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Gorashi RM, Baddour T, Chittle SJ, Vélez NEF, Wenning MA, Anseth KS, Mestroni L, Peña B, Guo P, Aguado BA. Y chromosome linked UTY modulates sex differences in valvular fibroblast methylation in response to nanoscale extracellular matrix cues. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.13.593760. [PMID: 38798394 PMCID: PMC11118428 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.13.593760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Aortic valve stenosis (AVS) is a progressive disease wherein males develop valve calcification relative to females that develop valve fibrosis. Valvular interstitial cells (VICs) aberrantly activate to myofibroblasts during AVS, driving the fibrotic valve phenotype in females. Myofibroblasts further differentiate into osteoblast-like cells and secrete calcium nanoparticles, driving valve calcification in males. We hypothesized the lysine demethylase UTY (ubiquitously transcribed tetratricopeptide repeat containing, Y-linked) decreases methylation uniquely in response to nanoparticle cues in the valve extracellular matrix to promote an osteoblast-like phenotype. Here, we describe a bioinspired hydrogel cell culture platform to interrogate how nanoscale cues modulate sex-specific methylation states in VICs activating to myofibroblasts and osteoblast-like cells. We found UTY (ubiquitously transcribed tetratricopeptide repeat containing, Y-linked) modulates VIC phenotypes in response to nanoscale cues uniquely in males. Overall, we reveal a novel role of UTY in the regulation of calcification processes in males during AVS progression.
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2
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Pontifex MG, Vauzour D, Muller M. Sexual dimorphism in the context of nutrition and health. Proc Nutr Soc 2024; 83:109-119. [PMID: 37665115 DOI: 10.1017/s0029665123003610] [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: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Diets and dietary constituents that we consume have a considerable impact on disease risk. Intriguingly these effects may be modulated to some extent by sex. Lack of female representation in nutritional studies as well as a lack of stratification by sex has and continues to limit our understanding of these sex × diet interactions. Here we provide an overview of the current and available literature describing how exposure to certain dietary patterns (Western-style diet, Mediterranean diet, vegetarian/vegan, ketogenic diet) and dietary constituents (dietary fibre, PUFA and plant bioactive) influences disease risk in a sex-specific manner. Interestingly, these sex differences appear to be highly disease-specific. The identification of such sex differences in response to diet stresses the importance of sex stratification in nutritional research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David Vauzour
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Michael Muller
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
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Wang K, Sartor MA, Colacino JA, Dolinoy DC, Svoboda LK. Sex-Specific Deflection of Age-Related DNA Methylation and Gene Expression in Mouse Heart by Perinatal Toxicant Exposures. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.25.591125. [PMID: 38712146 PMCID: PMC11071472 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.25.591125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Background Global and site-specific changes in DNA methylation and gene expression are associated with cardiovascular aging and disease, but how toxicant exposures during early development influence the normal trajectory of these age-related molecular changes, and whether there are sex differences, has not yet been investigated. Objectives We used an established mouse model of developmental exposures to investigate the effects of perinatal exposure to either lead (Pb) or diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), two ubiquitous environmental contaminants strongly associated with CVD, on age-related cardiac DNA methylation and gene expression. Methods Dams were randomly assigned to receive human physiologically relevant levels of Pb (32 ppm in water), DEHP (25 mg/kg chow), or control water and chow. Exposures started two weeks prior to mating and continued until weaning at postnatal day 21 (3 weeks of age). Approximately one male and one female offspring per litter were followed to 3 weeks, 5 months, or 10 months of age, at which time whole hearts were collected (n ≥ 5 per sex per exposure). Enhanced reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (ERRBS) was used to assess the cardiac DNA methylome at 3 weeks and 10 months, and RNA-seq was conducted at all 3 time points. MethylSig and edgeR were used to identify age-related differentially methylated regions (DMRs) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs), respectively, within each sex and exposure group. Cell type deconvolution of bulk RNA-seq data was conducted using the MuSiC algorithm and publicly available single cell RNA-seq data. Results Thousands of DMRs and hundreds of DEGs were identified in control, DEHP, and Pb-exposed hearts across time between 3 weeks and 10 months of age. A closer look at the genes and pathways showing differential DNA methylation revealed that the majority were unique to each sex and exposure group. Overall, pathways governing development and differentiation were most frequently altered with age in all conditions. A small number of genes in each group showed significant changes in DNA methylation and gene expression with age, including several that were altered by both toxicants but were unchanged in control. We also observed subtle, but significant changes in the proportion of several cell types due to age, sex, and developmental exposure. Discussion Together these data show that perinatal Pb or DEHP exposures deflect normal age-related gene expression, DNA methylation programs, and cellular composition across the life course, long after cessation of exposure, and highlight potential biomarkers of developmental toxicant exposures. Further studies are needed to investigate how these epigenetic and transcriptional changes impact cardiovascular health across the life course.
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López-Royo T, Moreno-Martínez L, Moreno-García L, Calvo AC, Manzano R, Osta R. Sex differences on constitutive long non-coding RNA expression: Modulatory effect of estradiol and testosterone in muscle cells. Andrology 2024. [PMID: 38469955 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite the growing awareness of sexual dimorphism between males and females under pathological and physiological conditions, sex bias in biomedical research in animal models and patients is still present nowadays. The main objective of this work was to investigate sex differences in constitutive long non-coding RNA expression in spinal cord and skeletal muscle from wild-type mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS To assess the influence of gender on long non-coding RNAs, we extracted RNA from tissues of male and female mice and analyzed the expression on nine long non-coding RNAs, selected for being among the most commonly studied or exerting an important role in muscle, at 50, 60, and 120 days of age. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION We observed age- and tissue-dependent significant sex differences, being more prominent in skeletal muscle. We also studied the effect of sex steroid hormones on long non-coding RNA expression in vitro, noticing a modulation of long non-coding RNA levels upon estradiol and dihydrotestosterone treatment in muscle. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, results obtained evidenced sex differences on constitutive long non-coding RNA expression and suggested an influence of steroid hormones complementary to other possible factors. These findings emphasize the importance of including both sexes in experimental design to minimize any potential sex bias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tresa López-Royo
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Animal Genetics, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Agroalimentary Institute of Aragon (IA2), Institute of Health Research of Aragon (IIS), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Laura Moreno-Martínez
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Animal Genetics, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Agroalimentary Institute of Aragon (IA2), Institute of Health Research of Aragon (IIS), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Leticia Moreno-García
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Animal Genetics, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Agroalimentary Institute of Aragon (IA2), Institute of Health Research of Aragon (IIS), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ana Cristina Calvo
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Animal Genetics, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Agroalimentary Institute of Aragon (IA2), Institute of Health Research of Aragon (IIS), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Raquel Manzano
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Animal Genetics, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Agroalimentary Institute of Aragon (IA2), Institute of Health Research of Aragon (IIS), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Rosario Osta
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Animal Genetics, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Agroalimentary Institute of Aragon (IA2), Institute of Health Research of Aragon (IIS), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
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5
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Thej C, Kishore R. Epigenetic regulation of sex dimorphism in cardiovascular health. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2024. [PMID: 38427976 DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2023-0406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, affecting people of all races, ages, and sexes. Substantial sex dimorphism exists in the prevalence, manifestation, and outcomes of CVDs. Understanding the role of sex hormones as well as sex-hormone-independent epigenetic mechanisms could play a crucial role in developing effective and sex-specific cardiovascular therapeutics. Existing research highlights significant disparities in sex hormones, epigenetic regulators, and gene expression related to cardiac health, emphasizing the need for a nuanced understanding of these variations between men and women. Despite these differences, current treatment approaches for CVDs often lack sex-specific considerations. A pivotal shift toward personalized medicine, informed by comprehensive insights into sex-specific DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA dynamics, holds the potential to revolutionize CVD management. By understanding sex-specific epigenetic complexities, independent of sex hormone influence, future cardiovascular research can be tailored to achieve effective diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for both men and women. This review summarizes the current knowledge and gaps in epigenetic mechanisms and sex dimorphism implicated in CVDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charan Thej
- Aging and Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - Raj Kishore
- Aging and Cardiovascular Discovery Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
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Watts KM, Nichols W, Richardson WJ. Computational screen for sex-specific drug effects in a cardiac fibroblast signaling network model. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17068. [PMID: 37816826 PMCID: PMC10564891 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44440-9] [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: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women. Cardiac fibrosis is the uncontrolled accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins, which can exacerbate the progression of heart failure, and there are currently no drugs approved specifically to target matrix accumulation in the heart. Computational signaling network models (SNMs) can be used to facilitate discovery of novel drug targets. However, the vast majority of SNMs are not sex-specific and/or are developed and validated using data skewed towards male in vitro and in vivo samples. Biological sex is an important consideration in cardiovascular health and drug development. In this study, we integrate a cardiac fibroblast SNM with estrogen signaling pathways to create sex-specific SNMs. The sex-specific SNMs demonstrated high validation accuracy compared to in vitro experimental studies in the literature while also elucidating how estrogen signaling can modulate the effect of fibrotic cytokines via multi-pathway interactions. Further, perturbation analysis and drug screening uncovered several drug compounds predicted to generate divergent fibrotic responses in male vs. female conditions, which warrant further study in the pursuit of sex-specific treatment recommendations for cardiac fibrosis. Future model development and validation will require more generation of sex-specific data to further enhance modeling capabilities for clinically relevant sex-specific predictions of cardiac fibrosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey M Watts
- Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA.
| | - Wesley Nichols
- Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | - William J Richardson
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA
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Haddadi A, Farhadi P, Fatemi R, Mohamadynejad P, Moghanibashi M. Differential expression of KCNQ1 and ATP4A genes according to the sex and age in the stomach. NUCLEOSIDES, NUCLEOTIDES & NUCLEIC ACIDS 2023; 42:1019-1027. [PMID: 37367232 DOI: 10.1080/15257770.2023.2228371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
We compared the expression of six genes in stomach tissue samples between healthy men and women in different age groups to study sexually dimorphic gene expression. Real-Time RT-PCR was used to compare gene expression between men and women. Our results showed that the expression of KCNQ1 (p = 0.01) was significantly higher in non-menopausal women compared to post-menopausal women. In addition, the expression level of the ATP4A gene in men under 35 years was significantly higher than in men above 50 (p = 0.026). Sexually and age dimorphic gene expression in some genes throughout life may affect gastric function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azadeh Haddadi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Pegah Farhadi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Raziyeh Fatemi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Parisa Mohamadynejad
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Mehdi Moghanibashi
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Kazerun Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kazerun, Iran
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8
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Garsetti DE, Sahay K, Wang Y, Rogers MB. Sex and the basal mRNA synthesis machinery. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2023; 14:e1765. [PMID: 36195437 PMCID: PMC10070566 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1765] [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: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Evolution and change generated an incredible diversity of organisms on this earth. Yet, some processes are so central to life that change is strongly selected against. Synthesis of the eukaryotic messenger RNA is one example. The assemblies that carry out transcription and processing (capping, polyadenylation, and splicing) are so conserved that most genes have recognizable orthologs in yeast and humans. Naturally, most would conclude transcription and processing are identical in both sexes. However, this is an assumption. Men and women vastly differ in their physiologies. The incidence of pathologies, symptom presentation, disease outcome, and therapeutic response in each sex vary enormously. Despite the harm ignorance causes women, biological research has been historically carried out without regard to sex. The male mouse was the default mammal. A cultured cell's sex was considered irrelevant. Attempts to fill this knowledge gap have revealed molecular dissimilarities. For example, the earliest embryonic male and female transcriptomes differ long before fetal sex hormones appear. We used public data to challenge the assumption of sameness by reviewing reports of sex-biased gene expression and gene targeting. We focused on 120 genes encoding nonregulatory proteins involved in mRNA synthesis. Remarkably, genes with recognizable orthologs in yeast and thus LEAST likely to differ, did differ between the sexes. The rapidly growing public databases can be used to compare the expression of any gene in male and female tissues. Appreciating the principles that drive sex differences will enrich our understanding of RNA biology in all humans-men and women. This article is categorized under: RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Development RNA Evolution and Genomics > Computational Analyses of RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane E Garsetti
- Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School (NJMS), Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Khushboo Sahay
- Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School (NJMS), Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Yue Wang
- Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School (NJMS), Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Melissa B Rogers
- Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School (NJMS), Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, Newark, New Jersey, USA
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Watts KM, Nichols W, Richardson WJ. Computational Screen for Sex-Specific Drug Effects in a Cardiac Fibroblast Network Model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.11.536523. [PMID: 37090681 PMCID: PMC10120687 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.11.536523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women. Cardiac fibrosis is the uncontrolled accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins which can exacerbate the progression of heart failure, and there are currently no drugs approved specifically to target matrix accumulation in the heart. Computational signaling network models (SNMs) can be used to facilitate discovery of novel drug targets. However, the vast majority of SNMs are not sex-specific and/or are developed and validated using data skewed towards male in vitro and in vivo samples. Biological sex is an important consideration in cardiovascular health and drug development. In this study, we integrate a previously constructed cardiac fibroblast SNM with estrogen signaling pathways to create sex-specific SNMs. The sex-specific SNMs maintained previously high validation when compared to in vitro experimental studies in the literature. A sex-specific perturbation analysis and drug screen uncovered several potential pathways that warrant further study in the pursuit of sex-specific treatment recommendations for cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey M Watts
- Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Wesley Nichols
- Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - William J Richardson
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
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10
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Conlon FL, Arnold AP. Sex chromosome mechanisms in cardiac development and disease. NATURE CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH 2023; 2:340-350. [PMID: 37808586 PMCID: PMC10558115 DOI: 10.1038/s44161-023-00256-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Many human diseases, including cardiovascular disease, show differences between men and women in pathology and treatment outcomes. In the case of cardiac disease, sex differences are exemplified by differences in the frequency of specific types of congenital and adult-onset heart disease. Clinical studies have suggested that gonadal hormones are a factor in sex bias. However, recent research has shown that gene and protein networks under non-hormonal control also account for cardiac sex differences. In this review, we describe the sex chromosome pathways that lead to sex differences in the development and function of the heart and highlight how these findings affect future care and treatment of cardiac disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank L Conlon
- Departments of Biology and Genetics, McAllister Heart Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Arthur P Arnold
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
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Cheng Y, Yin J, Yang L, Xu M, Lu X, Huang W, Dai G, Sun G. Ambient air pollutants in the first trimester of pregnancy and birth defects: an observational study. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e063712. [PMID: 36948563 PMCID: PMC10040071 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-063712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES As current studies on the relationships between air pollutants exposure during the first trimester and birth defects were not fully elucidated, this study aimed to assess the association between selected air pollutants and birth defects. DESIGN An observational study. PARTICIPANTS We obtained 70 854 singletons with gestational age <20 weeks who were delivered at a large maternal and child healthcare centre in Wuhan, China. OUTCOME MEASURES Birth defects data and daily average concentration of ambient particulate matter ≤10 µm diameter (PM10), PM ≤2.5 µm diameter (PM2.5), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were obtained. Logistic regression analysis was applied to assess the association between maternal air pollutants exposure during first trimester and total birth defects, congenital heart defects (CHDs), limb defects and orofacial clefts with adjustments of potential covariates. RESULTS There were a total of 1352 birth defect cases included in this study, with a prevalence of 19.08‰. Maternal exposed to high concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, NO2 and SO2 in the first trimester were significantly associated with elevated ORs of birth defects (ORs ranged from 1.13 to 1.23). Additionally, for male fetuses, maternal exposed to high PM2.5 concentration was associated with an elevated odd of CHDs (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.52). In the cold season, the ORs of birth defects were significantly increased among women exposed to PM2.5 (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.41 to 1.91), NO2 (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.38) and SO2 (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.47). CONCLUSIONS This study showed unfavourable effects of air pollutants exposure during the first trimester on birth defects. Especially, the association between maternal PM2.5 exposure and CHDs was only observed among male fetuses, and stronger effects of PM2.5, NO2 and SO2 exposure on birth defects were observed in the cold season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Cheng
- Obstetrics Department, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Jieyun Yin
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Lijun Yang
- Obstetrics Department, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Man Xu
- School of Nursing, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinfeng Lu
- Medical Record Department, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenting Huang
- Science and Education Department, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Guohong Dai
- Health Care Department, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Guoqiang Sun
- Obstetrics Department, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
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Xu W, Li D, Shao Z, You Y, Pan F, Lou H, Li J, Jin Y, Wu T, Pan L, An J, Xu J, Cheng W, Tao L, Lei Y, Huang C, Shu Q. The prenatal weekly temperature exposure and neonatal congenital heart disease: a large population-based observational study in China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:38282-38291. [PMID: 36580248 PMCID: PMC9797890 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24396-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
We aim to explore the link between maternal weekly temperature exposure and CHD in offspring and identify the relative contributions from heat and cold and from moderate and extreme atmospheric temperature. From January 2019 to December 2020, newborns who were diagnosed with CHD by echocardiography in the Network Platform for Congenital Heart Disease (NPCHD) from 11 cities in eastern China were enrolled in the present study. We appraised the exposure lag response relationship between temperature and CHDs in the distributed lag nonlinear model and further probed the pooled estimates by multivariate meta-analysis. We further performed the exposure-response curves in extreme temperature (5th percentile for cold and 95th for hot events). We also delve into the cumulative risk ratios (CRRs) of temperature on CHDs in general and subgroups. In this study, 5904 of 983, 523 infants were diagnosed with CHDs. The temperature-CHD combination performed positive significance in two exposure windows, gestational weeks 10-16 and 26-31, and reached the maximum effect in the 28th week. Compared with extreme cold (5th, 6.14℃), these effects were higher in extreme heat (95th, 29.26℃). The cumulative exposure-response curve showed a steep nonlinear rise in the hot tail but showed non-significance at low temperatures. In this range, the CRRs of temperature showed an increment to a ceiling of 3.781 (95% CI: 1.460-10.723). The temperature- CHD curves for both sex groups showed a general growth trend. No statistical significance was observed between these two groups (P = 0.106). The cumulative effect of the temperature related CHD was significant in regions with lower education levels (maximum CRR was 9.282 (3.019-28.535)). A degree centigrade increase in temperature exposure was associated with the increment of CHD risk in the first and second trimesters, especially in extreme heat. Neonates born in lower education regions were more vulnerable to temperature-related CHDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weize Xu
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Die Li
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Zehua Shao
- Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, China
| | - Yanqin You
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Medical Center of Chinese, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Feixia Pan
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Hongliang Lou
- Jinhua Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Jinhua, 321000, China
| | - Jing Li
- Jiaxing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Jiaxing, 314000, China
| | - Yueqin Jin
- Shaoxing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Shaoxing, 312000, China
| | - Ting Wu
- Hangzhou Women's Hospital, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Lulu Pan
- Wenzhou Guidance Center for Maternity and Child Health, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Jing An
- Huzhou Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Huzhou, 313000, China
| | - Junqiu Xu
- Zhoushan Women and Children Hospital, Zhoushan, 316000, China
| | - Wei Cheng
- Ningbo Women and Children Hospital, Ningbo, 315000, China
| | - Linghua Tao
- Taizhou Women and Children's Hospital, Taizhou, 318000, China
| | - Yongliang Lei
- Lishui Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Lishui, 323000, China
| | - Chengyin Huang
- Quzhou Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Quzhou, 324000, China
| | - Qiang Shu
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, 310000, China.
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Pressler MP, Horvath A, Entcheva E. Sex-dependent transcription of cardiac electrophysiology and links to acetylation modifiers based on the GTEx database. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:941890. [PMID: 35935618 PMCID: PMC9354462 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.941890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of safer drugs based on epigenetic modifiers, e.g., histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi), requires better understanding of their effects on cardiac electrophysiology. Using RNAseq data from the genotype-tissue-expression database (GTEx), we created models that link the abundance of acetylation enzymes (HDAC/SIRT/HATs), and the gene expression of ion channels (IC) via select cardiac transcription factors (TFs) in male and female adult human hearts (left ventricle, LV). Gene expression data (transcripts per million, TPM) from GTEx donors (21–70 y.o.) were filtered, normalized and transformed to Euclidian space to allow quantitative comparisons in 84 female and 158 male LVs. Sex-specific partial least-square (PLS) regression models, linking gene expression data for HDAC/SIRT/HATs to TFs and to ICs gene expression, revealed tight co-regulation of cardiac ion channels by HDAC/SIRT/HATs, with stronger clustering in the male LV. Co-regulation of genes encoding excitatory and inhibitory processes in cardiac tissue by the acetylation modifiers may help explain their predominantly net-neutral effects on cardiac electrophysiology. ATP1A1, encoding for the Na/K pump, represented an outlier—with orthogonal regulation by the acetylation modifiers to most of the ICs. The HDAC/SIRT/HAT effects were mediated by strong (+) TF regulators of ICs, e.g., MEF2A and TBX5, in both sexes. Furthermore, for male hearts, PLS models revealed a stronger (+/-) mediatory role on ICs for NKX25 and TGF1B/KLF4, respectively, while RUNX1 exhibited larger (-) TF effects on ICs in females. Male-trained PLS models of HDAC/SIRT/HAT effects on ICs underestimated the effects on some ICs in females. Insights from the GTEx dataset about the co-expression and transcriptional co-regulation of acetylation-modifying enzymes, transcription factors and key cardiac ion channels in a sex-specific manner can help inform safer drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P. Pressler
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Anelia Horvath
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, McCormick Genomics and Proteomics Center, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Emilia Entcheva
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
- *Correspondence: Emilia Entcheva,
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Genetically modified mice for research on human diseases: A triumph for Biotechnology or a work in progress? THE EUROBIOTECH JOURNAL 2022. [DOI: 10.2478/ebtj-2022-0008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Genetically modified mice are engineered as models for human diseases. These mouse models include inbred strains, mutants, gene knockouts, gene knockins, and ‘humanized’ mice. Each mouse model is engineered to mimic a specific disease based on a theory of the genetic basis of that disease. For example, to test the amyloid theory of Alzheimer’s disease, mice with amyloid precursor protein genes are engineered, and to test the tau theory, mice with tau genes are engineered. This paper discusses the importance of mouse models in basic research, drug discovery, and translational research, and examines the question of how to define the “best” mouse model of a disease. The critiques of animal models and the caveats in translating the results from animal models to the treatment of human disease are discussed. Since many diseases are heritable, multigenic, age-related and experience-dependent, resulting from multiple gene-gene and gene-environment interactions, it will be essential to develop mouse models that reflect these genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors from a developmental perspective. Such models would provide further insight into disease emergence, progression and the ability to model two-hit and multi-hit theories of disease. The summary examines the biotechnology for creating genetically modified mice which reflect these factors and how they might be used to discover new treatments for complex human diseases such as cancers, neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Xu Z, Shi J, Zhang Y, Liu Y, Zhao J, Chen Q, Song C, Geng S, Xie W, Wu F, Bai Y, Yang Y, Li X. Zfp57 Exerts Maternal and Sexually Dimorphic Effects on Genomic Imprinting. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:784128. [PMID: 35252168 PMCID: PMC8895500 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.784128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Zfp57 has both maternal and zygotic functions in mouse. It maintains genomic imprinting at most known imprinted regions and controls allelic expression of the target imprinted genes in mouse embryos. The DNA methylation imprint at many imprinting control regions (ICRs) is lost when both maternal and zygotic Zfp57 are absent in Zfp57 maternal–zygotic mutant mouse embryos. Interestingly, we found that DNA methylation at a few ICRs was partially lost without maternal Zfp57 in Zfp57 heterozygous mouse embryos derived from Zfp57 homozygous female mice. This suggests that maternal Zfp57 is essential for the maintenance of DNA methylation at a small subset of imprinted regions in mouse embryos. This maternal effect of Zfp57 was applied to allelic expression switch as well as expression levels of the corresponding imprinted genes. It is rather surprising that DNA methylation imprint was affected differently at Rasgrf1 and AK008011 imprinted regions in the female or male Zfp57 maternal–zygotic mutant embryos, with more significant loss of DNA methylation observed in the male mutant embryos. Loss of ZFP57 resulted in gender-specific differences in allelic expression switch and expression level changes of some imprinted genes in female or male mutant embryos. These results indicate maternal and sexually dimorphic effects of ZFP57 on genomic imprinting in mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Xu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, ShanghaiChina
| | - Jiajia Shi
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, ShanghaiChina
| | - Yu Zhang
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuhan Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, ShanghaiChina
| | - Junzheng Zhao
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, ShanghaiChina
| | - Qian Chen
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, ShanghaiChina
| | - Chenglin Song
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, ShanghaiChina
| | - Shuhui Geng
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, ShanghaiChina
| | - Wei Xie
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Feizhen Wu
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yun Bai
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, ShanghaiChina
| | - Yang Yang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, ShanghaiChina
| | - Xiajun Li
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, ShanghaiChina
- *Correspondence: Xiajun Li,
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Chen J, Liu Z, Ma L, Gao S, Fu H, Wang C, Lu A, Wang B, Gu X. Targeting Epigenetics and Non-coding RNAs in Myocardial Infarction: From Mechanisms to Therapeutics. Front Genet 2022; 12:780649. [PMID: 34987550 PMCID: PMC8721121 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.780649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Myocardial infarction (MI) is a complicated pathology triggered by numerous environmental and genetic factors. Understanding the effect of epigenetic regulation mechanisms on the cardiovascular disease would advance the field and promote prophylactic methods targeting epigenetic mechanisms. Genetic screening guides individualised MI therapies and surveillance. The present review reported the latest development on the epigenetic regulation of MI in terms of DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNA-dependent MI mechanisms and the novel therapies based on epigenetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhong Chen
- Department of TCM, Tianjin University of TCM, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhichao Liu
- Department of TCM, Tianjin University of TCM, Tianjin, China
| | - Li Ma
- Department of TCM, Tianjin University of TCM, Tianjin, China
| | - Shengwei Gao
- Department of TCM, Tianjin University of TCM, Tianjin, China
| | - Huanjie Fu
- Department of TCM, Tianjin University of TCM, Tianjin, China
| | - Can Wang
- Acupuncture Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of TCM, Tianjin, China
| | - Anmin Lu
- Department of TCM, Tianjin University of TCM, Tianjin, China
| | - Baohe Wang
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of TCM, Tianjin, China
| | - Xufang Gu
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of TCM, Tianjin, China
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