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Arruda AL, Katsoula G, Chen S, Reimann E, Kreitmaier P, Zeggini E. The Genetics and Functional Genomics of Osteoarthritis. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 2024; 25:239-257. [PMID: 39190913 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genom-010423-095636] [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] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent whole-joint degenerative disorder, and is characterized by the degradation of articular cartilage and the underlying bone structures. Almost 600 million people are affected by osteoarthritis worldwide. No curative treatments are available, and management strategies focus mostly on pain relief. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the available human genetic and functional genomics studies for osteoarthritis to date and delineate how these studies have helped shed light on disease etiopathology. We highlight genetic discoveries from genome-wide association studies and provide a detailed overview of molecular-level investigations in osteoarthritis tissues, including methylation-, transcriptomics-, and proteomics-level analyses. We review how functional genomics data from different molecular levels have helped to prioritize effector genes that can be used as drug targets or drug-repurposing opportunities. Finally, we discuss future directions with the potential to drive a step change in osteoarthritis research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Luiza Arruda
- Graduate School of Experimental Medicine, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Translational Genomics, Helmholtz Munich, Neuherberg, Germany;
- Munich School for Data Science, Helmholtz Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Georgia Katsoula
- Graduate School of Experimental Medicine, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Translational Genomics, Helmholtz Munich, Neuherberg, Germany;
- TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich and Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany
| | - Shibo Chen
- Institute of Translational Genomics, Helmholtz Munich, Neuherberg, Germany;
| | - Ene Reimann
- Institute of Translational Genomics, Helmholtz Munich, Neuherberg, Germany;
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Peter Kreitmaier
- Graduate School of Experimental Medicine, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Translational Genomics, Helmholtz Munich, Neuherberg, Germany;
- TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich and Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany
| | - Eleftheria Zeggini
- Institute of Translational Genomics, Helmholtz Munich, Neuherberg, Germany;
- TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich and Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany
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Ramos YFM, Rice SJ, Ali SA, Pastrello C, Jurisica I, Rai MF, Collins KH, Lang A, Maerz T, Geurts J, Ruiz-Romero C, June RK, Thomas Appleton C, Rockel JS, Kapoor M. Evolution and advancements in genomics and epigenomics in OA research: How far we have come. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2024; 32:858-868. [PMID: 38428513 DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2024.02.656] [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: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent musculoskeletal disease affecting articulating joint tissues, resulting in local and systemic changes that contribute to increased pain and reduced function. Diverse technological advancements have culminated in the advent of high throughput "omic" technologies, enabling identification of comprehensive changes in molecular mediators associated with the disease. Amongst these technologies, genomics and epigenomics - including methylomics and miRNomics, have emerged as important tools to aid our biological understanding of disease. DESIGN In this narrative review, we selected articles discussing advancements and applications of these technologies to OA biology and pathology. We discuss how genomics, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylomics, and miRNomics have uncovered disease-related molecular markers in the local and systemic tissues or fluids of OA patients. RESULTS Genomics investigations into the genetic links of OA, including using genome-wide association studies, have evolved to identify 100+ genetic susceptibility markers of OA. Epigenomic investigations of gene methylation status have identified the importance of methylation to OA-related catabolic gene expression. Furthermore, miRNomic studies have identified key microRNA signatures in various tissues and fluids related to OA disease. CONCLUSIONS Sharing of standardized, well-annotated omic datasets in curated repositories will be key to enhancing statistical power to detect smaller and targetable changes in the biological signatures underlying OA pathogenesis. Additionally, continued technological developments and analysis methods, including using computational molecular and regulatory networks, are likely to facilitate improved detection of disease-relevant targets, in-turn, supporting precision medicine approaches and new treatment strategies for OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yolande F M Ramos
- Dept. Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sarah J Rice
- Biosciences Institute, International Centre for Life, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Shabana Amanda Ali
- Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Chiara Pastrello
- Osteoarthritis Research Program, Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Schroeder Arthritis Institute, UHN, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Igor Jurisica
- Osteoarthritis Research Program, Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Schroeder Arthritis Institute, UHN, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Departments of Medical Biophysics and Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Muhammad Farooq Rai
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Biotechnology, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Kelsey H Collins
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Annemarie Lang
- Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Tristan Maerz
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jeroen Geurts
- Rheumatology, Department of Musculoskeletal Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Cristina Ruiz-Romero
- Grupo de Investigación de Reumatología (GIR), Unidad de Proteómica, INIBIC -Hospital Universitario A Coruña, SERGAS, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Ronald K June
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - C Thomas Appleton
- Department of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jason S Rockel
- Osteoarthritis Research Program, Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Schroeder Arthritis Institute, UHN, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mohit Kapoor
- Osteoarthritis Research Program, Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Schroeder Arthritis Institute, UHN, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Roberts JB, Rice SJ. Osteoarthritis as an Enhanceropathy: Gene Regulation in Complex Musculoskeletal Disease. Curr Rheumatol Rep 2024; 26:222-234. [PMID: 38430365 PMCID: PMC11116181 DOI: 10.1007/s11926-024-01142-z] [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] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Osteoarthritis is a complex and highly polygenic disease. Over 100 reported osteoarthritis risk variants fall in non-coding regions of the genome, ostensibly conferring functional effects through the disruption of regulatory elements impacting target gene expression. In this review, we summarise the progress that has advanced our knowledge of gene enhancers both within the field of osteoarthritis and more broadly in complex diseases. RECENT FINDINGS Advances in technologies such as ATAC-seq have facilitated our understanding of chromatin states in specific cell types, bolstering the interpretation of GWAS and the identification of effector genes. Their application to osteoarthritis research has revealed enhancers as the principal regulatory element driving disease-associated changes in gene expression. However, tissue-specific effects in gene regulatory mechanisms can contribute added complexity to biological interpretation. Understanding gene enhancers and their altered activity in specific cell and tissue types is the key to unlocking the genetic complexity of osteoarthritis. The use of single-cell technologies in osteoarthritis research is still in its infancy. However, such tools offer great promise in improving our functional interpretation of osteoarthritis GWAS and the identification of druggable targets. Large-scale collaborative efforts will be imperative to understand tissue and cell-type specific molecular mechanisms underlying enhancer function in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack B Roberts
- Skeletal Research Group, International Centre for Life, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Sarah J Rice
- Skeletal Research Group, International Centre for Life, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 3BZ, UK.
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McDonnell E, Orr SE, Barter MJ, Rux D, Brumwell A, Wrobel N, Murphy L, Overmann LM, Sorial AK, Young DA, Soul J, Rice SJ. Epigenetic mechanisms of osteoarthritis risk in human skeletal development. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.05.05.24306832. [PMID: 38766055 PMCID: PMC11100852 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.05.24306832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
The epigenome, including the methylation of cytosine bases at CG dinucleotides, is intrinsically linked to transcriptional regulation. The tight regulation of gene expression during skeletal development is essential, with ~1/500 individuals born with skeletal abnormalities. Furthermore, increasing evidence is emerging to link age-associated complex genetic musculoskeletal diseases, including osteoarthritis (OA), to developmental factors including joint shape. Multiple studies have shown a functional role for DNA methylation in the genetic mechanisms of OA risk using articular cartilage samples taken from aged patients. Despite this, our knowledge of temporal changes to the methylome during human cartilage development has been limited. We quantified DNA methylation at ~700,000 individual CpGs across the epigenome of developing human articular cartilage in 72 samples ranging from 7-21 post-conception weeks, a time period that includes cavitation of the developing knee joint. We identified significant changes in 8% of all CpGs, and >9400 developmental differentially methylated regions (dDMRs). The largest hypermethylated dDMRs mapped to transcriptional regulators of early skeletal patterning including MEIS1 and IRX1. Conversely, the largest hypomethylated dDMRs mapped to genes encoding extracellular matrix proteins including SPON2 and TNXB and were enriched in chondrocyte enhancers. Significant correlations were identified between the expression of these genes and methylation within the hypomethylated dDMRs. We further identified 811 CpGs at which significant dimorphism was present between the male and female samples, with the majority (68%) being hypermethylated in female samples. Following imputation, we captured the genotype of these samples at >5 million variants and performed epigenome-wide methylation quantitative trait locus (mQTL) analysis. Colocalization analysis identified 26 loci at which genetic variants exhibited shared impacts upon methylation and OA genetic risk. This included loci which have been previously reported to harbour OA-mQTLs (including GDF5 and ALDH1A2), yet the majority (73%) were novel (including those mapping to CHST3, FGF1 and TEAD1). To our knowledge, this is the first extensive study of DNA methylation across human articular cartilage development. We identify considerable methylomic plasticity within the development of knee cartilage and report active epigenomic mediators of OA risk operating in prenatal joint tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Euan McDonnell
- Computational Biology Facility, University of Liverpool, MerseyBio, Crown Street, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah E Orr
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew J Barter
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Danielle Rux
- Orthopaedic Surgery, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
| | - Abby Brumwell
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola Wrobel
- Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Lee Murphy
- Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Lynne M Overmann
- Human Developmental Biology Resource, Newcastle University, International Centre for Life, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Antony K Sorial
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - David A Young
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Jamie Soul
- Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah J Rice
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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Roberts JB, Boldvig OLG, Aubourg G, Kanchenapally ST, Deehan DJ, Rice SJ, Loughlin J. Specific isoforms of the ubiquitin ligase gene WWP2 are targets of osteoarthritis genetic risk via a differentially methylated DNA sequence. Arthritis Res Ther 2024; 26:78. [PMID: 38570801 PMCID: PMC10988806 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-024-03315-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transitioning from a genetic association signal to an effector gene and a targetable molecular mechanism requires the application of functional fine-mapping tools such as reporter assays and genome editing. In this report, we undertook such studies on the osteoarthritis (OA) risk that is marked by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs34195470 (A > G). The OA risk-conferring G allele of this SNP associates with increased DNA methylation (DNAm) at two CpG dinucleotides within WWP2. This gene encodes a ubiquitin ligase and is the host gene of microRNA-140 (miR-140). WWP2 and miR-140 are both regulators of TGFβ signaling. METHODS Nucleic acids were extracted from adult OA (arthroplasty) and foetal cartilage. Samples were genotyped and DNAm quantified by pyrosequencing at the two CpGs plus 14 flanking CpGs. CpGs were tested for transcriptional regulatory effects using a chondrocyte cell line and reporter gene assay. DNAm was altered using epigenetic editing, with the impact on gene expression determined using RT-qPCR. In silico analysis complemented laboratory experiments. RESULTS rs34195470 genotype associates with differential methylation at 14 of the 16 CpGs in OA cartilage, forming a methylation quantitative trait locus (mQTL). The mQTL is less pronounced in foetal cartilage (5/16 CpGs). The reporter assay revealed that the CpGs reside within a transcriptional regulator. Epigenetic editing to increase their DNAm resulted in altered expression of the full-length and N-terminal transcript isoforms of WWP2. No changes in expression were observed for the C-terminal isoform of WWP2 or for miR-140. CONCLUSIONS As far as we are aware, this is the first experimental demonstration of an OA association signal targeting specific transcript isoforms of a gene. The WWP2 isoforms encode proteins with varying substrate specificities for the components of the TGFβ signaling pathway. Future analysis should focus on the substrates regulated by the two WWP2 isoforms that are the targets of this genetic risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack B Roberts
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, International Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3BZ, UK.
| | - Olivia L G Boldvig
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, International Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Guillaume Aubourg
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, International Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - S Tanishq Kanchenapally
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, International Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - David J Deehan
- Freeman Hospital, Newcastle University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Sarah J Rice
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, International Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - John Loughlin
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, International Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3BZ, UK.
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6
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You S, Xu J, Guo Y, Guo X, Zhang Y, Zhang N, Sun G, Sun Y. E3 ubiquitin ligase WWP2 as a promising therapeutic target for diverse human diseases. Mol Aspects Med 2024; 96:101257. [PMID: 38430667 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2024.101257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Mammalian E3 ubiquitin ligases have emerged in recent years as critical regulators of cellular homeostasis due to their roles in targeting substrate proteins for ubiquitination and triggering subsequent downstream signals. In this review, we describe the multiple roles of WWP2, an E3 ubiquitin ligase with unique and important functions in regulating a wide range of biological processes, including DNA repair, gene expression, signal transduction, and cell-fate decisions. As such, WWP2 has evolved to play a key role in normal physiology and diseases, such as tumorigenesis, skeletal development and diseases, immune regulation, cardiovascular disease, and others. We attempt to provide an overview of the biochemical, physiological, and pathophysiological roles of WWP2, as well as open questions for future research, particularly in the context of putative therapeutic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilong You
- Department of Cardiology, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Jiaqi Xu
- Department of Cardiology, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yushan Guo
- Department of Cardiology, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xiaofan Guo
- Department of Cardiology, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Institute of Health Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
| | - Naijin Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Institute of Health Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Advanced Reproductive Medicine and Fertility, National Health Commission, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
| | - Guozhe Sun
- Department of Cardiology, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
| | - Yingxian Sun
- Department of Cardiology, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Institute of Health Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
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7
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Costa MC, Angelini C, Franzese M, Iside C, Salvatore M, Laezza L, Napolitano F, Ceccarelli M. Identification of therapeutic targets in osteoarthritis by combining heterogeneous transcriptional datasets, drug-induced expression profiles, and known drug-target interactions. J Transl Med 2024; 22:281. [PMID: 38491514 PMCID: PMC10941480 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05006-z] [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: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Osteoarthritis (OA) is a multifactorial, hypertrophic, and degenerative condition involving the whole joint and affecting a high percentage of middle-aged people. It is due to a combination of factors, although the pivotal mechanisms underlying the disease are still obscure. Moreover, current treatments are still poorly effective, and patients experience a painful and degenerative disease course. METHODS We used an integrative approach that led us to extract a consensus signature from a meta-analysis of three different OA cohorts. We performed a network-based drug prioritization to detect the most relevant drugs targeting these genes and validated in vitro the most promising candidates. We also proposed a risk score based on a minimal set of genes to predict the OA clinical stage from RNA-Seq data. RESULTS We derived a consensus signature of 44 genes that we validated on an independent dataset. Using network analysis, we identified Resveratrol, Tenoxicam, Benzbromarone, Pirinixic Acid, and Mesalazine as putative drugs of interest for therapeutics in OA for anti-inflammatory properties. We also derived a list of seven gene-targets validated with functional RT-qPCR assays, confirming the in silico predictions. Finally, we identified a predictive subset of genes composed of DNER, TNFSF11, THBS3, LOXL3, TSPAN2, DYSF, ASPN and HTRA1 to compute the patient's risk score. We validated this risk score on an independent dataset with a high AUC (0.875) and compared it with the same approach computed using the entire consensus signature (AUC 0.922). CONCLUSIONS The consensus signature highlights crucial mechanisms for disease progression. Moreover, these genes were associated with several candidate drugs that could represent potential innovative therapeutics. Furthermore, the patient's risk scores can be used in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Claudia Costa
- Biogem s.c.ar.l, Ariano Irpino, Italy
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Elettrica e delle Tecnologie dell'Informazione, Università di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Claudia Angelini
- Istituto per le Applicazioni del Calcolo, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Napoli, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Luigi Laezza
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Elettrica e delle Tecnologie dell'Informazione, Università di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Francesco Napolitano
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università degli Studi del Sannio, Benevento, Italy
| | - Michele Ceccarelli
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Elettrica e delle Tecnologie dell'Informazione, Università di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy.
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
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8
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Faber BG, Frysz M, Boer CG, Evans DS, Ebsim R, Flynn KA, Lundberg M, Southam L, Hartley A, Saunders FR, Lindner C, Gregory JS, Aspden RM, Lane NE, Harvey NC, Evans DM, Zeggini E, Davey Smith G, Cootes T, Van Meurs J, Kemp JP, Tobias JH. The identification of distinct protective and susceptibility mechanisms for hip osteoarthritis: findings from a genome-wide association study meta-analysis of minimum joint space width and Mendelian randomisation cluster analyses. EBioMedicine 2023; 95:104759. [PMID: 37619450 PMCID: PMC10470292 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104759] [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: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hip minimum joint space width (mJSW) provides a proxy for cartilage thickness. This study aimed to conduct a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of mJSW to (i) identify new genetic determinants of mJSW and (ii) identify which mJSW loci convey hip osteoarthritis (HOA) risk and would therefore be of therapeutic interest. METHODS GWAS meta-analysis of hip mJSW derived from plain X-rays and DXA was performed, stratified by sex and adjusted for age and ancestry principal components. Mendelian randomisation (MR) and cluster analyses were used to examine causal effect of mJSW on HOA. FINDINGS 50,745 individuals were included in the meta-analysis. 42 SNPs, which mapped to 39 loci, were identified. Mendelian randomisation (MR) revealed little evidence of a causal effect of mJSW on HOA (ORIVW 0.98 [95% CI 0.82-1.18]). However, MR-Clust analysis suggested the null MR estimates reflected the net effect of two distinct causal mechanisms cancelling each other out, one of which was protective, whereas the other increased HOA susceptibility. For the latter mechanism, all loci were positively associated with height, suggesting mechanisms leading to greater height and mJSW increase the risk of HOA in later life. INTERPRETATIONS One group of mJSW loci reduce HOA risk via increased mJSW, suggesting possible utility as targets for chondroprotective therapies. The second group of mJSW loci increased HOA risk, despite increasing mJSW, but were also positively related to height, suggesting they contribute to HOA risk via a growth-related mechanism. FUNDING Primarily funded by the Medical Research Council and Wellcome Trust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin G Faber
- Musculoskeletal Research Unit, University of Bristol, UK; Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, UK.
| | - Monika Frysz
- Musculoskeletal Research Unit, University of Bristol, UK; Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, UK
| | - Cindy G Boer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Daniel S Evans
- California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute, San Francisco, USA
| | - Raja Ebsim
- Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Sciences, The University of Manchester, UK
| | - Kaitlyn A Flynn
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Australia; Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Mischa Lundberg
- UQ Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Australia
| | - Lorraine Southam
- Institute of Translational Genomics, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Centre for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - April Hartley
- Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, UK
| | - Fiona R Saunders
- Centre for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Health, University of Aberdeen, UK
| | - Claudia Lindner
- Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Sciences, The University of Manchester, UK
| | - Jennifer S Gregory
- Centre for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Health, University of Aberdeen, UK
| | - Richard M Aspden
- Centre for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Health, University of Aberdeen, UK
| | - Nancy E Lane
- Center for Musculoskeletal Health, University of California Davis, Sacramento, USA
| | - Nicholas C Harvey
- Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton, UK; NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - David M Evans
- Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, UK; Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia; UQ Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Australia
| | - Eleftheria Zeggini
- Institute of Translational Genomics, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Centre for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany; Technical University of Munich and Klinikum Rechts der Isar, TUM School of Medicine, Germany
| | - George Davey Smith
- Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, UK
| | - Timothy Cootes
- Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Sciences, The University of Manchester, UK
| | - Joyce Van Meurs
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - John P Kemp
- Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, UK; Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Australia; Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Jonathan H Tobias
- Musculoskeletal Research Unit, University of Bristol, UK; Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, UK
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Zheng C, Chen J, Wu Y, Wang X, Lin Y, Shu L, Liu W, Wang P. Elucidating the role of ubiquitination and deubiquitination in osteoarthritis progression. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1217466. [PMID: 37359559 PMCID: PMC10288844 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1217466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Osteoarthritis is non-inflammatory degenerative joint arthritis, which exacerbates disability in elder persons. The molecular mechanisms of osteoarthritis are elusive. Ubiquitination, one type of post-translational modifications, has been demonstrated to accelerate or ameliorate the development and progression of osteoarthritis via targeting specific proteins for ubiquitination and determining protein stability and localization. Ubiquitination process can be reversed by a class of deubiquitinases via deubiquitination. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the multifaceted role of E3 ubiquitin ligases in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. We also describe the molecular insight of deubiquitinases into osteoarthritis processes. Moreover, we highlight the multiple compounds that target E3 ubiquitin ligases or deubiquitinases to influence osteoarthritis progression. We discuss the challenge and future perspectives via modulation of E3 ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitinases expression for enhancement of the therapeutic efficacy in osteoarthritis patients. We conclude that modulating ubiquitination and deubiquitination could alleviate the osteoarthritis pathogenesis to achieve the better treatment outcomes in osteoarthritis patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxiao Zheng
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiayi Chen
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China
| | - Yurui Wu
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaochao Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yongan Lin
- South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lilu Shu
- Department of Medicine, Zhejiang Zhongwei Medical Research Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenjun Liu
- Department of Medicine, Zhejiang Zhongwei Medical Research Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Peter Wang
- Department of Medicine, Zhejiang Zhongwei Medical Research Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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10
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Kehayova YS, Wilkinson JM, Rice SJ, Loughlin J. Mediation of the Same Epigenetic and Transcriptional Effect by Independent Osteoarthritis Risk-Conferring Alleles on a Shared Target Gene, COLGALT2. Arthritis Rheumatol 2023; 75:910-922. [PMID: 36538011 PMCID: PMC10952352 DOI: 10.1002/art.42427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Over 100 DNA variants have been associated with osteoarthritis (OA), including rs1046934, located within a linkage disequilibrium block encompassing part of COLGALT2 and TSEN15. The present study was undertaken to determine the target gene(s) and the mechanism of action of the OA locus using human fetal cartilage, cartilage from OA and femoral neck fracture arthroplasty patients, and a chondrocyte cell model. METHODS Genotyping and methylation array data of DNA from human OA cartilage samples (n = 87) were used to determine whether the rs1046934 genotype is associated with differential DNA methylation at proximal CpGs. Results were replicated in DNA from human arthroplasty (n = 132) and fetal (n = 77) cartilage samples using pyrosequencing. Allelic expression imbalance (AEI) measured the effects of genotype on COLGALT2 and TSEN15 expression. Reporter gene assays and epigenetic editing determined the functional role of regions harboring differentially methylated CpGs. In silico analyses complemented these experiments. RESULTS Three differentially methylated CpGs residing within regulatory regions were detected in the human OA cartilage array data, and 2 of these were replicated in human arthroplasty and fetal cartilage. AEI was detected for COLGALT2 and TSEN15, with associations between expression and methylation for COLGALT2. Reporter gene assays confirmed that the CpGs are in chondrocyte enhancers, with epigenetic editing results directly linking methylation with COLGALT2 expression. CONCLUSION COLGALT2 is a target of this OA locus. We previously characterized another OA locus, marked by rs11583641, that independently targets COLGALT2. The genotype of rs1046934, like rs11583641, mediates its effect by modulating expression of COLGALT2 via methylation changes to CpGs located in enhancers. Although the single-nucleotide polymorphisms, CpGs, and enhancers are distinct between the 2 independent OA risk loci, their effect on COLGALT2 is the same. COLGALT2 is the target of independent OA risk loci sharing a common mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - J. Mark Wilkinson
- Department of Oncology and MetabolismUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Sarah J. Rice
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
| | - John Loughlin
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
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11
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Richard D, Capellini TD, Diekman BO. Epigenetics as a mediator of genetic risk in osteoarthritis: role during development, homeostasis, aging, and disease progression. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2023; 324:C1078-C1088. [PMID: 36971423 PMCID: PMC10191130 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00574.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
The identification of genomic loci that are associated with osteoarthritis (OA) has provided a starting point for understanding how genetic variation activates catabolic processes in the joint. However, genetic variants can only alter gene expression and cellular function when the epigenetic environment is permissive to these effects. In this review, we provide examples of how epigenetic shifts at distinct life stages can alter the risk for OA, which we posit is critical for the proper interpretation of genome-wide association studies (GWAS). During development, intensive work on the growth and differentiation factor 5 (GDF5) locus has revealed the importance of tissue-specific enhancer activity in controlling both joint development and the subsequent risk for OA. During homeostasis in adults, underlying genetic risk factors may help establish beneficial or catabolic "set points" that dictate tissue function, with a strong cumulative effect on OA risk. During aging, methylation changes and the reorganization of chromatin can "unmask" the effects of genetic variants. The destructive function of variants that alter aging would only mediate effects after reproductive competence and thus avoid any evolutionary selection pressure, as consistent with larger frameworks of biological aging and its relationship to disease. A similar "unmasking" may occur during OA progression, which is supported by the finding of distinct expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) in chondrocytes depending on the degree of tissue degradation. Finally, we propose that massively parallel reporter assays (MPRAs) will be a valuable tool to test the function of putative OA GWAS variants in chondrocytes from different life stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Richard
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Terence D Capellini
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Brian O Diekman
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
- Thurston Arthritis Research Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
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12
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Kim M, Rubab A, Chan WC, Chan D. Osteoarthritis year in review: genetics, genomics and epigenetics. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2023:S1063-4584(23)00725-2. [PMID: 36924918 DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2023.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
This "year in review" provides a summary of the research findings on the topic of genetics, genomics and epigenetics for osteoarthritis (OA) between Mar 2021-Apr 2022. A search routine of the literature in PubMed for the keyword, osteoarthritis, together with topics on genetics, genomics, epigenetics, polymorphism, DNA methylation, noncoding RNA, lncRNA, proteomics, and single cell RNA sequencing, returned key research articles and relevant reviews. Following filtering of duplicates across search routines, 695 unique research articles and 112 reviews were identified. We manually curated these articles and selected 90 as references for this review. However, we were unable to refer to all these articles, and only used selected articles to highlight key outcomes and trends. The trend in genetics is on the meta-analysis of existing cohorts with comparable genetic and phenotype characterisation of OA; in particular, clear definition of endophenotypes to enhance the genetic power. Further, many researchers are realizing the power of big data and multi-omics approaches to gain molecular insights for OA, and this has opened innovative approaches to include transcriptomics and epigenetics data as quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Given that most of the genetic loci for OA are not located within coding regions of genes, implying the impact is likely to be on gene regulation, epigenetics is a hot topic, and there is a surge in studies relating to the role of miRNA and long non-coding RNA on cartilage biology and pathology. The findings are exciting and new insights are provided in this review to summarize a year of research and the road map to capture all new innovations to achieve the desired goal in OA prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minyeong Kim
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Aqsa Rubab
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Wilson Cw Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Danny Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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13
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Novakov V, Novakova O, Churnosova M, Sorokina I, Aristova I, Polonikov A, Reshetnikov E, Churnosov M. Intergenic Interactions of SBNO1, NFAT5 and GLT8D1 Determine the Susceptibility to Knee Osteoarthritis among Europeans of Russia. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13020405. [PMID: 36836762 PMCID: PMC9960278 DOI: 10.3390/life13020405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
This study was conducted to examine the associations between genome-wide association studies (GWAS)-important single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and knee osteoarthritis (KOA) among Europeans of Russia. The present replicative study ("patient-control" design has been used) was carried out on 1000 DNA samples from KOA (n = 500) and KOA-free (n = 500) participants. Ten GWAS-important for KOA SNPs of eight candidate genes (LYPLAL1, GNL3, GLT8D1, SBNO1, WWP2, NFAT5, TGFA, GDF5) were studied. To assess the link between SNPs and KOA susceptibility, logistic regression (to establish independent SNP effects) and MB-MDR (to identify SNP-SNP interactions) were used. As a result of this genetic analysis, the associations of individual SNPs with KOA have not been proven. Eight loci out of ten tested SNPs interacted with each other (within twelve genetic models) and determined susceptibility to KOA. The greatest contribution to the disease development were made by three polymorphisms/genes such as rs6976 (C>T) GLT8D1, rs56116847 (G>A) SBNO1, rs6499244 (T>A) NFAT5 (each was included in 2/3 [8 out 12] KOA-responsible genetic interaction models). A two-locus epistatic interaction of rs56116847 (G >A) SBNO1 × rs6499244 (T>A) NFAT5 determined the maximum percentage (0.86%) of KOA entropy. KOA-associated SNPs are regulatory polymorphisms that affect the expression/splicing level, epigenetic modification of 72 genes in KOA-pathogenetically significant organs such as skeletal muscles, tibial arteries/nerves, thyroid, adipose tissue, etc. These putative KOA-effector genes are mainly involved in the organization/activity of the exoribonuclease complex and antigen processing/presentation pathways. In conclusion, KOA susceptibility among Europeans of Russia is mediated by intergenic interactions (but not the main effects) of GWAS-important SNPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitaly Novakov
- Department of Medical Biological Disciplines, Belgorod State National Research University, 308015 Belgorod, Russia
| | - Olga Novakova
- Department of Medical Biological Disciplines, Belgorod State National Research University, 308015 Belgorod, Russia
| | - Maria Churnosova
- Department of Medical Biological Disciplines, Belgorod State National Research University, 308015 Belgorod, Russia
| | - Inna Sorokina
- Department of Medical Biological Disciplines, Belgorod State National Research University, 308015 Belgorod, Russia
| | - Inna Aristova
- Department of Medical Biological Disciplines, Belgorod State National Research University, 308015 Belgorod, Russia
| | - Alexey Polonikov
- Department of Medical Biological Disciplines, Belgorod State National Research University, 308015 Belgorod, Russia
- Department of Biology, Medical Genetics and Ecology and Research Institute for Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology, Kursk State Medical University, 305041 Kursk, Russia
| | - Evgeny Reshetnikov
- Department of Medical Biological Disciplines, Belgorod State National Research University, 308015 Belgorod, Russia
| | - Mikhail Churnosov
- Department of Medical Biological Disciplines, Belgorod State National Research University, 308015 Belgorod, Russia
- Correspondence:
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14
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Tuerlings M, Janssen GMC, Boone I, van Hoolwerff M, Rodriguez Ruiz A, Houtman E, Suchiman HED, van der Wal RJP, Nelissen RGHH, Coutinho de Almeida R, van Veelen PA, Ramos YFM, Meulenbelt I. WWP2 confers risk to osteoarthritis by affecting cartilage matrix deposition via hypoxia associated genes. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2023; 31:39-48. [PMID: 36208715 DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2022.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the co-expression network of the osteoarthritis (OA) risk gene WWP2 in articular cartilage and study cartilage characteristics when mimicking the effect of OA risk allele rs1052429-A on WWP2 expression in a human 3D in vitro model of cartilage. METHOD Co-expression behavior of WWP2 with genes expressed in lesioned OA articular cartilage (N = 35 samples) was explored. By applying lentiviral particle mediated WWP2 upregulation in 3D in vitro pellet cultures of human primary chondrocytes (N = 8 donors) the effects of upregulation on cartilage matrix deposition was evaluated. Finally, we transfected primary chondrocytes with miR-140 mimics to evaluate whether miR-140 and WWP2 are involved in similar pathways. RESULTS Upon performing Spearman correlations in lesioned OA cartilage, 98 highly correlating genes (|ρ| > 0.7) were identified. Among these genes, we identified GJA1, GDF10, STC2, WDR1, and WNK4. Subsequent upregulation of WWP2 on 3D chondrocyte pellet cultures resulted in a decreased expression of COL2A1 and ACAN and an increase in EPAS1 expression. Additionally, we observed a decreased expression of GDF10, STC2, and GJA1. Proteomics analysis identified 42 proteins being differentially expressed with WWP2 upregulation, which were enriched for ubiquitin conjugating enzyme activity. Finally, upregulation of miR-140 in 2D chondrocytes resulted in significant upregulation of WWP2 and WDR1. CONCLUSIONS Mimicking the effect of OA risk allele rs1052429-A on WWP2 expression initiates detrimental processes in the cartilage shown by a response in hypoxia associated genes EPAS1, GDF10, and GJA1 and a decrease in anabolic markers, COL2A1 and ACAN.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Tuerlings
- Dept. of Biomedical Data Sciences, Section Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - G M C Janssen
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - I Boone
- Dept. of Biomedical Data Sciences, Section Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - M van Hoolwerff
- Dept. of Biomedical Data Sciences, Section Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - A Rodriguez Ruiz
- Dept. of Biomedical Data Sciences, Section Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - E Houtman
- Dept. of Biomedical Data Sciences, Section Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - H E D Suchiman
- Dept. of Biomedical Data Sciences, Section Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - R J P van der Wal
- Dept. Orthopaedics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - R G H H Nelissen
- Dept. Orthopaedics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - R Coutinho de Almeida
- Dept. of Biomedical Data Sciences, Section Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - P A van Veelen
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Y F M Ramos
- Dept. of Biomedical Data Sciences, Section Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - I Meulenbelt
- Dept. of Biomedical Data Sciences, Section Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
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15
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Insights from multi-omics integration in complex disease primary tissues. Trends Genet 2023; 39:46-58. [PMID: 36137835 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2022.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have provided insights into the genetic basis of complex diseases. In the next step, integrative multi-omics approaches can characterize molecular profiles in relevant primary tissues to reveal the mechanisms that underlie disease development. Here, we highlight recent progress in four examples of complex diseases generated by integrative studies: type 2 diabetes (T2D), osteoarthritis, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). High-resolution methodologies such as single-cell and spatial omics techniques will become even more important in the future. Furthermore, we emphasize the urgent need to include as yet understudied cell types and increase the diversity of studied populations.
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16
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Coutinho de Almeida R, Tuerlings M, Ramos Y, Den Hollander W, Suchiman E, Lakenberg N, Nelissen RGHH, Mei H, Meulenbelt I. Allelic expression imbalance in articular cartilage and subchondral bone refined genome-wide association signals in osteoarthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2022; 62:1669-1676. [PMID: 36040165 PMCID: PMC10070069 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac498] [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: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To present an unbiased approach to identify positional transcript single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of osteoarthritis (OA) risk loci by allelic expression imbalance (AEI) analyses using RNA sequencing of articular cartilage and subchondral bone from OA patients. METHODS RNA sequencing from 65 articular cartilage and 24 subchondral bone from OA patients was used for AEI analysis. AEI was determined for all genes present in the 100 regions reported by the GWAS catalog that were also expressed in cartilage or bone. The count fraction of the alternative allele (φ) was calculated for each heterozygous individual with the risk-SNP or with the SNP in linkage disequilibrium (LD) with it (r2 > 0.6). Furthermore, a meta-analysis was performed to generate a meta-φ (null hypothesis median φ = 0.49) and P-value for each SNP. RESULTS We identified 30 transcript SNPs (28 in cartilage and 2 in subchondral bone) subject to AEI in 29 genes. Notably, 10 transcript SNPs were located in genes not previously reported in the GWAS catalog, including two long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs), MALAT1 (meta-φ = 0.54, FDR = 1.7x10-4) and ILF3-DT (meta-φ = 0.6, FDR = 1.75x10-5). Moreover, 12 drugs were interacting with 7 genes displaying AEI, of which 7 drugs have been already approved. CONCLUSIONS By prioritizing proxy transcript SNPs that mark AEI in cartilage and/or subchondral bone at loci harboring GWAS signals, we present an unbiased approach to identify the most likely functional OA risk-SNP and gene. We identified 10 new potential OA risk genes ready for further, translation towards underlying biological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Coutinho de Almeida
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Section Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Margo Tuerlings
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Section Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Yolande Ramos
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Section Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Wouter Den Hollander
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Section Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Eka Suchiman
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Section Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Nico Lakenberg
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Section Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Rob G H H Nelissen
- Department of Orthopaedics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Hailiang Mei
- Sequencing Analysis Support Core, Dept. of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ingrid Meulenbelt
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Section Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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17
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Brumwell A, Aubourg G, Hussain J, Parker E, Deehan DJ, Rice SJ, Loughlin J. Identification of TMEM129, encoding a ubiquitin-protein ligase, as an effector gene of osteoarthritis genetic risk. Arthritis Res Ther 2022; 24:189. [PMID: 35941660 PMCID: PMC9358880 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-022-02882-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Osteoarthritis is highly heritable and genome-wide studies have identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the disease. One such locus is marked by SNP rs11732213 (T > C). Genotype at rs11732213 correlates with the methylation levels of nearby CpG dinucleotides (CpGs), forming a methylation quantitative trait locus (mQTL). This study investigated the regulatory activity of the CpGs to identify a target gene of the locus. METHODS Nucleic acids were extracted from the articular cartilage of osteoarthritis patients. Samples were genotyped, and DNA methylation was quantified by pyrosequencing at 14 CpGs within a 259-bp interval. CpGs were tested for enhancer effects in immortalised chondrocytes using a reporter gene assay. DNA methylation at the locus was altered using targeted epigenome editing, with the impact on gene expression determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS rs11732213 genotype correlated with DNA methylation at nine CpGs, which formed a differentially methylated region (DMR), with the osteoarthritis risk allele T corresponding to reduced levels of methylation. The DMR acted as an enhancer and demethylation of the CpGs altered expression of TMEM129. Allelic imbalance in TMEM129 expression was identified in cartilage, with under-expression of the risk allele. CONCLUSIONS TMEM129 is a target of osteoarthritis genetic risk at this locus. Genotype at rs11732213 impacts DNA methylation at the enhancer, which, in turn, modulates TMEM129 expression. TMEM129 encodes an enzyme involved in protein degradation within the endoplasmic reticulum, a process previously implicated in osteoarthritis. TMEM129 is a compelling osteoarthritis susceptibility target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abby Brumwell
- Newcastle University, Biosciences Institute, International Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Guillaume Aubourg
- Newcastle University, Biosciences Institute, International Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Juhel Hussain
- Newcastle University, Biosciences Institute, International Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Eleanor Parker
- Newcastle University, Biosciences Institute, International Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - David J Deehan
- Freeman Hospital, Newcastle University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Sarah J Rice
- Newcastle University, Biosciences Institute, International Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - John Loughlin
- Newcastle University, Biosciences Institute, International Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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Lycium barbarum polysaccharide modulates gut microbiota to alleviate rheumatoid arthritis in a rat model. NPJ Sci Food 2022; 6:34. [PMID: 35864275 PMCID: PMC9304368 DOI: 10.1038/s41538-022-00149-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) seriously impairs the quality of life of sufferers. It has been shown that Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP), a natural active indigestible ingredient with medicinal and edible functions, can effectively relieve RA, however, whether this effect is related to gut microbiota is not known. This study aimed to explore the RA alleviating mechanism of LBP mediated by gut microbiota using a collagen-induced arthritis rat model. The results showed that LBP significantly changed the gut microflora structure accompanied with the RA alleviation. Specifically, a LBP intervention reduced the relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and uncultured_bacterium_f_Ruminococcaceae and significantly increased the abundance of Romboutsia, Lactobacillus, Dubosiella and Faecalibaculum. The mRNA contents of several colonic epithelial genes including Dpep3, Gstm6, Slc27a2, Col11a2, Sycp2, SNORA22, Tnni1, Gpnmb, Mypn and Acsl6, which are potentially associated to RA, were down-regulated due to the DNA hypermethylation, possibly caused by the elevating content of a bacterial metabolite S-adenosyl methionine (SAM). In conclusion, our current study suggests that LBP alleviated RA by reshaping the composition of intestinal microflora which may generate SAM, inducing DNA hypermethylation of RA-related genes in the host intestinal epithelium and subsequently reducing their expression.
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19
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Cai Z, Long T, Zhao Y, Lin R, Wang Y. Epigenetic Regulation in Knee Osteoarthritis. Front Genet 2022; 13:942982. [PMID: 35873487 PMCID: PMC9304589 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.942982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a complicated disease with both hereditary and environmental causes. Despite an increase in reports of possible OA risk loci, it has become clear that genetics is not the sole cause of osteoarthritis. Epigenetics, which can be triggered by environmental influences and result in transcriptional alterations, may have a role in OA pathogenesis. The majority of recent research on the epigenetics of OA has been focused on DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNAs. However, this study will explore epigenetic regulation in OA at the present stage. How genetics, environmental variables, and epigenetics interact will be researched, shedding light for future studies. Their possible interaction and control processes open up new avenues for the development of innovative osteoarthritis treatment and diagnostic techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Teng Long
- *Correspondence: Teng Long, ; You Wang,
| | | | | | - You Wang
- *Correspondence: Teng Long, ; You Wang,
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20
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Kreitmaier P, Suderman M, Southam L, Coutinho de Almeida R, Hatzikotoulas K, Meulenbelt I, Steinberg J, Relton CL, Wilkinson JM, Zeggini E. An epigenome-wide view of osteoarthritis in primary tissues. Am J Hum Genet 2022; 109:1255-1271. [PMID: 35679866 PMCID: PMC9300761 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2022.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteoarthritis is a complex degenerative joint disease. Here, we investigate matched genotype and methylation profiles of primary chondrocytes from macroscopically intact (low-grade) and degraded (high-grade) osteoarthritis cartilage and from synoviocytes collected from 98 osteoarthritis-affected individuals undergoing knee replacement surgery. We perform an epigenome-wide association study of knee cartilage degeneration and report robustly replicating methylation markers, which reveal an etiologic mechanism linked to the migration of epithelial cells. Using machine learning, we derive methylation models of cartilage degeneration, which we validate with 82% accuracy in independent data. We report a genome-wide methylation quantitative trait locus (mQTL) map of articular cartilage and synovium and identify 18 disease-grade-specific mQTLs in osteoarthritis cartilage. We resolve osteoarthritis GWAS loci through causal inference and colocalization analyses and decipher the epigenetic mechanisms that mediate the effect of genotype on disease risk. Together, our findings provide enhanced insights into epigenetic mechanisms underlying osteoarthritis in primary tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kreitmaier
- Institute of Translational Genomics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; Graduate School of Experimental Medicine, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Matthew Suderman
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Lorraine Southam
- Institute of Translational Genomics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Rodrigo Coutinho de Almeida
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Section Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Konstantinos Hatzikotoulas
- Institute of Translational Genomics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Ingrid Meulenbelt
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Section Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Julia Steinberg
- Institute of Translational Genomics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; The Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, a Joint Venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, NSW 1340, Australia
| | - Caroline L Relton
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK
| | - J Mark Wilkinson
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK.
| | - Eleftheria Zeggini
- Institute of Translational Genomics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich and Klinikum Rechts der Isar, 81675 Munich, Germany.
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21
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Gomez-Picos P, Ovens K, Eames BF. Limb Mesoderm and Head Ectomesenchyme Both Express a Core Transcriptional Program During Chondrocyte Differentiation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:876825. [PMID: 35784462 PMCID: PMC9247276 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.876825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
To explain how cartilage appeared in different parts of the vertebrate body at discrete times during evolution, we hypothesize that different embryonic populations co-opted expression of a core gene regulatory network (GRN) driving chondrocyte differentiation. To test this hypothesis, laser-capture microdissection coupled with RNA-seq was used to reveal chondrocyte transcriptomes in the developing chick humerus and ceratobranchial, which are mesoderm- and neural crest-derived, respectively. During endochondral ossification, two general types of chondrocytes differentiate. Immature chondrocytes (IMM) represent the early stages of cartilage differentiation, while mature chondrocytes (MAT) undergo additional stages of differentiation, including hypertrophy and stimulating matrix mineralization and degradation. Venn diagram analyses generally revealed a high degree of conservation between chondrocyte transcriptomes of the limb and head, including SOX9, COL2A1, and ACAN expression. Typical maturation genes, such as COL10A1, IBSP, and SPP1, were upregulated in MAT compared to IMM in both limb and head chondrocytes. Gene co-expression network (GCN) analyses of limb and head chondrocyte transcriptomes estimated the core GRN governing cartilage differentiation. Two discrete portions of the GCN contained genes that were differentially expressed in limb or head chondrocytes, but these genes were enriched for biological processes related to limb/forelimb morphogenesis or neural crest-dependent processes, respectively, perhaps simply reflecting the embryonic origin of the cells. A core GRN driving cartilage differentiation in limb and head was revealed that included typical chondrocyte differentiation and maturation markers, as well as putative novel "chondrocyte" genes. Conservation of a core transcriptional program during chondrocyte differentiation in both the limb and head suggest that the same core GRN was co-opted when cartilage appeared in different regions of the skeleton during vertebrate evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patsy Gomez-Picos
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Katie Ovens
- Department of Computer Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - B. Frank Eames
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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22
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Aubourg G, Rice SJ, Bruce-Wootton P, Loughlin J. Genetics of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2022; 30:636-649. [PMID: 33722698 PMCID: PMC9067452 DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2021.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Osteoarthritis genetics has been transformed in the past decade through the application of large-scale genome-wide association scans. So far, over 100 polymorphic DNA variants have been associated with this common and complex disease. These genetic risk variants account for over 20% of osteoarthritis heritability and the vast majority map to non-protein coding regions of the genome where they are presumed to act by regulating the expression of target genes. Statistical fine mapping, in silico analyses of genomics data, and laboratory-based functional studies have enabled the identification of some of these targets, which encode proteins with diverse roles, including extracellular signaling molecules, intracellular enzymes, transcription factors, and cytoskeletal proteins. A large number of the risk variants correlate with epigenetic factors, in particular cartilage DNA methylation changes in cis, implying that epigenetics may be a conduit through which genetic effects on gene expression are mediated. Some of the variants also appear to have been selected as humans adapted to bipedalism, suggesting that a proportion of osteoarthritis genetic susceptibility results from antagonistic pleiotropy, with risk variants having a positive role in joint formation but a negative role in the long-term health of the joint. Although data from an osteoarthritis genetic study has not yet directly led to a novel treatment, some of the osteoarthritis associated genes code for proteins that have available therapeutics. Genetic investigations are therefore revealing fascinating fundamental insights into osteoarthritis and can expose options for translational intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Aubourg
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - S J Rice
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - P Bruce-Wootton
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - J Loughlin
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
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23
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Huan C, Gao J. Insight into the potential pathogenesis of human osteoarthritis via single-cell RNA sequencing data on osteoblasts. MATHEMATICAL BIOSCIENCES AND ENGINEERING : MBE 2022; 19:6344-6361. [PMID: 35603405 DOI: 10.3934/mbe.2022297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease caused by osteoblastic lineage cells. However, a comprehensive molecular program for osteoblasts in human OA remains underdeveloped. The single-cell gene expression of osteoblasts and microRNA array data were from human. After processing the single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data, it was subjected to principal component analysis (PCA) and T-Stochastic neighbor embedding analysis (TSNE). Differential expression analysis was aimed to find marker genes. Gene-ontology (GO) enrichment, Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis and Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were applied to characterize the molecular function of osteoblasts with marker genes. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks and core module were established for marker genes by using the STRING database and Cytoscape software. All nodes in the core module were considered to be hub genes. Subsequently, we predicted the potential miRNA of hub genes through the miRWalk, miRDB and TargetScan database and experimentally verified the miRNA by GSE105027. Finally, miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was constructed using the Cytoscape software. We characterized the single-cell expression profiling of 4387 osteoblasts from normal and OA sample. The proportion of osteoblasts subpopulations changed dramatically in the OA, with 70.42% of the pre-osteoblasts. 117 marker genes were included and the results of GO analysis show that up-regulated marker genes enriched in collagen-containing extracellular matrix were highly expressed in the pre-osteoblasts cluster. Both KEGG and GSEA analyses results indicated that IL-17 and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways were enriched in down-regulated marker genes. We visualize the weight of marker genes and constructed the core module in PPI network. In potential mRNA-miRNA regulatory network, hsa-miR-449a and hsa-miR-218-5p may be involved in the development of OA. Our study found that alterations in osteoblasts state and cellular molecular function in the subchondral bone region may be involved in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changxiang Huan
- Zhongshan Clinical Collage of Dalian University, Dalian 116000, China
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24
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Wang Y, Meng F, Wu J, Long H, Li J, Wu Z, He H, Wang H, Wang N, Xie D. Associations between adipokines gene polymorphisms and knee osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2022; 23:166. [PMID: 35193537 PMCID: PMC8864815 DOI: 10.1186/s12891-022-05111-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Adipokines gene polymorphisms are speculated to be associated with the risk of knee osteoarthritis (OA), but evidence remains conflicting. This study therefore aimed to examine whether associations exist between adipokines gene polymorphisms and knee OA by considering the evidence collected from eligible studies through a meta-analysis. Methods A systematic search was performed on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang up to March 31, 2020. Meta-analysis was carried out by focusing on the associations between adipokines gene polymorphisms and knee OA with the allele model, dominant model, and recessive model. Results The present meta-analysis included 5 eligible studies for ADIPOQ rs1501299 with 1,021 cases and 1,097 controls, 3 eligible studies for ADIPOQ rs2241766 with 549 cases and 544 controls, 3 eligible studies for LEPR rs1137101 with 808 cases and 856 controls, 2 eligible studies for VISFATIN rs4730153 with 339 cases and 680 controls and 2 eligible studies for VISFATIN rs16872158 with 339 cases and 680 controls. Significant association was observed between LEPR rs1137101 and knee OA in the overall population (recessive: OR = 0.40, 95% CI 0.21–0.79). Limited data revealed that associations may exist between ADIPOQ rs2241766 and knee OA in Asians (dominant: OR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.03–1.78), between VISFATIN rs4730153 and knee OA in Asians (allele: OR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.41–0.83; dominant: OR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.39–0.83), and between VISFATIN rs16872158 and knee OA in Asians (allele: OR = 1.84, 95% CI 1.26–2.68; dominant: OR = 1.94, 95% CI 1.31–2.89). Conclusions Adipokines gene polymorphisms may be associated with knee OA. The association was observed in LEPR rs1137101 in the present study. In addition, limited data revealed that associations may also exist in ADIPOQ rs2241766, VISFATIN rs4730153 and VISFATIN rs16872158. Prospero registration CRD42020187664. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12891-022-05111-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Fanqiang Meng
- Department of Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jing Wu
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Joint Degeneration and Injury, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Huizhong Long
- Department of Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jiatian Li
- Department of Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Ziying Wu
- Department of Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hongyi He
- Department of Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Haochen Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Ning Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Dongxing Xie
- Department of Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,Hunan Key Laboratory of Joint Degeneration and Injury, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China. .,Hunan Engineering Research Center for Osteoarthritis, Changsha, China. .,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
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25
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Rego-Pérez I, Durán-Sotuela A, Ramos-Louro P, Blanco FJ. Genetic biomarkers in osteoarthritis: a quick overview. Fac Rev 2022; 10:78. [PMID: 35028644 PMCID: PMC8725648 DOI: 10.12703/r/10-78] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic musculoskeletal disease with a polygenic and heterogeneous nature. In addition, when clinical manifestations appear, the evolution of the disease is usually already irreversible. Therefore, the efforts on OA research are focused mainly on the discovery of therapeutic targets and reliable biomarkers that permit the early identification of different OA-related parameters such as diagnosis, prognosis, or phenotype identification. To date, potential candidate protein biomarkers have been associated with different aspects of the disease; however, there is currently no gold standard. In this sense, genomic data could act as complementary biomarkers of diagnosis and prognosis or even help to identify therapeutic targets of the disease. In this review, we will describe the most recent advances in genetic biomarkers in OA over the past three years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Rego-Pérez
- Unidad de Genómica. Grupo de Investigación en Reumatología (GIR). Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña (CHUAC), Sergas. Universidade da Coruña (UDC). C/ As Xubias de Arriba 84, 15006, A Coruña, España
| | - Alejandro Durán-Sotuela
- Unidad de Genómica. Grupo de Investigación en Reumatología (GIR). Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña (CHUAC), Sergas. Universidade da Coruña (UDC). C/ As Xubias de Arriba 84, 15006, A Coruña, España
| | - Paula Ramos-Louro
- Unidad de Genómica. Grupo de Investigación en Reumatología (GIR). Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña (CHUAC), Sergas. Universidade da Coruña (UDC). C/ As Xubias de Arriba 84, 15006, A Coruña, España
| | - Francisco J Blanco
- Unidad de Genómica. Grupo de Investigación en Reumatología (GIR). Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña (CHUAC), Sergas. Universidade da Coruña (UDC). C/ As Xubias de Arriba 84, 15006, A Coruña, España
- Universidade da Coruña (UDC), Grupo de Investigación en Reumatología y Salud. Departamento de Fisioterapia, Medicina y Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Fisioterapia, Campus de Oza, 15008, A Coruña, España
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26
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Singh P, Wang M, Mukherjee P, Lessard SG, Pannellini T, Carballo CB, Rodeo SA, Goldring MB, Otero M. Transcriptomic and epigenomic analyses uncovered Lrrc15 as a contributing factor to cartilage damage in osteoarthritis. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21107. [PMID: 34702854 PMCID: PMC8548547 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00269-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In osteoarthritis (OA), articular chondrocytes display phenotypic and functional changes associated with epigenomic alterations. These changes contribute to the disease progression, which is characterized by dysregulated reparative processes and abnormal extracellular matrix remodeling leading to cartilage degradation. Recent studies using a murine model of posttraumatic OA highlighted the contribution of changes in DNA hydroxymethylation (5hmC) to OA progression. Here, we integrated transcriptomic and epigenomic analyses in cartilage after induction of OA to show that the structural progression of OA is accompanied by early transcriptomic and pronounced DNA methylation (5mC) changes in chondrocytes. These changes accumulate over time and are associated with recapitulation of developmental processes, including cartilage development, chondrocyte hypertrophy, and ossification. Our integrative analyses also uncovered that Lrrc15 is differentially methylated and expressed in OA cartilage, and that it may contribute to the functional and phenotypic alterations of chondrocytes, likely coordinating stress responses and dysregulated extracellular matrix remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Purva Singh
- Hospital for Special Surgery, HSS Research Institute, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Mengying Wang
- Hospital for Special Surgery, HSS Research Institute, New York, NY, 10021, USA.,School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China
| | | | - Samantha G Lessard
- Hospital for Special Surgery, HSS Research Institute, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Tania Pannellini
- Hospital for Special Surgery, HSS Research Institute, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Camila B Carballo
- Hospital for Special Surgery, HSS Research Institute, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Scott A Rodeo
- Hospital for Special Surgery, HSS Research Institute, New York, NY, 10021, USA.,Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Mary B Goldring
- Hospital for Special Surgery, HSS Research Institute, New York, NY, 10021, USA.,Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Miguel Otero
- Hospital for Special Surgery, HSS Research Institute, New York, NY, 10021, USA. .,Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10021, USA. .,Hospital for Special Surgery, Orthopedic Soft Tissue Research Program, HSS Research Institute, Room 603, 535 East 70th Street, New York, NY, 10021, USA.
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27
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Scherer M, Gasparoni G, Rahmouni S, Shashkova T, Arnoux M, Louis E, Nostaeva A, Avalos D, Dermitzakis ET, Aulchenko YS, Lengauer T, Lyons PA, Georges M, Walter J. Identification of tissue-specific and common methylation quantitative trait loci in healthy individuals using MAGAR. Epigenetics Chromatin 2021; 14:44. [PMID: 34530905 PMCID: PMC8444396 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-021-00415-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Understanding the influence of genetic variants on DNA methylation is fundamental for the interpretation of epigenomic data in the context of disease. There is a need for systematic approaches not only for determining methylation quantitative trait loci (methQTL), but also for discriminating general from cell type-specific effects. Results Here, we present a two-step computational framework MAGAR (https://bioconductor.org/packages/MAGAR), which fully supports the identification of methQTLs from matched genotyping and DNA methylation data, and additionally allows for illuminating cell type-specific methQTL effects. In a pilot analysis, we apply MAGAR on data in four tissues (ileum, rectum, T cells, B cells) from healthy individuals and demonstrate the discrimination of common from cell type-specific methQTLs. We experimentally validate both types of methQTLs in an independent data set comprising additional cell types and tissues. Finally, we validate selected methQTLs located in the PON1, ZNF155, and NRG2 genes by ultra-deep local sequencing. In line with previous reports, we find cell type-specific methQTLs to be preferentially located in enhancer elements. Conclusions Our analysis demonstrates that a systematic analysis of methQTLs provides important new insights on the influences of genetic variants to cell type-specific epigenomic variation. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13072-021-00415-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Scherer
- Department of Genetics/Epigenetics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany.,Computational Biology, Max Planck Institute for Informatics, Saarland Informatics Campus, Saarbrücken, Germany.,Graduate School of Computer Science, Saarland Informatics Campus, Saarbrücken, Germany.,Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, Centre for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gilles Gasparoni
- Department of Genetics/Epigenetics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Souad Rahmouni
- Unit of Animal Genomics, GIGA-Institute & Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Tatiana Shashkova
- Kurchatov Genomics Center of the Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Research and Training Center on Bioinformatics, A.A. Kharkevich Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Moscow, Russia
| | - Marion Arnoux
- Department of Genetics/Epigenetics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Edouard Louis
- Department of Gastroenterology, Liège University Hospital, CHU Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | | | - Diana Avalos
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB), University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Institute of Genetics and Genomics in Geneva, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Emmanouil T Dermitzakis
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB), University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Institute of Genetics and Genomics in Geneva, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Yurii S Aulchenko
- Kurchatov Genomics Center of the Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Moscow, Russia.,PolyKnomics BV, 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Lengauer
- Computational Biology, Max Planck Institute for Informatics, Saarland Informatics Campus, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Paul A Lyons
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.,Cambridge Institute for Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Michel Georges
- Unit of Animal Genomics, GIGA-Institute & Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Jörn Walter
- Department of Genetics/Epigenetics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany.
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28
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Kehayova YS, Watson E, Wilkinson JM, Loughlin J, Rice SJ. Genetic and Epigenetic Interplay Within a COLGALT2 Enhancer Associated With Osteoarthritis. Arthritis Rheumatol 2021; 73:1856-1865. [PMID: 33760386 DOI: 10.1002/art.41738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The osteoarthritis (OA)-associated single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs11583641 is located in COLGALT2, encoding a posttranslational modifier of collagen. In cartilage, the SNP genotype correlates with DNA methylation in a putative enhancer. This study was undertaken to characterize the mechanistic relationship between rs11583641, the putative enhancer, and COLGALT2 expression using cartilage samples from human patients and a chondrocyte cell model. METHODS Nucleic acids were extracted from articular cartilage samples obtained from patients with OA (n = 137). Samples were genotyped, and DNA methylation was quantified at 12 CpGs using pyrosequencing. The putative enhancer was deleted in Tc28a2 chondrocytes using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat/Cas9, and the impact on nearby gene expression was determined using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Targeted modulation of the epigenome using catalytically dead Cas9 (dCas9) constructs fused to DNA methyltransferase 3a or ten-eleven translocase 1 allowed for the investigation of a causal relationship between DNA methylation and enhancer activity. RESULTS The genotype at rs11583641 correlated with DNA methylation at 3 CpGs, and the presence of the OA risk allele, C, corresponded to reduced levels of methylation. Deletion of the enhancer resulted in a 2.7-fold reduction in COLGALT2 expression. Targeted methylation and demethylation of the CpGs had antagonistic effects on COLGALT2 expression. An allelic imbalance in the expression of COLGALT2 was identified in the cartilage from patients with OA, with relative overexpression of the OA risk allele. Allelic expression ratios correlated with DNA methylation at 4 CpGs. CONCLUSION COLGALT2 is a target of OA genetic risk at this locus. The genotype at rs11583641 impacts DNA methylation in a gene enhancer, which, in turn, modulates COLGALT2 expression. COLGALT2 encodes an enzyme that initiates posttranslational glycosylation of collagens and is therefore a compelling OA susceptibility target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulia S Kehayova
- International Centre for Life and Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK, and MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing and University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Emily Watson
- International Centre for Life and Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK, and MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing and University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - J Mark Wilkinson
- University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK, and MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing and University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - John Loughlin
- International Centre for Life and Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK, and MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing and University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Sarah J Rice
- International Centre for Life and Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK, and MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing and University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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29
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Rice SJ, Roberts JB, Tselepi M, Brumwell A, Falk J, Steven C, Loughlin J. Genetic and Epigenetic Fine-Tuning of TGFB1 Expression Within the Human Osteoarthritic Joint. Arthritis Rheumatol 2021; 73:1866-1877. [PMID: 33760378 DOI: 10.1002/art.41736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Osteoarthritis (OA) is an age-related disease characterized by articular cartilage degeneration. It is largely heritable, and genetic screening has identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) marking genomic risk loci. One such locus is marked by the G>A SNP rs75621460, downstream of TGFB1. This gene encodes transforming growth factor β1, the correct expression of which is essential for cartilage maintenance. This study investigated the regulatory activity of rs75621460 to characterize its impact on TGFB1 expression in disease-relevant patient samples (n = 319) and in Tc28a2 immortalized chondrocytes. METHODS Articular cartilage samples from human patients were genotyped, and DNA methylation levels were quantified using pyrosequencing. Gene reporter and electrophoretic mobility shift assays were used to determine differential nuclear protein binding to the region. The functional impact of DNA methylation on TGFB1 expression was tested using targeted epigenome editing. RESULTS The analyses showed that SNP rs75621460 was located within a TGFB1 enhancer region, and the OA risk allele A altered transcription factor binding, with decreased enhancer activity. Protein complexes binding to A (but not G) induced DNA methylation at flanking CG dinucleotides. Strong correlations between patient DNA methylation levels and TGFB1 expression were observed, with directly opposing effects in the cartilage and the synovium at this locus. This demonstrated biologic pleiotropy in the impact of the SNP within different tissues of the articulating joint. CONCLUSION The OA risk SNP rs75621460 impacts TGFB1 expression by modulating the function of a gene enhancer. We propose a mechanism by which the SNP impacts enhancer function, providing novel biologic insight into one mechanism of OA genetic risk, which may facilitate the development of future pharmacologic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Rice
- Newcastle University and International Centre for Life, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
| | - Jack B Roberts
- Newcastle University and International Centre for Life, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
| | - Maria Tselepi
- Newcastle University and International Centre for Life, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
| | - Abby Brumwell
- Newcastle University and International Centre for Life, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
| | - Julia Falk
- Newcastle University and International Centre for Life, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
| | - Charlotte Steven
- Newcastle University and International Centre for Life, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
| | - John Loughlin
- Newcastle University and International Centre for Life, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
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30
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Ratneswaran A, Kapoor M. Osteoarthritis year in review: genetics, genomics, epigenetics. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2021; 29:151-160. [PMID: 33227439 DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2020.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In this review, we have highlighted advances in genetics, genomics and epigenetics in the field of osteoarthritis (OA) over the past year. METHODS A literature search was performed using PubMed and the criteria: "osteoarthritis" and one of the following terms "genetic(s), genomic(s), epigenetic(s), epigenomic(s), noncoding RNA, microRNA, long noncoding RNA, lncRNA, circular RNA, RNA sequencing, single cell sequencing, or DNA methylation between April 1, 2019 and April 30, 2020. RESULTS We identified 653 unique publications, many studies spanned multiple search terms. We summarized advances relating to evolutionary genetics, pain, ethnicity specific risk factors, functional studies of gene variants, and interactions between coding and non-coding RNAs in OA pathogenesis. CONCLUSIONS Studies have identified variants contributing to OA susceptibility, candidate biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis, as well as promising therapeutic candidates. Validation in multiple cohorts, multi-omics strategies, and machine learning aided computational analyses have all contributed to the strength of published literature. Open access data-sets, greater sample sizes to capture broader populations and understanding disease mechanisms by investigating the interactions between multiple tissue types will further aid in progress towards understanding and curing OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Ratneswaran
- Schroeder Arthritis Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - M Kapoor
- Schroeder Arthritis Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Osteoarthritis is a heterogeneous, multifactorial condition regulated by complex biological interactions at multiple levels. Comprehensive understanding of these regulatory interactions is required to develop feasible advances to improve patient outcomes. Improvements in technology have made extensive genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic, proteomic, and metabolomic profiling possible. This review summarizes findings over the past 20 months related to omics technologies in osteoarthritis and examines how using a multiomics approach is necessary for advancing our understanding of osteoarthritis as a disease to improve precision osteoarthritis treatments. RECENT FINDINGS Using the search terms 'genomics' or 'transcriptomics' or 'epigenomics' or 'proteomics' or 'metabolomics' and 'osteoarthritis' from January 1, 2018 to August 31, 2019, we identified advances in omics approaches applied to osteoarthritis. Trends include untargeted whole genome, transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome analyses leading to identification of novel molecular signatures, cell subpopulations and multiomics validation approaches. SUMMARY To address the complexity of osteoarthritis, integration of multitissue analyses by multiomics approaches with the inclusion of longitudinal clinical data is necessary for a comprehensive understanding of the disease process, and for appropriate development of efficacious diagnostics, prognostics, and biotherapeutics.
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Parker E, Hofer IMJ, Rice SJ, Earl L, Anjum SA, Deehan DJ, Loughlin J. Multi‐Tissue Epigenetic and Gene Expression Analysis Combined With Epigenome Modulation Identifies
RWDD2B
as a Target of Osteoarthritis Susceptibility. Arthritis Rheumatol 2020; 73:100-109. [DOI: 10.1002/art.41473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Lucy Earl
- Newcastle University Newcastle upon Tyne UK
| | | | - David J. Deehan
- Newcastle University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Freeman Hospital Newcastle‐upon‐Tyne UK
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Sorial AK, Hofer IMJ, Tselepi M, Cheung K, Parker E, Deehan DJ, Rice SJ, Loughlin J. Multi-tissue epigenetic analysis of the osteoarthritis susceptibility locus mapping to the plectin gene PLEC. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2020; 28:1448-1458. [PMID: 32580029 PMCID: PMC7594932 DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2020.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In cartilage, the osteoarthritis (OA) associated single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs11780978 correlates with differential expression of PLEC, and with differential methylation of PLEC CpG dinucleotides, forming eQTLs and mQTLs respectively. This implies that methylation links chondrocyte genotype and phenotype, thus driving the functional effect of this genetic risk signal. PLEC encodes plectin, a cytoskeletal protein that enables tissues to respond to mechanical forces. We sought to assess whether these PLEC functional effects were cartilage specific. METHOD Cartilage, fat pad, synovium and peripheral blood were collected from patients undergoing arthroplasty. PLEC CpGs were analysed for mQTLs and allelic expression imbalance (AEI) was performed to test for eQTLs. Plectin was knocked down in a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) line using CRISPR/Cas9 and cells phenotyped by RNA-sequencing. RESULTS mQTLs were discovered in fat pad, synovium and blood. Their effects were however stronger in the joint tissues and of comparable effect between these tissues. We observed AEI in synovium in the same direction as for cartilage and correlations between methylation and PLEC expression. Knocking-down plectin impacted on pathways reported to have a role in OA, including Wnt signalling, glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis and immune regulation. CONCLUSIONS Synovium is also a target of the rs11780978 OA association functionally operating on PLEC. In fat pad, mQTLs were identified but these did not correlate with PLEC expression, suggesting the functional effect is not joint-wide. Our study highlights interplay between genetic risk, DNA methylation and gene expression in OA, and reveals clear differences between tissues from the same diseased joint.
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MESH Headings
- Adipose Tissue/metabolism
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Arthroplasty, Replacement
- CRISPR-Cas Systems
- Cartilage, Articular/metabolism
- Cell Line
- Chondrocytes/metabolism
- CpG Islands
- DNA Methylation
- Epigenesis, Genetic
- Female
- Gene Expression
- Gene Knockdown Techniques
- Genetic Predisposition to Disease
- Glycosaminoglycans/biosynthesis
- Humans
- Male
- Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism
- Middle Aged
- Osteoarthritis, Hip/blood
- Osteoarthritis, Hip/genetics
- Osteoarthritis, Hip/metabolism
- Osteoarthritis, Hip/surgery
- Osteoarthritis, Knee/blood
- Osteoarthritis, Knee/genetics
- Osteoarthritis, Knee/metabolism
- Osteoarthritis, Knee/surgery
- Plectin/blood
- Plectin/genetics
- Plectin/metabolism
- Quantitative Trait Loci
- Sequence Analysis, RNA
- Synovial Membrane/metabolism
- Wnt Signaling Pathway/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- A K Sorial
- Newcastle University, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
| | - I M J Hofer
- Newcastle University, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
| | - M Tselepi
- Newcastle University, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
| | - K Cheung
- Newcastle University, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
| | - E Parker
- Newcastle University, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
| | - D J Deehan
- Freeman Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
| | - S J Rice
- Newcastle University, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
| | - J Loughlin
- Newcastle University, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
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Rice SJ, Beier F, Young DA, Loughlin J. Interplay between genetics and epigenetics in osteoarthritis. Nat Rev Rheumatol 2020; 16:268-281. [PMID: 32273577 DOI: 10.1038/s41584-020-0407-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Research into the molecular genetics of osteoarthritis (OA) has been substantially bolstered in the past few years by the implementation of powerful genome-wide scans that have revealed a large number of novel risk loci associated with the disease. This refreshing wave of discovery has occurred concurrently with epigenetic studies of joint tissues that have examined DNA methylation, histone modifications and regulatory RNAs. These epigenetic analyses have involved investigations of joint development, homeostasis and disease and have used both human samples and animal models. What has become apparent from a comparison of these two complementary approaches is that many OA genetic risk signals interact with, map to or correlate with epigenetic mediators. This discovery implies that epigenetic mechanisms, and their effect on gene expression, are a major conduit through which OA genetic risk polymorphisms exert their functional effects. This observation is particularly exciting as it provides mechanistic insight into OA susceptibility. Furthermore, this knowledge reveals avenues for attenuating the negative effect of risk-conferring alleles by exposing the epigenome as an exploitable target for therapeutic intervention in OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Rice
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Frank Beier
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.,Western Bone and Joint Institute, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - David A Young
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - John Loughlin
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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