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Yi X, Liu J, Zang E, Tian Y, Liu J, Shi L. Exploring a Hirudin variant from nonhematophagous leeches: Unraveling full-length sequence, alternative splicing, function, and potential as a novel anticoagulant polypeptide. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 330:118257. [PMID: 38677578 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Leeches exhibit robust anticoagulant activity, making them useful for treating cardiovascular diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. Whitmania pigra, the primary source species of leech-derived medicinal compounds in China, has been demonstrated to possess formidable anticoagulant properties. Hirudin-like peptides, recognized as potent thrombin inhibitors, are prevalent in hematophagous leeches. Considering that W. pigra is a nonhematophagic leech, the following question arises: does a hirudin variant exist in this species? AIM OF THE STUDY In this study we identified the hirudin-encoding gene (WP_HV1) in the W. pigra genome. The goal of this study was to assess its anticoagulant activity and analyze the related mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study, a hirudin-encoding gene, WP_HV1, was identified from the W. pigra genome, and its accurate coding sequence (CDS) was validated through cloning from cDNA extracted from fresh W. pigra specimens. The structure of WP_HV1 and the amino acids associated with its anticoagulant activity were determined by sequence and structural analysis and prediction of its binding energy to thrombin. E. coli was used for the expression of WP_HV1 and recombinant proteins with various structures and mutants. The anticoagulant activity of the synthesized recombinant proteins was then confirmed using thrombin time (TT). RESULTS Validation of the WP_HV1 gene was accomplished, and three alternative splices were discovered. The TT of the blank sample exceeded that of the recombinant WP_HV1 sample by 1.74 times (0.05 mg/ml), indicating positive anticoagulant activity. The anticoagulant activity of WP_HV1 was found to be associated with its C-terminal tyrosine, along with the presence of 9 acidic amino acids on both the left and right sides. A significant reduction in the corresponding TT was observed for the mutated amino acids compared to those of the wild type, with decreases of 4.8, 6.6, and 3.9 s, respectively. In addition, the anticoagulant activity of WP_HV1 was enhanced and prolonged for 2.7 s when the lysine-67 residue was mutated to tryptophan. CONCLUSION Only one hirudin-encoding variant was identified in W. pigra. The active amino acids associated with anticoagulation in WP_HV1 were resolved and validated, revealing a novel source for screening and developing new anticoagulant drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaozhe Yi
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China; Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jiali Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China; Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Erhuan Zang
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China; Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yu Tian
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Study and Exploitation of Chinese Medicine, Chengde Medical University, Chengde 067000, China
| | - Jinxin Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China; Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Linchun Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China; Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100193, China.
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Semenikhina M, Fedoriuk M, Stefanenko M, Klemens CA, Cherezova A, Marshall B, Hall G, Levchenko V, Solanki A, Lipschutz JH, Ilatovskaya DV, Staruschenko A, Palygin O. β-Arrestin pathway activation by selective ATR1 agonism promotes calcium influx in podocytes, leading to glomerular damage. Clin Sci (Lond) 2023; 137:1789-1804. [PMID: 38051199 PMCID: PMC11194114 DOI: 10.1042/cs20230313] [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: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are the first-line treatment for hypertension; they act by inhibiting signaling through the angiotensin 1 receptor (AT1R). Recently, a novel biased AT1R agonist, TRV120027 (TRV), which selectively activates the β-arrestin cascade and blocks the G-protein-coupled receptor pathway has been proposed as a potential blood pressure medication. Here, we explored the effects of TRV and associated β-arrestin signaling in podocytes, essential cells of the kidney filter. We used human podocyte cell lines to determine β-arrestin's involvement in calcium signaling and cytoskeletal reorganization and Dahl SS rats to investigate the chronic effects of TRV administration on glomerular health. Our experiments indicate that the TRV-activated β-arrestin pathway promotes the rapid elevation of intracellular Ca2+ in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, the amplitude of β-arrestin-mediated Ca2+ influx was significantly higher than the response to similar Ang II concentrations. Single-channel analyses show rapid activation of transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels following acute TRV application. Furthermore, the pharmacological blockade of TRPC6 significantly attenuated the β-arrestin-mediated Ca2+ influx. Additionally, prolonged activation of the β-arrestin pathway in podocytes resulted in pathological actin cytoskeleton rearrangements, higher apoptotic cell markers, and augmented glomerular damage. TRV-activated β-arrestin signaling in podocytes may promote TRPC6 channel-mediated Ca2+ influx, foot process effacement, and apoptosis, possibly leading to severe defects in glomerular filtration barrier integrity and kidney health. Under these circumstances, the potential therapeutic application of TRV for hypertension treatment requires further investigation to assess the balance of the benefits versus possible deleterious effects and off-target damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marharyta Semenikhina
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Mykhailo Fedoriuk
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Mariia Stefanenko
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Christine A. Klemens
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
- Hypertension and Kidney Research Center, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
| | - Alena Cherezova
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, GA
| | - Brendan Marshall
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, GA
| | - Gentzon Hall
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC
| | - Vladislav Levchenko
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
| | - Ashish Solanki
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Joshua H. Lipschutz
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
- Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, SC
| | | | - Alexander Staruschenko
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
- Hypertension and Kidney Research Center, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
- James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital, Tampa, FL
| | - Oleg Palygin
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
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Smith C, Burugula BB, Dunn I, Aradhya S, Kitzman JO, Yee JL. High-Throughput Splicing Assays Identify Known and Novel WT1 Exon 9 Variants in Nephrotic Syndrome. Kidney Int Rep 2023; 8:2117-2125. [PMID: 37850022 PMCID: PMC10577367 DOI: 10.1016/j.ekir.2023.07.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Frasier syndrome (FS) is a rare Mendelian form of nephrotic syndrome (NS) caused by variants which disrupt the proper splicing of WT1. This key transcription factor gene is alternatively spliced at exon 9 to produce 2 isoforms ("KTS+" and "KTS-"), which are normally expressed in the kidney at a ∼2:1 (KTS+:KTS-) ratio. FS results from variants that reduce this ratio by disrupting the splice donor of the KTS+ isoform. FS is extremely rare, and it is unclear whether any variants beyond the 8 already known could cause FS. Methods To prospectively identify other splicing-disruptive variants, we leveraged a massively parallel splicing assay. We tested every possible single nucleotide variant (n = 519) in and around WT1 exon 9 for effects upon exon inclusion and KTS+/- ratio. Results Splice disruptive variants (SDVs) made up 11% of the tested point variants overall and were tightly concentrated near the canonical acceptor and the KTS+/- alternate donors. Our map successfully identified all 8 known FS or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) variants and 16 additional novel variants which were comparably disruptive to these known pathogenic variants. We also identified 19 variants that, conversely, increased the KTS+/KTS- ratio, of which 2 are observed in unrelated individuals with 46,XX ovotesticular disorder of sex development (46,XX OTDSD). Conclusion This splicing effect map can serve as functional evidence to guide the clinical interpretation of newly observed variants in and around WT1 exon 9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathy Smith
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Bala Bharathi Burugula
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Ian Dunn
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Jacob O. Kitzman
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jennifer Lai Yee
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Nephrology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Sloane P, Hunter JD, Lin JJ, Chen A. Simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplantation in a patient with nail-patella syndrome and insulin-dependent diabetes. Pediatr Nephrol 2022; 38:1985-1989. [PMID: 36434354 DOI: 10.1007/s00467-022-05817-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nail-patella syndrome (NPS) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder caused by a mutation in LIM-homeodomain transcription factor 1-beta (LMX1B) and characterized by nail dystrophy, skeletal changes, glaucoma, and kidney disease with up to 30% of patients progressing to kidney failure. Autoimmune diseases, including thyroid disease, have been reported previously in patients with NPS. CASE-DIAGNOSIS/TREATMENT We report the case of a pediatric patient with NPS with kidney failure, hypothyroidism, and type 1 diabetes mellitus. The patient's pedigree and identification of a kidney specific mutation in LMX1B was a result of whole exome sequencing. Clinical data was obtained from retrospective chart review and included the 1-year post-transplant follow-up period. At 15 years of age, our patient received a simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation, from a 3 HLA antigen mismatched deceased donor. The donor was CMV + , EBV - and our patient was CMV - , EBV - at time of transplant. Our patient maintained normal kidney function and euglycemia without insulin therapy at 1 year post-transplant. CONCLUSIONS The patient's hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, and kidney failure may all be related to LMX1B mutation. Further study is needed to clarify the genetic link between these processes. Simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation can be used to successfully treat diabetes mellitus and kidney failure in a pediatric patient.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Janel Darcy Hunter
- Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Jen-Jar Lin
- Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Ashton Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
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Lane BM, Murray S, Benson K, Bierzynska A, Chryst-Stangl M, Wang L, Wu G, Cavalleri G, Doyle B, Fennelly N, Dorman A, Conlon S, Vega-Warner V, Fermin D, Vijayan P, Qureshi MA, Shril S, Barua M, Hildebrandt F, Pollak M, Howell D, Sampson MG, Saleem M, Conlon PJ, Spurney R, Gbadegesin R. A Rare Autosomal Dominant Variant in Regulator of Calcineurin Type 1 ( RCAN1) Gene Confers Enhanced Calcineurin Activity and May Cause FSGS. J Am Soc Nephrol 2021; 32:1682-1695. [PMID: 33863784 PMCID: PMC8425665 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2020081234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Podocyte dysfunction is the main pathologic mechanism driving the development of FSGS and other morphologic types of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS). Despite significant progress, the genetic causes of most cases of SRNS have yet to be identified. METHODS Whole-genome sequencing was performed on 320 individuals from 201 families with familial and sporadic NS/FSGS with no pathogenic mutations in any known NS/FSGS genes. RESULTS Two variants in the gene encoding regulator of calcineurin type 1 (RCAN1) segregate with disease in two families with autosomal dominant FSGS/SRNS. In vitro, loss of RCAN1 reduced human podocyte viability due to increased calcineurin activity. Cells expressing mutant RCAN1 displayed increased calcineurin activity and NFAT activation that resulted in increased susceptibility to apoptosis compared with wild-type RCAN1. Treatment with GSK-3 inhibitors ameliorated this elevated calcineurin activity, suggesting the mutation alters the balance of RCAN1 regulation by GSK-3β, resulting in dysregulated calcineurin activity and apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest mutations in RCAN1 can cause autosomal dominant FSGS. Despite the widespread use of calcineurin inhibitors in the treatment of NS, genetic mutations in a direct regulator of calcineurin have not been implicated in the etiology of NS/FSGS before this report. The findings highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting RCAN1 regulatory molecules, such as GSK-3β, in the treatment of FSGS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon M. Lane
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Susan Murray
- Irish Kidney Gene Project, Department of Genetics, Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Katherine Benson
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Agnieszka Bierzynska
- Department of Pediatrics, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Megan Chryst-Stangl
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Liming Wang
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Guanghong Wu
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Gianpiero Cavalleri
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Brendan Doyle
- Department of Pathology, Beaumont General Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Neil Fennelly
- Department of Pathology, Beaumont General Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Anthony Dorman
- Department of Pathology, Beaumont General Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Shane Conlon
- Irish Kidney Gene Project, Department of Genetics, Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | | | - Damian Fermin
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Poornima Vijayan
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto and Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mohammad Azfar Qureshi
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto and Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shirlee Shril
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard University Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Moumita Barua
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto and Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Friedhelm Hildebrandt
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard University Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Martin Pollak
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Hospital and Harvard University Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - David Howell
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Matthew G. Sampson
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard University Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Moin Saleem
- Department of Pediatrics, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Peter J. Conlon
- Irish Kidney Gene Project, Department of Genetics, Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Beaumont General Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Robert Spurney
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Rasheed Gbadegesin
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
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Bondue T, Arcolino FO, Veys KRP, Adebayo OC, Levtchenko E, van den Heuvel LP, Elmonem MA. Urine-Derived Epithelial Cells as Models for Genetic Kidney Diseases. Cells 2021; 10:cells10061413. [PMID: 34204173 PMCID: PMC8230018 DOI: 10.3390/cells10061413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial cells exfoliated in human urine can include cells anywhere from the urinary tract and kidneys; however, podocytes and proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs) are by far the most relevant cell types for the study of genetic kidney diseases. When maintained in vitro, they have been proven extremely valuable for discovering disease mechanisms and for the development of new therapies. Furthermore, cultured patient cells can individually represent their human sources and their specific variants for personalized medicine studies, which are recently gaining much interest. In this review, we summarize the methodology for establishing human podocyte and PTEC cell lines from urine and highlight their importance as kidney disease cell models. We explore the well-established and recent techniques of cell isolation, quantification, immortalization and characterization, and we describe their current and future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tjessa Bondue
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (T.B.); (F.O.A.); (K.R.P.V.); (O.C.A.); (E.L.); (L.P.v.d.H.)
| | - Fanny O. Arcolino
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (T.B.); (F.O.A.); (K.R.P.V.); (O.C.A.); (E.L.); (L.P.v.d.H.)
| | - Koenraad R. P. Veys
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (T.B.); (F.O.A.); (K.R.P.V.); (O.C.A.); (E.L.); (L.P.v.d.H.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Nephrology, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Oyindamola C. Adebayo
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (T.B.); (F.O.A.); (K.R.P.V.); (O.C.A.); (E.L.); (L.P.v.d.H.)
- Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elena Levtchenko
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (T.B.); (F.O.A.); (K.R.P.V.); (O.C.A.); (E.L.); (L.P.v.d.H.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Nephrology, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lambertus P. van den Heuvel
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (T.B.); (F.O.A.); (K.R.P.V.); (O.C.A.); (E.L.); (L.P.v.d.H.)
- Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mohamed A. Elmonem
- Department of Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo 11628, Egypt
- Correspondence:
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Moazzeni H, Khani M, Elahi E. Insights into the regulatory molecules involved in glaucoma pathogenesis. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS PART C-SEMINARS IN MEDICAL GENETICS 2020; 184:782-827. [PMID: 32935930 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.31833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Glaucoma is an important cause of irreversible blindness, characterized by optic nerve anomalies. Increased intraocular pressure (IOP) and aging are major risk factors. Retinal ganglion cells and trabecular meshwork cells are certainly involved in the etiology of glaucoma. Glaucoma is usually a complex disease, and various genes and functions may contribute to its etiology. Among these may be genes that encode regulatory molecules. In this review, regulatory molecules including 18 transcription factors (TFs), 195 microRNAs (miRNAs), 106 long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and two circular RNAs (circRNAs) that are reasonable candidates for having roles in glaucoma pathogenesis are described. The targets of the regulators are reported. Glaucoma-related features including apoptosis, stress responses, immune functions, ECM properties, IOP, and eye development are affected by the targeted genes. The targeted genes that are frequently targeted by multiple regulators most often affect apoptosis and the related features of cell death and cell survival. BCL2, CDKN1A, and TP53 are among the frequent targets of three types of glaucoma-relevant regulators, TFs, miRNAs, and lncRNAs. TP53 was itself identified as a glaucoma-relevant TF. Several of the glaucoma-relevant TFs are themselves among frequent targets of regulatory molecules, which is consistent with existence of a complex network involved in glaucoma pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamidreza Moazzeni
- School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Marzieh Khani
- School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elahe Elahi
- School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
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Advances in molecular diagnosis and therapeutics in nephrotic syndrome and focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis. Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens 2019; 27:194-200. [PMID: 29465426 DOI: 10.1097/mnh.0000000000000408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The widespread adoption of next-generation sequencing by research and clinical laboratories has begun to uncover the previously unknown genetic basis of many diseases. In nephrology, one of the best examples of this is seen in focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and nephrotic syndrome. We review advances made in 2017 as a result of human and molecular genetic studies as it relates to FSGS and nephrotic syndrome. RECENT FINDINGS There are more than 50 monogenic genes described in steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome and FSGS, with seven reported in 2017. In individuals presenting with FSGS or nephrotic syndrome before or at the age of 18 years, the commonest genes in which a mutation is found continues to be limited to only a few including NPHS1 and NPHS2 based on multiple studies. For FSGS or nephrotic syndrome that presents after 18 years, mutations in COl4A3/4/5, traditionally associated with Alport syndrome, are increasingly being reported. Despite the extensive genetic heterogeneity in FSGS, there is evidence that some of these genes converge onto common pathways. There are also reports of in-vivo models exploring apolipoprotein 1 biology, variants in which account for part of the increased risk of nondiabetic kidney disease in African-Americans. Finally, genetic testing has several clinical uses including clarification of diagnosis and treatment; identification of suitable young biologic relatives for kidney donation; and preimplantation genetic diagnosis. CRISPR gene editing is currently an experimental tool only, but the recent reports of excising mutations in embryos could be a therapeutic option for individuals with any monogenic disorder in the future. SUMMARY Sequencing efforts are bringing novel variants into investigation and directing the efforts to understand how these lead to disease phenotypes. Expanding our understanding of the genetic basis of health and disease processes is the necessary first step to elaborate the repertoire of therapeutic agents available for patients with FSGS and nephrotic syndrome.
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