The rs2601796 variant in ADCY9 gene is associated with severe asthma and less bronchodilator response

Asthma is a respiratory disease caused by the interaction of genetic and environmental factors. The adenylyl cyclase type 9 (ADCY9) enzyme produces the cyclic-adenosinemonophosphate (cAMP), important mediator involved in bronchodilation and immunomodulatory response. The aim of this study was to investigate if rs2601796 and rs2532019 variants in the ADCY9 gene are associated with asthma and lung function. The study comprised 1,052 subjects. Logistic regressions were done using PLINK 1.9 adjusted by sex, age, BMI, smoke and principal components. Bronchodilator responsiveness was assessed using the percentage of difference in FEV1 before and after the bronchodilator use. The in silico analysis for gene expression was performed in the GTEx Portal. The variant rs2601796 (AA/AG genotype) was positively associated with asthma severity (OR: 1.60 IC95%: 1.08-2.39) and with obstruction in individuals with severe asthma (OR: 3.10, IC95%: 1.11-8.62). Individuals with severe asthma and the AA/AG genotype of rs2601796 had less responsiveness to bronchodilators and also a lower expression of ADCY9 in lung and whole blood. The variant rs2532019 (TT/GT genotype) also downregulated the ADCY9 gene expression, but no significant association with the studied phenotypes was found. Thus, the variant in ADCY9 was associated with worse asthma outcomes, including a lower response to bronchodilators, likely due to the impact on its gene expression rate. This variant may be useful in the future to assist in personalized management of patients with asthma.

POPDC1 scaffolds a complex of adenylyl cyclase 9 and the potassium channel TREK-1 in heart

The establishment of macromolecular complexes by scaffolding proteins is key to the local production of cAMP by anchored adenylyl cyclase (AC) and the subsequent cAMP signaling necessary for cardiac functions. We identify a novel AC scaffold, the Popeye domain-containing (POPDC) protein. The POPDC family of proteins is important for cardiac pacemaking and conduction, due in part to their cAMP-dependent binding and regulation of TREK-1 potassium channels. We show that TREK-1 binds the AC9:POPDC1 complex and copurifies in a POPDC1-dependent manner with AC9 activity in heart. Although the AC9:POPDC1 interaction is cAMP-independent, TREK-1 association with AC9 and POPDC1 is reduced upon stimulation of the β-adrenergic receptor (βAR). AC9 activity is required for βAR reduction of TREK-1 complex formation with AC9:POPDC1 and in reversing POPDC1 enhancement of TREK-1 currents. Finally, deletion of the gene-encoding AC9 (Adcy9) gives rise to bradycardia at rest and stress-induced heart rate variability, a milder phenotype than the loss of Popdc1 but similar to the loss of Kcnk2 (TREK-1). Thus, POPDC1 represents a novel adaptor for AC9 interactions with TREK-1 to regulate heart rate control.

Upregulated microRNA-210-3p improves sevoflurane-induced protective effect on ventricular remodeling in rats with myocardial infarction by inhibiting ADCY9

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a significant cause of death and disability, and sevoflurane (sevo) can protect myocardium in clinic. We aim to assess the effects of miR-210-3p on MI rats undergoing sevo treatment with the involvement of adenylyl cyclase type 9 (ADCY9). Rat MI models were constructed by ligation of the left anterior descending, and the modeled rats were respectively treated with sevo, miR-210-3p agomir, antagomir, or overexpressed ADCY9. Then, miR-210-3p and ADCY9 expression, cardiac function, myocardial injury and fibrosis, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in rats were evaluated. Target relation between miR-210-3p and ADCY9 was detected. miR-210-3p was downregulated while ADCY9 was upregulated in MI rats. Sevo was able to promote cardiac function and attenuate myocardial injury and fibrosis, as well as cardiomyocyte apoptosis in MI rats. These effects of sevo were strengthened by miR-210-3p elevation but abolished by miR-210-3p inhibition in MI rats. The role of elevated miR-210-3p in MI rats was reversed by overexpression of ADCY9. Upregulated miR-210-3p improves sevo-induced protective effect on ventricular remodeling in rats with MI through inhibiting ADCY9.

Assessment of ADCY9 polymorphisms and colorectal cancer risk in the Chinese Han population

BACKGROUND

Recently, ADCY9 has been found to be highly expressed in colon cancer, and high ADCY9 expressionis a poor prognostic factor of colon cancer. However, no study has reported on the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ADCY9 and colorectal cancer risk in the Chinese Han population.

METHODS

To evaluate the association between four ADCY9 SNPs and colorectal cancer risk, we performed a case-control study including 511 colorectal cancer patients and 511 healthy controls. SNPs were genotyped using the Agena MassARRAY platform (Agena Bioscience, San Diego, CA, USA). The distributions of alleles and genotypes frequencies between the case and control groups were compared using chi-squared. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by logistic regression adjusted for age and gender to assess the association between SNPs and colorectal cancer risk.

RESULTS

The overall analysis found that rs2230742 was associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (AA versus GG: OR = 3.54, 95% CI = 1.16-10.86, p = 0.027; recessive model: OR = 3.55, 95% CI = 1.16-10.85, p = 0.027). Stratification analysis showed that rs2230742 was associated with an increased rectal cancer risk; rs11076810 was associated with a reduced colorectal cancer risk for age > 59 years. No association was observed between other two SNPs and colorectal cancer risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that ADCY9 polymorphisms (rs2230742 and rs11076810) have an effect on colorectal cancer risk in the Chinese Han population. Future association and functional studies are required to confirm our findings and explore the mechanism of ADCY2 in colorectal cancer.

Identification and Characterization of Biomarkers and Their Role in Opioid Addiction by Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis

Although numerous studies have confirmed that the mechanisms of opiate addiction include genetic and epigenetic aspects, the results of such studies are inconsistent. Here, we downloaded gene expression profiling information, GSE87823, from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Samples from males between ages 19 and 35 were selected for analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses were used to analyze the pathways associated with the DEGs. We further constructed protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks using the STRING database and used 10 different calculation methods to validate the hub genes. Finally, we utilized the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) to identify the DEG with the highest sequence similarity in mouse and detected the change in expression of the hub genes in this animal model using RT-qPCR. We identified three key genes, ADCY9, PECAM1, and IL4. ADCY9 expression decreased in the nucleus accumbens of opioid-addicted mice compared with control mice, which was consistent with the change seen in humans. The importance and originality of this study are provided by two aspects. Firstly, we used a variety of calculation methods to obtain hub genes; secondly, we exploited homology analysis to solve the difficult challenge that addiction-related experiments cannot be carried out in patients or healthy individuals. In short, this study not only explores potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets of opioid addiction but also provides new ideas for subsequent research on opioid addiction.

A Case-Control Study of ADCY9 Gene Polymorphisms and the Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the Chinese Han Population

Background: Adenylyl cyclase type 9 (ADCY9) modulates signal transduction by producing the second messenger cyclic AMP. It has been reported that ADCY9 gene polymorphisms were associated with cancer development. The aim of this study was to investigate whether ADCY9 gene polymorphisms could contribute to the susceptibility of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the Chinese Han population.

Methods: In the present study, five single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ADCY9 were genotyped using Agena MassARRAY platform in 876 subjects from China. Logistic regression was used to assess the effects of SNPs on HCC risk. Associations were also evaluated for HCC risk stratified by age and gender. False discovery rate (FDR) was used to correct multiple testing.

Results: After adjusting for age and gender, we found a significant relationship between heterozygous genotypes of rs2531995 and HCC risk (OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.01–1.77, p = 0.045). ADCY9 rs2230742 had a strong relationship with lower risk of HCC in allele (p = 0.006), co-dominant (p = 0.023), dominant (p = 0.010), and additive (p = 0.006) models. Stratified analysis showed that rs879620 increased HCC risk and rs2230742 was associated with lower risk of HCC in the individuals aged 55 or younger, rs2531992 significantly decreased HCC risk in the elder group (age > 55). For women, rs2230742 and rs2230741 were significantly associated with HCC risk in multiple models (p < 0.05). FDR analysis showed that rs2230742 could protect individuals from HCC risk in the allele model (FDR-p = 0.030). In addition, haplotype analysis indicated that C_rs879620A_rs2230742A_rs2230741 haplotype was a protective factor for HCC (OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.50–0.89, p = 0.007, FDR-p = 0.028).

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that ADCY9 gene polymorphisms are associated with HCC risk in the Chinese Han population.

Role of the ADCY9 gene in cardiac abnormalities of the Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome

BACKGROUND

Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RTS) is a rare, congenital, plurimalformative, and neurodevelopmental disorder. Previous studies have reported that large deletions contribute to more severe RTS phenotypes than those caused by CREBBP point mutations, suggesting a concurrent pathogenetic role of flanking genes, typical of contiguous gene syndromes, but the detailed genetics are unclear.

RESULTS

This study presented a rare case of Rubinstein-Taybi (RT) syndrome with serious cardiac abnormalities. Based on the clinical and genetic analysis of the patient, the ADCY9 gene deletion was highlighted as a plausible explanation of cardiac abnormalities. In adcy9 morphant zebrafish, cardiac malformation was observed. Immunofluorescence study disclosed increased macrophage migration and cardiac apoptosis. RNA sequencing in zebrafish model highlighted the changes of a number of genes, including increased expression of the mmp9 gene which encodes a matrix metalloproteinase with the main function to degrade and remodel extracellular matrix.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we identified a plausible new candidate gene ADCY9 of CHD through the clinical and genetic analysis of a rare case of Rubinstein-Taybi (RT) syndrome with serious cardiac abnormalities. By functional study of zebrafish, we demonstrated that deletion of adcy9 is the causation for the cardiac abnormalities. Cardiac apoptosis and increased expression of the MMP9 gene are involved in the pathogenesis.

Adenylyl cyclase type 9 gene polymorphisms are associated with asthma and allergy in Brazilian children

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory tract. This heterogeneous disease is caused by the interaction of interindividual genetic variability and environmental factors. The gene adenylyl cyclase type 9 (ADCY9) encodes a protein called adenylyl cyclase (AC), responsible for producing the second messenger cyclic AMP (cAMP). cAMP is produced by T regulatory cells and is involved in the down-regulation of T effector cells. Failures in cAMP production may be related to an imbalance in the regulatory immune response, leading to immune-mediated diseases, such as allergic disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate how polymorphisms in the ADCY9 are associated with asthma and allergic markers. The study comprised 1309 subjects from the SCAALA (Social Changes Asthma and Allergy in Latin America) program. Genotyping was accomplished using the Illumina 2.5 Human Omni bead chip. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between allergy markers and ADCY9 variation in PLINK 1.07 software with adjustments for sex, age, helminth infection and ancestry markers. The ADCY9 candidate gene was associated with different phenotypes, such as asthma, specific IgE, skin prick test, and cytokine production. Among 133 markers analyzed, 29 SNPs where associated with asthma and allergic markers in silico analysis revealed the functional impact of the 6 SNPs on ADCY9 expression. It can be concluded that polymorphisms in the ADCY9 gene are significantly associated with asthma and/or allergy markers. We believe that such polymorphisms may lead to increased expression of adenylyl cyclase with a consequent increase in immunoregulatory activity. Therefore, these SNPs may offer an impact on the occurrence of these conditions in admixture population from countries such as Brazil.

Epstein-Barr Virus EBER Transcripts Affect miRNA-Mediated Regulation of Specific Targets and Are Processed to Small RNA Species

The oncogenic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) expresses 44 mature microRNAs and two non-coding EBER RNAs of 167 (EBER1) and 172 (EBER2) nt length. MiRNA profiling of NK/T cell lines and primary cells and Northern blotting of EBV-infected cell lines and primary tumors revealed processing of EBER1 to short 5′-derived RNAs of approximately 23, 52 and 70 nt (EBER1₂₃, EBER1₅₂, and EBER1₇₀) and of EBER2 to 3′ fragments. The biogenesis of these species is independent of Dicer, and EBER1₂₃ does not act like a miRNA to target its complementary sequence. EBER1, EBER2 and EBER1₂₃ were bound by the lupus antigen (La), a nuclear and cytoplasmic protein that facilitates RNAi. Consistent with this, the EBERs affect regulation of interleukin 1alpha (IL1α) and RAC1 reporters harboring miR target sequences, targets of miR-142-3p. However, the EBERs have no effect upon another target of miR-142-3p, ADCY9, nor on TOMM22, a target of ebv-miR-BART16, indicative of selective modulation of gene expression by the EBERs.