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Cao R, Su Y, Li J, Ao R, Xu X, Liang Y, Liu Z, Yu Q, Xie J. Exploring research hotspots and future directions in neural tube defects field by bibliometric and bioinformatics analysis. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1293400. [PMID: 38650623 PMCID: PMC11033379 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1293400] [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: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Neural tube defects (NTDs) is the most common birth defect of the central nervous system (CNS) which causes the death of almost 88,000 people every year around the world. Much efforts have been made to investigate the reasons that contribute to NTD and explore new ways to for prevention. We trawl the past decade (2013-2022) published records in order to get a worldwide view about NTDs research field. Methods 7,437 records about NTDs were retrieved from the Web of Science (WOS) database. Tools such as shell scripts, VOSviewer, SCImago Graphica, CiteSpace and PubTator were used for data analysis and visualization. Results Over the past decade, the number of publications has maintained an upward trend, except for 2022. The United States is the country with the highest number of publications and also with the closest collaboration with other countries. Baylor College of Medicine has the closest collaboration with other institutions worldwide and also was the most prolific institution. In the field of NTDs, research focuses on molecular mechanisms such as genes and signaling pathways related to folate metabolism, neurogenic diseases caused by neural tube closure disorders such as myelomeningocele and spina bifida, and prevention and treatment such as folate supplementation and surgical procedures. Most NTDs related genes are related to development, cell projection parts, and molecular binding. These genes are mainly concentrated in cancer, Wnt, MAPK, PI3K-Akt and other signaling pathways. The distribution of NTDs related SNPs on chromosomes 1, 3, 5, 11, 14, and 17 are relatively concentrated, which may be associated with high-risk of NTDs. Conclusion Bibliometric analysis of the literature on NTDs field provided the current status, hotspots and future directions to some extant. Further bioinformatics analysis expanded our understanding of NTDs-related genes function and revealed some important SNP clusters and loci. This study provided some guidance for further studies. More extensive cooperation and further research are needed to overcome the ongoing challenge in pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of NTDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Cao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect and Cell Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention of Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
- Translational Medicine Research Centre, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yanbing Su
- Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Jianting Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect and Cell Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention of Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Ruifang Ao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect and Cell Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention of Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xiangchao Xu
- Sci-Tech Information and Strategic Research Center of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yuxiang Liang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect and Cell Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention of Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Zhizhen Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect and Cell Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention of Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Qi Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect and Cell Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention of Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Jun Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect and Cell Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention of Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
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Finsterer J. Neural Tube Defects Are Not Only Associated with Polymorphisms in MTHFR or MTR but with Pathogenic Variants in Numerous Other Genes. J Indian Assoc Pediatr Surg 2024; 29:86-87. [PMID: 38405252 PMCID: PMC10883187 DOI: 10.4103/jiaps.jiaps_112_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
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Bai B, Jiang Q, Liu L, Liu C, Zhang Q. Double whammy: the genetic variants in CECR2 and high Hcy on the development of neural tube defects. Front Genet 2023; 14:1189847. [PMID: 37424722 PMCID: PMC10324518 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1189847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are serious congenital malformations. The etiology of NTDs involves both genetic and environmental factors. Loss of CECR2 in mice has been shown to result in NTDs. Our previous study indicated that high homocysteine (HHcy) levels could further reduced the expression level of CECR2. This investigation aims to explore the genetic influence of the chromatin remodeling gene, CECR2, in humans and determine if HHcy can have a synergistic effect on protein expression. Methods: We conducted Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) of the CECR2 gene in 373 NTD cases and 222 healthy controls, followed by functional assay application to select and evaluate CECR2 missense variants and subsequent Western blotting to identify protein expression levels. Results: From the analysis, we identified nine rare, NTD-specific mutations within the CECR2 gene. Significantly, four missense variants (p.E327V, p.T521S, p.G701R, and p.G868R) were selected via functional screening. The E9.5 mouse ectodermal stem cell line NE-4C, transfected with plasmids expressing p.E327V, p.T521S, p.G868R variants or a recombinant harboring all four (named as 4Mut), exhibited notable reductions in CECR2 protein expression. Furthermore, exposure to homocysteine thiolactone (HTL), an extremely reactive homocysteine metabolite, amplified the reduction in CECR2 expression, accompanied by a significant increase in the apoptotic molecule Caspase3 activity, a potential NTD inducer. Importantly, folic acid (FA) supplementation effectively counteracted the CECR2 expression decline induced by CECR2 mutation and HTL treatment, leading to reduced apoptosis. Discussion: Our observations underscore a synergistic relationship between HHcy and genetic variations in CECR2 concerning NTDs, thereby reinforcing the concept of gene-environment interaction phenomena in NTD etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoling Bai
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Jiang
- Department of Medical Genetics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Lingyun Liu
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Changyun Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Qin Zhang
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
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