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Chang S, Fulmer D, Hur SK, Thorvaldsen JL, Li L, Lan Y, Rhon-Calderon EA, Leu NA, Chen X, Epstein JA, Bartolomei MS. Dysregulated H19/Igf2 expression disrupts cardiac-placental axis during development of Silver-Russell syndrome-like mouse models. eLife 2022; 11:e78754. [PMID: 36441651 PMCID: PMC9704805 DOI: 10.7554/elife.78754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of the imprinted H19/IGF2 locus can lead to Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS) in humans. However, the mechanism of how abnormal H19/IGF2 expression contributes to various SRS phenotypes remains unclear, largely due to incomplete understanding of the developmental functions of these two genes. We previously generated a mouse model with humanized H19/IGF2 imprinting control region (hIC1) on the paternal allele that exhibited H19/Igf2 dysregulation together with SRS-like growth restriction and perinatal lethality. Here, we dissect the role of H19 and Igf2 in cardiac and placental development utilizing multiple mouse models with varying levels of H19 and Igf2. We report severe cardiac defects such as ventricular septal defects and thinned myocardium, placental anomalies including thrombosis and vascular malformations, together with growth restriction in mouse embryos that correlated with the extent of H19/Igf2 dysregulation. Transcriptomic analysis using cardiac endothelial cells of these mouse models shows that H19/Igf2 dysregulation disrupts pathways related to extracellular matrix and proliferation of endothelial cells. Our work links the heart and placenta through regulation by H19 and Igf2, demonstrating that accurate dosage of both H19 and Igf2 is critical for normal embryonic development, especially related to the cardiac-placental axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suhee Chang
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Diana Fulmer
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
- Penn Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Stella K Hur
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Joanne L Thorvaldsen
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Li Li
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
- Penn Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Yemin Lan
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Eric A Rhon-Calderon
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Nicolae Adrian Leu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Xiaowen Chen
- Penn Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Jonathan A Epstein
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
- Penn Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Marisa S Bartolomei
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
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2
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Eggermann T, Yapici E, Bliek J, Pereda A, Begemann M, Russo S, Tannorella P, Calzari L, de Nanclares GP, Lombardi P, Temple IK, Mackay D, Riccio A, Kagami M, Ogata T, Lapunzina P, Monk D, Maher ER, Tümer Z. Trans-acting genetic variants causing multilocus imprinting disturbance (MLID): common mechanisms and consequences. Clin Epigenetics 2022; 14:41. [PMID: 35296332 PMCID: PMC8928698 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-022-01259-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Imprinting disorders are a group of congenital diseases which are characterized by molecular alterations affecting differentially methylated regions (DMRs). To date, at least twelve imprinting disorders have been defined with overlapping but variable clinical features including growth and metabolic disturbances, cognitive dysfunction, abdominal wall defects and asymmetry. In general, a single specific DMR is affected in an individual with a given imprinting disorder, but there are a growing number of reports on individuals with so-called multilocus imprinting disturbances (MLID), where aberrant imprinting marks (most commonly loss of methylation) occur at multiple DMRs. However, as the literature is fragmented, we reviewed the molecular and clinical data of 55 previously reported or newly identified MLID families with putative pathogenic variants in maternal effect genes (NLRP2, NLRP5, NLRP7, KHDC3L, OOEP, PADI6) and in other candidate genes (ZFP57, ARID4A, ZAR1, UHRF1, ZNF445). RESULTS In 55 families, a total of 68 different candidate pathogenic variants were identified (7 in NLRP2, 16 in NLRP5, 7 in NLRP7, 17 in PADI6, 15 in ZFP57, and a single variant in each of the genes ARID4A, ZAR1, OOEP, UHRF1, KHDC3L and ZNF445). Clinical diagnoses of affected offspring included Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome spectrum, Silver-Russell syndrome spectrum, transient neonatal diabetes mellitus, or they were suspected for an imprinting disorder (undiagnosed). Some families had recurrent pregnancy loss. CONCLUSIONS Genomic maternal effect and foetal variants causing MLID allow insights into the mechanisms behind the imprinting cycle of life, and the spatial and temporal function of the different factors involved in oocyte maturation and early development. Further basic research together with identification of new MLID families will enable a better understanding of the link between the different reproductive issues such as recurrent miscarriages and preeclampsia in maternal effect variant carriers/families and aneuploidy and the MLID observed in the offsprings. The current knowledge can already be employed in reproductive and genetic counselling in specific situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Eggermann
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Elzem Yapici
- grid.1957.a0000 0001 0728 696XInstitute of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Jet Bliek
- grid.509540.d0000 0004 6880 3010Department of Human Genetics, Laboratory for Genome Diagnostics, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Arrate Pereda
- grid.468902.10000 0004 1773 0974Molecular (Epi)Genetics Laboratory, Bioaraba Health Research Institute, Hospital Universitario Araba-Txagorritxu, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Alava Spain
| | - Matthias Begemann
- grid.1957.a0000 0001 0728 696XInstitute of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Silvia Russo
- grid.418224.90000 0004 1757 9530Research Laboratory of Medical Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Pierpaola Tannorella
- grid.418224.90000 0004 1757 9530Research Laboratory of Medical Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Luciano Calzari
- grid.418224.90000 0004 1757 9530Research Laboratory of Medical Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Guiomar Perez de Nanclares
- grid.468902.10000 0004 1773 0974Molecular (Epi)Genetics Laboratory, Bioaraba Health Research Institute, Hospital Universitario Araba-Txagorritxu, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Alava Spain
| | - Paola Lombardi
- grid.509540.d0000 0004 6880 3010Department of Human Genetics, Laboratory for Genome Diagnostics, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - I. Karen Temple
- grid.123047.30000000103590315Wessex Clinical Genetics Service, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK ,grid.430506.40000 0004 0465 4079Wessex Clinical Genetics Service, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Deborah Mackay
- grid.430506.40000 0004 0465 4079Wessex Clinical Genetics Service, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Andrea Riccio
- grid.9841.40000 0001 2200 8888Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania ‘Luigi Vanvitelli’, Caserta, Italy ,grid.419869.b0000 0004 1758 2860Institute of Genetics and Biophysics ‘Adriano Buzzati–Traverso’ CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Masayo Kagami
- grid.63906.3a0000 0004 0377 2305Department of Molecular Endocrinology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Ohkura, Setagayaku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Ogata
- grid.413553.50000 0004 1772 534XDepartment of Pediatrics, Hamamatsu Medical Center, Hamamatsu, Japan ,grid.505613.40000 0000 8937 6696Department of Biochemistry, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Pablo Lapunzina
- grid.81821.320000 0000 8970 9163CIBERER-ISCIII and INGEMM, Institute of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain ,ERN-Ithaca, European Reference Networks, Madrid, Spain
| | - David Monk
- grid.8273.e0000 0001 1092 7967School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Eamonn R. Maher
- grid.24029.3d0000 0004 0383 8386Department of Medical Genetics, University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ UK ,grid.24029.3d0000 0004 0383 8386Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ UK
| | - Zeynep Tümer
- grid.475435.4Department of Clinical Genetics, Kennedy Center, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark ,grid.5254.60000 0001 0674 042XDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Eggermann T. Maternal Effect Mutations: A Novel Cause for Human Reproductive Failure. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2021; 81:780-788. [PMID: 34294945 PMCID: PMC8288500 DOI: 10.1055/a-1396-4390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic alterations significantly contribute to the aetiology of reproductive failure and comprise monogenic, chromosomal and epigenetic disturbances. The implementation of next-generation sequencing (NGS) based approaches in research and diagnostics allows the comprehensive analysis of these genetic causes, and the increasing detection rates of genetic mutations causing reproductive complications confirm the potential of the new techniques. Whereas mutations affecting the fetal genome are well known to affect pregnancies and their outcome, the contribution of alterations of the maternal genome was widely unclear. With the recent mainly NGS-based identification of maternal effect variants, a new cause of human reproductive failure has been identified. Maternal effect mutations affect the expression of subcortical maternal complex (SCMC) proteins from the maternal genome, and thereby disturb oocyte maturation and progression of the early embryo. They cause a broad range of reproductive failures and pregnancy complications, including infertility, miscarriages, hydatidiform moles, aneuploidies and imprinting disturbances in the fetus. The identification of women carrying these molecular alterations in SCMC encoding genes is therefore essential for a personalised reproductive and genetic counselling. The diagnostic application of new NGS-based assays allows the comprehensive analysis of these factors, and helps to further decipher these functional links between the factors and their disturbances. A close interdisciplinary collaboration between different disciplines is definitely required to further decipher the complex regulation of early embryo development, and to translate the basic research results into clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Eggermann
- Institute of Human Genetics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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4
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Pignata L, Sparago A, Palumbo O, Andreucci E, Lapi E, Tenconi R, Carella M, Riccio A, Cerrato F. Mosaic Segmental and Whole-Chromosome Upd(11)mat in Silver-Russell Syndrome. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12040581. [PMID: 33923683 PMCID: PMC8073375 DOI: 10.3390/genes12040581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular defects altering the expression of the imprinted genes of the 11p15.5 cluster are responsible for the etiology of two congenital disorders characterized by opposite growth disturbances, Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS), associated with growth restriction, and Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS), associated with overgrowth. At the molecular level, SRS and BWS are characterized by defects of opposite sign, including loss (LoM) or gain (GoM) of methylation at the H19/IGF2:intergenic differentially methylated region (H19/IGF2:IG-DMR), maternal or paternal duplication (dup) of 11p15.5, maternal (mat) or paternal (pat) uniparental disomy (upd), and gain or loss of function mutations of CDKN1C. However, while upd(11)pat is found in 20% of BWS cases and in the majority of them it is segmental, upd(11)mat is extremely rare, being reported in only two SRS cases to date, and in both of them is extended to the whole chromosome. Here, we report on two novel cases of mosaic upd(11)mat with SRS phenotype. The upd is mosaic and isodisomic in both cases but covers the entire chromosome in one case and is restricted to 11p14.1-pter in the other case. The segmental upd(11)mat adds further to the list of molecular defects of opposite sign in SRS and BWS, making these two imprinting disorders even more specular than previously described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Pignata
- Department of Environmental Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (L.P.); (A.S.); (F.C.)
| | - Angela Sparago
- Department of Environmental Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (L.P.); (A.S.); (F.C.)
| | - Orazio Palumbo
- Division of Medical Genetics, Fondazione IRCCS “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza”, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; (O.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Elena Andreucci
- Medical Genetics Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital, 50139 Firenze, Italy; (E.A.); (E.L.)
| | - Elisabetta Lapi
- Medical Genetics Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital, 50139 Firenze, Italy; (E.A.); (E.L.)
| | - Romano Tenconi
- Department of Pediatrics, Clinical Genetics, Università di Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy;
| | - Massimo Carella
- Division of Medical Genetics, Fondazione IRCCS “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza”, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; (O.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Andrea Riccio
- Department of Environmental Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (L.P.); (A.S.); (F.C.)
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics (IGB) “Adriano Buzzati-Traverso”, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), 80131 Napoli, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Flavia Cerrato
- Department of Environmental Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (L.P.); (A.S.); (F.C.)
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5
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Abstract
Abstract
Genomic imprinting ensures the parent-specific expression of either the maternal or the paternal allele, by different epigenetic processes (DNA methylation and histone modifications) that confer parent-specific marks (imprints) in the paternal and maternal germline, respectively. Most protein-coding imprinted genes are involved in embryonic growth, development, and behavior. They are usually organized in genomic domains that are regulated by differentially methylated regions (DMRs). Genomic imprints are erased in the primordial germ cells and then reset in a gene-specific manner according to the sex of the germline. The imprinted genes regulate and interact with other genes, consistent with the existence of an imprinted gene network. Defects of genomic imprinting result in syndromal imprinting disorders. To date a dozen congenital imprinting disorders are known. Usually, a given imprinting disorder can be caused by different types of defects, including point mutations, deletions/duplications, uniparental disomy, and epimutations. Causative trans-acting factors in imprinting disorders, including ZFP57 and the subcortical maternal complex (SCMC), have the potential to affect multiple DMRs across the genome, resulting in a multi-locus imprinting disturbance. There is evidence that mutations in components of the SCMC can confer an increased risk for imprinting disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Prawitt
- Center for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine , University Medical Centre Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz , Obere Zahlbacher Str. 63 , Mainz , Germany
| | - Thomas Haaf
- Institute of Human Genetics , Julius Maximilians University , Würzburg , Germany
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Brück J, Begemann M, Dey D, Elbracht M, Eggermann T. Molecular characterization of temple syndrome families with 14q32 epimutations. Eur J Med Genet 2020; 63:104077. [PMID: 33010492 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2020.104077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Temple Syndrome (TS14) is an imprinting disorder caused by molecular disruptions of the imprinted region in 14q32 (MEG3:TSS-DMR). The frequency of the three known TS14 subtypes (deletions, maternal uniparental disomy (upd(14)mat), loss of methylation (LOM)) is currently in discussion, and within the LOM group, the occurrence of Multilocus Imprinting Disturbances (MLID) has been identified. We present 16 TS14 patients with molecular alterations affecting the MEG3:TSS-DMR, comprising seven patients (43.8%) with LOM, six carriers with upd(14)mat (37.5%), and three cases (18.8%) with a deletion affecting the paternal MEG3:TSS-DMR. We did not find any evidence for MLID in the LOM group, including two cases in which different tissues were available. Whole exome sequencing (WES) in the MEG3:TSS-DMR LOM patients and their parents (Trio WES) did not reveal an obvious pathogenic variant which might cause aberrant methylation at imprinted loci. By summarizing our data with those from the literature, we could show that MLID affecting clinically relevant imprinted loci is rare in TS14 and therefore differs markedly from other imprinting disorders associated with MLID, e.g. Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS) and Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS). However, consistent with the clinical overlap with TS14, in SRS patients carrying MLID the MEG3:TSS-DMR is frequently affected. Variants in the known candidate genes for maternal effect variants causing MLID and fetal MLID determinants could not be identified in TS14 patients. Thus, 14q32 epimutations probably have other molecular causes than epimutations in BWS or SRS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Brück
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Matthias Begemann
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Daniela Dey
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Miriam Elbracht
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Thomas Eggermann
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
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7
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DNA Methylation in the Diagnosis of Monogenic Diseases. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11040355. [PMID: 32224912 PMCID: PMC7231024 DOI: 10.3390/genes11040355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation in the human genome is largely programmed and shaped by transcription factor binding and interaction between DNA methyltransferases and histone marks during gamete and embryo development. Normal methylation profiles can be modified at single or multiple loci, more frequently as consequences of genetic variants acting in cis or in trans, or in some cases stochastically or through interaction with environmental factors. For many developmental disorders, specific methylation patterns or signatures can be detected in blood DNA. The recent use of high-throughput assays investigating the whole genome has largely increased the number of diseases for which DNA methylation analysis provides information for their diagnosis. Here, we review the methylation abnormalities that have been associated with mono/oligogenic diseases, their relationship with genotype and phenotype and relevance for diagnosis, as well as the limitations in their use and interpretation of results.
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8
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Elbracht M, Mackay D, Begemann M, Kagan KO, Eggermann T. Disturbed genomic imprinting and its relevance for human reproduction: causes and clinical consequences. Hum Reprod Update 2020; 26:197-213. [DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmz045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Human reproductive issues affecting fetal and maternal health are caused by numerous exogenous and endogenous factors, of which the latter undoubtedly include genetic changes. Pathogenic variants in either maternal or offspring DNA are associated with effects on the offspring including clinical disorders and nonviable outcomes. Conversely, both fetal and maternal factors can affect maternal health during pregnancy. Recently, it has become evident that mammalian reproduction is influenced by genomic imprinting, an epigenetic phenomenon that regulates the expression of genes according to their parent from whom they are inherited. About 1% of human genes are normally expressed from only the maternally or paternally inherited gene copy. Since numerous imprinted genes are involved in (embryonic) growth and development, disturbance of their balanced expression can adversely affect these processes.
OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE
This review summarises current our understanding of genomic imprinting in relation to human ontogenesis and pregnancy and its relevance for reproductive medicine.
SEARCH METHODS
Literature databases (Pubmed, Medline) were thoroughly searched for the role of imprinting in human reproductive failure. In particular, the terms ‘multilocus imprinting disturbances, SCMC, NLRP/NALP, imprinting and reproduction’ were used in various combinations.
OUTCOMES
A range of molecular changes to specific groups of imprinted genes are associated with imprinting disorders, i.e. syndromes with recognisable clinical features including distinctive prenatal features. Whereas the majority of affected individuals exhibit alterations at single imprinted loci, some have multi-locus imprinting disturbances (MLID) with less predictable clinical features. Imprinting disturbances are also seen in some nonviable pregnancy outcomes, such as (recurrent) hydatidiform moles, which can therefore be regarded as a severe form of imprinting disorders. There is growing evidence that MLID can be caused by variants in the maternal genome altering the imprinting status of the oocyte and the embryo, i.e. maternal effect mutations. Pregnancies of women carrying maternal affect mutations can have different courses, ranging from miscarriages to birth of children with clinical features of various imprinting disorders.
WIDER IMPLICATIONS
Increasing understanding of imprinting disturbances and their clinical consequences have significant impacts on diagnostics, counselling and management in the context of human reproduction. Defining criteria for identifying pregnancies complicated by imprinting disorders facilitates early diagnosis and personalised management of both the mother and offspring. Identifying the molecular lesions underlying imprinting disturbances (e.g. maternal effect mutations) allows targeted counselling of the family and focused medical care in further pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Elbracht
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Deborah Mackay
- Human Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Matthias Begemann
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Karl Oliver Kagan
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Eggermann
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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Sparago A, Verma A, Patricelli MG, Pignata L, Russo S, Calzari L, De Francesco N, Del Prete R, Palumbo O, Carella M, Mackay DJG, Rezwan FI, Angelini C, Cerrato F, Cubellis MV, Riccio A. The phenotypic variations of multi-locus imprinting disturbances associated with maternal-effect variants of NLRP5 range from overt imprinting disorder to apparently healthy phenotype. Clin Epigenetics 2019; 11:190. [PMID: 31829238 PMCID: PMC6907351 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-019-0760-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A subset of individuals affected by imprinting disorders displays multi-locus imprinting disturbances (MLID). MLID has been associated with maternal-effect variants that alter the maintenance of methylation at germline-derived differentially methylated regions (gDMRs) in early embryogenesis. Pedigrees of individuals with MLID also include siblings with healthy phenotype. However, it is unknown if these healthy individuals have MLID themselves or if their methylation patterns differ from those associated with imprinting disorders, and in general, if MLID affects the clinical phenotype. METHODS We have investigated gDMR methylation by locus-specific and whole-genome analyses in a family with multiple pregnancy losses, a child with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) and a further child with no clinical diagnosis of imprinting disorder or other pathologies. RESULTS We detected MLID with different methylation profiles in the BWS-affected and healthy siblings. Whole-exome sequencing demonstrated the presence of novel loss-of-function variants of NLRP5 in compound heterozygosity in the mother. The methylation profiles of the two siblings were compared with those of other cases with MLID and control groups by principal component analysis and unsupervised hierarchical clustering, but while their patterns were clearly separated from those of controls, we were unable to cluster those associated with specific clinical phenotypes among the MLID cases. CONCLUSION The identification of two novel maternal-effect variants of NLRP5 associated with poly-abortivity and MLID adds further evidence to the role of this gene in the maintenance of genomic imprinting in early embryos. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that within these pedigrees, MLID can also be present in the progeny with healthy phenotype, indicating that some sort of compensation occurs between altered imprinted loci in these individuals. The analysis of larger cohorts of patients with MLID is needed to formulate more accurate epigenotype-phenotype correlations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Sparago
- 0000 0001 2200 8888grid.9841.4Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
| | - Ankit Verma
- 0000 0001 2200 8888grid.9841.4Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy ,0000 0004 1758 2860grid.419869.bInstitute of Genetics and Biophysics (IGB) “Adriano Buzzati-Traverso”, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Patricelli
- 0000000417581884grid.18887.3eMolecular Biology and Citogenetics, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Pignata
- 0000 0001 2200 8888grid.9841.4Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
| | - Silvia Russo
- 0000 0004 1757 9530grid.418224.9Medical Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Centro di Ricerche e Tecnologie Biomediche IRCCS, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Luciano Calzari
- 0000 0004 1757 9530grid.418224.9Medical Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Centro di Ricerche e Tecnologie Biomediche IRCCS, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Naomi De Francesco
- 0000 0001 2200 8888grid.9841.4Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
| | - Rosita Del Prete
- 0000 0001 2200 8888grid.9841.4Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
| | - Orazio Palumbo
- 0000 0004 1757 9135grid.413503.0Medical Genetics Unit, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, FG Italy
| | - Massimo Carella
- 0000 0004 1757 9135grid.413503.0Medical Genetics Unit, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, FG Italy
| | - Deborah J. G. Mackay
- 0000 0004 1936 9297grid.5491.9Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Faisal I. Rezwan
- 0000 0004 1936 9297grid.5491.9Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Claudia Angelini
- 0000 0001 1940 4177grid.5326.2Institute for Applied Mathematics “Mauro Picone” (IAC), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Napoli, Italy
| | - Flavia Cerrato
- 0000 0001 2200 8888grid.9841.4Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Riccio
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy. .,Institute of Genetics and Biophysics (IGB) "Adriano Buzzati-Traverso", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Naples, Italy.
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10
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Wesseler K, Kraft F, Eggermann T. Molecular and Clinical Opposite Findings in 11p15.5 Associated Imprinting Disorders: Characterization of Basic Mechanisms to Improve Clinical Management. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20174219. [PMID: 31466347 PMCID: PMC6747273 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20174219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Revised: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Silver-Russell and Beckwith-Wiedemann syndromes (SRS, BWS) are rare congenital human disorders characterized by opposite growth disturbances. With the increasing knowledge on the molecular basis of SRS and BWS, it has become obvious that the disorders mirror opposite alterations at the same genomic loci in 11p15.5. In fact, these changes directly or indirectly affect the expression of IGF2 and CDKN1C and their associated pathways, and thereby, cause growth disturbances as key features of both diseases. The increase of knowledge has become possible with the development and implementation of new and comprehensive assays. Whereas, in the beginning molecular testing was restricted to single chromosomal loci, many tests now address numerous loci in the same run, and the diagnostic implementation of (epi)genome wide assays is only a question of time. These high-throughput approaches will be complemented by the analysis of other omic datasets (e.g., transcriptome, metabolome, proteome), and it can be expected that the integration of these data will massively improve the understanding of the pathobiology of imprinting disorders and their diagnostics. Especially long-read sequencing methods, e.g., nanopore sequencing, allowing direct detection of native DNA modification, will strongly contribute to a better understanding of genomic imprinting in the near future. Thereby, new genomic loci and types of pathogenic variants will be identified, resulting in more precise discrimination into different molecular subgroups. These subgroups serve as the basis for (epi)genotype-phenotype correlations, allowing a more directed prognosis, counseling, and therapy. By deciphering the pathophysiological consequences of SRS and BWS and their molecular disturbances, future therapies will be available targeting the basic cause of the disease and respective pathomechanisms and will complement conventional therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Wesseler
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital, Technical University Aachen (RWTH), 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Florian Kraft
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital, Technical University Aachen (RWTH), 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Thomas Eggermann
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital, Technical University Aachen (RWTH), 52074 Aachen, Germany.
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