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Liu H, Guan L, Su X, Zhao L, Shu Q, Zhang J. A broken network of susceptibility genes in the monocytes of Crohn's disease patients. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202302394. [PMID: 38925865 PMCID: PMC11208737 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies have identified over 200 genetic loci associated with inflammatory bowel disease; however, the mechanism of such a large amount of susceptibility genes remains uncertain. In this study, we integrated bioinformatics analysis and two independent single-cell transcriptome datasets to investigate the expression network of 232 susceptibility genes in Crohn's disease (CD) patients and healthy controls. The study revealed that most of the susceptibility genes are specifically and strictly expressed in the monocytes of the human intestinal tract. The susceptibility genes established a network within the monocytes of health control. The robustness of a gene network may prevent disease onset that is influenced by the genetic and environmental alteration in the expression of susceptibility genes. In contrast, we showed a sparse network in pediatric/adult CD patients, suggesting the broken network contributed to the CD etiology. The network status of susceptibility genes at the single-cell level of monocytes provided novel insight into the etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hankui Liu
- Hebei Industrial Technology Research Institute of Genomics in Maternal & Child Health, Clin Lab, BGI Genomics, Shijiazhuang, China
- BGI Genomics, Shenzhen, China
| | - Liping Guan
- Hebei Industrial Technology Research Institute of Genomics in Maternal & Child Health, Clin Lab, BGI Genomics, Shijiazhuang, China
- BGI Genomics, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Xi Su
- BGI Genomics, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lijian Zhao
- Hebei Industrial Technology Research Institute of Genomics in Maternal & Child Health, Clin Lab, BGI Genomics, Shijiazhuang, China
- BGI Genomics, Shenzhen, China
- Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Qing Shu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jianguo Zhang
- Hebei Industrial Technology Research Institute of Genomics in Maternal & Child Health, Clin Lab, BGI Genomics, Shijiazhuang, China
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, China
- Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
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Wang Y, Lai W, Zheng X, Li K, Zhang Y, Pang X, Gao J, Lou Z. Linderae Radix extract attenuates ulcerative colitis by inhibiting the JAK/STAT signaling pathway. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 132:155868. [PMID: 39032278 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Linderae Radix (LR), the dried root of Lindera aggregata (Sims) Kosterm., is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that has been used for thousands of years for promoting Qi circulation, soothing the liver, and treating diarrhea and dysentery. Previous studies have found that ethanol extract of LR plays an anti-ulcerative colitis (UC) role by regulating Th17/ Treg balance. Water extract is the classic clinical application form of LR, but the effect of water extract of LR (LRWE) on UC and its underlying mechanism is still unclear. PURPOSE Purpose: UC is a gastrointestinal disease characterized by intestinal inflammation, mucosal injury, and fibrosis, and it is one of the high-risk factors for colon cancer. However, there is still a lack of remedies with satisfactory effects. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and the potential mechanism of LRWE against UC. METHODS LRWE samples were prepared using a reflux extraction method. Colitis in mice was induced by administering 2.5 % DSS water solution to evaluate the therapeutic effect of LRWE by assessing disease activity score, colon length, and fecal morphology. H&E staining, TEM, Masson staining, and AB-PAS staining were applied to observe histopathological changes in the colon tissues. Differentially expressed genes in colon tissues were analyzed by transcriptomics. Cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining. The expression of inflammatory factors such as IL-6 and IL-1β, as well as the expression of p-STAT1, p-JAK2, p-STAT3, Bax, and Bcl-2, were detected by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. The expression of occludin, Bcl-2, Bax, and JAK/STAT signaling pathway-related vital proteins were quantified by Western blot (WB). RESULTS LRWE alleviated body weight loss, colon shortening, DAI scores, pathological changes, and ultrastructural features of colon tissue in mice with colitis. It also inhibited the increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines (such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) and increased IL-10 levels. Additionally, it protected the intestinal barrier by upregulating the expression of Occludin and Mucin-2. Mechanistically, LRWE could inhibit the activation of JAK-STAT signaling pathway by reducing the protein expression of p-JAK2, p-STAT3, p-STAT1, Bcl2, and Bax, thus reducing the inflammatory responses and inhibiting cell apoptosis. CONCLUSION LRWE has a protective effect on DSS-induced UC. This effect is related to the inhibition of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway, the improvement of intestinal inflammation, and the reduction of intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang, Hangzhou 310053, PR China
| | - Weizhi Lai
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang, Hangzhou 310053, PR China
| | - Xunjie Zheng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang, Hangzhou 310053, PR China
| | - Ke Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang, Hangzhou 310053, PR China
| | - Yanhua Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang, Hangzhou 310053, PR China
| | - Xiaojun Pang
- Gastroenterology Department, Tiantai People's Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang, Taizhou 317200, PR China
| | - Jianli Gao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang, Hangzhou 310053, PR China.
| | - Zhaohuan Lou
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang, Hangzhou 310053, PR China; Songyang Institute of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang, Lishui 323400, PR China.
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Li Y, Li Q, Cao Z, Wu J. Multicenter proteome-wide Mendelian randomization study identifies causal plasma proteins in melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. Commun Biol 2024; 7:857. [PMID: 39003418 PMCID: PMC11246481 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06538-2] [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: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024] Open
Abstract
This study addresses the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in malignant melanoma (MM) and non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC). We aim to identify circulating proteins causally linked to MM and NMSC traits using a multicenter Mendelian randomization (MR) framework. We utilized large-scale cis-MR to estimate the impact of numerous plasma proteins on MM, NMSC, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and basal cell carcinoma (BCC). To ensure robustness, additional analyses like MR Steiger and Bayesian colocalization are conducted, followed by replication through meta-analytical methods. The associations between identified proteins and outcomes are also validated at the tissue level using Transcriptome-Wide Association Study methods. Furthermore, a protein-protein interaction analysis is conducted to explore the relationship between identified proteins and existing cancer medication targets. The MR analysis has identified associations of 13 plasma proteins with BCC, 2 with SCC, and 1 with MM. Specifically, ASIP and KRT5 are associated with BCC, with ASIP also potentially targeting MM. CTSS and TNFSF8 are identified as promising druggability candidates for BCC. This multidimensional approach nominates ASIP, KRT5, CTSS, and TNFSF8 as potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets for skin cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajia Li
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qiangxiang Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ziqin Cao
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Jianhuang Wu
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
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Chen Y, Wang G, Chen J, Wang C, Dong X, Chang HM, Yuan S, Zhao Y, Mu L. Genetic and Epigenetic Landscape for Drug Development in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Endocr Rev 2024; 45:437-459. [PMID: 38298137 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnae002] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
The treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) faces challenges as all known treatments are merely symptomatic. The US Food and Drug Administration has not approved any drug specifically for treating PCOS. As the significance of genetics and epigenetics rises in drug development, their pivotal insights have greatly enhanced the efficacy and success of drug target discovery and validation, offering promise for guiding the advancement of PCOS treatments. In this context, we outline the genetic and epigenetic advancement in PCOS, which provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of this complex disease. We also delve into the prospective method for harnessing genetic and epigenetic strategies to identify potential drug targets and ensure target safety. Additionally, we shed light on the preliminary evidence and distinctive challenges associated with gene and epigenetic therapies in the context of PCOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Chen
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- The First School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Guiquan Wang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Women and Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361003, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361023, China
| | - Jingqiao Chen
- The First School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Congying Wang
- The Department of Cardiology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang 322000, China
| | - Xi Dong
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Hsun-Ming Chang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40400, Taiwan
| | - Shuai Yuan
- Unit of Cardiovascular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm 171 65, Sweden
| | - Yue Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing 100007, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Liangshan Mu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
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Liu W, Zhang J, Zhang D, Zhang L. Role of circulating inflammatory protein in the development of diabetic renal complications: proteome-wide Mendelian randomization and colocalization analyses. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1406442. [PMID: 39040677 PMCID: PMC11260607 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1406442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Diabetes ranks among the most widespread diseases globally, with the kidneys being particularly susceptible to its vascular complications. The identification of proteins for pathogenesis and novel drug targets remains imperative. This study aims to investigate roles of circulating inflammatory proteins in diabetic renal complications. Methods Data on the proteins were derived from a genome-wide protein quantitative trait locus (pQTL) study, while data on diabetic renal complications came from the FinnGen study. In this study, proteome-wide Mendelian randomization (MR) and colocalization analyses were used to assess the relationship between circulating inflammatory proteins and diabetic renal complications. Results MR approach indicated that elevated levels of interleukin 12B (IL-12B) (OR 1.691, 95%CI 1.179-2.427, P=4.34×10-3) and LIF interleukin 6 family cytokine (LIF) (OR 1.349, 95%CI 1.010-1.801, P=4.23×10-2) increased the risk of type 1 diabetes (T1D) with renal complications, while higher levels of fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) (OR 1.202, 95%CI 1.009-1.432, P=3.93×10-2), fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) (OR 1.379, 95%CI 1.035-1.837, P=2.82×10-2), C-C motif chemokine ligand 7 (CCL7) (OR 1.385, 95%CI 1.111-1.725, P=3.76×10-3), and TNF superfamily member 14 (TNFSF14) (OR 1.244, 95%CI 1.066-1.451, P=5.63×10-3) indicated potential risk factors for type 2 diabetes (T2D) with renal complications. Colocalization analysis supported these findings, revealing that most identified proteins, except for DNER, likely share causal variants with diabetic renal complications. Conclusion Our study established associations between specific circulating inflammatory proteins and the risk of diabetic renal complications, suggesting these proteins as targets for further investigation into the pathogenesis and potential therapeutic interventions for T1D and T2D with renal complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenli Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, The Second Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaqi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, The Second Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Duo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, The Second Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, The Second Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Research on Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
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Zhao H, Zhou Y, Wang Z, Zhang X, Chen L, Hong Z. Plasma proteins and psoriatic arthritis: a proteome-wide Mendelian randomization study. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1417564. [PMID: 39026678 PMCID: PMC11254630 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1417564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Previous epidemiological studies have identified a correlation between serum protein levels and Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA). However, the precise nature of this relationship remains uncertain. Therefore, our objective was to assess whether circulating levels of 2,923 plasma proteins are associated with the risk of PsA, utilizing the Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. Methods Two-sample MR analysis was performed to assess the causal impact of proteins on PsA risk. Exposure data for plasma proteins were sourced from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) conducted within the UK Biobank Pharma Proteomics Project, which encompassed 2,923 unique plasma proteins. The outcome data for PsA were sourced from the FinnGen study, a large-scale genomics initiative, comprising 3,537 cases and 262,844 controls. Additionally, colocalization analysis, Phenome-wide MR analysis, and candidate drug prediction were employed to identify potential causal circulating proteins and novel drug targets. Results We thoroughly assessed the association between 1,837 plasma proteins and PsA risk, identifying seven proteins associated with PsA risk. An inverse association of Interleukin-10 (IL-10) with PsA risk was observed [odds ratio (OR)=0.45, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.28 to 0.70, P FDR=0.072]. Additionally, Apolipoprotein F (APOF) has a positive effect on PsA risk (OR=2.08, 95% CI, 1.51 to 2.86, P FDR=0.005). Subsequently, we found strong evidence indicating that IL-10 and APOF were colocalized with PsA associations (PP.H4 = 0.834 for IL-10 and PP.H4 = 0.900 for APOF). Phenome-wide association analysis suggested that these two proteins may have dual effects on other clinical traits (P FDR<0.1). Conclusion This study identified 7 plasma proteins associated with PsA risk, particularly IL-10 and APOF, which offer new insights into its etiology. Further studies are needed to assess the utility and effectiveness of these candidate proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heran Zhao
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- The Third Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi Zhou
- Graduate School, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Ziyan Wang
- Graduate School, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xuan Zhang
- College of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
| | - Leilei Chen
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- The Third Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhinan Hong
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- The Third Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
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Luo J, Tu L, Zhou C, Li G, Shi L, Hu S. SGLT2 inhibition, circulating proteins, and insomnia: A mendelian randomization study. Sleep Med 2024; 119:480-487. [PMID: 38795402 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2024.05.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) initially emerged as oral antidiabetic medication but were subsequently discovered to exhibit pleiotropic actions. Insomnia is a prevalent and debilitating sleep disorder. To date, the causality between SGLT2 inhibitors and insomnia remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the causality between SGLT2 inhibitors and insomnia and identify potential plasma protein mediators. METHODS Using a two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis, we estimated the causality of SGLT2 inhibition on insomnia and sleep duration. Additionally, employing a two-step and proteome-wide MR analysis, we evaluated the causal link of SGLT2 inhibition on 4907 circulating proteins and the causality of SGLT2 inhibition-driven plasma proteins on insomnia. We applied a false discovery rate (FDR) correction for multiple comparisons. Furthermore, mediation analyses were used to identify plasma proteins that mediate the effects of SGLT2 inhibition on insomnia. RESULTS SGLT2 inhibition was negatively correlated with insomnia (odds ratio [OR] = 0.791, 95 % confidence interval [CI] [0.715, 0.876], P = 5.579*10^-6) and positively correlated with sleep duration (β = 0.186, 95 % CI [0.059, 0.314], P = 0.004). Among the 4907 circulating proteins, diadenosine tetraphosphatase (Ap4A) was identified as being linked to both SGLT2 inhibition and insomnia. Mediation analysis indicated that the effect of SGLT2 inhibition on insomnia partially operates through Ap4A (β = -0.018, 95 % CI [-0.036, -0.005], P = 0.023), with a mediation proportion of 7.7 %. CONCLUSION The study indicated a causality between SGLT2 inhibition and insomnia, with plasma Ap4A potentially serving as a mediator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinlan Luo
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiological Disorders, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Ling Tu
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiological Disorders, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Chenchen Zhou
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Gen Li
- Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Lili Shi
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Shuiqing Hu
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanism of Cardiologic Disorders, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430000, China.
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Diez-Martin E, Hernandez-Suarez L, Muñoz-Villafranca C, Martin-Souto L, Astigarraga E, Ramirez-Garcia A, Barreda-Gómez G. Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Comprehensive Analysis of Molecular Bases, Predictive Biomarkers, Diagnostic Methods, and Therapeutic Options. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7062. [PMID: 39000169 PMCID: PMC11241012 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
In inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), such as Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), the immune system relentlessly attacks intestinal cells, causing recurrent tissue damage over the lifetime of patients. The etiology of IBD is complex and multifactorial, involving environmental, microbiota, genetic, and immunological factors that alter the molecular basis of the organism. Among these, the microbiota and immune cells play pivotal roles; the microbiota generates antigens recognized by immune cells and antibodies, while autoantibodies target and attack the intestinal membrane, exacerbating inflammation and tissue damage. Given the altered molecular framework, the analysis of multiple molecular biomarkers in patients proves exceedingly valuable for diagnosing and prognosing IBD, including markers like C reactive protein and fecal calprotectin. Upon detection and classification of patients, specific treatments are administered, ranging from conventional drugs to new biological therapies, such as antibodies to neutralize inflammatory molecules like tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and integrin. This review delves into the molecular basis and targets, biomarkers, treatment options, monitoring techniques, and, ultimately, current challenges in IBD management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eguzkiñe Diez-Martin
- Research and Development Department, IMG Pharma Biotech S.L., 48170 Zamudio, Spain
- Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Leidi Hernandez-Suarez
- Research and Development Department, IMG Pharma Biotech S.L., 48170 Zamudio, Spain
- Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Carmen Muñoz-Villafranca
- Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital of Basurto, Avda Montevideo 18, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Leire Martin-Souto
- Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Egoitz Astigarraga
- Research and Development Department, IMG Pharma Biotech S.L., 48170 Zamudio, Spain
| | - Andoni Ramirez-Garcia
- Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain
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Bai Y, Wang J, Feng X, Xie L, Qin S, Ma G, Zhang F. Identification of drug targets for Sjögren's syndrome: multi-omics Mendelian randomization and colocalization analyses. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1419363. [PMID: 38933282 PMCID: PMC11199405 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1419363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Targeted therapy for Sjögren's syndrome (SS) has become an important focus for clinicians. Multi-omics-wide Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses have provided new ideas for identifying potential drug targets. Methods We conducted summary-data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) analysis to evaluate therapeutic targets associated with SS by integrating DNA methylation, gene expression and protein quantitative trait loci (mQTL, eQTL, and pQTL, respectively). Genetic associations with SS were derived from the FinnGen study (discovery) and the GWAS catalog (replication). Colocalization analyses were employed to determine whether two potentially relevant phenotypes share the same genetic factors in a given region. Moreover, to delve deeper into potential regulation among DNA methylation, gene expression, and protein abundance, we conducted MR analysis to explore the causal relationship between candidate gene methylation and expression, as well as between gene expression and protein abundance. Drug prediction and molecular docking were further employed to validate the pharmacological activity of the candidate drug targets. Results Upon integrating the multi-omics data, we identified three genes associated with SS risk: TNFAIP3, BTN3A1, and PLAU. The methylation of cg22068371 in BTN3A1 was positively associated with protein levels, consistent with the negative effect of cg22068371 methylation on the risk of SS. Additionally, positive correlations were observed between the gene methylation of PLAU (cg04939496) and expression, as well as between expression and protein levels. This consistency elucidates the promotional effects of PLAU on SS risk at the DNA methylation, gene expression, and protein levels. At the protein level, genetically predicted TNFAIP3 (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.56-3.92) was positively associated with SS risk, while BTN3A1 (OR 2.96E-03, 95% CI 2.63E-04-3.33E-02) was negatively associated with SS risk. Molecular docking showed stable binding for candidate drugs and target proteins. Conclusion Our study reveals promising therapeutic targets for the treatment of SS, providing valuable insights into targeted therapy for SS. However, further validation through future experiments is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingjie Bai
- School of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- Academician Laboratory of Immune and Oral Development & Regeneration, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Jiayi Wang
- School of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- Academician Laboratory of Immune and Oral Development & Regeneration, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Xuefeng Feng
- School of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- Academician Laboratory of Immune and Oral Development & Regeneration, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Le Xie
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Tooth Restoration and Regeneration & Tongji Research Institute of Stomatology & Department of Oral Implantology, Stomatological Hospital and Dental School, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shengao Qin
- Salivary Gland Disease Center and Beijing Key Laboratory of Tooth Regeneration and Function Reconstruction, Beijing Laboratory of Oral Health and Beijing Stomatological Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Laboratory of Oral Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Guowu Ma
- School of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- Academician Laboratory of Immune and Oral Development & Regeneration, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- Department of Stomatology, Stomatological Hospital Affiliated School of Stomatology of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Department of Stomatology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
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Zhou S, Tao B, Guo Y, Gu J, Li H, Zou C, Tang S, Jiang S, Fu D, Li J. Integrating plasma protein-centric multi-omics to identify potential therapeutic targets for pancreatic cancer. J Transl Med 2024; 22:557. [PMID: 38858729 PMCID: PMC11165868 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05363-9] [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: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deciphering the role of plasma proteins in pancreatic cancer (PC) susceptibility can aid in identifying novel targets for diagnosis and treatment. METHODS We examined the relationship between genetically determined levels of plasma proteins and PC through a systemic proteome-wide Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis utilizing cis-pQTLs from multiple centers. Rigorous sensitivity analyses, colocalization, reverse MR, replications with varying instrumental variable selections and additional datasets, as well as subsequent meta-analysis, were utilized to confirm the robustness of significant findings. The causative effect of corresponding protein-coding genes' expression and their expression pattern in single-cell types were then investigated. Enrichment analysis, between-protein interaction and causation, knock-out mice models, and mediation analysis with established PC risk factors were applied to indicate the pathogenetic pathways. These candidate targets were ultimately prioritized upon druggability and potential side effects predicted by a phenome-wide MR. RESULTS Twenty-one PC-related circulating proteins were identified in the exploratory phase with no evidence for horizontal pleiotropy or reverse causation. Of these, 11 were confirmed in a meta-analysis integrating external validations. The causality at a transcription level was repeated for neutrophil elastase, hydroxyacylglutathione hydrolase, lipase member N, protein disulfide-isomerase A5, xyloside xylosyltransferase 1. The carbohydrate sulfotransferase 11 and histo-blood group ABO system transferase exhibited high-support genetic colocalization evidence and were found to affect PC carcinogenesis partially through modulating body mass index and type 2 diabetes, respectively. Approved drugs have been established for eight candidate targets, which could potentially be repurposed for PC therapies. The phenome-wide investigation revealed 12 proteins associated with 51 non-PC traits, and interference on protein disulfide-isomerase A5 and cystatin-D would increase the risk of other malignancies. CONCLUSIONS By employing comprehensive methodologies, this study demonstrated a genetic predisposition linking 21 circulating proteins to PC risk. Our findings shed new light on the PC etiology and highlighted potential targets as priorities for future efforts in early diagnosis and therapeutic strategies of PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Zhou
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Baian Tao
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Yujie Guo
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Jichun Gu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Hengchao Li
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Caifeng Zou
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Sichong Tang
- School of Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Shuheng Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
| | - Deliang Fu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China.
| | - Ji Li
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China.
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Shi L, Liu X, Li E, Zhang S, Zhou A. Association of lipid-lowering drugs with gut microbiota: A Mendelian randomization study. J Clin Lipidol 2024:S1933-2874(24)00187-9. [PMID: 38971663 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacl.2024.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The gut microbiota can be influenced by lipid metabolism. We aimed to evaluate the impact of lipid-lowering medications, such as proproteinconvertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, Niemann-Pick C1-like protein (NPC1L1) inhibitors, and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) inhibitors, on gut microbiota through drug target Mendelian randomization (MR) investigation. METHODS We used genetic variants that were associated with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in genome-wide association studies and located within or near drug target genes as proxies for lipid-lowering drug exposure. In addition, expression trait loci in drug target genes were used as complementary genetic tools. We used effect estimates calculated using inverse variance weighted MR (IVW-MR) and summary data-based MR (SMR). Multiple sensitivity analyses were performed. RESULTS Genetic proxies for lipid-lowering drugs broadly affected the abundance of gut microbiota. High expression of NPC1L1 was significantly associated with an increase in the genus Eggerthella (β = 1.357, SE = 0.337, P = 5.615 × 10-5). An HMGCR-mediated increase in LDL-C was significantly associated with the order Pasteurellales (β = 0.489, SE = 0.123, P = 6.955 × 10-5) and the genus Haemophilus (β = 0.491, SE = 0.125, P = 8.379 × 10-5), whereas a PCSK9-mediated increase in LDL-C was associated with the genus Terrisporobacter (β = 0.666, SE = 0.127, P = 1.649 × 10-5). No pleiotropy was detected. CONCLUSIONS This drug target MR highlighted the potential interventional effects of lipid-lowering drugs on the gut microbiota and separately revealed the possible effects of different types of lipid-lowering drugs on specific gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lubo Shi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Beijing Digestive Disease Center, Beijing, PR China (Drs Shi, Zhang, Zhou)
| | - Xiaoduo Liu
- Department of Neurology & Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders , Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, Beijing, PR China (Dr Liu)
| | - Enze Li
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Beijing, PR China (Dr Li)
| | - Shutian Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Beijing Digestive Disease Center, Beijing, PR China (Drs Shi, Zhang, Zhou).
| | - Anni Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Beijing Digestive Disease Center, Beijing, PR China (Drs Shi, Zhang, Zhou).
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Wei F, Li D, Chen X, Li Y, Zeng Y, Cai Y, Zeng Y, Chen Y, Ma X, Zeng J. Therapeutic effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate for inflammatory bowel disease: A preclinical meta-analysis. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 128:155408. [PMID: 38503153 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the primary active compound in green tea, is recognized for its significant anti-inflammatory properties and potential pharmacological effects on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, comprehensive preclinical evidence supporting the use of EGCG in treating IBD is currently insufficient. PURPOSE To evaluate the efficacy of EGCG in animal models of IBD and explore potential underlying mechanisms, serving as a groundwork for future clinical investigations. METHODS A systematic review of pertinent preclinical studies published until September 1, 2023, in databases such as PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library was conducted, adhering to stringent quality criteria. The potential mechanisms via which EGCG may address IBD were summarized. STATA v16.0 was used to perform a meta-analysis to assess IBD pathology, inflammation, and indicators of oxidative stress. Additionally, dose-response analysis and machine learning models were utilized to evaluate the dose-effect relationship and determine the optimal dosage of EGCG for IBD treatment. RESULTS The analysis included 19 studies involving 309 animals. The findings suggest that EGCG can ameliorate IBD-related pathology in animals, with a reduction in inflammatory and oxidative stress indicators. These effects were observed through significant changes in histological scores, Disease Activity Index, Colitis Macroscopic Damage Index and colon length; a decrease in markers such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and interferon-γ; and alterations in malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and catalase levels. Subgroup analysis indicated that the oral administration route of EGCG exhibited superior efficacy over other administration routes. Dose-response analysis and machine learning outcomes highlighted an optimal EGCG dosage range of 32-62 mg/kg/day, with an intervention duration of 4.8-13.6 days. CONCLUSIONS EGCG exhibits positive effects on IBD, particularly when administered at the dose range of 32 - 62 mg/kg/day, primarily attributed to its ability to regulate inflammation and oxidative stress levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Wei
- Department of Oncology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, China; School of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu University of Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China
| | - Delin Li
- School of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu University of Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China
| | - Xiaodong Chen
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Sichuan Clinical Research Centre for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Centre Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Yubing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Yuting Zeng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, China; TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, China
| | - Yilin Cai
- Department of Oncology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, China; School of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu University of Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China
| | - Youtao Zeng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Department of Oncology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, China
| | - Xiao Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Jinhao Zeng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, China; TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, China.
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Jiang R, Huang W, Qiu X, Chen J, Luo R, Zeng R, Tong S, Lyu Y, Sun P, Lian Q, Leung FW, Liu Y, Sha W, Chen H. Unveiling promising drug targets for autism spectrum disorder: insights from genetics, transcriptomics, and proteomics. Brief Bioinform 2024; 25:bbae353. [PMID: 39038939 PMCID: PMC11262832 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbae353] [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: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder for which current treatments are limited and drug development costs are prohibitive. Identifying drug targets for ASD is crucial for the development of targeted therapies. Summary-level data of expression quantitative trait loci obtained from GTEx, protein quantitative trait loci data from the ROSMAP project, and two ASD genome-wide association studies datasets were utilized for discovery and replication. We conducted a combined analysis using Mendelian randomization (MR), transcriptome-wide association studies, Bayesian colocalization, and summary-data-based MR to identify potential therapeutic targets associated with ASD and examine whether there are shared causal variants among them. Furthermore, pathway and drug enrichment analyses were performed to further explore the underlying mechanisms and summarize the current status of pharmacological targets for developing drugs to treat ASD. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and mouse knockout models were performed to estimate the effect of therapeutic targets. A total of 17 genes revealed causal associations with ASD and were identified as potential targets for ASD patients. Cathepsin B (CTSB) [odd ratio (OR) = 2.66 95, confidence interval (CI): 1.28-5.52, P = 8.84 × 10-3], gamma-aminobutyric acid type B receptor subunit 1 (GABBR1) (OR = 1.99, 95CI: 1.06-3.75, P = 3.24 × 10-2), and formin like 1 (FMNL1) (OR = 0.15, 95CI: 0.04-0.58, P = 5.59 × 10-3) were replicated in the proteome-wide MR analyses. In Drugbank, two potential therapeutic drugs, Acamprosate (GABBR1 inhibitor) and Bryostatin 1 (CASP8 inhibitor), were inferred as potential influencers of autism. Knockout mouse models suggested the involvement of the CASP8, GABBR1, and PLEKHM1 genes in neurological processes. Our findings suggest 17 candidate therapeutic targets for ASD and provide novel drug targets for therapy development and critical drug repurposing opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Jiang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, No. 106, Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, No. 1023 Shatainan Road, Guangzhou 510515, China
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, No. 230, West Waihuan Road, Higher Education Mega Centre, Panyu District, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Wentao Huang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, No. 106, Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, No. 1023 Shatainan Road, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xinqi Qiu
- Cancer Prevention Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, No. 651 Dongfeng East Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Jianyi Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, No. 106, Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, No. 230, West Waihuan Road, Higher Education Mega Centre, Panyu District, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Ruibang Luo
- Department of Computer Science, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Ruijie Zeng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, No. 106, Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Shuangshuang Tong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, No. 106, Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou University, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Yanlin Lyu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, No. 106, Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou University, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Panpan Sun
- Faculty of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen University Town, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Qizhou Lian
- Faculty of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen University Town, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Cord Blood Bank, Guangzhou Institute of Eugenics and Perinatology, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, No. 9 Jinsui Road, Guangzhou 510623, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Felix W Leung
- Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, 16111 Plummer Street, Los Angeles 91343, California, United States
- University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles 90095, California, United States
| | - Yufeng Liu
- Center for Medical Research on Innovation and Translation, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, the Second Affiliated Hospital of South China University of Technology, No 1 Panfu Road, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - Weihong Sha
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, No. 106, Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, No. 1023 Shatainan Road, Guangzhou 510515, China
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, No. 230, West Waihuan Road, Higher Education Mega Centre, Panyu District, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou University, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, No. 106, Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, No. 1023 Shatainan Road, Guangzhou 510515, China
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, No. 230, West Waihuan Road, Higher Education Mega Centre, Panyu District, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou University, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
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Yuan W, Xu W, Xu X, Qu B, Zhao F. Exploration of potential novel drug targets for diabetic retinopathy by plasma proteome screening. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11726. [PMID: 38778174 PMCID: PMC11111739 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62069-0] [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: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study is to identify novel potential drug targets for diabetic retinopathy (DR). A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed using protein quantitative trait loci (pQTL) of 734 plasma proteins as the exposures and clinically diagnosed DR as the outcome. Genetic instruments for 734 plasma proteins were obtained from recently published genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and external plasma proteome data was retrieved from the Icelandic Decoding Genetics Study and UK Biobank Pharma Proteomics Project. Summary-level data of GWAS for DR were obtained from the Finngen Consortium, comprising 14,584 cases and 202,082 population controls. Steiger filtering, Bayesian co-localization, and phenotype scanning were used to further verify the causal relationships calculated by MR. Three significant (p < 6.81 × 10-5) plasma protein-DR pairs were identified during the primary MR analysis, including CFH (OR = 0.8; 95% CI 0.75-0.86; p = 1.29 × 10-9), B3GNT8 (OR = 1.09; 95% CI 1.05-1.12; p = 5.9 × 10-6) and CFHR4 (OR = 1.11; 95% CI 1.06-1.16; p = 1.95 × 10-6). None of the three proteins showed reverse causation. According to Bayesian colocalization analysis, CFH (coloc.abf-PPH4 = 0.534) and B3GNT8 (coloc.abf-PPH4 = 0.638) in plasma shared the same variant with DR. All three identified proteins were validated in external replication cohorts. Our research shows a cause-and-effect connection between genetically determined levels of CFH, B3GNT8 and CFHR4 plasma proteins and DR. The discovery implies that these proteins hold potential as drug target in the process of developing drugs to treat DR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weichen Yuan
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, No. 102, Nanqi Road, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
- Key Lens Research Laboratory of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, No. 102, Nanqi Road, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
- Key Lens Research Laboratory of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
| | - Xin Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Bo Qu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, No. 102, Nanqi Road, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
- Key Lens Research Laboratory of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China.
| | - Fangkun Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, No. 102, Nanqi Road, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
- Key Lens Research Laboratory of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China.
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Cao Z, Li Q, Li Y, Wu J. Identification of plasma protein markers of allergic disease risk: a mendelian randomization approach to proteomic analysis. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:503. [PMID: 38773393 PMCID: PMC11110418 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10412-0] [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: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While numerous allergy-related biomarkers and targeted treatment strategies have been developed and employed, there are still signifcant limitations and challenges in the early diagnosis and targeted treatment for allegic diseases. Our study aims to identify circulating proteins causally associated with allergic disease-related traits through Mendelian randomization (MR)-based analytical framework. METHODS Large-scale cis-MR was employed to estimate the effects of thousands of plasma proteins on five main allergic diseases. Additional analyses including MR Steiger analyzing and Bayesian colocalisation, were performed to test the robustness of the associations; These findings were further validated utilizing meta-analytical methods in the replication analysis. Both proteome- and transcriptome-wide association studies approach was applied, and then, a protein-protein interaction was conducted to examine the interplay between the identified proteins and the targets of existing medications. RESULTS Eleven plasma proteins were identified with links to atopic asthma (AA), atopic dermatitis (AD), and allergic rhinitis (AR). Subsequently, these proteins were classified into four distinct target groups, with a focus on tier 1 and 2 targets due to their higher potential to become drug targets. MR analysis and extra validation revealed STAT6 and TNFRSF6B to be Tier 1 and IL1RL2 and IL6R to be Tier 2 proteins with the potential for AA treatment. Two Tier 1 proteins, CRAT and TNFRSF6B, and five Tier 2 proteins, ERBB3, IL6R, MMP12, ICAM1, and IL1RL2, were linked to AD, and three Tier 2 proteins, MANF, STAT6, and TNFSF8, to AR. CONCLUSION Eleven Tier 1 and 2 protein targets that are promising drug target candidates were identified for AA, AD, and AR, which influence the development of allergic diseases and expose new diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziqin Cao
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Road 87, Changsha, 410000, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qiangxiang Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yajia Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.
| | - Jianhuang Wu
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Road 87, Changsha, 410000, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China.
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16
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Su Y, Zhang Y, Xu J. Genetic variations in anti-diabetic drug targets and COPD risk: evidence from mendelian randomization. BMC Pulm Med 2024; 24:240. [PMID: 38750544 PMCID: PMC11094874 DOI: 10.1186/s12890-024-02959-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous research has emphasized the potential benefits of anti-diabetic medications in inhibiting the exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), yet the role of anti-diabetic drugs on COPD risk remains uncertain. METHODS This study employed a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to evaluate the causal association of genetic variations related to six classes of anti-diabetic drug targets with COPD. The primary outcome for COPD was obtained from the Global Biobank Meta-analysis Initiative (GBMI) consortium, encompassing a meta-analysis of 12 cohorts with 81,568 cases and 1,310,798 controls. Summary-level data for HbA1c was derived from the UK Biobank, involving 344,182 individuals. Positive control analysis was conducted for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) to validate the choice of instrumental variables. The study applied Summary-data-based MR (SMR) and two-sample MR for effect estimation and further adopted colocalization analysis to verify evidence of genetic variations. RESULTS SMR analysis revealed that elevated KCNJ11 gene expression levels in blood correlated with reduced COPD risk (OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.79-0.95; p = 0.002), whereas an increase in DPP4 expression corresponded with an increased COPD incidence (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.03-1.35; p = 0.022). Additionally, the primary method within MR analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between PPARG-mediated HbA1c and both FEV1 (OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.02-1.13; P = 0.013) and FEV1/FVC (OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.01-1.14; P = 0.007), and a negative association between SLC5A2-mediated HbA1c and FEV1/FVC (OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.74-1.00; P = 0.045). No colocalization evidence with outcome phenotypes was detected (all PP.H4 < 0.7). CONCLUSION This study provides suggestive evidence for anti-diabetic medications' role in improving COPD and lung function. Further updated MR analyses are warranted in the future, following the acquisition of more extensive and comprehensive data, to validate our results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Su
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, No. 507 Zhengmin Road, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Youqian Zhang
- Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei Province, 434000, China
| | - Jinfu Xu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, No. 507 Zhengmin Road, Shanghai, 200433, China.
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Zhan C, Zhu Y, Fok MR, Jin L, Han B, Lin Y. Proteome-Wide Mendelian Randomisation Identifies Causal Links of Plasma Proteins With Periodontitis. Int Dent J 2024:S0020-6539(24)00123-0. [PMID: 38729796 DOI: 10.1016/j.identj.2024.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Periodontitis is a complex and multifactorial disease and it is challenging to decipher its underlying causes and mechanisms. This study attempted to explore potential circulating proteins in connection to periodontitis through proteome-wide Mendelian randomisation (MR). METHODS We analysed 1722 circulating proteins to identify prospective drug targets for tackling periodontitis, using the genomic dataset from the FinnGen study. Two-sample MR was conducted to evaluate the bidirectional relationship between circulating proteins and periodontitis risk. A dataset from the UK Biobank was used to validate the findings. Single-cell analysis was performed to assess the cellular expression of the identified proteins within gingival tissues. RESULTS MR analyses found that genetically predicted circulating levels of von Willebrand factor A domain-containing 1 (von Willebrand factor A domain containing 1 [VWA1], odds ratios: 0.94, 95% CI 0.92-0.97, P = 1.28 × 10-5) were inversely associated with periodontitis. In contrast, the level of growth differentiation factor 15 (growth differentiation factor 15 [GDF15], odds ratios: 1.05, 95% CI 1.02-1.07, P = 2.12 × 10-5) might be associated with an increased risk of periodontitis. Single-cell analysis indicated that VWA1 was primarily expressed in endothelial cells of healthy gingival tissues, while the main source of GDF15 was not derived from periodontal cells. CONCLUSIONS The present study suggests that certain plasma proteins like VWA1 and GDF15 may be potentially indicative of the risk and susceptibility to periodontitis. These proteins could possibly be the potential therapeutic targets for treating periodontitis, and further investigation is highly warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoning Zhan
- Division of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuexin Zhu
- Beijing Institute of Heart Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Melissa Rachel Fok
- Division of Periodontology & Implant Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lijian Jin
- Division of Periodontology & Implant Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Bing Han
- Department of Orthodontics, Cranial-Facial Growth and Development Center, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, China.
| | - Yifan Lin
- Division of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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Tang C, Chen P, Xu LL, Lv JC, Shi SF, Zhou XJ, Liu LJ, Zhang H. Circulating Proteins and IgA Nephropathy: A Multiancestry Proteome-Wide Mendelian Randomization Study. J Am Soc Nephrol 2024:00001751-990000000-00304. [PMID: 38687828 DOI: 10.1681/asn.0000000000000379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Key Points
A multiancestry proteome-wide Mendelian randomization analysis was conducted for IgA nephropathy.The findings from the study would help prioritize new drug targets and drug-repurposing opportunities.
Background
The therapeutic options for IgA nephropathy are rapidly evolving, but early diagnosis and targeted treatment remain challenging. We aimed to identify circulating plasma proteins associated with IgA nephropathy by proteome-wide Mendelian randomization studies across multiple ancestry populations.
Methods
In this study, we applied Mendelian randomization and colocalization analyses to estimate the putative causal effects of 2615 proteins on IgA nephropathy in Europeans and 235 proteins in East Asians. Following two-stage network Mendelian randomization, multitrait colocalization analysis and protein-altering variant annotation were performed to strengthen the reliability of the results. A protein–protein interaction network was constructed to investigate the interactions between the identified proteins and the targets of existing medications.
Results
Putative causal effects of 184 and 13 protein–disease pairs in European and East Asian ancestries were identified, respectively. Two protein–disease pairs showed shared causal effects across them (CFHR1 and FCRL2). Supported by the evidence from colocalization analysis, potential therapeutic targets were prioritized and four drug-repurposing opportunities were suggested. The protein–protein interaction network further provided strong evidence for existing medications and pathways that are known to be therapeutically important.
Conclusions
Our study identified a number of circulating proteins associated with IgA nephropathy and prioritized several potential drug targets that require further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Tang
- Renal Division, Peking University First Hospital, Peking University Institute of Nephrology, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Renal Disease, Ministry of Health of China, Key Laboratory of Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention and Treatment (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; and Research Units of Diagnosis and Treatment of Immune-Mediated Kidney Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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Luo J, Shi L, Liu J, Li G, Tu L, Hu S. SGLT2 inhibition, plasma proteins, and heart failure: a proteome-wide Mendelian Randomization and colocalization study. Front Cardiovasc Med 2024; 11:1371513. [PMID: 38725835 PMCID: PMC11079590 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1371513] [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: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective To investigate the causal contributions of Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibition on Heart Failure (HF) and identify the circulating proteins that mediate SGLT2 inhibition's effects on HF. Methods Applying a two-sample, two-step Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis, we aimed to estimate: (1) the causal impact of SGLT2 inhibition on HF; (2) the causal correlation of SGLT2 inhibition on 4,907 circulating proteins; (3) the causal association of SGLT2 inhibition-driven plasma proteins on HF. Genetic variants linked to SGLT2 inhibition derived from the previous studies. The 4,907 circulating proteins were derived from the deCODE study. Genetic links to HF were obtained through the Heart Failure Molecular Epidemiology for Therapeutic Targets (HERMES) consortium. Results SGLT2 inhibition demonstrated a lower risk of HF (odds ratio [OR] = 0.44, 95% CI [0.26, 0.76], P = 0.003). Among 4,907 circulating proteins, we identified leucine rich repeat transmembrane protein 2 (LRRTM2), which was related to both SGLT2 inhibition and HF. Mediation analysis revealed that the impact of SGLT2 inhibition on HF operates indirectly through LRRTM2 [β = -0.20, 95% CI (-0.39, -0.06), P = 0.02] with a mediation proportion of 24.6%. Colocalization analysis provided support for the connections between LRRTM2 and HF. Conclusion The study indicated a causative link between SGLT2 inhibition and HF, with plasma LRRTM2 potentially serving as a mediator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinlan Luo
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiological Disorders, Wuhan, China
| | - Lili Shi
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiological Disorders, Wuhan, China
| | - Jingrui Liu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiological Disorders, Wuhan, China
- Division of Cardiology and Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Gen Li
- Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ling Tu
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiological Disorders, Wuhan, China
| | - Shuiqing Hu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiological Disorders, Wuhan, China
- Division of Cardiology and Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Ouyang Y, Chen Y, Chen K, Tang Z, Shi G, Qu C, Zhang K, Yang H. Mendelian randomization and colocalization analysis reveal novel drug targets for myasthenia gravis. Hum Genomics 2024; 18:43. [PMID: 38659056 PMCID: PMC11040902 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-024-00607-7] [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: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a complex autoimmune disease affecting the neuromuscular junction with limited drug options, but the field of MG treatment recently benefits from novel biological agents. We performed a drug-targeted Mendelian randomization (MR) study to identify novel therapeutic targets of MG. METHODS Cis-expression quantitative loci (cis-eQTL), which proxy expression levels for 2176 druggable genes, were used for MR analysis. Causal relationships between genes and disease, identified by eQTL MR analysis, were verified by comprehensive sensitivity, colocalization, and protein quantitative loci (pQTL) MR analyses. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis was also performed to extend targets, followed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to explore the serum level of drug targets in MG patients. A phenome-wide MR analysis was then performed to assess side effects with a clinical trial review assessing druggability. RESULTS The eQTL MR analysis has identified eight potential targets for MG, one for early-onset MG and seven for late-onset MG. Further colocalization analyses indicated that CD226, CDC42BPB, PRSS36, and TNFSF12 possess evidence for colocalization with MG or late-onset MG. pQTL MR analyses identified the causal relations of TNFSF12 and CD226 with MG and late-onset MG. Furthermore, PPI analysis has revealed the protein interaction between TNFSF12-TNFSF13(APRIL) and TNFSF12-TNFSF13B(BLyS). Elevated TNFSF13 serum level of MG patients was also identified by ELISA experiments. This study has ultimately proposed three promising therapeutic targets (TNFSF12, TNFSF13, TNFSF13B) of MG. CONCLUSIONS Three drug targets associated with the BLyS/APRIL pathway have been identified. Multiple biological agents, including telitacicept and belimumab, are promising for MG therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzhen Ouyang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, China
| | - Kangzhi Chen
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, China
| | - Zhenwei Tang
- Department of Dermatology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310013, Hangzhou, China
| | - Guanzhong Shi
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, China
| | - Chunrun Qu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, China
| | - Kaiyue Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, China
| | - Huan Yang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, China.
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Su Z, Wan Q. Potential therapeutic targets for membranous nephropathy: proteome-wide Mendelian randomization and colocalization analysis. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1342912. [PMID: 38707900 PMCID: PMC11069303 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1342912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The currently available medications for treating membranous nephropathy (MN) still have unsatisfactory efficacy in inhibiting disease recurrence, slowing down its progression, and even halting the development of end-stage renal disease. There is still a need to develop novel drugs targeting MN. Methods We utilized summary statistics of MN from the Kiryluk Lab and obtained plasma protein data from Zheng et al. We performed a Bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis, HEIDI test, mediation analysis, Bayesian colocalization, phenotype scanning, drug bank analysis, and protein-protein interaction network. Results The Mendelian randomization analysis uncovered 8 distinct proteins associated with MN after multiple false discovery rate corrections. Proteins related to an increased risk of MN in plasma include ABO [(Histo-Blood Group Abo System Transferase) (WR OR = 1.12, 95%CI:1.05-1.19, FDR=0.09, PPH4 = 0.79)], VWF [(Von Willebrand Factor) (WR OR = 1.41, 95%CI:1.16-1.72, FDR=0.02, PPH4 = 0.81)] and CD209 [(Cd209 Antigen) (WR OR = 1.19, 95%CI:1.07-1.31, FDR=0.09, PPH4 = 0.78)], and proteins that have a protective effect on MN: HRG [(Histidine-Rich Glycoprotein) (WR OR = 0.84, 95%CI:0.76-0.93, FDR=0.02, PPH4 = 0.80)], CD27 [(Cd27 Antigen) (WR OR = 0.78, 95%CI:0.68-0.90, FDR=0.02, PPH4 = 0.80)], LRPPRC [(Leucine-Rich Ppr Motif-Containing Protein, Mitochondrial) (WR OR = 0.79, 95%CI:0.69-0.91, FDR=0.09, PPH4 = 0.80)], TIMP4 [(Metalloproteinase Inhibitor 4) (WR OR = 0.67, 95%CI:0.53-0.84, FDR=0.09, PPH4 = 0.79)] and MAP2K4 [(Dual Specificity Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase 4) (WR OR = 0.82, 95%CI:0.72-0.92, FDR=0.09, PPH4 = 0.80)]. ABO, HRG, and TIMP4 successfully passed the HEIDI test. None of these proteins exhibited a reverse causal relationship. Bayesian colocalization analysis provided evidence that all of them share variants with MN. We identified type 1 diabetes, trunk fat, and asthma as having intermediate effects in these pathways. Conclusions Our comprehensive analysis indicates a causal effect of ABO, CD27, VWF, HRG, CD209, LRPPRC, MAP2K4, and TIMP4 at the genetically determined circulating levels on the risk of MN. These proteins can potentially be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of MN.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Qijun Wan
- Department of Nephrology, Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
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Chen L, Zhao Y, Li M, Lv G. Proteome-wide Mendelian randomization highlights AIF1 and HLA-DQA2 as targets for primary sclerosing cholangitis. Hepatol Int 2024; 18:517-528. [PMID: 37950809 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-023-10608-8] [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: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a kind of cholestatic liver disease without effective therapies and its pathogenesis is largely unknown. METHODS We performed the proteome-wide Mendelian randomization (MR) design to estimate the causal associations of protein levels with PSC risk. Therein, genetic associations with 4,907 plasma protein levels were extracted from a proteome-wide genome-wide association study (GWAS) with 35,559 individuals and those with PSC were obtained from the International PSC Study Group (2,871 cases and 12,019 controls) and the FinnGen study (1,491 cases and 301,383 controls). The colocalization analysis was performed to detect causal variants shared by proteins and PSC. The identified proteins were further enriched in pathways and diseases. A phenome-wide association screening was performed and potential drugs were assessed as well. RESULTS The results indicated that genetically predicted plasma levels of 14 proteins were positively associated with an increased risk of PSC and 8 proteins were inversely associated with PSC risk in both PSC GWAS data sets, and they all survived in sensitivity analyses. The colocalization indicated that AIF1 (allograft inflammatory factor 1) and HLA-DQA2 (major histocompatibility complex, class II, DQ alpha 2) were shared proteins with PSC, and they should be direct targets for PSC. The phenome-wide screening suggested that variants located at AIF1 or HLA-DQA2 region were closely associated with several autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, implicating the shared pathogenesis among them. CONCLUSIONS Our study highly pinpointed two candidate targets (AIF1 and HLA-DQA2) for PSC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanlan Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, No. 1 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Yuexuan Zhao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, No. 1 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Mingyue Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, No. 1 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Guoyue Lv
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, No. 1 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
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Chen Y, Xie Y, Ci H, Cheng Z, Kuang Y, Li S, Wang G, Qi Y, Tang J, Liu D, Li W, Yang Y. Plasma metabolites and risk of seven cancers: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study among European descendants. BMC Med 2024; 22:90. [PMID: 38433226 PMCID: PMC10910673 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03272-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While circulating metabolites have been increasingly linked to cancer risk, the causality underlying these associations remains largely uninterrogated. METHODS We conducted a comprehensive 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study to evaluate the potential causal relationship between 913 plasma metabolites and the risk of seven cancers among European-ancestry individuals. Data on variant-metabolite associations were obtained from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of plasma metabolites among 14,296 subjects. Data on variant-cancer associations were gathered from large-scale GWAS consortia for breast (N = 266,081), colorectal (N = 185,616), lung (N = 85,716), ovarian (N = 63,347), prostate (N = 140,306), renal cell (N = 31,190), and testicular germ cell (N = 28,135) cancers. MR analyses were performed with the inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method as the primary strategy to identify significant associations at Bonferroni-corrected P < 0.05 for each cancer type separately. Significant associations were subjected to additional scrutiny via weighted median MR, Egger regression, MR-Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier (MR-PRESSO), and reverse MR analyses. Replication analyses were performed using an independent dataset from a plasma metabolite GWAS including 8,129 participants of European ancestry. RESULTS We identified 94 significant associations, suggesting putative causal associations between 66 distinct plasma metabolites and the risk of seven cancers. Remarkably, 68.2% (45) of these metabolites were each associated with the risk of a specific cancer. Among the 66 metabolites, O-methylcatechol sulfate and 4-vinylphenol sulfate demonstrated the most pronounced positive and negative associations with cancer risk, respectively. Genetically proxied plasma levels of these two metabolites were significantly associated with the risk of lung cancer and renal cell cancer, with an odds ratio and 95% confidence interval of 2.81 (2.33-3.37) and 0.49 (0.40-0.61), respectively. None of these 94 associations was biased by weak instruments, horizontal pleiotropy, or reverse causation. Further, 64 of these 94 were eligible for replication analyses, and 54 (84.4%) showed P < 0.05 with association patterns consistent with those shown in primary analyses. CONCLUSIONS Our study unveils plausible causal relationships between 66 plasma metabolites and cancer risk, expanding our understanding of the role of circulating metabolites in cancer genetics and etiology. These findings hold promise for enhancing cancer risk assessment and prevention strategies, meriting further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaxin Chen
- Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Guoxue Alley 37, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yufang Xie
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hang Ci
- Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Guoxue Alley 37, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhengpei Cheng
- Center for Public Health Genomics, Department of Public Health Sciences, UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, 560 Ray C. Hunt Dr., Rm 4408, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Yongjie Kuang
- Department of Public Health Sciences, UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Shuqing Li
- Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Guoxue Alley 37, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Innovation Laboratory for Precision Diagnostics, Precision Medicine Research Center, Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yawen Qi
- Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Guoxue Alley 37, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jun Tang
- Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Guoxue Alley 37, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Weimin Li
- Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Guoxue Alley 37, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
| | - Yaohua Yang
- Center for Public Health Genomics, Department of Public Health Sciences, UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, 560 Ray C. Hunt Dr., Rm 4408, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
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Ding K, Zhangwang J, Lei M, Xiong C. Insight into telomere regulation: road to discovery and intervention in plasma drug-protein targets. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:231. [PMID: 38431573 PMCID: PMC10909270 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10116-5] [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: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomere length is a critical metric linked to aging, health, and disease. Currently, the exploration of target proteins related to telomere length is usually limited to the context of aging and specific diseases, which limits the discovery of more relevant drug targets. This study integrated large-scale plasma cis-pQTLs data and telomere length GWAS datasets. We used Mendelian randomization(MR) to identify drug target proteins for telomere length, providing essential clues for future precision therapy and targeted drug development. METHODS Using plasma cis-pQTLs data from a previous GWAS study (3,606 Pqtls associated with 2,656 proteins) and a GWAS dataset of telomere length (sample size: 472,174; GWAS ID: ieu-b-4879) from UK Biobank, using MR, external validation, and reverse causality testing, we identified essential drug target proteins for telomere length. We also performed co-localization, Phenome-wide association studies and enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction network construction, search for existing intervening drugs, and potential drug/compound prediction for these critical targets to strengthen and expand our findings. RESULTS After Bonferron correction (p < 0.05/734), RPN1 (OR: 0.96; 95%CI: (0.95, 0.97)), GDI2 (OR: 0.94; 95%CI: (0.92, 0.96)), NT5C (OR: 0.97; 95%CI: (0.95, 0.98)) had a significant negative causal association with telomere length; TYRO3 (OR: 1.11; 95%CI: (1.09, 1.15)) had a significant positive causal association with telomere length. GDI2 shared the same genetic variants with telomere length (coloc.abf-PPH 4 > 0.8). CONCLUSION Genetically determined plasma RPN1, GDI2, NT5C, and TYRO3 have significant causal effects on telomere length and can potentially be drug targets. Further exploration of the role and mechanism of these proteins/genes in regulating telomere length is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaixi Ding
- School of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610075, China
| | - Juejue Zhangwang
- School of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610075, China
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610075, China
| | - Ming Lei
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610075, China.
| | - Chunping Xiong
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610075, China.
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Xu C, Shao J. High-throughput omics technologies in inflammatory bowel disease. Clin Chim Acta 2024; 555:117828. [PMID: 38355001 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2024.117828] [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: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, relapsing intestinal disease. Elucidation of the pathogenic mechanisms of IBD requires high-throughput technologies (HTTs) to effectively obtain and analyze large amounts of data. Recently, HTTs have been widely used in IBD, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, microbiomics, metabolomics and single-cell sequencing. When combined with endoscopy, the application of these technologies can provide an in-depth understanding on the alterations of intestinal microbe diversity and abundance, the abnormalities of signaling pathway-mediated immune responses and functionality, and the evaluation of therapeutic effects, improving the accuracy of early diagnosis and treatment of IBD. This review comprehensively summarizes the development and advancement of HTTs, and also highlights the challenges and future directions of these technologies in IBD research. Although HTTs have made striking breakthrough in IBD, more standardized methods and large-scale dataset processing are still needed to achieve the goal of personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Xu
- Laboratory of Anti-infection and Immunity, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine (College of Life Science), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Zhijing Building, 350 Longzihu Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei 230012, Anhui, PR China
| | - Jing Shao
- Laboratory of Anti-infection and Immunity, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine (College of Life Science), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Zhijing Building, 350 Longzihu Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei 230012, Anhui, PR China; Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Zhijing Building, 350 Longzihu Road, Xinzhan District, Hefei 230012, Anhui, PR China.
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Yuan S, Xu F, Zhang H, Chen J, Ruan X, Li Y, Burgess S, Åkesson A, Li X, Gill D, Larsson SC. Proteomic insights into modifiable risk of venous thromboembolism and cardiovascular comorbidities. J Thromb Haemost 2024; 22:738-748. [PMID: 38029854 PMCID: PMC7615672 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtha.2023.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Venous thromboembolism (VTE) has been associated with several modifiable factors (MFs) and cardiovascular comorbidities. However, the mechanisms are largely unknown. OBJECTIVES We aimed to decipher proteomic pathways underlying the associations of VTE with MFs and cardiovascular comorbidities. METHODS A 2-stage network Mendelian randomization analysis was conducted to explore the associations between 15 MFs, 1151 blood proteins, and VTE using data from a genome-wide meta-analysis including 81 190 cases of VTE. We used protein data from 35 559 individuals as the discovery analysis, and from 2 independent studies including 10 708 and 54 219 participants as the replication analyses. Based on the identified proteins, we assessed the druggability and examined the cardiovascular pleiotropy. RESULTS The network Mendelian randomization analyses identified 10 MF-VTE, 86 MF-protein, and 34 protein-VTE associations. These associations were overall consistent in the replication analyses. Thirty-eight pathways with directionally consistent direct and indirect effects in the MF-protein-VTE pathway were identified. Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 12 (LRP12: 34.3%-58.1%) and coagulation factor (F)XI (20.6%-39.6%) mediated most of the associations between 3 obesity indicators and VTE. Likewise, coagulation FXI mediated most of the smoking-VTE association (40%; 95% CI, 20%-60%) and insomnia-VTE association (27%; 95% CI, 5%-49%). Many VTE-associated proteins were highly druggable for thrombotic conditions. Five proteins (interleukin-6 receptor subunit alpha, LRP12, prothrombin, angiopoietin-1, and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4) were associated with VTE and its cardiovascular comorbidities. CONCLUSION This study suggests that coagulation FXI, a druggable target, is an important mediator of the associations of obesity, smoking, and insomnia with VTE risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Yuan
- Unit of Cardiovascular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fengzhe Xu
- Key Laboratory of Growth Regulation and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Han Zhang
- Department of Big Data in Health Science School of Public Health, Center of Clinical Big Data and Analytics of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Big Data in Health Science School of Public Health, Center of Clinical Big Data and Analytics of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xixian Ruan
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuying Li
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stephen Burgess
- Medical Research Council Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Agneta Åkesson
- Unit of Cardiovascular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Xue Li
- Department of Big Data in Health Science School of Public Health, Center of Clinical Big Data and Analytics of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dipender Gill
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Susanna C. Larsson
- Unit of Cardiovascular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Unit of Medical Epidemiology, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Li J, Wei Y, Liu C, Guo X, Liu Z, Zhang L, Bao S, Wu X, Wang X, Zhang J, Dong W. 2'-Fucosyllactose restores the intestinal mucosal barrier in ulcerative colitis by inhibiting STAT3 palmitoylation and phosphorylation. Clin Nutr 2024; 43:380-394. [PMID: 38150914 DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2023.12.011] [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: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS 2'-Fucosyllactose (2'-FL), the primary constituent of human milk oligosaccharides, has been identified as a potential regulator of inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease. Despite this recognition, the specific mechanisms through which 2'-FL alleviates ulcerative colitis (UC) remain ambiguous. This study seeks to investigate the potential anti-inflammatory properties of 2'-FL concerning intestinal inflammation and uncover the associated mechanisms. METHODS C57BL/6J mice were orally administered a daily dose of 500 mg/kg 2'-FL for 11 consecutive days, followed by the induction of colitis using 3 % (wt/vol) dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for the final 6 days. Subsequently, a comprehensive range of techniques, including an Acyl-biotin exchange assay, fluorescein-isothiocyanate-labeled dextran assay, histopathology, ELISA, quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence staining, immunohistochemistry staining, Alcian blue-periodic acid schiff staining, TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling, transmission electron microscopy, iTRAQ quantitative proteomics, bioinformatics analysis, and the generation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) knockout mice, were employed to explore the relevant molecular mechanisms. RESULTS Administration of 2'-FL significantly ameliorated DSS-induced colitis in mice and enhanced the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier. 2'-FL downregulated the phosphorylation of STAT3 and inhibited STAT3-related signaling pathways in colon tissues, which, in turn, reduced inflammatory responses. Interestingly, knockdown of STAT3 attenuated the protective effects of 2'-FL, highlighting that 2'-FL-mediated inflammatory attenuation is dependent on STAT3 expression. Additionally, 2'-FL could influence STAT3 activation by modulating the palmitoylation and depalmitoylation of STAT3. CONCLUSIONS 2'-FL promotes the recovery of the intestinal mucosal barrier and suppresses inflammation in ulcerative colitis by inhibiting the palmitoylation and phosphorylation of STAT3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinting Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China; Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Digestive System Disease, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China; Central Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Yuping Wei
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China; Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Digestive System Disease, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China; Central Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Chuan Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China; Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Digestive System Disease, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China; Central Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Xingzhou Guo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China; Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Digestive System Disease, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China; Central Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Zhengru Liu
- Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Digestive System Disease, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China; Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Luyun Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China; Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Digestive System Disease, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China; Central Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Shenglan Bao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China; Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Digestive System Disease, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China; Central Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Xiaohan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Digestive System Disease, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China; Department of Gastroenterology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiaoli Wang
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Jixiang Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
| | - Weiguo Dong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
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Zeng P, Lu L, Zhang H, Li Y, Tan S, Yu T, Zhou H. Therapeutic targets for endometriosis: Genome-wide Mendelian randomization and colocalization analyses. Gene 2024; 893:147970. [PMID: 37931855 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147970] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endometriosis (EM) greatly affects women's reproductive health, identifying new drug targets for EM is urgently needed. This study utilizes comprehensive genome-wide Mendelian randomization (MR) and colocalization analyses, using genomic data, to identify potential therapeutic approaches for EM. METHODS Genome-wide cis-expression quantitative trait loci (cis-eQTL) data were obtained from GTEx V8, which included 838 participants across 49 tissues or cells, and the eQTLGen consortium, which included 31,684 participants. Genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) data for EM were sourced from the FinnGen study, which consisted of 8,288 cases and 68,969 controls, as well as the UK Biobank study, which included 1,496 cases and 359,698 controls. This study utilized MR analysis to assess the correlation between genes and the risk of EM. Subsequently, colocalization analysis was conducted to investigate potential shared causal variants between the identified genes and EM. RESULTS After conducting MR and colocalization analyses, we identified a total of 13 genes that showed significant evidence of colocalization. These genes are considered promising therapeutic candidates for treating EM. Among them, inner membrane mitochondrial protein (IMMT), src kinase associated phosphoprotein 1 (SKAP1), lysine methyltransferase 5A (KMT5A), KLF transcription factor 12 (KLF12), GRB10 interacting GYF protein 1 (GIGYF1), Wnt family member 7A (WNT7A), Sad1 and UNC84 domain containing 1 (SUN1), and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase family member 3 (PARP3) were found to have positive associations with the risk of EM. On the other hand, progestin and adipoQ receptor family member 8 (PAQR8), adaptor related protein complex 3 subunit mu 1 (AP3M1), surfeit 6 (SURF6), TUB bipartite transcription factor (TUB), and DNA polymerase delta interacting protein 2 (POLDIP2) were found to have inverse relationships with the risk of EM. CONCLUSIONS Through genome-wide MR studies, a comprehensive set of genes associated with EM has been identified. Among them, IMMT, PAQR8, SKAP1, KMT5A, AP3M1, SURF6, KLF12, GIGYF1, TUB, WNT7A, SUN1, POLDIP2, and PARP3 show potential as therapeutic targets for EM treatment. Nonetheless, it is crucial to conduct further rigorous investigations to validate these prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Zeng
- School of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Liyue Lu
- School of Shuguang Clinical Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hanxiao Zhang
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Yanting Li
- School of Acu-Mox and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Shufa Tan
- The First Clinical Medical College, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, Sichuan, China
| | - Tong Yu
- Department of Gynecology, Guangan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangan, Sichuan, China.
| | - Hang Zhou
- School of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
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Wang Y, Yi K, Chen B, Zhang B, Jidong G. Elucidating the susceptibility to breast cancer: an in-depth proteomic and transcriptomic investigation into novel potential plasma protein biomarkers. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 10:1340917. [PMID: 38304232 PMCID: PMC10833003 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1340917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to identify plasma proteins that are associated with and causative of breast cancer through Proteome and Transcriptome-wide association studies combining Mendelian Randomization. Methods: Utilizing high-throughput datasets, we designed a two-phase analytical framework aimed at identifying novel plasma proteins that are both associated with and causative of breast cancer. Initially, we conducted Proteome/Transcriptome-wide association studies (P/TWAS) to identify plasma proteins with significant associations. Subsequently, Mendelian Randomization was employed to ascertain the causation. The validity and robustness of our findings were further reinforced through external validation and various sensitivity analyses, including Bayesian colocalization, Steiger filtering, heterogeneity and pleiotropy. Additionally, we performed functional enrichment analysis of the identified proteins to better understand their roles in breast cancer and to assess their potential as druggable targets. Results: We identified 5 plasma proteins demonstrating strong associations and causative links with breast cancer. Specifically, PEX14 (OR = 1.201, p = 0.016) and CTSF (OR = 1.114, p < 0.001) both displayed positive and causal association with breast cancer. In contrast, SNUPN (OR = 0.905, p < 0.001), CSK (OR = 0.962, p = 0.038), and PARK7 (OR = 0.954, p < 0.001) were negatively associated with the disease. For the ER-positive subtype, 3 plasma proteins were identified, with CSK and CTSF exhibiting consistent trends, while GDI2 (OR = 0.920, p < 0.001) was distinct to this subtype. In ER-negative subtype, PEX14 (OR = 1.645, p < 0.001) stood out as the sole protein, even showing a stronger causal effect compared to breast cancer. These associations were robustly supported by colocalization and sensitivity analyses. Conclusion: Integrating multiple data dimensions, our study successfully pinpointed plasma proteins significantly associated with and causative of breast cancer, offering valuable insights for future research and potential new biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Wang
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Kexin Yi
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Baoyue Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Beijing Puren Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Bailin Zhang
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Gao Jidong
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital and Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen, China
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Wei Y, Li J, Li J, Liu C, Guo X, Liu Z, Zhang L, Bao S, Wu X, Su W, Wang X, Zhang J, Dong W. Dietary long-chain fatty acids promote colitis by regulating palmitoylation of STAT3 through CD36-mediated endocytosis. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:60. [PMID: 38233383 PMCID: PMC10794235 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06456-5] [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: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
The Western diet, characterized by its high content of long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs), is widely recognized as a significant triggering factor for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). While the link between a high-fat diet and colitis has been observed, the specific effects and mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Our study provides evidence that the diet rich in LCFAs can disrupt the integrity of the intestinal barrier and exacerbate experimental colitis in mice. Mechanistically, LCFAs upregulate the signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) pathway in the inflammatory model, and STAT3 knockout effectively counters the pro-inflammatory effects of LCFAs on colitis. Specifically, palmitic acid (PA), a representative LCFA, enters intestinal epithelial cells via the cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) pathway and participates in the palmitoylation cycle of STAT3. Inhibiting this cycle using pharmacological inhibitors like 2-Bromopalmitate (2-BP) and ML349, as well as DHHC7 knockdown, has the ability to alleviate inflammation induced by PA. These findings highlight the significant role of dietary LCFAs, especially PA, in the development and progression of IBD. Diet adjustments and targeted modulation offer potential therapeutic strategies for managing this condition. Model of LCFAs involvement in the palmitoylation cycle of STAT3 upon internalization into cells. Following cellular uptake through CD36, LCFAs are converted to palmitoyl-CoA. In the presence of DHHC7, palmitoyl-CoA binds to STAT3 at the C108 site, forming palmitoylated STAT3. Palmitoylation further promotes phosphorylation at the Y705 site of STAT3. Subsequently, palmitoylated STAT3 undergoes depalmitoylation by APT2 and translocates to the nucleus to exert its biological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuping Wei
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Digestive System Disease, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
- Central Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Jinting Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Digestive System Disease, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
- Central Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Jiao Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Chuan Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Digestive System Disease, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Xingzhou Guo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Digestive System Disease, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
- Central Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Zhengru Liu
- Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Digestive System Disease, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Luyun Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Digestive System Disease, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
- Central Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Shenglan Bao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Digestive System Disease, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
- Central Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Xiaohan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Digestive System Disease, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Wenhao Su
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Xiaoli Wang
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Renmin hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Jixiang Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
| | - Weiguo Dong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
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Zou X, Ye S, Tan Y. Potential disease biomarkers for diabetic retinopathy identified through Mendelian randomization analysis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 14:1339374. [PMID: 38274229 PMCID: PMC10808752 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1339374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a leading cause of vision loss, has limited options for effective prevention and treatment. This study aims to utilize genomics and proteomics data to identify potential drug targets for DR. Methods We utilized plasma protein quantitative trait loci data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study and the Icelandic Decoding Genetics Study for discovery and replication, respectively. Genetic associations with DR, including its subtypes, were derived from the FinnGen study. Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis estimated associations between protein levels and DR risk, complemented by colocalization analysis to examine shared causal variants. Results Our MR analysis identified significant associations of specific plasma proteins with DR and proliferative DR (PDR). Elevated genetically predicted levels of WARS (OR = 1.16; 95% CI = 0.095-0.208, FDR = 1.31×10-4) and SIRPG (OR = 1.15; 95% CI = 0.071-0.201, FDR = 1.46×10-2) were associated with higher DR risk, while increased levels of ALDOC (OR = 1.56; 95% CI = 0.246-0.637, FDR = 5.48×10-3) and SIRPG (OR = 1.15; 95% CI = 0.068-0.208, FDR = 4.73×10-2) were associated with higher PDR risk. These findings were corroborated by strong colocalization evidence. Conclusions Our study highlights WARS, SIRPG, and ALDOC as significant proteins associated with DR and PDR, providing a basis for further exploration in drug development. Additional studies are needed to validate these proteins as disease biomarkers across diverse populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuyan Zou
- Changsha Aier Eye Hospital, Aier Eye Hospital Group, Changsha, China
| | - Suna Ye
- Senzhen Aier Eye Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yao Tan
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Postdoctoral Station of Clinical Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Chen J, Ruan X, Sun Y, Lu S, Hu S, Yuan S, Li X. Multi-omic insight into the molecular networks of mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. EBioMedicine 2024; 99:104934. [PMID: 38103512 PMCID: PMC10765009 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104934] [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: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mitochondrial dysfunction has been linked to the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but the genetic pathophysiology was not fully elucidated. We employed Mendelian randomization and colocalization analyses to investigate the associations between mitochondrial-related genes and IBD via integrating multi-omics. METHODS Summary-level data of mitochondrial gene methylation, expression and protein abundance levels were obtained from corresponding methylation, expression and protein quantitative trait loci studies, respectively. We obtained genetic associations with IBD and its two subtypes from the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Genetics Consortium (discovery), the UK Biobank (replication), and the FinnGen study (replication). We performed summary-data-based Mendelian randomization analysis to assess the associations of mitochondrial gene-related molecular features with IBD. Colocalization analysis was further conducted to assess whether the identified signal pairs shared a causal genetic variant. FINDINGS After integrating the multi-omics data between mQTL-eQTL and eQTL-pQTL, we identified two mitochondrial genes, i.e., PARK7 and ACADM, with tier 1 evidence for their associations with IBD and ulcerative colitis (UC). PDK1 and FISI genes were associated with UC risk with tier 2 and tier 3 evidence, respectively. The methylation of cg05467918 in ACADM was associated with lower expression of ACADM, which fits with the positive effect of cg05467918 methylation on UC risk. Consistently, the inverse associations between gene methylation and gene expression were also observed in PARK7 (cg10385390) and PDK1 (cg17679246), which were corroborated with the protective role in UC. At circulating protein level, genetically predicted higher levels of PARK7 (OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.25-0.52) and HINT1 (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.30-0.74) were inversely associated with IBD risk; genetically predicted higher level of HINT1 was associated with a decreased risk of Crohn's disease (CD) (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.14-0.49) and a higher level of ACADM (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.55-0.83), PDK1 (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.49-0.81), FIS1 (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.47-0.83) was associated with a decreased risk of UC. INTERPRETATION We found that the mitochondrial PARK7 gene was putatively associated with IBD risk, and mitochondrial FIS1, PDK1, and ACADM genes were associated with UC risk with evidence from multi-omics levels. This study identified mitochondrial genes in relation to IBD, which may enhance the understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of IBD development. FUNDING XL is supported by the Natural Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of Zhejiang Province (LR22H260001) and Healthy Zhejiang One Million People Cohort (K-20230085).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Chen
- Department of Big Data in Health Science, School of Public Health and the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xixian Ruan
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuhao Sun
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shiyuan Lu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shixian Hu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Shuai Yuan
- Unit of Cardiovascular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Xue Li
- Department of Big Data in Health Science, School of Public Health and the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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Chen Y, Liu S, Gong W, Guo P, Xue F, Zhou X, Wang S, Yuan Z. Protein-centric omics integration analysis identifies candidate plasma proteins for multiple autoimmune diseases. Hum Genet 2023:10.1007/s00439-023-02627-0. [PMID: 38143258 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-023-02627-0] [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: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
It remains challenging to translate the findings from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of autoimmune diseases (AIDs) into interventional targets, presumably due to the lack of knowledge on how the GWAS risk variants contribute to AIDs. In addition, current immunomodulatory drugs for AIDs are broad in action rather than disease-specific. We performed a comprehensive protein-centric omics integration analysis to identify AIDs-associated plasma proteins through integrating protein quantitative trait loci datasets of plasma protein (1348 proteins and 7213 individuals) and totally ten large-scale GWAS summary statistics of AIDs under a cutting-edge systematic analytic framework. Specifically, we initially screened out the protein-AID associations using proteome-wide association study (PWAS), followed by enrichment analysis to reveal the underlying biological processes and pathways. Then, we performed both Mendelian randomization (MR) and colocalization analyses to further identify protein-AID pairs with putatively causal relationships. We finally prioritized the potential drug targets for AIDs. A total of 174 protein-AID associations were identified by PWAS. AIDs-associated plasma proteins were significantly enriched in immune-related biological process and pathways, such as inflammatory response (P = 3.96 × 10-10). MR analysis further identified 97 protein-AID pairs with potential causal relationships, among which 21 pairs were highly supported by colocalization analysis (PP.H4 > 0.75), 10 of 21 were the newly discovered pairs and not reported in previous GWAS analyses. Further explorations showed that four proteins (TLR3, FCGR2A, IL23R, TCN1) have corresponding drugs, and 17 proteins have druggability. These findings will help us to further understand the biological mechanism of AIDs and highlight the potential of these proteins to develop as therapeutic targets for AIDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingxuan Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44, Wenhua West Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Institute for Medical Dataology, Shandong University, 12550, Erhuan East Road, Jinan, 250003, Shandong, China
| | - Shuai Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44, Wenhua West Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Institute for Medical Dataology, Shandong University, 12550, Erhuan East Road, Jinan, 250003, Shandong, China
| | - Weiming Gong
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44, Wenhua West Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Institute for Medical Dataology, Shandong University, 12550, Erhuan East Road, Jinan, 250003, Shandong, China
| | - Ping Guo
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44, Wenhua West Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Institute for Medical Dataology, Shandong University, 12550, Erhuan East Road, Jinan, 250003, Shandong, China
| | - Fuzhong Xue
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44, Wenhua West Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Institute for Medical Dataology, Shandong University, 12550, Erhuan East Road, Jinan, 250003, Shandong, China
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Center for Statistical Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Shukang Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44, Wenhua West Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
- Institute for Medical Dataology, Shandong University, 12550, Erhuan East Road, Jinan, 250003, Shandong, China.
| | - Zhongshang Yuan
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44, Wenhua West Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
- Institute for Medical Dataology, Shandong University, 12550, Erhuan East Road, Jinan, 250003, Shandong, China.
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Su Y, Zhang Y, Xu J. Genetic association and bidirectional Mendelian randomization for causality between gut microbiota and six lung diseases. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1279239. [PMID: 38162878 PMCID: PMC10756341 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1279239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Purposes Increasing evidence suggests that intestinal microbiota correlates with the pathological processes of many lung diseases. This study aimed to investigate the causality of gut microbiota and lung diseases. Methods Genetic information on intestinal flora and lung diseases [asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease (ILD), lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)] and lung function was obtained from UK Biobank, FinnGen, and additional studies. A Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted to explore the causal association between gut microbiota and lung diseases. Results The genetic liability to lung diseases may be associated with the abundance of certain microbiota taxa. Specifically, the genus Prevotella (p = 0.041) was related to a higher risk of asthma; the family Defluviitaleaceae (p = 0.002) and its child taxon were identified as a risk factor for chronic bronchitis; the abundance of the genus Prevotella (p = 0.020) was related to a higher risk of ILD; the family Coriobacteriaceae (p = 0.011) was identified to have a positive effect on the risk of LRTI; the genus Lactobacillus (p = 0.0297) has been identified to be associated with an increased risk of PAH, whereas the genus Holdemanella (p = 0.0154) presented a causal decrease in COPD risk; the order Selenomonadales was identified to have a positive effect on the risk of FEV1(p = 0.011). The reverse TSMR analysis also provided genetic evidence of reverse causality from lung diseases to the gut microbiota. Conclusion This data-driven MR analysis revealed that gut microbiota was causally associated with lung diseases, providing genetic evidence for further mechanistic and clinical studies to understand the crosstalk between gut microbiota and lung diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Su
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Youqian Zhang
- Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Hubei Province, Jingzhou, China
| | - Jinfu Xu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
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Yang F, Xu F, Zhang H, Gill D, Larsson SC, Li X, Cui H, Yuan S. Proteomic insights into the associations between obesity, lifestyle factors, and coronary artery disease. BMC Med 2023; 21:485. [PMID: 38049831 PMCID: PMC10696760 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-03197-8] [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: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We aimed to investigate the protein pathways linking obesity and lifestyle factors to coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS Summary-level genome-wide association statistics of CAD were obtained from the CARDIoGRAMplusC4D consortium (60,801 cases and 123,504 controls) and the FinnGen study (R8, 39,036 cases and 303,463 controls). Proteome-wide Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted to identify CAD-associated blood proteins, supplemented by colocalization analysis to minimize potential bias caused by linkage disequilibrium. Two-sample MR analyses were performed to assess the associations of genetically predicted four obesity measures and 13 lifestyle factors with CAD risk and CAD-associated proteins' levels. A two-step network MR analysis was conducted to explore the mediating effects of proteins in the associations between these modifiable factors and CAD. RESULTS Genetically predicted levels of 41 circulating proteins were associated with CAD, and 17 of them were supported by medium to high colocalization evidence. PTK7 (protein tyrosine kinase-7), RGMB (repulsive guidance molecule BMP co-receptor B), TAGLN2 (transgelin-2), TIMP3 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 3), and VIM (vimentin) were identified as promising therapeutic targets. Several proteins were found to mediate the associations between some modifiable factors and CAD, with PCSK9, C1S, AGER (advanced glycosylation end product-specific receptor), and MST1 (mammalian Ste20-like kinase 1) exhibiting highest frequency among the mediating networks. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests pathways explaining the associations of obesity and lifestyle factors with CAD from alterations in blood protein levels. These insights may be used to prioritize therapeutic intervention for further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangkun Yang
- Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University (Ningbo First Hospital), School of Medicine, Ningbo University, 59 Liuting Road, Ningbo, 315010, China
- Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Atherosclerotic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, China
- Cardiovascular Disease Clinical Medical Research Center of Ningbo, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fengzhe Xu
- Key Laboratory of Growth Regulation and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Han Zhang
- Department of Big Data in Health Science School of Public Health, Center of Clinical Big Data and Analytics of The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dipender Gill
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Susanna C Larsson
- Unit of Cardiovascular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Unit of Medical Epidemiology, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Xue Li
- Department of Big Data in Health Science School of Public Health, Center of Clinical Big Data and Analytics of The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Hanbin Cui
- Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University (Ningbo First Hospital), School of Medicine, Ningbo University, 59 Liuting Road, Ningbo, 315010, China.
- Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Atherosclerotic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, China.
- Cardiovascular Disease Clinical Medical Research Center of Ningbo, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Shuai Yuan
- Unit of Cardiovascular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Ma L, Du Y, Ma C, Liu M. Association of HMGCR inhibition with rheumatoid arthritis: a Mendelian randomization and colocalization study. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1272167. [PMID: 38047111 PMCID: PMC10691537 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1272167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the association between hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) inhibition and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using drug-target Mendelian randomization (MR) and genetic colocalization analyses. Methods Two sets of genetic instruments were employed to proxy HMGCR inhibitors: expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) of target genes from the eQTLGen Consortium and genetic variants associated with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels with HMGCR locus from open genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Positive control analyses were conducted on type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease, and multiple sensitivity analyses were performed. Results Genetically proxied expression of eQTL was associated with a lower risk of RA (OR=0.996, 95% CI =0.992-0.999, p= 0.032). Similarly, hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR)-mediated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was negatively associated with risk of RA (OR=0.995, 95% CI =0.991-0.998, p= 0.007) in the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method. Colocalization analysis suggested a 74.6% posterior probability of sharing a causal variant within the SNPs locus (PH4 = 74.6%). A causal relationship also existed between HMGCR-mediated LDL and RA risk factors. The results were also confirmed by multiple sensitivity analyses. The results in positive control were consistent with the previous study. Conclusion Our study suggested that HMGCR inhibition was associated with an increased risk of RA while also highlighting an increased risk of current smoking and obesity. These findings contribute to a growing body of evidence regarding the adverse effects of HMGCR inhibition on RA risk, calling for further research on alternative approaches using HMGCR inhibitors in RA management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Ma
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Department of General Practice, Heze Municiple Hospital, Heze, Shandong, China
| | - Yufei Du
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Chao Ma
- Department of Urology, Heze Municiple Hospital, Heze, Shandong, China
| | - Ming Liu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
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Ren F, Jin Q, Liu T, Ren X, Zhan Y. Proteome-wide mendelian randomization study implicates therapeutic targets in common cancers. J Transl Med 2023; 21:646. [PMID: 37735436 PMCID: PMC10512580 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04525-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The interest in targeted cancer therapies has been growing rapidly. While numerous cancer biomarkers and targeted treatment strategies have been developed and employed, there are still significant limitations and challenges in the early diagnosis and targeted treatment of cancers. Accordingly, there is an urgent need to identify novel targets and develop new targeted drugs. METHODS The study was conducted using combined cis-Mendelian randomization (cis-MR) and colocalization analysis. We analyzed data from 732 plasma proteins to identify potential drug targets associated with eight site-specific cancers. These findings were further validated using the UK Biobank dataset. Then, a protein-protein interaction network was also constructed to examine the interplay between the identified proteins and the targets of existing cancer medications. RESULTS This MR analysis revealed associations between five plasma proteins and prostate cancer, five with breast cancer, and three with lung cancer. Subsequently, these proteins were classified into four distinct target groups, with a focus on tier 1 and 2 targets due to their higher potential to become drug targets. Our study indicatied that genetically predicted KDELC2 (OR: 0.89, 95% CI 0.86-0.93) and TNFRSF10B (OR: 0.74, 95% CI 0.65-0.83) are inversely associated with prostate cancer. Furthermore, we observed an inverse association between CPNE1 (OR: 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.98) and breast cancer, while PDIA3 (OR: 1.19, 95% CI 1.10-1.30) were found to be associated with the risk of breast cancer. In addition, we also propose that SPINT2 (OR: 1.05, 95% CI 1.03-1.06), GSTP1 (OR: 0.82, 95% CI 0.74-0.90), and CTSS (OR: 0.91, 95% CI 0.88-0.95) may serve as potential therapeutic targets in prostate cancer. Similarly, GDI2 (OR: 0.85, 95% CI 0.80-0.91), ISLR2 (OR: 0.87, 95% CI 0.82-0.93), and CTSF (OR: 1.14, 95% CI 1.08-1.21) could potentially be targets for breast cancer. Additionally, we identified SFTPB (OR: 0.93, 95% CI 0.91-0.95), ICAM5 (OR: 0.95, 95% CI 0.93-0.97), and FLRT3 (OR: 1.10, 95% CI 1.05-1.15) as potential targets for lung cancer. Notably, TNFRSF10B, GSTP1, and PDIA3 were found to interact with the target proteins of current medications used in prostate or breast cancer treatment. CONCLUSIONS This comprehensive analysis has highlighted thirteen plasma proteins with potential roles in three site-specific cancers. Continued research in this area may reveal their therapeutic potential, particularly KDELC2, TNFRSF10B, CPNE1, and PDIA3, paving the way for more effective cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feihong Ren
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100053, China
- Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Qiubai Jin
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Tongtong Liu
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Xuelei Ren
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Yongli Zhan
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100053, China.
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Chen J, Ruan X, Yuan S, Theodoratou E, Satsangi J, Li X. Letter: disentangling the role of redox-active compounds in the development of inflammatory bowel diseases-moving towards causal associations. Authors' reply. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2023; 57:1048-1049. [PMID: 37053480 DOI: 10.1111/apt.17468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
LINKED CONTENTThis article is linked to Chen et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17392 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17455
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Centre for Global Health, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Big Data in Health Science, School of Public Health and The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xixian Ruan
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Shuai Yuan
- Unit of Cardiovascular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Evropi Theodoratou
- Centre for Global Health, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Medical Research Council Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jack Satsangi
- Translational Gastroenterology Unit, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Experimental Medicine Division, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Xue Li
- Department of Big Data in Health Science, School of Public Health and The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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