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Molina MA, Melchers WJ, Andralojc KM, Leenders WP, Huynen MA. Longitudinal analysis on the ecological dynamics of the cervicovaginal microbiome in hrHPV infection. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:4424-4431. [PMID: 37731597 PMCID: PMC10507478 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The cervicovaginal microbiome (CVM) is a dynamic continuous microenvironment that can be clustered in microbial community state types (CSTs) and is associated with women's cervical health. Lactobacillus-depleted communities particularly associate with an increased susceptibility for persistence of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infections and progression of disease, but the long-term ecological dynamics of CSTs after hrHPV infection diagnosis remain poorly understood. To determine such dynamics, we examined the CVM of our longitudinal cohort of 141 women diagnosed with hrHPV infection at baseline with collected cervical smears at two timepoints six-months apart. Here we describe that the long-term microbiome dissimilarity has a positive correlation with microbial diversity at both visits and that women with high abundance and dominance for Lactobacillus iners at baseline exhibit more similar microbiome composition at second visit than women with Lactobacillus-depleted communities at baseline. We further show that the species Lactobacillus acidophilus and Megasphaera genomosp type 1 associate with CST changes between both visits. Lastly, we also observe that Gardnerella vaginalis is associated with the stability of Lactobacillus-depleted communities while L. iners is associated with the instability of Megasphaera genomosp type 1-dominated communities. Our data suggest dynamic patterns of cervicovaginal CSTs during hrHPV infection, which could be potentially used to develop microbiome-based therapies against infection progression towards disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariano A. Molina
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Willem J.G. Melchers
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Karolina M. Andralojc
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Martijn A. Huynen
- Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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Molina MA, Andralojc KM, Huynen MA, Leenders WPJ, Melchers WJG. In-depth insights into cervicovaginal microbial communities and hrHPV infections using high-resolution microbiome profiling. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2022; 8:75. [PMID: 36171433 PMCID: PMC9519886 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-022-00336-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The cervicovaginal microbiome (CVM) correlates with women's cervical health, and variations in its composition are associated with high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection outcomes. Cervicovaginal microbes have been grouped into five community state types (CSTs) based on microbial community composition and abundance. However, studying the impact of CSTs in health and disease is challenging because the current sequencing technologies have limited confident discrimination between closely related and yet functionally different bacterial species. Circular probe-based RNA sequencing (ciRNAseq) achieves high-resolution microbiome profiling and therefore provides in-depth and unambiguous knowledge about the composition of the CVM. Based on ciRNAseq profiling of a large cohort of cervical smears (n = 541), we here define subgroups of CSTs I, III, and IV based on intra-CST differences with respect to abundances of Lactobacillus acidophilus (CSTs I-A vs. I-B and CSTs III-A vs. III-B), Lactobacillus iners (CSTs I-A vs. I-B and CSTs III-A vs. III-B), and Megasphaera genomosp type 1 (CSTs IV-A vs. IV-B). Our results further support the existence of subgroups of CST IV-C that are dominant for non-Lactobacillus species and have intermediate microbial diversity. We also show that CST V is associated with uninfected conditions, and CST IV-A associates with hrHPV-induced cervical disease. In conclusion, we characterized new subdivisions of cervicovaginal CSTs, which may further advance our understanding of women's cervical health and hrHPV-related progression to disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariano A Molina
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Karolina M Andralojc
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn A Huynen
- Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - William P J Leenders
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Predica Diagnostics, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Willem J G Melchers
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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Andralojc KM, Elmelik D, Rasing M, Pater B, Siebers AG, Bekkers R, Huynen MA, Bulten J, Loopik D, Melchers WJG, Leenders WPJ. Targeted RNA next generation sequencing analysis of cervical smears can predict the presence of hrHPV-induced cervical lesions. BMC Med 2022; 20:206. [PMID: 35676700 PMCID: PMC9178797 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-022-02386-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Because most cervical cancers are caused by high-risk human papillomaviruses (hrHPVs), cervical cancer prevention programs increasingly employ hrHPV testing as a primary test. The high sensitivity of HPV tests is accompanied by low specificity, resulting in high rates of overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Targeted circular probe-based RNA next generation sequencing (ciRNAseq) allows for the quantitative detection of RNAs of interest with high sequencing depth. Here, we examined the potential of ciRNAseq-testing on cervical scrapes to identify hrHPV-positive women at risk of having or developing high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). METHODS We performed ciRNAseq on 610 cervical scrapes from the Dutch cervical cancer screening program to detect gene expression from 15 hrHPV genotypes and from 429 human genes. Differentially expressed hrHPV- and host genes in scrapes from women with outcome "no CIN" or "CIN2+" were identified and a model was built to distinguish these groups. RESULTS Apart from increasing percentages of hrHPV oncogene expression from "no CIN" to high-grade cytology/histology, we identified genes involved in cell cycle regulation, tyrosine kinase signaling pathways, immune suppression, and DNA repair being expressed at significantly higher levels in scrapes with high-grade cytology and histology. Machine learning using random forest on all the expression data resulted in a model that detected 'no CIN' versus CIN2+ in an independent data set with sensitivity and specificity of respectively 85 ± 8% and 72 ± 13%. CONCLUSIONS CiRNAseq on exfoliated cells in cervical scrapes measures hrHPV-(onco)gene expression and host gene expression in one single assay and in the process identifies HPV genotype. By combining these data and applying machine learning protocols, the risk of CIN can be calculated. Because ciRNAseq can be performed in high-throughput, making it cost-effective, it can be a promising screening technology to stratify women at risk of CIN2+. Further increasing specificity by model improvement in larger cohorts is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina M Andralojc
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboudumc, Radboud Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, Geert Grooteplein 26, Nijmegen, 6525 GA, The Netherlands.,Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc, PO Box 9101, Nijmegen, 6500 HB, The Netherlands
| | - Duaa Elmelik
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboudumc, Radboud Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, Geert Grooteplein 26, Nijmegen, 6525 GA, The Netherlands
| | - Menno Rasing
- Predica Diagnostics, Toernooiveld 1, Nijmegen, 6525 ED, The Netherlands
| | - Bernard Pater
- Predica Diagnostics, Toernooiveld 1, Nijmegen, 6525 ED, The Netherlands
| | - Albert G Siebers
- Department of Pathology, Radboudumc, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,PALGA, De Bouw 123, Houten, 3991 SZ, The Netherlands
| | - Ruud Bekkers
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, Michelangelolaan 2, Eindhoven, 5623 EJ, The Netherlands.,GROW, School for Oncology and Reproductive Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn A Huynen
- Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, PO Box 9101, Nijmegen, 6500 HB, The Netherlands
| | - Johan Bulten
- Department of Pathology, Radboudumc, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Diede Loopik
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Radboudumc, PO Box 9101, Nijmegen, 6500 HB, The Netherlands
| | - Willem J G Melchers
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc, PO Box 9101, Nijmegen, 6500 HB, The Netherlands
| | - William P J Leenders
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboudumc, Radboud Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, Geert Grooteplein 26, Nijmegen, 6525 GA, The Netherlands. .,Predica Diagnostics, Toernooiveld 1, Nijmegen, 6525 ED, The Netherlands.
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Andralojc KM, Molina MA, Qiu M, Spruijtenburg B, Rasing M, Pater B, Huynen MA, Dutilh BE, Ederveen THA, Elmelik D, Siebers AG, Loopik D, Bekkers RLM, Leenders WPJ, Melchers WJG. Novel high-resolution targeted sequencing of the cervicovaginal microbiome. BMC Biol 2021; 19:267. [PMID: 34915863 PMCID: PMC8680041 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01204-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cervicovaginal microbiome (CVM) plays a significant role in women's cervical health and disease. Microbial alterations at the species level and characteristic community state types (CST) have been associated with acquisition and persistence of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infections that may result in progression of cervical lesions to malignancy. Current sequencing methods, especially most commonly used multiplex 16S rRNA gene sequencing, struggle to fully clarify these changes because they generally fail to provide sufficient taxonomic resolution to adequately perform species-level associative studies. To improve CVM species designation, we designed a novel sequencing tool targeting microbes at the species taxonomic rank and examined its potential for profiling the CVM. RESULTS We introduce an accessible and practical circular probe-based RNA sequencing (CiRNAseq) technology with the potential to profile and quantify the CVM. In vitro and in silico validations demonstrate that CiRNAseq can distinctively detect species in a mock mixed microbial environment, with the output data reflecting its ability to estimate microbes' abundance. Moreover, compared to 16S rRNA gene sequencing, CiRNAseq provides equivalent results but with improved sequencing sensitivity. Analyses of a cohort of cervical smears from hrHPV-negative women versus hrHPV-positive women with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia confirmed known differences in CST occurring in the CVM of women with hrHPV-induced lesions. The technique also revealed variations in microbial diversity and abundance in the CVM of hrHPV-positive women when compared to hrHPV-negative women. CONCLUSIONS CiRNAseq is a promising tool for studying the interplay between the CVM and hrHPV in cervical carcinogenesis. This technology could provide a better understanding of cervicovaginal CST and microbial species during health and disease, prompting the discovery of biomarkers, additional to hrHPV, that can help detect high-grade cervical lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina M. Andralojc
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mariano A. Molina
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mengjie Qiu
- Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bram Spruijtenburg
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Menno Rasing
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bernard Pater
- Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn A. Huynen
- Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bas E. Dutilh
- Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Science for Life, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas H. A. Ederveen
- Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Duaa Elmelik
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Albert G. Siebers
- Department of Pathology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Diede Loopik
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ruud L. M. Bekkers
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catharina Hospital, 5602 ZA Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- GROW, School for Oncology & Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - William P. J. Leenders
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Predica Diagnostics, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Willem J. G. Melchers
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Molina MA, Carosi Diatricch L, Castany Quintana M, Melchers WJ, Andralojc KM. Cervical cancer risk profiling: molecular biomarkers predicting the outcome of hrHPV infection. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2020; 20:1099-1120. [PMID: 33044104 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2020.1835472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cervical cancer affects half a million women worldwide annually. Given the association between high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection and carcinogenesis, hrHPV DNA testing became an essential diagnostic tool. However, hrHPV alone does not cause the disease, and, most importantly, many cervical lesions regress to normal in a year because of the host immune system. Hence, the low specificity of hrHPV DNA tests and their inability to predict the outcome of infections have triggered a further search for biomarkers. AREAS COVERED We evaluated the latest viral and cellular biomarkers validated for clinical use as primary screening or triage for cervical cancer and assessed their promise for prevention as well as potential use in the future. The literature search focused on effective biomarkers for different stages of the disease, aiming to determine their significance in predicting the outcome of hrHPV infections. EXPERT OPINION Biomarkers such as p16/Ki-67, hrHPV genotyping, hrHPV transcriptional status, and methylation patterns have demonstrated promising results. Their eventual implementation in the screening programs may support the prompt diagnosis of hrHPV infection and its progression to cancer. These biomarkers will help in making clinical management decisions on time, thus, saving the lives of hrHPV-infected women, particularly in developing countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariano A Molina
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Radboud University , Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud university medical center , Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Marina Castany Quintana
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud university medical center , Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Willem Jg Melchers
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud university medical center , Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Karolina M Andralojc
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud university medical center , Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences , Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Rougeot J, Chrispijn ND, Aben M, Elurbe DM, Andralojc KM, Murphy PJ, Jansen PWTC, Vermeulen M, Cairns BR, Kamminga LM. Maintenance of spatial gene expression by Polycomb-mediated repression after formation of a vertebrate body plan. Development 2019; 146:dev.178590. [PMID: 31488564 PMCID: PMC6803366 DOI: 10.1242/dev.178590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are transcriptional repressors that are important regulators of cell fate during embryonic development. Among them, Ezh2 is responsible for catalyzing the epigenetic repressive mark H3K27me3 and is essential for animal development. The ability of zebrafish embryos lacking both maternal and zygotic ezh2 to form a normal body plan provides a unique model for comprehensively studying Ezh2 function during early development in vertebrates. By using a multi-omics approach, we found that Ezh2 is required for the deposition of H3K27me3 and is essential for proper recruitment of Polycomb group protein Rnf2. However, despite the complete absence of PcG-associated epigenetic mark and proteins, only minor changes in H3K4me3 deposition and gene and protein expression occur. These changes were mainly due to local dysregulation of transcription factors outside their normal expression boundaries. Altogether, our results in zebrafish show that Polycomb-mediated gene repression is important immediately after the body plan is formed to maintain spatially restricted expression profiles of transcription factors, and we highlight the differences that exist in the timing of PcG protein action between vertebrate species. Summary: Our unique zebrafish model of a maternal and zygotic mutant for the Polycomb group gene ezh2 reveals major conserved and divergent mechanisms in epigenetic gene repression during vertebrate development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Rougeot
- Radboud University, Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen 6525 GA, The Netherlands .,Radboud University Medical Center, Department of Molecular Biology, Nijmegen 6525 GA, The Netherlands
| | - Naomi D Chrispijn
- Radboud University, Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen 6525 GA, The Netherlands
| | - Marco Aben
- Radboud University, Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen 6525 GA, The Netherlands.,Radboud University Medical Center, Department of Molecular Biology, Nijmegen 6525 GA, The Netherlands
| | - Dei M Elurbe
- Radboud University, Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen 6525 GA, The Netherlands.,Radboud University Medical Center, Department of Molecular Biology, Nijmegen 6525 GA, The Netherlands
| | - Karolina M Andralojc
- Radboud University, Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen 6525 GA, The Netherlands
| | - Patrick J Murphy
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Oncological Sciences and Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.,Wilmot Cancer Institute, Rochester Center for Biomedical Informatics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Pascal W T C Jansen
- Radboud University, Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Oncode Institute, Nijmegen 6525 GA, The Netherlands
| | - Michiel Vermeulen
- Radboud University, Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Oncode Institute, Nijmegen 6525 GA, The Netherlands
| | - Bradley R Cairns
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Oncological Sciences and Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Leonie M Kamminga
- Radboud University, Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen 6525 GA, The Netherlands .,Radboud University Medical Center, Department of Molecular Biology, Nijmegen 6525 GA, The Netherlands
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7
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Chrispijn ND, Elurbe DM, Mickoleit M, Aben M, de Bakker DEM, Andralojc KM, Huisken J, Bakkers J, Kamminga LM. Loss of the Polycomb group protein Rnf2 results in derepression of tbx-transcription factors and defects in embryonic and cardiac development. Sci Rep 2019; 9:4327. [PMID: 30867528 PMCID: PMC6416260 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-40867-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The Polycomb group (PcG) protein family is a well-known group of epigenetic modifiers. We used zebrafish to investigate the role of Rnf2, the enzymatic subunit of PRC1. We found a positive correlation between loss of Rnf2 and upregulation of genes, especially of those whose promoter is normally bound by Rnf2. The heart of rnf2 mutants shows a tubular shaped morphology and to further understand the underlying mechanism, we studied gene expression of single wildtype and rnf2 mutant hearts. We detected the most pronounced differences at 3 dpf, including upregulation of heart transcription factors, such as tbx2a, tbx2b, and tbx3a. These tbx genes were decorated by broad PcG domains in wildtype whole embryo lysates. Chamber specific genes such as vmhc, myh6, and nppa showed downregulation in rnf2 mutant hearts. The marker of the working myocard, nppa, is negatively regulated by Tbx2 and Tbx3. Based on our findings and literature we postulate that loss of Rnf2-mediated repression results in upregulation and ectopic expression of tbx2/3, whose expression is normally restricted to the cardiac conductive system. This could lead to repression of chamber specific gene expression, a misbalance in cardiac cell types, and thereby to cardiac defects observed in rnf2 mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi D Chrispijn
- Radboud University, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Dei M Elurbe
- Radboud University, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Michaela Mickoleit
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marco Aben
- Radboud University, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Karolina M Andralojc
- Radboud University, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Huisken
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307, Dresden, Germany.,Medical Engineering, Morgridge Institute for Research, 330N Orchard Street, Madison, Wisconsin, 53715, USA
| | - Jeroen Bakkers
- Hubrecht Institute, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Leonie M Kamminga
- Radboud University, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. .,Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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San B, Rougeot J, Voeltzke K, van Vegchel G, Aben M, Andralojc KM, Flik G, Kamminga LM. The ezh2(sa1199) mutant zebrafish display no distinct phenotype. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0210217. [PMID: 30677064 PMCID: PMC6345456 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are essential regulators of epigenetic gene silencing and development. The PcG protein enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (Ezh2) is a key component of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 and is responsible for placing the histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) repressive mark on the genome through its methyltransferase domain. Ezh2 is highly conserved in vertebrates. We studied the role of ezh2 during development of zebrafish with the use of a mutant allele (ezh2(sa1199), R18STOP), which has a stop mutation in the second exon of the ezh2 gene. Two versions of the same line were used during this study. The first and original version of zygotic ezh2(sa1199) mutants unexpectedly retained ezh2 expression in brain, gut, branchial arches, and eyes at 3 days post-fertilization (dpf), as revealed by in-situ hybridization. Moreover, the expression pattern in homozygous mutants was identical to that of wild types, indicating that mutant ezh2 mRNA is not subject to nonsense mediated decay (NMD) as predicted. Both wild type and ezh2 mutant embryos presented edemas at 2 and 3 dpf. The line was renewed by selective breeding to counter select the non-specific phenotypes and survival was assessed. In contrast to earlier studies on ezh2 mutant zebrafish, ezh2(sa1199) mutants survived until adulthood. Interestingly, the ezh2 mRNA and Ezh2 protein were present during adulthood (70 dpf) in both wild type and ezh2(sa1199) mutant zebrafish. We conclude that the ezh2(sa1199) allele does not exhibit an ezh2 loss-of-function phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilge San
- Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Julien Rougeot
- Radboud University, Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Kai Voeltzke
- Radboud University, Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Gertie van Vegchel
- Radboud University, Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Marco Aben
- Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Radboud University, Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Karolina M. Andralojc
- Radboud University, Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Gert Flik
- Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Leonie M. Kamminga
- Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Radboud University, Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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9
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Boyle PC, de Groot T, Andralojc KM, Parnell TA. Healthy Singleton Pregnancies From Restorative Reproductive Medicine (RRM) After Failed IVF. Front Med (Lausanne) 2018; 5:210. [PMID: 30109231 PMCID: PMC6079215 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2018.00210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: To determine the live birth rate for patients who chose to undergo treatment with Restorative Reproductive Medicine (RRM) after previous IVF (includes ICSI). To look at birth outcomes with RRM after IVF, particularly rates of twin and higher order pregnancies, premature birth, low birth weight, and potential cost savings achieved with RRM. Setting: Two outpatient clinics in Ireland providing advanced RRM treatment of infertility. Materials and methods: All patients presenting between January 2004 and January 2010, with a history of infertility and previous IVF treatment were included if they proceeded beyond the initial consultation and began treatment. Main outcome is live birth per couple calculated using life table analysis. Results: 403 patients met the study criteria, among which 74 had a subsequent live birth. These women had significant negative predictive characteristics for healthy live birth including: advanced reproductive age (average 37.2 years), an average of 5.8 years of infertility with 2.1 (range 1–9) previous IVF attempts, with only 5% having previously had a live birth from IVF. Despite these undesirable prognostic indicators, the overall RRM live birth rate was 32.1% (crude 18.4%). Women aged 35–38 had a live birth rate of 37.5% (crude 23.6%) and older women over 40 had a live birth rate of 27.4% (crude 16.0%). The average birth weight was 3374g (7lb 7oz) with 92% being born at 37+ weeks and no very low birth weight babies. There was only one twin pregnancy in the study population; the potential health care savings for avoidable multiple pregnancies in these patients was estimated at £205 672 (USD$284 915). Conclusions: Patients who have already tried IVF can achieve comparable live birth outcomes with RRM compared to another cycle of IVF. RRM has a low risk of twin or multiple births, and very good neonatal outcomes with a potential cost savings to the health care system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phil C Boyle
- International Institute for Restorative Reproductive Medicine, London, United Kingdom.,NeoFertility Clinic, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Theun de Groot
- International Institute for Restorative Reproductive Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Karolina M Andralojc
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Tracey A Parnell
- International Institute for Restorative Reproductive Medicine, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Family Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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10
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Chrispijn ND, Andralojc KM, Castenmiller C, Kamminga LM. Gene expression profile of a selection of Polycomb Group genes during zebrafish embryonic and germ line development. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0200316. [PMID: 29985950 PMCID: PMC6037382 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Polycomb Group (PcG) genes are transcriptional repressors that are described to be important during development and differentiation. There is significant interest in PcGs proteins because of their role in stem cell biology and tumorigenesis. In this study we characterize the expression of a selection of PcG genes in the adult germline of zebrafish and during embryogenesis. In adults, expression of selected PcG genes is found to be enriched in germ line over somatic tissues. Therefore, the germ line of adult zebrafish was analyzed for the expression pattern of a selection of PcG genes by whole mount in situ hybridization. We detected presence of the tested PcG gene transcripts at early stages of both oogenesis and spermatogenesis. This enriched expression for early stages of gametogenesis is also observed in developing gonads at 4 and 5 weeks post fertilization. Additionally, zebrafish embryos were used to study the spatio-temporal expression patterns of a selection of PcG genes during development. The PcG genes that we tested are maternally loaded and ubiquitously expressed at early developmental stages, except of ezh1. The expression of the PcG genes that were assessed becomes enriched anteriorly and is more defined during tissue specification. The data shown here is an important resource for functional PcG gene studies in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi D. Chrispijn
- Radboud University, Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Karolina M. Andralojc
- Radboud University, Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Charlotte Castenmiller
- Radboud University, Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Leonie M. Kamminga
- Radboud University, Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Radboud University Medical Center, Department of Molecular Biology, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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11
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Rochester JD, Tanner PC, Sharp CS, Andralojc KM, Updike DL. PQN-75 is expressed in the pharyngeal gland cells of Caenorhabditiselegans and is dispensable for germline development. Biol Open 2017; 6:1355-1363. [PMID: 28916707 PMCID: PMC5612245 DOI: 10.1242/bio.027987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In Caenorhabditis elegans, five pharyngeal gland cells reside in the terminal bulb of the pharynx and extend anterior processes to five contact points in the pharyngeal lumen. Pharyngeal gland cells secrete mucin-like proteins thought to facilitate digestion, hatching, molting and assembly of the surface coat of the cuticle, but supporting evidence has been sparse. Here we show pharyngeal gland cell expression of PQN-75, a unique protein containing an N-terminal signal peptide, nucleoporin (Nup)-like phenylalanine/glycine (FG) repeats, and an extensive polyproline repeat domain with similarities to human basic salivary proline-rich pre-protein PRB2. Imaging of C-terminal tagged PQN-75 shows localization throughout pharyngeal gland cell processes but not the pharyngeal lumen; instead, aggregates of PQN-75 are occasionally found throughout the pharynx, suggesting secretion from pharyngeal gland cells into the surrounding pharyngeal muscle. PQN-75 does not affect fertility and brood size in C. elegans but confers some degree of stress resistance and thermotolerance through unknown mechanisms. Summary: PQN-75 is expressed in pharyngeal gland cells and shares similarity with human basic salivary proline-rich protein PBR2, suggesting evolutionary conservation between gland cells in the upper digestive tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse D Rochester
- The Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04672, USA
| | - Paige C Tanner
- The Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04672, USA
| | - Catherine S Sharp
- The Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04672, USA
| | | | - Dustin L Updike
- The Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04672, USA
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12
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Andralojc KM, Campbell AC, Kelly AL, Terrey M, Tanner PC, Gans IM, Senter-Zapata MJ, Khokhar ES, Updike DL. ELLI-1, a novel germline protein, modulates RNAi activity and P-granule accumulation in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS Genet 2017; 13:e1006611. [PMID: 28182654 PMCID: PMC5325599 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2016] [Revised: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Germ cells contain non-membrane bound cytoplasmic organelles that help maintain germline integrity. In C. elegans they are called P granules; without them, the germline undergoes partial masculinization and aberrant differentiation. One key P-granule component is the Argonaute CSR-1, a small-RNA binding protein that antagonizes accumulation of sperm-specific transcripts in developing oocytes and fine-tunes expression of proteins critical to early embryogenesis. Loss of CSR-1 complex components results in a very specific, enlarged P-granule phenotype. In a forward screen to identify mutants with abnormal P granules, ten alleles were recovered with a csr-1 P-granule phenotype, eight of which contain mutations in known components of the CSR-1 complex (csr-1, ego-1, ekl-1, and drh-3). The remaining two alleles are in a novel gene now called elli-1 (enlarged germline granules). ELLI-1 is first expressed in primordial germ cells during mid-embryogenesis, and continues to be expressed in the adult germline. While ELLI-1 forms cytoplasmic aggregates, they occasionally dock, but do not co-localize with P granules. Instead, the majority of ELLI-1 aggregates accumulate in the shared germline cytoplasm. In elli-1 mutants, several genes that promote RNAi and P-granule accumulation are upregulated, and embryonic lethality, sterility, and RNAi resistance in a hypomorphic drh-3 allele is enhanced, suggesting that ELLI-1 functions with CSR-1 to modulate RNAi activity, P-granule accumulation, and post-transcriptional expression in the germline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina M. Andralojc
- The Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | - Anne C. Campbell
- The Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | - Ashley L. Kelly
- The Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | - Markus Terrey
- The Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | - Paige C. Tanner
- The Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | - Ian M. Gans
- The Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | | | - Eraj S. Khokhar
- The Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | - Dustin L. Updike
- The Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
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13
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Andralojc KM, Mercalli A, Nowak KW, Albarello L, Calcagno R, Luzi L, Bonifacio E, Doglioni C, Piemonti L. Ghrelin-producing epsilon cells in the developing and adult human pancreas. Diabetologia 2009; 52:486-93. [PMID: 19096824 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-008-1238-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2008] [Accepted: 11/14/2008] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS While the mechanisms of specification and the reciprocal relationships of the four types of endocrine cell (alpha, beta, delta and pancreatic polypeptide cells) within the human endocrine pancreas are well described in adults and during fetal development, ghrelin-immunoreactive cells (epsilon cells) remain poorly understood. METHODS We studied epsilon cells in 24 human fetal pancreases between 11 and 39 weeks of development and in 32 pancreases from adult organ donors. RESULTS We observed single epsilon cells scattered in primitive exocrine tissue from gestational week 13 in developing pancreas. Later in the developmental process, epsilon cells started to aggregate into clusters. From gestational week 21, epsilon cells were observed located around developing islets, forming an almost continuous layer at the peripheral rim of the islets. They remain localised on the mantle of the islets, although at different amounts, in the adult pancreas. Co-production of ghrelin with insulin, glucagon or somatostatin was not detected during fetal development. Co-production with pancreatic polypeptide was evident sporadically. Epsilon cells co-produced NK2 homeobox 2 and ISL LIM homeobox 1, but not NK6 homeobox 1 and paired box 6. A quantitative analysis was performed in the adult pancreas: there was an average of 1.17 + 1.17 epsilon cells per islet, the relative epsilon cell volume was 0.14 + 0.16% and the epsilon cell mass was 0.13 + 0.15 g. Neither sex nor age affected the epsilon cell mass, although there was a significant inverse correlation with BMI. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION During fetal development epsilon cells show an ontogenetic and morphogenetic pattern that is distinct from that of alpha and beta cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- K M Andralojc
- Department of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland
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