Expression of Mafb is down-regulated in the foreskin of children with hypospadias

Clinical and molecular cytogenetic studies of five new patients with 20q11q12 deletion and review of the literature: Proposition of two critical regions

Deletions of the long arm of chromosome 20 (20q) are rare, with only 16 reported patients displaying a proximal interstitial 20q deletion. A 1.62 Mb minimal critical region at 20q11.2, encompassing three genes GDF5, EPB41L1, and SAMHD1, is proposed to be responsible for this syndrome. The leading clinical features include growth retardation, intractable feeding difficulties with gastroesophageal reflux, hypotonia and psychomotor developmental delay. Common facial dysmorphisms including triangular face, hypertelorism, and hypoplastic alae nasi were additionally reported. Here, we present the clinical and molecular findings of five new patients with proximal interstitial 20q deletions. We analyzed the phenotype and molecular data of all previously reported patients with 20q11.2q12 microdeletions, along with our five new cases. Copy number variation analysis of patients in our cohort has enabled us to identify the second critical region in the 20q11.2q12 region and redefine the first region that is initially identified. The first critical region spans 359 kb at 20q11.2, containing six MIM genes, including two disease-causing genes, GDF5 and CEP250. The second critical region spans 706 kb at 20q12, encompassing four MIM genes, including two disease-causing genes, MAFB and TOP1. We propose GDF5 to be the primary candidate gene generating the phenotype of patients with 20q11.2 deletions. Moreover, we hypothesize TOP1 as a potential candidate gene for the second critical region at 20q12. Of note, we cannot exclude the possibility of a synergistic role of other genes involved in the deletion, including a contiguous gene deletion syndrome or position effect affecting both critical regions. Further studies focusing on patients with proximal 20q deletions are required to support our hypothesis.

Retrospective studies and quantitative proteomics reveal that abnormal expression of blood pressure, blood lipids, and coagulation related proteins is associated with hypospadias

Hypospadias refers to the abnormal position of the male urethral orifice, which not only leads to urination disorder but also causes sexual dysfunction in adulthood. However, the complex and diverse pathogenic factors of hypospadias are still unclear. To study the pathogenesis and prognosis of hypospadias, we counted the serological indexes of children with hypospadias, and found that sSBP, TC and LDL increased in children with mild, moderate and severe hypospadias. Subsequently, we used quantitative proteomics to find differential proteins in mild, moderate and severe hypospadias. After bioinformatics analysis and biochemical experiments on the screened DEPs, we found that the expression of proteins related to immune inflammation, coagulation, blood pressure and inflammation, and blood lipid were differential expressed in the prepuce tissue of children with hypospadias. We further confirmed that the proteins FGB, FGG, SERPINA1, and AGT involved in the angiotensin system, cholesterol metabolism, and coagulation were significantly up-regulated by biochemical experiments. In particular, the AGT protein of the angiotensin system involved in blood pressure regulation, we have shown that it increases with the severity of hypospadias. This study suggests that children with hypospadias are more likely to suffer from hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Our findings provide a theoretical basis for early monitoring of blood lipids and blood pressure to prevent CVD in children with hypospadias.

Expression of Rab25 is down-regulated in the foreskin of children with hypospadias

BACKGROUND

Hypospadias, a congenital malformation of the penis, is one of the newborns' most common developmental defects. The incidence of hypospadias is increasing yearly, and its pathogenesis is closely related to genetic susceptibility and environmental exposure to endocrine disruptors. Exploring the hypospadias' key molecular regulatory mechanism is crucial to reducing its incidence.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the differential expression of Rab25 in hypospadias and normal penile tissue and to identify whether it is a candidate gene for exploring the mechanism of hypospadias.

STUDY DESIGN

This study included 18 children aged 1-6 years undergoing hypospadias repair surgery at the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, and foreskin samples were collected. Children diagnosed with cryptorchidism, intersex status, or endocrine abnormalities were excluded from this study. Another 18 children aged 3-8 years with phimosis were included in the control group. The specimens were used for immunohistochemistry, western blotting, immunofluorescence, and polymerase chain reaction to assess the expression of Rab25.

RESULTS

Rab25 protein expression was lower in the hypospadias group than in the control group [ (2.101 ± 0.1845), (0.7506 ± 0.1779), p = 0.0008 < 0.05). The hypospadias group showed decreased expression of Rab25 protein in the epithelial cell layer. Rab25 mRNA levels were downregulated in the foreskin of children with hypospadias compared with controls [(1.697 ± 0.2005), (0.7687 ± 0.2130), p = 0.0053 < 0.05)].

DISCUSSION

Rab25 mRNA and protein expressions in the hypospadias group were significantly downregulated compared with the control group. This was consistent with the results of single-cell sequencing of fetal mice reproductive nodules at 15.5 days of gestation (Zhang Z, Liu Z, Zhang Q, et al., unpublished observations). Our study represents the first report of abnormal Rab25 expression in the foreskin tissue of patients with hypospadias. More detailed research on the relationship between Rab25 and urethral development could be conducted to reveal the molecular mechanism of hypospadias.

CONCLUSION

The expression of Rab25 in foreskin tissue was lower in the hypospadias group than in the control group. Rab25 is involved in the formation of the urethral seam and the occurrence of hypospadias. The potential mechanism by which Rab25 affects the canalization of the urethral plate needs to be further investigated.

hsa_circ_0000417 downregulation suppresses androgen receptor expression and apoptotic signals in human foreskin fibroblasts via sponging miR-6756-5p

BACKGROUND

Dysregulated apoptosis of penile mesenchymal cells during male urethragenesis has been previously demonstrated to underly hypospadiac urethral closure failure, and androgen receptor (AR) has been shown to play a central role in regulating penile mesenchyme cell proliferation and survival. However, the regulatory mechanisms upstream and downstream of AR remain poorly understood. Our clinical data and bioinformatics analysis previously indicated that hsa_circ_0000417, a circRNA significantly downregulated in hypospadias preputial specimens, may act as a ceRNA for AR via sequestering hsa_miR-6756-5p, and that the biological functions of hsa_circ_0000417 may significantly involve the PI3K/AKT pathway. In this study, we employed human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF-1) to experimentally validate this putative hsa_circ_0000417/miR-6756-5p/AR axis and its impact on penile mesenchymal cell proliferation and apoptosis.

METHOD AND RESULTS

We showed that hsa_circ_0000417 knockdown significantly promoted proliferation and suppressed apoptosis of HFF-1 cells. Mechanistically, hsa_circ_0000417 functioned as a molecular sponge for miR-6756-5p in HFF-1 cells and relieved the latter's translational repression on AR mRNA, leading to decreased AKT activation and increased expression of pro-apoptotic proteins BAX and cleaved-caspase 9. Conversely, elevated levels of miR-6756-5p resulted in diminished AR expression concomitant with enhanced AKT activation and HFF-1 cell proliferation.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, our data describe for the first time a circRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism of AR and its functional consequences in penile mesenchymal cells in the context of hypospadias. These findings may contribute to advancing our current understanding of the roles of AR and mesenchymal cell fate decisions during penile morphogenesis.

Current perspectives in hypospadias research: A scoping review of articles published in 2021 (Review)

Hundreds of papers are written about hypospadias every year referring to all aspects of the pathology, being one of the most common congenital malformations. The present study conducted a scoping review of articles published in 2021 to present the main issues and summarize current perspectives and achievements in the field. It searched for the keyword 'hypospadias' in the three most popular databases (PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science). After the analysis of the publications, they were categorized into different domains. The present review was performed respecting the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA ScR) guidelines. A total of 284 articles were included. These were published in 142 different journals. The most accessed was the Journal of Paediatric Urology with 54 articles. The main identified domains were related to surgical techniques, postoperative care, complications, anesthesia, anatomical factors, genetics, environmental factors, endocrinology, associated malformations, questionnaires and recommendations, management, biological materials, animal models, retrospective studies of centers, social media, bibliometrics, small gestational age, neoplasm, or fertility. Promising modifications of existing surgical techniques were presented with improved outcomes for both the proximal and distal types of hypospadias. Relevant anatomical and etiological, and also genetic factors were clarified. Aspects of the peri- and postoperative management referring to the antibiotherapy, analgesia, dressing techniques, and the future use of novel bioengineering agents to prevent, reduce or treat the occurring complications were discussed.

Exposure to the organophosphate pesticide fenitrothion directly induced defects in mouse embryonic external genitalia

Many industrial chemicals have been reported as anti-androgenic substances. Exposure to these substances represents a potential risk to human health, particularly to the development of reproductive organs such as embryonic external genitalia (eExG). Currently, there is a need for more assay systems that can elucidate the toxicological actions and mechanisms of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). In this study, we show that the eExG slice culture assay is useful for the evaluation of the differing modes of action of EDCs on urethra formation. We assessed the possible endocrine disrupting activity of three chemicals with reported anti-androgenic function, diazinon (DZN), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and fenitrothion (FNT) on eExG slices. Exposure to FNT, but not DZN and DBP, induced defects of androgen-induced urethral masculinization and reduced expression of the androgen-target gene Mafb. Live imaging analyses showed that FNT treatment inhibited androgen-dependent MAFB induction within 12 hours. Furthermore, FNT-treated tissue slices showed reduced expression of the androgen receptor (AR). These results indicate that FNT disrupts androgen signaling by reduction of AR expression during androgen-induced eExG masculinization. The current study thus highlights the importance of animal models which allow for the effective assessment of tissue-specific endocrine-disrupting activity to further reveal the etiology of chemical-induced congenital anomalies.

Identification of Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers and Biological Pathways in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Based on Bioinformatics Analysis

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic heterogeneous disorder and the main cause of sudden cardiac death in adolescents and young adults. This study was aimed at identifying potential diagnostic biomarkers and biological pathways to help to diagnose and treat HCM through bioinformatics analysis. We selected the GSE36961 dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and identified 893 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Subsequently, 12 modules were generated through weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA), and the turquoise module showed the highest negative correlation with HCM (cor = −0.9, p-value = 4 × 10−52). With the filtering standard gene significance (GS) < −0.7 and module membership (MM) > 0.9, 19 genes were then selected to establish the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) model, and LYVE1, MAFB, and MT1M were finally identified as key genes. The expression levels of these genes were additionally verified in the GSE130036 dataset. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) showed oxidative phosphorylation, tumor necrosis factor alpha-nuclear factor-κB (TNFα-NFκB), interferon-gamma (IFNγ) response, and inflammatory response were four pathways possibly related to HCM. In conclusion, LYVE1, MAFB, and MT1M were potential biomarkers of HCM, and oxidative stress, immune response as well as inflammatory response were likely to be associated with the pathogenesis of HCM.

MAF bZIP Transcription Factor B (MAFB) Protected Against Ovalbumin-Induced Allergic Rhinitis via the Alleviation of Inflammation by Restoring the T Helper (Th) 1/Th2/Th17 Imbalance and Epithelial Barrier Dysfunction

Purpose

This work aimed to investigate the effects of MAF bZIP transcription factor B (MAFB) on the progression of allergic rhinitis (AR).

Patients and Methods

Nasal mucosa was isolated from AR patients and healthy individuals from Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University. The experimental procedures were approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University (2019PS341K) in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consents were signed by participants or a parent/legal guardian of the participants under 18 years old of age. Then, an AR mouse model with MAFB overexpression was established with 25 μg ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization on day 0, 7, 14, followed by an injection with 1×10⁷ TU/mL lentivirus MAFB on day 19 and a nasal challenge with 500 μg OVA from day 21 to 27.

Results

The results revealed that MAFB was down-regulated in the nasal mucosa of AR patients. The up-regulation of MAFB protected the AR mice against the OVA-induced allergic symptoms (sneezing and nasal rubbing) by alleviating the OVA-induced epithelial thicknesses, goblet cell hyperplasia, and inflammation including the eosinophil and mast cell infiltration. Moreover, MAFB facilitated the T helper (Th) 1 response and inhibited the Th2 and Th17 responses by the down-regulation of T-box transcription factor 21 and the up-regulation of GATA binding protein-3 as well as retinoid-related orphan receptor-γt in the splenocytes of AR mice. MAFB was found to repress the differentiation of naive CD4⁺ T cells into Th2 cells. Subsequently, MAFB overexpression reversed the OVA-induced enhancement of epithelial permeability, downregulation of tight junctions, and upregulation of cadherin-26, indicating the protective role of MAFB on epithelial barrier integrity.

Conclusion

MAFB protected against OVA-induced AR via the alleviation of inflammation by restoring the Th1/Th2/Th17 imbalance and epithelial barrier dysfunction.