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Clay S, Alladina J, Smith NP, Visness CM, Wood RA, O'Connor GT, Cohen RT, Khurana Hershey GK, Kercsmar CM, Gruchalla RS, Gill MA, Liu AH, Kim H, Kattan M, Bacharier LB, Rastogi D, Rivera-Spoljaric K, Robison RG, Gergen PJ, Busse WW, Villani AC, Cho JL, Medoff BD, Gern JE, Jackson DJ, Ober C, Dapas M. Gene-based association study of rare variants in children of diverse ancestries implicates TNFRSF21 in the development of allergic asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2024; 153:809-820. [PMID: 37944567 PMCID: PMC10939893 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2023.10.023] [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: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most genetic studies of asthma and allergy have focused on common variation in individuals primarily of European ancestry. Studying the role of rare variation in quantitative phenotypes and in asthma phenotypes in populations of diverse ancestries can provide additional, important insights into the development of these traits. OBJECTIVE We sought to examine the contribution of rare variants to different asthma- or allergy-associated quantitative traits in children with diverse ancestries and explore their role in asthma phenotypes. METHODS We examined whole-genome sequencing data from children participants in longitudinal studies of asthma (n = 1035; parent-identified as 67% Black and 25% Hispanic) to identify rare variants (minor allele frequency < 0.01). We assigned variants to genes and tested for associations using an omnibus variant-set test between each of 24,902 genes and 8 asthma-associated quantitative traits. On combining our results with external data on predicted gene expression in humans and mouse knockout studies, we identified 3 candidate genes. A burden of rare variants in each gene and in a combined 3-gene score was tested for its associations with clinical phenotypes of asthma. Finally, published single-cell gene expression data in lower airway mucosal cells after allergen challenge were used to assess transcriptional responses to allergen. RESULTS Rare variants in USF1 were significantly associated with blood neutrophil count (P = 2.18 × 10-7); rare variants in TNFRSF21 with total IgE (P = 6.47 × 10-6) and PIK3R6 with eosinophil count (P = 4.10 × 10-5) reached suggestive significance. These 3 findings were supported by independent data from human and mouse studies. A burden of rare variants in TNFRSF21 and in a 3-gene score was associated with allergy-related phenotypes in cohorts of children with mild and severe asthma. Furthermore, TNFRSF21 was significantly upregulated in bronchial basal epithelial cells from adults with allergic asthma but not in adults with allergies (but not asthma) after allergen challenge. CONCLUSIONS We report novel associations between rare variants in genes and allergic and inflammatory phenotypes in children with diverse ancestries, highlighting TNFRSF21 as contributing to the development of allergic asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selene Clay
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill.
| | - Jehan Alladina
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - Neal P Smith
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Mass; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, Mass
| | | | - Robert A Wood
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Department, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Md
| | - George T O'Connor
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Mass
| | - Robyn T Cohen
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Mass
| | | | - Carolyn M Kercsmar
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Rebecca S Gruchalla
- Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Tex
| | - Michelle A Gill
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases, St. Louis Children's Hospital, St Louis, Mo
| | - Andrew H Liu
- Breathing Institute, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colo
| | - Haejin Kim
- Allergy and Immunology, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, Mich
| | - Meyer Kattan
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Leonard B Bacharier
- Department of Pediatrics, Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn
| | - Deepa Rastogi
- Division of Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - Katherine Rivera-Spoljaric
- Department of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonary Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
| | - Rachel G Robison
- Department of Pediatrics, Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn; Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, Ill
| | - Peter J Gergen
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, Md
| | - William W Busse
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wis
| | - Alexandra-Chloe Villani
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Mass; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, Mass
| | - Josalyn L Cho
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Occupational Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Benjamin D Medoff
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - James E Gern
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wis
| | - Daniel J Jackson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wis
| | - Carole Ober
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill
| | - Matthew Dapas
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill
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Zhang Z, Guo Q, Ma C, Zhao Z, Shi Q, Yu H, Rao L, Li M. USF1 transcriptionally activates USP14 to drive atherosclerosis by promoting EndMT through NLRC5/Smad2/3 axis. Mol Med 2024; 30:32. [PMID: 38424494 PMCID: PMC10905873 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-024-00798-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transformation (EndMT) plays key roles in endothelial dysfunction during the pathological progression of atherosclerosis; however, its detailed mechanism remains unclear. Herein, we explored the biological function and mechanisms of upstream stimulating factor 1 (USF1) in EndMT during atherosclerosis. METHODS The in vivo and in vitro atherosclerotic models were established in high fat diet-fed ApoE-/- mice and ox-LDL-exposed human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The plaque formation, collagen and lipid deposition, and morphological changes in the aortic tissues were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin (HE), Masson, Oil red O and Verhoeff-Van Gieson (EVG) staining, respectively. EndMT was determined by expression levels of EndMT-related proteins. Target molecule expression was detected by RT-qPCR and Western blotting. The release of pro-inflammatory cytokines was measured by ELISA. Migration of HUVECs was detected by transwell and scratch assays. Molecular mechanism was investigated by dual-luciferase reporter assay, ChIP, and Co-IP assays. RESULTS USF1 was up-regulated in atherosclerosis patients. USF1 knockdown inhibited EndMT by up-regulating CD31 and VE-Cadherin, while down-regulating α-SMA and vimentin, thereby repressing inflammation, and migration in ox-LDL-exposed HUVECs. In addition, USF1 transcriptionally activated ubiquitin-specific protease 14 (USP14), which promoted de-ubiquitination and up-regulation of NLR Family CARD Domain Containing 5 (NLRC5) and subsequent Smad2/3 pathway activation. The inhibitory effect of sh-USF1 or sh-USP14 on EndMT was partly reversed by USP14 or NLRC5 overexpression. Finally, USF1 knockdown delayed atherosclerosis progression via inhibiting EndMT in mice. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate the contribution of the USF1/USP14/NLRC5 axis to atherosclerosis development via promoting EndMT, which provide effective therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwen Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China
- Department of Cardiology, Central China Fuwai Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China
| | - Quan Guo
- Department of Cardiology, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China
- Department of Cardiology, Central China Fuwai Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China
| | - Chao Ma
- Department of Cardiology, Central China Fuwai Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China
| | - Zhenzhou Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, Central China Fuwai Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China
| | - Qingbo Shi
- Department of Cardiology, Central China Fuwai Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China
| | - Haosen Yu
- Department of Cardiology, Central China Fuwai Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China
| | - Lixin Rao
- Department of Cardiology, Central China Fuwai Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China
| | - Muwei Li
- Department of Cardiology, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China.
- Department of Cardiology, Central China Fuwai Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China.
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Sakkers TR, Mokry M, Civelek M, Erdmann J, Pasterkamp G, Diez Benavente E, den Ruijter HM. Sex differences in the genetic and molecular mechanisms of coronary artery disease. Atherosclerosis 2023; 384:117279. [PMID: 37805337 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2023.117279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
Sex differences in coronary artery disease (CAD) presentation, risk factors and prognosis have been widely studied. Similarly, studies on atherosclerosis have shown prominent sex differences in plaque biology. Our understanding of the underlying genetic and molecular mechanisms that drive these differences remains fragmented and largely understudied. Through reviewing genetic and epigenetic studies, we identified more than 40 sex-differential candidate genes (13 within known CAD loci) that may explain, at least in part, sex differences in vascular remodeling, lipid metabolism and endothelial dysfunction. Studies with transcriptomic and single-cell RNA sequencing data from atherosclerotic plaques highlight potential sex differences in smooth muscle cell and endothelial cell biology. Especially, phenotypic switching of smooth muscle cells seems to play a crucial role in female atherosclerosis. This matches the known sex differences in atherosclerotic phenotypes, with men being more prone to lipid-rich plaques, while women are more likely to develop fibrous plaques with endothelial dysfunction. To unravel the complex mechanisms that drive sex differences in CAD, increased statistical power and adjustments to study designs and analysis strategies are required. This entails increasing inclusion rates of women, performing well-defined sex-stratified analyses and the integration of multi-omics data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim R Sakkers
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3508, GA, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Michal Mokry
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3508, GA, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Central Diagnostic Laboratory, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3508, GA, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Mete Civelek
- Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, 1335 Lee St, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, 351 McCormick Road, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Jeanette Erdmann
- Institute for Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Gerard Pasterkamp
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3508, GA, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ernest Diez Benavente
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3508, GA, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Hester M den Ruijter
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3508, GA, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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