A Novel Functional Polymorphism in the NINJ2 Promoter Predicts Risk of Large Artery Atherosclerotic Stroke

Genetic Polymorphisms of Ischemic Stroke in Asians

The increasing incidence of ischemic stroke emphasizes the necessity for early detection and preventive strategies. Diagnostic biomarkers currently available for ischemic stroke only become detectable shortly before the manifestation of stroke symptoms. Genetic variants associated with ischemic stroke offer a potential solution to address this diagnostic limitation. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that genetic variants cannot be modified in the same way as epigenetic changes. Nevertheless, individuals carrying risk or protective variants can modify their lifestyle to potentially influence the associated epigenetic factors. This study aims to summarize specific variants relevant to Asian populations that may aid in the early detection of ischemic stroke and explore their impact on the disease's pathophysiology. These variants give us important information about the genes that play a role in ischemic stroke by affecting things like atherosclerosis pathway, blood coagulation pathway, homocysteine metabolism, transporter function, transcription, and the activity of neurons regulation. It is important to recognize the variations in genetic variants among different ethnicities and avoid generalizing the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke.

NINJ2 deficiency inhibits preadipocyte differentiation and promotes insulin resistance through regulating insulin signaling

OBJECTIVE

Genetic variants in ninjurin-2 (NINJ2; nerve injury-induced protein 2) confer risk of ischemic strokes and coronary artery disease as well as endothelial activation and inflammation. However, little is known about NINJ2's in vivo functions and underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

The phenotypes of NINJ2 knockout mice were analyzed, and mechanisms of NINJ2 that regulate body weight, insulin resistance, and glucose homeostasis and lipogenesis were investigated in vivo and in vitro.

RESULTS

This study found that mice lacking NINJ2 showed impaired adipogenesis, increased insulin resistance, and abnormal glucose homeostasis, all of which are risk factors for strokes and coronary artery disease. Mechanistically, NINJ2 directly interacts with insulin receptor/insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (INSR/IGF1R), and NINJ2 knockdown can block insulin-induced mitotic clonal expansion during preadipocyte differentiation by inhibiting protein kinase B/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (AKT/ERK) signaling and by decreasing the expression of key adipocyte transcriptional regulators CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β (C/EBP-β), C/EBP-α, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ). Furthermore, the interaction between NINJ2 and INSR/IGF1R is needed for maintaining insulin sensitivity in adipocytes and muscle via AKT and glucose transporter type 4. Notably, adenovirus-mediated NINJ2 overexpression can ameliorate diet-induced insulin resistance in mice.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, these findings reveal NINJ2 as an important new facilitator of insulin receptors, and the authors propose a unique regulatory mechanism between insulin signaling, adipogenesis, and insulin resistance.

Functional rare variant in a C/EBP beta binding site in NINJ2 gene increases the risk of coronary artery disease

Objective: NINJ2 regulates activation of vascular endothelial cells, and genome-wide association studies showed that variants in NINJ2 confer risk to stroke. However, whether variants in NINJ2 are associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) is unknown.

Methods: We genotyped rs34166160 in NINJ2 in two independent Chinese GeneID populations which included 2,794 CAD cases and 4,131 controls, and performed genetics association studies. Functional studies were also performed to reveal the mechanisms.

Results: Allele rs34166160 significantly confers risk to CAD in the GeneID Hubei population which contained 1,440 CAD cases and 2,660 CAD-free controls (observed P_-obs = 6.39 × 10⁻³ with an odds ratio (OR) was 3.39, adjusted P_-adj = 8.12 × 10⁻³ with an OR of 3.10). The association was replicated in another population, GeneID Shandong population contained 1,354 CAD cases and 1,471 controls (P_-obs = 3.33 × 10⁻³ with an OR of 3.14, P_-adj = 0.01 with an OR of 2.74). After combining the two populations, the association was more significant (P_-obs = 1.57 × 10⁻⁵ with an OR of 3.58, P_-adj = 3.41 × 10⁻⁴ with an OR of 2.80). In addition, we found that rs34166160 was associated with the mRNA expression level of NINJ2 and the flanking region of rs34166160 can directly bind with transcriptional factor CCAAT-box/enhancer-binding protein beta, and the risk A allele has more transcription activity than non-risk C allele with or without LPS in HUVEC cells.

Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that the functional rare variant rs34166160 in NINJ2 confers risk to CAD for the first time, and these findings further expand the range of the pathology of CAD and atherosclerosis.

SLC17A3 rs9379800 and Ischemic Stroke Susceptibility at the Northern Region of Malaysia

OBJECTIVES

The relationships of Paired Like Homeodomain 2 (PITX2), Ninjurin 2 (NINJ2), TWIST-Related Protein 1 (TWIST1), Ras Interacting Protein 1 (Rasip1), Solute Carrier Family 17 Member 3 (SLC17A3), Methylmalonyl Co-A Mutase (MUT) and Fer3 Like BHLH Transcription Factor (FERD3L) polymorphisms and gene expression with ischemic stroke have yet to be determined in Malaysia. Hence, this study aimed to explore the associations of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and gene expression with ischemic stroke risk among population who resided at the Northern region of Malaysia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study subjects including 216 ischemic stroke patients and 203 healthy controls were recruited upon obtaining ethical clearance. SNP genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assays. Gene expression levels were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction assays. Statistical and genetic analyses were conducted with SPSS version 22.2, PLINK version 1.07 and multifactor dimensionality reduction software.

RESULTS

Study subjects with G allele, CG or GG genotypes of SLC17A3 rs9379800 demonstrated increased risk of ischemic stroke with the odds ratios ranging from 1.76-fold to 3.14-fold (p<0.05). When stratified study subjects according to the ethnicity, SLC17A3 rs9379800 G allele and CG genotype contributed to 2.14- and 2.96-fold of ischemic stroke risk among Malay population significantly, in the multivariate analysis (p<0.05). However, no significant associations were observed for PITX2, NINJ2, TWIST1, Rasip1, and MUT polymorphisms with ischemic stroke risk in the multivariate analysis for the pooled cases and controls as well as when stratified them according to the ethnicity. Lower mRNA expression levels of Rasip1, SLC17A3, MUT and FERD3L were observed among cases (p<0.05). After FDR adjustment, the mRNA level of SLC17A3 remained significantly associated with ischemic stroke among Malay population (q=0.034).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this study suggests that SLC17A3 rs9379800 polymorphism and its gene expression contribute to significant ischemic stroke risk among Malaysian population, particularly the Malay who resided at the Northern Region of the country. Our findings can provide useful information for the future diagnosis, management and treatment of ischemic stroke patients.

Ninjurin 2 rs118050317 gene polymorphism and endometrial cancer risk

Background

Endometrial cancer is one of the most common female reproductive system tumors. Ninjurin2 (NINJ2) is a new adhesion factor. As a vascular susceptibility gene, it is highly expressed in other cancers and promotes the growth of cancer cells. We conducted an association analysis between NINJ2 gene polymorphism and endometrial cancer risk.

Methods

Five SNPs rs118050317, rs75750647, rs7307242, rs10849390 and rs11610368 of NINJ2 gene were genotyped in 351 endometrial cancer patients and 344 healthy controls. The clinical index difference between cases and controls were tested by one-way analysis of variance. The allele and genotype frequency of cases and controls were been compared by Chi square test. The odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were examined by logistic regression analysis.

Results

The SNP rs118050317 mutant allele C and homozygote CC genotype were significant increased the endometrial cancer risk (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.04–2.06, p = 0.028; OR 8.43, 95% CI 1.05–67.89, p = 0.045). In the clinical index analysis, there were significant higher quantities of CEA, CA125 and AFP in cases serum than controls.

Conclusion

The NINJ2 gene polymorphism loci rs118050317 mutant allele C was associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer. CEA, CA125 and AFP quantities were significant higher in endometrial cancer patients.

De novo assembly and functional annotation of the Red-striped golden stink bug (Poecilocoris lewisi) transcriptome

Insect antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have a wide range of functions and potential applications, and have recently attracted attention as alternative foods and medicines for humans. Our study performed transcriptome analysis to explore the potential of the red-striped golden stink bug (Poecilocoris lewisi), and as a result, we have discovered new features of P. lewisi that have not been identified. Specifically, defensin found in P. lewisi is a well-known AMP and is expressed by various plants, animals and fungi for host defense. Moreover, the discovery of defensin in P. lewisi provides new research and important information. In this study, we identified AMP and related DEG in P. lewisi that are closely related to human disease and immune response. These findings will provide the basis and important information for future research on P. lewisi that has not yet been studied.

Assessment of Association between NINJ2 Polymorphisms and Suicide Attempts in an Iranian Population

Suicidal behavior as a psychological problem with high public health burden is associated with a number of genetically determined risk factors. In the current study, we investigated the association between two polymorphisms within the NINJ2 gene and risk of suicide in an Iranian population. The study included 295 individuals who attempted suicide with soft suicide methods, 234 suicide victims and 410 normal controls. The rs11833579 SNP was associated with death from suicide in a codominant model in that the AG genotype decreased the risk of death from suicide compared with the GG genotype (OR (95% CI) = 0.49 (0.34-0.71), adjusted P value = 4e-04). This SNP was also associated with death from suicide in dominant (AG + AA versus GG: OR (95% CI) = 0.63 (0.46-0.87), adjusted P value = 0.011) and overdominant (AG versus GG + AA: OR (95% CI) = 0.49 (0.35-0.69), adjusted P value < 0.0001) models. In addition, this SNP was associated with soft suicide attempts in a codominant model (AG versus AA + GG: OR (95% CI) = 0.7 (0.5-0.98), adjusted P value = 0.02). The rs3806263 SNP was associated with death from suicide in allelic (A versus G: OR (95% CI) = 1.48 (1.17-1.88), adjusted P value = 0.002), codominant (AA versus GG: OR (95% CI) = 3.14 (1.89-5.21), adjusted P value < 0.0001), recessive (AA versus GG + AG: OR (95% CI) = 3.47 (2.15-5.61), adjusted P value < 0.0001), overdominant (AG versus AA + GG: OR (95% CI) = 0.62 (0.45-0.87), adjusted P value = 0.0092) and log-additive models (OR (95% CI) = 1.45 (1.15-1.83), adjusted P value = 0.0034). When comparing allele/genotype frequencies of this SNP between suicide victims and soft suicide attempters, significant associations were found in allelic, codominant, recessive and log-additive models. The AG haplotype (rs11833579 and rs3806263, respectively) was significantly less prevalent among suicide victims compared with controls (OR (95% CI) = 0.37 (0.26-0.52), adjusted P value < 0.0001). This haplotype was also less prevalent among suicide victims vs. soft suicide attempters (OR (95% CI) = 0.43 (0.31-0.61), adjusted P value < 0.0001). The GA haplotype (rs11833579 and rs3806263, respectively) was less frequent among suicide victims compared with controls (OR (95% CI) = 0.63 (0.45-0.89), adjusted P value = 0.0156). Finally, the AA haplotype was more prevalent among suicide victims compared with both controls (OR (95% CI) = 2.37 (1.56-3.6), adjusted P value = 0.0002) and soft suicide attempters (OR (95% CI) = 1.92 (1.32-2.78), adjusted P value = 0.0012). Thus, these two SNPs might be regarded as genetic determinants of suicide risk in Iranian populations. Further studies in different populations are needed to verify these results.

Associations Between Two Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in NINJ2 Gene and Risk of Psychiatric Disorders

NINJ2 encodes a transmembrane protein that contributes in neurodevelopment and regeneration of neurons. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within this gene have been associated with Alzheimer's disease, ischemic stroke, and multiple sclerosis. The rs11833579 and rs3809263 SNPs have been associated with risk of ischemic stroke in Iranian population. While the NINJ2 rs12425791 has been with risk of ischemic stroke in East Asian population, the rs11833579 has not been associated with this condition either in East Asian population or Chinese Han population. In the current project, we genotyped rs11833579 and rs3809263 in a large cohort of neuropsychiatric patients including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and methamphetamine addiction. No significant difference was detected in frequencies of alleles, genotypes, or haplotypes between patients and controls. Thus, the current investigation failed to show association between rs11833579 and rs3809263 and the mentioned neuropsychiatric disorders. Future studies are needed to verify our results.

Ninjurin 2 overexpression promotes human colorectal cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo

Ninjurin 2 (NINJ2) is a novel adhesion molecule. Its expression and potential function in human colorectal cancer (CRC) cells are studied. We show that NINJ2 is overexpressed in established (HT-29) and primary CRC cells and in human colon cancer tissues. Its expression level is low in colon epithelial cells and normal colon tissues. NINJ2 shRNA or knockout (by CRSIPR/Cas9) potently inhibited human CRC cell survival and proliferation, while significantly inducing cell apoptosis. Conversely, lentivirus-mediated NINJ2 overexpression promoted CRC cell proliferation. NINJ2 co-immunoprecipitated with multiple RTKs (EGFR, PDGFRα/β and FGFR) in CRC cells and human colon cancer tissues. In HT-29 cells, RTKs’ downstream signalings, Akt and Erk, were significantly inhibited by NINJ2 shRNA or knockout, but augmented following ectopic NINJ2 overexpression. In vivo, NINJ2-silenced or NINJ2-knockout CRC xenografts grew significantly slower than the control xenografts. Akt-Erk activation was largely inhibited in CRC xenografts with NINJ2 silencing or knockout. Taken together, NINJ2 overexpression promotes CRC cell growth in vitro and in vivo.

A single nucleotide polymorphism within Ninjurin 2 is associated with risk of multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a devastating inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) associated with loss of myelin sheaths. The role of Schwan cells in the remyelination of MS lesions has been documented. However, the detailed steps of this process are unknown. Ninjurin 2 (NINJ2) encodes an adhesion protein with high expression in Schwann cells adjoining the distal piece of injured nerve. Based on the role of this protein in neurite outgrowth, it might participate in the process of nerve regeneration after nerve damage. In the present study, we genotyped two NINJ2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) namely rs11833579 and rs3809263 in a population of Iranian patients with MS as well as healthy individuals. The frequency of T allele of the rs3809263 was significantly higher in MS patients compared with healthy subjects (OR (95% CI) = 1.33 (1.08-1.63), adjusted P value = 0.01). TT genotype of this SNP was associated with MS risk compared with CC genotype (OR (95% CI) = 2.22 (1.37-3.57), adjusted P value = 0.009). Moreover, the rs3809263 was associated with MS risk in recessive model (OR (95% CI) = 2.09 (1.33-3.31), adjusted P value = 0.003). There were no significant difference in the alleles and genotypes frequencies of rs11833579 between cases and controls. The current research suggests contribution of NINJ2 in the pathogenesis of MS and warrants further studies for elaboration of the underlying mechanism of such contribution.

A pharmacogenetic study implicates NINJ2 in the response to Interferon-β in multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease in which biomarker identification is fundamental to predict response to treatments and to deliver the optimal drug to patients. We previously found an association between rs7298096, a polymorphism upstream to the NINJ2 gene, and the 4-year response to interferon-β (IFNβ) treatment in MS patients.

OBJECTIVES

To analyse the association between rs7298096 and time to first relapse (TTFR) during IFNβ therapy in MS patients and to better investigate its functional role.

METHODS

Survival analysis was applied in three MS cohorts from different countries (n = 1004). We also studied the role of the polymorphism on gene expression using GTEx portal and a luciferase assay. We interrogated GEO datasets to explore the relationship between NINJ2 expression, IFNβ and TTFR.

RESULTS

Rs7298096_AA patients show a shorter TTFR than rs7298096_G-carriers (P_{meta-analysis} = 3 × 10^-4, hazard ratio = 1.41). Moreover, rs7298096_AA is associated with a higher NINJ2 expression in blood (p = 7.0 × 10^-6), which was confirmed in vitro (p = 0.009). Finally, NINJ2 expression is downregulated by IFNβ treatment and related to TTFR.

CONCLUSIONS

Rs7298096 could influence MS disease activity during IFNβ treatment by modulating NINJ2 expression in blood. The gene encodes for an adhesion molecule involved in inflammation and endothelial cells activation, supporting its role in MS.