, thus giving rise to other associated ocular abnormalities. Approximately 15% of cases have systemic features, hence paediatric input is essential to minimise comorbidities and support overall development of children at high risk of visual impairment. In some metabolic conditions, congenital cataract may be the presenting sign, and therefore prompt diagnosis is important where there is an available treatment. Multidisciplinary management of children is essential, including ophthalmic surgeons, orthoptists, paediatricians, geneticists and genetic counsellors, and should extend beyond the medical team to include school and local paediatric visual support services. Early surgery and close follow up in ophthalmology is important to optimise visual potential and prevent amblyopia. Routine genetic testing is essential for the complete clinical management of patients, with next-generation sequencing of 115 genes shown to expedite molecular diagnosis, streamline care pathways and inform genetic counselling and reproductive options for the future. Lay abstract Childhood cataract: how to manage patients Cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye. Cataract occurring in children has many different causes, which may include infections passed from mother to child during pregnancy, trauma, medications and exposure to radiation. In most cases of cataract occurring in both eyes, a genetic cause can be found which may be inherited from parents or occur sporadically in the developing baby itself while in the womb. Cataracts may occur on their own, with other eye conditions or be present with other disorders in the body as part of a syndrome. Genetic testing is important for all children with cataract as it can provide valuable information about cause, inheritance and risk to further children and signpost any other features of the disease in the rest of the body, permitting the assembly of the correct multidisciplinary care team. Genetic testing currently involves screening for mutations in 115 genes already known to cause cataract and has been shown to expedite diagnosis and help better manage children. Genetic counselling services can support families in understanding their diagnosis and inform future family planning. In order to optimise vision, early surgery for cataract in children is important. This is because the brain is still developing and an unobstructed pathway for light to reach the back of the eye is required for normal visual development. Any obstruction (such as cataract) if left untreated may lead to permanent sight impairment or blindness, even if it is removed later. A multidisciplinary team involved in the care of a child with cataract should include ophthalmic surgeons, orthoptists, paediatricians, geneticists and genetic counsellors, and should extend beyond the medical team to include school and local child visual support services. They will help to diagnose and manage systemic conditions, optimise vision potential and help patients and their families access best supportive care.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ngozi Oluonye
- Department of Genetics, Moorfields Eye Hospital,
London, UK
- Department of Ophthalmology, Great Ormond Street
Hospital for Children, London, UK
| | | | - Mariya Moosajee
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology 11-43 Bath Street
London EC1V 9EL, UK
- Department of Genetics, Moorfields Eye Hospital,
London, UK
- Department of Ophthalmology, Great Ormond Street
Hospital for Children, London, UK
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Jiao X, Khan SY, Kaul H, Butt T, Naeem MA, Riazuddin S, Hejtmancik JF, Riazuddin SA. Autosomal recessive congenital cataracts linked to HSF4 in a consanguineous Pakistani family. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0225010. [PMID: 31815953 PMCID: PMC6901218 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the genetic basis of autosomal recessive congenital cataracts (arCC) in a large consanguineous Pakistani family. METHODS All participating members of family, PKCC074 underwent an ophthalmic examination. Slit-lamp photographs were ascertained for affected individuals that have not been operated for the removal of the cataractous lens. A small aliquot of the blood sample was collected from all participating individuals and genomic DNAs were extracted. A genome-wide scan was performed with polymorphic short tandem repeat (STR) markers and the logarithm of odds (LOD) scores were calculated. All coding exons and exon-intron boundaries of HSF4 were sequenced and expression of Hsf4 in mouse ocular lens was investigated. The C-terminal FLAG-tagged wild-type and mutant HSF4b constructs were prepared to examine the nuclear localization pattern of the mutant protein. RESULTS The ophthalmological examinations suggested that nuclear cataracts are present in affected individuals. Genome-wide linkage analyses localized the critical interval to a 10.95 cM (14.17 Mb) interval on chromosome 16q with a maximum two-point LOD score of 4.51 at θ = 0. Sanger sequencing identified a novel missense mutation: c.433G>C (p.Ala145Pro) that segregated with the disease phenotype in the family and was not present in ethnically matched controls. Real-time PCR analysis identified the expression of HSF4 in mouse lens as early as embryonic day 15 with a steady level of expression thereafter. The immunofluorescence tracking confirmed that both wild-type and mutant HSF4 (p.Ala145Pro) proteins localized to the nucleus. CONCLUSION Here, we report a novel missense mutation in HSF4 associated with arCC in a familial case of Pakistani descent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Jiao
- Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Shahid Y Khan
- The Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Haiba Kaul
- National Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Tariq Butt
- National Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Asif Naeem
- National Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Sheikh Riazuddin
- National Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.,Allama Iqbal Medical College, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - J Fielding Hejtmancik
- Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - S Amer Riazuddin
- The Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
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Contribution of a Novel B3GLCT Variant to Peters Plus Syndrome Discovered by a Combination of Next-Generation Sequencing and Automated Text Mining. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20236006. [PMID: 31795264 PMCID: PMC6928627 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20236006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Anterior segment dysgenesis (ASD) encompasses a spectrum of ocular disorders affecting the structures of the anterior eye chamber. Mutations in several genes, involved in eye development, are implicated in this disorder. ASD is often accompanied by diverse multisystemic symptoms and another genetic cause, such as variants in genes encoding collagen type IV. Thus, a wide spectrum of phenotypes and underlying genetic diversity make fast and proper diagnosis challenging. Here, we used AMELIE, an automatic text mining tool that enriches data with the most up-to-date information from literature, and wANNOVAR, which is based on well-documented databases and incorporates variant filtering strategy to identify genetic variants responsible for severely-manifested ASD in a newborn child. This strategy, applied to trio sequencing data in compliance with ACMG 2015 guidelines, helped us find two compound heterozygous variants of the B3GLCT gene, of which c.660+1G>A (rs80338851) was previously associated with the phenotype of Peters plus syndrome (PPS), while the second, NM_194318.3:c.755delC (p.T252fs), in exon 9 of the same gene was noted for the first time. PPS, a very rare subtype of ASD, is a glycosylation disorder, where the dysfunctional B3GLCT gene product, O-fucose-specific β-1,3-glucosyltransferase, is ineffective in providing a noncanonical quality control system for proper protein folding in cells. Our study expands the mutation spectrum of the B3GLCT gene related to PPS. We suggest that the implementation of automatic text mining tools in combination with careful variant filtering could help translate sequencing results into diagnosis, thus, considerably accelerating the diagnostic process and, thereby, improving patient management.
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42
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Molecular genetics of congenital cataracts. Exp Eye Res 2019; 191:107872. [PMID: 31770519 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2019.107872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Congenital cataracts, the most common cause of visual impairment and blindness in children worldwide, have diverse etiologies. According to statistics analysis, about one quarter of congenital cataracts caused by genetic defects. Various mutations of more than one hundred genes have been identified in hereditary cataracts so far. In this review, we briefly summarize recent developments about the genetics, molecular mechanisms, and treatments of congenital cataracts. The studies of these pathogenic mutations and molecular genetics is making it possible for us to comprehend the underlying mechanisms of cataractogenesis and providing new insights into the preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches of cataracts.
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Structural analysis of missense mutations occurring in the DNA-binding domain of HSF4 associated with congenital cataracts. JOURNAL OF STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY-X 2019; 4:100015. [PMID: 32647819 PMCID: PMC7337047 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjsbx.2019.100015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
High-resolution structures of wild-type and K23N mutant DBD in HSF4 were determined. Cataract-related mutations in HSF4 were structurally analyzed through MD simulation. Mutations Q61R, K64E, R73H, R116H and R119C likely perturb DNA-binding activity. Mutations K23N, P60H and L114P probably affect trimer formation or folding dynamics. Mutations A19D, H35Y and I86V may be false positives leading to trivial impacts.
Congenital cataract (CC) is the major cause of childish blindness, and nearly 50% of CCs are hereditary disorders. HSF4, a member of the heat shock transcription factor family, acts as a key regulator of cell growth and differentiation during the development of sensory organs. Missense mutations in the HSF4-encoding gene have been reported to cause CC formation; in particular, those occurring within the DNA-binding domain (DBD) are usually autosomal dominant mutations. To address how the identified mutations lead to HSF4 malfunction by placing adverse impacts on protein structure and DNA-binding specificity and affinity, we determined two high-resolution structures of the wild-type DBD and the K23N mutant of human HSF4, built DNA-binding models, conducted in silico mutations and molecular dynamics simulations. Our analysis suggests four possible structural mechanisms underlining the missense mutations in HSF4-DBD and cataractogenesis: (i), disruption of HSE recognition; (ii), perturbation of protein-DNA interactions; (iii), alteration of protein folding; (iv), other impacts, e.g. inhibition of protein oligomerization.
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Alkhunaizi E, Koenekoop RK, Saint-Martin C, Russell L. Maternally inherited MAF variant associated with variable expression of Aymé-Gripp syndrome. Am J Med Genet A 2019; 179:2233-2236. [PMID: 31390148 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.61299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Aymé-Gripp syndrome is an intellectual disability syndrome characterized by autism spectrum disorder, cataracts, sensorineural hearing loss, skeletal involvement, seizures, cardiac anomalies, and distinctive facial features. The condition is caused by pathogenic variants in MAF. To date, less than 20 cases have been reported, the majority having de novo mutations. Here, we report a patient with classical features of Aymé-Gripp syndrome who inherited a MAF variant, c.206C>G (p.P69R), from a mother with normal intellectual function and normal hearing but with cataract and significant proteinuria. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient who inherited a MAF causative variant from a parent with normal intellect. Although the syndrome typically has multiple malformations and intellectual disability, we suggest that a mild phenotype could exist. In addition, we suggest that the basal ganglia calcifications present in our proband could be a novel finding associated with MAF variants and offer further support for the relationship between these variants and late manifestations of renal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ebba Alkhunaizi
- Department of Clinical and Metabolic Genetics, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,The Prenatal Diagnosis and Medical Genetics Program, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Robert K Koenekoop
- McGill Ocular Genetics Centre, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Christine Saint-Martin
- Department of Radiology, Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Canada
| | - Laura Russell
- Department of Medical Genetics, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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45
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Jiang J, Shihan MH, Wang Y, Duncan MK. Lens Epithelial Cells Initiate an Inflammatory Response Following Cataract Surgery. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2019; 59:4986-4997. [PMID: 30326070 PMCID: PMC6188467 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.18-25067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Lens epithelial cell (LEC) conversion to myofibroblast is responsible for fibrotic cataract surgery complications including posterior capsular opacification. While transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) signaling is important, the mechanisms by which the TGFβ pathway is activated post cataract surgery (PCS) are not well understood. Methods RNA-seq was performed on LECs obtained from a mouse cataract surgery model at the time of surgery and 24 hours later. Bioinformatic analysis was performed with iPathwayGuide. Expression dynamics were determined by immunofluorescence. Results The LEC transcriptome is massively altered by 24 hours PCS. The differentially expressed genes included those important for lens biology, and fibrotic markers. However, the most dramatic changes were in the expression of genes regulating the innate immune response, with the top three altered genes exhibiting greater than 1000-fold upregulation. Immunolocalization revealed that CXCL1, S100a9, CSF3, COX-2, CCL2, LCN2, and HMOX1 protein levels upregulate in LECs between 1 hour and 6 hours PCS and peak at 24 hours PCS, while their levels sharply attenuate by 3 days PCS. This massive upregulation of known inflammatory mediators precedes the infiltration of neutrophils into the eye at 18 hours PCS, the upregulation of canonical TGFβ signaling at 48 hours PCS, and the infiltration of macrophages at 3 days PCS. Conclusions These data demonstrate that LECs produce proinflammatory cytokines immediately following lens injury that could drive postsurgical flare, and suggest that inflammation may be a major player in the onset of lens-associated fibrotic disease PCS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Jiang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, United States
| | - Mahbubul H Shihan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, United States
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, United States
| | - Melinda K Duncan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, United States
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Xie L, Mao M, Wang C, Zhang L, Pan Z, Shi J, Duan X, Jia S, Jiang B. Potential Biomarkers for Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Identified by Long Noncoding RNA Profiling in the Aqueous Humor. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2019; 189:739-752. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2018.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Joutsen J, Sistonen L. Tailoring of Proteostasis Networks with Heat Shock Factors. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2019; 11:cshperspect.a034066. [PMID: 30420555 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a034066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Heat shock factors (HSFs) are the main transcriptional regulators of the heat shock response and indispensable for maintaining cellular proteostasis. HSFs mediate their protective functions through diverse genetic programs, which are composed of genes encoding molecular chaperones and other genes crucial for cell survival. The mechanisms that are used to tailor HSF-driven proteostasis networks are not yet completely understood, but they likely comprise from distinct combinations of both genetic and proteomic determinants. In this review, we highlight the versatile HSF-mediated cellular functions that extend from cellular stress responses to various physiological and pathological processes, and we underline the key advancements that have been achieved in the field of HSF research during the last decade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Joutsen
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Cell Biology, Åbo Akademi University, 20520 Turku, Finland.,Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Lea Sistonen
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Cell Biology, Åbo Akademi University, 20520 Turku, Finland.,Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20520 Turku, Finland
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Mouse models for microphthalmia, anophthalmia and cataracts. Hum Genet 2019; 138:1007-1018. [PMID: 30919050 PMCID: PMC6710221 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-019-01995-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Mouse mutants are a long-lasting, valuable tool to identify genes underlying eye diseases, because the absence of eyes, very small eyes and severely affected, cataractous eyes are easily to detect without major technical equipment. In mice, actually 145 genes or loci are known for anophthalmia, 269 for microphthalmia, and 180 for cataracts. Approximately, 25% of the loci are not yet characterized; however, some of the ancient lines are extinct and not available for future research. The phenotypes of the mutants represent a continuous spectrum either in anophthalmia and microphthalmia, or in microphthalmia and cataracts. On the other side, mouse models are still missing for some genes, which have been identified in human families to be causative for anophthalmia, microphthalmia, or cataracts. Finally, the mouse offers the possibility to genetically test the roles of modifiers and the role of SNPs; these aspects open new avenues for ophthalmogenetics in the mouse.
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A novel mutation in the OAR domain of PITX3 associated with congenital posterior subcapsular cataract. BMC MEDICAL GENETICS 2019; 20:42. [PMID: 30894134 PMCID: PMC6425703 DOI: 10.1186/s12881-019-0782-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Background Congenital cataract is the most common cause of blindness among children worldwide. The aim of this study was to identify causative mutations in a Chinese family with isolated autosomal dominant posterior subcapsular cataract. Methods The proband and her parents underwent full ophthalmological examinations. DNA was extracted from the participants’ peripheral venous blood. The mutation was identified via panel-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) and was validated via Sanger sequencing. Results Posterior subcapsular lenticular opacity was observed in both of the proband’s eyes. The novel deletion mutation c.797_814del, p.Ser266_Ala271del in the PITX3 gene was identified in the proband and her father. This mutation is located within the otp/aristaless/rax (OAR) domain at the COOH-terminus of the protein, which functions in DNA binding and transactivation. This mutation would result in a deletion of 6 amino acid residues at the C terminal of the protein. Conclusions The mutation c.797_814del, p.Ser266_Ala271del is a novel mutation in the conserved DNA-binding OAR domain of PITX3 that causes congenital cataract. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12881-019-0782-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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50
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Genetics of anophthalmia and microphthalmia. Part 1: Non-syndromic anophthalmia/microphthalmia. Hum Genet 2019; 138:799-830. [PMID: 30762128 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-019-01977-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Eye formation is the result of coordinated induction and differentiation processes during embryogenesis. Disruption of any one of these events has the potential to cause ocular growth and structural defects, such as anophthalmia and microphthalmia (A/M). A/M can be isolated or occur with systemic anomalies, when they may form part of a recognizable syndrome. Their etiology includes genetic and environmental factors; several hundred genes involved in ocular development have been identified in humans or animal models. In humans, around 30 genes have been repeatedly implicated in A/M families, although many other genes have been described in single cases or families, and some genetic syndromes include eye anomalies occasionally as part of a wider phenotype. As a result of this broad genetic heterogeneity, with one or two notable exceptions, each gene explains only a small percentage of cases. Given the overlapping phenotypes, these genes can be most efficiently tested on panels or by whole exome/genome sequencing for the purposes of molecular diagnosis. However, despite whole exome/genome testing more than half of patients currently remain without a molecular diagnosis. The proportion of undiagnosed cases is even higher in those individuals with unilateral or milder phenotypes. Furthermore, even when a strong gene candidate is available for a patient, issues of incomplete penetrance and germinal mosaicism make diagnosis and genetic counseling challenging. In this review, we present the main genes implicated in non-syndromic human A/M phenotypes and, for practical purposes, classify them according to the most frequent or predominant phenotype each is associated with. Our intention is that this will allow clinicians to rank and prioritize their molecular analyses and interpretations according to the phenotypes of their patients.
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