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Aslam I, Shah S, Jabeen S, ELAffendi M, A Abdel Latif A, Ul Haq N, Ali G. A CNN based m5c RNA methylation predictor. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21885. [PMID: 38081880 PMCID: PMC10713599 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48751-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Post-transcriptional modifications of RNA play a key role in performing a variety of biological processes, such as stability and immune tolerance, RNA splicing, protein translation and RNA degradation. One of these RNA modifications is m5c which participates in various cellular functions like RNA structural stability and translation efficiency, got popularity among biologists. By applying biological experiments to detect RNA m5c methylation sites would require much more efforts, time and money. Most of the researchers are using pre-processed RNA sequences of 41 nucleotides where the methylated cytosine is in the center. Therefore, it is possible that some of the information around these motif may have lost. The conventional methods are unable to process the RNA sequence directly due to high dimensionality and thus need optimized techniques for better features extraction. To handle the above challenges the goal of this study is to employ an end-to-end, 1D CNN based model to classify and interpret m5c methylated data sites. Moreover, our aim is to analyze the sequence in its full length where the methylated cytosine may not be in the center. The evaluation of the proposed architecture showed a promising results by outperforming state-of-the-art techniques in terms of sensitivity and accuracy. Our model achieve 96.70% sensitivity and 96.21% accuracy for 41 nucleotides sequences while 96.10% accuracy for full length sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irum Aslam
- Department of Computer Science, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad, 22060, KPK, Pakistan
| | - Sajid Shah
- EIAS Data Science Lab, College of Computer and Information Sciences, Prince Sultan University, Rafha, Riyadh, 12435, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saima Jabeen
- College of Engineering, AI Research Center, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, 50927, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Mohammed ELAffendi
- EIAS Data Science Lab, College of Computer and Information Sciences, Prince Sultan University, Rafha, Riyadh, 12435, Saudi Arabia
| | - Asmaa A Abdel Latif
- Public Health and Community Medicine Department (Industrial medicine and occupational health specialty, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Shibîn el Kôm, Egypt
| | - Nuhman Ul Haq
- Department of Computer Science, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad, 22060, KPK, Pakistan
| | - Gauhar Ali
- EIAS Data Science Lab, College of Computer and Information Sciences, Prince Sultan University, Rafha, Riyadh, 12435, Saudi Arabia
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2
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You M, Xie Z, Zhang N, Zhang Y, Xiao D, Liu S, Zhuang W, Li L, Tao Y. Signaling pathways in cancer metabolism: mechanisms and therapeutic targets. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:196. [PMID: 37164974 PMCID: PMC10172373 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01442-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
A wide spectrum of metabolites (mainly, the three major nutrients and their derivatives) can be sensed by specific sensors, then trigger a series of signal transduction pathways and affect the expression levels of genes in epigenetics, which is called metabolite sensing. Life body regulates metabolism, immunity, and inflammation by metabolite sensing, coordinating the pathophysiology of the host to achieve balance with the external environment. Metabolic reprogramming in cancers cause different phenotypic characteristics of cancer cell from normal cell, including cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, etc. Metabolic disorders in cancer cells further create a microenvironment including many kinds of oncometabolites that are conducive to the growth of cancer, thus forming a vicious circle. At the same time, exogenous metabolites can also affect the biological behavior of tumors. Here, we discuss the metabolite sensing mechanisms of the three major nutrients and their derivatives, as well as their abnormalities in the development of various cancers, and discuss the potential therapeutic targets based on metabolite-sensing signaling pathways to prevent the progression of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengshu You
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, 410078, Changsha, Hunan, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis (Central South University), Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, 410078, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Department of Pathology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410078, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhuolin Xie
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, 410078, Changsha, Hunan, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis (Central South University), Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, 410078, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Department of Pathology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410078, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, 410078, Changsha, Hunan, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis (Central South University), Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, 410078, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Department of Pathology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410078, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yixuan Zhang
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, 410078, Changsha, Hunan, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis (Central South University), Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, 410078, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Department of Pathology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410078, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Desheng Xiao
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Shuang Liu
- Department of Oncology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Wei Zhuang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Lili Li
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Clinical Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir YK Pao Centre for Cancer and Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Ma Liu Shui, Hong Kong.
| | - Yongguang Tao
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, 410078, Changsha, Hunan, China.
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis (Central South University), Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, 410078, Changsha, Hunan, China.
- Department of Pathology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410078, Changsha, Hunan, China.
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hunan Key Laboratory of Early Diagnosis and Precision Therapy in Lung Cancer, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410011, Changsha, China.
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3
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Mohanraj L, Lapato DM, Toor A, Swift-Scanlan T. DNA Methylation Research in Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Population. Biol Res Nurs 2023; 25:220-226. [PMID: 36242509 DOI: 10.1177/10998004221132251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Despite increased sophistication in DNA methylation (DNAm) measurement and methods, conducting studies in specific populations such as the hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) population, presents unique challenges and study design considerations. In this article, we explain the motivation for investigating DNAm in the HCT population, highlighting important study design features and key findings in a longitudinal prospective pilot study of DNAm in 32 patients undergoing autologous HCT in Central Virginia, USA. We also discuss limitations and challenges to generating robust results. We observed that HCT does not prevent high-quality DNA from being extracted from whole blood for DNAm research and that longitudinal prospective studies that span pre- and 2-months post-HCT are feasible. Critically, we did not observe significant impacts of cancer diagnosis, time since transplant, age, or chromosomal sex on overall DNAm data dimensionality. These observations demonstrate that while extreme care is required to ensure generalizable, accurate, and interpretable results, researchers should not avoid HCT-DNAm research simply for fear that the transplant procedure or presence of a cancer diagnosis will prevent meaningful conclusions from being drawn. DNAm is an attractive biomarker that is understudied in patients undergoing HCT and needs to expand to improve precise prediction of HCT outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lathika Mohanraj
- Department of Adult Health and Nursing Systems, 16197VCU School of Nursing, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Dana M Lapato
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, VCU School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Amir Toor
- Department of Internal Medicine, VCU School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Theresa Swift-Scanlan
- Endowed Professor and Director, Biobehavioral Research Lab, 16197VCU School of Nursing, Richmond, VA, USA
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Sheerin CM, Lancaster EE, York TP, Walker J, Danielson CK, Amstadter AB. Epigenome-Wide Study of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Severity in a Treatment-Seeking Adolescent Sample. J Trauma Stress 2021; 34:607-615. [PMID: 33529416 PMCID: PMC8217087 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Emerging research has demonstrated that psychosocial trauma exposure may elicit epigenetic changes, with downstream effects on the transcriptional regulation of genes. Epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) offer an agnostic approach to examine DNA methylation (DNAm) associations and are a valuable tool to aid in the identification of biological pathways involved in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study represents the first EWAS of PTSD in an adolescent sample, an important group given the significance of this developmental period regarding both DNAm changes and PTSD risk. The sample (n = 39, M age = 15.41 years, SD = 1.27, 84.6% female) comprised adolescents who experienced interpersonal trauma and were enrolled in a treatment study. Participants were assessed using the UCLA PTSD Reaction Index for DSM-IV-Adolescent Version and provided a blood sample at baseline. Genomic DNA was isolated from whole blood and assayed using the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip. The primary analysis estimated the associations among individual CpG sites and PTSD symptom scores. Of the 793,575 screened probes tested, two were significant at a false discovery rate (FDR) < 10%. Hypomethylation of both sites was associated with increased PTSD symptom scores. Analysis of differentially methylated regions (DMR) identified a DMR associated with PTSD symptom scores at an FDR < 10%. Results from follow-up models are also discussed. Findings from this preliminary investigation suggest the importance of further research conducted in adolescent samples. The analytic pipeline and results are documented for use in future meta-analytic work as more such samples become available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M. Sheerin
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Eva E. Lancaster
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA,Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Timothy P. York
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA,Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Jesse Walker
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA,Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Carla Kmett Danielson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Ananda B. Amstadter
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
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5
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Houri-Zeevi L, Teichman G, Gingold H, Rechavi O. Stress resets ancestral heritable small RNA responses. eLife 2021; 10:65797. [PMID: 33729152 PMCID: PMC8021399 DOI: 10.7554/elife.65797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Transgenerational inheritance of small RNAs challenges basic concepts of heredity. In Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes, small RNAs are transmitted across generations to establish a transgenerational memory trace of ancestral environments and distinguish self-genes from non-self-elements. Carryover of aberrant heritable small RNA responses was shown to be maladaptive and to lead to sterility. Here, we show that various types of stress (starvation, high temperatures, and high osmolarity) induce resetting of ancestral small RNA responses and a genome-wide reduction in heritable small RNA levels. We found that mutants that are defective in various stress pathways exhibit irregular RNAi inheritance dynamics even in the absence of stress. Moreover, we discovered that resetting of ancestral RNAi responses is specifically orchestrated by factors that function in the p38 MAPK pathway and the transcription factor SKN-1/Nrf2. Stress-dependent termination of small RNA inheritance could protect from run-on of environment-irrelevant heritable gene regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah Houri-Zeevi
- Department of Neurobiology, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences & Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Guy Teichman
- Department of Neurobiology, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences & Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Hila Gingold
- Department of Neurobiology, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences & Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Oded Rechavi
- Department of Neurobiology, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences & Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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6
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Cao C, Ding B, Li Q, Kwok D, Wu J, Long Q. Power analysis of transcriptome-wide association study: Implications for practical protocol choice. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009405. [PMID: 33635859 PMCID: PMC7946362 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) has emerged as one of several promising techniques for integrating multi-scale 'omics' data into traditional genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Unlike GWAS, which associates phenotypic variance directly with genetic variants, TWAS uses a reference dataset to train a predictive model for gene expressions, which allows it to associate phenotype with variants through the mediating effect of expressions. Although effective, this core innovation of TWAS is poorly understood, since the predictive accuracy of the genotype-expression model is generally low and further bounded by expression heritability. This raises the question: to what degree does the accuracy of the expression model affect the power of TWAS? Furthermore, would replacing predictions with actual, experimentally determined expressions improve power? To answer these questions, we compared the power of GWAS, TWAS, and a hypothetical protocol utilizing real expression data. We derived non-centrality parameters (NCPs) for linear mixed models (LMMs) to enable closed-form calculations of statistical power that do not rely on specific protocol implementations. We examined two representative scenarios: causality (genotype contributes to phenotype through expression) and pleiotropy (genotype contributes directly to both phenotype and expression), and also tested the effects of various properties including expression heritability. Our analysis reveals two main outcomes: (1) Under pleiotropy, the use of predicted expressions in TWAS is superior to actual expressions. This explains why TWAS can function with weak expression models, and shows that TWAS remains relevant even when real expressions are available. (2) GWAS outperforms TWAS when expression heritability is below a threshold of 0.04 under causality, or 0.06 under pleiotropy. Analysis of existing publications suggests that TWAS has been misapplied in place of GWAS, in situations where expression heritability is low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Cao
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Bowei Ding
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Qing Li
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Devin Kwok
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Jingjing Wu
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Quan Long
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, O’Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
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Tedja MS, Haarman AEG, Meester-Smoor MA, Kaprio J, Mackey DA, Guggenheim JA, Hammond CJ, Verhoeven VJM, Klaver CCW. IMI - Myopia Genetics Report. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2019; 60:M89-M105. [PMID: 30817828 PMCID: PMC6892384 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.18-25965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The knowledge on the genetic background of refractive error and myopia has expanded dramatically in the past few years. This white paper aims to provide a concise summary of current genetic findings and defines the direction where development is needed. We performed an extensive literature search and conducted informal discussions with key stakeholders. Specific topics reviewed included common refractive error, any and high myopia, and myopia related to syndromes. To date, almost 200 genetic loci have been identified for refractive error and myopia, and risk variants mostly carry low risk but are highly prevalent in the general population. Several genes for secondary syndromic myopia overlap with those for common myopia. Polygenic risk scores show overrepresentation of high myopia in the higher deciles of risk. Annotated genes have a wide variety of functions, and all retinal layers appear to be sites of expression. The current genetic findings offer a world of new molecules involved in myopiagenesis. As the missing heritability is still large, further genetic advances are needed. This Committee recommends expanding large-scale, in-depth genetic studies using complementary big data analytics, consideration of gene-environment effects by thorough measurement of environmental exposures, and focus on subgroups with extreme phenotypes and high familial occurrence. Functional characterization of associated variants is simultaneously needed to bridge the knowledge gap between sequence variance and consequence for eye growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milly S. Tedja
- Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Annechien E. G. Haarman
- Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Magda A. Meester-Smoor
- Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jaakko Kaprio
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - David A. Mackey
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Ophthalmology, Menzies Institute of Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
- Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Lions Eye Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jeremy A. Guggenheim
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J. Hammond
- Section of Academic Ophthalmology, School of Life Course Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Virginie J. M. Verhoeven
- Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Caroline C. W. Klaver
- Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Ophthalmology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - for the CREAM Consortium
- Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Ophthalmology, Menzies Institute of Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
- Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Lions Eye Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
- Section of Academic Ophthalmology, School of Life Course Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Ophthalmology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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Nickerson JA, Wu Q, Imbalzano AN. Mammalian SWI/SNF Enzymes and the Epigenetics of Tumor Cell Metabolic Reprogramming. Front Oncol 2017; 7:49. [PMID: 28421159 PMCID: PMC5378717 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2017.00049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor cells reprogram their metabolism to survive and grow in a challenging microenvironment. Some of this reprogramming is performed by epigenetic mechanisms. Epigenetics is in turn affected by metabolism; chromatin modifying enzymes are dependent on substrates that are also key metabolic intermediates. We have shown that the chromatin remodeling enzyme Brahma-related gene 1 (BRG1), an epigenetic regulator, is necessary for rapid breast cancer cell proliferation. The mechanism for this requirement is the BRG1-dependent transcription of key lipogenic enzymes and regulators. Reduction in lipid synthesis lowers proliferation rates, which can be restored by palmitate supplementation. This work has established BRG1 as an attractive target for breast cancer therapy. Unlike genetic alterations, epigenetic mechanisms are reversible, promising gentler therapies without permanent off-target effects at distant sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey A Nickerson
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Qiong Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Anthony N Imbalzano
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
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9
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Pranavchand R, Reddy BM. Genomics era and complex disorders: Implications of GWAS with special reference to coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cancers. J Postgrad Med 2016; 62:188-98. [PMID: 27424552 PMCID: PMC4970347 DOI: 10.4103/0022-3859.186390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The Human Genome Project (HGP) has identified millions of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and their association with several diseases, apart from successfully characterizing the Mendelian/monogenic diseases. However, the dissection of precise etiology of complex genetic disorders still poses a challenge for human geneticists. This review outlines the landmark results of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with respect to major complex diseases - Coronary artery disease (CAD), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and predominant cancers. A brief account on the current Indian scenario is also given. All the relevant publications till mid-2015 were accessed through web databases such as PubMed and Google. Several databases providing genetic information related to these diseases were tabulated and in particular, the list of the most significant SNPs identified through GWAS was made, which may be useful for designing studies in functional validation. Post-GWAS implications and emerging concepts such as epigenomics and pharmacogenomics were also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Pranavchand
- Molecular Anthropology Group, Biological Anthropology Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - B M Reddy
- Molecular Anthropology Group, Biological Anthropology Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
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10
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The significance of the increased expression of phosphorylated MeCP2 in the membranes from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Sci Rep 2016; 6:32850. [PMID: 27616658 PMCID: PMC5018725 DOI: 10.1038/srep32850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation of expression of phosphorylated methyl-CpG binding protein 2-Ser421 (MeCP2-S421) and VEGF in the membranes of patients with PDR. We examined the expression of phospho-MeCP2-S80, S421, VEGF and PEDF in surgically excised PDR membranes from 33 patients with diabetes, and idiopathic epiretinal membranes from 11 patients without diabetes, using immunohistochemistry and western blot. The colocalization of MeCP2-S421 with VEGF, PEDF, CD31, GFAP and αSMA was revealed by fluorescent double labeling. The effect of CoCl2 and knock down MeCP2 using specific siRNA on the expression of MeCP2 and VEGF were analyzed in HUCAC cells by Western blot. We found that phospho-MeCP2-S421 was significantly increased in the membranes from the patients with PDR compared with the specimens from patients without diabetes (P < 0.01). The expression of phospho-MeCP2-S421 was much stronger than that of phospho-MeCP2-S80 in the PDR membranes. Double labeling showed that the high phospho-MeCP2-S421 expression was associated with strong expression of VEGF, but not PEDF. Further, phospho-MeCP2-S421 and VEGF were increased by the stimulation of CoCl2 and knock down MeCP2 inhibited the expression of VEGF. Our result suggests that phospho-MeCP2-S421 might involve in the pathogenesis of PDR.
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11
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Guo Y, Dong SS, Chen XF, Jing YA, Yang M, Yan H, Shen H, Chen XD, Tan LJ, Tian Q, Deng HW, Yang TL. Integrating Epigenomic Elements and GWASs Identifies BDNF Gene Affecting Bone Mineral Density and Osteoporotic Fracture Risk. Sci Rep 2016; 6:30558. [PMID: 27465306 PMCID: PMC4964617 DOI: 10.1038/srep30558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 07/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
To identify susceptibility genes for osteoporosis, we conducted an integrative analysis that combined epigenomic elements and previous genome-wide association studies (GWASs) data, followed by validation at population and functional levels, which could identify common regulatory elements and predict new susceptibility genes that are biologically meaningful to osteoporosis. By this approach, we found a set of distinct epigenomic elements significantly enriched or depleted in the promoters of osteoporosis-associated genes, including 4 transcription factor binding sites, 27 histone marks, and 21 chromatin states segmentation types. Using these epigenomic marks, we performed reverse prediction analysis to prioritize the discovery of new candidate genes. Functional enrichment analysis of all the prioritized genes revealed several key osteoporosis related pathways, including Wnt signaling. Genes with high priority were further subjected to validation using available GWASs datasets. Three genes were significantly associated with spine bone mineral density, including BDNF, PDE4D, and SATB2, which all closely related to bone metabolism. The most significant gene BDNF was also associated with osteoporotic fractures. RNA interference revealed that BDNF knockdown can suppress osteoblast differentiation. Our results demonstrated that epigenomic data could be used to indicate common epigenomic marks to discover additional loci with biological functions for osteoporosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Guo
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, P. R. China
| | - Shan-Shan Dong
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, P. R. China
| | - Xiao-Feng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, P. R. China
| | - Ying-Aisha Jing
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, P. R. China
| | - Man Yang
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, P. R. China
| | - Han Yan
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, P. R. China
| | - Hui Shen
- School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Xiang-Ding Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular and Statistical Genetics, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, P. R. China
| | - Li-Jun Tan
- Laboratory of Molecular and Statistical Genetics, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, P. R. China
| | - Qing Tian
- School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Hong-Wen Deng
- School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Tie-Lin Yang
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, P. R. China
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12
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Abstract
Epigenetic regulatory mechanisms play key roles in cardiac development, differentiation, homeostasis, response to stress and injury, and disease. Human heart failure (HF) epigenetic regulatory mechanisms have not been deciphered to date. This 2-part review distills the rapidly evolving research focused on human HF epigenetic regulatory mechanisms. Part I, which was published in the September/October issue, focused on epigenetic regulatory mechanisms involving RNA, specifically the role of short, intermediate, and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and endogenous competing RNA regulatory networks. Part II, now in the November/December issue, focuses on the epigenetic regulatory mechanisms involving DNA, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and chromatin conformational changes. Part II concludes with 2 examples of well-studied integrated epigenetic regulatory mechanisms: the structural and functional roles of the Mediator complex in regulating transcription and the epigenetic networked "cross-talk" regulating atrial natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide promoter activation.
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14
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Plongthongkum N, van Eijk KR, de Jong S, Wang T, Sul JH, Boks MPM, Kahn RS, Fung HL, Ophoff RA, Zhang K. Characterization of genome-methylome interactions in 22 nuclear pedigrees. PLoS One 2014; 9:e99313. [PMID: 25019935 PMCID: PMC4096397 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2013] [Accepted: 05/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic polymorphisms can shape the global landscape of DNA methylation, by either changing substrates for DNA methyltransferases or altering the DNA binding affinity of cis-regulatory proteins. The interactions between CpG methylation and genetic polymorphisms have been previously investigated by methylation quantitative trait loci (mQTL) and allele-specific methylation (ASM) analysis. However, it remains unclear whether these approaches can effectively and comprehensively identify all genetic variants that contribute to the inter-individual variation of DNA methylation levels. Here we used three independent approaches to systematically investigate the influence of genetic polymorphisms on variability in DNA methylation by characterizing the methylation state of 96 whole blood samples in 52 parent-child trios from 22 nuclear pedigrees. We performed targeted bisulfite sequencing with padlock probes to quantify the absolute DNA methylation levels at a set of 411,800 CpG sites in the human genome. With mid-parent offspring analysis (MPO), we identified 10,593 CpG sites that exhibited heritable methylation patterns, among which 70.1% were SNPs directly present in methylated CpG dinucleotides. We determined the mQTL analysis identified 49.9% of heritable CpG sites for which regulation occurred in a distal cis-regulatory manner, and that ASM analysis was only able to identify 5%. Finally, we identified hundreds of clusters in the human genome for which the degree of variation of CpG methylation, as opposed to whether or not CpG sites were methylated, was associated with genetic polymorphisms, supporting a recent hypothesis on the genetic influence of phenotypic plasticity. These results show that cis-regulatory SNPs identified by mQTL do not comprise the full extent of heritable CpG methylation, and that ASM appears overall unreliable. Overall, the extent of genome-methylome interactions is well beyond what is detectible with the commonly used mQTL and ASM approaches, and is likely to include effects on plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nongluk Plongthongkum
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Kristel R. van Eijk
- Department of Psychiatry, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Simone de Jong
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Tina Wang
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Jae Hoon Sul
- Department of Computer Science, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Marco P. M. Boks
- Department of Psychiatry, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - René S. Kahn
- Department of Psychiatry, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ho-Lim Fung
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Roel A. Ophoff
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Kun Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
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15
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Wang F, Stefano GB, Kream RM. Epigenetic modification of DRG neuronal gene expression subsequent to nerve injury: etiological contribution to complex regional pain syndromes (Part I). Med Sci Monit 2014; 20:1067-77. [PMID: 24961509 PMCID: PMC4081136 DOI: 10.12659/msm.890702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
DRG is of importance in relaying painful stimulation to the higher pain centers and therefore could be a crucial target for early intervention aimed at suppressing primary afferent stimulation. Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a common pain condition with an unknown etiology. Recently added new information enriches our understanding of CRPS pathophysiology. Researches on genetics, biogenic amines, neurotransmitters, and mechanisms of pain modulation, central sensitization, and autonomic functions in CRPS revealed various abnormalities indicating that multiple factors and mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of CRPS. Epigenetics refers to mitotically and meiotically heritable changes in gene expression that do not affect the DNA sequence. As epigenetic modifications potentially play an important role in inflammatory cytokine metabolism, neurotransmitter responsiveness, and analgesic sensitivity, they are likely key factors in the development of chronic pain. In this dyad review series, we systematically examine the nerve injury-related changes in the neurological system and their contribution to CRPS. In this part, we first reviewed and summarized the role of neural sensitization in DRG neurons in performing function in the context of pain processing. Particular emphasis is placed on the cellular and molecular changes after nerve injury as well as different models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. These were considered as the potential molecular bases that underlie nerve injury-associated pathogenesis of CRPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuzhou Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China (mainland)
| | - George B Stefano
- Neuroscience Research Institute, State University of New York at Old Westbury, Old Westbury, USA
| | - Richard M Kream
- Neuroscience Research Institute, State University of New York at Old Westbury, Old Westbury, USA
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16
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Vucic EA, Chari R, Thu KL, Wilson IM, Cotton AM, Kennett JY, Zhang M, Lonergan KM, Steiling K, Brown CJ, McWilliams A, Ohtani K, Lenburg ME, Sin DD, Spira A, MacAulay CE, Lam S, Lam WL. DNA methylation is globally disrupted and associated with expression changes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease small airways. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2014; 50:912-22. [PMID: 24298892 PMCID: PMC4068945 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2013-0304oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2013] [Accepted: 12/03/2013] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification that is highly disrupted in response to cigarette smoke and involved in a wide spectrum of malignant and nonmalignant diseases, but surprisingly not previously assessed in small airways of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Small airways are the primary sites of airflow obstruction in COPD. We sought to determine whether DNA methylation patterns are disrupted in small airway epithelia of patients with COPD, and evaluate whether changes in gene expression are associated with these disruptions. Genome-wide methylation and gene expression analysis were performed on small airway epithelial DNA and RNA obtained from the same patient during bronchoscopy, using Illumina's Infinium HM27 and Affymetrix's Genechip Human Gene 1.0 ST arrays. To control for known effects of cigarette smoking on DNA methylation, methylation and gene expression profiles were compared between former smokers with and without COPD matched for age, pack-years, and years of smoking cessation. Our results indicate that aberrant DNA methylation is (1) a genome-wide phenomenon in small airways of patients with COPD, and (2) associated with altered expression of genes and pathways important to COPD, such as the NF-E2-related factor 2 oxidative response pathway. DNA methylation is likely an important mechanism contributing to modulation of genes important to COPD pathology. Because these methylation events may underlie disease-specific gene expression changes, their characterization is a critical first step toward the development of epigenetic markers and an opportunity for developing novel epigenetic therapeutic interventions for COPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A. Vucic
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Raj Chari
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kelsie L. Thu
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ian M. Wilson
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Allison M. Cotton
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jennifer Y. Kennett
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - May Zhang
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kim M. Lonergan
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Katrina Steiling
- Division of Computational Biomedicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; and
| | - Carolyn J. Brown
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Annette McWilliams
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Keishi Ohtani
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Marc E. Lenburg
- Division of Computational Biomedicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; and
| | - Don D. Sin
- University of British Columbia James Hogg Research Centre and the Institute of Heart and Lung Health, St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Avrum Spira
- Division of Computational Biomedicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; and
| | - Calum E. MacAulay
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Stephen Lam
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Wan L. Lam
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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17
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Dozmorov MG, Wren JD, Alarcón-Riquelme ME. Epigenomic elements enriched in the promoters of autoimmunity susceptibility genes. Epigenetics 2013; 9:276-85. [PMID: 24213554 DOI: 10.4161/epi.27021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies have identified a number of autoimmune disease-susceptibility genes. Whether or not these loci share any regulatory or functional elements, however, is an open question. Finding such common regulators is of considerable research interest in order to define systemic therapeutic targets. The growing amount of experimental genomic annotations, particularly those from the ENCODE project, provide a wealth of opportunities to search for such commonalities. We hypothesized that regulatory commonalities might not only delineate a regulatory landscape predisposing to autoimmune diseases, but also define functional elements distinguishing specific diseases. We further investigated if, and how, disease-specific epigenomic elements can identify novel genes yet to be associated with the diseases. We evaluated transcription factors, histone modifications, and chromatin state data obtained from the ENCODE project for statistically significant over- or under-representation in the promoters of genes associated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), and Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). We identified BATF, BCL11A, IRF4, NFkB, PAX5, and PU.1 as transcription factors over-represented in SLE- and RA-susceptibility gene promoters. H3K4me1 and H3K4me2 epigenomic marks were associated with SLE susceptibility genes, and H3K9me3 was common to both SLE and RA. In contrast to a transcriptionally active signature in SLE and RA, SSc-susceptibility genes were depleted in activating epigenomic elements. Using epigenomic elements enriched in SLE and RA, we identified additional immune and B cell signaling-related genes with the same elements in their promoters. Our analysis suggests common and disease-specific epigenomic elements that may define novel therapeutic targets for controlling aberrant activation of autoimmune susceptibility genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail G Dozmorov
- Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation; Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Research Program; Oklahoma City, OK USA
| | - Jonathan D Wren
- Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation; Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Research Program; Oklahoma City, OK USA; University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Oklahoma City, OK USA
| | - Marta E Alarcón-Riquelme
- Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation; Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Research Program; Oklahoma City, OK USA; GENYO; Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research; Pfizer; University of Granada; Andalusian Regional Government; Granada, Spain
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18
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Cohen IR. Autoantibody repertoires, natural biomarkers, and system controllers. Trends Immunol 2013; 34:620-5. [PMID: 23768955 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2013.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2013] [Revised: 05/04/2013] [Accepted: 05/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The immune system is composed of networks of interacting cells and molecules; therefore, to understand and control immune behavior we need to adopt the thinking and tools of systems immunology. This review describes the use of an antigen microarray device and informatics to profile the repertoires of autoantibodies in health and disease. Autoantibody profiling provides an insight into the biomarkers used by the immune system in its dialog with the body. Heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) and HSP70 are cited as examples of key hubs in physiological regulatory networks; HSP molecules and peptides can be viewed as natural regulators because the immune system itself deploys them to modulate inflammatory reactions. The discovery of such natural biomarkers paves the way towards natural control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irun R Cohen
- Department of Immunology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
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