1
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Hermans L, O’Sullivan TE. No time to die: Epigenetic regulation of natural killer cell survival. Immunol Rev 2024; 323:61-79. [PMID: 38426615 PMCID: PMC11102341 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13314] [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] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
NK cells are short-lived innate lymphocytes that can mediate antigen-independent responses to infection and cancer. However, studies from the past two decades have shown that NK cells can acquire transcriptional and epigenetic modifications during inflammation that result in increased survival and lifespan. These findings blur the lines between the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system, and suggest that the homeostatic mechanisms that govern the persistence of innate immune cells are malleable. Indeed, recent studies have shown that NK cells undergo continuous and strictly regulated adaptations controlling their survival during development, tissue residency, and following inflammation. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the critical factors regulating NK cell survival throughout their lifespan, with a specific emphasis on the epigenetic modifications that regulate the survival of NK cells in various contexts. A precise understanding of the molecular mechanisms that govern NK cell survival will be important to enhance therapies for cancer and infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leen Hermans
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Timothy E. O’Sullivan
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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2
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Karmakar S, Mishra A, Pal P, Lal G. Effector and cytolytic function of natural killer cells in anticancer immunity. J Leukoc Biol 2024; 115:235-252. [PMID: 37818891 DOI: 10.1093/jleuko/qiad126] [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: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Adaptive immune cells play an important role in mounting antigen-specific antitumor immunity. The contribution of innate immune cells such as monocytes, macrophages, natural killer (NK) cells, dendritic cells, and gamma-delta T cells is well studied in cancer immunology. NK cells are innate lymphoid cells that show effector and regulatory function in a contact-dependent and contact-independent manner. The cytotoxic function of NK cells plays an important role in killing the infected and transformed host cells and controlling infection and tumor growth. However, several studies have also ascribed the role of NK cells in inducing pathophysiology in autoimmune diseases, promoting immune tolerance in the uterus, and antitumor function in the tumor microenvironment. We discuss the fundamentals of NK cell biology, its distribution in different organs, cellular and molecular interactions, and its cytotoxic and noncytotoxic functions in cancer biology. We also highlight the use of NK cell-based adoptive cellular therapy in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surojit Karmakar
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Tolerance, National Centre for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind, Pune, MH-411007, India
| | - Amrita Mishra
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Tolerance, National Centre for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind, Pune, MH-411007, India
| | - Pradipta Pal
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Tolerance, National Centre for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind, Pune, MH-411007, India
| | - Girdhari Lal
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Tolerance, National Centre for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind, Pune, MH-411007, India
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3
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Onodera Y, Liang J, Li Y, Griffin B, Thanabalasingam T, Lu C, Zhu J, Liu M, Moraes T, Zheng W, Khateeb J, Khang J, Huang Y, Jerkic M, Nakane M, Baker A, Orser B, Chen YW, Wirnsberger G, Penninger JM, Rotstein OD, Slutsky AS, Li Y, Mubareka S, Zhang H. Inhalation of ACE2 as a therapeutic target on sex-bias differences in SARS-CoV-2 infection and variant of concern. iScience 2023; 26:107470. [PMID: 37609639 PMCID: PMC10440513 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite similar infection rates, COVID-19 has resulted in more deaths in men than women. To understand the underlying mechanisms behind this sex-biased difference in disease severity, we infected K18-human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) mice of both sexes with SARS-CoV-2. Our study revealed a unique protein expression profile in the lung microenvironment of female mice. As a result, they were less vulnerable to severe infection, with higher ACE2 expression and a higher estrogen receptor α (ERα)/androgen receptor (AR) ratio that led to increased antiviral factor levels. In male mice, inhaling recombinant ACE2 neutralized the virus and maintained the ERα/AR ratio, thereby protecting the lungs. Our findings suggest that inhaling recombinant ACE2 could serve as a decoy receptor against SARS-CoV-2 and protect male mice by offsetting ERα-associated protective mechanisms. Additionally, our study supports the potential effectiveness of recombinant ACE2 therapy in human lung organoids infected with the Delta variant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Onodera
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Jady Liang
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Yuchong Li
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bryan Griffin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Thenuka Thanabalasingam
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Cong Lu
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - JiaYi Zhu
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mingyao Liu
- Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Theo Moraes
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Wenhua Zheng
- Faculty of Health Science, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Jasmin Khateeb
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Internal Medicine D, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| | - Julie Khang
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Yongbo Huang
- The State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mirjana Jerkic
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Masaki Nakane
- Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Andrew Baker
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Beverley Orser
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ya-Wen Chen
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York city, NY, USA
| | | | - Josef M. Penninger
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Medical Genetics, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ori D. Rotstein
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Arthur S. Slutsky
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Yimin Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Samira Mubareka
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Haibo Zhang
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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4
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Gärtner C, Fallmann J, Stadler PF, Kaiser T, Berkemer SJ. Toward a Systematic Assessment of Sex Differences in Cystic Fibrosis. J Pers Med 2023; 13:924. [PMID: 37373913 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13060924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a disease with well-documented clinical differences between female and male patients. However, this gender gap is very poorly studied at the molecular level. (2) Methods: Expression differences in whole blood transcriptomics between female and male CF patients are analyzed in order to determine the pathways related to sex-biased genes and assess their potential influence on sex-specific effects in CF patients. (3) Results: We identify sex-biased genes in female and male CF patients and provide explanations for some sex-specific differences at the molecular level. (4) Conclusion: Genes in key pathways associated with CF are differentially expressed between sexes, and thus may account for the gender gap in morbidity and mortality in CF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Gärtner
- Neuromorphic Information Processing, Institute of Computer Science, Leipzig University, Augustusplatz 10, D-04109 Leipzig, Germany
- Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Center of Bioinformatics, Leipzig University, Härtelstraße 16-18, D-04107 Leipzig, Germany
- Academic Department of Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology and Pathobiochemistry, Medical School and University Medical Center East Westphalia-Lippe, Hospital Lippe, Bielefeld University, Röntgenstraße 18, D-32756 Detmold, Germany
| | - Jörg Fallmann
- Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Center of Bioinformatics, Leipzig University, Härtelstraße 16-18, D-04107 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Peter F Stadler
- Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Center of Bioinformatics, Leipzig University, Härtelstraße 16-18, D-04107 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thorsten Kaiser
- Academic Department of Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology and Pathobiochemistry, Medical School and University Medical Center East Westphalia-Lippe, Hospital Lippe, Bielefeld University, Röntgenstraße 18, D-32756 Detmold, Germany
| | - Sarah J Berkemer
- LIX CNRS UMR 7161, Ecole Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91120 Palaiseau, France
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1-I7E-318 Ookayama, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
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5
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Burciu C, Șirli R, Bende R, Popa A, Vuletici D, Miuțescu B, Rațiu I, Popescu A, Sporea I, Dănilă M. A Statistical Approach to the Diagnosis and Prediction of HCC Using CK19 and Glypican 3 Biomarkers. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:diagnostics13071253. [PMID: 37046471 PMCID: PMC10092964 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13071253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Various statistical models predict the probability of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis, with GALAD being one of the most extensively studied scores. Biomarkers like alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), AFP-L3, and des-g-carboxyprothrombin (DCP) are widely used alone or in conjunction with ultrasound to screen for HCC. Our study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Cytokeratin 19 (CK19) and Glypican-3 (GPC3) as standalone biomarkers and in a statistical model to predict the likelihood of HCC. We conducted a monocentric prospective study involving 154 participants with previously diagnosed liver cirrhosis, divided into two groups: 95 patients with confirmed HCC based on clinical, biological, and imaging features and 59 patients without HCC. We measured the levels of AFP, AFP-L3, DCP, GPC3, and CK19 in both groups. We used univariate and multivariate statistical analyses to evaluate the ability of GPC3 and CK19 to predict the presence of HCC and incorporated them into a statistical model—the GALKA score—which was then compared to the GALAD score. AFP performed better than AFP-F3, DCP, GPC3, and CK19 in predicting the presence of HCC in our cohort. Additionally, GPC3 outperformed CK19. We used multivariate analysis to compute the GALKA score to predict the presence of HCC. Using these predictors, the following score was formulated: 0.005*AFP-L3 + 0.00069*AFP + 0.000066*GPC3 + 0.01*CK19 + 0.235*Serum Albumin—0.277. The optimal cutoff was >0.32 (AUROC = 0.98, sensitivity: 96.8%, specificity: 93%, positive predictive value—95.8%, negative predictive value—94.8%). The GALKA score had a similar predictive value to the GALAD score for the presence of HCC. In conclusion, AFP, AFP-L3, and DCP were the best biomarkers for predicting the likelihood of HCC. Our score performed well overall and was comparable to the GALAD score.
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Affiliation(s)
- Călin Burciu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
- Advanced Regional Research Center in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 30041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Roxana Șirli
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
- Advanced Regional Research Center in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 30041 Timisoara, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Renata Bende
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
- Advanced Regional Research Center in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 30041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Alexandru Popa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
- Advanced Regional Research Center in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 30041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Deiana Vuletici
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
- Advanced Regional Research Center in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 30041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Bogdan Miuțescu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
- Advanced Regional Research Center in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 30041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Iulia Rațiu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
- Advanced Regional Research Center in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 30041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Alina Popescu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
- Advanced Regional Research Center in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 30041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Ioan Sporea
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
- Advanced Regional Research Center in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 30041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Mirela Dănilă
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
- Advanced Regional Research Center in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 30041 Timisoara, Romania
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6
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The X-linked epigenetic regulator UTX controls NK cell-intrinsic sex differences. Nat Immunol 2023; 24:780-791. [PMID: 36928413 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-023-01463-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Viral infection outcomes are sex biased, with males generally more susceptible than females. Paradoxically, the numbers of antiviral natural killer (NK) cells are increased in males. We demonstrate that while numbers of NK cells are increased in male mice, they display decreased effector function compared to females in mice and humans. These differences were not solely dependent on gonadal hormones, because they persisted in gonadectomized mice. Kdm6a (which encodes the protein UTX), an epigenetic regulator that escapes X inactivation, was lower in male NK cells, while NK cell-intrinsic UTX deficiency in female mice increased NK cell numbers and reduced effector responses. Furthermore, mice with NK cell-intrinsic UTX deficiency showed increased lethality to mouse cytomegalovirus. Integrative multi-omics analysis revealed a critical role for UTX in regulating chromatin accessibility and gene expression critical for NK cell homeostasis and effector function. Collectively, these data implicate UTX as a critical molecular determinant of sex differences in NK cells.
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7
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The human inactive X chromosome modulates expression of the active X chromosome. CELL GENOMICS 2023; 3:100259. [PMID: 36819663 PMCID: PMC9932992 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2023.100259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
The "inactive" X chromosome (Xi) has been assumed to have little impact, in trans, on the "active" X (Xa). To test this, we quantified Xi and Xa gene expression in individuals with one Xa and zero to three Xis. Our linear modeling revealed modular Xi and Xa transcriptomes and significant Xi-driven expression changes for 38% (162/423) of expressed X chromosome genes. By integrating allele-specific analyses, we found that modulation of Xa transcript levels by Xi contributes to many of these Xi-driven changes (≥121 genes). By incorporating metrics of evolutionary constraint, we identified 10 X chromosome genes most likely to drive sex differences in common disease and sex chromosome aneuploidy syndromes. We conclude that human X chromosomes are regulated both in cis, through Xi-wide transcriptional attenuation, and in trans, through positive or negative modulation of individual Xa genes by Xi. The sum of these cis and trans effects differs widely among genes.
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8
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Cosentino L, Zidda F, Dukal H, Witt SH, De Filippis B, Flor H. Low levels of Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 are accompanied by an increased vulnerability to the negative outcomes of stress exposure during childhood in healthy women. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:506. [PMID: 36481643 PMCID: PMC9731965 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02259-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous mental illnesses arise following stressful events in vulnerable individuals, with females being generally more affected than males. Adverse childhood experiences are known to increase the risk of developing psychopathologies and DNA methylation was demonstrated to drive the long-lasting effects of early life stress and promote stress susceptibility. Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2), an X-linked reader of the DNA methylome, is altered in many mental disorders of stress origin, suggesting MECP2 as a marker of stress susceptibility; previous works also suggest a link between MECP2 and early stress experiences. The present work explored whether a reduced expression of MECP2 is paralleled by an increased vulnerability to the negative outcomes of stress exposure during childhood. To this aim, blood MECP2 mRNA levels were analyzed in 63 people without history of mental disorders and traits pertaining to depressive and anxiety symptom clusters were assessed as proxies of the vulnerability to develop stress-related disorders; stress exposure during childhood was also evaluated. Using structural equation modeling, we demonstrate that reduced MECP2 expression is accompanied by symptoms of anxiety/depression in association with exposure to stress in early life, selectively in healthy women. These results suggest a gender-specific involvement of MECP2 in the maladaptive outcomes of childhood adversities, and shed new light on the complex biology underlying gender bias in stress susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Cosentino
- grid.416651.10000 0000 9120 6856Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy ,grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Francesca Zidda
- grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Helene Dukal
- grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Stephanie H. Witt
- grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Bianca De Filippis
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy.
| | - Herta Flor
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
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9
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Sivitskaya L, Vaikhanskaya T, Danilenko N, Liaudanski A, Davydenko O, Zhelev N. New deletion in LAMP2 causing familial Danon disease. Effect of the X-chromosome inactivation. Folia Med (Plovdiv) 2022; 64:853-862. [PMID: 36876541 DOI: 10.3897/folmed.64.e66292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Danon disease (DD), a rare X-linked genetic illness with a poor prognosis, is caused by a mutation in the lysosome-associated membrane protein 2 gene (LAMP2). Three main clinical features of this pathology are cardiomyopathy, skeletal myopathy, and mental retardation. Most Danon disease mutations create premature stop codons resulting in the decrease or absence of LAMP2 protein.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nina Danilenko
- Institute of Genetics and Cytology, National Academy of Sciences, Minsk, Belarus
| | - Aleh Liaudanski
- Institute of Genetics and Cytology, National Academy of Sciences, Minsk, Belarus
| | - Oleg Davydenko
- Institute of Genetics and Cytology, National Academy of Sciences, Minsk, Belarus
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10
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Pujantell M, Altfeld M. Consequences of sex differences in Type I IFN responses for the regulation of antiviral immunity. Front Immunol 2022; 13:986840. [PMID: 36189206 PMCID: PMC9522975 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.986840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The immune system protects us from pathogens, such as viruses. Antiviral immune mechanisms aim to limit viral replication, and must maintain immunological homeostasis to avoid excessive inflammation and damage to the host. Sex differences in the manifestation and progression of immune-mediated disease point to sex-specific factors modulating antiviral immunity. The exact mechanisms regulating these immunological differences between females and males are still insufficiently understood. Females are known to display stronger Type I IFN responses and are less susceptible to viral infections compared to males, indicating that Type I IFN responses might contribute to the sexual dimorphisms observed in antiviral responses. Here, we review the impact of sex hormones and X chromosome-encoded genes on differences in Type I IFN responses between females and males; and discuss the consequences of sex differences in Type I IFN responses for the regulation of antiviral immune responses.
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11
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Single-cell analysis reveals X upregulation is not global in pre-gastrulation embryos. iScience 2022; 25:104465. [PMID: 35707719 PMCID: PMC9189126 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammals, transcriptional inactivation of one X chromosome in female compensates for the dosage of X-linked gene expression between the sexes. Additionally, it is believed that the upregulation of active X chromosome in male and female balances the dosage of X-linked gene expression relative to autosomal genes, as proposed by Ohno. However, the existence of X chromosome upregulation (XCU) remains controversial. Here, we have profiled gene-wise dynamics of XCU in pre-gastrulation mouse embryos at single-cell level and found that XCU is dynamically linked with X chromosome inactivation (XCI); however, XCU is not global like XCI. Moreover, we show that upregulated genes are enriched with activating marks and have enhanced burst frequency. Finally, our In-silico model predicts that recruitment probabilities of activating factors and a surge of these factors upon X-inactivation trigger XCU. Altogether, our study provides significant insight into the gene-wise dynamics and mechanistic basis of XCU during early development and extends support for Ohno’s hypothesis. X-upregulation coincides with X chromosome inactivation in pre-gastrulation embryos X-upregulation is not chromosome-wide like X-inactivation Upregulated genes have enhanced burst frequency and are enriched with activating marks A surge of activating factors on X-inactivation triggers X-upregulation
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12
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Zografos E, Proikakis SC, Anagnostopoulos AK, Korakiti AM, Zagouri F, Gazouli M, Tsangaris GT. High-throughput Proteomic Profiling of Male Breast Cancer Tissue. Cancer Genomics Proteomics 2022; 19:229-240. [PMID: 35181590 DOI: 10.21873/cgp.20316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Until now, little emphasis has been placed on the protein expression profile of male breast cancer (MBC) tumors, due to the rarity of the disease. The present study aimed to identify a proteomic pattern that is characteristic for malignant male breast tissue epithelium. MATERIALS AND METHODS The protein content of four male breast tumors and corresponding adjacent healthy (control) tissues was analyzed by high-throughput nano-liquid chromatography-MS/MS technology. RESULTS A total of 2,352 proteins were identified, that correspond to 1,249 single gene products, with diverse biological roles. Of those, a panel of 119 differentially expressed tissue proteins was identified in MBC samples compared to controls; 90 were found to be over-expressed in MBC tissues, while 29 were down-regulated. Concurrently, 844 proteins were detected only in MBC tumors and 197 were expressed exclusively in control mammary samples. CONCLUSION Differential proteomic expression was found in MBC tissue, leading to improved understanding of MBC pathology and highlighting the need for personalized management of male patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Zografos
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Laboratory of Biology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece;
| | - Stavros C Proikakis
- Proteomics Research Unit, Center of Basic Research II, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Athanasios K Anagnostopoulos
- Proteomics Research Unit, Center of Basic Research II, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Anna-Maria Korakiti
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Flora Zagouri
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Gazouli
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Laboratory of Biology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - George T Tsangaris
- Proteomics Research Unit, Center of Basic Research II, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
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13
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Rehman S, Ravinayagam V, Nahvi I, Aldossary H, Al-Shammari M, Amiri MSA, Kishore U, Al-Suhaimi EA. Immunity, Sex Hormones, and Environmental Factors as Determinants of COVID-19 Disparity in Women. Front Immunol 2021; 12:680845. [PMID: 34484179 PMCID: PMC8416472 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.680845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has resulted in a major global pandemic, causing extreme morbidity and mortality. Few studies appear to suggest a significant impact of gender in morbidity and mortality, where men are reported at a higher risk than women. The infectivity, transmissibility, and varying degree of disease manifestation (mild, modest, and severe) in population studies reinforce the importance of a number of genetic and epigenetic factors, in the context of immune response and gender. The present review dwells on several contributing factors such as a stronger innate immune response, estrogen, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 gene, and microbiota, which impart greater resistance to the SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease progression in women. In addition, the underlying importance of associated microbiota and certain environmental factors in gender-based disparity pertaining to the mortality and morbidity due to COVID-19 in women has also been addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suriya Rehman
- Department of Epidemic Disease Research, Institute of Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Vijaya Ravinayagam
- Deanship of Scientific Research and Institute of Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Insha Nahvi
- Department of Basic Sciences, Preparatory Year Deanship, King Faisal University, Al Hofuf, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hanan Aldossary
- Department of Epidemic Disease Research, Institute of Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maha Al-Shammari
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mai Saad Al Amiri
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternity and Children Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Uday Kishore
- Biosciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
| | - Ebtesam A. Al-Suhaimi
- Biology Department, College of Science and Institute of Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
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14
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Wang D, Tang L, Wu Y, Fan C, Zhang S, Xiang B, Zhou M, Li X, Li Y, Li G, Xiong W, Zeng Z, Guo C. Abnormal X chromosome inactivation and tumor development. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:2949-2958. [PMID: 32040694 PMCID: PMC11104905 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03469-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
During embryonic development, one of the two X chromosomes of a mammalian female cell is randomly inactivated by the X chromosome inactivation mechanism, which is mainly dependent on the regulation of the non-coding RNA X-inactive specific transcript at the X chromosome inactivation center. There are three proteins that are essential for X-inactive specific transcript to function properly: scaffold attachment factor-A, lamin B receptor, and SMRT- and HDAC-associated repressor protein. In addition, the absence of X-inactive specific transcript expression promotes tumor development. During the process of chromosome inactivation, some tumor suppressor genes escape inactivation of the X chromosome and thereby continue to play a role in tumor suppression. A well-functioning tumor suppressor gene on the idle X chromosome in women is one of the reasons they have a lower propensity to develop cancer than men, women thereby benefit from this enhanced tumor suppression. This review will explore the mechanism of X chromosome inactivation, discuss the relationship between X chromosome inactivation and tumorigenesis, and consider the consequent sex differences in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Wang
- Department of Stomatology, NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Nonresolving Inflammation and Cancer, Disease Genome Research Center, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Le Tang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yingfen Wu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Chunmei Fan
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Shanshan Zhang
- Department of Stomatology, NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Bo Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Ming Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaoling Li
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yong Li
- Department of Medicine, Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Guiyuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Wei Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhaoyang Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Can Guo
- Department of Stomatology, NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Nonresolving Inflammation and Cancer, Disease Genome Research Center, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
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15
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Li Y, Jerkic M, Slutsky AS, Zhang H. Molecular mechanisms of sex bias differences in COVID-19 mortality. CRITICAL CARE : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE CRITICAL CARE FORUM 2020; 24:405. [PMID: 32646459 PMCID: PMC7347256 DOI: 10.1186/s13054-020-03118-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
More men than women have died from COVID-19. Genes encoded on X chromosomes, and sex hormones may explain the decreased fatality of COVID-19 in women. The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 gene is located on X chromosomes. Men, with a single X chromosome, may lack the alternative mechanism for cellular protection after exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Some Toll-like receptors encoded on the X chromosomes can sense SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acids, leading to a stronger innate immunity response in women. Both estrogen and estrogen receptor-α contribute to T cell activation. Interventional approaches including estrogen-related compounds and androgen receptor antagonists may be considered in patients with COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchong Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Mirjana Jerkic
- The Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Anesthesia, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Arthur S Slutsky
- The State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,The Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Haibo Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. .,The Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. .,Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. .,Department of Anesthesia, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. .,Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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16
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Understanding the Landscape of X-linked Variants Causing Intellectual Disability in Females Through Extreme X Chromosome Inactivation Skewing. Mol Neurobiol 2020; 57:3671-3684. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-020-01981-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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17
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Hisaka A, Yoshioka H, Hatakeyama H, Sato H, Onouchi Y, Anzai N. Global Comparison of Changes in the Number of Test-Positive Cases and Deaths by Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19) in the World. J Clin Med 2020; 9:E1904. [PMID: 32570833 PMCID: PMC7356890 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9061904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Global differences in changes in the numbers of population-adjusted daily test-positive cases (NPDP) and deaths (NPDD) by COVID-19 were analyzed for 49 countries, including developed and developing countries. The changes as a proportion of national population were compared, adjusting by the beginning of test-positive cases increase (BPI) or deaths increase (BDI). Remarkable regional differences of more than 100-fold in NPDP and NPDD were observed. The trajectories of NPDD after BDI increased exponentially within 20 days in most countries. Machine learning analysis suggested that NPDD on 30 days after BDI was the highest in developed Western countries (1180 persons per hundred million), followed by countries in the Middle East (128), Latin America (97), and Asia (7). Furthermore, in Western countries with positive rates of the PCR test of less than 7.0%, the increase in NPDP was slowing-down two weeks after BPI, and subsequent NPDD was only 15% compared with those with higher positive rates, which suggested that the situation of testing might have affected the velocity of COVID-19 spread. The causes behind remarkable differences between regions possibly include genetic factors of inhabitants because distributions of the race and of the observed infection increasing rates were in good agreement globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiro Hisaka
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1, Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8675, Japan; (H.Y.); (H.H.); (H.S.)
| | - Hideki Yoshioka
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1, Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8675, Japan; (H.Y.); (H.H.); (H.S.)
| | - Hiroto Hatakeyama
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1, Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8675, Japan; (H.Y.); (H.H.); (H.S.)
| | - Hiromi Sato
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1, Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8675, Japan; (H.Y.); (H.H.); (H.S.)
| | - Yoshihiro Onouchi
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, 1-8-1, Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan;
| | - Naohiko Anzai
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, 1-8-1, Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan;
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18
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Santos-Rebouças CB, Boy R, Vianna EQ, Gonçalves AP, Piergiorge RM, Abdala BB, Dos Santos JM, Calassara V, Machado FB, Medina-Acosta E, Pimentel MMG. Skewed X-Chromosome Inactivation and Compensatory Upregulation of Escape Genes Precludes Major Clinical Symptoms in a Female With a Large Xq Deletion. Front Genet 2020; 11:101. [PMID: 32194616 PMCID: PMC7064548 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammalian females, X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) acts as a dosage compensation mechanism that equalizes X-linked genes expression between homo- and heterogametic sexes. However, approximately 12–23% of X-linked genes escape from XCI, being bi-allelic expressed. Herein, we report on genetic and functional data from an asymptomatic female of a Fragile X syndrome family, who harbors a large deletion on the X-chromosome. Array-CGH uncovered that the de novo, terminal, paternally originated 32 Mb deletion on Xq25-q28 spans 598 RefSeq genes, including escape and variable escape genes. Androgen receptor (AR) and retinitis pigmentosa 2 (RP2) methylation assays showed extreme skewed XCI ratios from both peripheral blood and buccal mucosa, silencing the abnormal X-chromosome. Surprisingly, transcriptome-wide analysis revealed that escape and variable escape genes spanning the deletion are mostly upregulated on the active X-chromosome, precluding major clinical/cognitive phenotypes in the female. Metaphase high count, hemizygosity concordance for microsatellite markers, and monoallelic expression of genes within the deletion suggest the absence of mosaicism in both blood and buccal mucosa. Taken together, our data suggest that an additional protective gene-by-gene mechanism occurs at the transcriptional level in the active X-chromosome to counterbalance detrimental phenotype effects of large Xq deletions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cíntia B Santos-Rebouças
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Raquel Boy
- Pedro Ernesto University Hospital, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Evelyn Q Vianna
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Andressa P Gonçalves
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rafael M Piergiorge
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bianca B Abdala
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jussara M Dos Santos
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Veluma Calassara
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Filipe B Machado
- Department of Biological Sciences, Minas Gerais State University, Ubá, Brazil
| | - Enrique Medina-Acosta
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, State University of Northern Rio de Janeiro Darcy Ribeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Márcia M G Pimentel
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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19
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Liu S, Wang M, Zheng C, Zhong Q, Shi Y, Han X. Diagnostic value of serum glypican-3 alone and in combination with AFP as an aid in the diagnosis of liver cancer. Clin Biochem 2020; 79:54-60. [PMID: 32087138 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2020.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recently, a series of studies have been published to examine the possible diagnostic and prognostic values of glypican-3 (GPC3) in liver cancer with conflicting results observed. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the values of preoperative serum GPC3 alone and in combination with AFP for the diagnosis of liver cancer. METHODS An enzyme-linked immunoassay was used to quantify serum GPC3 in hepatocellular carcinoma group (HCC, n = 210), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma group (ICC, n = 36), combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma group (cHCC-CC, n = 8), metastatic liver cancer group (MLC, n = 10) and normal controls (NC, n = 134). RESULTS The area under the curve (AUC) of GPC3 for HCC versus NC was 0.879, with a sensitivity of 79.52% at an optimal cutoff value of 0.0414 ng/mL; when GPC3 was combined with AFP, the AUC and sensitivity were increased to 0.925 and 88.10%, respectively. In addition, 43 of 68 AFP-negative patients had elevated GPC3 levels. Furthermore, the positive rate of GPC3 was significantly higher than the that of AFP for HCC in early stage. CONCLUSIONS Serum GPC3 was superior to AFP for the diagnosis of early-stage HCC, and may be complementary to AFP for distinguishing HCC from NC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuxia Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, No.17, Panjiayuannanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100021, China; Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical Study on Anticancer Molecular Targeted Drugs, No.17, Panjiayuannanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Minjie Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, No.17, Panjiayuannanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Cuiling Zheng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, No.17, Panjiayuannanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Qiaofeng Zhong
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical Study on Anticancer Molecular Targeted Drugs, No.17, Panjiayuannanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Yuankai Shi
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical Study on Anticancer Molecular Targeted Drugs, No.17, Panjiayuannanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Xiaohong Han
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, No.17, Panjiayuannanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100021, China; Clinical Pharmacology Research Center, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, No.41 Damucang Hutong, Xicheng District, Beijing 100032, China.
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20
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Ross JL, Bloy L, Roberts TP, Miller J, Xing C, Silverman L, Zinn AR. Y chromosome gene copy number and lack of autism phenotype in a male with an isodicentric Y chromosome and absent NLGN4Y expression. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2019; 180:471-482. [PMID: 31161682 PMCID: PMC6730649 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
We describe a unique male with a dicentric Y chromosome whose phenotype was compared to that of males with 47,XYY (XYY). The male Y-chromosome aneuploidy XYY is associated with physical, behavioral/cognitive phenotypes, and autism spectrum disorders. We hypothesize that increased risk for these phenotypes is caused by increased copy number/overexpression of Y-encoded genes. Specifically, an extra copy of the neuroligin gene NLGN4Y might elevate the risk of autism in boys with XYY. We present a unique male with the karyotype 46,X,idic(Y)(q11.22), which includes duplication of the Y short arm and proximal long arm and deletion of the distal long arm, evaluated his physical, behavioral/cognitive, and neuroimaging/magnetoencephalography (MEG) phenotypes, and measured blood RNA expression of Y genes. The proband had tall stature and cognitive function within the typical range, without autism features. His blood RNA showed twofold increase in expression of Yp genes versus XY controls, and absent expression of deleted Yq genes, including NLGN4Y. The M100 latencies were similar to findings in typically developing males. In summary, the proband had overexpression of a subset of Yp genes, absent NLGN4Y expression, without ASD findings or XYY-MEG latency findings. These results are consistent with a role for NLGN4Y overexpression in the etiology of behavioral phenotypes associated with XYY. Further investigation of NLGN4Y as an ASD risk gene in XYY is warranted. The genotype and phenotype(s) of this subject may also provide insight into how Y chromosome genes contribute to normal male development and the male predominance in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith L. Ross
- Department of Pediatrics, Nemours DuPont Hospital for Children, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107
| | - Luke Bloy
- Lurie Family Foundations MEG Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 19104
| | - Timothy P.L. Roberts
- Lurie Family Foundations MEG Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 19104
| | - Judith Miller
- CHOP Center for Autism Research, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19146
| | - Chao Xing
- McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390,Department of Bioinformatics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390,Department of Population and Data Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390
| | | | - Andrew R. Zinn
- McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390,Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390
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21
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Motawi TMK, Sadik NAH, Sabry D, Shahin NN, Fahim SA. rs2267531, a promoter SNP within glypican-3 gene in the X chromosome, is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma in Egyptians. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6868. [PMID: 31053802 PMCID: PMC6499880 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43376-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health concern in Egypt owing to the high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. HCC incidence is characterized by obvious male predominance, yet the molecular mechanisms behind this gender bias are still unidentified. Functional variations in X-linked genes have more impact on males than females. Glypican-3 (GPC3) gene, located in the Xq26 region, has lately emerged as being potentially implicated in hepatocellular carcinogenesis. The current study was designed to examine the association of -784 G/C single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in GPC3 promoter region (rs2267531) with HCC susceptibility in male and female Egyptian HCV patients. Our results revealed a significant association between GPC3 and HCC risk in both males and females, evidenced by higher C allele and CC/C genotype frequencies in HCC patients when compared to controls. However, no such association was found when comparing HCV patients to controls. Moreover, GPC3 gene and protein expression levels were significantly higher in CC/C than in GG/G genotype carriers in males and females. The CC/C genotype exhibited a significant shorter overall survival than GG/G genotype in HCC patients. In conclusion, GPC3 rs2267531 on the X chromosome is significantly associated with HCC, but not with HCV infection, in the Egyptian population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Dina Sabry
- Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Nancy Nabil Shahin
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Sally Atef Fahim
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahram Canadian University, Cairo, Egypt.
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22
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DNA Methylation Contributes to the Differential Expression Levels of Mecp2 in Male Mice Neurons and Astrocytes. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20081845. [PMID: 31013990 PMCID: PMC6514911 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20081845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Methyl CpG binding protein-2 (MeCP2) isoforms (E1 and E2) are important epigenetic regulators in brain cells. Accordingly, MeCP2 loss- or gain-of-function mutation causes neurodevelopmental disorders, including Rett syndrome (RTT), MECP2 duplication syndrome (MDS), and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Within different types of brain cells, highest MeCP2 levels are detected in neurons and the lowest in astrocytes. However, our current knowledge of Mecp2/MeCP2 regulatory mechanisms remains largely elusive. It appears that there is a sex-dependent effect in X-linked MeCP2-associated disorders, as RTT primarily affects females, whereas MDS is found almost exclusively in males. This suggests that Mecp2 expression levels in brain cells might be sex-dependent. Here, we investigated the sex- and cell type-specific expression of Mecp2 isoforms in male and female primary neurons and astrocytes isolated from the murine forebrain. Previously, we reported that DNA methylation of six Mecp2 regulatory elements correlated with Mecp2 levels in the brain. We now show that in male brain cells, DNA methylation is significantly correlated with the transcript expression of these two isoforms. We show that both Mecp2 isoforms are highly expressed in male neurons compared to male astrocytes, with Mecp2e1 expressed at higher levels than Mecp2e2. Our data indicate that higher DNA methylation at the Mecp2 regulatory element(s) is associated with lower levels of Mecp2 isoforms in male astrocytes compared to male neurons.
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Wainer Katsir K, Linial M. Human genes escaping X-inactivation revealed by single cell expression data. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:201. [PMID: 30871455 PMCID: PMC6419355 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5507-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In mammals, sex chromosomes pose an inherent imbalance of gene expression between sexes. In each female somatic cell, random inactivation of one of the X-chromosomes restores this balance. While most genes from the inactivated X-chromosome are silenced, 15-25% are known to escape X-inactivation (termed escapees). The expression levels of these genes are attributed to sex-dependent phenotypic variability. RESULTS We used single-cell RNA-Seq to detect escapees in somatic cells. As only one X-chromosome is inactivated in each cell, the origin of expression from the active or inactive chromosome can be determined from the variation of sequenced RNAs. We analyzed primary, healthy fibroblasts (n = 104), and clonal lymphoblasts with sequenced parental genomes (n = 25) by measuring the degree of allelic-specific expression (ASE) from heterozygous sites. We identified 24 and 49 candidate escapees, at varying degree of confidence, from the fibroblast and lymphoblast transcriptomes, respectively. We critically test the validity of escapee annotations by comparing our findings with a large collection of independent studies. We find that most genes (66%) from the unified set were previously reported as escapees. Furthermore, out of the overlooked escapees, 11 are long noncoding RNA (lncRNAs). CONCLUSIONS X-chromosome inactivation and escaping from it are robust, permanent phenomena that are best studies at a single-cell resolution. The cumulative information from individual cells increases the potential of identifying escapees. Moreover, despite the use of a limited number of cells, clonal cells (i.e., same X- chromosomes are coordinately inhibited) with genomic phasing are valuable for detecting escapees at high confidence. Generalizing the method to uncharacterized genomic loci resulted in lncRNAs escapees which account for 20% of the listed candidates. By confirming genes as escapees and propose others as candidates from two different cell types, we contribute to the cumulative knowledge and reliability of human escapees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerem Wainer Katsir
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, 9190400, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Michal Linial
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, 9190400, Jerusalem, Israel.
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Wu X, Zhu B, Zou S, Shi J. The Association Between ACE2 Gene Polymorphism and the Stroke Recurrence in Chinese Population. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2018; 27:2770-2780. [PMID: 30056001 DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2018.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Revised: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 06/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is closely associated with cardiovascular disease and cerebrovascular disease. Most studies on ACE2 gene polymorphism focused on its relations with cardiovascular disease, but there was a lack of research on its relations with stroke. Our study aimed to explore the association between 4 single-nucleotidepolymorphisms (SNPs) of ACE2 gene polymorphism and stroke recurrence. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS In our study, the case group included 125 stroke patients with recurrence and the control group included 153 patients without recurrence. Four SNPs (rs2106809, rs2285666, rs879922, and rs2074192) were genotyped by Ligase detection reaction. The association between stroke recurrence and SNPs were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS We find no association between ACE2 gene polymorphism and stroke recurrence. Haplotype A-G-C may associate with the stoke recurrence of male patients. The recurrence risk of male stroke patients with hypertension history and rs2285666-C allele is 2.82 times as high as that of those without hypertension history but with T allele. Among male stroke patients with hypertension history, the recurrence risk of those with rs2285666-C allele is 2.38 times as high as those with T allele; and the recurrence risk of those with rs2106809-A allele is 2.12 times as high as those with G allele. But those recurrence risks lose their statistical significance after adjustment for other factors. CONCLUSIONS We find no influence of ACE2 gene polymorphism on stroke recurrence and only find possible interaction between hypertension history and the ACE2 gene in male stroke patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomei Wu
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Center of Evidence Based Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Bo Zhu
- Department of Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University/Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shenyang, China
| | - Safeng Zou
- Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine, Dalian Municipal Central Hospital, Dalian, China
| | - Jingpu Shi
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Center of Evidence Based Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
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Dosage compensation in the process of inactivation/reactivation during both germ cell development and early embryogenesis in mouse. Sci Rep 2017. [PMID: 28623283 PMCID: PMC5473838 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03829-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Ohno proposed that dosage compensation in mammals evolved as a two-step mechanism involving X-inactivation and X-upregulation. While X-inactivation is well characterized, it remains to further analysis whether upregulation of the single activated X chromosome in mammals occurs. We obtained RNA-seq data, including single-cell RNA-seq data, from cells undergoing inactivation/reactivation in both germ cell development and early embryogenesis stages in mouse and calculated the X: A ratio from the gene expression. Our results showed that the X: A ratio is always 1, regardless of the number of X chromosomes being transcribed for expressed genes. Furthermore, the single-cell RNA-seq data across individual cells of mouse preimplantation embryos of mixed backgrounds indicated that strain-specific SNPs could be used to distinguish transcription from maternal and paternal chromosomes and further showed that when the paternal was inactivated, the average gene dosage of the active maternal X chromosome was increased to restore the balance between the X chromosome and autosomes. In conclusion, our analysis of RNA-seq data (particularly single-cell RNA-seq) from cells undergoing the process of inactivation/reactivation provides direct evidence that the average gene dosage of the single active X chromosome is upregulated to achieve a similar level to that of two active X chromosomes and autosomes present in two copies.
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Is there any clinical relevant difference between non mosaic Klinefelter Syndrome patients with or without Androgen Receptor variations? Sci Rep 2017; 7:3358. [PMID: 28611373 PMCID: PMC5469740 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03371-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Klinefelter Syndrome (KS) is the most common chromosomal disorder in men leading to non-obstructive azoospermia. Spermatozoa can be found by TESE in about 50% of adults with KS despite severe testicular degeneration. We evaluated AR variations and polymorphism length in 135 non-mosaic KS patients, aimed to find possible correlation with clinical features, sex hormones and sperm retrieval. Among 135 KS patients we found AR variations in eight subjects (5.9%). All variations but one caused a single amino acid substitution. Four variations P392S, Q58L, L548F, A475V found in six patients had been previously described to be associated with different degrees of androgen insensitivity. Moreover we observed in two patients Y359F and D732D novel variations representing respectively a missense variation and a synonymous variation not leading to amino acid substitution. All the Klinefelter patients with AR gene variations were azoospermic. Spermatozoa were retrieved with TESE for two men (40%), sperm retrieval was unsuccessful in other 3 patients. This is the only study reporting AR variations in KS patients. Relevant clinical differences not emerged between AR mutated and not AR mutated KS patients, but does each variation play an important role in the trasmission to the offspring obtained by ART in this patients?
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Supriya M, De T, Christopher R. Age and gender-specific reference intervals for lysosomal enzymes in dried blood spot samples: A study in Indian population. Clin Biochem 2017; 50:858-863. [PMID: 28396248 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2017.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2016] [Revised: 04/04/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The study aimed to establish age and gender-specific reference values for the activities of lysosomal enzymes (acid α-galactosidase [GLA], acid β-glucocerebrosidase [GBA], acid α-glucosidase [GAA], acid sphingomyelinase [ASM] and galactocerebrosidase [GALC]) in dried blood spots (DBS) of Indian population. DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 3797 healthy Indian subjects (1456 females and 2341 males) aged from 2days to 60years were selected for the study. Activities of 5 lysosomal enzymes were determined by tandem mass spectrometry, for newborns (<30days), infants (>1month-1year), children (>1-5years) and (>5-18years) and adults (>18years).Variations in enzyme activities based on age and gender were studied. The reference interval was defined as the central 95% range, and was determined based on age and gender. RESULTS Highly significant differences in activities were observed for GAA (p=0.001), GLA (p<0.0001), GBA (p<0.0001), ASM (p<0.0001) and GALC (p<0.0001), between different age groups. Comparison of activities between genders showed significant difference for ASM in children aged 1-5years (p=0.03) with higher activity in females, and for GLA in children aged 5-18years (p=0.004) where the activity was higher in males. Reference intervals decreased with age for all enzymes, except GAA. The ranges of GLA and GALC were higher in females, whereas GBA was higher in males. CONCLUSION The study establishes age and gender-specific reference values for the screening and identification of lysosomal storage disorders in Indian population. Our data may facilitate establishment of mass screening programs for these disorders in India.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manjunath Supriya
- Department of Neurochemistry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore 560029, India
| | - Tanima De
- Department of Neurochemistry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore 560029, India
| | - Rita Christopher
- Department of Neurochemistry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore 560029, India.
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Xu J, Khincha PP, Giri N, Alter BP, Savage SA, Wong JM. Investigation of chromosome X inactivation and clinical phenotypes in female carriers of DKC1 mutations. Am J Hematol 2016; 91:1215-1220. [PMID: 27570172 DOI: 10.1002/ajh.24545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2016] [Revised: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is an inherited bone marrow failure and cancer susceptibility syndrome caused by germline mutations in telomere biology genes. Germline mutations in DKC1, which encodes the protein dyskerin, cause X-linked recessive DC. Because of skewed X-chromosome inactivation, female DKC1 mutation carriers do not typically develop clinical features of DC. This study evaluated female DKC1 mutation carriers with DC-associated phenotypes to elucidate the molecular features of their mutations, in comparison with unaffected carriers and mutation-negative female controls. All female DKC1 mutation carriers had normal leukocyte subset telomere lengths and similarly skewed X-inactivation in multiple tissue types, regardless of phenotype. We observed dyskerin expression, telomerase RNA accumulation, and pseudouridylation present in all mutation carriers at levels comparable to healthy wild-type controls. Our study suggests that mechanisms in addition to X chromosome inactivation, such as germline mosaicism or epigenetics, may contribute to DC-like phenotypes present in female DKC1 mutation carriers. Future studies are warranted to understand the molecular mechanisms associated with the phenotypic variability in female DKC1 mutation carriers, and to identify those at risk of disease. Am. J. Hematol. 91:1215-1220, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialin Xu
- Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Group, Faculty of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouver BC Canada
| | - Payal P. Khincha
- Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and GeneticsNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthRockville Maryland
| | - Neelam Giri
- Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and GeneticsNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthRockville Maryland
| | - Blanche P. Alter
- Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and GeneticsNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthRockville Maryland
| | - Sharon A. Savage
- Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and GeneticsNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthRockville Maryland
| | - Judy M.Y. Wong
- Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Group, Faculty of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouver BC Canada
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29
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Dugo M, Cotroneo CE, Lavoie-Charland E, Incarbone M, Santambrogio L, Rosso L, van den Berge M, Nickle D, Paré PD, Bossé Y, Dragani TA, Colombo F. Human Lung Tissue Transcriptome: Influence of Sex and Age. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0167460. [PMID: 27902768 PMCID: PMC5130276 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Accepted: 11/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sex and age strongly influence the pathophysiology of human lungs, but scarce information is available about their effects on pulmonary gene expression. Methods We followed a discovery-validation strategy to identify sex- and age-related transcriptional differences in lung. Results We identified transcriptional profiles significantly associated with sex (215 genes; FDR < 0.05) and age at surgery (217 genes) in non-involved lung tissue resected from 284 lung adenocarcinoma patients. When these profiles were tested in three independent series of non-tumor lung tissue from an additional 1,111 patients, we validated the association with sex and age for 25 and 22 genes, respectively. Among the 17 sex-biased genes mapping on chromosome X, 16 have been reported to escape X-chromosome inactivation in other tissues or cells, suggesting that this mechanism influences lung transcription too. Our 22 age-related genes partially overlap with genes modulated by age in other tissues, suggesting that the aging process has similar consequences on gene expression in different organs. Finally, seven genes whose expression was modulated by sex in non-tumor lung tissue, but no age-related gene, were also validated using publicly available data from 990 lung adenocarcinoma samples, suggesting that the physiological regulatory mechanisms are only partially active in neoplastic tissue. Conclusions Gene expression in non-tumor lung tissue is modulated by both sex and age. These findings represent a validated starting point for research on the molecular mechanisms underlying the observed differences in the course of lung diseases among men and women of different ages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Dugo
- Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara E. Cotroneo
- Department of Predictive and Preventive Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Matteo Incarbone
- Department of Surgery, San Giuseppe Hospital–MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
| | - Luigi Santambrogio
- Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Rosso
- Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Maarten van den Berge
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pulmonology, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - David Nickle
- Merck & Co. Inc., Rahway, NJ, United States of America
| | - Peter D. Paré
- University of British Columbia Center for Heart Lung Innovation and Institute for Heart and Lung Health, St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Respiratory Division, Department of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Yohan Bossé
- Institut Universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Québec, Canada
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laval University, Québec, Canada
| | - Tommaso A. Dragani
- Department of Predictive and Preventive Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Francesca Colombo
- Department of Predictive and Preventive Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
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Dunford A, Weinstock DM, Savova V, Schumacher SE, Cleary JP, Yoda A, Sullivan TJ, Hess JM, Gimelbrant AA, Beroukhim R, Lawrence MS, Getz G, Lane AA. Tumor-suppressor genes that escape from X-inactivation contribute to cancer sex bias. Nat Genet 2016; 49:10-16. [PMID: 27869828 PMCID: PMC5206905 DOI: 10.1038/ng.3726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 248] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
There is a striking and unexplained male predominance across many cancer types. A subset of X-chromosome genes can escape X-inactivation, which would protect females from complete functional loss by a single mutation. To identify putative 'escape from X-inactivation tumor-suppressor' (EXITS) genes, we examined somatic alterations from >4,100 cancers across 21 tumor types for sex bias. Six of 783 non-pseudoautosomal region (PAR) X-chromosome genes (ATRX, CNKSR2, DDX3X, KDM5C, KDM6A, and MAGEC3) harbored loss-of-function mutations more frequently in males (based on a false discovery rate < 0.1), in comparison to zero of 18,055 autosomal and PAR genes (Fisher's exact P < 0.0001). Male-biased mutations in genes that escape X-inactivation were observed in combined analysis across many cancers and in several individual tumor types, suggesting a generalized phenomenon. We conclude that biallelic expression of EXITS genes in females explains a portion of the reduced cancer incidence in females as compared to males across a variety of tumor types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Dunford
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David M Weinstock
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Virginia Savova
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Steven E Schumacher
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - John P Cleary
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Akinori Yoda
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Julian M Hess
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alexander A Gimelbrant
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rameen Beroukhim
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael S Lawrence
- Department of Pathology and Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gad Getz
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Pathology and Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Andrew A Lane
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Transcript-level expression analysis of RNA-seq experiments with HISAT, StringTie and Ballgown. Nat Protoc 2016. [PMID: 27560171 DOI: 10.1038/nprot.2016-095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
High-throughput sequencing of mRNA (RNA-seq) has become the standard method for measuring and comparing the levels of gene expression in a wide variety of species and conditions. RNA-seq experiments generate very large, complex data sets that demand fast, accurate and flexible software to reduce the raw read data to comprehensible results. HISAT (hierarchical indexing for spliced alignment of transcripts), StringTie and Ballgown are free, open-source software tools for comprehensive analysis of RNA-seq experiments. Together, they allow scientists to align reads to a genome, assemble transcripts including novel splice variants, compute the abundance of these transcripts in each sample and compare experiments to identify differentially expressed genes and transcripts. This protocol describes all the steps necessary to process a large set of raw sequencing reads and create lists of gene transcripts, expression levels, and differentially expressed genes and transcripts. The protocol's execution time depends on the computing resources, but it typically takes under 45 min of computer time. HISAT, StringTie and Ballgown are available from http://ccb.jhu.edu/software.shtml.
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Transcript-level expression analysis of RNA-seq experiments with HISAT, StringTie and Ballgown. Nat Protoc 2016; 11:1650-67. [PMID: 27560171 DOI: 10.1038/nprot.2016.095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3527] [Impact Index Per Article: 440.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
High-throughput sequencing of mRNA (RNA-seq) has become the standard method for measuring and comparing the levels of gene expression in a wide variety of species and conditions. RNA-seq experiments generate very large, complex data sets that demand fast, accurate and flexible software to reduce the raw read data to comprehensible results. HISAT (hierarchical indexing for spliced alignment of transcripts), StringTie and Ballgown are free, open-source software tools for comprehensive analysis of RNA-seq experiments. Together, they allow scientists to align reads to a genome, assemble transcripts including novel splice variants, compute the abundance of these transcripts in each sample and compare experiments to identify differentially expressed genes and transcripts. This protocol describes all the steps necessary to process a large set of raw sequencing reads and create lists of gene transcripts, expression levels, and differentially expressed genes and transcripts. The protocol's execution time depends on the computing resources, but it typically takes under 45 min of computer time. HISAT, StringTie and Ballgown are available from http://ccb.jhu.edu/software.shtml.
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Wu YH, Li JY, Wang C, Zhang LM, Qiao H. The ACE2 G8790A Polymorphism: Involvement in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Combined with Cerebral Stroke. J Clin Lab Anal 2016; 31. [PMID: 27500554 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.22033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 07/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We aimed to investigate the correlations between ACE2 polymorphisms and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) combined with cerebral stroke (CS). METHODS A total of 346 patients treated or hospitalized in our hospital were enrolled, including 181 cases without cerebrovascular complications (T2DM group) and 165 cases combined with CS (T2DM + CS group); 284 healthy individuals were selected as the control group. PCR-RFLP and ELISA were used to analyze ACE2 G8790A polymorphisms and serum ACE2 levels, respectively. RESULTS Significant differences were observed in the genotype/allele frequency of ACE2 G8790A between the T2DM + CS and control groups, and the T2DM and T2DM + CS groups, and in the genotype frequency of ACE2 G8790A between the T2DM and the control groups. The A allele may increase the risk of T2DM combined with CS. The AA genotype may also increase the risk of T2DM combined with CS (OR = 3.733, 95%CI = 2.069-6.738; OR = 3.597, 95%CI = 1.884-6.867). Serum ACE2 levels showed statistically significant differences among the groups. Systolic pressure and diastolic pressure were protective factors of T2DM combined with CS. CONCLUSION The ACE2 G8790A polymorphism in T2DM patients was correlated with CS, and the A allele might be a risk factor of T2DM combined with CS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Hui Wu
- Department of Endocrinology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Jia-Ying Li
- Department of Endocrinology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Chi Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Li-Mei Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Hong Qiao
- Department of Endocrinology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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Ka S, Ahn H, Seo M, Kim H, Kim JN, Lee HJ. Status of dosage compensation of X chromosome in bovine genome. Genetica 2016; 144:435-44. [PMID: 27376899 DOI: 10.1007/s10709-016-9912-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2015] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Dosage compensation system with X chromosome upregulation and inactivation have evolved to overcome the genetic imbalance between sex chromosomes in both male and female of mammals. Although recent development of chromosome-wide technologies has allowed us to test X upregulation, discrete data processing and analysis methods draw disparate conclusions. A series of expression studies revealed status of dosage compensation in some species belonging to monotremes, marsupials, rodents and primates. However, X upregulation in the Artiodactyla order including cattle have not been studied yet. In this study, we surveyed the genome-wide transcriptional upregulation in X chromosome in cattle RNA-seq data using different gene filtration methods. Overall examination of RNA-seq data revealed that X chromosome in the pituitary gland expressed more genes than in other peripheral tissues, which was consistent with the previous results observed in human and mouse. When analyzed with globally expressed genes, a median X:A expression ratio was 0.94. The ratio of 1-to-1 ortholog genes between chicken and mammals, however, showed considerable reduction to 0.68. These results indicate that status of dosage compensation for cattle is not deviated from those found in rodents and primate, and this is consistent with the evolutionary history of cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sojeong Ka
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeonju Ahn
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Minseok Seo
- Interdisciplinary Program in Bioinformatics, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- C&K Genomics Inc., Seoul National University Research Park, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Heebal Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Interdisciplinary Program in Bioinformatics, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Nam Kim
- C&K Genomics Inc., Seoul National University Research Park, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hyun-Jeong Lee
- Animal Nutritional Physiology Team, National Institute of Animal Science, Jeonju, Jeollabuk-Do, 55365, Republic of Korea.
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Reijnders M, Zachariadis V, Latour B, Jolly L, Mancini G, Pfundt R, Wu K, van Ravenswaaij-Arts C, Veenstra-Knol H, Anderlid BM, Wood S, Cheung S, Barnicoat A, Probst F, Magoulas P, Brooks A, Malmgren H, Harila-Saari A, Marcelis C, Vreeburg M, Hobson E, Sutton V, Stark Z, Vogt J, Cooper N, Lim J, Price S, Lai A, Domingo D, Reversade B, Gecz J, Gilissen C, Brunner H, Kini U, Roepman R, Nordgren A, Kleefstra T, Kleefstra T. De Novo Loss-of-Function Mutations in USP9X Cause a Female-Specific Recognizable Syndrome with Developmental Delay and Congenital Malformations. Am J Hum Genet 2016; 98:373-81. [PMID: 26833328 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2015.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in more than a hundred genes have been reported to cause X-linked recessive intellectual disability (ID) mainly in males. In contrast, the number of identified X-linked genes in which de novo mutations specifically cause ID in females is limited. Here, we report 17 females with de novo loss-of-function mutations in USP9X, encoding a highly conserved deubiquitinating enzyme. The females in our study have a specific phenotype that includes ID/developmental delay (DD), characteristic facial features, short stature, and distinct congenital malformations comprising choanal atresia, anal abnormalities, post-axial polydactyly, heart defects, hypomastia, cleft palate/bifid uvula, progressive scoliosis, and structural brain abnormalities. Four females from our cohort were identified by targeted genetic testing because their phenotype was suggestive for USP9X mutations. In several females, pigment changes along Blaschko lines and body asymmetry were observed, which is probably related to differential (escape from) X-inactivation between tissues. Expression studies on both mRNA and protein level in affected-female-derived fibroblasts showed significant reduction of USP9X level, confirming the loss-of-function effect of the identified mutations. Given that some features of affected females are also reported in known ciliopathy syndromes, we examined the role of USP9X in the primary cilium and found that endogenous USP9X localizes along the length of the ciliary axoneme, indicating that its loss of function could indeed disrupt cilium-regulated processes. Absence of dysregulated ciliary parameters in affected female-derived fibroblasts, however, points toward spatiotemporal specificity of ciliary USP9X (dys-)function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Tjitske Kleefstra
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
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Slavney A, Arbiza L, Clark AG, Keinan A. Strong Constraint on Human Genes Escaping X-Inactivation Is Modulated by their Expression Level and Breadth in Both Sexes. Mol Biol Evol 2015; 33:384-93. [PMID: 26494842 PMCID: PMC4751236 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msv225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In eutherian mammals, X-linked gene expression is normalized between XX females and XY males through the process of X chromosome inactivation (XCI). XCI results in silencing of transcription from one ChrX homolog per female cell. However, approximately 25% of human ChrX genes escape XCI to some extent and exhibit biallelic expression in females. The evolutionary basis of this phenomenon is not entirely clear, but high sequence conservation of XCI escapers suggests that purifying selection may directly or indirectly drive XCI escape at these loci. One hypothesis is that this signal results from contributions to developmental and physiological sex differences, but presently there is limited evidence supporting this model in humans. Another potential driver of this signal is selection for high and/or broad gene expression in both sexes, which are strong predictors of reduced nucleotide substitution rates in mammalian genes. Here, we compared purifying selection and gene expression patterns of human XCI escapers with those of X-inactivated genes in both sexes. When we accounted for the functional status of each ChrX gene’s Y-linked homolog (or “gametolog”), we observed that XCI escapers exhibit greater degrees of purifying selection in the human lineage than X-inactivated genes, as well as higher and broader gene expression than X-inactivated genes across tissues in both sexes. These results highlight a significant role for gene expression in both sexes in driving purifying selection on XCI escapers, and emphasize these genes’ potential importance in human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Slavney
- Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University
| | - Leonardo Arbiza
- Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University
| | - Andrew G Clark
- Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University
| | - Alon Keinan
- Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University
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Ross JL, Tartaglia N, Merry DE, Dalva M, Zinn AR. Behavioral phenotypes in males with XYY and possible role of increased NLGN4Y expression in autism features. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2015; 14:137-44. [PMID: 25558953 PMCID: PMC4756915 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2014] [Revised: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 12/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The male sex chromosome disorder, 47,XYY syndrome (XYY), is associated with increased risk for social-emotional difficulties, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We hypothesize that increased Y chromosome gene copy number in XYY leads to overexpression of Y-linked genes related to brain development and function, thereby increasing risk for these phenotypes. We measured expression in blood of two Y genes NLGN4Y and RPS4Y in 26 boys with XYY and 11 male controls and evaluated whether NLGN4Y expression correlates with anxiety, ADHD, depression and autistic behaviors (from questionnaires) in boys with XYY. The XYY cohort had increased risk of ASD behaviors on the social responsiveness scale (SRS) and increased attention deficits on the Conners' DSM-IV inattention and hyperactive scales. In contrast, there was no increase in reported symptoms of anxiety or depression by the XYY group. Peripheral expression of two Y genes in boys with XYY vs. typically developing controls was increased twofold in the XYY group. Results from the SRS total and autistic mannerisms scales, but not from the attention, anxiety or depression measures, correlated with peripheral expression of NLGN4Y in boys with XYY. Males with XYY have social phenotypes that include increased risk for autism-related behaviors and ADHD. Expression of NLGN4Y, a gene that may be involved in synaptic function, is increased in boys with XYY, and the level of expression correlates with overall social responsiveness and autism symptoms. Thus, further investigation of NLGN4Y as a plausible ASD risk gene in XYY is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. L. Ross
- Department of Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
- Department of Pediatrics, Alfred I duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE
| | - N. Tartaglia
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO
| | - D. E. Merry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - M. Dalva
- Department of Neuroscience, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - A. R. Zinn
- McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development and Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX, USA
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Cotton AM, Price EM, Jones MJ, Balaton BP, Kobor MS, Brown CJ. Landscape of DNA methylation on the X chromosome reflects CpG density, functional chromatin state and X-chromosome inactivation. Hum Mol Genet 2014; 24:1528-39. [PMID: 25381334 PMCID: PMC4381753 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddu564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) achieves dosage compensation between males and females through the silencing of the majority of genes on one of the female X chromosomes. Thus, the female X chromosomes provide a unique opportunity to study euchromatin and heterochromatin of allelic regions within the same nuclear environment. We examined the interplay of DNA methylation (DNAm) with CpG density, transcriptional activity and chromatin state at genes on the X chromosome using over 1800 female samples analysed with the Illumina Infinium Human Methylation450 BeadChip. DNAm was used to predict an inactivation status for 63 novel transcription start sites (TSSs) across 27 tissues. There was high concordance of inactivation status across tissues, with 62% of TSSs subject to XCI in all 27 tissues examined, whereas 9% escaped from XCI in all tissues, and the remainder showed variable escape from XCI between females in subsets of tissues. Inter-female and twin data supported a model of predominately cis-acting influences on inactivation status. The level of expression from the inactive X relative to the active X correlated with the amount of female promoter DNAm to a threshold of ∼30%, beyond which genes were consistently subject to inactivation. The inactive X showed lower DNAm than the active X at intragenic and intergenic regions for genes subject to XCI, but not at genes that escape from inactivation. Our categorization of genes that escape from X inactivation provides candidates for sex-specific differences in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison M Cotton
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3, Molecular Epigenetics Group, Life Sciences Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3
| | - E Magda Price
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 4H4, The Child and Family Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 4H4
| | - Meaghan J Jones
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3, The Child and Family Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 4H4 Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 4H4
| | - Bradley P Balaton
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3, Molecular Epigenetics Group, Life Sciences Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3
| | - Michael S Kobor
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3, The Child and Family Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 4H4 Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 4H4
| | - Carolyn J Brown
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3, Molecular Epigenetics Group, Life Sciences Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3,
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Olivier-Van Stichelen S, Abramowitz LK, Hanover JA. X marks the spot: does it matter that O-GlcNAc transferase is an X-linked gene? Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2014; 453:201-7. [PMID: 24960196 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.06.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2014] [Accepted: 06/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
O-GlcNAcylation has emerged as a critical post-translational modification important for a wide array of cellular processes. This modification has been identified on a large pool of intracellular proteins that have wide-ranging roles, including transcriptional regulation, cell cycle progression, and signaling, among others. Interestingly, in mammals the single gene encoding O-GlcNAc Transferase (OGT) is located on the X-chromosome near the Xist locus suggesting that tight dosage regulation is necessary for normal development. Herein, we highlight the importance of OGT dosage and consider how its genomic location can contribute to a gender-specific increased risk for a number of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphanie Olivier-Van Stichelen
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Lara K Abramowitz
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - John A Hanover
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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40
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Chaligné R, Heard E. X-chromosome inactivation in development and cancer. FEBS Lett 2014; 588:2514-22. [PMID: 24937141 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2014.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2014] [Accepted: 06/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
X-chromosome inactivation represents an epigenetics paradigm and a powerful model system of facultative heterochromatin formation triggered by a non-coding RNA, Xist, during development. Once established, the inactive state of the Xi is highly stable in somatic cells, thanks to a combination of chromatin associated proteins, DNA methylation and nuclear organization. However, sporadic reactivation of X-linked genes has been reported during ageing and in transformed cells and disappearance of the Barr body is frequently observed in cancer cells. In this review we summarise current knowledge on the epigenetic changes that accompany X inactivation and discuss the extent to which the inactive X chromosome may be epigenetically or genetically perturbed in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronan Chaligné
- Mammalian Developmental Epigenetics Group, Genetics and Developmental Biology Unit, Institut Curie, CNRS UMR3215, INSERM U934, 75248 Paris, France
| | - Edith Heard
- Mammalian Developmental Epigenetics Group, Genetics and Developmental Biology Unit, Institut Curie, CNRS UMR3215, INSERM U934, 75248 Paris, France.
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41
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Pessia E, Engelstädter J, Marais GAB. The evolution of X chromosome inactivation in mammals: the demise of Ohno's hypothesis? Cell Mol Life Sci 2014; 71:1383-94. [PMID: 24173285 PMCID: PMC11113734 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-013-1499-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2013] [Revised: 10/11/2013] [Accepted: 10/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Ohno's hypothesis states that dosage compensation in mammals evolved in two steps: a twofold hyperactivation of the X chromosome in both sexes to compensate for gene losses on the Y chromosome, and silencing of one X (X-chromosome inactivation, XCI) in females to restore optimal dosage. Recent tests of this hypothesis have returned contradictory results. In this review, we explain this ongoing controversy and argue that a novel view on dosage compensation evolution in mammals is starting to emerge. Ohno's hypothesis may be true for a few, dosage-sensitive genes only. If so few genes are compensated, then why has XCI evolved as a chromosome-wide mechanism? This and several other questions raised by the new data in mammals are discussed, and future research directions are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugénie Pessia
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Lyon 1, Bat. Gregor Mendel, 16 rue Raphaël Dubois, 69622, Villeurbanne Cedex, France,
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42
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43
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Structural and numerical changes of chromosome X in patients with esophageal atresia. Eur J Hum Genet 2014; 22:1077-84. [PMID: 24398799 DOI: 10.1038/ejhg.2013.295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2013] [Revised: 11/15/2013] [Accepted: 11/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Esophageal atresia with or without tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) is a relatively common birth defect often associated with additional congenital anomalies such as vertebral, anal, cardiovascular, renal and limb defects, the so-called VACTERL association. Yet, little is known about the causal genetic factors. Rare case reports of gastrointestinal anomalies in children with triple X syndrome prompted us to survey the incidence of structural and numerical changes of chromosome X in patients with EA/TEF. All available (n=269) karyotypes of our large (321) EA/TEF patient cohort were evaluated for X-chromosome anomalies. If sufficient DNA material was available, we determined genome-wide copy number profiles with SNP array and identified subtelomeric aberrations on the difficult to profile PAR1 region using telomere-multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. In addition, we investigated X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) patterns and mode of inheritance of detected aberrations in selected patients. Three EA/TEF patients had an additional maternally inherited X chromosome. These three female patients had normal random XCI patterns. Two male EA/TEF patients had small inherited duplications of the XY-linked SHOX (Short stature HOmeoboX-containing) locus. Patients were small for gestational age at birth (<P5) and had additional, mostly VACTERL associated, anomalies. Triple X syndrome is rarely described in patients with EA/TEF and no duplications of the SHOX gene were reported so far in these patients. As normal patterns of XCI were seen, overexpression of X-linked genes that escape XCI, such as the SHOX gene, could be pathogenic by disturbing developmental pathways.
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44
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Cotton AM, Ge B, Light N, Adoue V, Pastinen T, Brown CJ. Analysis of expressed SNPs identifies variable extents of expression from the human inactive X chromosome. Genome Biol 2013; 14:R122. [PMID: 24176135 PMCID: PMC4053723 DOI: 10.1186/gb-2013-14-11-r122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2013] [Accepted: 11/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) results in the silencing of most genes on one X chromosome, yielding mono-allelic expression in individual cells. However, random XCI results in expression of both alleles in most females. Allelic imbalances have been used genome-wide to detect mono-allelically expressed genes. Analysis of X-linked allelic imbalance in females with skewed XCI offers the opportunity to identify genes that escape XCI with bi-allelic expression in contrast to those with mono-allelic expression and which are therefore subject to XCI. RESULTS We determine XCI status for 409 genes, all of which have at least five informative females in our dataset. The majority of genes are subject to XCI and genes that escape from XCI show a continuum of expression from the inactive X. Inactive X expression corresponds to differences in the level of histone modification detected by allelic imbalance after chromatin immunoprecipitation. Differences in XCI between populations and between cell lines derived from different tissues are observed. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that allelic imbalance can be used to determine an inactivation status for X-linked genes, even without completely non-random XCI. There is a range of expression from the inactive X. Genes escaping XCI, including those that do so in only a subset of females, cluster together, demonstrating that XCI and location on the X chromosome are related. In addition to revealing mechanisms involved in cis-gene regulation, determining which genes escape XCI can expand our understanding of the contributions of X-linked genes to sexual dimorphism.
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45
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Sheath KL, Mazzaschi RL, Aftimos S, Gregersen NE, George AM, Love DR. Clinical Outcomes and Counselling Issues regarding Partial Trisomy of Terminal Xp in a Child with Developmental Delay. Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J 2013; 13:311-7. [PMID: 23862040 DOI: 10.12816/0003240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2012] [Revised: 10/15/2012] [Accepted: 11/24/2012] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Female carriers of balanced translocations involving an X chromosome and an autosome offer genetic counselling challenges. This is in view of the number of possible meiotic outcomes, but also due to the impact of X chromosome-localised genes that are no longer subject to gene silencing through the X chromosome inactivation centre. We present a case where delineation of the extent of X chromosome-localised genes on the derivative autosome using molecular karyotyping offers critical information in the context of genetic counselling.
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46
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Staedtler F, Hartmann N, Letzkus M, Bongiovanni S, Scherer A, Marc P, Johnson KJ, Schumacher MM. Robust and tissue-independent gender-specific transcript biomarkers. Biomarkers 2013; 18:436-45. [PMID: 23829492 DOI: 10.3109/1354750x.2013.811538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Correct gender assignment in humans at the molecular level is crucial in many scientific disciplines and applied areas. MATERIALS AND METHODS Candidate gender markers were identified through supervised statistical analysis of genome wide microarray expression data from human blood samples (N = 123, 58 female, 65 male) as a training set. The potential of the markers to predict undisclosed tissue donor gender was tested on microarray data from 13 healthy and 11 cancerous human tissue collections (internal) and external datasets from samples of varying tissue origin. The abundance of some genes in the marker panel was quantified by RT-PCR as alternative analytical technology. RESULTS We identified and qualified predictive, gender-specific transcript markers based on a set of five genes (RPS4Y1, EIF1AY, DDX3Y, KDM5D and XIST). CONCLUSION Gene expression marker panels can be used as a robust tissue- and platform-independent predictive approach for gender determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Staedtler
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR), Biomarker Development, Basel, Switzerland.
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47
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Reinius B, Kanduri C. Elevated expression of H19 and Igf2 in the female mouse eye. PLoS One 2013; 8:e56611. [PMID: 23437185 PMCID: PMC3577879 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2012] [Accepted: 01/14/2013] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The catalogue of genes expressed at different levels in the two sexes is growing, and the mechanisms underlying sex differences in regulation of the mammalian transcriptomes are being explored. Here we report that the expression of the imprinted non-protein-coding maternally expressed gene H19 was female-biased specifically in the female mouse eye (1.9-fold, p = 3.0E−6) while not being sex-biased in other somatic tissues. The female-to-male expression fold-change of H19 fell in the range expected from an effect of biallelic versus monoallelic expression. Recently, the possibility of sex-specific parent-of-origin allelic expression has been debated. This led us to hypothesize that H19 might express biallelically in the female mouse eye, thus escape its silencing imprint on the paternal allele specifically in this tissue. We therefore performed a sex-specific imprinting assay of H19 in female and male eye derived from a cross between Mus musculus and Mus spretus. However, this analysis demonstrated that H19 was exclusively expressed from the maternal gene copy, disproving the escape hypothesis. Instead, this supports that the female-biased expression of H19 is the result of upregulation of the single maternal. Furthermore, if H19 would have been expressed from both gene copies in the female eye, an associated downregulation of Insulin-like growth factor 2 (Igf2) was expected, since H19 and Igf2 compete for a common enhancer element located in the H19/Igf2 imprinted domain. On the contrary we found that also Igf2 was significantly upregulated in its expression in the female eye (1.2-fold, p = 6.1E−3), in further agreement with the conclusion that H19 is monoallelically elevated in females. The female-biased expression of H19 and Igf2 specifically in the eye may contribute to our understanding of sex differences in normal as well as abnormal eye physiology and processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn Reinius
- Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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48
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Baynam G, Walters M, Claes P, Kung S, LeSouef P, Dawkins H, Gillett D, Goldblatt J. The facial evolution: looking backward and moving forward. Hum Mutat 2012; 34:14-22. [PMID: 23033261 DOI: 10.1002/humu.22219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2012] [Accepted: 08/30/2012] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) facial analysis is ideal for high-resolution, nonionizing, noninvasive objective, high-throughput phenotypic, and phenomic studies. It is a natural complement to (epi)genetic technologies to facilitate advances in the understanding of rare and common diseases. The face is uniquely reflective of the primordial tissues, and there is evidence supporting the application of 3D facial analysis to the investigation of variation and disease including studies showing that the face can reflect systemic health, provides diagnostic clues to disorders, and that facial variation reflects biological pathways. In addition, facial variation has been related to evolutionary factors. The purpose of this review is to look backward to suggest that knowledge of human evolution supports, and may instruct, the application and interpretation of studies of facial morphology for documentation of human variation and investigation of its relationships with health and disease. Furthermore, in the context of advances of deep phenotyping and data integration, to look forward to suggest approaches to scalable implementation of facial analysis, and to suggest avenues for future research and clinical application of this technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gareth Baynam
- Genetic Services of Western Australia, Princess Margaret and King Edward Memorial Hospitals, Perth, Australia
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49
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Liu F, McCullough LD. Interactions between age, sex, and hormones in experimental ischemic stroke. Neurochem Int 2012; 61:1255-65. [PMID: 23068990 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2012.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2012] [Revised: 10/01/2012] [Accepted: 10/05/2012] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Age, sex, and gonadal hormones have profound effects on ischemic stroke outcomes, although how these factors impact basic stroke pathophysiology remains unclear. There is a plethora of inconsistent data reported throughout the literature, primarily due to differences in the species examined, the timing and methods used to evaluate injury, the models used, and confusion regarding differences in stroke incidence as seen in clinical populations vs. effects on acute neuroprotection or neurorepair in experimental stroke models. Sex and gonadal hormone exposure have considerable independent impact on stroke outcome, but these factors also interact with each other, and the contribution of each differs throughout the lifespan. The contribution of sex and hormones to experimental stroke will be the focus of this review. Recent advances and our current understanding of age, sex, and hormone interactions in ischemic stroke with a focus on inflammation will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fudong Liu
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA
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50
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The ACE2 gene: its potential as a functional candidate for cardiovascular disease. Clin Sci (Lond) 2012; 124:65-76. [DOI: 10.1042/cs20120269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The RAS (renin–angiotensin system) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of CVD (cardiovascular disease), and RAS blockade is an important therapeutic strategy in the management of CVD. A new counterbalancing arm of the RAS is now known to exist in which ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) 2 degrades Ang (angiotensin) II, the main effector of the classic RAS, and generates Ang-(1–7). Altered ACE2 expression is associated with cardiac and vascular disease in experimental models of CVD, and ACE2 is increased in failing human hearts and atherosclerotic vessels. In man, circulating ACE2 activity increases with coronary heart disease, as well as heart failure, and a large proportion of the variation in plasma ACE2 levels has been attributed to hereditary factors. The ACE2 gene maps to chromosome Xp22 and this paper reviews the evidence associating ACE2 gene variation with CVD and considers clues to potential functional ACE2 variants that may alter gene expression or transcriptional activity. Studies to date have investigated ACE2 gene associations in hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy and coronary artery disease, but the results have been inconsistent. The discrepancies may reflect the sample size of the studies, the gender or ethnicity of subjects, the cardiovascular phenotype or the ACE2 SNP investigated. The frequent observation of apparent sex-dependence might be of special importance, if confirmed. As yet, there are no studies to concurrently assess ACE2 gene polymorphisms and circulating ACE2 activity. Large-scale carefully conducted clinical studies are urgently needed to clarify more precisely the potential role of ACE2 in the CVD continuum.
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