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Association between placental DNA methylation and fetal congenital heart disease. Mol Genet Genomics 2023; 298:243-251. [PMID: 36396788 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-022-01944-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a worldwide problem with high morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis of congenital heart disease is still a challenge in clinical work. In recent years, few studies indicated that placental methylation may be predictors of CHD. More studies are needed to confirm the association between placental methylation and CHD. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between prenatal placental DNA methylation and CHD. Placental tissues were obtained from four fetuses during the second trimester with isolated, non-syndromic congenital heart disease, including three cases with double outlet right ventricle (DORV) and one case with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), and four unaffected fetuses as controls. The Illumina Infinium Human Methylation 850K BeadChip assay was employed to identify differential methylation sites (DMSs) and differential methylation regions (DMRs). Differential methylation was evaluated by comparing the β-values for individual CpG loci in cases vs. controls. In addition, the function of genes was assessed through KEGG enrichment analysis, Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and KEGG pathway analysis. Compared with the control group, we identified 9625 differential methylation genes on 26,202 DMSs (p < 0.05), of which 6997 were hyper-methylation and 2628 were hypo-methylation. The top 30 terms of GO biological process and KEGG enrichment analysis of DMSs were connected with multiple important pathways of heart development and disease. Ten differentially methylated regions and the genes related to DMRs, such as TLL1, CRABP1, FDFT1, and PCK2, were identified. The deformity caused by the loss of function of these genes is remarkably consistent with the clinical phenotype of our cases. The DNA methylation level of placental tissue is closely associated with fetal congenital heart disease.
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Stepien KL, Bajdak-Rusinek K, Fus-Kujawa A, Kuczmik W, Gawron K. Role of Extracellular Matrix and Inflammation in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911078. [PMID: 36232377 PMCID: PMC9569530 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is one of the most dangerous cardiovascular diseases, occurring mainly in men over the age of 55 years. As it is asymptomatic, patients are diagnosed very late, usually when they suffer pain in the abdominal cavity. The late detection of AAA contributes to the high mortality rate. Many environmental, genetic, and molecular factors contribute to the development and subsequent rupture of AAA. Inflammation, apoptosis of smooth muscle cells, and degradation of the extracellular matrix in the AAA wall are believed to be the major molecular processes underlying AAA formation. Until now, no pharmacological treatment has been implemented to prevent the formation of AAA or to cure the disease. Therefore, it is important that patients are diagnosed at a very early stage of the disease. Biomarkers contribute to the assessment of the concentration level, which will help to determine the level and rate of AAA development. The potential biomarkers today include homocysteine, cathepsins, osteopontin, and osteoprotegerin. In this review, we describe the major aspects of molecular processes that take place in the aortic wall during AAA formation. In addition, biomarkers, the monitoring of which will contribute to the prompt diagnosis of AAA patients over the age of 55 years, are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina L. Stepien
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Medykow 18 Street, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-32-208-8388
| | - Karolina Bajdak-Rusinek
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Medykow 18 Street, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Fus-Kujawa
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Medykow 18 Street, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
| | - Wacław Kuczmik
- Department of General, Vascular Surgery, Angiology and Phlebology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Ziolowa 45/47 Street, 40-635 Katowice, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Gawron
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Medykow 18 Street, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
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Caro-Consuegra R, Nieves-Colón MA, Rawls E, Rubin-de-Celis V, Lizárraga B, Vidaurre T, Sandoval K, Fejerman L, Stone AC, Moreno-Estrada A, Bosch E. Uncovering signals of positive selection in Peruvian populations from three ecological regions. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:6647595. [PMID: 35860855 PMCID: PMC9356722 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Perú hosts extremely diverse ecosystems which can be broadly classified into three major ecoregions: the Pacific desert coast, the Andean highlands, and the Amazon rainforest. Since its initial peopling approximately 12,000 years ago, the populations inhabiting such ecoregions might have differentially adapted to their contrasting environmental pressures. Previous studies have described several candidate genes underlying adaptation to hypobaric hypoxia among Andean highlanders. However, the adaptive genetic diversity of coastal and rainforest populations has been less studied. Here, we gathered genome-wide SNP-array data from 286 Peruvians living across the three ecoregions and analysed signals of recent positive selection through population differentiation and haplotype-based selection scans. Among highland populations, we identify candidate genes related to cardiovascular function (TLL1, DUSP27, TBX5, PLXNA4, SGCD), to the Hypoxia-Inducible Factor pathway (TGFA, APIP), to skin pigmentation (MITF), as well as to glucose (GLIS3) and glycogen metabolism (PPP1R3C, GANC). In contrast, most signatures of adaptation in coastal and rainforest populations comprise candidate genes related to the immune system (including SIGLEC8, TRIM21, CD44 and ICAM1 in the coast; CBLB and PRDM1 in rainforest and the BRD2- HLA-DOA- HLA-DPA1 region in both), possibly as a result of strong pathogen-driven selection. This study identifies candidate genes related to human adaptation to the diverse environments of South America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocio Caro-Consuegra
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (UPF-CSIC), Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Maria A Nieves-Colón
- Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad, Unidad de Genómica Avanzada (UGA-LANGEBIO), CINVESTAV, Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico.,School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.,Department of Anthropology, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Erin Rawls
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Verónica Rubin-de-Celis
- Laboratorio de Genómica Molecular Evolutiva, Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Ricardo Palma, Lima, Perú
| | - Beatriz Lizárraga
- Emeritus Professor, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Perú
| | | | - Karla Sandoval
- Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad, Unidad de Genómica Avanzada (UGA-LANGEBIO), CINVESTAV, Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Laura Fejerman
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Anne C Stone
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.,Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Andrés Moreno-Estrada
- Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad, Unidad de Genómica Avanzada (UGA-LANGEBIO), CINVESTAV, Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Elena Bosch
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (UPF-CSIC), Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Reus, Spain
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Ishak A, Mehendale M, AlRawashdeh MM, Sestacovschi C, Sharath M, Pandav K, Marzban S. The association of COVID-19 severity and susceptibility and genetic risk factors: A systematic review of the literature. Gene 2022; 836:146674. [PMID: 35714803 PMCID: PMC9195407 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background COVID-19 is associated with several risk factors such as distinct ethnicities (genetic ancestry), races, sexes, age, pre-existing comorbidities, smoking, and genetics. The authors aim to evaluate the correlation between variability in the host genetics and the severity and susceptibility towards COVID-19 in this study. Methods Following the PRISMA guidelines, we retrieved all the relevant articles published until September 15, 2021, from two online databases: PubMed and Scopus. Findings High-risk HLA haplotypes, higher expression of ACE polymorphisms, and several genes of cellular proteases such as TMPRSS2, FURIN, TLL-1 increase the risk of susceptibility and severity of COVID-19. In addition, upregulation of several genes encoding for both innate and acquired immune systems proteins, mainly CCR5, IFNs, TLR, DPPs, and TNF, positively correlate with COVID-19 severity. However, reduced expression or polymorphisms in genes affecting TLR and IFNλ increase COVID-19 severity. Conclusion Higher expression, polymorphisms, mutations, and deletions of several genes are linked with the susceptibility, severity, and clinical outcomes of COVID-19. Early treatment and vaccination of individuals with genetic predisposition could help minimize the severity and mortality associated with COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Ishak
- Department of Research & Academic Affairs, Larkin Community Hospital, South Miami, Florida, USA.
| | - Meghana Mehendale
- Department of Research & Academic Affairs, Larkin Community Hospital, South Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Mousa M AlRawashdeh
- Department of Research & Academic Affairs, Larkin Community Hospital, South Miami, Florida, USA; European University Cyprus - School of Medicine, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Cristina Sestacovschi
- Department of Research & Academic Affairs, Larkin Community Hospital, South Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Medha Sharath
- Department of Research & Academic Affairs, Larkin Community Hospital, South Miami, Florida, USA; Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Krunal Pandav
- Department of Research & Academic Affairs, Larkin Community Hospital, South Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Sima Marzban
- Department of Research & Academic Affairs, Larkin Community Hospital, South Miami, Florida, USA
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Herrera-Rivero M, Gandhi S, Witten A, Ghalawinji A, Schotten U, Stoll M. Cardiac chamber-specific genetic alterations suggest candidate genes and pathways implicating the left ventricle in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation. Genomics 2022; 114:110320. [PMID: 35218871 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2022.110320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
It is believed that the atria play a predominant role in the initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF), while the role of left ventricular dysfunction in the pathophysiology remains enigmatic. We sought to dissect chamber specificity of AF-associated transcriptional changes using RNA-sequencing. We performed intra- and inter-chamber differential expression analyses comparing AF against sinus rhythm to identify genes specifically dysregulated in human left atria, right atria, and left ventricle (LV), and integrated known AF genetic associations with expression quantitative trait loci datasets to inform the potential for disease causal contributions within each chamber. Inter-chamber patterns changed drastically. Vast AF-associated transcriptional changes specific to LV, enriched for biological pathway terms implicating mitochondrial function, developmental processes and immunity, were supported at the genetic level, but no major enrichments for candidate genes specific to the atria were found. Our observations suggest an active role of the LV in the pathogenesis of AF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisol Herrera-Rivero
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology, Institute of Human Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Shrey Gandhi
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology, Institute of Human Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany; Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Anika Witten
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology, Institute of Human Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Amer Ghalawinji
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology, Institute of Human Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Ulrich Schotten
- Department of Physiology, CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Monika Stoll
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology, Institute of Human Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany; Department of Biochemistry, Genetic Epidemiology and Statistical Genetics, CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
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Similar sequences but dissimilar biological functions of GDF11 and myostatin. Exp Mol Med 2020; 52:1673-1693. [PMID: 33077875 PMCID: PMC8080601 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-020-00516-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) and myostatin (MSTN) are closely related TGFβ family members that are often believed to serve similar functions due to their high homology. However, genetic studies in animals provide clear evidence that they perform distinct roles. While the loss of Mstn leads to hypermuscularity, the deletion of Gdf11 results in abnormal skeletal patterning and organ development. The perinatal lethality of Gdf11-null mice, which contrasts with the long-term viability of Mstn-null mice, has led most research to focus on utilizing recombinant GDF11 proteins to investigate the postnatal functions of GDF11. However, the reported outcomes of the exogenous application of recombinant GDF11 proteins are controversial partly because of the different sources and qualities of recombinant GDF11 used and because recombinant GDF11 and MSTN proteins are nearly indistinguishable due to their similar structural and biochemical properties. Here, we analyze the similarities and differences between GDF11 and MSTN from an evolutionary point of view and summarize the current understanding of the biological processing, signaling, and physiological functions of GDF11 and MSTN. Finally, we discuss the potential use of recombinant GDF11 as a therapeutic option for a wide range of medical conditions and the possible adverse effects of GDF11 inhibition mediated by MSTN inhibitors.
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