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de Souza FG, da Silva MB, de Araújo GS, Silva CS, Pinheiro AHG, Cáceres-Durán MÁ, Santana-da-Silva MN, Pinto P, Gobbo AR, da Costa PF, Salgado CG, Ribeiro-Dos-Santos Â, Cavalcante GC. Whole mitogenome sequencing uncovers a relation between mitochondrial heteroplasmy and leprosy severity. Hum Genomics 2023; 17:110. [PMID: 38062538 PMCID: PMC10704783 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-023-00555-8] [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: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years, the mitochondria/immune system interaction has been proposed, so that variants of mitochondrial genome and levels of heteroplasmy might deregulate important metabolic processes in fighting infections, such as leprosy. METHODS We sequenced the whole mitochondrial genome to investigate variants and heteroplasmy levels, considering patients with different clinical forms of leprosy and household contacts. After sequencing, a specific pipeline was used for preparation and bioinformatics analysis to select heteroplasmic variants. RESULTS We found 116 variants in at least two of the subtypes of the case group (Borderline Tuberculoid, Borderline Lepromatous, Lepromatous), suggesting a possible clinical significance to these variants. Notably, 15 variants were exclusively found in these three clinical forms, of which five variants stand out for being missense (m.3791T > C in MT-ND1, m.5317C > A in MT-ND2, m.8545G > A in MT-ATP8, m.9044T > C in MT-ATP6 and m.15837T > C in MT-CYB). In addition, we found 26 variants shared only by leprosy poles, of which two are characterized as missense (m.4248T > C in MT-ND1 and m.8027G > A in MT-CO2). CONCLUSION We found a significant number of variants and heteroplasmy levels in the leprosy patients from our cohort, as well as six genes that may influence leprosy susceptibility, suggesting for the first time that the mitogenome might be involved with the leprosy process, distinction of clinical forms and severity. Thus, future studies are needed to help understand the genetic consequences of these variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Gouvea de Souza
- Laboratório de Genética Humana e Médica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, 66075-110, Brazil
| | - Moisés Batista da Silva
- Laboratório de Dermato-Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Marituba, PA, 67105-290, Brazil
| | - Gilderlanio S de Araújo
- Laboratório de Genética Humana e Médica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, 66075-110, Brazil
| | - Caio S Silva
- Laboratório de Genética Humana e Médica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, 66075-110, Brazil
| | - Andrey Henrique Gama Pinheiro
- Laboratório de Genética Humana e Médica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, 66075-110, Brazil
| | - Miguel Ángel Cáceres-Durán
- Laboratório de Genética Humana e Médica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, 66075-110, Brazil
| | - Mayara Natália Santana-da-Silva
- Laboratório de Genética Humana e Médica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, 66075-110, Brazil
| | - Pablo Pinto
- Laboratório de Genética Humana e Médica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, 66075-110, Brazil
| | - Angélica Rita Gobbo
- Laboratório de Dermato-Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Marituba, PA, 67105-290, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Fagundes da Costa
- Laboratório de Dermato-Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Marituba, PA, 67105-290, Brazil
| | - Claudio Guedes Salgado
- Laboratório de Dermato-Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Marituba, PA, 67105-290, Brazil
| | - Ândrea Ribeiro-Dos-Santos
- Laboratório de Genética Humana e Médica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, 66075-110, Brazil.
| | - Giovanna C Cavalcante
- Laboratório de Genética Humana e Médica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, 66075-110, Brazil.
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Santana-da-Silva MN, Sena-dos-Santos C, Cáceres-Durán MÁ, de Souza FG, Gobbo AR, Pinto P, Salgado CG, dos Santos SEB. ncRNAs: an unexplored cellular defense mechanism in leprosy. Front Genet 2023; 14:1295586. [PMID: 38116294 PMCID: PMC10729009 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1295586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Leprosy is an infectious disease primarily caused by the obligate intracellular parasite Mycobacterium leprae. Although it has been considered eradicated in many countries, leprosy continues to be a health issue in developing nations. Besides the social stigma associated with it, individuals affected by leprosy may experience nerve damage leading to physical disabilities if the disease is not properly treated or early diagnosed. Leprosy is recognized as a complex disease wherein socioenvironmental factors, immune response, and host genetics interact to contribute to its development. Recently, a new field of study called epigenetics has emerged, revealing that the immune response and other mechanisms related to infectious diseases can be influenced by noncoding RNAs. This review aims to summarize the significant advancements concerning non-coding RNAs in leprosy, discussing the key perspectives on this novel approach to comprehending the pathophysiology of the disease and identifying molecular markers. In our view, investigations on non-coding RNAs in leprosy hold promise and warrant increased attention from researches in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayara Natália Santana-da-Silva
- Laboratório de Genética Humana e Médica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, Brazil
- Laboratório de Imunologia, Seção de Virologia (SAVIR), Instituto Evandro Chagas, Ananindeua, Brazil
| | - Camille Sena-dos-Santos
- Laboratório de Genética Humana e Médica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, Brazil
| | - Miguel Ángel Cáceres-Durán
- Laboratório de Genética Humana e Médica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, Brazil
| | - Felipe Gouvea de Souza
- Laboratório de Genética Humana e Médica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, Brazil
| | - Angelica Rita Gobbo
- Laboratório de Dermato-Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, Brazil
| | - Pablo Pinto
- Laboratório de Genética Humana e Médica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, Brazil
- Laboratório de Dermato-Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, Brazil
| | - Claudio Guedes Salgado
- Laboratório de Dermato-Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, Brazil
| | - Sidney Emanuel Batista dos Santos
- Laboratório de Genética Humana e Médica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, Brazil
- Laboratório de Dermato-Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, Brazil
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Cabral N, de Figueiredo V, Gandini M, de Souza CF, Medeiros RA, Lery LMS, Lara FA, de Macedo CS, Pessolani MCV, Pereira GMB. Modulation of the Response to Mycobacterium leprae and Pathogenesis of Leprosy. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:918009. [PMID: 35722339 PMCID: PMC9201476 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.918009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The initial infection by the obligate intracellular bacillus Mycobacterium leprae evolves to leprosy in a small subset of the infected individuals. Transmission is believed to occur mainly by exposure to bacilli present in aerosols expelled by infected individuals with high bacillary load. Mycobacterium leprae-specific DNA has been detected in the blood of asymptomatic household contacts of leprosy patients years before active disease onset, suggesting that, following infection, the bacterium reaches the lymphatic drainage and the blood of at least some individuals. The lower temperature and availability of protected microenvironments may provide the initial conditions for the survival of the bacillus in the airways and skin. A subset of skin-resident macrophages and the Schwann cells of peripheral nerves, two M. leprae permissive cells, may protect M. leprae from effector cells in the initial phase of the infection. The interaction of M. leprae with these cells induces metabolic changes, including the formation of lipid droplets, that are associated with macrophage M2 phenotype and the production of mediators that facilitate the differentiation of specific T cells for M. leprae-expressed antigens to a memory regulatory phenotype. Here, we discuss the possible initials steps of M. leprae infection that may lead to active disease onset, mainly focusing on events prior to the manifestation of the established clinical forms of leprosy. We hypothesize that the progressive differentiation of T cells to the Tregs phenotype inhibits effector function against the bacillus, allowing an increase in the bacillary load and evolution of the infection to active disease. Epigenetic and metabolic mechanisms described in other chronic inflammatory diseases are evaluated for potential application to the understanding of leprosy pathogenesis. A potential role for post-exposure prophylaxis of leprosy in reducing M. leprae-induced anti-inflammatory mediators and, in consequence, Treg/T effector ratios is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Cabral
- Laboratory of Cellular Microbiology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vilma de Figueiredo
- Laboratory of Cellular Microbiology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Mariana Gandini
- Laboratory of Cellular Microbiology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cíntia Fernandes de Souza
- Laboratory of Cellular Microbiology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rychelle Affonso Medeiros
- Laboratory of Cellular Microbiology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Letícia Miranda Santos Lery
- Laboratory of Cellular Microbiology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Flávio Alves Lara
- Laboratory of Cellular Microbiology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cristiana Santos de Macedo
- Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Geraldo Moura Batista Pereira
- Laboratory of Cellular Microbiology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Ahamad N, Gupta S, Parashar D. Using Omics to Study Leprosy, Tuberculosis, and Other Mycobacterial Diseases. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:792617. [PMID: 35281437 PMCID: PMC8908319 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.792617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacteria are members of the Actinomycetales order, and they are classified into one family, Mycobacteriaceae. More than 20 mycobacterial species cause disease in humans. The Mycobacterium group, called the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), has nine closely related species that cause tuberculosis in animals and humans. TB can be detected worldwide and one-fourth of the world’s population is contaminated with tuberculosis. According to the WHO, about two million dies from it, and more than nine million people are newly infected with TB each year. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) is the most potential causative agent of tuberculosis and prompts enormous mortality and morbidity worldwide due to the incompletely understood pathogenesis of human tuberculosis. Moreover, modern diagnostic approaches for human tuberculosis are inefficient and have many lacks, while MTBC species can modulate host immune response and escape host immune attacks to sustain in the human body. “Multi-omics” strategies such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and deep sequencing technologies could be a comprehensive strategy to investigate the pathogenesis of mycobacterial species in humans and offer significant discovery to find out biomarkers at the early stage of disease in the host. Thus, in this review, we attempt to understand an overview of the mission of “omics” approaches in mycobacterial pathogenesis, including tuberculosis, leprosy, and other mycobacterial diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naseem Ahamad
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- *Correspondence: Naseem Ahamad,
| | - Saurabh Gupta
- Department of Biotechnology, GLA University, Mathura, India
| | - Deepak Parashar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
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Zhao N, Deng Q, Zhu C, Zhang B. Mucus piRNAs profiles of Vibrio harveyi-infected Cynoglossus semilaevis: A hint for fish disease monitoring. JOURNAL OF FISH DISEASES 2022; 45:165-175. [PMID: 34741552 DOI: 10.1111/jfd.13546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The half-smooth tongue sole, Cynoglossus semilaevis, is an important cultured flatfish species. Vibrio harveyi is a common pathogen to this fish, which may result in great economic loss to C. semilaevis culture industry. piRNAs, a non-coding RNAs with 26-32 nt, have been regarded as promising biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and fish diseases. Here, we extracted the RNA from mucus of C. semilaevis and constructed the differential expression profiles of piRNAs between the sick fish (MS) and healthy fish (MC). We identified 45,696 differentially expressed piRNAs including 22,735 up-regulated piRNAs and 22,961 down-regulated piRNAs in MS group compared with MC group. The GO enrichment and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses of the differential piRNAs were carried out. The result showed immunity-related target genes mainly involved in immune system process, response to stimulus, cell killing, immune system, infectious diseases and cell growth and death. The 10 most differentially expressed piRNAs were chosen to perform the qRT-PCR, while only seven piRNAs were consistent with the sequence result. Compared with MC group, the expression levels of piR-mmu-72173>piR-rno-62831>piR-xtr-704880, piR-dme-15546979, piR-mmu-49941660, piR-mmu-29283297 and piR-mmu-1758399 were significantly lower, and piR-gga-10574 and piR-gga-134812 were significantly higher in MS group. These piRNAs may be potential biomarkers during the V. harveyi infection of C. semilaevis. This study could provide a new method to identify the infection status of C. semilaevis and understand better about the innate and adaptive immune system in C. semilaevis during bacterial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Zhao
- Southern Marine science and engineering Guangdong laboratory-Zhanjiang, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources (Shanghai Ocean University), Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiuxia Deng
- Southern Marine science and engineering Guangdong laboratory-Zhanjiang, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Chunhua Zhu
- Southern Marine science and engineering Guangdong laboratory-Zhanjiang, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Southern Marine science and engineering Guangdong laboratory-Zhanjiang, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
- Tianjin Fisheries Research Institute, Tianjin, China
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Tamgue O, Mezajou CF, Ngongang NN, Kameni C, Ngum JA, Simo USF, Tatang FJ, Akami M, Ngono AN. Non-Coding RNAs in the Etiology and Control of Major and Neglected Human Tropical Diseases. Front Immunol 2021; 12:703936. [PMID: 34737736 PMCID: PMC8560798 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.703936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) including microRNAs (miRs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as key regulators of gene expression in immune cells development and function. Their expression is altered in different physiological and disease conditions, hence making them attractive targets for the understanding of disease etiology and the development of adjunctive control strategies, especially within the current context of mitigated success of control measures deployed to eradicate these diseases. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the role of ncRNAs in the etiology and control of major human tropical diseases including tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria, as well as neglected tropical diseases including leishmaniasis, African trypanosomiasis and leprosy. We highlight that several ncRNAs are involved at different stages of development of these diseases, for example miR-26-5p, miR-132-3p, miR-155-5p, miR-29-3p, miR-21-5p, miR-27b-3p, miR-99b-5p, miR-125-5p, miR-146a-5p, miR-223-3p, miR-20b-5p, miR-142-3p, miR-27a-5p, miR-144-5p, miR-889-5p and miR-582-5p in tuberculosis; miR-873, MALAT1, HEAL, LINC01426, LINC00173, NEAT1, NRON, GAS5 and lincRNA-p21 in HIV/AIDS; miR-451a, miR-let-7b and miR-106b in malaria; miR-210, miR-30A-5P, miR-294, miR-721 and lncRNA 7SL RNA in leishmaniasis; and miR-21, miR-181a, miR-146a in leprosy. We further report that several ncRNAs were investigated as diseases biomarkers and a number of them showed good potential for disease diagnosis, including miR-769-5p, miR-320a, miR-22-3p, miR-423-5p, miR-17-5p, miR-20b-5p and lncRNA LOC152742 in tuberculosis; miR-146b-5p, miR-223, miR-150, miR-16, miR-191 and lncRNA NEAT1 in HIV/AIDS; miR-451 and miR-16 in malaria; miR-361-3p, miR-193b, miR-671, lncRNA 7SL in leishmaniasis; miR-101, miR-196b, miR-27b and miR-29c in leprosy. Furthermore, some ncRNAs have emerged as potential therapeutic targets, some of which include lncRNAs NEAT1, NEAT2 and lnr6RNA, 152742 in tuberculosis; MALAT1, HEAL, SAF, lincRNA-p21, NEAT1, GAS5, NRON, LINC00173 in HIV/AIDS; miRNA-146a in malaria. Finally, miR-135 and miR-126 were proposed as potential targets for the development of therapeutic vaccine against leishmaniasis. We also identify and discuss knowledge gaps that warrant for increased research work. These include investigation of the role of ncRNAs in the etiology of African trypanosomiasis and the assessment of the diagnostic potential of ncRNAs for malaria, and African trypanosomiasis. The potential targeting of ncRNAs for adjunctive therapy against tuberculosis, leishmaniasis, African trypanosomiasis and leprosy, as well as their targeting in vaccine development against tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria, African trypanosomiasis and leprosy are also new avenues to explore.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ousman Tamgue
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
| | | | | | - Charleine Kameni
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Jubilate Afuoti Ngum
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
| | | | - Fabrice Junior Tatang
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Mazarin Akami
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Annie Ngane Ngono
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
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Tió-Coma M, Kiełbasa SM, van den Eeden SJF, Mei H, Roy JC, Wallinga J, Khatun M, Soren S, Chowdhury AS, Alam K, van Hooij A, Richardus JH, Geluk A. Blood RNA signature RISK4LEP predicts leprosy years before clinical onset. EBioMedicine 2021; 68:103379. [PMID: 34090257 PMCID: PMC8182229 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leprosy, a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, is often late- or misdiagnosed leading to irreversible disabilities. Blood transcriptomic biomarkers that prospectively predict those who progress to leprosy (progressors) would allow early diagnosis, better treatment outcomes and facilitate interventions aimed at stopping bacterial transmission. To identify potential risk signatures of leprosy, we collected whole blood of household contacts (HC, n=5,352) of leprosy patients, including individuals who were diagnosed with leprosy 4-61 months after sample collection. METHODS We investigated differential gene expression (DGE) by RNA-Seq between progressors before presence of symptoms (n=40) and HC (n=40), as well as longitudinal DGE within each progressor. A prospective leprosy signature was identified using a machine learning approach (Random Forest) and validated using reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). FINDINGS Although no significant intra-individual longitudinal variation within leprosy progressors was identified, 1,613 genes were differentially expressed in progressors before diagnosis compared to HC. We identified a 13-gene prospective risk signature with an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 95.2%. Validation of this RNA-Seq signature in an additional set of progressors (n=43) and HC (n=43) by RT-qPCR, resulted in a final 4-gene signature, designated RISK4LEP (MT-ND2, REX1BD, TPGS1, UBC) (AUC=86.4%). INTERPRETATION This study identifies for the first time a prospective transcriptional risk signature in blood predicting development of leprosy 4 to 61 months before clinical diagnosis. Assessment of this signature in contacts of leprosy patients can function as an adjunct diagnostic tool to target implementation of interventions to restrain leprosy development. FUNDING This study was supported by R2STOP Research grant, the Order of Malta-Grants-for-Leprosy-Research, the Q.M. Gastmann-Wichers Foundation and the Leprosy Research Initiative (LRI) together with the Turing Foundation (ILEP# 702.02.73 and # 703.15.07).
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Tió-Coma
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Szymon M Kiełbasa
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Susan J F van den Eeden
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Hailiang Mei
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Johan Chandra Roy
- Rural Health Program, The Leprosy Mission International Bangladesh, Nilphamari, Bangladesh
| | - Jacco Wallinga
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Marufa Khatun
- Rural Health Program, The Leprosy Mission International Bangladesh, Nilphamari, Bangladesh
| | - Sontosh Soren
- Rural Health Program, The Leprosy Mission International Bangladesh, Nilphamari, Bangladesh
| | - Abu Sufian Chowdhury
- Rural Health Program, The Leprosy Mission International Bangladesh, Nilphamari, Bangladesh
| | - Khorshed Alam
- Rural Health Program, The Leprosy Mission International Bangladesh, Nilphamari, Bangladesh
| | - Anouk van Hooij
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Hendrik Richardus
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annemieke Geluk
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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8
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piRNAs as Modulators of Disease Pathogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052373. [PMID: 33673453 PMCID: PMC7956838 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in understanding disease pathogenesis correlates to modifications in gene expression within different tissues and organ systems. In depth knowledge about the dysregulation of gene expression profiles is fundamental to fully uncover mechanisms in disease development and changes in host homeostasis. The body of knowledge surrounding mammalian regulatory elements, specifically regulators of chromatin structure, transcriptional and translational activation, has considerably surged within the past decade. A set of key regulators whose function still needs to be fully elucidated are small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs). Due to their broad range of unfolding functions in the regulation of gene expression during transcription and translation, sncRNAs are becoming vital to many cellular processes. Within the past decade, a novel class of sncRNAs called PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) have been implicated in various diseases, and understanding their complete function is of vital importance. Historically, piRNAs have been shown to be indispensable in germline integrity and stem cell development. Accumulating research evidence continue to reveal the many arms of piRNA function. Although piRNA function and biogenesis has been extensively studied in Drosophila, it is thought that they play similar roles in vertebrate species, including humans. Compounding evidence suggests that piRNAs encompass a wider functional range than small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs), which have been studied more in terms of cellular homeostasis and disease. This review aims to summarize contemporary knowledge regarding biogenesis, and homeostatic function of piRNAs and their emerging roles in the development of pathologies related to cardiomyopathies, cancer, and infectious diseases.
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