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Rao NS, Meyer C, Vasanthi SS, Massey N, Samidurai M, Gage M, Putra M, Almanza AN, Wachter L, Thippeswamy T. DFP-Induced Status Epilepticus Severity in Mixed-Sex Cohorts of Adult Rats Housed in the Same Room: Behavioral and EEG Comparisons. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:895092. [PMID: 35620057 PMCID: PMC9127803 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.895092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex is a biological variable in experimental models. In our previous diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) studies, female rats required a higher dose of DFP to achieve a somewhat similar severity of status epilepticus (SE) as males. In those studies, male and female rats were bought separately from the same vendor, housed in different rooms, and the DFP used was from different batches. We had also shown that surgery for epidural electrodes implantation reduces the threshold for SE. Our recent study in the soman (GD) model using a mixed-sex cohort of rats housed individually but in the same room showed that females achieved significantly higher SE severity than males for the same dose of GD. In this study, we demonstrate that housing the mixed-sex cohorts in the same room and treating them with DFP (4 mg/kg, s.c.) from the same pool, though from different batches, yielded reproducible SE severity in both sexes and both telemetry (surgery) and non-telemetry (non-surgery) groups. We conducted experiments in four mixed-sex cohorts of adult Sprague-Dawley rats. In females, the surgery for implanting the telemetry devices reduced the latency to convulsive seizure (CS) and increased SE severity compared to non-telemetry females. However, there were no sex differences in latency or SE severity within telemetry or non-telemetry groups. Once animals reached CS stage ≥3, they remained in CS stage in both sexes until midazolam was administered. Midazolam (3 mg/kg, i.m.) treatment 1-one-hour post-DFP significantly reduced epileptiform spikes in both sexes. The mortality was only 2% in 24 h. Irrespective of sex or stage of estrous cycle or surgery, the animals had continuous convulsive SE for ∼40 min. In telemetry rats, electrographic changes correlated with behavioral seizures. However, there was a significant difference in SE severity and the latency between directly-observed behavioral CS and EEG-based CS quantification in both sexes. Overall, these results suggest that housing both sexes in the same room and treating with DFP in a mixed-sex cohort from the same pool of reagents will minimize variability in SE severity. Such rigorous experiments will yield better outcomes while testing disease-modifying agents in epilepsy models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikhil S Rao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Christina Meyer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Suraj S Vasanthi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Nyzil Massey
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Manikandan Samidurai
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Meghan Gage
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Marson Putra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Aida N Almanza
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Logan Wachter
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Thimmasettappa Thippeswamy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
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2
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Lee HC, Edmonds ME, Duncan FE, O'Halloran TV, Woodruff TK. Zinc exocytosis is sensitive to myosin light chain kinase inhibition in mouse and human eggs. Mol Hum Reprod 2021; 26:228-239. [PMID: 32119740 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaaa017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Zinc dynamics are essential for oocyte meiotic maturation, egg activation, and preimplantation embryo development. During fertilisation and egg activation, the egg releases billions of zinc atoms (Zn2+) in an exocytotic event termed the 'zinc spark'. We hypothesised that this zinc transport and exocytosis is dependent upon the intracellular trafficking of cortical granules (CG) which requires myosin-actin-dependent motors. Treatment of mature mouse and human eggs with ML-7, a myosin light chain kinase inhibitor (MLCK), resulted in an 80% reduction in zinc spark intensity compared to untreated controls when activated with ionomycin. Moreover, CG migration towards the plasma membrane was significantly decreased in ML-7-treated eggs compared with controls when activated parthenogenetically with ionomycin. In sperm-induced fertilisation via intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), ML-7-treated mouse eggs exhibited decreased labile zinc intensity and cortical CG staining. Collectively, these data demonstrate that ML-7 treatment impairs zinc release from both murine and human eggs after activation, demonstrating that zinc exocytosis requires myosin light chain kinase activity. Further, these results provide additional support that zinc is likely stored and released from CGs. These data underscore the importance of intracellular zinc trafficking as a crucial component of egg maturation necessary for egg activation and early embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoi Chang Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Maxwell E Edmonds
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Francesca E Duncan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.,Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Thomas V O'Halloran
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.,Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Teresa K Woodruff
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.,Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
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3
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Cortez I, Rodgers SP, Kosten TA, Leasure JL. Sex and Age Effects on Neurobehavioral Toxicity Induced by Binge Alcohol. Brain Plast 2020; 6:5-25. [PMID: 33680843 PMCID: PMC7902983 DOI: 10.3233/bpl-190094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Historically, most alcohol neurotoxicity studies were conducted in young adult males and focused on chronic intake. There has been a shift towards studying the effects of alcohol on the adolescent brain, due to alcohol consumption during this formative period disrupting the brain's developmental trajectory. Because the most typical pattern of adolescent alcohol intake is heavy episodic (binge) drinking, there has also been a shift towards the study of binge alcohol-induced neurobehavioral toxicity. It has thus become apparent that binge alcohol damages the adolescent brain and there is increasing attention to sex-dependent effects. Significant knowledge gaps remain in our understanding of the effects of binge alcohol on the female brain, however. Moreover, it is unsettling that population-level studies indicate that the prevalence of binge drinking is increasing among American women, particularly those in older age groups. Although study of adolescents has made it apparent that binge alcohol disrupts ongoing brain maturational processes, we know almost nothing about how it impacts the aging brain, as studies of its effects on the aged brain are relatively scarce, and the study of sex-dependent effects is just beginning. Given the rapidly increasing population of older Americans, it is crucial that studies address age-dependent effects of binge alcohol, and given the increase in binge drinking in older women who are at higher risk for cognitive decline relative to men, studies must encompass both sexes. Because adolescence and older age are both characterized by age-typical brain changes, and because binge drinking is the most common pattern of alcohol intake in both age groups, the knowledge that we have amassed on binge alcohol effects on the adolescent brain can inform our study of its effects on the aging brain. In this review, we therefore cover the current state of knowledge of sex and age-dependent effects of binge alcohol, as well as statistical and methodological considerations for studies aimed at addressing them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibdanelo Cortez
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | | | - J. Leigh Leasure
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Biology & Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
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4
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Libby AM, McGinnes HG, Regensteiner JG. Educating the Scientific Workforce on Sex and Gender Considerations in Research: A National Scan of the Literature and Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health Programs. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2020; 29:876-885. [PMID: 32456574 DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2019.8067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: This study was a national scan of education resources on integrating sex and gender considerations into research. The purpose was to assess capacity for educating researchers and to identify gaps, with implications for implementation of guidelines or mandates to consider sex and gender differences in research. Information sources were U.S. training programs in women's health and sex/gender difference research, Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health (BIRCWH), and published peer-reviewed biomedical literature. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study used multiple methods: a national survey and a comprehensive literature review. BIRCWH leaders responded to a survey regarding education on sex/gender difference research for BIRCWH scholars (response rate 100%, 20 of 20). A comprehensive literature review was conducted for 1993-2018. Results: Nearly half (45%) of BIRCWH institutions offered education on integrating sex or gender differences in clinical translational research; of those, roughly half (54%) offered in-person training and one-third (31%) offered content within existing for-credit courses. Respondents preferred online training (84%) to in-person offerings or reference materials (47% and 42% respectively). Published indexed literature on sex or gender differences has quadrupled since 1993, although growth in these publications remained flat in the most recent six years. Conclusions: Published resources to educate researchers on integrating sex and gender differences into medical research have increased, and BIRCWH programs connect scholars to national resources. Educational gaps remain due to limited access to curricula on applied research approaches, design, and methods for sex/gender difference research. BIRCWH programs desire curricula that are easily accessible online and asynchronously; sanctioned and supported by national thought leaders; linked to required training such as rigor and reproducibility; foster collaboration; and offer practical applications. Evidence-based, high-quality educational curricula and a dissemination plan are needed to enhance the adoption and integration of sex and gender into scientific endeavors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne M Libby
- Department of Emergency Medicine and Center for Women's Health Research, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Hannah G McGinnes
- Department of Emergency Medicine and Center for Women's Health Research, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Predictive Analytics and Comparative Effectiveness (PACE) Center, Institute for Clinical Research Studies, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Judith G Regensteiner
- Department of Medicine and Center for Women's Health Research, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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5
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Gage M, Golden M, Putra M, Sharma S, Thippeswamy T. Sex as a biological variable in the rat model of diisopropylfluorophosphate-induced long-term neurotoxicity. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2020; 1479:44-64. [PMID: 32090337 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Revised: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Sex differences in response to neurotoxicant exposure that initiates epileptogenesis are understudied. We used telemetry-implanted male and female adult rats exposed to an organophosphate (OP) neurotoxicant, diisopropylflourophosphate (DFP), to test sex differences in the severity of status epilepticus (SE) and the development of spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS). Females had significantly less severe SE and decreased epileptiform spikes compared with males, although females received a higher dose of DFP than males. The estrous stages had no impact on seizure susceptibility, but rats with severe SE had a significantly prolonged diestrus. A previously demonstrated disease-modifying agent, an inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, 1400W, was tested in both sexes. None of the eight males treated with 1400W developed convulsive SRS during 4 weeks post-DFP exposure, while two of seven females developed convulsive SRS. Concerning gliosis and neurodegeneration, there were region-specific differences in the interaction between sex and SE severity. As SE severity influences epileptogenesis, and as females had significantly less severe SE, sex as a biological variable should be factored into the design of future OP nerve agent experiments while evaluating neurotoxicity and optimizing potential disease-modifying agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan Gage
- Epilepsy Research Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
| | - Madison Golden
- Epilepsy Research Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
| | - Marson Putra
- Epilepsy Research Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
| | - Shaunik Sharma
- Epilepsy Research Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
| | - Thimmasettappa Thippeswamy
- Epilepsy Research Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
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6
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Rásky É, Waxenegger A, Groth S, Stolz E, Schenouda M, Berzlanovich A. Sex and gender matters : A sex-specific analysis of original articles published in the Wiener klinische Wochenschrift between 2013 and 2015. Wien Klin Wochenschr 2017; 129:781-785. [PMID: 29043442 PMCID: PMC5681613 DOI: 10.1007/s00508-017-1280-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The variables sex and gender are significantly related to health and disease of women and men. Aiming at quality research, biomedical publications need to account for the key variables sex and gender. METHODS All original articles published in the Wiener klinische Wochenschrift between 2013 and 2015 were extracted into a database. As a result, the 195 published articles were selected for review led by the Sex and Gender Equity in Research Guidelines (SAGER) by the European Association of Science Editors (EASE). The slightest indications of mentioning sex and/or gender were assessed by two reviewers independently from one another. RESULTS Of the 195 publications 4 specified sex and/or gender in the title, and 62 in the abstract. None of the authors reported whether the variables sex and/or gender may have relevance and were taken into account in the design of the study. Of the 195 publications 48 mentioned the potential implications of sex and/or gender on the study results. CONCLUSION In the time span studied most of the selected articles of this journal did not account for the variables sex and/or gender systematically or adequately. For future research the existing guidelines can help authors and editors to overcome gender bias due to inadequate methods. Applying sex and gender-sensitive methods to biomedical and health research is necessary for high quality and as a precondition for results which are generalizable and applicable to both women and men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Éva Rásky
- Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, Universitaetsstraße 6/I, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Anja Waxenegger
- Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, Universitaetsstraße 6/I, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Sylvia Groth
- Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, Universitaetsstraße 6/I, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Erwin Stolz
- Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, Universitaetsstraße 6/I, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Michel Schenouda
- Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, Universitaetsstraße 6/I, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Andrea Berzlanovich
- Fachbereich Forensische Gerontologie, Department für Gerichtsmedizin Wien, Medizinische Universität Wien, Sensengasse 2, 1090 Wien, Austria
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7
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Robison LS, Michaelos M, Gandhi J, Fricke D, Miao E, Lam CY, Mauceri A, Vitale M, Lee J, Paeng S, Komatsu DE, Hadjiargyrou M, Thanos PK. Sex Differences in the Physiological and Behavioral Effects of Chronic Oral Methylphenidate Treatment in Rats. Front Behav Neurosci 2017; 11:53. [PMID: 28400722 PMCID: PMC5368228 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Methylphenidate (MP) is a psychostimulant prescribed for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Previously, we developed a dual bottle 8-h-limited-access-drinking-paradigm for oral MP treatment of rats that mimics the pharmacokinetic profile of treated patients. This study assessed sex differences in response to this treatment. Male and female Sprague Dawley rats were assigned to one of three treatment groups at 4 weeks of age (n = 12/group): Control (water), low dose (LD) MP, and high dose (HD) MP. Rats drank 4 mg/kg MP (LD) or 30 mg/kg MP (HD) during the first hour, and 10 mg/kg (LD) or 60 mg/kg MP (HD) for the remaining 7 h each day. Throughout 3 months of treatment, rats were monitored for body weight, food intake, and fluid intake; as well as tested for open field behavior, circadian activity, novel object recognition, and social interaction. Chronic MP treated rats exhibited reduced fluid intake during distinct treatment weeks to a greater extent in males, and reduced total fluid intake in males only. HD MP treatment decreased body weight in both sexes, while HD MP increased total food intake in females only, likely to offset energy deficits resulting from MP-induced hyperactivity. LD and HD MP increased locomotor activity in the open field, particularly in females and during later treatment weeks. MP dose-dependently increased activity during the dark cycle of circadian testing in females, while in males hyperactivity was only exhibited by HD rats. HD MP increased center activity to a greater extent in males, while MP increased rearing behavior in females only. MP had no effect on social behavior or novel object recognition in either sex. This study concludes that chronic oral MP treatment at clinically-relevant dosages has significant effects on food intake, body weight, open field behavior, and wake cycle activity. Particularly marked sex differences were apparent for locomotor activity, with females being significantly more sensitive to the hyperactivating effects of the drug. These findings suggest that chronic MP exposure beginning in adolescence can have significant behavioral effects that are both dose- and sex-dependent, and raise concerns regarding the reversibility of these effects post-discontinuation of treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa S Robison
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | | | - Jason Gandhi
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Dennis Fricke
- Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Erick Miao
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Chiu-Yim Lam
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Anthony Mauceri
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Melissa Vitale
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Junho Lee
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Soyeh Paeng
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - David E Komatsu
- Department of Orthopedics, Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Michael Hadjiargyrou
- Department of Life Sciences, New York Institute of Technology Old Westbury, NY, USA
| | - Panayotis K Thanos
- Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY, USA
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8
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Singmann P, Shem-Tov D, Wahl S, Grallert H, Fiorito G, Shin SY, Schramm K, Wolf P, Kunze S, Baran Y, Guarrera S, Vineis P, Krogh V, Panico S, Tumino R, Kretschmer A, Gieger C, Peters A, Prokisch H, Relton CL, Matullo G, Illig T, Waldenberger M, Halperin E. Characterization of whole-genome autosomal differences of DNA methylation between men and women. Epigenetics Chromatin 2015; 8:43. [PMID: 26500701 PMCID: PMC4615866 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-015-0035-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 09/29/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Disease risk and incidence between males and females reveal differences, and sex is an important component of any investigation of the determinants of phenotypes or disease etiology. Further striking differences between men and women are known, for instance, at the metabolic level. The extent to which men and women vary at the level of the epigenome, however, is not well documented. DNA methylation is the best known epigenetic mechanism to date. Results In order to shed light on epigenetic differences, we compared autosomal DNA methylation levels between men and women in blood in a large prospective European cohort of 1799 subjects,
and replicated our findings in three independent European cohorts. We identified and validated 1184 CpG sites to be differentially methylated between men and women and observed that these CpG sites were distributed across all autosomes. We showed that some of the differentially methylated loci also exhibit differential gene expression between men and women. Finally, we found that the differentially methylated loci are enriched among imprinted genes, and that their genomic location in the genome is concentrated in CpG island shores. Conclusion Our epigenome-wide association study indicates that differences between men and women are so substantial that they should be considered in design and analyses of future studies. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13072-015-0035-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Singmann
- Research Unit of Molecular Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany ; Institute of Epidemiologie II, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Doron Shem-Tov
- Blavatnik School of Computer Science, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Simone Wahl
- Research Unit of Molecular Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany ; Institute of Epidemiologie II, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany ; German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Harald Grallert
- Research Unit of Molecular Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany ; Institute of Epidemiologie II, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany ; German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Giovanni Fiorito
- Human Genetics Foundation-Torino, Turin, Italy ; Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - So-Youn Shin
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK ; Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Katharina Schramm
- Institute of Human Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany ; Institute of Human Genetics, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Petra Wolf
- Institute of Human Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany ; Institute of Human Genetics, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sonja Kunze
- Research Unit of Molecular Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany ; Institute of Epidemiologie II, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Yael Baran
- Blavatnik School of Computer Science, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Simonetta Guarrera
- Human Genetics Foundation-Torino, Turin, Italy ; Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Paolo Vineis
- Human Genetics Foundation-Torino, Turin, Italy ; Epidemiology and Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Vittorio Krogh
- Epidemiology and Prevention Unit, Fondazione IRCSS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Salvatore Panico
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
| | - Rosario Tumino
- Cancer Registry and Histopathology Unit, "Civile-M.P. Arezzo" Hospital, ASP 7, Ragusa, Italy
| | - Anja Kretschmer
- Research Unit of Molecular Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany ; Institute of Epidemiologie II, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Christian Gieger
- Research Unit of Molecular Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany ; Institute of Epidemiologie II, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Annette Peters
- Institute of Epidemiologie II, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany ; German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Holger Prokisch
- Institute of Human Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany ; Institute of Human Genetics, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Caroline L Relton
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK ; Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Giuseppe Matullo
- Human Genetics Foundation-Torino, Turin, Italy ; Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Thomas Illig
- Research Unit of Molecular Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany ; Hannover Unified Biobank, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany ; Institute for Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Melanie Waldenberger
- Research Unit of Molecular Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany ; Institute of Epidemiologie II, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Eran Halperin
- Blavatnik School of Computer Science, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel ; Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, George Wise Faculty of Life Science, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel ; International Computer Science Institute, Berkeley, CA USA
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9
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Woodruff TK, Green S, Paller A, Schlosser BJ, Spring B, Castle M, Stock MC, Carnethon MR, Clark CT, Gerard E, Turek FW, Wisner KL, Wakschlag LS, Kibbe MR, Mendelson MA, Simon MA, Hansen NM, Kenton K, Garcia PM, Zee P, Ramsey-Goldman R, Sutton SH, Van Horn L. Sex-based biomedical research policy needs an implementation plan. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 11:449-52. [PMID: 26237204 DOI: 10.2217/whe.15.28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Teresa K Woodruff
- Women's Health Research Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago IL, USA.,Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sharon Green
- Women's Health Research Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago IL, USA
| | - Amy Paller
- Women's Health Research Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago IL, USA
| | - Bethanee J Schlosser
- Women's Health Research Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago IL, USA.,Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Bonnie Spring
- Women's Health Research Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago IL, USA.,Department of Preventative Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Megan Castle
- Women's Health Research Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago IL, USA
| | - M Christine Stock
- Women's Health Research Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago IL, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Mercedes R Carnethon
- Women's Health Research Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago IL, USA.,Department of Preventative Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Crystal T Clark
- Women's Health Research Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago IL, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Elizabeth Gerard
- Women's Health Research Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago IL, USA.,Departments of Neurobiology & Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Fred W Turek
- Women's Health Research Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago IL, USA.,Departments of Neurobiology & Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Katherine L Wisner
- Women's Health Research Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago IL, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Lauren S Wakschlag
- Women's Health Research Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago IL, USA.,Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Melina R Kibbe
- Women's Health Research Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago IL, USA.,Department of Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Marla A Mendelson
- Women's Health Research Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago IL, USA.,Department of Medicine, Cardiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Melissa A Simon
- Women's Health Research Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago IL, USA.,Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Nora M Hansen
- Women's Health Research Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago IL, USA.,Department of Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Kimberly Kenton
- Women's Health Research Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago IL, USA.,Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Patricia M Garcia
- Women's Health Research Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago IL, USA.,Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Phyllis Zee
- Women's Health Research Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago IL, USA.,Departments of Neurobiology & Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Rosalind Ramsey-Goldman
- Women's Health Research Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago IL, USA.,Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sarah H Sutton
- Women's Health Research Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago IL, USA.,Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious Disease Division, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Linda Van Horn
- Women's Health Research Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago IL, USA.,Department of Preventative Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
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10
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Skory RM, Xu Y, Shea LD, Woodruff TK. Engineering the ovarian cycle using in vitro follicle culture. Hum Reprod 2015; 30:1386-95. [PMID: 25784584 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dev052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2014] [Accepted: 02/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Can cultured follicles model the ovarian cycle, including follicular- and luteal-phase hormone synthesis patterns and ovulation? SUMMARY ANSWER Under gonadotrophin stimulation, murine follicles grown in an encapsulated three-dimensional system ovulate in vitro and murine and human follicle hormone synthesis mimics follicular and luteal phases expected in vivo. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Studies of the human ovary and follicle function are limited by the availability of human tissue and lack of in vitro models. We developed an encapsulated in vitro follicle growth (eIVFG) culture system, which preserves 3D follicular structure. Thus far, the alginate system has supported the culture of follicles from mice, dog, rhesus macaque, baboon and human. These studies have shown that cultured follicles synthesize steroid hormones similar to those observed during the follicular phase in vivo. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Cultured murine follicles were treated with human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) and either assayed for luteinization or removed from alginate beads and assayed for ovulation. Human follicles were also cultured, treated with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), hCG and EGF to mimic gonadotrophin changes throughout the ovarian cycle, and culture medium was assayed for hormone production. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Murine and human follicles were cultured in alginate hydrogel and hormone production [17β-estradiol, progesterone, inhibin A, inhibin B, activin A and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH)] was quantified in medium by enzyme-linked immuno assay (ELISA). Human ovarian tissue was acquired from females between 6 and 34 years of age with a cancer diagnosis. These participants were undergoing ovarian tissue cryopreservation at National Physicians Cooperative sites as part of the Oncofertility Consortium. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE When grown in this system, 96% of mouse follicles ovulated in response to hCG and released meiotically competent eggs. Ovulated follicles recapitulated transcriptional, morphologic and hormone synthesis patterns post-luteinizing hormone (LH/hCG). In addition to rodent follicles, individual human follicles secreted steroid and peptide hormones that mimicked the patterns of serum hormones observed during the menstrual cycle. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION This was a descriptive study of an in vitro model of ovulation and the ovarian hormone cycle. The ovulation studies were limited to murine tissue and further studies are needed to optimize conditions using other species. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The eIVFG system reliably phenocopies the in vivo ovarian cycle and provides a new tool to study human follicle biology and the influence of cycling female hormones on other tissue systems in vitro. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS This work was supported by NIH U54 HD041857, NIH U54 HD076188, NIH UH2 E5022920, NIH UH3 TR001207 and F30 AG040916 (R.M.S.). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin M Skory
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA Center for Reproductive Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Yuanming Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA Center for Reproductive Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Lonnie D Shea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
| | - Teresa K Woodruff
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA Center for Reproductive Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
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11
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Johnson J, Sharman Z, Vissandjée B, Stewart DE. Does a change in health research funding policy related to the integration of sex and gender have an impact? PLoS One 2014; 9:e99900. [PMID: 24964040 PMCID: PMC4070905 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2013] [Accepted: 05/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
We analyzed the impact of a requirement introduced in December 2010 that all applicants to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research indicate whether their research designs accounted for sex or gender. We aimed to inform research policy by understanding the extent to which applicants across health research disciplines accounted for sex and gender. We conducted a descriptive statistical analysis to identify trends in application data from three research funding competitions (December 2010, June 2011, and December 2011) (N = 1459). We also conducted a qualitative thematic analysis of applicants' responses. Here we show that the proportion of applicants responding affirmatively to the questions on sex and gender increased over time (48% in December 2011, compared to 26% in December 2010). Biomedical researchers were least likely to report accounting for sex and gender. Analysis by discipline-specific peer review panel showed variation in the likelihood that a given panel will fund grants with a stated focus on sex or gender. These findings suggest that mandatory questions are one way of encouraging the uptake of sex and gender in health research, yet there remain persistent disparities across disciplines. These disparities represent opportunities for policy intervention by health research funders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy Johnson
- CIHR Institute of Gender and Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Zena Sharman
- CIHR Institute of Gender and Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Bilkis Vissandjée
- Faculty of Nursing, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Donna E. Stewart
- University of Toronto and University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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12
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Shen HN, Wang WC, Lu CL, Li CY. Effects of gender on severity, management and outcome in acute biliary pancreatitis. PLoS One 2013; 8:e57504. [PMID: 23469006 PMCID: PMC3585306 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0057504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2012] [Accepted: 01/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study to examine gender differences in severity, management, and outcome among patients with acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP) because available data are insufficient and conflicting. Methods We analyzed 13,110 patients (50.6% male) with first-attack ABP from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database between 2000 and 2009. The primary outcome was hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included the development of severe ABP and the provision of treatment measures. Gender difference was assessed using multivariable analyses with generalized estimating equations models. Results The odds of gastrointestinal bleeding (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18–1.76) and local complication (aOR 1.38, 95% CI 1.05–1.82) were 44% and 38% higher in men than in women, respectively. Compared with women, men had 24% higher odds of receiving total parenteral nutrition (aOR 1.24, 95% CI 1.00–1.52), but had 18% and 41% lower odds of receiving cholecystectomy (aOR 0.82, 95% CI 0.72–0.93) and hemodialysis (aOR 0.59, 95% CI 0.42–0.83), respectively. Hospital mortality was higher in men than in women (1.8% vs. 1.1%, p = 0.001). After adjustment for potential confounders, men had 81% higher odds of in-hospital death than women (aOR 1.81, 95% CI 1.15–2.86). Among patients with severe ABP, hospital mortality was 11.0% and 7.5% in men and women (p<0.001), respectively. The adjusted odds of death remained higher in men than in women with severe ABP (aOR 1.72, 95% CI 1.10–2.68). Conclusions Gender is an important determinant of outcome in patients with ABP and may affect their treatment measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiu-Nien Shen
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Ching Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chin-Li Lu
- Department of Medical Research, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Yi Li
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- * E-mail:
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13
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Ramsey JM, Schwarz E, Guest PC, van Beveren NJM, Leweke FM, Rothermundt M, Bogerts B, Steiner J, Ruta L, Baron-Cohen S, Bahn S. Molecular sex differences in human serum. PLoS One 2012; 7:e51504. [PMID: 23251558 PMCID: PMC3520798 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2012] [Accepted: 11/01/2012] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Sex is an important factor in the prevalence, incidence, progression, and response to treatment of many medical conditions, including autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases and psychiatric conditions. Identification of molecular differences between typical males and females can provide a valuable basis for exploring conditions differentially affected by sex. Methodology/Principal Findings Using multiplexed immunoassays, we analyzed 174 serum molecules in 9 independent cohorts of typical individuals, comprising 196 males and 196 females. Sex differences in analyte levels were quantified using a meta-analysis approach and put into biological context using k-means to generate clusters of analytes with distinct biological functions. Natural sex differences were established in these analyte groups and these were applied to illustrate sexually dimorphic analyte expression in a cohort of 22 males and 22 females with Asperger syndrome. Reproducible sex differences were found in the levels of 77 analytes in serum of typical controls, and these comprised clusters of molecules enriched with distinct biological functions. Analytes involved in fatty acid oxidation/hormone regulation, immune cell growth and activation, and cell death were found at higher levels in females, and analytes involved in immune cell chemotaxis and other indistinct functions were higher in males. Comparison of these naturally occurring sex differences against a cohort of people with Asperger syndrome indicated that a cluster of analytes that had functions related to fatty acid oxidation/hormone regulation was associated with sex and the occurrence of this condition. Conclusions/Significance Sex-specific molecular differences were detected in serum of typical controls and these were reproducible across independent cohorts. This study extends current knowledge of sex differences in biological functions involved in metabolism and immune function. Deviations from typical sex differences were found in a cluster of molecules in Asperger syndrome. These findings illustrate the importance of investigating the influence of sex on medical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan M. Ramsey
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Emanuel Schwarz
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Paul C. Guest
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - F. Markus Leweke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | | | - Bernhard Bogerts
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Johann Steiner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Liliana Ruta
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sabine Bahn
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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14
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Mittelstrass K, Ried JS, Yu Z, Krumsiek J, Gieger C, Prehn C, Roemisch-Margl W, Polonikov A, Peters A, Theis FJ, Meitinger T, Kronenberg F, Weidinger S, Wichmann HE, Suhre K, Wang-Sattler R, Adamski J, Illig T. Discovery of sexual dimorphisms in metabolic and genetic biomarkers. PLoS Genet 2011; 7:e1002215. [PMID: 21852955 PMCID: PMC3154959 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 286] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2010] [Accepted: 06/17/2011] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolomic profiling and the integration of whole-genome genetic association data has proven to be a powerful tool to comprehensively explore gene regulatory networks and to investigate the effects of genetic variation at the molecular level. Serum metabolite concentrations allow a direct readout of biological processes, and association of specific metabolomic signatures with complex diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and cardiovascular and metabolic disorders has been shown. There are well-known correlations between sex and the incidence, prevalence, age of onset, symptoms, and severity of a disease, as well as the reaction to drugs. However, most of the studies published so far did not consider the role of sexual dimorphism and did not analyse their data stratified by gender. This study investigated sex-specific differences of serum metabolite concentrations and their underlying genetic determination. For discovery and replication we used more than 3,300 independent individuals from KORA F3 and F4 with metabolite measurements of 131 metabolites, including amino acids, phosphatidylcholines, sphingomyelins, acylcarnitines, and C6-sugars. A linear regression approach revealed significant concentration differences between males and females for 102 out of 131 metabolites (p-values<3.8×10(-4); Bonferroni-corrected threshold). Sex-specific genome-wide association studies (GWAS) showed genome-wide significant differences in beta-estimates for SNPs in the CPS1 locus (carbamoyl-phosphate synthase 1, significance level: p<3.8×10(-10); Bonferroni-corrected threshold) for glycine. We showed that the metabolite profiles of males and females are significantly different and, furthermore, that specific genetic variants in metabolism-related genes depict sexual dimorphism. Our study provides new important insights into sex-specific differences of cell regulatory processes and underscores that studies should consider sex-specific effects in design and interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirstin Mittelstrass
- Unit of Molecular Epidemiology, Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Janina S. Ried
- Institute of Genetic Epidemiology, Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Zhonghao Yu
- Unit of Molecular Epidemiology, Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Jan Krumsiek
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Christian Gieger
- Institute of Genetic Epidemiology, Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Cornelia Prehn
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Genome Analysis Center, Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Werner Roemisch-Margl
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Alexey Polonikov
- Department of Biology, Medical Genetics, and Ecology, Kursk State Medical University, Kursk, Russia
| | - Annette Peters
- Institute of Epidemiology II, Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Fabian J. Theis
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Meitinger
- Institute of Human Genetics, Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Human Genetics, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Florian Kronenberg
- Division of Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Stephan Weidinger
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergy, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germay
| | - Heinz Erich Wichmann
- Institute of Epidemiology I, Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Medical Informatics, Biometry, and Epidemiology, Chair of Epidemiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
- Klinikum Grosshadern, Munich, Germany
| | - Karsten Suhre
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Qatar Foundation, Education City, Doha, Qatar
| | - Rui Wang-Sattler
- Unit of Molecular Epidemiology, Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Jerzy Adamski
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Genome Analysis Center, Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- Lehrstuhl für Experimentelle Genetik, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- * E-mail: (TI); (JA)
| | - Thomas Illig
- Unit of Molecular Epidemiology, Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- * E-mail: (TI); (JA)
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