Putative susceptibility locus on chromosome 21q for lumbar disc disease (LDD) in the Finnish population

Gene Expression of Metalloproteinases and Endogenous Inhibitors in the Lamellae of Dairy Heifers With Oligofructose-Induced Laminitis

Bovine laminitis leads to huge economic losses and animal welfare problems in the dairy industry worldwide. Numerous studies suggested that several metalloproteinases (MPs) may play vital roles in the failure of epidermal attachment. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to investigate and characterize the gene-level changes in distinct MPs and endogenous inhibitors using oligofructose (OF)-induced bovine laminitis model. The objective of this study was to determine aberrant MPs and related inhibitors of bovine laminitis in gene level, and to provide reasonable directions for the further protein-level research. Twelve normal Chinese Holstein dairy heifers were randomly divided into treatment group (n = 6) and control group (n = 6). The heifers in the treatment group were administered with OF solutions at a dose of 17 g/kg of body weight via a stomach tube. The heifers were then humanely euthanized when they met the criteria of bovine laminitis. The heifers in the control group were administered with deionized water at a dose of 2 L/100 kg of body weight. They humanely euthanized at 72 h. The gene expressions of MPs and endogenous inhibitors, namely, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), A disintegrin and metalloproteinases (ADAMs), and A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTs), and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in the lamellae from two groups were determined via real-time quantitative PCR. The gene expressions of MMP-2, MMP-9, ADAMTS-4, and ADAMTS-5 significantly increased (P < 0.05), whereas that of TIMP-2 significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the treatment group relative to the control group. No significant difference was found in the gene expressions of ADAM-10, ADAM-17, TIMP-1, and TIMP-3. These results indicated that the gene-level imbalanced condition of MPs and their TIMPs may be the basic cause for the failure of epidermal attachment. At the same time, more detailed protein-level studies would be needed to further clarify the roles of MPs and TIMPs in the pathogenesis of bovine laminitis, especially to MMP-2, MMP-9, ADAMTS-4, ADAMTS-5, TIMP-2 as well as related substrates (e.g., aggrecan and versican).

ADAMTS proteins in human disorders

ADAMTS proteins are a superfamily of 26 secreted molecules comprising two related, but distinct families. ADAMTS proteases are zinc metalloendopeptidases, most of whose substrates are extracellular matrix (ECM) components, whereas ADAMTS-like proteins lack a metalloprotease domain, reside in the ECM and have regulatory roles vis-à-vis ECM assembly and/or ADAMTS activity. Evolutionary conservation and expansion of ADAMTS proteins in mammals is suggestive of crucial embryologic or physiological roles in humans. Indeed, Mendelian disorders or birth defects resulting from naturally occurring ADAMTS2, ADAMTS3, ADAMTS10, ADAMTS13, ADAMTS17, ADAMTS20, ADAMTSL2 and ADAMTSL4 mutations as well as numerous phenotypes identified in genetically engineered mice have revealed ADAMTS participation in major biological pathways. Important roles have been identified in a few acquired conditions. ADAMTS5 is unequivocally implicated in pathogenesis of osteoarthritis via degradation of aggrecan, a major structural proteoglycan in cartilage. ADAMTS7 is strongly associated with coronary artery disease and promotes atherosclerosis. Autoantibodies to ADAMTS13 lead to a platelet coagulopathy, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, which is similar to that resulting from ADAMTS13 mutations. ADAMTS proteins have numerous potential connections to other human disorders that were identified by genome-wide association studies. Here, we review inherited and acquired human disorders in which ADAMTS proteins participate, and discuss progress and prospects in therapeutics.

A Whole Exome Study Identifies Novel Candidate Genes for Vertebral Bone Marrow Signal Changes (Modic Changes)

STUDY DESIGN

A family-based study.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to identify rare genetic factors predisposing to Modic changes (MCs).

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) is one of the contributing factors behind low back pain (LBP). Lumbar MC visualized as bone marrow signal intensity changes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) represent a specific phenotype of LDD, which has a stronger association with LBP than LDD without MC.

METHODS

The study set consisted of two Finnish families: Family I included seven affected and four unaffected individuals and Family II eight affected and seven unaffected individuals. MCs were evaluated in 26 individuals using MRI. Whole exome sequencing was used to identify alleles cosegregating with MC. Annotate variation was used to carry out functional annotation of alleles and their frequencies were evaluated using 1000Genomes, Sequencing Initiative Suomi (SISu), and the Exome Aggregation Consortium (ExAC) databases.

RESULTS

We identified predisposing genetic alleles for MC in two Finnish families. In each family, only single allele cosegregated with MC. In Family I, the observed allele was an insertion and deletion in the HSPG2 gene, resulting in a premature termination codon. In Family II, a single nucleotide polymorphism (rs61753465) in the MAML1 gene was identified in all affected family members.

CONCLUSION

We have identified two novel candidate genes, MAML1 and HSPG2, associating with MC. These genes are important in cartilage structure and joint cartilage maintenance. Our findings are novel among lumbar spine degenerative phenotypes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

N/A.

The noncoding RNA linc-ADAMTS5 cooperates with RREB1 to protect from intervertebral disc degeneration through inhibiting ADAMTS5 expression

Previous studies have indicated the important roles of ADAMTS5 in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). However, the mechanisms that regulate ADAMTS5 expression in nuclear pulposus (NP) cells remain largely unknown. Evidence suggests that intergenic transcription may be associated with genes that encode transcriptional regulators. Here, we identified a long intergenic noncoding RNA, linc-ADAMTS5, which was transcribed in the opposite direction to ADAMTS5. In the present study, through mining computational algorithm programs, and publicly available data sets, we identified Ras-responsive element-binding protein 1 (RREB1) as a crucial transcription factor regulating the expression of ADAMTS5 in NP cells. RNA pull-down, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), in vitro binding assays, and gain- and loss-of-function studies indicated that a physical interaction between linc-ADAMTS5 and splicing factor proline/glutamine-rich (SFPQ) facilitated the recruitment of RREB1 to binding sites within the ADAMTS5 promoter to induce chromatin remodeling. This resulted in subdued ADAMTS5 levels in cultured NP cells involving histone deacetylases (HDACs). In clinical NP tissues, linc-ADAMTS5 and RREB1 were correlated negatively with ADAMTS5 expression. Taken together, these results demonstrate that RREB1 cooperates with noncoding RNA linc-ADAMTS5 to inhibit ADAMTS5 expression, thereby affecting degeneration of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the intervertebral disc (IVD).

Association between ADAMTS-4 gene polymorphism and lumbar disc degeneration in Chinese Han population

Low back pain (LBP) is a common health problem and many LBP are caused by lumbar disc degeneration (LDD). ADAMTS-4 (a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin motifs-4), also known as aggrecanse-1, plays a core role in degeneration of extracellular matrix in LDD. To investigate the association between ADAMTS-4 genetic polymorphism and LDD, we genotyped SNPs in and around ADAMTS-4. We recruited 482 sporadic cases of LDD and 496 healthy controls from Chinese Han population. Five SNPs were selected and phenotyped by the Sequenom MassARRAY system. Allelic, genotypic, and haplotypic association was performed. Rs4233367 (c.1877 C>T), which located in exon of ADAMTS-4 showed significant association with LDD. The T allele conferred a lower risk of LDD with an OR of 0.69 and TT genotype is at nearly one-fifth of the risk compared to CC genotype. Other tested SNPs didn't show significant difference between the case and control groups. The SNP rs4233367 in the exon of ADAMTS-4 gene may be associated with lumbar disc degeneration. © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:860-864, 2016.

The involvement of ADAMTS-5 genetic polymorphisms in predisposition and diffusion tensor imaging alterations of lumbar disc degeneration

Low back pain is a global health problem in which more than 40% is caused by lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration (LDD). ADAMTS-5 (A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-5) was shown to be involved in LDD by functional analyses. To identify whether there is an association between ADAMTS-5 and LDD, and what is the contribution of ADAMTS-5 genetic polymorphisms to MD (Mean diffusivity) changes in lumbar IVD (Intervertebral disc). We firstly genotyped selected ADAMTS-5 SNPs (Single nucleotide polymorphisms) in a Chinese Han population. After the primary analyses of allelic, genotypic, and haplotypic association, we performed SNP-SNP interaction analysis. We subsequently genotyped another 50 participants and acquired the corresponding MD values from individual lumbar IVDs. The association analysis between the genotypic groups divided by the above positive SNPs and the corresponding MD values were also performed. Significant associations were identified in rs151058, rs229052, and rs162502. None of the 2-SNP haplotypic analysis survived the 10,000 permutation test. The following interaction analysis demonstrated that rs151058 was strong associated with LDD when conditioning on rs162502. Significant difference of MD values between AA and G+ carriers was identified in rs162502. This is the first study indicating that the SNPs of ADAMTS-5 may contribute to predisposition of LDD. An interaction between rs151058 and rs229052 may exist in ADAMTS-5 with LDD. The rs162502 might be associated with altered MD values.

Identification of SNP-containing regulatory motifs in the myelodysplastic syndromes model using SNP arrays and gene expression arrays

Myelodysplastic syndromes have increased in frequency and incidence in the American population, but patient prognosis has not significantly improved over the last decade. Such improvements could be realized if biomarkers for accurate diagnosis and prognostic stratification were successfully identified. In this study, we propose a method that associates two state-of-the-art array technologies—single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array and gene expression array—with gene motifs considered transcription factor-binding sites (TFBS). We are particularly interested in SNP-containing motifs introduced by genetic variation and mutation as TFBS. The potential regulation of SNP-containing motifs affects only when certain mutations occur. These motifs can be identified from a group of co-expressed genes with copy number variation. Then, we used a sliding window to identify motif candidates near SNPs on gene sequences. The candidates were filtered by coarse thresholding and fine statistical testing. Using the regression-based LARS-EN algorithm and a level-wise sequence combination procedure, we identified 28 SNP-containing motifs as candidate TFBS. We confirmed 21 of the 28 motifs with ChIP-chip fragments in the TRANSFAC database. Another six motifs were validated by TRANSFAC via searching binding fragments on co-regulated genes. The identified motifs and their location genes can be considered potential biomarkers for myelodysplastic syndromes. Thus, our proposed method, a novel strategy for associating two data categories, is capable of integrating information from different sources to identify reliable candidate regulatory SNP-containing motifs introduced by genetic variation and mutation.

Genome-wide association studies: a powerful tool for neurogenomics

As their power and utility increase, genome-wide association (GWA) studies are poised to become an important element of the neurosurgeon's toolkit for diagnosing and treating disease. In this paper, the authors review recent findings and discuss issues associated with gathering and analyzing GWA data for the study of neurological diseases and disorders, including those of neurosurgical importance. Their goal is to provide neurosurgeons and other clinicians with a better understanding of the practical and theoretical issues associated with this line of research. A modern GWA study involves testing hundreds of thousands of genetic markers across an entire genome, often in thousands of individuals, for any significant association with a particular disease. The number of markers assayed in a study presents several practical and theoretical issues that must be considered when planning the study. Genome-wide association studies show great promise in our understanding of the genes underlying common neurological diseases and disorders, as well as in leading to a new generation of genetic tests for clinicians.