Targeted Genome Sequencing Identifies Multiple Rare Variants in Caveolin-1 Associated with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

The Genetics of Human Sleep and Sleep Disorders

Healthy sleep is vital for humans to achieve optimal health and longevity. Poor sleep and sleep disorders are strongly associated with increased morbidity and mortality. However, the importance of good sleep continues to be underrecognized. Mechanisms regulating sleep and its functions in humans remain mostly unclear even after decades of dedicated research. Advancements in gene sequencing techniques and computational methodologies have paved the way for various genetic analysis approaches, which have provided some insights into human sleep genetics. This review summarizes our current knowledge of the genetic basis underlying human sleep traits and sleep disorders. We also highlight the use of animal models to validate genetic findings from human sleep studies and discuss potential molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in the regulation of human sleep.

Annual review of selected scientific literature: A report of the Committee on Scientific Investigation of the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry

The Scientific Investigation Committee of the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry offers this review of the 2022 dental literature to briefly touch on several topics of interest to modern restorative dentistry. Each committee member brings discipline-specific expertise in their subject areas that include (in order of the appearance in this report): prosthodontics; periodontics, alveolar bone, and peri-implant tissues; dental materials and therapeutics; occlusion and temporomandibular disorders; sleep-related breathing disorders; oral medicine and oral and maxillofacial surgery; and dental caries and cariology. The authors focused their efforts on reporting information likely to influence the daily dental treatment decisions of the reader with an emphasis on innovations, new materials and processes, and future trends in dentistry. With the tremendous volume of literature published daily in dentistry and related disciplines, this review cannot be comprehensive. Instead, its purpose is to update interested readers and provide valuable resource material for those willing to subsequently pursue greater detail on their own. Our intent remains to assist colleagues in navigating the tremendous volume of newly minted information produced annually. Finally, we hope that readers find this work helpful in managing patients.

Caveolin-1-Related Intervention for Fibrotic Lung Diseases

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and fatal interstitial lung disease (ILD) for which there are no effective treatments. Lung transplantation is the only viable option for patients with end-stage PF but is only available to a minority of patients. Lung lesions in ILDs, including IPF, are characterized by alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) senescence and apoptosis and accumulation of activated myofibroblasts and/or fibrotic lung (fL) fibroblasts (fLfs). These composite populations of fLfs show a high rate of basal proliferation, resist apoptosis and senescence, and have increased migration and invasiveness. They also more readily deposit ECM proteins. These features eventuate in progressive destruction of alveolar architecture and loss of lung function in patients with PF. The identification of new, safer, and more effective therapy is therefore mandatory for patients with IPF or related ILDs. We found that increased caveolin-1 and tumor suppressor protein, p53 expression, and apoptosis in AECs occur prior to and then with the proliferation of fLfs in fibrotic lungs. AECs with elevated p53 typically undergo apoptosis. fLfs alternatively demonstrate strikingly low basal levels of caveolin-1 and p53, while mouse double minute 2 homolog (mdm2) levels and mdm2-mediated degradation of p53 protein are markedly increased. The disparities in the expression of p53 in injured AECs and fLfs appear to be due to increased basal expression of caveolin-1 in apoptotic AECs with a relative paucity of caveolin-1 and increased mdm2 in fLfs. Therefore, targeting caveolin-1 using a caveolin 1 scaffolding domain peptide, CSP7, represents a new and promising approach for patients with IPF, perhaps other forms of progressive ILD or even other forms of organ injury characterized by fibrotic repair. The mechanisms of action differ in the injured AECs and in fLfs, in which differential signaling enables the preservation of AEC viability with concurrent limitation of fLf expansion and collagen secretion. The findings in three models of PF indicate that lung scarring can be nearly abrogated by airway delivery of the peptide. Phase 1 clinical trial testing of this approach in healthy volunteers has been successfully completed; Phase 1b in IPF patients is soon to be initiated and, if successful, will be followed by phase 2 testing in short order. Apart from the treatment of IPF, this intervention may be applicable to other forms of tissue injury characterized by fibrotic repair.

Brody J, Chen H, Gottlieb DJ, Evans DS, Guo X, Gharib SA, Hale L, Hillman DR, Lutsey PL, Mukherjee S, Ochs-Balcom HM, Palmer LJ, Purcell S, Saxena R, Patel SR, Stone KL, Tranah GJ, Boerwinkle E, Lin X, Liu Y, Psaty BM, Vasan RS, Manichaikul A, Rich SS, Rotter JI, Sofer T, Redline S, Zhu X. Targeted Genome Sequencing Identifies Multiple Rare Variants in Caveolin-1 Associated with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Rationale: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and premature mortality. There is strong clinical and epidemiologic evidence supporting the importance of genetic factors influencing OSA but limited data implicating specific genes. Objectives: To search for rare variants contributing to OSA severity. Methods: Leveraging high-depth genomic sequencing data from the NHLBI Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program and imputed genotype data from multiple population-based studies, we performed linkage analysis in the CFS (Cleveland Family Study), followed by multistage gene-based association analyses in independent cohorts for apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in a total of 7,708 individuals of European ancestry. Measurements and Main Results: Linkage analysis in the CFS identified a suggestive linkage peak on chromosome 7q31 (LOD = 2.31). Gene-based analysis identified 21 noncoding rare variants in CAV1 (Caveolin-1) associated with lower AHI after accounting for multiple comparisons (P = 7.4 × 10-8). These noncoding variants together significantly contributed to the linkage evidence (P < 10-3). Follow-up analysis revealed significant associations between these variants and increased CAV1 expression, and increased CAV1 expression in peripheral monocytes was associated with lower AHI (P = 0.024) and higher minimum overnight oxygen saturation (P = 0.007). Conclusions: Rare variants in CAV1, a membrane-scaffolding protein essential in multiple cellular and metabolic functions, are associated with higher CAV1 gene expression and lower OSA severity, suggesting a novel target for modulating OSA severity.