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Ferrer J, Dimitrova N. Transcription regulation by long non-coding RNAs: mechanisms and disease relevance. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024; 25:396-415. [PMID: 38242953 PMCID: PMC11045326 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-023-00694-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) outnumber protein-coding transcripts, but their functions remain largely unknown. In this Review, we discuss the emerging roles of lncRNAs in the control of gene transcription. Some of the best characterized lncRNAs have essential transcription cis-regulatory functions that cannot be easily accomplished by DNA-interacting transcription factors, such as XIST, which controls X-chromosome inactivation, or imprinted lncRNAs that direct allele-specific repression. A growing number of lncRNA transcription units, including CHASERR, PVT1 and HASTER (also known as HNF1A-AS1) act as transcription-stabilizing elements that fine-tune the activity of dosage-sensitive genes that encode transcription factors. Genetic experiments have shown that defects in such transcription stabilizers often cause severe phenotypes. Other lncRNAs, such as lincRNA-p21 (also known as Trp53cor1) and Maenli (Gm29348) contribute to local activation of gene transcription, whereas distinct lncRNAs influence gene transcription in trans. We discuss findings of lncRNAs that elicit a function through either activation of their transcription, transcript elongation and processing or the lncRNA molecule itself. We also discuss emerging evidence of lncRNA involvement in human diseases, and their potential as therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Ferrer
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), Madrid, Spain.
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Nadya Dimitrova
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
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2
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LaPolice TM, Huang YF. An unsupervised deep learning framework for predicting human essential genes from population and functional genomic data. BMC Bioinformatics 2023; 24:347. [PMID: 37723435 PMCID: PMC10506225 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-023-05481-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ability to accurately predict essential genes intolerant to loss-of-function (LOF) mutations can dramatically improve the identification of disease-associated genes. Recently, there have been numerous computational methods developed to predict human essential genes from population genomic data. While the existing methods are highly predictive of essential genes of long length, they have limited power in pinpointing short essential genes due to the sparsity of polymorphisms in the human genome. RESULTS Motivated by the premise that population and functional genomic data may provide complementary evidence for gene essentiality, here we present an evolution-based deep learning model, DeepLOF, to predict essential genes in an unsupervised manner. Unlike previous population genetic methods, DeepLOF utilizes a novel deep learning framework to integrate both population and functional genomic data, allowing us to pinpoint short essential genes that can hardly be predicted from population genomic data alone. Compared with previous methods, DeepLOF shows unmatched performance in predicting ClinGen haploinsufficient genes, mouse essential genes, and essential genes in human cell lines. Notably, at a false positive rate of 5%, DeepLOF detects 50% more ClinGen haploinsufficient genes than previous methods. Furthermore, DeepLOF discovers 109 novel essential genes that are too short to be identified by previous methods. CONCLUSION The predictive power of DeepLOF shows that it is a compelling computational method to aid in the discovery of essential genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Troy M LaPolice
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
- Bioinformatics and Genomics Graduate Program, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
| | - Yi-Fei Huang
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
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3
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Selewa A, Luo K, Wasney M, Smith L, Sun X, Tang C, Eckart H, Moskowitz IP, Basu A, He X, Pott S. Single-cell genomics improves the discovery of risk variants and genes of atrial fibrillation. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4999. [PMID: 37591828 PMCID: PMC10435551 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40505-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have linked hundreds of loci to cardiac diseases. However, in most loci the causal variants and their target genes remain unknown. We developed a combined experimental and analytical approach that integrates single cell epigenomics with GWAS to prioritize risk variants and genes. We profiled accessible chromatin in single cells obtained from human hearts and leveraged the data to study genetics of Atrial Fibrillation (AF), the most common cardiac arrhythmia. Enrichment analysis of AF risk variants using cell-type-resolved open chromatin regions (OCRs) implicated cardiomyocytes as the main mediator of AF risk. We then performed statistical fine-mapping, leveraging the information in OCRs, and identified putative causal variants in 122 AF-associated loci. Taking advantage of the fine-mapping results, our novel statistical procedure for gene discovery prioritized 46 high-confidence risk genes, highlighting transcription factors and signal transduction pathways important for heart development. In summary, our analysis provides a comprehensive map of AF risk variants and genes, and a general framework to integrate single-cell genomics with genetic studies of complex traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Selewa
- Biophysical Sciences Graduate Program, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Kaixuan Luo
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Michael Wasney
- Department of Medicine, Section of Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Linsin Smith
- Committee on Genetics, Genomics and Systems Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Xiaotong Sun
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Chenwei Tang
- The College, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Heather Eckart
- Department of Medicine, Section of Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Ivan P Moskowitz
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Anindita Basu
- Department of Medicine, Section of Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
| | - Xin He
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
| | - Sebastian Pott
- Department of Medicine, Section of Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
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4
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Doering L, Cornean A, Thumberger T, Benjaminsen J, Wittbrodt B, Kellner T, Hammouda OT, Gorenflo M, Wittbrodt J, Gierten J. CRISPR-based knockout and base editing confirm the role of MYRF in heart development and congenital heart disease. Dis Model Mech 2023; 16:dmm049811. [PMID: 37584388 PMCID: PMC10445736 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
High-throughput DNA sequencing studies increasingly associate DNA variants with congenital heart disease (CHD). However, functional modeling is a crucial prerequisite for translating genomic data into clinical care. We used CRISPR-Cas9-mediated targeting of 12 candidate genes in the vertebrate model medaka (Oryzias latipes), five of which displayed a novel cardiovascular phenotype spectrum in F0 (crispants): mapre2, smg7, cdc42bpab, ankrd11 and myrf, encoding a transcription factor recently linked to cardiac-urogenital syndrome. Our myrf mutant line showed particularly prominent embryonic cardiac defects recapitulating phenotypes of pediatric patients, including hypoplastic ventricle. Mimicking human mutations, we edited three sites to generate specific myrf single-nucleotide variants via cytosine and adenine base editors. The Glu749Lys missense mutation in the conserved intramolecular chaperon autocleavage domain fully recapitulated the characteristic myrf mutant phenotype with high penetrance, underlining the crucial function of this protein domain. The efficiency and scalability of base editing to model specific point mutations accelerate gene validation studies and the generation of human-relevant disease models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lino Doering
- Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alex Cornean
- Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Biosciences International Graduate School, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Thumberger
- Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Joergen Benjaminsen
- Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Beate Wittbrodt
- Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tanja Kellner
- Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Omar T. Hammouda
- Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Matthias Gorenflo
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Heidelberg/Mannheim, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Joachim Wittbrodt
- Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Heidelberg/Mannheim, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jakob Gierten
- Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Heidelberg/Mannheim, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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Mary L, Leclerc D, Gilot D, Belaud-Rotureau MA, Jaillard S. The TALE never ends: A comprehensive overview of the role of PBX1, a TALE transcription factor, in human developmental defects. Hum Mutat 2022; 43:1125-1148. [PMID: 35451537 DOI: 10.1002/humu.24388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
PBX1 is a highly conserved atypical homeodomain transcription factor (TF) belonging to the TALE (three amino acid loop extension) family. Dimerized with other TALE proteins, it can interact with numerous partners and reach dozens of regulating sequences, suggesting its role as a pioneer factor. PBX1 is expressed throughout the embryonic stages (as early as the blastula stage) in vertebrates. In human, PBX1 germline variations are linked to syndromic renal anomalies (CAKUTHED). In this review, we summarized available data on PBX1 functions, PBX1-deficient animal models, and PBX1 germline variations in humans. Two types of genetic alterations were identified in PBX1 gene. PBX1 missense variations generate a severe phenotype including lung hypoplasia, cardiac malformations, and sexual development defects (DSDs). Conversely, truncating variants generate milder phenotypes (mainly cryptorchidism and deafness). We suggest that defects in PBX1 interactions with various partners, including proteins from the HOX (HOXA7, HOXA10, etc.), WNT (WNT9B, WNT3), and Polycomb (BMI1, EED) families are responsible for abnormal proliferation and differentiation of the embryonic mesenchyme. These alterations could explain most of the defects observed in humans. However, some phenotype variability (especially DSDs) remains poorly understood. Further studies are needed to explore the TALE family in greater depth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Mary
- Service de Cytogénétique et Biologie Cellulaire, CHU Rennes, Rennes, France
- INSERM, EHESP, IRSET (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)- UMR_S 1085, Université Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Delphine Leclerc
- Inserm U1242, Centre de lutte contre le cancer Eugène Marquis, Université de Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - David Gilot
- Service de Cytogénétique et Biologie Cellulaire, CHU Rennes, Rennes, France
- Inserm U1242, Centre de lutte contre le cancer Eugène Marquis, Université de Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - Marc-Antoine Belaud-Rotureau
- Service de Cytogénétique et Biologie Cellulaire, CHU Rennes, Rennes, France
- INSERM, EHESP, IRSET (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)- UMR_S 1085, Université Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Sylvie Jaillard
- Service de Cytogénétique et Biologie Cellulaire, CHU Rennes, Rennes, France
- INSERM, EHESP, IRSET (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)- UMR_S 1085, Université Rennes 1, Rennes, France
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6
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Li T, Wu Y, Chen WC, Xue X, Suo MJ, Li P, Sheng W, Huang GY. Functional analysis of HECA variants identified in congenital heart disease in the Chinese population. J Clin Lab Anal 2022; 36:e24649. [PMID: 35949005 PMCID: PMC9459261 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.24649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a class of cardiovascular defects that includes septal defects, outflow tract abnormalities, and valve defects. Human homolog of Drosophila headcase (HECA) is a novel cell cycle regulator whose role in CHD has not been elucidated. This is the first study to determine the frequency of HECA mutations in patients with CHD and the association between HECA variants and CHD. Methods In this study, we identified a candidate gene, HECA, by whole‐exome sequencing of an atrial septal defect family. To investigate the association between HECA variants and CHD risk, targeted exon sequencing was conducted in 689 individuals with sporadic CHD. We further analyzed the effect of HECA gene abnormalities on cardiomyocyte phenotype behavior and related signaling pathways by Western blotting, reverse transcription‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and scratch assay. Results We found a novel de novo mutation, c.409_410insA (p. W137fs), in the HECA gene and identified five rare deleterious variants that met the filtering criteria in 689 individuals with sporadic CHD. Fisher's exact test revealed a significant association between HECA variations and CHD compared with those in gnomADv2‐East Asians(p = 0.0027). Further functional analysis suggested that the variant p. W137fs resulted in a deficiency of the normal HECA protein, and HECA deficiency altered AC16 cell cycle progression, increased cell proliferation, and migration, and promoted the activation of the PDGF‐BB/PDGFRB/AKT pathway. Conclusions Our study identified HECA and its six rare variants, expanding the spectrum of genes associated with CHD pathogenesis in the Chinese population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Li
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defects, Shanghai, China
| | - Yao Wu
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei-Cheng Chen
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defects, Shanghai, China
| | - Xing Xue
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defects, Shanghai, China
| | - Mei-Jiao Suo
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defects, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Li
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defects, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Sheng
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defects, Shanghai, China
| | - Guo-Ying Huang
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defects, Shanghai, China.,Research Unit of Early Intervention of Genetically Related Childhood Cardiovascular Diseases(2018RU002), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
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7
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HAND2-AS1 targeting miR-1208/SIRT1 axis alleviates foam cell formation in atherosclerosis. Int J Cardiol 2022; 346:53-61. [PMID: 34780888 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2021.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The abnormally expressed long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) exert an important part in the occurrence and development of cardiovascular disease, however, their roles in atherosclerosis (AS) remains unknown. This work focused on investigating the role of HAND2 Antisense RNA 1 (HAND2-AS1) and the related mechanism. As a result, SIRT1 and HAND2-AS1 expression significantly decreased in plasma from patients with atherosclerotic plaques and macrophages originating from THP-1 induced by ox-LDL. Lentivirus mediated HAND2-AS1 overexpression markedly inhibited lipid absorption and deposition within foam cells originating from THP-1 macrophages. HAND2-AS1 endogenously sponged miR-128 and suppressed its activity via sequence complementation. Furthermore, HAND2-AS1 enhanced the expression of SIRT1 via binding to miR-128, thereby promoting ABCA1/G1 expression. Altogether, HAND2-AS1 targeting miR-1208/SIRT1 axis alleviates the formation of foam cells within AS. Besides, HAND2-AS1 may be used to be the possible anti-AS therapeutic target.
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8
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Meza-Espinoza JP, Contreras-Gutiérrez JA, Arámbula-Meraz E, González-García JR, Domínguez-Quezada MG, García-Magallanes N, Madueña-Molina J, Benítez-Pascual J, Partida-Pérez M, Picos-Cárdenas VJ. Cytogenomic characterization of a de novo 4q34.1 deletion in a girl with mild dysmorphic features and a coagulation disorder. Mol Cytogenet 2021; 14:43. [PMID: 34481514 PMCID: PMC8418750 DOI: 10.1186/s13039-021-00564-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND 4q deletion syndrome is a rare chromosomal disorder that mostly arises de novo. The syndrome is characterized by craniofacial dysmorphism, digital abnormalities, skeletal alterations, heart malformations, developmental delay, growth retardation, Pierre Robin sequence, autistic spectrum and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, although not every patient shows the same features. Array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) use improves the detection of tiny chromosomal deletions and allows for a better understanding of genotype-phenotype correlations in affected patients. We report the case of a 6-year-old female patient showing mild dysmorphic features, mild mental disabilities and a coagulation disorder as a consequence of a de novo del(4)(q34.1) characterized by aCGH. CASE PRESENTATION A 6-year-old female patient exhibited special craniofacial features, such as backward-rotated ears, upslanted palpebral fissures, broad nasal bridges, anteverted nares, broad nasal alae, smooth philtrums, smooth nasolabial folds, thin lips, horizontal labial commissures, and retrognathia. In the oral cavity, maxillary deformation, a high arched palate, agenesis of both mandibular canines and fusion of two mandibular incisors were observed. She also displayed bilateral implantation of the proximal thumbs, widely spaced nipples, dorsal kyphosis, hyperlordosis, and clitoral hypertrophy. In addition, the patient presented with coagulopathy, psychomotor delay, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, and mild mental disability. A chromosomal study showed the karyotype 46,XX,del(4)(q34.1), while an aCGH analysis revealed an 18.9 Mb deletion of a chromosome 4q subtelomeric region spanning 93 known genes. CONCLUSION The clinical manifestations of this patient were similar to those reported in other individuals with 4q deletion syndrome. Although most of the patients with a 4q34 terminal deletion share similarities, variations in phenotype are also common. In general, clinical effects of chromosomal deletion syndromes depend on the length of the deleted chromosomal segment and, consequently, on the number of lost genes; however, in all of these syndromes, there is no simple correlation between the phenotype and the chromosomal region involved, particularly in cases of 4q deletion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Pablo Meza-Espinoza
- Facultad de Medicina e Ingeniería en Sistemas Computacionales de Matamoros, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Matamoros, Tamps., Mexico
| | | | - Eliakym Arámbula-Meraz
- Laboratorio de Genética y Biología Molecular, Posgrado en Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Culiacán, Sin., Mexico
| | - Juan Ramón González-García
- División de Genética, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Ma Guadalupe Domínguez-Quezada
- División de Genética, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Noemí García-Magallanes
- Laboratorio de Biomedicina y Biología Molecular, Unidad Académica de Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Universidad Politécnica de Sinaloa, Mazatlán, Sin., Mexico
| | | | | | - Miriam Partida-Pérez
- Departamento de Ciencias Médicas, Centro Universitario de La Costa (CUCosta), Universidad de Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, México
| | - Verónica Judith Picos-Cárdenas
- Laboratorio de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Culiacán, Sin., Mexico.
- Servicio de Medicina Genética, Hospital General de Culiacán, Culiacán, Sin., Mexico.
- Núcleo Académico Básico del Programa de Posgrado de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Nutrición y Gastronomía, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Culiacán, Sin., Mexico.
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Singh R, Cohen ASA, Poulton C, Hjortshøj TD, Akahira-Azuma M, Mendiratta G, Khan WA, Azmanov DN, Woodward KJ, Kirchhoff M, Shi L, Edelmann L, Baynam G, Scott SA, Jabs EW. Deletion of ERF and CIC causes abnormal skull morphology and global developmental delay. Cold Spring Harb Mol Case Stud 2021; 7:a005991. [PMID: 34117072 PMCID: PMC8208047 DOI: 10.1101/mcs.a005991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The ETS2 repressor factor (ERF) is a transcription factor in the RAS-MEK-ERK signal transduction cascade that regulates cell proliferation and differentiation, and pathogenic sequence variants in the ERF gene cause variable craniosynostosis inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. The reported ERF variants are largely loss-of-function, implying haploinsufficiency as a primary disease mechanism; however, ERF gene deletions have not been reported previously. Here we describe three probands with macrocephaly, craniofacial dysmorphology, and global developmental delay. Clinical genetic testing for fragile X and other relevant sequencing panels were negative; however, chromosomal microarray identified heterozygous deletions (63.7-583.2 kb) on Chromosome 19q13.2 in each proband that together included five genes associated with Mendelian diseases (ATP1A3, ERF, CIC, MEGF8, and LIPE). Parental testing indicated that the aberrations were apparently de novo in two of the probands and were inherited in the one proband with the smallest deletion. Deletion of ERF is consistent with the reported loss-of-function ERF variants, prompting clinical copy-number-variant classifications of likely pathogenic. Moreover, the recent characterization of heterozygous loss-of-function CIC sequence variants as a cause of intellectual disability and neurodevelopmental disorders inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern is also consistent with the developmental delays and intellectual disabilities identified among the two probands with CIC deletions. Taken together, this case series adds to the previously reported patients with ERF and/or CIC sequence variants and supports haploinsufficiency of both genes as a mechanism for a variable syndromic cranial phenotype with developmental delays and intellectual disability inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ram Singh
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
- Sema4, Stamford, Connecticut 06902, USA
| | - Ana S A Cohen
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
- Sema4, Stamford, Connecticut 06902, USA
| | - Cathryn Poulton
- Genetic Service of Western Australia, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Perth, Western Australia 6008, Australia
| | - Tina Duelund Hjortshøj
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Moe Akahira-Azuma
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
| | - Geetu Mendiratta
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
- Sema4, Stamford, Connecticut 06902, USA
| | - Wahab A Khan
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
- Sema4, Stamford, Connecticut 06902, USA
| | - Dimitar N Azmanov
- Department of Diagnostic Genomics, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Karen J Woodward
- Department of Diagnostic Genomics, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Maria Kirchhoff
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lisong Shi
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
- Sema4, Stamford, Connecticut 06902, USA
| | - Lisa Edelmann
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
- Sema4, Stamford, Connecticut 06902, USA
| | - Gareth Baynam
- Western Australian Register of Developmental Anomalies and Genetic Services of Western Australia, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Perth, Western Australia 6008, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Division of Paediatrics and Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6008, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Notre Dame, Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6160, Australia
| | - Stuart A Scott
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
- Sema4, Stamford, Connecticut 06902, USA
| | - Ethylin Wang Jabs
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
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10
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Shi Y, Zhang Z, Yin Q, Fu C, Barszczyk A, Zhang X, Wang J, Yang D. Cardiac-specific overexpression of miR-122 induces mitochondria-dependent cardiomyocyte apoptosis and promotes heart failure by inhibiting Hand2. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:5326-5334. [PMID: 33942477 PMCID: PMC8178264 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNA-122 (miR-122) is one of several microRNAs elevated in heart failure patients. To investigate the potential role and mechanism of miR-122 in heart failure, we constructed a transgenic mouse overexpressing miR-122 in the heart. This mouse exhibited cardiac dysfunction (as assessed by transthoracic echocardiography), morphological abnormalities of the heart and cardiomyocyte apoptosis characteristic of heart failure. Mechanistically, we identified the Hand2 transcription factor as a direct target of miR-122 using a dual-luciferase reporter assay. In Tg-miR-122 mice and H9C2 cells with miR-122 mimics, we detected apoptosis and increased expression of dynamin-related protein-1 (Drp1). This effect was blocked with prior knockdown of Hand2 in vitro. Our work suggests that miR-122 causes cardiomyocyte apoptosis by inhibiting Hand2 and consequently increasing Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission. Such a mechanism likely contributes to heart failure and so modulating this pathway could be therapeutically valuable against heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajuan Shi
- Division of CardiologyThe Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Zhi Zhang
- Division of CardiologyThe First People’s Hospital of Yuhang DistrictHangzhouChina
| | - Qiqi Yin
- Department of Internal MedicineThe Third People's Hospital at AnjiHuzhouChina
| | - Chen Fu
- Division of CardiologyThe Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal UniversityHangzhouChina
| | | | - Xiaofu Zhang
- Division of CardiologyThe Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Jiabing Wang
- Division of CardiologyThe Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Deye Yang
- Division of CardiologyThe Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal UniversityHangzhouChina
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