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Bai F, Liu X, Zhang X, Mao Z, Wen H, Ma J, Pei XH. p18INK4C and BRCA1 inhibit follicular cell proliferation and dedifferentiation in thyroid cancer. Cell Cycle 2023; 22:1637-1653. [PMID: 37345432 PMCID: PMC10361144 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2023.2225938] [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: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Only 3% of thyroid cancers are medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTCs), the rest are follicular epithelial cell derived non-MTCs (NMTCs). A dysfunctional INK4-CDK4-RB pathway is detected in most of NMTCs. DNA repair defects and genome instability are associated with NMTC dedifferentiation and aggressiveness. Whether inactivation of the INK4-CDK4-RB pathway induces NMTCs and how differentiation of NMTC cells is controlled remain elusive. In this study, we generated p18Ink4c and Brca1 singly and doubly deficient mice as well as p16Ink4a and Brca1 singly and doubly deficient mice. By using these mice and human thyroid carcinoma cell lines, we discovered that loss of p18Ink4c, not p16Ink4a, in mice stimulated follicular cell proliferation and induced NMTCs. Depletion of Brca1 alone or both p16Ink4a and Brca1 did not induce thyroid tumor. Depletion of Brca1 in p18Ink4c null mice results in poorly differentiated and aggressive NMTCs with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) features and enhanced DNA damage. Knockdown of BRCA1 in thyroid carcinoma cells activated EMT and promoted tumorigenesis whereas overexpression of BRCA1 inhibited EMT. BRCA1 and EMT marker expression were inversely related in human thyroid cancers. Our finding, for the first time, demonstrates that inactivation of INK4-CDK4-RB pathway induces NMTCs and that Brca1 deficiency promotes dedifferentiation of NMTC cells. These results suggest that BRCA1 and p18INK4C collaboratively suppress thyroid tumorigenesis and progression and CDK4 inhibitors will be effective for treatment of INK4-inactivated or cyclin D-overexpressed thyroid carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Bai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, International Cancer Center, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Pathology, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
- Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Xiong Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, International Cancer Center, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Anatomy and Histology, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xu Zhang
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhuo Mao
- Department of Physiology, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - He Wen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jinshan Ma
- Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region People’s Hospital, Xinjiang, China
| | - Xin-Hai Pei
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, International Cancer Center, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
- Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Anatomy and Histology, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
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2
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Galetzka D, Böck J, Wagner L, Dittrich M, Sinizyn O, Ludwig M, Rossmann H, Spix C, Radsak M, Scholz-Kreisel P, Mirsch J, Linke M, Brenner W, Marron M, Poplawski A, Haaf T, Schmidberger H, Prawitt D. Hypermethylation of RAD9A intron 2 in childhood cancer patients, leukemia and tumor cell lines suggest a role for oncogenic transformation. EXCLI JOURNAL 2022; 21:117-143. [PMID: 35221838 PMCID: PMC8859646 DOI: 10.17179/excli2021-4482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Most childhood cancers occur sporadically and cannot be explained by an inherited mutation or an unhealthy lifestyle. However, risk factors might trigger the oncogenic transformation of cells. Among other regulatory signals, hypermethylation of RAD9A intron 2 is responsible for the increased expression of RAD9A protein, which may play a role in oncogenic transformation. Here, we analyzed the RAD9A intron 2 methylation in primary fibroblasts of 20 patients with primary cancer in childhood and second primary cancer (2N) later in life, 20 matched patients with only one primary cancer in childhood (1N) and 20 matched cancer-free controls (0N), using bisulfite pyrosequencing and deep bisulfite sequencing (DBS). Four 1N patients and one 2N patient displayed elevated mean methylation levels (≥ 10 %) of RAD9A. DBS revealed ≥ 2 % hypermethylated alleles of RAD9A, indicative for constitutive mosaic epimutations. Bone marrow samples of NHL and AML tumor patients (n=74), EBV (Epstein Barr Virus) lymphoblasts (n=6), tumor cell lines (n=5) and FaDu subclones (n=13) were analyzed to substantiate our findings. We find a broad spectrum of tumor entities with an aberrant methylation of RAD9A. We detected a significant difference in mean methylation of RAD9A for NHL versus AML patients (p ≤0.025). Molecular karyotyping of AML samples during therapy with hypermethylated RAD9A showed an evolving duplication of 1.8 kb on Chr16p13.3 including the PKD1 gene. Radiation, colony formation assays, cell proliferation, PCR and molecular karyotyping SNP-array experiments using generated FaDu subclones suggest that hypermethylation of RAD9A intron 2 is associated with genomic imbalances in regions with tumor-relevant genes and survival of the cells. In conclusion, this is the very first study of RAD9A intron 2 methylation in childhood cancer and Leukemia. RAD9A epimutations may have an impact on leukemia and tumorigenesis and can potentially serve as a biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danuta Galetzka
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Radiation Therapy, University Medical Centre, Mainz, Germany
| | - Julia Böck
- Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians University, Würzburg, Germany.,Institute of Pathology, Julius Maximilians University, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Lukas Wagner
- Center for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Centre, Mainz, Germany
| | - Marcus Dittrich
- Bioinformatics Department, Julius Maximilians University, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Olesja Sinizyn
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Radiation Therapy, University Medical Centre, Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Heidi Rossmann
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Centre, Mainz, Germany
| | - Claudia Spix
- Division of Childhood Cancer Epidemiology, Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical Centre, Mainz, Germany
| | - Markus Radsak
- Department of Hematology, University Medical Centre, Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Johanna Mirsch
- Radiation Biology and DNA Repair, Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Matthias Linke
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Centre, Mainz, Germany
| | - Walburgis Brenner
- Department of Obstetrics and Women's Health, University Medical Centre, Mainz, Germany
| | - Manuela Marron
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Alicia Poplawski
- Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical Centre, Mainz, Germany
| | - Thomas Haaf
- Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians University, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Heinz Schmidberger
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Radiation Therapy, University Medical Centre, Mainz, Germany
| | - Dirk Prawitt
- Center for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Centre, Mainz, Germany
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3
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Xie S, Luo H, Huang Y, Wang Y, Ru W, Shi Y, Huang W, Wang H, Dong Z, Jin W. A Missense Mutation in a Large Subunit of Ribonucleotide Reductase Confers Temperature-Gated Tassel Formation. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 184:1979-1997. [PMID: 33020253 PMCID: PMC7723098 DOI: 10.1104/pp.20.00219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Temperature is a major factor regulating plant growth. To reproduce at extreme temperatures, plants must develop normal reproductive organs when exposed to temperature changes. However, little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms. Here, we identified the maize (Zea mays) mutant thermosensitive vanishing tassel1-R (tvt1-R), which lacks tassels at high (restrictive) temperatures due to shoot apical meristem (SAM) arrest, but forms normal tassels at moderate (permissive) temperatures. The critical stage for phenotypic conversion in tvt1-R mutants is V2 to V6 (Vn, where "n" is the number of leaves with collars visible). Positional cloning and allelism and complementation tests revealed that a G-to-A mutation causing a Arg277-to-His277 substitution in ZmRNRL1, a ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) large subunit (RNRL), confers the tvt1-R mutant phenotype. RNR regulates the rate of deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate (dNTP) production for DNA replication and damage repair. By expression, yeast two-hybrid, RNA sequencing, and flow cytometric analyses, we found that ZmRNRL1-tvt1-R failed to interact with all three RNR small subunits at 34°C due to the Arg277-to-His277 substitution, which could impede RNR holoenzyme (α2β2) formation, thereby decreasing the dNTP supply for DNA replication. Decreased dNTP supply may be especially severe for the SAM that requires a continuous, sufficient dNTP supply for rapid division, as demonstrated by the SAM arrest and tassel absence in tvt1-R mutants at restrictive temperatures. Our study reveals a novel mechanism of temperature-gated tassel formation in maize and provides insight into the role of RNRL in SAM maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyi Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, National Maize Improvement Center, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE), Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Hongbing Luo
- Maize Engineering and Technology Research Center of Hunan Province, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Yumin Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, National Maize Improvement Center, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE), Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yaxin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, National Maize Improvement Center, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE), Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Wei Ru
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, National Maize Improvement Center, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE), Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yunlu Shi
- Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Wei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, National Maize Improvement Center, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE), Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Hai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, National Maize Improvement Center, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE), Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zhaobin Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, National Maize Improvement Center, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE), Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Weiwei Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, National Maize Improvement Center, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE), Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
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4
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Molecular karyotyping and gene expression analysis in childhood cancer patients. J Mol Med (Berl) 2020; 98:1107-1123. [PMID: 32577795 PMCID: PMC7769790 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-020-01937-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Abstract The genetic etiology of sporadic childhood cancer cases remains unclear. We recruited a cohort of 20 patients who survived a childhood malignancy and then developed a second primary cancer (2N), and 20 carefully matched patients who survived a childhood cancer without developing a second malignancy (1N). Twenty matched cancer-free (0N) and additional 1000 (0N) GHS participants served as controls. Aiming to identify new candidate loci for cancer predisposition, we compared the genome-wide DNA copy number variations (CNV) with the RNA-expression data obtained after in vitro irradiation of primary fibroblasts. In 2N patients, we detected a total of 142 genes affected by CNV. A total of 53 genes of these were not altered in controls. Six genes (POLR3F, SEC23B, ZNF133, C16orf45, RRN3, and NTAN1) that we found to be overexpressed after irradiation were also duplicated in the genome of the 2N patients. For the 1N collective, 185 genes were affected by CNV and 38 of these genes were not altered in controls. Five genes (ZCWPW2, SYNCRIP, DHX30, DHRS4L2, and THSD1) were located in duplicated genomic regions and exhibited altered RNA expression after irradiation. One gene (ABCC6) was partially duplicated in one 1N and one 2N patient. Analysis of methylation levels of THSD1 and GSTT2 genes which were detected in duplicated regions and are frequently aberrantly methylated in cancer showed no changes in patient’s fibroblasts. In summary, we describe rare and radiation-sensitive genes affected by CNV in childhood sporadic cancer cases, which may have an impact on cancer development. Key messages • Rare CNV’s may have an impact on cancer development in sporadic, non-familial, non-syndromic childhood cancer cases. • In our cohort, each patient displayed a unique pattern of cancer-related gene CNVs, and only few cases shared similar CNV. • Genes that are transcriptionally regulated after radiation can be located in CNVs in cancer patients and controls. • THSD1 and GSTT2 methylation is not altered by CNV. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s00109-020-01937-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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5
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Li L, Maire CL, Bilenky M, Carles A, Heravi-Moussavi A, Hong C, Tam A, Kamoh B, Cho S, Cheung D, Li I, Wong T, Nagarajan RP, Mungall AJ, Moore R, Wang T, Kleinman CL, Jabado N, Jones SJM, Marra MA, Ligon KL, Costello JF, Hirst M. Epigenomic programming in early fetal brain development. Epigenomics 2020; 12:1053-1070. [PMID: 32677466 PMCID: PMC7857341 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2019-0319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To provide a comprehensive understanding of gene regulatory networks in the developing human brain and a foundation for interpreting pathogenic deregulation. Materials & methods: We generated reference epigenomes and transcriptomes of dissected brain regions and primary neural progenitor cells (NPCs) derived from cortical and ganglionic eminence tissues of four normal human fetuses. Results: Integration of these data across developmental stages revealed a directional increase in active regulatory states, transcription factor activities and gene transcription with developmental stage. Consistent with differences in their biology, NPCs derived from cortical and ganglionic eminence regions contained common, region specific, and gestational week specific regulatory states. Conclusion: We provide a high-resolution regulatory network for NPCs from different brain regions as a comprehensive reference for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luolan Li
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Cecile L Maire
- Department of Medical Oncology, Center for Molecular Oncologic Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Misha Bilenky
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Science Center, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4S6, Canada
| | - Annaïck Carles
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | | | - Chibo Hong
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Angela Tam
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Science Center, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4S6, Canada
| | - Baljit Kamoh
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Science Center, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4S6, Canada
| | - Stephanie Cho
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Science Center, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4S6, Canada
| | - Dorothy Cheung
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Science Center, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4S6, Canada
| | - Irene Li
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Science Center, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4S6, Canada
| | - Tina Wong
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Science Center, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4S6, Canada
| | - Raman P Nagarajan
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Andrew J Mungall
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Science Center, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4S6, Canada
| | - Richard Moore
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Science Center, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4S6, Canada
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Genetics, Washington University, St Louis, MO 63108, USA
| | - Claudia L Kleinman
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Nada Jabado
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Steven JM Jones
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Science Center, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4S6, Canada
| | - Marco A Marra
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Science Center, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4S6, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3N1, Canada
| | - Keith L Ligon
- Department of Medical Oncology, Center for Molecular Oncologic Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Joseph F Costello
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Martin Hirst
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Science Center, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4S6, Canada
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6
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Lønning PE, Eikesdal HP, Løes IM, Knappskog S. Constitutional Mosaic Epimutations - a hidden cause of cancer? Cell Stress 2019; 3:118-135. [PMID: 31225507 PMCID: PMC6551830 DOI: 10.15698/cst2019.04.183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Silencing of tumor suppressor genes by promoter hypermethylation is a key mechanism to facilitate cancer progression in many malignancies. While promoter hypermethylation can occur at later stages of the carcinogenesis process, constitutional methylation of key tumor suppressors may be an initiating event whereby cancer is started. Constitutional BRCA1 methylation due to cis-acting germline genetic variants is associated with a high risk of breast and ovarian cancer. However, this seems to be a rare event, restricted to a very limited number of families. In contrast, mosaic constitutional BRCA1 methylation is detected in 4-7% of newborn females without germline BRCA1 mutations. While the cause of such methylation is poorly understood, mosaic normal tissue BRCA1 methylation is associated with a 2-3 fold increased risk of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). As such, BRCA1 methylation may be the cause of a significant number of ovarian cancers. Given the molecular similarities between HGSOC and basal-like breast cancer, the findings with respect to HGSOC suggest that constitutional BRCA1 methylation could be a risk factor for basal-like breast cancer as well. Similar to BRCA1, some specific germline variants in MLH1 and MSH2 are associated with promoter methylation and a high risk of colorectal cancers in rare hereditary cases of the disease. However, as many as 15% of all colorectal cancers are of the microsatellite instability (MSI) "high" subtype, in which commonly the tumors harbor MLH1 hypermethylation. Constitutional mosaic methylation of MLH1 in normal tissues has been detected but not formally evaluated as a potential risk factor for incidental colorectal cancers. However, the findings with respect to BRCA1 in breast and ovarian cancer raises the question whether mosaic MLH1 methylation is a risk factor for MSI positive colorectal cancer as well. As for MGMT, a promoter variant is associated with elevated methylation across a panel of solid cancers, and MGMT promoter methylation may contribute to an elevated cancer risk in several of these malignancies. We hypothesize that constitutional mosaic promoter methylation of crucial tumor suppressors may trigger certain types of cancer, similar to germline mutations inactivating the same particular genes. Such constitutional methylation events may be a spark to ignite cancer development, and if associated with a significant cancer risk, screening for such epigenetic alterations could be part of cancer prevention programs to reduce cancer mortality in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Per E. Lønning
- K.G.Jebsen Center for Genome Directed Cancer Therapy, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Norway
- Department of Oncology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Hans P. Eikesdal
- K.G.Jebsen Center for Genome Directed Cancer Therapy, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Norway
- Department of Oncology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Inger M. Løes
- K.G.Jebsen Center for Genome Directed Cancer Therapy, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Norway
- Department of Oncology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Stian Knappskog
- K.G.Jebsen Center for Genome Directed Cancer Therapy, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Norway
- Department of Oncology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
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7
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Azzollini J, Pesenti C, Pizzamiglio S, Fontana L, Guarino C, Peissel B, Plebani M, Tabano S, Sirchia SM, Colapietro P, Villa R, Paolini B, Verderio P, Miozzo M, Manoukian S. Constitutive BRCA1 Promoter Hypermethylation Can Be a Predisposing Event in Isolated Early-Onset Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11010058. [PMID: 30634417 PMCID: PMC6356733 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11010058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Early age at onset of breast cancer (eoBC) is suggestive of an increased genetic risk. Although genetic testing is offered to all eoBC-affected women, in isolated cases the detection rate of pathogenic variants is <10%. This study aimed at assessing the role of constitutive promoter methylation at BC-associated loci as an underlying predisposing event in women with eoBC and negative family history. Promoter methylation at 12 loci was assessed by the MassARRAY technology in blood from 154 BRCA1/2 negative patients with eoBC and negative family history, and 60 healthy controls. Hypermethylation was determined, within each promoter, by comparing the patient’s mean methylation value with thresholds based on one-sided 95% bootstrap confidence interval of the controls’ mean. Three patients had hypermethylated results, two at BRCA1 and one at RAD51C. Analyses on tumor tissue from the patient exceeding the highest threshold at BRCA1 revealed a mean methylation >60% and loss of heterozygosity at chromosome 17q. The patient hypermethylated at RAD51C showed low methylation in the tumor sample, ruling out a role for methylation-induced silencing in tumor development. In isolated eoBC patients, BRCA1 constitutive promoter methylation may be a predisposing event. Further studies are required to define the impact of methylation changes occurring at BC-predisposing genes and their role in tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacopo Azzollini
- Unit of Medical Genetics, Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Chiara Pesenti
- Department of Pathophysiology & Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano; Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milano, Italy.
| | - Sara Pizzamiglio
- Unit of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, Department of Applied Research and Technological Development, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Laura Fontana
- Department of Pathophysiology & Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano; Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milano, Italy.
| | - Carmela Guarino
- Immunohematology & Transfusion Medicine Service, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Bernard Peissel
- Unit of Medical Genetics, Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Maddalena Plebani
- Unit of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, Department of Applied Research and Technological Development, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Silvia Tabano
- Department of Pathophysiology & Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano; Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milano, Italy.
| | - Silvia Maria Sirchia
- Medical Genetics, Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milano, Italy.
| | - Patrizia Colapietro
- Department of Pathophysiology & Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano; Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milano, Italy.
| | - Roberta Villa
- Unit of Medical Genetics, Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Biagio Paolini
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Paolo Verderio
- Unit of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, Department of Applied Research and Technological Development, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Monica Miozzo
- Department of Pathophysiology & Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano; Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milano, Italy.
| | - Siranoush Manoukian
- Unit of Medical Genetics, Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
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8
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Taeubner J, Wieczorek D, Yasin L, Brozou T, Borkhardt A, Kuhlen M. Penetrance and Expressivity in Inherited Cancer Predisposing Syndromes. Trends Cancer 2018; 4:718-728. [PMID: 30352675 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2018.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Revised: 09/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Inherited diseases are not always expressed in the same way in every individual that carries the same variant in a disease-causing gene. This phenomenon is known as reduced or incomplete penetrance. Variable and incomplete penetrance may explain why inherited diseases are occasionally transmitted through unaffected parents, but also why clinically healthy individuals can carry potentially pathogenic variants without expressing features of the disease. Here, we will provide an overview of factors that play a fundamental role in the concept of penetrance and expressivity of cancer predisposing genes in children with malignancies. These findings are important to understand the complexity of inherited diseases and cancer development and to improve genetic counselling for the affected families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Taeubner
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, University Children's Hospital, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Dagmar Wieczorek
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Layal Yasin
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, University Children's Hospital, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Triantafyllia Brozou
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, University Children's Hospital, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Arndt Borkhardt
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, University Children's Hospital, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michaela Kuhlen
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, University Children's Hospital, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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9
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Cynoglossus semilaevis Rspo3 Regulates Embryo Development by Inhibiting the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19071915. [PMID: 29966290 PMCID: PMC6073468 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19071915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Revised: 06/10/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cynoglossus semilaevis is an important economic fish species and has long been cultivated in China. Since the completion of its genome and transcriptome sequencing, genes relating to C. semilaevis development have been extensively studied. R-spondin 3 (Rspo3) is a member of the R-spondin family. It plays an important role in biological processes such as vascular development and oncogenesis. In this study, we cloned and characterized the expression patterns and functions of C. semilaevisRspo3. Initial structural and phylogenetic analyses revealed a unique FU3 domain that exists only in ray-finned fish RSPO3. Subsequent embryonic expression profile analysis showed elevating expression of Rspo3 from gastrulation to the formation of the eye lens, while, in tail bud embryos, Rspo3 expression was significantly high in the diencephalon and mesencephalon. The overexpression of C. semilaevis Rspo3 in Danio rerio embryos resulted in a shortened rostral–caudal axis, edema of the pericardial cavity, stubby yolk extension, and ecchymosis. Vascular anomalies were also observed, which is consistent with Rspo3 role in vascular development. Drug treatment and a dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed the inhibitory role of C. semilaevis Rspo3 in D. rerio Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. We further concluded that the FU2, FU3, and TSP1 domains regulate the maternal Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, while the FU1 domain regulates the zygotic Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. This study enriches Rspo3 research in non-model animals and serves as the basis for further research into the interactions between Rspo and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
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10
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Szylberg Ł, Bodnar M, Lebioda A, Krepska P, Kowalewski A, Bręborowicz G, Marszałek A. Differences in the Expression of TLR-2, NOD2, and NF-κB in Placenta Between Twins. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz) 2018; 66:463-470. [PMID: 29796818 PMCID: PMC6245244 DOI: 10.1007/s00005-018-0514-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Dizygotic twins share the same type of genetic relationship as non-twin siblings. Whereas monozygotic (MZ) twins are considered to have identical genetic material, they still differ. There is a number of reasons for early MZ twin discordance, including differences in the in utero environment, stochasticity, genetic mosaicism, and epigenetic factors. During gestation, the efficient innate immune system is of utmost importance. Our study was based on immunohistochemical evaluation of the differences in innate immune protein expression (TLR-2, NOD2, and NF-κB) in the 95 placentas between twins. Our study revealed statistical significant differences between diamniotic–dichorionic and monoamniotic–dichorionic twins. Monoamniotic–monochorionic twins exhibited no significant differences in protein expressions. To identify epigenetic factors causing the differences between twins, we made a series of comparisons with clinical data. The study revealed more cases with infections, miscarriages, in vitro fertilization, and premature rupture of membranes within the group with higher differences level of NF-κB, NOD2 and TLR-2 between twins. In case of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, there were no significant differences in innate immune protein expressions between twins. These results show that dissimilar genetic material and separate in utero environment promote discordance in innate immune protein expressions between twins. Moreover, additional blood flow between twins may be favorable in life-threatening conditions ensuring similar microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz Szylberg
- Chair and Department of Clinical Pathomorphology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Bydgoszcz, Poland. .,Chair and Department of Oncologic Pathology and Prophylactics, Greater Poland Cancer Center, Poznań University of Medical Sciences and Department of Oncologic Pathology, Poznan, Poland. .,Department of Pathomorphology, Military Clinical Hospital, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
| | - Magdalena Bodnar
- Chair and Department of Clinical Pathomorphology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Anna Lebioda
- Department and Clinic of Perinatology and Gynecology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Patrycja Krepska
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Adam Kowalewski
- Chair and Department of Clinical Pathomorphology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Bręborowicz
- Department and Clinic of Perinatology and Gynecology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Andrzej Marszałek
- Chair and Department of Oncologic Pathology and Prophylactics, Greater Poland Cancer Center, Poznań University of Medical Sciences and Department of Oncologic Pathology, Poznan, Poland
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11
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Böck J, Appenzeller S, Haertle L, Schneider T, Gehrig A, Schröder J, Rost S, Wolf B, Bartram CR, Sutter C, Haaf T. Single CpG hypermethylation, allele methylation errors, and decreased expression of multiple tumor suppressor genes in normal body cells of mutation-negative early-onset and high-risk breast cancer patients. Int J Cancer 2018; 143:1416-1425. [PMID: 29659014 PMCID: PMC6099327 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.31526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
To evaluate the role of constitutive epigenetic changes in normal body cells of BRCA1/BRCA2-mutation negative patients, we have developed a deep bisulfite sequencing assay targeting the promoter regions of 8 tumor suppressor (TS) genes (BRCA1, BRCA2, RAD51C, ATM, PTEN, TP53, MLH1, RB1) and the estrogene receptor gene (ESR1), which plays a role in tumor progression. We analyzed blood samples of two breast cancer (BC) cohorts with early onset (EO) and high risk (HR) for a heterozygous mutation, respectively, along with age-matched controls. Methylation analysis of up to 50,000 individual DNA molecules per gene and sample allowed quantification of epimutations (alleles with >50% methylated CpGs), which are associated with epigenetic silencing. Compared to ESR1, which is representative for an average promoter, TS genes were characterized by a very low (< 1%) average methylation level and a very low mean epimutation rate (EMR; < 0.0001% to 0.1%). With exception of BRCA1, which showed an increased EMR in BC (0.31% vs. 0.06%), there was no significant difference between patients and controls. One of 36 HR BC patients exhibited a dramatically increased EMR (14.7%) in BRCA1, consistent with a disease-causing epimutation. Approximately one third (15 of 44) EO BC patients exhibited increased rates of single CpG methylation errors in multiple TS genes. Both EO and HR BC patients exhibited global underexpression of blood TS genes. We propose that epigenetic abnormalities in normal body cells are indicative of disturbed mechanisms for maintaining low methylation and appropriate expression levels and may be associated with an increased BC risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Böck
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | | | - Larissa Haertle
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Tamara Schneider
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Andrea Gehrig
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Schröder
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Simone Rost
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Beat Wolf
- University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland, Fribourg, Switzerland.,Department of Bioinformatics, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Claus R Bartram
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christian Sutter
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Haaf
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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12
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Elli FM, Bordogna P, Arosio M, Spada A, Mantovani G. Mosaicism for GNAS methylation defects associated with pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1B arose in early post-zygotic phases. Clin Epigenetics 2018; 10:16. [PMID: 29445425 PMCID: PMC5801752 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-018-0449-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1B (PHP1B; MIM#603233) is a rare imprinting disorder (ID), associated with the GNAS locus, characterized by parathyroid hormone (PTH) resistance in the absence of other endocrine or physical abnormalities. Sporadic PHP1B cases, with no known underlying primary genetic lesions, could represent true stochastic errors in early embryonic maintenance of methylation. Previous data confirmed the existence of different degrees of methylation defects associated with PHP1B and suggested the presence of mosaicism, a phenomenon already described in the context of other IDs. Results With respect to mosaic conditions, the study of multiple tissues is a necessary approach; thus, we investigated somatic cell lines (peripheral blood and buccal epithelium and cells from the urine sediment) descending from different germ layers from 19 PHP patients (11 spor-PHP1B, 4 GNAS mutated PHP1A, and 4 PHP with no GNAS (epi)genetic defects) and 5 healthy controls. We identified 11 patients with epigenetic defects, further subdivided in groups with complete or partial methylation defects. The recurrence of specific patterns of partial methylation defects limited to specific CpGs was confirmed by checking methylation profiles of spor-PHP1B patients diagnosed in our lab (n = 56). Underlying primary genetic defects, such as uniparental disomy or deletion, potentially causative for the detected partial methylation were excluded in all samples. Conclusions Our data showed no differences of methylation levels between organs and tissues from the same patient, so we concluded that the epimutation occurred in early post-zygotic phases and that the partial defects were mosaics. The number of patients with no detectable (epi)genetic GNAS defects was too small to exclude epimutations occurring in later post-zygotic phases, affecting only selected tissues different from blood, thus leading to underdiagnosis during routine molecular diagnosis. Finally, we found no correlation between methylation ratios, representing the proportion of epimutated cells, and the clinical presentation, further confirming the hypothesis of a threshold effect of the GNAS loss of imprinting leading to an "all-or-none" phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Marta Elli
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Via Francesco Sforza, 35-20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Bordogna
- Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Maura Arosio
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Via Francesco Sforza, 35-20122 Milan, Italy
- Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Spada
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Via Francesco Sforza, 35-20122 Milan, Italy
- Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanna Mantovani
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Via Francesco Sforza, 35-20122 Milan, Italy
- Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
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13
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Morimoto Y, Ono S, Imamura A, Okazaki Y, Kinoshita A, Mishima H, Nakane H, Ozawa H, Yoshiura KI, Kurotaki N. Deep sequencing reveals variations in somatic cell mosaic mutations between monozygotic twins with discordant psychiatric disease. Hum Genome Var 2017; 4:17032. [PMID: 28765789 PMCID: PMC5529667 DOI: 10.1038/hgv.2017.32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Revised: 04/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Monozygotic (MZ) twins have been thought to be genetically identical. However, recent studies have shown discordant variants between them. We performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) in five MZ twin pairs with discordant neurodevelopmental disorders and one healthy control MZ twin to detect discordant variants. We identified three discordant variants confirmed by deep sequencing after analysis by personalized next-generation sequencing (NGS). Three mutations in FBXO38 (chr5:147774428;T>G), SMOC2 (chr6:169051385;A>G) and TDRP (chr8:442616;A>G), were detected with low allele frequency of mutant alleles on deep sequencing, suggesting that these loci are mosaic due to somatic mutations in a developmental stage. Our results suggest that deep sequencing analysis would be an adequate method to detect discordant mutations in candidate genes responsible for heritable diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiro Morimoto
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Unit of Translation Medicine Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.,Department of Human Genetics, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Shinji Ono
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Unit of Translation Medicine Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.,Department of Human Genetics, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Akira Imamura
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Unit of Translation Medicine Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Yuji Okazaki
- Department of Psychiatry, Koseikai Michino-o Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Akira Kinoshita
- Department of Human Genetics, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Mishima
- Department of Human Genetics, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Nakane
- Unit of Rehabilitation Science, Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Science, University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Hiroki Ozawa
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Unit of Translation Medicine Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Koh-Ichiro Yoshiura
- Department of Human Genetics, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Naohiro Kurotaki
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Unit of Translation Medicine Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
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14
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Kammenga JE. The background puzzle: how identical mutations in the same gene lead to different disease symptoms. FEBS J 2017; 284:3362-3373. [PMID: 28390082 DOI: 10.1111/febs.14080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2017] [Revised: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Identical disease-causing mutations can lead to different symptoms in different people. The reason for this has been a puzzling problem for geneticists. Differential penetrance and expressivity of mutations has been observed within individuals with different and similar genetic backgrounds. Attempts have been made to uncover the underlying mechanisms that determine differential phenotypic effects of identical mutations through studies of model organisms. From these studies evidence is accumulating that to understand disease mechanism or predict disease prevalence, an understanding of the influence of genetic background is as important as the putative disease-causing mutations of relatively large effect. This review highlights current insights into phenotypic variation due to gene interactions, epigenetics and stochasticity in model organisms, and discusses their importance for understanding the mutational effect on disease symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan E Kammenga
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
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15
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Brambila-Tapia AJL, García-Ortiz JE, Brouillard P, Nguyen HL, Vikkula M, Ríos-González BE, Sandoval-Muñiz RDJ, Sandoval-Talamantes AK, Bobadilla-Morales L, Corona-Rivera JR, Arnaud-Lopez L. GATA2 null mutation associated with incomplete penetrance in a family with Emberger syndrome. Hematology 2017; 22:467-471. [PMID: 28271814 DOI: 10.1080/10245332.2017.1294551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION GATA2 mutations are associated with several conditions, including Emberger syndrome which is the association of primary lymphedema with hematological anomalies and an increased risk for myelodysplasia and leukemia. OBJECTIVE To describe a family with Emberger syndrome with incomplete penetrance. METHODS A DNA sequencing of GATA2 gene was performed in the parents and offspring (five individuals in total). RESULTS The family consisted of 5 individuals with a GATA2 null mutation (c.130G>T, p.Glu44*); three of them were affected (two of which were deceased) while two remained unaffected at the age of 40 and 13 years old. The three affected siblings (two boys and one girl) presented with lymphedema of the lower limbs, recurrent warts, epistaxis and recurrent infections. Two died due to hematological abnormalities (AML and pancytopenia). In contrast, the two other family members who carry the same mutation (the mother and one brother) have not presented any symptoms and their blood tests remain normal. DISCUSSION Incomplete penetrance may indicate that GATA2 haploinsufficiency is not enough to produce the phenotype of Emberger syndrome. It could be useful to perform whole exome or genome sequencing, in cases where incomplete penetrance or high variable expressivity is described, in order to probably identify specific gene interactions that drastically modify the phenotype. In addition, skewed gene expression by an epigenetic mechanism of gene regulation should also be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aniel Jessica Leticia Brambila-Tapia
- a Departamento de Psicología Básica , Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud (CUCS), Universidad de Guadalajara , Guadalajara , Jalisco , México
| | - José Elías García-Ortiz
- b División de Genética, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente (CIBO) , Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS) , Guadalajara , Jalisco , México
| | - Pascal Brouillard
- c Human Molecular Genetics , de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain , Brussels , Belgium
| | - Ha-Long Nguyen
- c Human Molecular Genetics , de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain , Brussels , Belgium
| | - Miikka Vikkula
- c Human Molecular Genetics , de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain , Brussels , Belgium.,d Walloon Excellence in Life sciences and Biotechnology (WELBIO) , Université catholique de Louvain , Brussels , Belgium
| | | | - Roberto de Jesús Sandoval-Muñiz
- f Doctorado en Genética Humana, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud (CUCS) , Universidad de Guadalajara , Guadalajara , Jalisco , México
| | - Ana Karen Sandoval-Talamantes
- f Doctorado en Genética Humana, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud (CUCS) , Universidad de Guadalajara , Guadalajara , Jalisco , México
| | - Lucina Bobadilla-Morales
- f Doctorado en Genética Humana, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud (CUCS) , Universidad de Guadalajara , Guadalajara , Jalisco , México.,g Departamento de Biología Molecular y Genómica , Instituto de Genética Humana, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud (CUCS), Universidad de Guadalajara , Guadalajara , Jalisco , México
| | - Jorge Román Corona-Rivera
- f Doctorado en Genética Humana, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud (CUCS) , Universidad de Guadalajara , Guadalajara , Jalisco , México.,g Departamento de Biología Molecular y Genómica , Instituto de Genética Humana, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud (CUCS), Universidad de Guadalajara , Guadalajara , Jalisco , México.,h Servicio de Genética, División de Pediatría , Hospital Civil de Guadalajara, 'Dr. Juan I. Menchaca' , Guadalajara , Jalisco , México
| | - Lisette Arnaud-Lopez
- h Servicio de Genética, División de Pediatría , Hospital Civil de Guadalajara, 'Dr. Juan I. Menchaca' , Guadalajara , Jalisco , México
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16
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Etzold A, Galetzka D, Weis E, Bartsch O, Haaf T, Spix C, Itzel T, Schweiger S, Strand D, Strand S, Zechner U. CAF-like state in primary skin fibroblasts with constitutional BRCA1 epimutation sheds new light on tumor suppressor deficiency-related changes in healthy tissue. Epigenetics 2016; 11:120-31. [PMID: 26949839 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2016.1140295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Constitutive epimutations of tumor suppressor genes are increasingly considered as cancer predisposing factors equally to sequence mutations. In light of the emerging role of the microenvironment for cancer predisposition, initiation, and progression, we aimed to characterize the consequences of a BRCA1 epimutation in cells of mesenchymal origin. We performed a comprehensive molecular and cellular comparison of primary dermal fibroblasts taken from a monozygous twin pair discordant for recurrent cancers and BRCA1 epimutation, whose exceptional clinical case we previously reported in this journal. Comparative transcriptome analysis identified differential expression of extracellular matrix-related genes and pro-tumorigenic growth factors, such as collagens and CXC chemokines. Moreover, genes known to be key markers of so called cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), such as ACTA2, FAP, PDPN, and TNC, were upregulated in fibroblasts of the affected twin (BRCA1(mosMe)) in comparison to those of the healthy twin (BRCA1(wt)). Further analyses detected CAF-typical cellular features, including an elevated growth rate, enhanced migration, altered actin architecture and increased production of ketone bodies in BRCA1(mosMe) fibroblasts compared to BRCA1(wt) fibroblasts. In addition, conditioned medium of BRCA1(mosMe) fibroblasts was more potent than conditioned medium of BRCA1(wt) fibroblasts to promote cell proliferation in an epithelial and a cancer cell line. Our data demonstrate, that a CAF-like state is not an exclusive feature of tumor-associated tissue but also exists in healthy tissue with tumor suppressor deficiency. The naturally occurring phenomenon of twin fibroblasts differing in their BRCA1 methylation status revealed to be a unique powerful tool for exploring tumor suppressor deficiency-related changes in healthy tissue, reinforcing their significance for cancer predisposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Etzold
- a Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz , Mainz , Germany
| | - Danuta Galetzka
- a Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz , Mainz , Germany
| | - Eva Weis
- a Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz , Mainz , Germany
| | - Oliver Bartsch
- a Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz , Mainz , Germany
| | - Thomas Haaf
- b Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians University , Würzburg , Germany
| | - Claudia Spix
- c Institute of Medical Biometry, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz , Mainz , Germany
| | - Timo Itzel
- c Institute of Medical Biometry, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz , Mainz , Germany
| | - Susann Schweiger
- a Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz , Mainz , Germany
| | - Dennis Strand
- d First Department of Internal Medicine , University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz , Mainz , Germany
| | - Susanne Strand
- d First Department of Internal Medicine , University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz , Mainz , Germany
| | - Ulrich Zechner
- a Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz , Mainz , Germany
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17
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Abstract
Constitutional epimutation, which is an aberration in gene expression due to an altered epigenotype that is widely distributed in normal tissues (albeit frequently mosaic), provides an alternative mechanism to genetic mutation for cancer predisposition. Observational studies in cancer-affected families have revealed intergenerational inheritance of constitutional epimutation, providing unique insights into the heritability of epigenetic traits in humans. In this Opinion article, the potential contribution of constitutional epimutation to the 'missing' causality and heritability of cancer is explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan P Hitchins
- Department of Medicine (Oncology), Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Grant Building S169, 1291 Welch Road, Stanford, California 94305, USA
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18
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Roos L, Spector TD, Bell CG. Using epigenomic studies in monozygotic twins to improve our understanding of cancer. Epigenomics 2015; 6:299-309. [PMID: 25111484 DOI: 10.2217/epi.14.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a set of diseases that exhibit not only genetic mutations but also a profoundly distorted epigenetic landscape. Over the last two decades, great advances have been made in identifying these alterations and their importance in the initiation and progression of cancer. Epigenetic changes can be seen from the very early stages in tumorigenesis and dysregulation of the epigenome has an increasingly acknowledged pathogenic role. Epigenomic twin studies have great potential to contribute to our understanding of complex diseases, such as cancer. This is because the use of monozygotic twins discordant for cancer enables epigenetic variation analysis without the confounding influence of the constitutive genetic background, age or cohort effects. It therefore allows the identification of susceptibility loci that may be sensitive to modification by the environment. These studies into cancer etiology will potentially lead to robust epigenetic markers for the detection and risk assessment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonie Roos
- Department of Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology, St Thomas' Hospital, King's College London, London, SE1 7EH, UK
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19
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Daskalakis NP, Yehuda R. Site-specific methylation changes in the glucocorticoid receptor exon 1F promoter in relation to life adversity: systematic review of contributing factors. Front Neurosci 2014; 8:369. [PMID: 25484853 PMCID: PMC4240065 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2014.00369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2014] [Accepted: 10/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
There has been recent interest in epigenetics in psychiatry since it offers a means of understanding how stressful life experiences, in interaction with the genotype, result in epigenetic changes that result in altered gene expression, ultimately affecting the risk for mental disorders. Many studies focused on methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor exon 1F promoter following an initial observation that changes in this region could be modulated by the environment. This review examines all published studies that have attempted to measure methylation in this region using different techniques, several tissue types, populations at different behavioral state and stages of development. Methodological issues have been raised with the aim of attempting to understand methylation quantification and site of action. We propose that it is useful to examine whether methylation at specific sites within the promoter region may be particularly relevant to psychiatric vulnerability to stress-related outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos P Daskalakis
- Traumatic Stress Studies Division, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York, NY, USA ; Mental Health Patient Care Center, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center Bronx, New York, NY, USA ; Laboratory of Molecular Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York, NY, USA
| | - Rachel Yehuda
- Traumatic Stress Studies Division, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York, NY, USA ; Mental Health Patient Care Center, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center Bronx, New York, NY, USA ; Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York, NY, USA
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Kratz CP, Edelman DC, Wang Y, Meltzer PS, Greene MH. Genetic and epigenetic analysis of monozygotic twins discordant for testicular cancer. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND GENETICS 2014; 5:135-139. [PMID: 25379132 PMCID: PMC4214260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2014] [Accepted: 09/10/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Despite the notion that monozygotic (identical) twins share 100% identical genetic information, genetic differences among monozygotic twin pairs do occur and can be explained by mechanisms occurring during post-zygotic events. Despite such twins being fundamentally "identical", these post-zygotic genetic changes may give rise to phenotypic differences and genetic diseases. Consequently, studies of monozygotic twin pairs discordant for specific genetic diseases represent an important tool for the identification of disease genes. We used array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) and methylation arrays to search for genetic and epigenetic differences in blood drawn from four monozygotic twin pairs discordant for testicular germ cell tumors. No consistent differences were identified. A larger twin study would be required to achieve confident discovery of very subtle differences between monozygotic twins discordant for testicular germ cell tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian P Kratz
- Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human ServicesRockville, Maryland, USA
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Hannover Medical SchoolHannover, Germany
| | - Daniel C Edelman
- Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human ServicesBethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yonghong Wang
- Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human ServicesBethesda, MD, USA
| | - Paul S Meltzer
- Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human ServicesBethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mark H Greene
- Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human ServicesRockville, Maryland, USA
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21
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Schneider E, El Hajj N, Haaf T. Epigenetic information from ancient DNA provides new insights into human evolution. Commentary on Gokhman D et al. (2014): Reconstructing the DNA methylation maps of the Neanderthal and the Denisovan. Science 344:523-527. BRAIN, BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION 2014; 84:169-171. [PMID: 25277105 DOI: 10.1159/000365650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Eberhard Schneider
- Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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22
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Castillo-Fernandez JE, Spector TD, Bell JT. Epigenetics of discordant monozygotic twins: implications for disease. Genome Med 2014; 6:60. [PMID: 25484923 PMCID: PMC4254430 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-014-0060-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2014] [Accepted: 07/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Monozygotic (MZ) twins share nearly all of their genetic variants and many similar environments before and after birth. However, they can also show phenotypic discordance for a wide range of traits. Differences at the epigenetic level may account for such discordances. It is well established that epigenetic states can contribute to phenotypic variation, including disease. Epigenetic states are dynamic and potentially reversible marks involved in gene regulation, which can be influenced by genetics, environment, and stochastic events. Here, we review advances in epigenetic studies of discordant MZ twins, focusing on disease. The study of epigenetics and disease using discordant MZ twins offers the opportunity to control for many potential confounders encountered in general population studies, such as differences in genetic background, early-life environmental exposure, age, gender, and cohort effects. Recently, analysis of disease-discordant MZ twins has been successfully used to study epigenetic mechanisms in aging, cancer, autoimmune disease, psychiatric, neurological, and multiple other traits. Epigenetic aberrations have been found in a range of phenotypes, and challenges have been identified, including sampling time, tissue specificity, validation, and replication. The results have relevance for personalized medicine approaches, including the identification of prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic targets. The findings also help to identify epigenetic markers of environmental risk and molecular mechanisms involved in disease and disease progression, which have implications both for understanding disease and for future medical research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tim D Spector
- Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, Kings College London, London, SE1 7EH UK
| | - Jordana T Bell
- Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, Kings College London, London, SE1 7EH UK
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24
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Physical activity and differential methylation of breast cancer genes assayed from saliva: a preliminary investigation. Ann Behav Med 2014; 45:89-98. [PMID: 23054940 DOI: 10.1007/s12160-012-9411-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Individuals who exercise are at lower risk for breast cancer and have better post-diagnosis outcomes. The biological mechanisms behind this association are unclear, but DNA methylation has been suggested. METHODS We developed a composite measure of DNA methylation across 45 CpG sites on genes selected a priori. We examined the association of this measure to self-reported physical activity and objectively measured cardiovascular fitness in a sample of healthy nonsmoking adults (n = 64) in an exercise promotion intervention. RESULTS Individuals who were more physically fit and who exercised more minutes per week had lower levels of DNA methylation. Those who increased their minutes of physical activity over 12 months experienced decreases in DNA methylation. CONCLUSIONS DNA methylation may be a mechanism linking exercise and cancer incidence and could serve as a biomarker for behavioral intervention trials. Studies with larger samples, objectively measured exercise, and more cancer-related markers are needed.
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Cooper DN, Krawczak M, Polychronakos C, Tyler-Smith C, Kehrer-Sawatzki H. Where genotype is not predictive of phenotype: towards an understanding of the molecular basis of reduced penetrance in human inherited disease. Hum Genet 2013; 132:1077-130. [PMID: 23820649 PMCID: PMC3778950 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-013-1331-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 417] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2013] [Accepted: 06/15/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Some individuals with a particular disease-causing mutation or genotype fail to express most if not all features of the disease in question, a phenomenon that is known as 'reduced (or incomplete) penetrance'. Reduced penetrance is not uncommon; indeed, there are many known examples of 'disease-causing mutations' that fail to cause disease in at least a proportion of the individuals who carry them. Reduced penetrance may therefore explain not only why genetic diseases are occasionally transmitted through unaffected parents, but also why healthy individuals can harbour quite large numbers of potentially disadvantageous variants in their genomes without suffering any obvious ill effects. Reduced penetrance can be a function of the specific mutation(s) involved or of allele dosage. It may also result from differential allelic expression, copy number variation or the modulating influence of additional genetic variants in cis or in trans. The penetrance of some pathogenic genotypes is known to be age- and/or sex-dependent. Variable penetrance may also reflect the action of unlinked modifier genes, epigenetic changes or environmental factors. At least in some cases, complete penetrance appears to require the presence of one or more genetic variants at other loci. In this review, we summarize the evidence for reduced penetrance being a widespread phenomenon in human genetics and explore some of the molecular mechanisms that may help to explain this enigmatic characteristic of human inherited disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- David N. Cooper
- Institute of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN UK
| | - Michael Krawczak
- Institute of Medical Informatics and Statistics, Christian-Albrechts University, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Chris Tyler-Smith
- The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA UK
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Abstract
For this article, we explore a hypothesis involving the possible role of reduction/oxidation (redox) state in cancer. We hypothesize that many modifications in cellular macromolecules, observed in cancer progression, may be caused by redox imbalance. Recent biochemical data suggest that human prostate cancer cell lines show a redox imbalance (oxidizing) compared with benign primary prostate epithelial cells; the degree of oxidation varied with aggressive behavior of each cell line. Our recent data suggest that human breast cancer tissues show a redox imbalance (reducing) compared with benign adjacent breast tissues. Accumulating data summarized in this article suggest that redox imbalance may regulate gene expression and alter protein stability by posttranslational modifications, in turn modulating existing cellular programs. Despite significant improvements in cancer therapeutics, resistance occurs, and redox imbalance may play a role in this process. Studies show that some cancer therapeutic agents increase generation of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species and antioxidant enzymes, which may alter total antioxidant capacity, cause cellular adaptation, and result in reduced effectiveness of treatment modalities. Approaches involving modulations of intra- and extracellular redox states, in combination with other therapies, may lead to new treatment options, especially for patients who are resistant to standard treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tonia C Jorgenson
- Authors' Affiliations: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health; and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin
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El Hajj N, Pliushch G, Schneider E, Dittrich M, Müller T, Korenkov M, Aretz M, Zechner U, Lehnen H, Haaf T. Metabolic programming of MEST DNA methylation by intrauterine exposure to gestational diabetes mellitus. Diabetes 2013; 62:1320-8. [PMID: 23209187 PMCID: PMC3609586 DOI: 10.2337/db12-0289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic processes are primary candidates when searching for mechanisms that can stably modulate gene expression and metabolic pathways according to early life conditions. To test the effects of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on the epigenome of the next generation, cord blood and placenta tissue were obtained from 88 newborns of mothers with dietetically treated GDM, 98 with insulin-dependent GDM, and 65 without GDM. Bisulfite pyrosequencing was used to compare the methylation levels of seven imprinted genes involved in prenatal and postnatal growth, four genes involved in energy metabolism, one anti-inflammatory gene, one tumor suppressor gene, one pluripotency gene, and two repetitive DNA families. The maternally imprinted MEST gene, the nonimprinted glucocorticoid receptor NR3C1 gene, and interspersed ALU repeats showed significantly decreased methylation levels (4-7 percentage points for MEST, 1-2 for NR3C1, and one for ALUs) in both GDM groups, compared with controls, in both analyzed tissues. Significantly decreased blood MEST methylation (3 percentage points) also was observed in adults with morbid obesity compared with normal-weight controls. Our results support the idea that intrauterine exposure to GDM has long-lasting effects on the epigenome of the offspring. Specifically, epigenetic malprogramming of MEST may contribute to obesity predisposition throughout life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nady El Hajj
- Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians University, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Galyna Pliushch
- Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians University, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Eberhard Schneider
- Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians University, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Marcus Dittrich
- Department of Bioinformatics, Julius Maximilians University, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Müller
- Department of Bioinformatics, Julius Maximilians University, Würzburg, Germany
| | | | - Melanie Aretz
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Municipal Clinics, Moenchengladbach, Germany
| | - Ulrich Zechner
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | - Harald Lehnen
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Municipal Clinics, Moenchengladbach, Germany
| | - Thomas Haaf
- Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians University, Würzburg, Germany
- Corresponding author: Thomas Haaf,
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28
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Hogenson TL. Epigenetics as the Underlying Mechanism for Monozygotic Twin Discordance. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.1159/000353688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Czyz W, Morahan JM, Ebers GC, Ramagopalan SV. Genetic, environmental and stochastic factors in monozygotic twin discordance with a focus on epigenetic differences. BMC Med 2012; 10:93. [PMID: 22898292 PMCID: PMC3566971 DOI: 10.1186/1741-7015-10-93] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2012] [Accepted: 08/17/2012] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic-epidemiological studies on monozygotic (MZ) twins have been used for decades to tease out the relative contributions of genes and the environment to a trait. Phenotypic discordance in MZ twins has traditionally been ascribed to non-shared environmental factors acting after birth, however recent data indicate that this explanation is far too simple. In this paper, we review other reasons for discordance, including differences in the in utero environment, genetic mosaicism, and stochastic factors, focusing particularly on epigenetic discordance. Epigenetic differences are gaining increasing recognition. Although it is clear that in specific cases epigenetic alterations provide a causal factor in disease etiology, the overall significance of epigenetics in twin discordance remains unclear. It is also challenging to determine the causality and relative contributions of environmental, genetic, and stochastic factors to epigenetic variability. Epigenomic profiling studies have recently shed more light on the dynamics of temporal methylation change and methylome heritability, yet have not given a definite answer regarding their relevance to disease, because of limitations in establishing causality. Here, we explore the subject of epigenetics as another component in human phenotypic variability and its links to disease focusing particularly on evidence from MZ twin studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Witold Czyz
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (Clinical Neurology), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Julia M Morahan
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (Clinical Neurology), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - George C Ebers
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (Clinical Neurology), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sreeram V Ramagopalan
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (Clinical Neurology), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Abstract
The classical twin study has been a powerful heuristic in biomedical, psychiatric and behavioural research for decades. Twin registries worldwide have collected biological material and longitudinal phenotypic data on tens of thousands of twins, providing a valuable resource for studying complex phenotypes and their underlying biology. In this Review, we consider the continuing value of twin studies in the current era of molecular genetic studies. We conclude that classical twin methods combined with novel technologies represent a powerful approach towards identifying and understanding the molecular pathways that underlie complex traits.
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Hansmann T, Pliushch G, Leubner M, Kroll P, Endt D, Gehrig A, Preisler-Adams S, Wieacker P, Haaf T. Constitutive promoter methylation of BRCA1 and RAD51C in patients with familial ovarian cancer and early-onset sporadic breast cancer. Hum Mol Genet 2012; 21:4669-79. [PMID: 22843497 PMCID: PMC3471399 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/dds308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic defects in breast cancer (BC) susceptibility genes, most importantly BRCA1 and BRCA2, account for ∼40% of hereditary BC and ovarian cancer (OC). Little is known about the contribution of constitutive (soma-wide) epimutations to the remaining cases. We developed bisulfite pyrosequencing assays to screen >600 affected BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation-negative patients from the German Consortium for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer for constitutive hypermethylation of ATM, BRCA1, BRCA2, RAD51C, PTEN and TP53 in blood cells. In a second step, patients with ≥6% promoter methylation were analyzed by bisulfite plasmid sequencing to demonstrate the presence of hypermethylated alleles (epimutations), indicative of epigenetic gene silencing. Altogether we identified nine (1.4%) patients with constitutive BRCA1 and three (0.5%) with RAD51C hypermethylation. Epimutations were found in both sporadic cases, in particular in 2 (5.5%) of 37 patients with early-onset BC, and familial cases, in particular 4 (10%) of 39 patients with OC. Hypermethylation was always confined to one of the two parental alleles in a subset (12–40%) of the analyzed cells. Because epimutations occurred in cell types from different embryonal layers, they most likely originated in single cells during early somatic development. We propose that analogous to germline genetic mutations constitutive epimutations may serve as the first hit of tumor development. Because the role of constitutive epimutations in cancer development is likely to be largely underestimated, future strategies for effective testing of susceptibility to BC and OC should include an epimutation screen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Hansmann
- Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians University, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
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Cortessis VK, Thomas DC, Levine AJ, Breton CV, Mack TM, Siegmund KD, Haile RW, Laird PW. Environmental epigenetics: prospects for studying epigenetic mediation of exposure-response relationships. Hum Genet 2012; 131:1565-89. [PMID: 22740325 PMCID: PMC3432200 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-012-1189-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 194] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2012] [Accepted: 06/07/2012] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Changes in epigenetic marks such as DNA methylation and histone acetylation are associated with a broad range of disease traits, including cancer, asthma, metabolic disorders, and various reproductive conditions. It seems plausible that changes in epigenetic state may be induced by environmental exposures such as malnutrition, tobacco smoke, air pollutants, metals, organic chemicals, other sources of oxidative stress, and the microbiome, particularly if the exposure occurs during key periods of development. Thus, epigenetic changes could represent an important pathway by which environmental factors influence disease risks, both within individuals and across generations. We discuss some of the challenges in studying epigenetic mediation of pathogenesis and describe some unique opportunities for exploring these phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria K. Cortessis
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1441 Eastlake Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089 USA
| | - Duncan C. Thomas
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2001 N. Soto St., SSB-202F, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9234 USA
| | - A. Joan Levine
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1441 Eastlake Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089 USA
| | - Carrie V. Breton
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2001 N. Soto St., Los Angeles, CA 90089-9234 USA
| | - Thomas M. Mack
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1441 Eastlake Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089 USA
| | - Kimberly D. Siegmund
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2001 N. Soto St., Los Angeles, CA 90089-9234 USA
| | - Robert W. Haile
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1441 Eastlake Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089 USA
| | - Peter W. Laird
- Departments of Surgery, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Epigenome Center, 1441 Eastlake Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9601 USA
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