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Swietlik EM, Prapa M, Martin JM, Pandya D, Auckland K, Morrell NW, Gräf S. 'There and Back Again'-Forward Genetics and Reverse Phenotyping in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:E1408. [PMID: 33256119 PMCID: PMC7760524 DOI: 10.3390/genes11121408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the invention of right heart catheterisation in the 1950s enabled accurate clinical diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), it was not until 2000 when the landmark discovery of the causative role of bone morphogenetic protein receptor type II (BMPR2) mutations shed new light on the pathogenesis of PAH. Since then several genes have been discovered, which now account for around 25% of cases with the clinical diagnosis of idiopathic PAH. Despite the ongoing efforts, in the majority of patients the cause of the disease remains elusive, a phenomenon often referred to as "missing heritability". In this review, we discuss research approaches to uncover the genetic architecture of PAH starting with forward phenotyping, which in a research setting should focus on stable intermediate phenotypes, forward and reverse genetics, and finally reverse phenotyping. We then discuss potential sources of "missing heritability" and how functional genomics and multi-omics methods are employed to tackle this problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia M. Swietlik
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK; (E.M.S.); (M.P.); (J.M.M.); (D.P.); (K.A.); (N.W.M.)
- Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge CB2 0AY, UK
- Addenbrooke’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Matina Prapa
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK; (E.M.S.); (M.P.); (J.M.M.); (D.P.); (K.A.); (N.W.M.)
- Addenbrooke’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Jennifer M. Martin
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK; (E.M.S.); (M.P.); (J.M.M.); (D.P.); (K.A.); (N.W.M.)
| | - Divya Pandya
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK; (E.M.S.); (M.P.); (J.M.M.); (D.P.); (K.A.); (N.W.M.)
| | - Kathryn Auckland
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK; (E.M.S.); (M.P.); (J.M.M.); (D.P.); (K.A.); (N.W.M.)
| | - Nicholas W. Morrell
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK; (E.M.S.); (M.P.); (J.M.M.); (D.P.); (K.A.); (N.W.M.)
- Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge CB2 0AY, UK
- Addenbrooke’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
- NIHR BioResource for Translational Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Stefan Gräf
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK; (E.M.S.); (M.P.); (J.M.M.); (D.P.); (K.A.); (N.W.M.)
- NIHR BioResource for Translational Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0PT, UK
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Wysocki T, Olesińska M, Paradowska-Gorycka A. Current Understanding of an Emerging Role of HLA-DRB1 Gene in Rheumatoid Arthritis-From Research to Clinical Practice. Cells 2020; 9:cells9051127. [PMID: 32370106 PMCID: PMC7291248 DOI: 10.3390/cells9051127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease with an unclear pathogenic mechanism. However, it has been proven that the key underlying risk factor is a genetic predisposition. Association studies of the HLA-DRB1 gene clearly indicate its importance in RA morbidity. This review presents the current state of knowledge on the impact of HLA-DRB1 gene, functioning both as a component of the patient’s genome and as an environmental risk factor. The impact of known HLA-DRB1 risk variants on the specific structure of the polymorphic HLA-DR molecule, and epitope binding affinity, is presented. The issues of the potential influence of HLA-DRB1 on the occurrence of non-articular disease manifestations and response to treatment are also discussed. A deeper understanding of the role of the HLA-DRB1 gene is essential to explore the complex nature of RA, which is a result of multiple contributing factors, including genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors. It also creates new opportunities to develop modern and personalized forms of therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Wysocki
- Department of Systemic Connective Tissue Diseases, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Spartańska 1, 02-637 Warsaw, Poland; or
- Correspondence:
| | - Marzena Olesińska
- Department of Systemic Connective Tissue Diseases, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Spartańska 1, 02-637 Warsaw, Poland; or
| | - Agnieszka Paradowska-Gorycka
- Department of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Spartańska 1, 02-637 Warsaw, Poland; or
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