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Sharma S, Pasha Q. Chasing genes at high-altitude. Exp Physiol 2024. [PMID: 39298311 DOI: 10.1113/ep091877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 09/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/21/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Sharma
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Qadar Pasha
- Institute of Hypoxia Research, New Delhi, India
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2
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Tang S, Zhou W, Chen L, Yan H, Chen L, Luo F. High altitude polycythemia and its maladaptive mechanisms: an updated review. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1448654. [PMID: 39257892 PMCID: PMC11383785 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1448654] [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: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024] Open
Abstract
High altitude polycythemia is a maladaptation of highlanders exposed to hypoxic environment, leading to high blood viscosity and severe cardiorespiratory dysfunction. Prolonged hypoxia causes respiratory depression and severe hypoxemia, and further mediates changes in genetic and molecular mechanisms that regulate erythropoiesis and apoptosis, ultimately resulting in excessive erythrocytosis (EE). This updated review investigated the maladaptive mechanisms of EE, including respiratory chemoreceptor passivation, sleep-related breathing disorders, sex hormones, iron metabolism, and hypoxia-related factors and pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shijie Tang
- Department of High Altitude Medicine, Center for High Altitude Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- High Altitude Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Wenwen Zhou
- Department of High Altitude Medicine, Center for High Altitude Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- High Altitude Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ling Chen
- Department of High Altitude Medicine, Center for High Altitude Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- High Altitude Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hui Yan
- Department of High Altitude Medicine, Center for High Altitude Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- High Altitude Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of High Altitude Medicine, Center for High Altitude Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- High Altitude Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Fengming Luo
- Department of High Altitude Medicine, Center for High Altitude Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- High Altitude Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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3
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Avila-Hilari A, Tinoco-Solórzano A, Vélez-Páez J, Avellanas-Chavala ML. Critical pregnancy at altitude: A look at Latin America. Med Intensiva 2024; 48:411-420. [PMID: 38704303 DOI: 10.1016/j.medine.2024.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Critical pregnancy at high altitudes increases morbidity and mortality from 2500 m above sea level. In addition to altitude, there are other influential factors such as social inequalities, cultural, prehospital barriers, and lack the appropriate development of healthcare infrastructure. The most frequent causes of critical pregnancy leading to admission to Intensive Care Units are pregnancy hypertensive disorders (native residents seem to be more protected), hemorrhages and infection/sepsis. In Latin America, there are 32 Intensive Care Units above 2500 m above sea level. Arterial blood gases at altitude are affected by changes in barometric pressure. The analysis of their values provides very useful information for the management of obstetric emergencies at very high altitude, especially respiratory and metabolic pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Avila-Hilari
- Unidad de Terapia Intensiva, Hospital Municipal Boliviano Holandés, El Alto, Bolivia
| | - Amilcar Tinoco-Solórzano
- Servicio de Cuidados Intensivos e Intermedios, Seguro Social de Salud (EsSalud), Hospital Nacional Ramiro Prialé Prialé, Huancayo, Perú
| | - Jorge Vélez-Páez
- Unidad de Terapia Intensiva, Hospital Pablo Arturo Suárez, Quito, Ecuador
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4
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Cadena CD. Endurance athletes hiding in plain sight in the high Andes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2407414121. [PMID: 38781224 PMCID: PMC11161742 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2407414121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Daniel Cadena
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá111711, Colombia
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5
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Deora N, Agrohi P, Mallick PK, Sinha A. Critical insights on "Association of the C allele of rs479200 in the EGLN1 gene with COVID‑19 severity in Indian population: a novel finding". Hum Genomics 2024; 18:52. [PMID: 38790075 PMCID: PMC11127436 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-024-00618-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The recent article by Harit et al. in Human Genomics reported a novel association of the C allele of rs479200 in the human EGLN1 gene with severe COVID-19 in Indian patients. The gene in context is an oxygen-sensor gene whose T allele has been reported to contribute to the inability to cope with hypoxia due to increased expression of the EGLN1 gene and therefore persons with TT genotype of EGLN1 rs479200 are more susceptible to severe manifestations of hypoxia. In contrast to this dogma, Harit et al. showed that the C allele is associated with the worsening of COVID-19 hypoxia without suggesting or even discussing the scientific plausibility of the association. The article also suffers from certain epidemiological, statistical, and mathematical issues that need to be critically elaborated and discussed. In this context, the findings of Harit et al. may be re-evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nimita Deora
- Department of Epidemiology, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, 110077, India
| | - Priya Agrohi
- Department of Molecular Biology, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, 110077, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Prashant K Mallick
- Department of Molecular Biology, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, 110077, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Abhinav Sinha
- Department of Epidemiology, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, 110077, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India.
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6
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Brutsaert TD, Harman TS, Bigham AW, Kalker A, Jorgensen KC, Zhu KT, Steiner BC, Hawkins E, Day TA, Kunwar AJ, Thakur N, Dhungel S, Sherpa N, Holmström PK. Larger spleens and greater splenic contraction during exercise may be an adaptive characteristic of Nepali Sherpa at high-altitude. Am J Hum Biol 2024:e24090. [PMID: 38741522 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.24090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The Sherpa ethnic group living at altitude in Nepal may have experienced natural selection in response to chronic hypoxia. We have previously shown that Sherpa in Kathmandu (1400 m) possess larger spleens and a greater apnea-induced splenic contraction compared to lowland Nepalis. This may be significant for exercise capacity at altitude as the human spleen responds to stress-induced catecholamine secretion by an immediate contraction, which results in transiently elevated hemoglobin concentration ([Hb]). METHODS To investigate splenic contraction in response to exercise at high-altitude (4300 m; Pb = ~450 Torr), we recruited 63 acclimatized Sherpa (29F) and 14 Nepali non-Sherpa (7F). Spleen volume was measured before and after maximal exercise on a cycle ergometer by ultrasonography, along with [Hb] and oxygen saturation (SpO2). RESULTS Resting spleen volume was larger in the Sherpa compared with Nepali non-Sherpa (237 ± 62 vs. 165 ± 34 mL, p < .001), as was the exercise-induced splenic contraction (Δspleen volume, 91 ± 40 vs. 38 ± 32 mL, p < .001). From rest to exercise, [Hb] increased (1.2 to 1.4 g.dl-1), SpO2 decreased (~9%) and calculated arterial oxygen content (CaO2) remained stable, but there were no significant differences between groups. In Sherpa, both resting spleen volume and the Δspleen volume were modest positive predictors of the change (Δ) in [Hb] and CaO2 with exercise (p-values from .026 to .037 and R2 values from 0.059 to 0.067 for the predictor variable). CONCLUSIONS Larger spleens and greater splenic contraction may be an adaptive characteristic of Nepali Sherpa to increase CaO2 during exercise at altitude, but the direct link between spleen size/function and hypoxia tolerance remains unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom D Brutsaert
- Department of Exercise Science, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | | | - Abigail W Bigham
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Anne Kalker
- Department of Anesthesiology, Raboud Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Kelsey C Jorgensen
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kimberly T Zhu
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Bethany C Steiner
- Department of Exercise Science, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Ella Hawkins
- Department of Anthropology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Trevor A Day
- Department of Biology, Mount Royal University, Calgary, Canada
| | - Ajaya J Kunwar
- Kathmandu Center for Genomics and Research Laboratory, Global Hospital, Gwarko, Nepal
| | - Nilam Thakur
- Kathmandu Center for Genomics and Research Laboratory, Global Hospital, Gwarko, Nepal
| | - Sunil Dhungel
- College of Medicine, Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Nima Sherpa
- Local collaborator without institutional affiliation
| | - Pontus K Holmström
- Department of Exercise Science, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
- Department of Health Sciences, Mid-Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden
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7
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Reynolds AZ, Niedbalski SD. Sex-biased gene regulation varies across human populations as a result of adaptive evolution. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2024; 183:e24888. [PMID: 38100225 PMCID: PMC11279473 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Studies of human sexual dimorphism and gender disparities in health focus on ostensibly universal molecular sex differences, such as sex chromosomes and circulating hormone levels, while ignoring the extraordinary diversity in biology, behavior, and culture acquired by different human populations over their unique evolutionary histories. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using RNA-Seq data and whole genome sequences from 1000G and HGDP, we investigate variation in sex-biased gene expression across 11 human populations and test whether population-level variation in sex-biased expression may have resulted from adaptive evolution in regions containing sex-specific regulatory variants. RESULTS We find that sex-biased gene expression in humans is highly variable, mostly population-specific, and demonstrates between population reversals. Expression quantitative trait locus mapping reveals sex-specific regulatory regions with evidence of recent positive natural selection, suggesting that variation in sex-biased expression may have evolved as an adaptive response to ancestral environments experienced by human populations. DISCUSSION These results indicate that sex-biased gene expression is more flexible than previously thought and is not generally shared among human populations. Instead, molecular phenotypes associated with sex depend on complex interactions between population-specific molecular evolution and physiological responses to contemporary socioecologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Z. Reynolds
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
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Sharma S, Koshy R, Kumar R, Mohammad G, Thinlas T, Graham BB, Pasha Q. Hypobaric hypoxia drives selection of altitude-associated adaptative alleles in the Himalayan population. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 913:169605. [PMID: 38159773 PMCID: PMC11285711 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Genetic variants play a crucial role in shaping the adaptive phenotypes associated with high-altitude populations. Nevertheless, a comprehensive understanding of the specific impacts of different environments associated with increasing altitudes on the natural selection of these genetic variants remains undetermined. Hence, this study aimed to identify genetic markers responsible for high-altitude adaptation with specific reference to different altitudes, majorly focussing on an altitude elevation range of ∼1500 m and a corresponding decrease of ≥5 % in ambient oxygen availability. We conducted a comprehensive genome-wide investigation (n = 192) followed by a validation study (n = 514) in low-altitude and three high-altitude populations (>2400 m) of Nubra village (NU) (3048 m), Sakti village (SKT) (3812 m), and Tso Moriri village (TK) (4522 m). Extensive genetic analysis identified 86 SNPs that showed significant associations with high-altitude adaptation. Frequency mapping of these SNPs revealed 38 adaptive alleles and specific haplotypes that exhibited a strong linear correlation with increasing altitude. Notably, these SNPs spanned crucial genes, such as ADH6 and NAPG along with the vastly studied genes like EGLN1 and EPAS1, involved in oxygen sensing, metabolism, and vascular homeostasis. Correlation analyses between these adaptive alleles and relevant clinical and biochemical markers provided evidence of their functional relevance in physiological adaptation to hypobaric hypoxia. High-altitude population showed a significant increase in plasma 8-isoPGF2α levels as compared to low-altitude population. Similar observation showcased increased blood pressure in NU as compared to TK (P < 0.0001). In silico analyses further confirmed that these alleles regulate gene expression of EGLN1, EPAS1, COQ7, NAPG, ADH6, DUOXA1 etc. This study provides genetic insights into the effects of hypobaric-hypoxia on the clinico-physiological characteristics of natives living in increasing high-altitude regions. Overall, our findings highlight the synergistic relationship between environment and evolutionary processes, showcasing physiological implications of genetic variants in oxygen sensing and metabolic pathway genes in increasing high-altitude environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Sharma
- Genomics and Molecular Medicine, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi 110007, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India; Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University, Indianapolis 46202, IN, USA
| | - Remya Koshy
- Genomics and Molecular Medicine, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi 110007, India
| | - Rahul Kumar
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Lung Biology Center, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ghulam Mohammad
- Department of Medicine, Sonam Norboo Memorial Hospital, Leh, Ladakh 194101, India
| | - Tashi Thinlas
- Department of Medicine, Sonam Norboo Memorial Hospital, Leh, Ladakh 194101, India
| | - Brian B Graham
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Lung Biology Center, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Qadar Pasha
- Genomics and Molecular Medicine, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi 110007, India; Institute of Hypoxia Research, New Delhi 110067, India.
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9
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Lawrence ES, Gu W, Bohlender RJ, Anza-Ramirez C, Cole AM, Yu JJ, Hu H, Heinrich EC, O’Brien KA, Vasquez CA, Cowan QT, Bruck PT, Mercader K, Alotaibi M, Long T, Hall JE, Moya EA, Bauk MA, Reeves JJ, Kong MC, Salem RM, Vizcardo-Galindo G, Macarlupu JL, Figueroa-Mujíca R, Bermudez D, Corante N, Gaio E, Fox KP, Salomaa V, Havulinna AS, Murray AJ, Malhotra A, Powel FL, Jain M, Komor AC, Cavalleri GL, Huff CD, Villafuerte FC, Simonson TS. Functional EPAS1/ HIF2A missense variant is associated with hematocrit in Andean highlanders. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadj5661. [PMID: 38335297 PMCID: PMC10857371 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj5661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Hypoxia-inducible factor pathway genes are linked to adaptation in both human and nonhuman highland species. EPAS1, a notable target of hypoxia adaptation, is associated with relatively lower hemoglobin concentration in Tibetans. We provide evidence for an association between an adaptive EPAS1 variant (rs570553380) and the same phenotype of relatively low hematocrit in Andean highlanders. This Andean-specific missense variant is present at a modest frequency in Andeans and absent in other human populations and vertebrate species except the coelacanth. CRISPR-base-edited human cells with this variant exhibit shifts in hypoxia-regulated gene expression, while metabolomic analyses reveal both genotype and phenotype associations and validation in a lowland population. Although this genocopy of relatively lower hematocrit in Andean highlanders parallels well-replicated findings in Tibetans, it likely involves distinct pathway responses based on a protein-coding versus noncoding variants, respectively. These findings illuminate how unique variants at EPAS1 contribute to the same phenotype in Tibetans and a subset of Andean highlanders despite distinct evolutionary trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elijah S. Lawrence
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep Medicine, and Physiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Wanjun Gu
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep Medicine, and Physiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ryan J. Bohlender
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Cecilia Anza-Ramirez
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Comparada/Fisiología de del Transporte de Oxígeno-LID, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Fisiológicas, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
| | - Amy M. Cole
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - James J. Yu
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep Medicine, and Physiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Hao Hu
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Erica C. Heinrich
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep Medicine, and Physiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Katie A. O’Brien
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep Medicine, and Physiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Carlos A. Vasquez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Quinn T. Cowan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Patrick T. Bruck
- Department of Anthropology and Global Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kysha Mercader
- Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mona Alotaibi
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep Medicine, and Physiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Tao Long
- Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Sapient Bioanalytics, LLC, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - James E. Hall
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep Medicine, and Physiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Esteban A. Moya
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep Medicine, and Physiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Marco A. Bauk
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep Medicine, and Physiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer J. Reeves
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep Medicine, and Physiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mitchell C. Kong
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep Medicine, and Physiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Rany M. Salem
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Longevity Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Gustavo Vizcardo-Galindo
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Comparada/Fisiología de del Transporte de Oxígeno-LID, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Fisiológicas, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
| | - Jose-Luis Macarlupu
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Comparada/Fisiología de del Transporte de Oxígeno-LID, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Fisiológicas, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
| | - Rómulo Figueroa-Mujíca
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Comparada/Fisiología de del Transporte de Oxígeno-LID, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Fisiológicas, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
| | - Daniela Bermudez
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Comparada/Fisiología de del Transporte de Oxígeno-LID, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Fisiológicas, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
| | - Noemi Corante
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Comparada/Fisiología de del Transporte de Oxígeno-LID, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Fisiológicas, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
| | - Eduardo Gaio
- Laboratório de Fisiologia Respiratória, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Keolu P. Fox
- Department of Anthropology and Global Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Veikko Salomaa
- Department of Public Health and Welfare, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Aki S. Havulinna
- Department of Public Health and Welfare, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM-HiLIFE), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Andrew J. Murray
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Atul Malhotra
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep Medicine, and Physiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Frank L. Powel
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep Medicine, and Physiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mohit Jain
- Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Sapient Bioanalytics, LLC, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Alexis C. Komor
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Gianpiero L. Cavalleri
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Chad D. Huff
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Francisco C. Villafuerte
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Comparada/Fisiología de del Transporte de Oxígeno-LID, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Fisiológicas, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
| | - Tatum S. Simonson
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep Medicine, and Physiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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10
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An X, Mao L, Wang Y, Xu Q, Liu X, Zhang S, Qiao Z, Li B, Li F, Kuang Z, Wan N, Liang X, Duan Q, Feng Z, Yang X, Liu S, Nevo E, Liu J, Storz JF, Li K. Genomic structural variation is associated with hypoxia adaptation in high-altitude zokors. Nat Ecol Evol 2024; 8:339-351. [PMID: 38195998 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02275-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Zokors, an Asiatic group of subterranean rodents, originated in lowlands and colonized high-elevational zones following the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau about 3.6 million years ago. Zokors live at high elevation in subterranean burrows and experience hypobaric hypoxia, including both hypoxia (low oxygen concentration) and hypercapnia (elevated partial pressure of CO2). Here we report a genomic analysis of six zokor species (genus Eospalax) with different elevational ranges to identify structural variants (deletions and inversions) that may have contributed to high-elevation adaptation. Based on an assembly of a chromosome-level genome of the high-elevation species, Eospalax baileyi, we identified 18 large inversions that distinguished this species from congeners native to lower elevations. Small-scale structural variants in the introns of EGLN1, HIF1A, HSF1 and SFTPD of E. baileyi were associated with the upregulated expression of those genes. A rearrangement on chromosome 1 was associated with altered chromatin accessibility, leading to modified gene expression profiles of key genes involved in the physiological response to hypoxia. Multigene families that underwent copy-number expansions in E. baileyi were enriched for autophagy, HIF1 signalling and immune response. E. baileyi show a significantly larger lung mass than those of other Eospalax species. These findings highlight the key role of structural variants underlying hypoxia adaptation of high-elevation species in Eospalax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan An
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Leyan Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yinjia Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Qinqin Xu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Qinghai Provincial People's Hospital, Xining, China
| | - Xi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Shangzhe Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhenglei Qiao
- College of Life Sciences and Technology, Mudanjiang Normal University, Mudanjiang, China
| | - Bowen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Fang Li
- College of Life Sciences and Technology, Mudanjiang Normal University, Mudanjiang, China
| | - Zhuoran Kuang
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Na Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiaolong Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Qijiao Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhilong Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiaojie Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Sanyuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Eviatar Nevo
- Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Jianquan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
| | - Jay F Storz
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA.
| | - Kexin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
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11
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Lee FS. Hypoxia Inducible Factor pathway proteins in high-altitude mammals. Trends Biochem Sci 2024; 49:79-92. [PMID: 38036336 PMCID: PMC10841901 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2023.11.002] [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: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Humans and other mammals inhabit hypoxic high-altitude locales. In many of these species, genes under positive selection include ones in the Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF) pathway. One is PHD2 (EGLN1), which encodes for a key oxygen sensor. Another is HIF2A (EPAS1), which encodes for a PHD2-regulated transcription factor. Recent studies have provided insights into mechanisms for these high-altitude alleles. These studies have (i) shown that selection can occur on nonconserved, unstructured regions of proteins, (ii) revealed that high altitude-associated amino acid substitutions can have differential effects on protein-protein interactions, (iii) provided evidence for convergent evolution by different molecular mechanisms, and (iv) suggested that mutations in different genes can complement one another to produce a set of adaptive phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank S Lee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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12
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Jiang E, Wang H, Li X, Bi Y, Mao C, Jiang F, Song E, Lan X. A 14-bp deletion in bovine EPAS1 gene is associated with carcass traits. Anim Biotechnol 2023; 34:4553-4558. [PMID: 36681875 DOI: 10.1080/10495398.2023.2166841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
EPAS1 (Endothelial PAS Domain Protein 1) gene is well-known for its function in plateau hypoxia adaptability. It encodes HIF-2α, which involved in the induction of genes regulated by oxygen and then affects multiple physiological processes such as angiogenesis and energy metabolism. All of these indicate it may affect the development of animals. In this study, a 14-bp deletion in EPAS1 gene was uncovered in Shandong black cattle population (n = 502). Two genotypes (II and ID) were found and the frequency of the homozygous II genotype is higher than the heterozygous ID genotype. This population is consisted with HWE (p > 0.05). And more importantly, the 14-bp deletion was associated with outside flat (p = 0.003), brisket (p = 0.001), and knuckle (p = 0.032). These findings suggested that the 14-bp deletion is significantly associated with carcass traits, which could be served as a molecular marker applied to cow breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enhui Jiang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Hongyang Wang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xuelan Li
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yi Bi
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Cui Mao
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Fugui Jiang
- Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary, Shandong Academy of Agriculture Science, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Enliang Song
- Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary, Shandong Academy of Agriculture Science, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xianyong Lan
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
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13
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Jorgensen K, Song D, Weinstein J, Garcia OA, Pearson LN, Inclán M, Rivera-Chira M, León-Velarde F, Kiyamu M, Brutsaert TD, Bigham AW, Lee FS. High-Altitude Andean H194R HIF2A Allele Is a Hypomorphic Allele. Mol Biol Evol 2023; 40:msad162. [PMID: 37463421 PMCID: PMC10370452 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msad162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
For over 10,000 years, Andeans have resided at high altitude where the partial pressure of oxygen challenges human survival. Recent studies have provided evidence for positive selection acting in Andeans on the HIF2A (also known as EPAS1) locus, which encodes for a central transcription factor of the hypoxia-inducible factor pathway. However, the precise mechanism by which this allele might lead to altitude-adaptive phenotypes, if any, is unknown. By analyzing whole genome sequencing data from 46 high-coverage Peruvian Andean genomes, we confirm evidence for positive selection acting on HIF2A and a unique pattern of variation surrounding the Andean-specific single nucleotide variant (SNV), rs570553380, which encodes for an H194R amino acid substitution in HIF-2α. Genotyping the Andean-associated SNV rs570553380 in a group of 299 Peruvian Andeans from Cerro de Pasco, Peru (4,338 m), reveals a positive association with increased fraction of exhaled nitric oxide, a marker of nitric oxide biosynthesis. In vitro assays show that the H194R mutation impairs binding of HIF-2α to its heterodimeric partner, aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator. A knockin mouse model bearing the H194R mutation in the Hif2a gene displays decreased levels of hypoxia-induced pulmonary Endothelin-1 transcripts and protection against hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension. We conclude the Andean H194R HIF2A allele is a hypomorphic (partial loss of function) allele.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey Jorgensen
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Daisheng Song
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Julien Weinstein
- Department of Anthropology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Obed A Garcia
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Laurel N Pearson
- Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA
| | - María Inclán
- División de. Estudios Políticos, Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas, Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico
| | - Maria Rivera-Chira
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Fisiológicas, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Lima, Peru
| | - Fabiola León-Velarde
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Fisiológicas, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Lima, Peru
| | - Melisa Kiyamu
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Fisiológicas, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Lima, Peru
| | - Tom D Brutsaert
- Department of Exercise Science, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Abigail W Bigham
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Frank S Lee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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14
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Hao Y, Song G, Zhang YE, Zhai W, Jia C, Ji Y, Tang S, Lv H, Qu Y, Lei F. Divergent contributions of coding and noncoding sequences to initial high-altitude adaptation in passerine birds endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:3524-3540. [PMID: 37000417 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
Early events in the evolution of an ancestral lineage can shape the adaptive patterns of descendant species, but the evolutionary mechanisms driving initial adaptation from an ancestor remain largely unexplored. High-altitude adaptations have been extensively explored from the viewpoint of protein-coding genes; however, the contribution of noncoding regions remains relatively neglected. Here, we integrate genomic and transcriptomic data to investigate adaptive evolution in the ancestor of three high-altitude snowfinch species endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Our genome-wide scan for adaptation in the snowfinch ancestor identifies strong adaptation signals in functions of development and metabolism for the coding genes, but in functions of the nervous system development for noncoding regions. This pattern is exclusive to the snowfinch ancestor compared to a control ancestral lineage subject to weak selection. Changes in noncoding regions in the snowfinch ancestor, especially those nearest to coding genes, may be disproportionately associated with the differential expression of genes in the brain tissue compared to other tissues. Extensive gene expression in the brain tissue can be further altered via genetic regulatory networks of transcription factors harbouring potential accelerated regulatory regions (e.g., the development-related transcription factor YEATS4). Altogether, our study provides new evidence concerning how coding and noncoding sequences work through decoupled pathways in initial adaptation to the selective pressure of high-altitude environments. The analysis highlights the idea that noncoding sequences may be promising elements in facilitating the rapid evolution and adaptation to high altitudes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Hao
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Gang Song
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yong E Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Weiwei Zhai
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Chenxi Jia
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yanzhu Ji
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shiyu Tang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hongrui Lv
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yanhua Qu
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fumin Lei
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
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15
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Zheng W, He Y, Guo Y, Yue T, Zhang H, Li J, Zhou B, Zeng X, Li L, Wang B, Cao J, Chen L, Li C, Li H, Cui C, Bai C, Baimakangzhuo, Qi X, Ouzhuluobu, Su B. Large-scale genome sequencing redefines the genetic footprints of high-altitude adaptation in Tibetans. Genome Biol 2023; 24:73. [PMID: 37055782 PMCID: PMC10099689 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-02912-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tibetans are genetically adapted to high-altitude environments. Though many studies have been conducted, the genetic basis of the adaptation remains elusive due to the poor reproducibility for detecting selective signatures in the Tibetan genomes. RESULTS Here, we present whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data of 1001 indigenous Tibetans, covering the major populated areas of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in China. We identify 35 million variants, and more than one-third of them are novel variants. Utilizing the large-scale WGS data, we construct a comprehensive map of allele frequency and linkage disequilibrium and provide a population-specific genome reference panel, referred to as 1KTGP. Moreover, with the use of a combined approach, we redefine the signatures of Darwinian-positive selection in the Tibetan genomes, and we characterize a high-confidence list of 4320 variants and 192 genes that have undergone selection in Tibetans. In particular, we discover four new genes, TMEM132C, ATP13A3, SANBR, and KHDRBS2, with strong signals of selection, and they may account for the adaptation of cardio-pulmonary functions in Tibetans. Functional annotation and enrichment analysis indicate that the 192 genes with selective signatures are likely involved in multiple organs and physiological systems, suggesting polygenic and pleiotropic effects. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the large-scale Tibetan WGS data and the identified adaptive variants/genes can serve as a valuable resource for future genetic and medical studies of high-altitude populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wangshan Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yaoxi He
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China
| | - Yongbo Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Tian Yue
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China
| | - Jun Li
- Fukang Obstetrics, Gynecology and Children Branch Hospital, Tibetan Fukang Hospital, Lhasa, 850000, China
| | - Bin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Xuerui Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Liya Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Fukang Obstetrics, Gynecology and Children Branch Hospital, Tibetan Fukang Hospital, Lhasa, 850000, China
| | - Jingxin Cao
- Fukang Obstetrics, Gynecology and Children Branch Hospital, Tibetan Fukang Hospital, Lhasa, 850000, China
| | - Li Chen
- Fukang Obstetrics, Gynecology and Children Branch Hospital, Tibetan Fukang Hospital, Lhasa, 850000, China
| | - Chunxia Li
- Fukang Obstetrics, Gynecology and Children Branch Hospital, Tibetan Fukang Hospital, Lhasa, 850000, China
| | - Hongyan Li
- Fukang Obstetrics, Gynecology and Children Branch Hospital, Tibetan Fukang Hospital, Lhasa, 850000, China
| | - Chaoying Cui
- High Altitude Medical Research Center, School of Medicine, Tibetan University, Lhasa, 850000, China
| | - Caijuan Bai
- High Altitude Medical Research Center, School of Medicine, Tibetan University, Lhasa, 850000, China
| | - Baimakangzhuo
- High Altitude Medical Research Center, School of Medicine, Tibetan University, Lhasa, 850000, China
| | - Xuebin Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China.
- Fukang Obstetrics, Gynecology and Children Branch Hospital, Tibetan Fukang Hospital, Lhasa, 850000, China.
| | - Ouzhuluobu
- Fukang Obstetrics, Gynecology and Children Branch Hospital, Tibetan Fukang Hospital, Lhasa, 850000, China.
- High Altitude Medical Research Center, School of Medicine, Tibetan University, Lhasa, 850000, China.
| | - Bing Su
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China.
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China.
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16
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Joseph SK, Migliore NR, Olivieri A, Torroni A, Owings AC, DeGiorgio M, Ordóñez WG, Aguilú JO, González-Andrade F, Achilli A, Lindo J. Genomic evidence for adaptation to tuberculosis in the Andes before European contact. iScience 2023; 26:106034. [PMID: 36824277 PMCID: PMC9941198 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Most studies focusing on human high-altitude adaptation in the Andean highlands have thus far been focused on Peruvian populations. We present high-coverage whole genomes from Indigenous people living in the Ecuadorian highlands and perform multi-method scans to detect positive natural selection. We identified regions of the genome that show signals of strong selection to both cardiovascular and hypoxia pathways, which are distinct from those uncovered in Peruvian populations. However, the strongest signals of selection were related to regions of the genome that are involved in immune function related to tuberculosis. Given our estimated timing of this selection event, the Indigenous people of Ecuador may have adapted to Mycobacterium tuberculosis thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans. Furthermore, we detect a population collapse that coincides with the arrival of Europeans, which is more severe than other regions of the Andes, suggesting differing effects of contact across high-altitude populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie K. Joseph
- Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Nicola Rambaldi Migliore
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Anna Olivieri
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Antonio Torroni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Amanda C. Owings
- Department of Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Michael DeGiorgio
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
| | | | | | - Fabricio González-Andrade
- Translational Medicine Unit, Central University of Ecuador, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Iquique N14-121 y Sodiro-Itchimbia, Sector El Dorado, 170403 Quito, Ecuador,Corresponding author
| | - Alessandro Achilli
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy,Corresponding author
| | - John Lindo
- Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA,Corresponding author
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17
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Lea AJ, Garcia A, Arevalo J, Ayroles JF, Buetow K, Cole SW, Eid Rodriguez D, Gutierrez M, Highland HM, Hooper PL, Justice A, Kraft T, North KE, Stieglitz J, Kaplan H, Trumble BC, Gurven MD. Natural selection of immune and metabolic genes associated with health in two lowland Bolivian populations. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2207544120. [PMID: 36574663 PMCID: PMC9910614 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2207544120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing body of work has addressed human adaptations to diverse environments using genomic data, but few studies have connected putatively selected alleles to phenotypes, much less among underrepresented populations such as Amerindians. Studies of natural selection and genotype-phenotype relationships in underrepresented populations hold potential to uncover previously undescribed loci underlying evolutionarily and biomedically relevant traits. Here, we worked with the Tsimane and the Moseten, two Amerindian populations inhabiting the Bolivian lowlands. We focused most intensively on the Tsimane, because long-term anthropological work with this group has shown that they have a high burden of both macro and microparasites, as well as minimal cardiometabolic disease or dementia. We therefore generated genome-wide genotype data for Tsimane individuals to study natural selection, and paired this with blood mRNA-seq as well as cardiometabolic and immune biomarker data generated from a larger sample that included both populations. In the Tsimane, we identified 21 regions that are candidates for selective sweeps, as well as 5 immune traits that show evidence for polygenic selection (e.g., C-reactive protein levels and the response to coronaviruses). Genes overlapping candidate regions were strongly enriched for known involvement in immune-related traits, such as abundance of lymphocytes and eosinophils. Importantly, we were also able to draw on extensive phenotype information for the Tsimane and Moseten and link five regions (containing PSD4, MUC21 and MUC22, TOX2, ANXA6, and ABCA1) with biomarkers of immune and metabolic function. Together, our work highlights the utility of pairing evolutionary analyses with anthropological and biomedical data to gain insight into the genetic basis of health-related traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda J. Lea
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN37235
| | - Angela Garcia
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ85287
| | - Jesusa Arevalo
- Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Julien F. Ayroles
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ08544
- Lewis Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ08544
| | - Kenneth Buetow
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ85287
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ85287
| | - Steve W. Cole
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | | | | | - Heather M. Highland
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27516
| | - Paul L. Hooper
- Economic Science Institute, Chapman University, Orange, CA92866
| | | | - Thomas Kraft
- Department of Anthropology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT84112
| | - Kari E. North
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27516
| | | | - Hillard Kaplan
- Institute for Economics and Society, Chapman University, Orange, CA92866
| | - Benjamin C. Trumble
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ85287
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ85287
| | - Michael D. Gurven
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA93106
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18
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Ekwudo MN, Malek MC, Anderson CE, Yampolsky LY. The interplay between prior selection, mild intermittent exposure, and acute severe exposure in phenotypic and transcriptional response to hypoxia. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9319. [PMID: 36248677 PMCID: PMC9548574 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia has profound and diverse effects on aerobic organisms, disrupting oxidative phosphorylation and activating several protective pathways. Predictions have been made that exposure to mild intermittent hypoxia may be protective against more severe exposure and may extend lifespan. Here we report the lifespan effects of chronic, mild, intermittent hypoxia, and short-term survival in acute severe hypoxia in four clones of Daphnia magna originating from either permanent or intermittent habitats. We test the hypothesis that acclimation to chronic mild intermittent hypoxia can extend lifespan through activation of antioxidant and stress-tolerance pathways and increase survival in acute severe hypoxia through activation of oxygen transport and storage proteins and adjustment to carbohydrate metabolism. Unexpectedly, we show that chronic hypoxia extended the lifespan in the two clones originating from intermittent habitats but had the opposite effect in the two clones from permanent habitats, which also showed lower tolerance to acute hypoxia. Exposure to chronic hypoxia did not protect against acute hypoxia; to the contrary, Daphnia from the chronic hypoxia treatment had lower acute hypoxia tolerance than normoxic controls. Few transcripts changed their abundance in response to the chronic hypoxia treatment in any of the clones. After 12 h of acute hypoxia treatment, the transcriptional response was more pronounced, with numerous protein-coding genes with functionality in oxygen transport, mitochondrial and respiratory metabolism, and gluconeogenesis, showing upregulation. While clones from intermittent habitats showed somewhat stronger differential expression in response to acute hypoxia than those from permanent habitats, contrary to predictions, there were no significant hypoxia-by-habitat of origin or chronic-by-acute treatment interactions. GO enrichment analysis revealed a possible hypoxia tolerance role by accelerating the molting cycle and regulating neuron survival through upregulation of cuticular proteins and neurotrophins, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Millicent N. Ekwudo
- Department of Biological SciencesEast Tennessee State UniversityJohnson CityTennesseeUSA
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Morad C. Malek
- Department of Biological SciencesEast Tennessee State UniversityJohnson CityTennesseeUSA
| | - Cora E. Anderson
- Department of Biological SciencesEast Tennessee State UniversityJohnson CityTennesseeUSA
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Notre DameNotre DameIndianaUSA
| | - Lev Y. Yampolsky
- Department of Biological SciencesEast Tennessee State UniversityJohnson CityTennesseeUSA
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19
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Sharma K, Mishra A, Singh H, Thinlas T, Pasha MAQ. Differential methylation in EGLN1 associates with blood oxygen saturation and plasma protein levels in high-altitude pulmonary edema. Clin Epigenetics 2022; 14:123. [PMID: 36180894 PMCID: PMC9526282 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-022-01338-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND High-altitude (HA, 2500 m) hypoxic exposure evokes a multitude of physiological processes. The hypoxia-sensing genes though influence transcriptional output in disease susceptibility; the exact regulatory mechanisms remain undetermined in high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). Here, we investigated the differential DNA methylation distribution in the two genes encoding the oxygen-sensing HIF-prolyl hydroxylases, prolyl hydroxylase domain protein 2 (PHD2) and factor inhibiting HIF-1α and the consequent contributions to the HAPE pathophysiology. METHODS Deep sequencing of the sodium bisulfite converted DNA segments of the two genes, Egl nine homolog 1 (EGLN1) and Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1 Subunit Alpha Inhibitor (HIF1AN), was conducted to analyze the differential methylation distribution in three study groups, namely HAPE-patients (HAPE-p), HAPE-free sojourners (HAPE-f) and healthy HA natives (HLs). HAPE-p and HAPE-f were permanent residents of low altitude (< 200 m) of North India who traveled to Leh (3500 m), India, and were recruited through Sonam Norboo Memorial (SNM) hospital, Leh. HLs were permanent residents of altitudes at and above 3500 m. In addition to the high resolution, bisulfite converted DNA sequencing, gene expression of EGLN1 and HIF1AN and their plasma protein levels were estimated. RESULTS A significantly lower methylation distribution of CpG sites was observed in EGLN1 and higher in HIF1AN (P < 0.01) in HAPE-p compared to the two control groups, HAPE-f and HLs. Of note, differential methylation distribution of a few CpG sites, 231,556,748, 231,556,804, 231,556,881, 231,557,317 and 231,557,329, in EGLN1 were significantly associated with the risk of HAPE (OR = 4.79-10.29; P = 0.048-004). Overall, the methylation percentage in EGLN1 correlated with upregulated plasma PHD2 levels (R = - 0.36, P = 0.002) and decreased peripheral blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) levels (R = 0.34, P = 0.004). We also identified a few regulatory SNPs in the DNA methylation region of EGLN1 covering chr1:231,556,683-231,558,443 suggestive of the functional role of differential methylation distribution of these CpG sites in the regulation of the genes and consequently in the HIF-1α signaling. CONCLUSIONS Significantly lower methylation distribution in EGLN1 and the consequent physiological influences annotated its functional epigenetic relevance in the HAPE pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kavita Sharma
- Genomics and Molecular Medicine, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi, India
| | - Aastha Mishra
- Genomics and Molecular Medicine, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi, India
| | - Himanshu Singh
- Genomics and Molecular Medicine, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi, India
| | | | - M A Qadar Pasha
- Genomics and Molecular Medicine, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi, India. .,Institute of Hypoxia Research, Hypobaric Hypoxia Society, Delhi, New Delhi, 110067, India.
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Buikstra JE, DeWitte SN, Agarwal SC, Baker BJ, Bartelink EJ, Berger E, Blevins KE, Bolhofner K, Boutin AT, Brickley MB, Buzon MR, de la Cova C, Goldstein L, Gowland R, Grauer AL, Gregoricka LA, Halcrow SE, Hall SA, Hillson S, Kakaliouras AM, Klaus HD, Knudson KJ, Knüsel CJ, Larsen CS, Martin DL, Milner GR, Novak M, Nystrom KC, Pacheco-Forés SI, Prowse TL, Robbins Schug G, Roberts CA, Rothwell JE, Santos AL, Stojanowski C, Stone AC, Stull KE, Temple DH, Torres CM, Toyne JM, Tung TA, Ullinger J, Wiltschke-Schrotta K, Zakrzewski SR. Twenty-first century bioarchaeology: Taking stock and moving forward. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2022; 178 Suppl 74:54-114. [PMID: 36790761 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
This article presents outcomes from a Workshop entitled "Bioarchaeology: Taking Stock and Moving Forward," which was held at Arizona State University (ASU) on March 6-8, 2020. Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the School of Human Evolution and Social Change (ASU), and the Center for Bioarchaeological Research (CBR, ASU), the Workshop's overall goal was to explore reasons why research proposals submitted by bioarchaeologists, both graduate students and established scholars, fared disproportionately poorly within recent NSF Anthropology Program competitions and to offer advice for increasing success. Therefore, this Workshop comprised 43 international scholars and four advanced graduate students with a history of successful grant acquisition, primarily from the United States. Ultimately, we focused on two related aims: (1) best practices for improving research designs and training and (2) evaluating topics of contemporary significance that reverberate through history and beyond as promising trajectories for bioarchaeological research. Among the former were contextual grounding, research question/hypothesis generation, statistical procedures appropriate for small samples and mixed qualitative/quantitative data, the salience of Bayesian methods, and training program content. Topical foci included ethics, social inequality, identity (including intersectionality), climate change, migration, violence, epidemic disease, adaptability/plasticity, the osteological paradox, and the developmental origins of health and disease. Given the profound changes required globally to address decolonization in the 21st century, this concern also entered many formal and informal discussions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane E Buikstra
- Center for Bioarchaeological Research, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Sharon N DeWitte
- Department of Anthropology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Sabrina C Agarwal
- Department of Anthropology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Brenda J Baker
- Center for Bioarchaeological Research, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Eric J Bartelink
- Department of Anthropology, California State University, Chico, California, USA
| | - Elizabeth Berger
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | | | - Katelyn Bolhofner
- School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Alexis T Boutin
- Department of Anthropology, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, California, USA
| | - Megan B Brickley
- Department of Anthropology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michele R Buzon
- Department of Anthropology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Carlina de la Cova
- Department of Anthropology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Lynne Goldstein
- Department of Anthropology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Anne L Grauer
- Department of Anthropology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Lesley A Gregoricka
- Department of Sociology, Anthropology, & Social Work, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA
| | - Siân E Halcrow
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Sarah A Hall
- Center for Bioarchaeological Research, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Simon Hillson
- Institute of Archaeology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ann M Kakaliouras
- Department of Anthropology, Whittier College, Whittier, California, USA
| | - Haagen D Klaus
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA
| | - Kelly J Knudson
- Center for Bioarchaeological Research, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Christopher J Knüsel
- Préhistoire à l'Actuel: Culture, Environnement et Anthropologie, University of Bordeaux, CNRS, MC, PACEA, UMR5199, F-33615, Pessac, France
| | | | - Debra L Martin
- Department of Anthropology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
| | - George R Milner
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mario Novak
- Center for Applied Bioanthropology, Institute for Anthropological Research, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Kenneth C Nystrom
- Department of Anthropology, State University of New York at New Paltz, New Paltz, New York, USA
| | | | - Tracy L Prowse
- Department of Anthropology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gwen Robbins Schug
- Environmental Health Program, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Jessica E Rothwell
- Center for Bioarchaeological Research, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Ana Luisa Santos
- Research Centre for Anthropology and Health (CIAS), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Christopher Stojanowski
- Center for Bioarchaeological Research, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Anne C Stone
- Center for Bioarchaeological Research, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Kyra E Stull
- Department of Anthropology, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | - Daniel H Temple
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA
| | - Christina M Torres
- Department of Anthropology and Heritage Studies, University of California, Merced, USA, and Instituto de Arqueología y Antropología, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - J Marla Toyne
- Department of Anthropology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
| | - Tiffiny A Tung
- Department of Anthropology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jaime Ullinger
- Bioanthropology Research Institute, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Connecticut, USA
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Comparing high versus low-altitude populations to test human adaptations for increased ventilation during sustained aerobic activity. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11148. [PMID: 35778402 PMCID: PMC9249887 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13263-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite aerobic activity requiring up to tenfold increases in air intake, human populations in high-altitude hypoxic environments can sustain high levels of endurance physical activity. While these populations generally have relatively larger chest and lung volumes, how thoracic motions actively increase ventilation is unknown. Here we show that rib movements, in conjunction with chest shape, contribute to ventilation by assessing how adulthood acclimatization, developmental adaptation, and population-level adaptation to high-altitude affect sustained aerobic activity. We measured tidal volume, heart rate, and rib-motion during walking and running in lowland individuals from Boston (~ 35 m) and in Quechua populations born and living at sea-level (~ 150 m) and at high altitude (> 4000 m) in Peru. We found that Quechua participants, regardless of birth or testing altitudes, increase thoracic volume 2.0-2.2 times more than lowland participants (p < 0.05). Further, Quechua individuals from hypoxic environments have deeper chests resulting in 1.3 times greater increases in thoracic ventilation compared to age-matched, sea-level Quechua (p < 0.05). Thus, increased thoracic ventilation derives from a combination of acclimatization, developmental adaptation, and population-level adaptation to aerobic demand in different oxygen environments, demonstrating that ventilatory demand due to environment and activity has helped shape the form and function of the human thorax.
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22
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Nieves-Colón MA, Badillo Rivera KM, Sandoval K, Villanueva Dávalos V, Enriquez Lencinas LE, Mendoza-Revilla J, Adhikari K, González-Buenfil R, Chen JW, Zhang ET, Sockell A, Ortiz-Tello P, Hurtado GM, Condori Salas R, Cebrecos R, Manzaneda Choque JC, Manzaneda Choque FP, Yábar Pilco GP, Rawls E, Eng C, Huntsman S, Burchard E, Ruiz-Linares A, González-José R, Bedoya G, Rothhammer F, Bortolini MC, Poletti G, Gallo C, Bustamante CD, Baker JC, Gignoux CR, Wojcik GL, Moreno-Estrada A. Clotting factor genes are associated with preeclampsia in high-altitude pregnant women in the Peruvian Andes. Am J Hum Genet 2022; 109:1117-1139. [PMID: 35588731 PMCID: PMC9247825 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2022.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Preeclampsia is a multi-organ complication of pregnancy characterized by sudden hypertension and proteinuria that is among the leading causes of preterm delivery and maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. The heterogeneity of preeclampsia poses a challenge for understanding its etiology and molecular basis. Intriguingly, risk for the condition increases in high-altitude regions such as the Peruvian Andes. To investigate the genetic basis of preeclampsia in a population living at high altitude, we characterized genome-wide variation in a cohort of preeclamptic and healthy Andean families (n = 883) from Puno, Peru, a city located above 3,800 meters of altitude. Our study collected genomic DNA and medical records from case-control trios and duos in local hospital settings. We generated genotype data for 439,314 SNPs, determined global ancestry patterns, and mapped associations between genetic variants and preeclampsia phenotypes. A transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) revealed variants near genes of biological importance for placental and blood vessel function. The top candidate region was found on chromosome 13 of the fetal genome and contains clotting factor genes PROZ, F7, and F10. These findings provide supporting evidence that common genetic variants within coagulation genes play an important role in preeclampsia. A selection scan revealed a potential adaptive signal around the ADAM12 locus on chromosome 10, implicated in pregnancy disorders. Our discovery of an association in a functional pathway relevant to pregnancy physiology in an understudied population of Native American origin demonstrates the increased power of family-based study design and underscores the importance of conducting genetic research in diverse populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Nieves-Colón
- Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad (UGA-LANGEBIO), CINVESTAV, Irapuato, Guanajuato 36821, México; School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA; Department of Anthropology, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
| | | | - Karla Sandoval
- Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad (UGA-LANGEBIO), CINVESTAV, Irapuato, Guanajuato 36821, México
| | | | | | - Javier Mendoza-Revilla
- Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 15102, Peru; Human Evolutionary Genetics Unit, Institut Pasteur, UMR 2000, CNRS, Paris 75015, France
| | - Kaustubh Adhikari
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK; Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, and UCL Genetics Institute, University College London, WC1E 6BT London, UK
| | - Ram González-Buenfil
- Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad (UGA-LANGEBIO), CINVESTAV, Irapuato, Guanajuato 36821, México
| | - Jessica W Chen
- Department of Genetics, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Elisa T Zhang
- Department of Genetics, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Alexandra Sockell
- Department of Genetics, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | | | - Gloria Malena Hurtado
- Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 15102, Peru
| | - Ramiro Condori Salas
- Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 15102, Peru
| | - Ricardo Cebrecos
- Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 15102, Peru
| | | | | | | | - Erin Rawls
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Celeste Eng
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Scott Huntsman
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Esteban Burchard
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Andrés Ruiz-Linares
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, and UCL Genetics Institute, University College London, WC1E 6BT London, UK; Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, EFS, ADES, 13005 Marseille, France; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology and Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences and Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China
| | - Rolando González-José
- Instituto Patagónico de Ciencias Sociales y Humanas, Centro Nacional Patagónico-CONICET y Programa Nacional de Referencia y Biobanco Genómico de la Población Argentina (PoblAr), Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Gabriel Bedoya
- Genética Molecular (GENMOL), Universidad de Antioquía, Medellin, Colombia
| | - Francisco Rothhammer
- Instituto de Alta Investigación Universidad de Tarapacá, Tarapacá, Chile; Programa de Genética Humana, ICBM Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Maria Cátira Bortolini
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Caixa Postal 15053, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Giovanni Poletti
- Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 15102, Peru
| | - Carla Gallo
- Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 15102, Peru
| | - Carlos D Bustamante
- Department of Genetics, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Julie C Baker
- Department of Genetics, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | | | - Genevieve L Wojcik
- Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Andrés Moreno-Estrada
- Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad (UGA-LANGEBIO), CINVESTAV, Irapuato, Guanajuato 36821, México.
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Gonzalez-Candia A, Herrera EA. High Altitude Pregnancies and Vascular Dysfunction: Observations From Latin American Studies. Front Physiol 2021; 12:786038. [PMID: 34950057 PMCID: PMC8688922 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.786038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
An estimated human population of 170 million inhabit at high-altitude (HA, above 2,500 m). The potential pathological effects of HA hypobaric hypoxia during gestation have been the focus of several researchers around the world. The studies based on the Himalayan and Central/South American mountains are particularly interesting as these areas account for nearly 70% of the HA world population. At present, studies in human and animal models revealed important alterations in fetal development and growth at HA. Moreover, vascular responses to chronic hypobaria in the pregnant mother and her fetus may induce marked cardiovascular impairments during pregnancy or in the neonatal period. In addition, recent studies have shown potential long-lasting postnatal effects that may increase cardiovascular risk in individuals gestated under chronic hypobaria. Hence, the maternal and fetal adaptive responses to hypoxia, influenced by HA ancestry, are vital for a better developmental and cardiovascular outcome of the offspring. This mini-review exposes and discusses the main determinants of vascular dysfunction due to developmental hypoxia at HA, such as the Andean Mountains, at the maternal and fetal/neonatal levels. Although significant advances have been made from Latin American studies, this area still needs further investigations to reveal the mechanisms involved in vascular dysfunction, to estimate complications of pregnancy and postnatal life adequately, and most importantly, to determine potential treatments to prevent or treat the pathological effects of being developed under chronic hypobaric hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Gonzalez-Candia
- Laboratorio de Función y Reactividad Vascular, Programa de Fisiopatología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de O'Higgins, Rancagua, Chile
| | - Emilio A Herrera
- Laboratorio de Función y Reactividad Vascular, Programa de Fisiopatología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,International Center for Andean Studies (INCAS), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Childebayeva A, Goodrich JM, Chesterman N, Leon-Velarde F, Rivera-Ch M, Kiyamu M, Brutsaert TD, Bigham AW, Dolinoy DC. Blood lead levels in Peruvian adults are associated with proximity to mining and DNA methylation. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 155:106587. [PMID: 33940396 PMCID: PMC9903334 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inorganic lead (Pb) is common in the environment, and is toxic to neurological, renal, and cardiovascular systems. Pb exposure influences the epigenome with documented effects on DNA methylation (DNAm). We assessed the impact of low levels of Pb exposure on DNAm among non-miner individuals from two locations in Peru: Lima, the capital, and Cerro de Pasco, a highland mining town, to study the effects of Pb exposure on physiological outcomes and DNAm. METHODS Pb levels were measured in whole blood (n = 305). Blood leukocyte DNAm was determined for 90 DNA samples using the Illumina MethylationEPIC chip. An epigenome-wide association study was performed to assess the relationship between Pb and DNAm. RESULTS Individuals from Cerro de Pasco had higher Pb than individuals from Lima (p-value = 2.00E-16). Males had higher Pb than females (p-value = 2.36E-04). Pb was positively associated with hemoglobin (p-value = 8.60E-04). In Cerro de Pasco, blood Pb decreased with the distance from the mine (p-value = 0.04), and association with soil Pb was approaching significance (p-value = 0.08). We identified differentially methylated positions (DMPs) associated with genes SOX18, ZMIZ1, and KDM1A linked to neurological function. We also found 45 differentially methylated regions (DMRs), seven of which were associated with genes involved in metal ion binding and nine to neurological function and development. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that even low levels of Pb can have a significant impact on the body including changes to DNAm. We report associations between Pb and hemoglobin, Pb and distance from mining, and between blood and soil Pb. We also report associations between loci- and region-specific DNAm and Pb.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ainash Childebayeva
- Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena 07745, Germany.
| | - Jaclyn M Goodrich
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Nathan Chesterman
- School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Fabiola Leon-Velarde
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Fisiológicas, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Maria Rivera-Ch
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Fisiológicas, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Melisa Kiyamu
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Fisiológicas, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Tom D Brutsaert
- Department of Exercise Science, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
| | - Abigail W Bigham
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Dana C Dolinoy
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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25
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Storz JF. High-Altitude Adaptation: Mechanistic Insights from Integrated Genomics and Physiology. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:2677-2691. [PMID: 33751123 PMCID: PMC8233491 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Population genomic analyses of high-altitude humans and other vertebrates have identified numerous candidate genes for hypoxia adaptation, and the physiological pathways implicated by such analyses suggest testable hypotheses about underlying mechanisms. Studies of highland natives that integrate genomic data with experimental measures of physiological performance capacities and subordinate traits are revealing associations between genotypes (e.g., hypoxia-inducible factor gene variants) and hypoxia-responsive phenotypes. The subsequent search for causal mechanisms is complicated by the fact that observed genotypic associations with hypoxia-induced phenotypes may reflect second-order consequences of selection-mediated changes in other (unmeasured) traits that are coupled with the focal trait via feedback regulation. Manipulative experiments to decipher circuits of feedback control and patterns of phenotypic integration can help identify causal relationships that underlie observed genotype–phenotype associations. Such experiments are critical for correct inferences about phenotypic targets of selection and mechanisms of adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay F Storz
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA
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26
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Abstract
Population genomic studies of humans and other animals at high altitude have generated many hypotheses about the genes and pathways that may have contributed to hypoxia adaptation. Future advances require experimental tests of such hypotheses to identify causal mechanisms. Studies to date illustrate the challenge of moving from lists of candidate genes to the identification of phenotypic targets of selection, as it can be difficult to determine whether observed genotype-phenotype associations reflect causal effects or secondary consequences of changes in other traits that are linked via homeostatic regulation. Recent work on high-altitude models such as deer mice has revealed both plastic and evolved changes in respiratory, cardiovascular, and metabolic traits that contribute to aerobic performance capacity in hypoxia, and analyses of tissue-specific transcriptomes have identified changes in regulatory networks that mediate adaptive changes in physiological phenotype. Here we synthesize recent results and discuss lessons learned from studies of high-altitude adaptation that lie at the intersection of genomics and physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay F Storz
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, USA;
| | - Zachary A Cheviron
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, USA;
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27
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Effect of EGLN1 Genetic Polymorphisms on Hemoglobin Concentration in Andean Highlanders. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 2020:3436581. [PMID: 33282944 PMCID: PMC7686849 DOI: 10.1155/2020/3436581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The physiological characteristics of Andean natives living at high altitudes have been investigated extensively, with many studies reporting that Andean highlanders have a higher hemoglobin (Hb) concentration than other highlander populations. It has previously been reported that positive natural selection has acted independently on the egl-9 family hypoxia inducible factor 1 (EGLN1) gene in Tibetan and Andean highlanders and is related to Hb concentration in Tibetans. However, no study has yet revealed the genetic determinants of Hb concentration in Andeans even though several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in EGLN1 have previously been examined. Therefore, we explored the relationship between hematological measurements and tag SNPs designed to cover the whole EGLN1 genomic region in Andean highlanders living in Bolivia. Our findings indicated that haplotype frequencies estimated from the EGLN1 SNPs were significantly correlated with Hb concentration in the Bolivian highlanders. Moreover, we found that an Andean-dominant haplotype related to high Hb level may have expanded rapidly in ancestral Andean highlander populations. Analysis of genotype data in an ~436.3 kb genomic region containing EGLN1 using public databases indicated that the population structure based on EGLN1 genetic markers in Andean highlanders was largely different from that in other human populations. This finding may be related to an intrinsic or adaptive physiological characteristic of Andean highlanders. In conclusion, the high Hb concentrations in Andean highlanders can be partly characterized by EGLN1 genetic variants.
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Liu G, Zhao W, Zhang H, Wang T, Han Z, Ji X. rs1769793 variant reduces EGLN1 expression in skeletal muscle and hippocampus and contributes to high aerobic capacity in hypoxia. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:29283-29285. [PMID: 33109725 PMCID: PMC7703601 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2010073117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Guiyou Liu
- Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China;
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
- National Engineering Laboratory of Internet Medical Diagnosis and Treatment Technology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Wenbo Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Haihua Zhang
- Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
- National Engineering Laboratory of Internet Medical Diagnosis and Treatment Technology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Department of Bioinformatics, Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Zhifa Han
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University-Peking University Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University-Peking University Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China
- Department of Pathophysiology, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Xunming Ji
- Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China;
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
- National Engineering Laboratory of Internet Medical Diagnosis and Treatment Technology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
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Childebayeva A, Goodrich JM, Leon-Velarde F, Rivera-Chira M, Kiyamu M, Brutsaert TD, Dolinoy DC, Bigham AW. Genome-Wide Epigenetic Signatures of Adaptive Developmental Plasticity in the Andes. Genome Biol Evol 2020; 13:5981114. [PMID: 33185669 PMCID: PMC7859850 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evaa239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
High-altitude adaptation is a classic example of natural selection operating on the human genome. Physiological and genetic adaptations have been documented in populations with a history of living at high altitude. However, the role of epigenetic gene regulation, including DNA methylation, in high-altitude adaptation is not well understood. We performed an epigenome-wide DNA methylation association study based on whole blood from 113 Peruvian Quechua with differential lifetime exposures to high altitude (>2,500) and recruited based on a migrant study design. We identified two significant differentially methylated positions (DMPs) and 62 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) associated with high-altitude developmental and lifelong exposure statuses. DMPs and DMRs were found in genes associated with hypoxia-inducible factor pathway, red blood cell production, blood pressure, and others. DMPs and DMRs associated with fractional exhaled nitric oxide also were identified. We found a significant association between EPAS1 methylation and EPAS1 SNP genotypes, suggesting that local genetic variation influences patterns of methylation. Our findings demonstrate that DNA methylation is associated with early developmental and lifelong high-altitude exposures among Peruvian Quechua as well as altitude-adaptive phenotypes. Together these findings suggest that epigenetic mechanisms might be involved in adaptive developmental plasticity to high altitude. Moreover, we show that local genetic variation is associated with DNA methylation levels, suggesting that methylation associated SNPs could be a potential avenue for research on genetic adaptation to hypoxia in Andeans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ainash Childebayeva
- Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan.,Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan.,Department of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Human History, Jena, Germany
| | - Jaclyn M Goodrich
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan
| | - Fabiola Leon-Velarde
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Fisiológicas, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Maria Rivera-Chira
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Fisiológicas, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Melisa Kiyamu
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Fisiológicas, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | | | - Dana C Dolinoy
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan.,Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan
| | - Abigail W Bigham
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles
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30
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Reply to Liu et al.: The Andean EGLN1 adaptive allele could be a loss of function variant that increases HIF1-α in skeletal muscle. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:29286-29287. [PMID: 33109724 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2012199117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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31
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Gassmann M, Cowburn A, Gu H, Li J, Rodriguez M, Babicheva A, Jain PP, Xiong M, Gassmann NN, Yuan JXJ, Wilkins MR, Zhao L. Hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension-Utilizing experiments of nature. Br J Pharmacol 2020; 178:121-131. [PMID: 32464698 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
An increase in pulmonary artery pressure is a common observation in adult mammals exposed to global alveolar hypoxia. It is considered a maladaptive response that places an increased workload on the right ventricle. The mechanisms initiating and maintaining the elevated pressure are of considerable interest in understanding pulmonary vascular homeostasis. There is an expectation that identifying the key molecules in the integrated vascular response to hypoxia will inform potential drug targets. One strategy is to take advantage of experiments of nature, specifically, to understand the genetic basis for the inter-individual variation in the pulmonary vascular response to acute and chronic hypoxia. To date, detailed phenotyping of highlanders has focused on haematocrit and oxygen saturation rather than cardiovascular phenotypes. This review explores what we can learn from those studies with respect to the pulmonary circulation. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on Risk factors, comorbidities, and comedications in cardioprotection. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v178.1/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Gassmann
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, and Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,University Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), Lima, Peru
| | - Andrew Cowburn
- National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI), Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Hong Gu
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jia Li
- Clinical Physiology Laboratory, Institute of Pediatrics, Heart Center, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Marisela Rodriguez
- Section of Physiology, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Aleksandra Babicheva
- Section of Physiology, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Pritesh P Jain
- Section of Physiology, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Mingmei Xiong
- Section of Physiology, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Norina N Gassmann
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, and Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jason X-J Yuan
- Section of Physiology, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Martin R Wilkins
- National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI), Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Lan Zhao
- National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI), Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
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Werren EA, Garcia O, Bigham AW. Identifying adaptive alleles in the human genome: from selection mapping to functional validation. Hum Genet 2020; 140:241-276. [PMID: 32728809 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-020-02206-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The suite of phenotypic diversity across geographically distributed human populations is the outcome of genetic drift, gene flow, and natural selection throughout human evolution. Human genetic variation underlying local biological adaptations to selective pressures is incompletely characterized. With the emergence of population genetics modeling of large-scale genomic data derived from diverse populations, scientists are able to map signatures of natural selection in the genome in a process known as selection mapping. Inferred selection signals further can be used to identify candidate functional alleles that underlie putative adaptive phenotypes. Phenotypic association, fine mapping, and functional experiments facilitate the identification of candidate adaptive alleles. Functional investigation of candidate adaptive variation using novel techniques in molecular biology is slowly beginning to unravel how selection signals translate to changes in biology that underlie the phenotypic spectrum of our species. In addition to informing evolutionary hypotheses of adaptation, the discovery and functional annotation of adaptive alleles also may be of clinical significance. While selection mapping efforts in non-European populations are growing, there remains a stark under-representation of diverse human populations in current public genomic databases, of both clinical and non-clinical cohorts. This lack of inclusion limits the study of human biological variation. Identifying and functionally validating candidate adaptive alleles in more global populations is necessary for understanding basic human biology and human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Werren
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Anthropology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Obed Garcia
- Department of Anthropology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Abigail W Bigham
- Department of Anthropology, University of California Los Angeles, 341 Haines Hall, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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Pamenter ME, Hall JE, Tanabe Y, Simonson TS. Cross-Species Insights Into Genomic Adaptations to Hypoxia. Front Genet 2020; 11:743. [PMID: 32849780 PMCID: PMC7387696 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Over millions of years, vertebrate species populated vast environments spanning the globe. Among the most challenging habitats encountered were those with limited availability of oxygen, yet many animal and human populations inhabit and perform life cycle functions and/or daily activities in varying degrees of hypoxia today. Of particular interest are species that inhabit high-altitude niches, which experience chronic hypobaric hypoxia throughout their lives. Physiological and molecular aspects of adaptation to hypoxia have long been the focus of high-altitude populations and, within the past decade, genomic information has become increasingly accessible. These data provide an opportunity to search for common genetic signatures of selection across uniquely informative populations and thereby augment our understanding of the mechanisms underlying adaptations to hypoxia. In this review, we synthesize the available genomic findings across hypoxia-tolerant species to provide a comprehensive view of putatively hypoxia-adaptive genes and pathways. In many cases, adaptive signatures across species converge on the same genetic pathways or on genes themselves [i.e., the hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) pathway). However, specific variants thought to underlie function are distinct between species and populations, and, in most cases, the precise functional role of these genomic differences remains unknown. Efforts to standardize these findings and explore relationships between genotype and phenotype will provide important clues into the evolutionary and mechanistic bases of physiological adaptations to environmental hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E. Pamenter
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - James E. Hall
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Yuuka Tanabe
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Tatum S. Simonson
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
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Association of EGLN1 gene with high aerobic capacity of Peruvian Quechua at high altitude. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:24006-24011. [PMID: 31712437 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1906171116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Highland native Andeans have resided at altitude for millennia. They display high aerobic capacity (VO2max) at altitude, which may be a reflection of genetic adaptation to hypoxia. Previous genomewide (GW) scans for natural selection have nominated Egl-9 homolog 1 gene (EGLN1) as a candidate gene. The encoded protein, EGLN1/PHD2, is an O2 sensor that controls levels of the Hypoxia Inducible Factor-α (HIF-α), which regulates the cellular response to hypoxia. From GW association and analysis of covariance performed on a total sample of 429 Peruvian Quechua and 94 US lowland referents, we identified 5 EGLN1 SNPs associated with higher VO2max (L⋅min-1 and mL⋅min-1⋅kg-1) in hypoxia (rs1769793, rs2064766, rs2437150, rs2491403, rs479200). For 4 of these SNPs, Quechua had the highest frequency of the advantageous (high VO2max) allele compared with 25 diverse lowland comparison populations from the 1000 Genomes Project. Genotype effects were substantial, with high versus low VO2max genotype categories differing by ∼11% (e.g., for rs1769793 SNP genotype TT = 34.2 mL⋅min-1⋅kg-1 vs. CC = 30.5 mL⋅min-1⋅kg-1). To guard against spurious association, we controlled for population stratification. Findings were replicated for EGLN1 SNP rs1769793 in an independent Andean sample collected in 2002. These findings contextualize previous reports of natural selection at EGLN1 in Andeans, and support the hypothesis that natural selection has increased the frequency of an EGLN1 causal variant that enhances O2 delivery or use during exercise at altitude in Peruvian Quechua.
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