1
|
Singh M, Pradhan D, Kkani P, Prasad Rao G, Dhagudu NK, Kumar L, Ramasubramanian C, Kumar SG, Sonttineni S, Mohan KN. Genome-scale copy number variant analysis in schizophrenia patients and controls from South India. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1268827. [PMID: 38178910 PMCID: PMC10764592 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1268827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Copy number variants (CNVs) are among the main genetic factors identified in schizophrenia (SZ) through genome-scale studies conducted mostly in Caucasian populations. However, to date, there have been no genome-scale CNV reports on patients from India. To address this shortcoming, we generated, for the first time, genome-scale CNV data for 168 SZ patients and 168 controls from South India. In total, 63 different CNVs were identified in 56 patients and 46 controls with a significantly higher proportion of medium-sized deletions (100 kb-1 Mb) after multiple testing (FDR = 2.7E-4) in patients. Of these, 13 CNVs were previously reported; however, when searched against GWAS, transcriptome, exome, and DNA methylation studies, another 17 CNVs with candidate genes were identified. Of the total 30 CNVs, 28 were present in 38 patients and 12 in 27 controls, indicating a significantly higher representation in the former (p = 1.87E-5). Only 4q35.1-q35.2 duplications were significant (p = 0.020) and observed in 11 controls and 2 patients. Among the others that are not significant, a few examples of patient-specific and previously reported CNVs include deletions of 11q14.1 (DLG2), 22q11.21, and 14q21.1 (LRFN5). 16p13.3 deletion (RBFOX1), 3p14.2 duplication (CADPS), and 7p11.2 duplication (CCT6A) were some of the novel CNVs containing candidate genes. However, these observations need to be replicated in a larger sample size. In conclusion, this report constitutes an important foundation for future CNV studies in a relatively unexplored population. In addition, the data indicate that there are advantages in using an integrated approach for better identification of candidate CNVs for SZ and other mental health disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Minali Singh
- Molecular Biology and Genetics Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani – Hyderabad Campus, Hyderabad, India
| | - Dibyabhabha Pradhan
- Centralized Core Research Facility, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Poornima Kkani
- Department of Zoology, Thiagarajar College, Madurai, India
| | | | | | - Lov Kumar
- Department of Computer Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra, India
| | | | | | | | - Kommu Naga Mohan
- Molecular Biology and Genetics Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani – Hyderabad Campus, Hyderabad, India
- Centre for Human Disease Research, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani – Hyderabad Campus, Hyderabad, India
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Antosz-Rekucka R, Prochwicz K. Depression and anxiety mediate the relationship between the retrospectively measured symptoms of premenstrual disorders and negative but not positive psychotic-like experiences. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17711. [PMID: 37853110 PMCID: PMC10584974 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44573-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between retrospectively measured premenstrual symptoms and subclinical forms of positive and negative psychotic symptoms (psychotic-like experiences; PLEs). It was hypothesised that subjective intensity of the symptoms of premenstrual disorders predicts PLEs frequency and that this relationship is mediated by anxiety and depression. The study sample comprised 108 non-clinical subjects. Study variables were assessed with self-report questionnaires: the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST); the Beck Depression Inventory Second Edition (BDI-II); the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI; trait sub-scale); the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE). Regression and mediation analyses were performed. The PSST scores were significantly and positively associated with psychotic-like experiences frequency. The relation was stronger for positive PLEs. Anxiety and depression partially mediated the relationship between premenstrual symptoms and negative PLEs, but not between premenstrual symptoms and positive PLEs. Although the design of the study does not allow to infer causality, it demonstrates strong, positive relationship between the symptoms of premenstrual disorders and psychotic-like experiences. The relationship between premenstrual disorders and negative PLEs seems to be partially based on a general psychopathological factor. Further longitudinal studies are needed to test whether premenstrual disturbances increase risk of psychotic symptoms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachela Antosz-Rekucka
- Doctoral School in the Social Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sikes-Keilp C, Rubinow DR. GABA-ergic Modulators: New Therapeutic Approaches to Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. CNS Drugs 2023; 37:679-693. [PMID: 37542704 DOI: 10.1007/s40263-023-01030-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is characterized by the predictable onset of mood and physical symptoms secondary to gonadal steroid fluctuation during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Although menstrual-related affective dysfunction is responsible for considerable functional impairment and reduction in quality of life worldwide, currently approved treatments for PMDD are suboptimal in their effectiveness. Research over the past two decades has suggested that the interaction between allopregnanolone, a neurosteroid derivative of progesterone, and the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system represents an important relationship underlying symptom genesis in reproductive-related mood disorders, including PMDD. The objective of this narrative review is to discuss the plausible link between changes in GABAergic transmission secondary to the fluctuation of allopregnanolone during the luteal phase and mood impairment in susceptible individuals. As part of this discussion, we explore promising findings from early clinical trials of several compounds that stabilize allopregnanolone signaling during the luteal phase, including dutasteride, a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor; isoallopregnanolone, a GABA-A modulating steroid antagonist; and ulipristal acetate, a selective progesterone receptor modulator. We then reflect on the implications of these therapeutic advances, including how they may promote our knowledge of affective regulation more generally. We conclude that these and other studies of PMDD may yield critical insight into the etiopathogenesis of affective disorders, considering that (1) symptoms in PMDD have a predictable onset and offset, allowing for examination of affective state kinetics, and (2) GABAergic interventions in PMDD can be used to better understand the relationship between mood states, network regulation, and the balance between excitatory and inhibitory signaling in the brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Sikes-Keilp
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina Hospitals, 101 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA.
| | - David R Rubinow
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina Hospitals, 101 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Risks of major affective disorders following a diagnosis of premenstrual dysphoric disorder: A nationwide longitudinal study. Asian J Psychiatr 2023; 79:103355. [PMID: 36481566 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Whether a history of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is associated with a subsequent risk of major affective disorders remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the risk of unipolar depression and bipolar disorder in women with PMDD compared with those without PMDD. This study used data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Women who were diagnosed with PMDD and had no history of any major affective disorder were included. The controls were women without PMDD matched for demographics and physical and psychiatric comorbidities. Cox regression was used to estimate the risk of unipolar depression and bipolar disorder. We included 8222 women with PMDD and 32,888 matched controls. After adjusting for potential confounders, we found that the women with PMDD were associated with a higher risk of unipolar depression [hazard ratio (HR) 2.58; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 2.23-2.98] and bipolar disorder (HR 2.50; 95 % CI 1.62-3.88) than the controls. The PMDD group had a younger age at the diagnosis of unipolar depression (37.11 vs 41.59 years) and bipolar disorder (35.59 vs 42.02 years, p = 0.002), and shorter duration between enrollment and onset of unipolar depression (2.97 vs 5.33 years, p < 0.001) and bipolar disorder (3.05 vs 5.57 years, p < 0.001). Our results showed a strong association between PMDD and major affective disorders. Healthcare workers should be aware of patients with PMDD and the risk of developing major affective mental disorders.
Collapse
|
5
|
Gabrb2 knock-out mice exhibit double-directed PMDD-like symptoms: GABAAR subunits, neurotransmitter metabolism disruption, and allopregnanolone binding. Aging (Albany NY) 2022; 14:8437-8447. [PMID: 36287173 PMCID: PMC9648806 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Background: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe mood disorder with pathological changes rooted in GABRB2 copy number variation. Here, we aimed to elucidate the gene dose effect and allopregnanolone binding mechanism of Gabrb2 on possible PMDD-like and comorbid phenotypes in knockout mice. Methods: PMDD-like behaviors of Gabrb2-knockout mice were measured through various tests. Western Blot and ELISA were used to detect changes in the GABAAR subunits and related neurotransmitter changes in mice respectively for the internal mechanism. The response of mice to allopregnanolone (ALLO) was examined through an exogenous ALLO injection, then validated by the patch-clamp technique to elaborate the potential mechanism of ALLO-mediated GABAAR. Results: Gabrb2-knockout mice displayed changes in anxiety-like and depression-like emotions opposite to PMDD symptoms, changes in social, learning, and memory capacities similar to PMDD symptoms, and pain threshold changes opposite to PMDD symptoms. GABAAR δ subunit expression in the brains of the Gabrb2-knockout mice was significantly higher than that of Wild-type mice (P<0.05). Gabrb2-knockout mice demonstrated neurotransmitter metabolism disturbance of GABA, Glu, acetylcholine, DA, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. Moreover, Gabrb2-knockout mice did not display the expected phenotypic effect after ALLO injection. Relative to WT mice, the knockout of the β2 subunit gene enhanced the agonistic effect of ALLO on GABAA receptors in cortical neuronal cells. Conclusions: GABAAR β 2 regulates PMDD-like behaviors. The ALLO binding site may not be located on β two subunits, abnormal δ and ε subunit expression in the mouse brain and the disturbance of neurotransmitters may result in ALLO sensitivity.
Collapse
|
6
|
Barki M, Xue H. GABRB2, a key player in neuropsychiatric disorders and beyond. Gene 2022; 809:146021. [PMID: 34673206 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2021.146021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The GABA receptors represent the main inhibitory system in the central nervous system that ensure synaptogenesis, neurogenesis, and the regulation of neuronal plasticity and learning. GABAA receptors are pentameric in structure and belong to the Cys-loop superfamily. The GABRB2 gene, located on chromosome 5q34, encodes the β2 subunit that combines with the α and γ subunits to form the major subtype of GABAA receptors, which account for 43% of all GABAA receptors in the mammalian brain. Each subunit probably consists of an extracellular N-terminal domain, four membrane-spanning segments, a large intracellular loop between TM3 and TM4, and an extracellular C-terminal domain. Alternative splicing of the RNA transcript of the GABRB2 gene gives rise at least to four long and short isoforms with dissimilar electrophysiological properties. Furthermore, GABRB2 is imprinted and subjected to epigenetic regulation and positive selection. It has been associated with schizophrenia first in Han Chinese, and subsequently validated in other populations. Gabrb2 knockout mice also exhibited schizophrenia-like behavior and neuroinflammation that were ameliorated by the antipsychotic drug risperidone. GABRB2 was also associated with other neuropsychiatric disorders including bipolar disorder, epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder, Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, substance dependence, depression, internet gaming disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Recently, it has been postulated that GABRB2 might be a potential marker for different cancer types. As GABRB2 has a pivotal role in the central nervous system and is increasingly recognized to contribute to human diseases, further understanding of its structure and function may expedite the generation of new therapeutic approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manel Barki
- Center for Cancer Genomics, School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hong Xue
- Center for Cancer Genomics, School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Division of Life Science and Applied Genomics Center, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Gao M, Zhang H, Wang C, Mou X, Zhu Q, Wang J, Gao D. Top 100 Cited Papers on Premenstrual Syndrome/Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: A Bibliometric Study. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:936009. [PMID: 35911247 PMCID: PMC9329608 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.936009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Premenstrual syndrome/premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a serious condition affecting women worldwide, causing clinically significant distress or interference. Therefore, solving these diseases has become the utmost concern worldwide, culminating in numerous studies. In this study, we performed bibliometric analysis on the 100 most cited papers with the aim of identifying research hot spots and trends in this field. METHODS We screened the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) of Web of Science (WOS) to identify the top 100 cited studies on PMS/PMDD. Next, we analyzed relevant literature from various journals, countries/regions, institutions, authors, and keywords. Finally, we used VOSviewer and Citespace software to generate knowledge maps and identify hot spots and trends. RESULTS The top 100 highly cited studies were published in 55 journals, between 1999 and 2017, across 24 countries/regions around the world. Most articles were published in Obstetrics and Gynecology, whereas Psych neuroendocrinology had the largest average number of citations per paper. The United States had the highest number of publications, followed by England, Canada, and Sweden. The top three institutions that published the highly cited literature were the University of Pennsylvania, Yale University, and National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Obstetrics, Gynecology, Psychiatry, and Reproductive Biology were the main research directions, whereas the top 10 Co-occurrence of Keywords included double-blind, fluoxetine, efficacy, prevalence, epidemiology, phase sertraline treatment, depression, progesterone, placebo, and placebo-controlled trial. Results from cluster analysis indicated that more comprehensive epidemiology and steroid pathogenesis have gradually become the hot spots and trends. CONCLUSION These findings demonstrated that bibliometric analysis can intuitively and rapidly reveal the frontiers and hot spots of research in PMS/PMDD. Notably, epidemiology, steroid pathogenesis, GABAA receptor delta subunits, and double-blind placebo-controlled trials are potential areas of focus for future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhou Gao
- Team of Research and Innovation Focusing on Emotional Diseases and Syndromes, Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Changlin Wang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Xiangyu Mou
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Qingjun Zhu
- Team of Research and Innovation Focusing on Emotional Diseases and Syndromes, Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Jieqiong Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Dongmei Gao
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Groenman AP, Torenvliet C, Radhoe TA, Agelink van Rentergem JA, Geurts HM. Menstruation and menopause in autistic adults: Periods of importance? AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2021; 26:1563-1572. [PMID: 34825585 PMCID: PMC9344571 DOI: 10.1177/13623613211059721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum conditions were once seen as a predominantly male condition. This
has caused a paucity of information on common events in the lives of women, such
as menstruation and menopause. Some smaller studies indicate that autistic women
might suffer from increased difficulties surrounding these events. This study
aims to investigate whether autistic women experience more frequent premenstrual
dysphoric disorder, and increased complaints surrounding menopause. In partly
overlapping samples (premenstrual dysphoric disorder, n = 70,
nASC = 28,
ncomparisons = 42; menopause,
n = 65, nASC = 30,
ncomparisons = 35), we investigated premenstrual
dysphoric disorder prevalence and menopausal complaints. In 70 individuals, we
did not find an increased prevalence of premenstrual dysphoric disorder in
autistic women (14.3%) compared with non-autistic women (9.5%). In 65 women aged
40 years and above, we found that autistic women did experience higher levels of
menopausal complaints. In autistic women, higher menopausal complaints were
associated with higher levels of depression and autistic traits. In non-autistic
women, menopausal complaints were associated with increased inattention,
hyperactivity/impulsivity (i.e. attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
traits), and depression. With this work, we show the important role that major
reproductive milestones can have in an autistic woman’s life.
Collapse
|
9
|
Xue H, Wu Z, Long X, Ullah A, Chen S, Mat WK, Sun P, Gao MZ, Wang JQ, Wang HJ, Li X, Sun WJ, Qiao MQ. Copy number variation profile-based genomic typing of premenstrual dysphoric disorder in Chinese. J Genet Genomics 2021; 48:1070-1080. [PMID: 34530168 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2021.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) affects nearly 5% women of reproductive age. Symptomatic heterogeneity, together with largely unknown genetics, have greatly hindered its effective treatment. In the present study, analysis of genomic sequencing-based copy-number-variations (CNVs) called from 100-kb white blood cell DNA sequence windows by means of semi-supervised clustering led to the segregation of patient genomes into the D and V groups, which correlated with the depression and invasion clinical types respectively with 89.0% consistency. Application of diagnostic CNV features selected using the correlation-based machine-learning method enabled the classification of the CNVs obtained into the D group, V group, total-patient group and control group with an average accuracy of 83.0%. The power of the diagnostic CNV features was 0.98 on average, suggesting that these CNV features could be employed for the molecular diagnosis of the major clinical types of PMDD. This demonstrated concordnce between the CNV profiles and clinical types of PMDD supported the validity of symptom-based diagnosis of PMDD for differentiating between its two major clinical types, as well as the predominanly genetic nature of PMDD with a host of overlaps between multiple susceptibility genes/pathways and the diagnostic CNV features as indicators of involvement in PMDD etiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hong Xue
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, 250355, China; Division of Life Science and Applied Genomics Center, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China; School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, China; HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, 9 Yuexing First Road, Nanshan, Shenzhen, China; Guangzhou HKUST Fok Ying Tung Research Institute, Science and Technology Building, Nansha Information Technology Park, Nansha, Guangzhou, 511458, China.
| | - Zhenggang Wu
- Division of Life Science and Applied Genomics Center, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China; School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, China; HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, 9 Yuexing First Road, Nanshan, Shenzhen, China; Guangzhou HKUST Fok Ying Tung Research Institute, Science and Technology Building, Nansha Information Technology Park, Nansha, Guangzhou, 511458, China
| | - Xi Long
- Division of Life Science and Applied Genomics Center, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China; School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, China; HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, 9 Yuexing First Road, Nanshan, Shenzhen, China; Guangzhou HKUST Fok Ying Tung Research Institute, Science and Technology Building, Nansha Information Technology Park, Nansha, Guangzhou, 511458, China
| | - Ata Ullah
- Division of Life Science and Applied Genomics Center, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Si Chen
- Division of Life Science and Applied Genomics Center, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wai-Kin Mat
- Division of Life Science and Applied Genomics Center, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Peng Sun
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, 250355, China
| | - Ming-Zhou Gao
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, 250355, China
| | - Jie-Qiong Wang
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, 250355, China
| | - Hai-Jun Wang
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, 250355, China
| | - Xia Li
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, 250355, China
| | - Wen-Jun Sun
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, 250355, China
| | - Ming-Qi Qiao
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, 250355, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Long X, Xue H. Genetic-variant hotspots and hotspot clusters in the human genome facilitating adaptation while increasing instability. Hum Genomics 2021; 15:19. [PMID: 33741065 PMCID: PMC7976700 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-021-00318-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Genetic variants, underlining phenotypic diversity, are known to distribute unevenly in the human genome. A comprehensive understanding of the distributions of different genetic variants is important for insights into genetic functions and disorders. Methods Herein, a sliding-window scan of regional densities of eight kinds of germline genetic variants, including single-nucleotide-polymorphisms (SNPs) and four size-classes of copy-number-variations (CNVs) in the human genome has been performed. Results The study has identified 44,379 hotspots with high genetic-variant densities, and 1135 hotspot clusters comprising more than one type of hotspots, accounting for 3.1% and 0.2% of the genome respectively. The hotspots and clusters are found to co-localize with different functional genomic features, as exemplified by the associations of hotspots of middle-size CNVs with histone-modification sites, work with balancing and positive selections to meet the need for diversity in immune proteins, and facilitate the development of sensory-perception and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathways in the function-sparse late-replicating genomic sequences. Genetic variants of different lengths co-localize with retrotransposons of different ages on a “long-with-young” and “short-with-all” basis. Hotspots and clusters are highly associated with tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes (p < 10−10), and enriched with somatic tumor CNVs and the trait- and disease-associated SNPs identified by genome-wise association studies, exceeding tenfold enrichment in clusters comprising SNPs and extra-long CNVs. Conclusions In conclusion, the genetic-variant hotspots and clusters represent two-edged swords that spearhead both positive and negative genomic changes. Their strong associations with complex traits and diseases also open up a potential “Common Disease-Hotspot Variant” approach to the missing heritability problem. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40246-021-00318-3.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xi Long
- Division of Life Science and Applied Genomics Centre, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China.,HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, 9 Yuexing First Road, Nanshan, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hong Xue
- Division of Life Science and Applied Genomics Centre, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China. .,HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute, 9 Yuexing First Road, Nanshan, Shenzhen, China. .,Centre for Cancer Genomics, School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| |
Collapse
|