Vitiligo is an acquired disease characterized principally by patchy depigmentation of skin and overlying hair. Generalized vitiligo （GV）, the predominant form of the disorder, results from autoimmune loss of melanoc...Vitiligo is an acquired disease characterized principally by patchy depigmentation of skin and overlying hair. Generalized vitiligo （GV）, the predominant form of the disorder, results from autoimmune loss of melanocytes from affected regions. GV is a ＂complex trait＂, inherited in a non-Mendelian polygenic, multifactorial manner. GV is epidemiologically associated with other autoimmune diseases, both in GV patients and in their close relatives, suggesting that shared genes underlie susceptibility to this group of diseases. Early candidate gene association studies yielded a few successes, such as PTPN22, but most such reports now appear to be false-positives. Subsequent genomewide linkage studies identified NLRP1 and XBP1, apparent true GV susceptibility genes involved in immune regulation, and recent genome-wide association studies （GWAS） of GV in Caucasian and Chinese populations have yielded a large number of additional validated GV susceptibility genes. Together, these genes highlight biological systems and pathways that reach from the immune cells to the melanocyte, and provide insights into both disease pathogenesis and potential new targets for both treatment and even prevention of GV and other autoimmune diseases in genetically susceptible individuals.展开更多
Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, are responsible for determining and maintaining cell fate, stably differentiating the various tissues in our bodies. Increasing evidence shows that DNA methylation pla...Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, are responsible for determining and maintaining cell fate, stably differentiating the various tissues in our bodies. Increasing evidence shows that DNA methylation plays a significant role in cancer, from the silencing of tumor suppressors to the activation of oncogenes and the promotion of metastasis. Recent studies also suggest a role for DNA methylation in drug resistance. This perspective article discusses how DNA methylation may contribute to the development of acquired endocrine resistance, with a focus on breast cancer. In addition, we discuss DNA methylome profiling and how recent developments in this field are shedding new light on the role of epigenetics in endocrine resistance. Hormone ablation is the therapy of choice for hormone-sensitive breast tumors, yet as many as 40% of patients inevitably relapse, and these hormone refractory tumors often have a poor prognosis. Epigenetic studies could provide DNA methylation biomarkers to predict and diagnose acquired resistance in response to treatment. Elucidation of epigenetic mechanisms may also lead to the development of new treatments that specifically target epigenetic abnormalities or vulnerabilities in cancer cells. Expectations must be tempered by the fact that epigenetic mechanisms of endocrine resistance remain poorly understood, and further study is required to better understand how altering epigenetic pathways with therapeutics can promote or inhibit endocrine resistance in different contexts. Going forward, DNA methylome profiling will become increasingly central to epigenetic research, heralding a network-based approach to epigenetics that promises to advance our understanding of the etiology of cancer in ways not previously possible.展开更多
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy(ARVC) is a genetic disease characterized by myocyte loss and fibro-fatty tissue replacement. Diagnosis of ARVC remains a clinical challenge mainly at its early stages an...Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy(ARVC) is a genetic disease characterized by myocyte loss and fibro-fatty tissue replacement. Diagnosis of ARVC remains a clinical challenge mainly at its early stages and in patients with minimal echocardiographic right ventricular(RV) abnormalities. ARVC shares some common features with other cardiac diseases, such as RV outflow ventricular tachycardia, Brugada syndrome, and myocarditis, due to arrhythmic expressivity and biventricular involvement. The identification of ARVC can be often challenging, because of the heterogeneous clinical presentation, highly variable intra- and inter-family expressivity and incomplete penetrance. This genotypephenotype "plasticity" is largely unexplained. A familial history of ARVC is present in 30% to 50% of cases, and the disease is considered a genetic cardiomyopathy, usually inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern with variable penetrance and expressivity; in addition, autosomal recessive forms have been reported(Naxos disease and Carvajal syndrome). Diagnosis of ARVC relays on a scoring system, with major or minorcriteria on the Revised Task Force Criteria. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators(ICDs) are increasingly utilized in patients with ARVC who have survived sudden death(SD)(secondary prevention). However, there are few data available to help identifying ARVC patients in whom the prophylactic implantation of an ICD is truly warranted. Prevention of SD is the primary goal of management. Pharmacologic treatment of arrhythmias, catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia, and ICD are the mainstay of treatment of ARVC.展开更多
Childhood survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are increased risk of several chronic complications, such as second cancers, pulmonary, metabolic complications and cardiovascular disease. Obesity and metabol...Childhood survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are increased risk of several chronic complications, such as second cancers, pulmonary, metabolic complications and cardiovascular disease. Obesity and metabolic syndrome is one of the most common treatment related complication in children surviving cancer, which concurs with our nations childhood epidemic [1-3] Recent research has identified the role of genetics in the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome in childhood survivors of ALL. Growth hormone deficiency, Leptin regulation, fat mass obesity (FTO) gene and the insulin resistant ENPP1 variants disorders has been associated adverse effects of chemotherapeutic treatment and the cause of clinical manifestations of metabolic syndrome [4-8]. The illumination of the role of genetic variants can shed insights into obesity within high risk population, as well as, a target to prevent disease.展开更多
Metagenomics has opened new avenues for exploring the genetic potential of uncultured microorganisms,which may serve as promising sources of enzymes and natural products for industrial applications.Identifying enzymes...Metagenomics has opened new avenues for exploring the genetic potential of uncultured microorganisms,which may serve as promising sources of enzymes and natural products for industrial applications.Identifying enzymes with improved catalytic properties from the vast amount of available metagenomic data poses a significant challenge that demands the development of novel computational and functional screening tools.The catalytic properties of all enzymes are primarily dictated by their structures,which are predominantly determined by their amino acid sequences.However,this aspect has not been fully considered in the enzyme bioprospecting processes.With the accumulating number of available enzyme sequences and the increasing demand for discovering novel biocatalysts,structural and functional modeling can be employed to identify potential enzymes with novel catalytic properties.Recent efforts to discover new polysaccharide-degrading enzymes from rumen metagenome data using homology-based searches and machine learning-based models have shown significant promise.Here,we will explore various computational approaches that can be employed to screen and shortlist metagenome-derived enzymes as potential biocatalyst candidates,in conjunction with the wet lab analytical methods traditionally used for enzyme characterization.展开更多
The TGFβ signaling pathway is conserved from flies to humans and has been shown to regulate such diverse pro- cesses as cell proliferation, differentiation, motility, adhesion, organization, and programmed cell death...The TGFβ signaling pathway is conserved from flies to humans and has been shown to regulate such diverse pro- cesses as cell proliferation, differentiation, motility, adhesion, organization, and programmed cell death. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments suggest that TGF[~ can utilize these varied programs to promote cancer metastasis through its effects on the tumor microenvironment, enhanced invasive properties, and inhibition of immune cell function. Recent clinical evidence demonstrating a link between TGFβ signaling and cancer progression is fostering interest in this signaling pathway as a therapeutic target. Anti-TGFβ therapies are currently being developed and tested in pre- clinical studies. However, targeting TGFβ carries a substantial risk as this pathway is implicated in multiple homeostatic processes and is also known to have tumor-suppressor functions. Additionally, clinical and experimental results show that TGFβ has diverse and often conflicting roles in tumor progression even within the same tumor types. The development of TGFβ inhibitors for clinical use will require a deeper understanding of TGFβ signaling, its consequences, and the contexts in which it acts.展开更多
Non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate （nsCL/P） is among the most common major birth defects, with complex inheritance involving multiple genes and environmental factors. Numerous studies of MTHFR, enc...Non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate （nsCL/P） is among the most common major birth defects, with complex inheritance involving multiple genes and environmental factors. Numerous studies of MTHFR, encoding methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, which catalyzes the rate-limiting step of folic acid biosynthesis, have shown inconsistent association of two common hypomorphic allelic variants, C677T and A1298C, in nsCL/P patients and, in some cases, their mothers. We have studied the MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms in nsCL/P patients, their mothers, and population-matched controls from northern Venezuela. We found no evidence for contribution of the MTHFR C677T and A1298C variants to the risk of nsCL/P in northern Venezuela. Overall, our findings fail to support a causal role of either the MTHFR C677T or A 1298C variants in the pathogenesis of nsCL/P in northern Venezuela.展开更多
Human papillomavirus 18(HPV18) E6 and E7 oncogenes are transcribed as a single bicistronic E6 E7 pre-mRNA. The E6 ORF region in the bicistronic E6 E7 pre-mRNA contains an intron. Splicing of this intron disrupts the E...Human papillomavirus 18(HPV18) E6 and E7 oncogenes are transcribed as a single bicistronic E6 E7 pre-mRNA. The E6 ORF region in the bicistronic E6 E7 pre-mRNA contains an intron. Splicing of this intron disrupts the E6 ORF integrity and produces a spliced E6*I RNA for efficient E7 translation. Here we report that the E6 intron has two overlapped branch point sequences(BPS) upstream of its 30 splice site, with an identical heptamer AACUAAC, for E6*I splicing. One heptamer has a branch site adenosine(underlined) at nt 384 and the other at nt 388. E6*I splicing efficiency correlates to the expression level of E6 and E7 proteins and depends on the selection of which branch site. In general, E6*I splicing prefers the 30 ss-proximal branch site at nt 388 over the distal branch site at nt 384. Inactivation of the nt 388 branch site was found to activate a cryptic acceptor site at nt 636 for aberrant RNA splicing. Together, these data suggest that HPV18 modulates its production ratio of E6 and E7 proteins by alternative selection of the two mapped branch sites for the E6*I splicing, which could be beneficial in its productive or oncogenic infection according to the host cell environment.展开更多
AIM:To characterize clinicopathological and familial features of early-onset colorectal cancer(CRC) and compare features of tumors with and without microsatellite instability(MSI).METHODS:Forty-five patients with CRC ...AIM:To characterize clinicopathological and familial features of early-onset colorectal cancer(CRC) and compare features of tumors with and without microsatellite instability(MSI).METHODS:Forty-five patients with CRC aged 45 or younger were included in the study.Clinical information,a three-generation family history,and tumor samples were obtained.MSI status was analyzed and mismatch repair genes were examined in the MSI families.Tumors were included in a tissue microarray and an immunohistochemical study was carried out with a panel of selected antibodies.RESULTS:Early onset CRC is characterized by advanced stage at diagnosis,right colon location,low-grade of differentiation,mucin production,and presence of polyps.Hereditary forms represent at least 21% of cases.Eighty-one percent of patients who died during followup showed a lack of expression of cyclin E,which could be a marker of poor prognosis.β-catenin expression was normal in a high percentage of tumors.CONCLUSION:Early-onset CRC has an important familial component,with a high proportion of tumors showing microsatellite stable.Cyclin E might be a poor prognosis factor.展开更多
The epithelium of the human epididymis maintains an appropriate luminal environment for sperm maturation that is essential for male fertility. Regional expression of small noncoding RNAs such as microRNAs contributes ...The epithelium of the human epididymis maintains an appropriate luminal environment for sperm maturation that is essential for male fertility. Regional expression of small noncoding RNAs such as microRNAs contributes to segment-specific gene expression and differentiated functions. MicroRNA profiles were reported in human epididymal tissues but not specifically in the epithelial cells derived from those regions. Here, we reveal miRNA signatures of primary cultures of caput, corpus, and cauda epididymis epithelial cells and of the tissues from which they were derived. We identify 324 epithelial cell-derived microRNAs and 259 tissue-derived microRNAs in the epididymis, some of which displayed regionalized expression patterns in cells and/or tissues. Caput cell-enriched miRNAs included miR-573 and miR-155. Cauda cell-enriched miRNAs included miR-1204 and miR-770. Next, we determined the gene ontology pathways associated with in silico predicted target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs. The effect of androgen receptor stimulation on miRNA expression was also investigated. These data show novel epithelial cell-derived miRNAs that may regulate the expression of important gene networks that are responsible for the regionalized gene expression and function of the epididymis.展开更多
Background & Aims: Mutations in the mismatch repair genes cause hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) syndrome and convey high lifetime cancer risks for colorectal (CRC) and endometrial cancer. Current...Background & Aims: Mutations in the mismatch repair genes cause hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) syndrome and convey high lifetime cancer risks for colorectal (CRC) and endometrial cancer. Currently, cancer risks for individuals with HNPCC are based on data from clinically ascertained families. The purpose of this study was to re-examine the penetrance in HNPCC using a comprehensive dataset from a geographically defined region. Methods: A combined dataset of 70 HNPCC families ascertained by traditional high-risk criteria and by molecular screening comprising 88 probands and 373 mutation-positive family members was used. Statistical methods were modified survival analysis techniques. Results: In mutation-positive relatives (excluding probands), the median age at diagnosis of CRC was 61.2 years (confidence interval [CI], 56.3- 68.0 y). The lifetime risk for CRC was 68.7% (CI, 58.6% - 78.9% ) for men and 52.2% (CI, 37.6% - 66.9% ) for women. Considering only probands, the median age at diagnosis of CRC was 44.0 years (CI, 41.0- 46.3 y). Median age of onset of EC was 62.0 years (CI, 55.9 y to an upper limit too high to calculate)with a lifetime cancer risk of 54% (CI, 41.9% - 66.1% ). Conclusions: A markedly later age of onset for CRC at 61 y than previously reported (? 44 y) is suggested, resulting mainly from a more rigorous method of analysis in which all gene-positive individuals (both affected and unaffected with cancer) are considered. Lifetime cancer risks may be lower for CRC and endometrial cancer than presently assumed. If confirmed, these data suggest a need to alter counseling practices, and to consider HNPCC in older individuals than before.展开更多
We report an apparently benign familial 9p subtelomere deletion identified using chromosome-arm-specific subtelomere probes in a patient with multiple congenital anomalies. Our experience demonstrated that the discove...We report an apparently benign familial 9p subtelomere deletion identified using chromosome-arm-specific subtelomere probes in a patient with multiple congenital anomalies. Our experience demonstrated that the discovery of a subtelomeric deletion and/or duplication does not always guarantee the identification of the etiology for the patient’s phenotype and a positive finding with subtelomere probes should always be followed by parental study with the same probe in order to distinguish a disease causing alteration from a benign familial polymorphism.展开更多
Defining translational research is still a complex task. In oncology, translational research implies using our basic knowledge learnt from in vitro and in vivo experiments to directly improve diagnostic tools and ther...Defining translational research is still a complex task. In oncology, translational research implies using our basic knowledge learnt from in vitro and in vivo experiments to directly improve diagnostic tools and therapeutic approaches in cancer patients. Moreover, the better understanding of human cancer and its use to design more reliable tumor models and more accurate experimental systems also has to be considered a good example of translational research. The identification and characterization of new molecular markers and the discovery of novel targeted therapies are two main goals in colorectal cancer translational research. However, the straightforward translation of basic research findings, specifically into colorectal cancer treatment and vice versa is still underway. In the present paper, a summarized view of some of the new available approaches on colorectal cancer translational research is provided. Pros and cons are discussed for every approach exposed.展开更多
Worldwide,more than 40 million people are afflicted with Alzheimer's disease(AD)(Esquerda-Canals et al.,2017).AD is a devastating neurodegenerative disroder characterized by progressive decline in cognitive abilit...Worldwide,more than 40 million people are afflicted with Alzheimer's disease(AD)(Esquerda-Canals et al.,2017).AD is a devastating neurodegenerative disroder characterized by progressive decline in cognitive abilities.A hallmark of AD and other neurodegenerative disorders in humans is the aggregation of proteins into amyloid fibrils and their deposition into plaques and intracellular inclusions(Iadanza et al.)。展开更多
The most frequent chromosomal rearrangement reported in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is t(15;17)(q22;q21). The t(15;17) generates the PML/RARA fusion gene that blocks the transcription of genes involved in myelo...The most frequent chromosomal rearrangement reported in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is t(15;17)(q22;q21). The t(15;17) generates the PML/RARA fusion gene that blocks the transcription of genes involved in myeloid cell differentiation. A small number of simple and complex variants of the classical t(15;17) have been reported. We report two complex three-way translocation variants,t(3;17;15)(q27;q21;q22) and t(8;17;15)(q24.3;q12;q22) in which the PML/RARA fusion gene has been created on the derivative 15 chromosomes. Many of these variant translocations are suspected by conventional cytogenetics but need to be confirmed with additional molecular testing. We discuss the importance of supplementing conventional cytogenetic testing with FISH and RT-PCR to accurately diagnose APL variant patients.展开更多
Background:The role of non-coding RNAs in the porcine muscle metabolism is poorly understood,with few studies investigating their expression patterns in response to nutrient supply.Therefore,we aimed to investigate th...Background:The role of non-coding RNAs in the porcine muscle metabolism is poorly understood,with few studies investigating their expression patterns in response to nutrient supply.Therefore,we aimed to investigate the changes in microRNAs(miRNAs),long intergenic non-coding RNAs(lincRNAs)and mRNAs muscle expression before and after food intake.Results:We measured the miRNA,lincRNA and mRNA expression levels in the gluteus medius muscle of 12 gilts in a fasting condition(AL-T0)and 24 gilts fed ad libitum during either 5 h.(AL-T1,N=12)or 7 h.(AL-T2,N=12)prior to slaughter.The small RNA fraction was extracted from muscle samples retrieved from the 36 gilts and sequenced,whereas lincRNA and mRNA expression data were already available.In terms of mean and variance,the expression profiles of miRNAs and lincRNAs in the porcine muscle were quite different than those of mRNAs.Food intake induced the differential expression of 149(AL-T0/AL-T1)and 435(AL-T0/AL-T2)mRNAs,6(AL-T0/AL-T1)and 28(AL-T0/AL-T2)miRNAs and none lincRNAs,while the number of differentially dispersed genes was much lower.Among the set of differentially expressed miRNAs,we identified ssc-miR-148a-3p,ssc-miR-22-3p and ssc-miR-1,which play key roles in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism.Besides,co-expression network analyses revealed several miRNAs that putatively interact with mRNAs playing key metabolic roles and that also showed differential expression before and after feeding.One case example was represented by seven miRNAs(ssc-miR-148a-3p,ssc-miR-151-3p,ssc-miR-30a-3p,ssc-miR-30e-3p,ssc-miR-421-5p,ssc-miR-493-5p and ssc-miR-503)which putatively interact with the PDK4 mRNA,one of the master regulators of glucose utilization and fatty acid oxidation.Conclusions:As a whole,our results evidence that microRNAs are likely to play an important role in the porcine skeletal muscle metabolic adaptation to nutrient availability.展开更多
We report a three-year-old male child who presented with congenital valvular defects,right ventricular malformation,and initial developmental delay.Genome sequencing showed rare deleterious biallelic missense variants...We report a three-year-old male child who presented with congenital valvular defects,right ventricular malformation,and initial developmental delay.Genome sequencing showed rare deleterious biallelic missense variants in PLD1.In his parents’second pregnancy,echocardiogram at 13 weeks gestation revealed right-sided cardiac malformations resembling the clinical presentation of the family’s first child.Targeted DNA analysis showed that the fetus carried the same biallelic PLD1 variants as their older sibling.This case helps to further delineate the clinical spectrum of PLD1-related defects and highlights the value of both genome sequencing in congenital heart disease and early fetal echocardiography to establish phenotype.展开更多
High-grade gliomas are aggressive and uniformly fatal tumors,composed of a heterogeneous population of cells that include many with stem-cell-like properties.The acquisition of stem-like traits might contribute to gli...High-grade gliomas are aggressive and uniformly fatal tumors,composed of a heterogeneous population of cells that include many with stem-cell-like properties.The acquisition of stem-like traits might contribute to glioma initiation,growth,and recurrence.Here we investigated the role of the transcription factor myeloid Elf-1 like factor(MEF,also known as ELF4) in gliomas.We found that MEF is highly expressed in both human and mouse glioblastomas and its absence impairs gliomagenesis in a PDGF-driven glioma mouse model.We show that modulation of MEF levels in both mouse neural stem cells and human glioblastoma cells has a significant impact on neurosphere formation.Moreover,we identify Sox2 as a direct downstream target of MEF.Taken together,our studies implicate MEF as a previously unrecognized gatekeeper gene in gliomagenesis that promotes stem cell characteristics through Sox2 activation.展开更多
Objective: To use neuropathologic data to examine the association between APOE genotype and cerebrovascular lesions commonly found in Alzheimer disease (AD), as well as neuritic senile plaque (SP) and neurofibrillary ...Objective: To use neuropathologic data to examine the association between APOE genotype and cerebrovascular lesions commonly found in Alzheimer disease (AD), as well as neuritic senile plaque (SP) and neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) burden. Methods: The sample comprised brains from 96 men and 3 women who fulfilled NIA-Reagan criteria for intermediate to high likelihood of AD. Region-specific and global measures of gross cerebrovascular disease, arteriolosclerosis, white matter lesions, microinfarcts, amyloid angiopathy, neuritic SP, and NFT burden were compared among those who had at least one APOE-4: vs those who did not. Pairwise rank-order correlations between measures were calculated. The association between APOE 4 status and measures of vascular and AD pathology, adjusting for age at death, sex, brain weight, and Braak stage, were evaluated. Results: APOE-4 was not associated with gross cerebrovascular pathology. Compared to those who were negative, brains from 4 individuals had a greater degree of small vessel arteriolosclerosis (p=0.04) and perivascular macrophage infiltration (p=0.06), but not other markers of small vessel disease or white matter myelin loss. Microinfarcts in the deep nuclei were associated with 4(p=0.009), whereas cortical and subcortical microinfarcts were not. There was a trend toward association between APOE genotype and amyloid angiopathy (p=0.08), and 4 was associated with neuritic SP burden, but not NFT. Conclusion: APOE-4 is associated with small vessel arteriolosclerosis, microinfarcts of the deep nuclei, neuritic senile plaque density, and amyloid angiopathy in patients with autopsy-proven Alzheimer disease (AD). These results suggest a role for 4 in some of the microvascular changes commonly found in AD and are consistent with a potential amyloidogenic role for 4.展开更多
Neuroendocrine(NE)transformation is a mechanism of resistance to targeted therapy in lung and prostate adenocarcinomas leading to poor prognosis.Up to date,even if patients at high risk of transformation can be identi...Neuroendocrine(NE)transformation is a mechanism of resistance to targeted therapy in lung and prostate adenocarcinomas leading to poor prognosis.Up to date,even if patients at high risk of transformation can be identified by the occurrence of Tumor Protein P53(TP53)and Retinoblastoma Transcriptional Corepressor 1(RB1)mutations in their tumors,no therapeutic strategies are available to prevent or delay histological transformation.Upregulation of the cell cycle kinase Cell Division Cycle 7(CDC7)occurred in tumors during the initial steps of NE transformation,already after TP53/RB1 co-inactivation,leading to induced sensitivity to the CDC7 inhibitor simurosertib.CDC7 inhibition suppressed NE transdifferentiation and extended response to targeted therapy in in vivo models of NE transformation by inducing the proteasome-mediated degradation of the MYC Proto-Oncogen(MYC),implicated in stemness and histological transformation.Ectopic overexpression of a degradation-resistant MYC isoform reestablished the NE transformation phenotype observed on targeted therapy,even in the presence of simurosertib.CDC7 inhibition also markedly extended response to standard cytotoxics(cisplatin,irinotecan)in lung and prostate small cell carcinoma models.These results nominate CDC7 inhibition as a therapeutic strategy to constrain lineage plasticity,as well as to effectively treat NE tumors de novo or after transformation.As simurosertib clinical efficacy trials are ongoing,this concept could be readily translated for patients at risk oftransformation.展开更多
基金supported in part by the grants R01 AR45585 and R01 AR056292 from the National Institutes of Health,USA
文摘Vitiligo is an acquired disease characterized principally by patchy depigmentation of skin and overlying hair. Generalized vitiligo （GV）, the predominant form of the disorder, results from autoimmune loss of melanocytes from affected regions. GV is a ＂complex trait＂, inherited in a non-Mendelian polygenic, multifactorial manner. GV is epidemiologically associated with other autoimmune diseases, both in GV patients and in their close relatives, suggesting that shared genes underlie susceptibility to this group of diseases. Early candidate gene association studies yielded a few successes, such as PTPN22, but most such reports now appear to be false-positives. Subsequent genomewide linkage studies identified NLRP1 and XBP1, apparent true GV susceptibility genes involved in immune regulation, and recent genome-wide association studies （GWAS） of GV in Caucasian and Chinese populations have yielded a large number of additional validated GV susceptibility genes. Together, these genes highlight biological systems and pathways that reach from the immune cells to the melanocyte, and provide insights into both disease pathogenesis and potential new targets for both treatment and even prevention of GV and other autoimmune diseases in genetically susceptible individuals.
基金supported in part by National Institutes of Health grants U01ES015986, U54 CA113001 and R01CA069065This TL1 award was funded by Award Number KL2 RR025754 from the National Center for Research Resources
文摘Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, are responsible for determining and maintaining cell fate, stably differentiating the various tissues in our bodies. Increasing evidence shows that DNA methylation plays a significant role in cancer, from the silencing of tumor suppressors to the activation of oncogenes and the promotion of metastasis. Recent studies also suggest a role for DNA methylation in drug resistance. This perspective article discusses how DNA methylation may contribute to the development of acquired endocrine resistance, with a focus on breast cancer. In addition, we discuss DNA methylome profiling and how recent developments in this field are shedding new light on the role of epigenetics in endocrine resistance. Hormone ablation is the therapy of choice for hormone-sensitive breast tumors, yet as many as 40% of patients inevitably relapse, and these hormone refractory tumors often have a poor prognosis. Epigenetic studies could provide DNA methylation biomarkers to predict and diagnose acquired resistance in response to treatment. Elucidation of epigenetic mechanisms may also lead to the development of new treatments that specifically target epigenetic abnormalities or vulnerabilities in cancer cells. Expectations must be tempered by the fact that epigenetic mechanisms of endocrine resistance remain poorly understood, and further study is required to better understand how altering epigenetic pathways with therapeutics can promote or inhibit endocrine resistance in different contexts. Going forward, DNA methylome profiling will become increasingly central to epigenetic research, heralding a network-based approach to epigenetics that promises to advance our understanding of the etiology of cancer in ways not previously possible.
文摘Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy(ARVC) is a genetic disease characterized by myocyte loss and fibro-fatty tissue replacement. Diagnosis of ARVC remains a clinical challenge mainly at its early stages and in patients with minimal echocardiographic right ventricular(RV) abnormalities. ARVC shares some common features with other cardiac diseases, such as RV outflow ventricular tachycardia, Brugada syndrome, and myocarditis, due to arrhythmic expressivity and biventricular involvement. The identification of ARVC can be often challenging, because of the heterogeneous clinical presentation, highly variable intra- and inter-family expressivity and incomplete penetrance. This genotypephenotype "plasticity" is largely unexplained. A familial history of ARVC is present in 30% to 50% of cases, and the disease is considered a genetic cardiomyopathy, usually inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern with variable penetrance and expressivity; in addition, autosomal recessive forms have been reported(Naxos disease and Carvajal syndrome). Diagnosis of ARVC relays on a scoring system, with major or minorcriteria on the Revised Task Force Criteria. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators(ICDs) are increasingly utilized in patients with ARVC who have survived sudden death(SD)(secondary prevention). However, there are few data available to help identifying ARVC patients in whom the prophylactic implantation of an ICD is truly warranted. Prevention of SD is the primary goal of management. Pharmacologic treatment of arrhythmias, catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia, and ICD are the mainstay of treatment of ARVC.
文摘Childhood survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are increased risk of several chronic complications, such as second cancers, pulmonary, metabolic complications and cardiovascular disease. Obesity and metabolic syndrome is one of the most common treatment related complication in children surviving cancer, which concurs with our nations childhood epidemic [1-3] Recent research has identified the role of genetics in the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome in childhood survivors of ALL. Growth hormone deficiency, Leptin regulation, fat mass obesity (FTO) gene and the insulin resistant ENPP1 variants disorders has been associated adverse effects of chemotherapeutic treatment and the cause of clinical manifestations of metabolic syndrome [4-8]. The illumination of the role of genetic variants can shed insights into obesity within high risk population, as well as, a target to prevent disease.
基金Funding was provided by the Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran(ABRII),Swedish Research Council(Vetenskapsrådet grant no.:2017-05019)the BBSRC Institute Strategic Programme Gut Microbes and Health(BB/r012490/1,its constituent project BBS/e/F/000Pr10355).
文摘Metagenomics has opened new avenues for exploring the genetic potential of uncultured microorganisms,which may serve as promising sources of enzymes and natural products for industrial applications.Identifying enzymes with improved catalytic properties from the vast amount of available metagenomic data poses a significant challenge that demands the development of novel computational and functional screening tools.The catalytic properties of all enzymes are primarily dictated by their structures,which are predominantly determined by their amino acid sequences.However,this aspect has not been fully considered in the enzyme bioprospecting processes.With the accumulating number of available enzyme sequences and the increasing demand for discovering novel biocatalysts,structural and functional modeling can be employed to identify potential enzymes with novel catalytic properties.Recent efforts to discover new polysaccharide-degrading enzymes from rumen metagenome data using homology-based searches and machine learning-based models have shown significant promise.Here,we will explore various computational approaches that can be employed to screen and shortlist metagenome-derived enzymes as potential biocatalyst candidates,in conjunction with the wet lab analytical methods traditionally used for enzyme characterization.
文摘The TGFβ signaling pathway is conserved from flies to humans and has been shown to regulate such diverse pro- cesses as cell proliferation, differentiation, motility, adhesion, organization, and programmed cell death. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments suggest that TGF[~ can utilize these varied programs to promote cancer metastasis through its effects on the tumor microenvironment, enhanced invasive properties, and inhibition of immune cell function. Recent clinical evidence demonstrating a link between TGFβ signaling and cancer progression is fostering interest in this signaling pathway as a therapeutic target. Anti-TGFβ therapies are currently being developed and tested in pre- clinical studies. However, targeting TGFβ carries a substantial risk as this pathway is implicated in multiple homeostatic processes and is also known to have tumor-suppressor functions. Additionally, clinical and experimental results show that TGFβ has diverse and often conflicting roles in tumor progression even within the same tumor types. The development of TGFβ inhibitors for clinical use will require a deeper understanding of TGFβ signaling, its consequences, and the contexts in which it acts.
基金supported by the grant DE13571 from the National Institutes of Health (R.A.S.),USAthe support from Rotaplast International, Inc. (M.M.T.),USA
文摘Non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate （nsCL/P） is among the most common major birth defects, with complex inheritance involving multiple genes and environmental factors. Numerous studies of MTHFR, encoding methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, which catalyzes the rate-limiting step of folic acid biosynthesis, have shown inconsistent association of two common hypomorphic allelic variants, C677T and A1298C, in nsCL/P patients and, in some cases, their mothers. We have studied the MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms in nsCL/P patients, their mothers, and population-matched controls from northern Venezuela. We found no evidence for contribution of the MTHFR C677T and A1298C variants to the risk of nsCL/P in northern Venezuela. Overall, our findings fail to support a causal role of either the MTHFR C677T or A 1298C variants in the pathogenesis of nsCL/P in northern Venezuela.
基金fully supported by Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Center for Cancer Research (1ZIASC010357 to ZMZ)a part of Brant AC Ph.D thesis being developed at the Post-graduate program in Genetics (PGGEN) of Rio de Janeiro Federal University (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil+2 种基金the National Cancer Institute of USAsupported by the PDSE program of Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Capes, Brazil)the National Cancer Institute of USA
文摘Human papillomavirus 18(HPV18) E6 and E7 oncogenes are transcribed as a single bicistronic E6 E7 pre-mRNA. The E6 ORF region in the bicistronic E6 E7 pre-mRNA contains an intron. Splicing of this intron disrupts the E6 ORF integrity and produces a spliced E6*I RNA for efficient E7 translation. Here we report that the E6 intron has two overlapped branch point sequences(BPS) upstream of its 30 splice site, with an identical heptamer AACUAAC, for E6*I splicing. One heptamer has a branch site adenosine(underlined) at nt 384 and the other at nt 388. E6*I splicing efficiency correlates to the expression level of E6 and E7 proteins and depends on the selection of which branch site. In general, E6*I splicing prefers the 30 ss-proximal branch site at nt 388 over the distal branch site at nt 384. Inactivation of the nt 388 branch site was found to activate a cryptic acceptor site at nt 636 for aberrant RNA splicing. Together, these data suggest that HPV18 modulates its production ratio of E6 and E7 proteins by alternative selection of the two mapped branch sites for the E6*I splicing, which could be beneficial in its productive or oncogenic infection according to the host cell environment.
基金Supported by The Instituto de Salud Carlos Ⅲ, Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo (FIS01-04, project P047-04)
文摘AIM:To characterize clinicopathological and familial features of early-onset colorectal cancer(CRC) and compare features of tumors with and without microsatellite instability(MSI).METHODS:Forty-five patients with CRC aged 45 or younger were included in the study.Clinical information,a three-generation family history,and tumor samples were obtained.MSI status was analyzed and mismatch repair genes were examined in the MSI families.Tumors were included in a tissue microarray and an immunohistochemical study was carried out with a panel of selected antibodies.RESULTS:Early onset CRC is characterized by advanced stage at diagnosis,right colon location,low-grade of differentiation,mucin production,and presence of polyps.Hereditary forms represent at least 21% of cases.Eighty-one percent of patients who died during followup showed a lack of expression of cyclin E,which could be a marker of poor prognosis.β-catenin expression was normal in a high percentage of tumors.CONCLUSION:Early-onset CRC has an important familial component,with a high proportion of tumors showing microsatellite stable.Cyclin E might be a poor prognosis factor.
文摘The epithelium of the human epididymis maintains an appropriate luminal environment for sperm maturation that is essential for male fertility. Regional expression of small noncoding RNAs such as microRNAs contributes to segment-specific gene expression and differentiated functions. MicroRNA profiles were reported in human epididymal tissues but not specifically in the epithelial cells derived from those regions. Here, we reveal miRNA signatures of primary cultures of caput, corpus, and cauda epididymis epithelial cells and of the tissues from which they were derived. We identify 324 epithelial cell-derived microRNAs and 259 tissue-derived microRNAs in the epididymis, some of which displayed regionalized expression patterns in cells and/or tissues. Caput cell-enriched miRNAs included miR-573 and miR-155. Cauda cell-enriched miRNAs included miR-1204 and miR-770. Next, we determined the gene ontology pathways associated with in silico predicted target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs. The effect of androgen receptor stimulation on miRNA expression was also investigated. These data show novel epithelial cell-derived miRNAs that may regulate the expression of important gene networks that are responsible for the regionalized gene expression and function of the epididymis.
文摘Background & Aims: Mutations in the mismatch repair genes cause hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) syndrome and convey high lifetime cancer risks for colorectal (CRC) and endometrial cancer. Currently, cancer risks for individuals with HNPCC are based on data from clinically ascertained families. The purpose of this study was to re-examine the penetrance in HNPCC using a comprehensive dataset from a geographically defined region. Methods: A combined dataset of 70 HNPCC families ascertained by traditional high-risk criteria and by molecular screening comprising 88 probands and 373 mutation-positive family members was used. Statistical methods were modified survival analysis techniques. Results: In mutation-positive relatives (excluding probands), the median age at diagnosis of CRC was 61.2 years (confidence interval [CI], 56.3- 68.0 y). The lifetime risk for CRC was 68.7% (CI, 58.6% - 78.9% ) for men and 52.2% (CI, 37.6% - 66.9% ) for women. Considering only probands, the median age at diagnosis of CRC was 44.0 years (CI, 41.0- 46.3 y). Median age of onset of EC was 62.0 years (CI, 55.9 y to an upper limit too high to calculate)with a lifetime cancer risk of 54% (CI, 41.9% - 66.1% ). Conclusions: A markedly later age of onset for CRC at 61 y than previously reported (? 44 y) is suggested, resulting mainly from a more rigorous method of analysis in which all gene-positive individuals (both affected and unaffected with cancer) are considered. Lifetime cancer risks may be lower for CRC and endometrial cancer than presently assumed. If confirmed, these data suggest a need to alter counseling practices, and to consider HNPCC in older individuals than before.
文摘We report an apparently benign familial 9p subtelomere deletion identified using chromosome-arm-specific subtelomere probes in a patient with multiple congenital anomalies. Our experience demonstrated that the discovery of a subtelomeric deletion and/or duplication does not always guarantee the identification of the etiology for the patient’s phenotype and a positive finding with subtelomere probes should always be followed by parental study with the same probe in order to distinguish a disease causing alteration from a benign familial polymorphism.
文摘Defining translational research is still a complex task. In oncology, translational research implies using our basic knowledge learnt from in vitro and in vivo experiments to directly improve diagnostic tools and therapeutic approaches in cancer patients. Moreover, the better understanding of human cancer and its use to design more reliable tumor models and more accurate experimental systems also has to be considered a good example of translational research. The identification and characterization of new molecular markers and the discovery of novel targeted therapies are two main goals in colorectal cancer translational research. However, the straightforward translation of basic research findings, specifically into colorectal cancer treatment and vice versa is still underway. In the present paper, a summarized view of some of the new available approaches on colorectal cancer translational research is provided. Pros and cons are discussed for every approach exposed.
基金supported by the Intramural Research Program of the NIH,National Cancer Institute,Center for Cancer Research (to CD)。
文摘Worldwide,more than 40 million people are afflicted with Alzheimer's disease(AD)(Esquerda-Canals et al.,2017).AD is a devastating neurodegenerative disroder characterized by progressive decline in cognitive abilities.A hallmark of AD and other neurodegenerative disorders in humans is the aggregation of proteins into amyloid fibrils and their deposition into plaques and intracellular inclusions(Iadanza et al.)。
文摘The most frequent chromosomal rearrangement reported in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is t(15;17)(q22;q21). The t(15;17) generates the PML/RARA fusion gene that blocks the transcription of genes involved in myeloid cell differentiation. A small number of simple and complex variants of the classical t(15;17) have been reported. We report two complex three-way translocation variants,t(3;17;15)(q27;q21;q22) and t(8;17;15)(q24.3;q12;q22) in which the PML/RARA fusion gene has been created on the derivative 15 chromosomes. Many of these variant translocations are suspected by conventional cytogenetics but need to be confirmed with additional molecular testing. We discuss the importance of supplementing conventional cytogenetic testing with FISH and RT-PCR to accurately diagnose APL variant patients.
基金The research presented in this publication was funded by grants AGL2013–48742-C2–1-R and AGL2013–48742-C2–2-R awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitivity.We also acknowledge the support of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitivity for the Center of Excellence Severo Ochoa 2016–2019(SEV-2015-0533)grant awarded to the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics(CRAG).E.Mármol-Sánchez was funded with a PhD fellowship FPU15/01733 awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Culture(MECD).Y.Ramayo-Caldas is financially supported by the European Union H2020 Research and Innovation programme under Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant(P-Sphere)agreement N°6655919.T.F.Cardoso was funded with a fellowship from the CAPES Foundation-Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education,Ministry of Education of the Federal Government of Brazil.Thanks also to the CERCA Programme of the Generalitat de Catalunya.
文摘Background:The role of non-coding RNAs in the porcine muscle metabolism is poorly understood,with few studies investigating their expression patterns in response to nutrient supply.Therefore,we aimed to investigate the changes in microRNAs(miRNAs),long intergenic non-coding RNAs(lincRNAs)and mRNAs muscle expression before and after food intake.Results:We measured the miRNA,lincRNA and mRNA expression levels in the gluteus medius muscle of 12 gilts in a fasting condition(AL-T0)and 24 gilts fed ad libitum during either 5 h.(AL-T1,N=12)or 7 h.(AL-T2,N=12)prior to slaughter.The small RNA fraction was extracted from muscle samples retrieved from the 36 gilts and sequenced,whereas lincRNA and mRNA expression data were already available.In terms of mean and variance,the expression profiles of miRNAs and lincRNAs in the porcine muscle were quite different than those of mRNAs.Food intake induced the differential expression of 149(AL-T0/AL-T1)and 435(AL-T0/AL-T2)mRNAs,6(AL-T0/AL-T1)and 28(AL-T0/AL-T2)miRNAs and none lincRNAs,while the number of differentially dispersed genes was much lower.Among the set of differentially expressed miRNAs,we identified ssc-miR-148a-3p,ssc-miR-22-3p and ssc-miR-1,which play key roles in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism.Besides,co-expression network analyses revealed several miRNAs that putatively interact with mRNAs playing key metabolic roles and that also showed differential expression before and after feeding.One case example was represented by seven miRNAs(ssc-miR-148a-3p,ssc-miR-151-3p,ssc-miR-30a-3p,ssc-miR-30e-3p,ssc-miR-421-5p,ssc-miR-493-5p and ssc-miR-503)which putatively interact with the PDK4 mRNA,one of the master regulators of glucose utilization and fatty acid oxidation.Conclusions:As a whole,our results evidence that microRNAs are likely to play an important role in the porcine skeletal muscle metabolic adaptation to nutrient availability.
基金This work was funded by the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research.
文摘We report a three-year-old male child who presented with congenital valvular defects,right ventricular malformation,and initial developmental delay.Genome sequencing showed rare deleterious biallelic missense variants in PLD1.In his parents’second pregnancy,echocardiogram at 13 weeks gestation revealed right-sided cardiac malformations resembling the clinical presentation of the family’s first child.Targeted DNA analysis showed that the fetus carried the same biallelic PLD1 variants as their older sibling.This case helps to further delineate the clinical spectrum of PLD1-related defects and highlights the value of both genome sequencing in congenital heart disease and early fetal echocardiography to establish phenotype.
文摘High-grade gliomas are aggressive and uniformly fatal tumors,composed of a heterogeneous population of cells that include many with stem-cell-like properties.The acquisition of stem-like traits might contribute to glioma initiation,growth,and recurrence.Here we investigated the role of the transcription factor myeloid Elf-1 like factor(MEF,also known as ELF4) in gliomas.We found that MEF is highly expressed in both human and mouse glioblastomas and its absence impairs gliomagenesis in a PDGF-driven glioma mouse model.We show that modulation of MEF levels in both mouse neural stem cells and human glioblastoma cells has a significant impact on neurosphere formation.Moreover,we identify Sox2 as a direct downstream target of MEF.Taken together,our studies implicate MEF as a previously unrecognized gatekeeper gene in gliomagenesis that promotes stem cell characteristics through Sox2 activation.
文摘Objective: To use neuropathologic data to examine the association between APOE genotype and cerebrovascular lesions commonly found in Alzheimer disease (AD), as well as neuritic senile plaque (SP) and neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) burden. Methods: The sample comprised brains from 96 men and 3 women who fulfilled NIA-Reagan criteria for intermediate to high likelihood of AD. Region-specific and global measures of gross cerebrovascular disease, arteriolosclerosis, white matter lesions, microinfarcts, amyloid angiopathy, neuritic SP, and NFT burden were compared among those who had at least one APOE-4: vs those who did not. Pairwise rank-order correlations between measures were calculated. The association between APOE 4 status and measures of vascular and AD pathology, adjusting for age at death, sex, brain weight, and Braak stage, were evaluated. Results: APOE-4 was not associated with gross cerebrovascular pathology. Compared to those who were negative, brains from 4 individuals had a greater degree of small vessel arteriolosclerosis (p=0.04) and perivascular macrophage infiltration (p=0.06), but not other markers of small vessel disease or white matter myelin loss. Microinfarcts in the deep nuclei were associated with 4(p=0.009), whereas cortical and subcortical microinfarcts were not. There was a trend toward association between APOE genotype and amyloid angiopathy (p=0.08), and 4 was associated with neuritic SP burden, but not NFT. Conclusion: APOE-4 is associated with small vessel arteriolosclerosis, microinfarcts of the deep nuclei, neuritic senile plaque density, and amyloid angiopathy in patients with autopsy-proven Alzheimer disease (AD). These results suggest a role for 4 in some of the microvascular changes commonly found in AD and are consistent with a potential amyloidogenic role for 4.
基金This study was supported by PO1 NIH PO1CA163227(Prostate Cancer Donor Program),NIH T32 CA1600001(to A.Q.V.),NCI R01 CA264078(to C.M.R.and,H.A.Y.)The Doris Duke Foundation(Grant 2021184)(to MCH),NCI P50 CA97186(to M.H.and C.M.),NCI R35 CA263816(to C.M.R.),NCI U24 CA213274(to C.M.R.),Yasuda Medical Foundation(to K.K.)+4 种基金the American Lung Association(to A.Q.V.)the Druckenmiller Center for Lung Cancer Research(to A.Q.V.,K.K.,and C.M.R.)This study was also supported by the Regional Ministry of Health and Consume of Andalucia RC-0004-2020(SMP)the Carlos II Health Institute through the projects"PI20/01109 and PI23/01679"(Co-funded by European Regional Development Fund/European Social Fund"A way to make Europe""nvesting in your future")(SMP).
文摘Neuroendocrine(NE)transformation is a mechanism of resistance to targeted therapy in lung and prostate adenocarcinomas leading to poor prognosis.Up to date,even if patients at high risk of transformation can be identified by the occurrence of Tumor Protein P53(TP53)and Retinoblastoma Transcriptional Corepressor 1(RB1)mutations in their tumors,no therapeutic strategies are available to prevent or delay histological transformation.Upregulation of the cell cycle kinase Cell Division Cycle 7(CDC7)occurred in tumors during the initial steps of NE transformation,already after TP53/RB1 co-inactivation,leading to induced sensitivity to the CDC7 inhibitor simurosertib.CDC7 inhibition suppressed NE transdifferentiation and extended response to targeted therapy in in vivo models of NE transformation by inducing the proteasome-mediated degradation of the MYC Proto-Oncogen(MYC),implicated in stemness and histological transformation.Ectopic overexpression of a degradation-resistant MYC isoform reestablished the NE transformation phenotype observed on targeted therapy,even in the presence of simurosertib.CDC7 inhibition also markedly extended response to standard cytotoxics(cisplatin,irinotecan)in lung and prostate small cell carcinoma models.These results nominate CDC7 inhibition as a therapeutic strategy to constrain lineage plasticity,as well as to effectively treat NE tumors de novo or after transformation.As simurosertib clinical efficacy trials are ongoing,this concept could be readily translated for patients at risk oftransformation.
