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Zeng Y, Jain R, Lam M, Ahmed M, Guo H, Xu W, Zhong Y, Wei GH, Xu W, He HH. DNA methylation modulated genetic variant effect on gene transcriptional regulation. Genome Biol 2023; 24:285. [PMID: 38066556 PMCID: PMC10709945 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-03130-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analysis has emerged as an important tool in elucidating the link between genetic variants and gene expression, thereby bridging the gap between risk SNPs and associated diseases. We recently identified and validated a specific case where the methylation of a CpG site influences the relationship between the genetic variant and gene expression. RESULTS Here, to systematically evaluate this regulatory mechanism, we develop an extended eQTL mapping method, termed DNA methylation modulated eQTL (memo-eQTL). Applying this memo-eQTL mapping method to 128 normal prostate samples enables identification of 1063 memo-eQTLs, the majority of which are not recognized as conventional eQTLs in the same cohort. We observe that the methylation of the memo-eQTL CpG sites can either enhance or insulate the interaction between SNP and gene expression by altering CTCF-based chromatin 3D structure. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates the prevalence of memo-eQTLs paving the way to identify novel causal genes for traits or diseases associated with genetic variations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Zeng
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.
| | - Rahi Jain
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Magnus Lam
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Musaddeque Ahmed
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Haiyang Guo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, the Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, Shandong, China
| | - Wenjie Xu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuan Zhong
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Gong-Hong Wei
- MOE Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Biocenter Oulu & Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Wei Xu
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Housheng Hansen He
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
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Zheng J, Wang X, Li J, Wu Y, Chang J, Xin J, Wang M, Wang T, Wei Q, Wang M, Zhang R. Rare variants confer shared susceptibility to gastrointestinal tract cancer risk. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1161639. [PMID: 37483484 PMCID: PMC10358854 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1161639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cancers arising within the gastrointestinal tract are complex disorders involving genetic events that cause the conversion of normal tissue to premalignant lesions and malignancy. Shared genetic features are reported in epithelial-based gastrointestinal cancers which indicate common susceptibility among this group of malignancies. In addition, the contribution of rare variants may constitute parts of genetic susceptibility. Methods A cross-cancer analysis of 38,171 shared rare genetic variants from genome-wide association assays was conducted, which included data from 3,194 cases and 1,455 controls across three cancer sites (esophageal, gastric and colorectal). The SNP-level association was performed by multivariate logistic regression analyses for single cancer, followed by association analysis for SubSETs (ASSET) to adjust the bias of overlapping controls. Gene-level analyses were conducted by SKAT-O, with multiple comparison adjustments by false discovery rate (FDR). Based on the significant genes indicated by SKATO analysis, pathways analysis was conducted using Gene Ontology (GO), the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Reactome databases. Results Meta-analysis in three gastrointestinal (GI) cancers identified 13 novel susceptibility loci that reached genome-wide significance (P ASSET< 5×10-8). SKAT-O analysis revealed EXOC6, LRP5L and MIR1263/LINC01324 to be significant genes shared by GI cancers (P adj<0.05, P FDR<0.05). Furthermore, GO pathway analysis identified significant enrichment of synaptic transmission and neuron development pathways shared by all three cancer types. Conclusion Rare variants and the corresponding genes potentially contribute to shared susceptibility in different GI cancer types. The discovery of these novel variants and genes offers new insights for the carcinogenic mechanisms and missing heritability of GI cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Zheng
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Office of Cancer Screening, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jingrao Li
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuanna Wu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Jiang Chang
- Department of Health Toxicology, Key Laboratory for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Junyi Xin
- Department of Environmental Genomics, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Genetic Toxicology, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Meilin Wang
- Department of Environmental Genomics, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Genetic Toxicology, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Tianpei Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qingyi Wei
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Mengyun Wang
- Yiwu Research Institute of Fudan University, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China
- Cancer Institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruoxin Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Yiwu Research Institute of Fudan University, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China
- Cancer Institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
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Anbarasu S, Anbarasu A. Cancer-biomarkers associated with sex hormone receptors and recent therapeutic advancements: a comprehensive review. Med Oncol 2023; 40:171. [PMID: 37162589 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-023-02044-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Hormones and its regulation plays vital role in causing breast, prostate, ovarian and endometrial cancers collectively known as hormone-sensitive cancers. This review discusses the various functions of the sex hormones and the biological pathways involved in causing hormone-associated cancer under differential regulation. We have also attempted to explore the biomarkers associated with the cancers and the current therapeutic availability to treat such cancers. Among various sex hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and androgen, estrogen the female sex hormone and its receptor had a major contribution in causing cancer and hence are considered a predominant target in treating the associated cancers. Other hormones and receptors such a androgen, progesterone, and their respective receptors were also reported to have a significant correlation in causing cancers. Apart from these receptors certain enzymes that act as precursors or as promoters are also targeted for treatment strategies. The drugs commonly used belong to the selective drug classes such as selective estrogen receptor modulators and selective progesterone receptor modulators. In the case of androgen regulation androgen deprivation therapies are practiced. It is also suggested that the use of natural substances to treat cancer could prevent resistance and reduce side effects. Identification of significant targets and the discovery of many efficient drugs shall be possible in the future with better understanding of hormone regulation and its influence on cancer causative mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suvitha Anbarasu
- Medical and Biological Computing Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, School of Biosciences and Technology (SBST), Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632014, India
| | - Anand Anbarasu
- Medical and Biological Computing Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, School of Biosciences and Technology (SBST), Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632014, India.
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