The Role of Cell Growth-Related Gene Copy Number Variation in Autoimmune Thyroid Disease

LncRNA HAGLR May Aggravate Melanoma Malignancy Via miR-4644/ASB11 Pathway

In this study, we aimed to assess the biological functions of HAGLR and its underlying mechanisms in melanoma. HAGLR and ASB11 were knocked down by transfection with the corresponding siRNAs. Meanwhile, miR-4644 was downregulated using the miR-4644 inhibitor treatment. The target interactions among the three molecules were demonstrated using dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. The levels of HAGLR, miR-4644, and ASB11 in melanoma cells and tissues were assessed using quantitative real‑time PCR and western blotting. The functions and mechanisms underlying HAGLR action in melanoma progression were examined using Cell Counting Kit-8, Transwell, Caspase-3 activity, and xenograft tumor formation assays. HAGLR and ASB11 expression were elevated, whereas that of miR-4644 was downregulated in melanoma cells and tissues. The viability and migration of melanoma cells (A875 and A375) were markedly suppressed by the knockdown of HAGLR and ASB11 but promoted following miR-4644 inhibitor transfection. In contrast, apoptosis showed the opposite trend. In vivo, tumor weight declined considerably with downregulation of HAGLR. Mechanistically, HAGLR sponges miR-4644, increasing the levels of ASB11 and further aggravating melanoma. It latter negatively targets ASB11 in melanoma cells. Hence, the HAGLR-miR-4644-ASB11 axis may be a promising target for melanoma treatment.

An Update Evolving View of Copy Number Variations in Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases (AIDs) usually share possible common mechanisms, i.e., a defect in the immune tolerance exists due to diverse causes from central and peripheral tolerance mechanisms. Some genetic variations including copy number variations (CNVs) are known to link to several AIDs and are of importance in the susceptibility to AIDs and the potential therapeutic responses to medicines. As an important source of genetic variants, DNA CNVs have been shown to be very common in AIDs, implying these AIDs may possess possible common mechanisms. In addition, some CNVs are differently distributed in various diseases in different ethnic populations, suggesting that AIDs may have their own different phenotypes and different genetic and/or environmental backgrounds among diverse populations. Due to the continuous advancement in genotyping technology, such as high-throughput whole-genome sequencing method, more susceptible variants have been found. Moreover, further replication studies should be conducted to confirm the results of studies with different ethnic cohorts and independent populations. In this review, we aim to summarize the most relevant data that emerged in the past few decades on the relationship of CNVs and AIDs and gain some new insights into the issue.

Relationship between TSHR, BRAF and PIK3CA gene copy number variations and thyroid nodules

PURPOSE

This study aims to investigate the relationship between the TSHR, BRAF, and PIK3CA gene copy number variations (CNVs) and thyroid nodules by analyzing gene CNVs, and to explore the interaction between iodine status and the above genes CNVs in the occurrence of thyroid nodules.

METHODS

Three hundred and ninety-five subjects were selected from 3 regions with different iodine status in Shanxi Province of China, including 192 patients with thyroid nodules and 203 healthy controls. The basic information about subjects had been obtained through a questionnaire. B ultrasound was utilized to check thyroid nodules. Blood and urine samples were harvested to detect the thyroid function and urinary iodine concentration. Real-time quantitative polymerase chains reaction (RT-PCR) served to detect CNVs in DNA from human blood.

RESULTS

There was an association between TSHR gene CNV and thyroid nodules (χ² = 8.403, P = 0.004). The prevalence of BRAF and PIK3CA gene CNVs was not statistically significant between the case group and the control group. Differences in the TSHR gene CNV rates for cases of the 3 areas were statistically significant (χ² = 10.072, P = 0.007). No statistical difference in the prevalence rates of the 3 genes CNVs between diverse characteristics of thyroid nodules was observed. UIC > 300 μg/L (OR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.02-2.96, P = 0.041) and TSHR gene CNV (OR = 3.53, 95% CI: 1.40-8.92, P = 0.008) were risk factors for thyroid nodules. There was no significant interaction between the UIC and the examined genes CNVs.

CONCLUSIONS

TSHR gene CNV and high urinary iodine levels can increase the risk of thyroid nodules. But the interactions between the 3 above genes CNVs and iodine nutrition were not found in the occurrence of thyroid nodules.

Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis during pregnancy

Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) during pregnancy is usually accompanied by an elevation of thyroid‐stimulating hormone and a reduction of serum‐free thyroxine during gestation, which may lead to abortion, preterm delivery, and reduced intellectual function of the offspring. Epigenetic alterations may provide important insights into genetic–environmental interactions in HT. Here, we examined global DNA methylation patterns in patients with HT during pregnancy. DNA was extracted from 13 women with HT during pregnancy (HTDP) and eight healthy pregnant women as a control group. Genome‐wide methylation was detected with the use of an Illumina Human Methylation 850K Beadchip. A total of 652 differentially methylated positions (DMPs) and 27 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified between the HTDP and control groups. GO analysis revealed that DMPs were significantly enriched in 540 GO terms, which included regulation of the differentiation of keratinocytes, T helper cell differentiation, and alpha‐beta T‐cell differentiation. Moreover, significant enrichment of KEGG pathways of the DMPs included mucin‐type O‐glycan biosynthesis, focal adhesion, and the insulin signaling pathway. The GO items associated with DMRs included muscle cell proliferation, response to biotic stimulus, anatomical structure formation involved in morphogenesis, and genes primarily involved in the FoxO signaling pathway. Finally, the DTNA gene was identified as the seed gene of functional epigenetic modules. In summary, the DNA methylation pattern of the HTDP group was distinct from that of the control group, and thus, changes in DNA methylation may influence the development of HT by regulation of the autoimmunity process.

Highly Recurrent Copy Number Variations in GABRB2 Associated With Schizophrenia and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

OBJECTIVE

Although single-nucleotide polymorphisms in GABRB2, the gene encoding for GABAA receptors β2 subunit, have been associated with schizophrenia (SCZ), it is unknown whether there is any association of copy number variations (CNVs) in this gene with either SCZ or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

METHODS

In this study, the occurrences of the recurrent CNVs esv2730987 in Intron 6 and nsv1177513 in Exon 11 of GABRB2 in Chinese and German SCZ, and Chinese PMDD patients were compared to controls of same ethnicity and gender by quantitative PCR (qPCR).

RESULTS

The results demonstrated that copy-number-gains were enriched in both SCZ and PMDD patients with significant odds ratios (OR). For combined-gender SCZ patients versus controls, about two-fold increases were observed in both ethnic groups at both esv2730987 (OR = 2.15, p = 5.32E-4 in Chinese group; OR = 2.79, p = 8.84E-3 in German group) and nsv1177513 (OR = 3.29, p = 1.28E-11 in Chinese group; OR = 2.44, p = 6.17E-5 in German group). The most significant copy-number-gains were observed in Chinese females at nsv1177513 (OR = 3.41), and German females at esv2730987 (OR=3.96). Copy-number-gains were also enriched in Chinese PMDD patients versus controls at esv2730987 (OR = 10.53, p = 4.34E-26) and nsv1177513 (OR = 2.39, p = 3.19E-5).

CONCLUSION

These findings established for the first time the association of highly recurrent CNVs with SCZ and PMDD, suggesting the presence of an overlapping genetic basis with shared biomarkers for these two common psychiatric disorders.