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Elkrewi EZ, Al Abdulqader AA, Khasanov R, Maas-Omlor S, Boettcher M, Wessel LM, Schäfer KH, Tapia-Laliena MÁ. Role of Inflammation and the NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Hirschsprung's Disease. Biomolecules 2024; 14:992. [PMID: 39199380 PMCID: PMC11352745 DOI: 10.3390/biom14080992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR, incidence 1/5000 live births) is caused by the failure of neural crest-derived precursors to migrate, survive, proliferate, or differentiate during the embryonic development of the Enteric Nervous System (ENS), which could be disrupted by many factors, including inflammatory processes. The NF-κB family controls several biological processes, including inflammation, neurogenesis, and cell migration. With the aim of studying the potential role of NF-κB in HSCR, we have analyzed the expression of the NF-κB main subunits and other NF-κB-related genes by RT-qPCR in HSCR tissue samples (sub-divided into ganglionic and aganglionic segments). We found decreased gene expression of the NF-κB main subunit RELA but also of NFKBIA, TNFA, TFGBR2, and ERBB3 in the pathologic distal aganglionic segments compared to the proximal ganglionic segments. Moreover, we could also confirm the lower protein expression of RelA/p65 in the aganglionic distal segments by immunofluorescence staining. Further, we show that the expression of RelA/p65 protein in the proximal segments concurs with lymphocyte infiltration in the bowel tissue, indicating a pro-inflammatory activation of p65 in the proximal ganglionic HSCR tissue in the patients analyzed. All in all, our findings suggest that the modulation of NF-κB signaling in the neuro-enteric system does obviously contribute to the pathological effects of HSCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enas Zoheer Elkrewi
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Medical Faculty of Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1–3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Ahmad A. Al Abdulqader
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Medical Faculty of Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1–3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Hofuf 31982, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rasul Khasanov
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Medical Faculty of Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1–3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Silke Maas-Omlor
- Working Group Enteric Nervous Systems (AGENS), University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Amerikastrasse 1,66482 Zweibrücken, Germany (K.-H.S.)
| | - Michael Boettcher
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Medical Faculty of Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1–3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Lucas M. Wessel
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Medical Faculty of Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1–3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Karl-Herbert Schäfer
- Working Group Enteric Nervous Systems (AGENS), University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Amerikastrasse 1,66482 Zweibrücken, Germany (K.-H.S.)
| | - María Ángeles Tapia-Laliena
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Medical Faculty of Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1–3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
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Jones K, Wessel LM, Schäfer KH, Tapia-Laliena MÁ. Use of Cosmetics in Pregnancy and Neurotoxicity: Can It Increase the Risk of Congenital Enteric Neuropathies? Biomolecules 2024; 14:984. [PMID: 39199372 PMCID: PMC11352589 DOI: 10.3390/biom14080984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2024] [Revised: 08/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy is a particularly vulnerable period for the growing fetus, when exposure to toxic agents, especially in the early phases, can decisively harm embryo development and compromise the future health of the newborn. The inclusion of various chemical substances in personal care products (PCPs) and cosmetic formulations can be associated with disruption and damage to the nervous system. Microplastics, benzophenones, parabens, phthalates and metals are among the most common chemical substances found in cosmetics that have been shown to induce neurotoxic mechanisms. Although cosmetic neurotoxin exposure is believed to be minimal, different exposure scenarios of cosmetics suggest that these neurotoxins remain a threat. Special attention should be paid to early exposure in the first weeks of gestation, when critical processes, like the migration and proliferation of the neural crest derived cells, start to form the ENS. Importantly, cosmetic neurotoxins can cross the placental barrier and affect the future embryo, but they are also secreted in breast milk, so babies remain exposed for longer periods, even after birth. In this review, we explore how neurotoxins contained in cosmetics and PCPs may have a role in the pathogenesis of various neurodevelopmental disorders and neurodegenerative diseases and, therefore, also in congenital enteric aganglionosis as well as in postnatal motility disorders. Understanding the mechanisms of these chemicals used in cosmetic formulations and their role in neurotoxicity is crucial to determining the safety of use for cosmetic products during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendra Jones
- “Translational Medical Research” Master Program, Medical Faculty of Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Lucas M. Wessel
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Medical Faculty of Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Karl-Herbert Schäfer
- Working Group Enteric Nervous Systems (AGENS), University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Amerikastrasse 1, 66482 Kaiserslautern, Germany;
| | - María Ángeles Tapia-Laliena
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Medical Faculty of Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
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Hu M, Fang H, Hu Y, Lu C, Chen Y, Zhong Z, Shi H, Wang Q. An Unusual Cause of Intestinal Ulcers Masquerading as Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Case Report of Allied Disorders of Hirschsprung's Disease. J Inflamm Res 2024; 17:3093-3099. [PMID: 38779428 PMCID: PMC11110832 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s459548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Allied disorders of Hirschsprung's disease (ADHD) exhibit symptoms akin to those of Hirschsprung's disease, primarily characterized by intestinal obstruction, bowel dilatation, and chronic constipation. The occurrence of amyloid complications in patients with ADHD is infrequent. In this report, we present a case of ADHD with intestinal ulcers as the initial gastrointestinal manifestation, and subsequent pathological examination revealed the presence of amyloid deposits in the colonic mucosa. Case Report A male patient, aged 20, exhibited recurring abdominal distension and intestinal obstruction for a duration of three years. Multiple colonoscopies revealed the presence of recurrent colonic ulcers, with pathological examination indicating the existence of amyloid deposits within the mucosal layer of the colon. Abdominal CT scans suggested colonic dilatation. Following a multidisciplinary consultation, a subtotal resection of the colon was performed, and subsequent postoperative pathology confirmed a decrease and absence of myenteric plexus ganglion cells. Considering the patient's symptoms and the findings from the postoperative pathology, a diagnosis of ADHD was made. The patient's symptoms resolved postoperatively and he was discharged from the hospital and followed up for 1 year in stable condition. Conclusion Our study highlights the potential association between ADHD and the initial presentation of recurrent colonic ulcers, accompanied by amyloid deposition in the intestinal mucosa. This finding suggests a possible pathogenic mechanism for ADHD and offers a novel perspective on its diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minli Hu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hao Fang
- Department of Traumatology, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yibing Hu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chong Lu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuan Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhifeng Zhong
- Department of Anus & Intestine Surgery, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hongqi Shi
- Department of Pathology, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qunying Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
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Shi L, Gu R, Long J, Duan G, Yang H. Application of CRISPR-cas-based technology for the identification of tuberculosis, drug discovery and vaccine development. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:466. [PMID: 38551745 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09424-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB), which caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent and continues to be a major public health burden for the global community. Despite being the only globally licenced prophylactic vaccine, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) has multiple deficiencies, and effective diagnostic and therapeutic options are limited. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas (CRISPR-associated proteins) is an adaptive immune system that is found in bacteria and has great potential for the development of novel antituberculosis drugs and vaccines. In addition, CRISPR-Cas is currently recognized as a prospective tool for the development of therapies for TB infection with potential diagnostic and therapeutic value, and CRISPR-Cas may become a viable tool for eliminating TB in the future. Herein, we systematically summarize the current applications of CRISPR-Cas-based technology for TB detection and its potential roles in drug discovery and vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqin Shi
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, No. 100 of Science Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Ruiqi Gu
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jinzhao Long
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, No. 100 of Science Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Guangcai Duan
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, No. 100 of Science Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Haiyan Yang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, No. 100 of Science Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
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Kuil LE, Chauhan RK, de Graaf BM, Cheng WW, Kakiailatu NJM, Lasabuda R, Verhaeghe C, Windster JD, Schriemer D, Azmani Z, Brooks AS, Edie S, Reeves RH, Eggen BJL, Shepherd IT, Burns AJ, Hofstra RMW, Melotte V, Brosens E, Alves MM. ATP5PO levels regulate enteric nervous system development in zebrafish, linking Hirschsprung disease to Down Syndrome. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:166991. [PMID: 38128843 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2023.166991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a complex genetic disorder characterized by the absence of enteric nervous system (ENS) in the distal region of the intestine. Down Syndrome (DS) patients have a >50-fold higher risk of developing HSCR than the general population, suggesting that overexpression of human chromosome 21 (Hsa21) genes contribute to HSCR etiology. However, identification of responsible genes remains challenging. Here, we describe a genetic screening of potential candidate genes located on Hsa21, using the zebrafish. Candidate genes were located in the DS-HSCR susceptibility region, expressed in the human intestine, were known potential biomarkers for DS prenatal diagnosis, and were present in the zebrafish genome. With this approach, four genes were selected: RCAN1, ITSN1, ATP5PO and SUMO3. However, only overexpression of ATP5PO, coding for a component of the mitochondrial ATPase, led to significant reduction of ENS cells. Paradoxically, in vitro studies showed that overexpression of ATP5PO led to a reduction of ATP5PO protein levels. Impaired neuronal differentiation and reduced mitochondrial ATP production, were also detected in vitro, after overexpression of ATP5PO in a neuroblastoma cell line. Finally, epistasis was observed between ATP5PO and ret, the most important HSCR gene. Taken together, our results identify ATP5PO as the gene responsible for the increased risk of HSCR in DS patients in particular if RET variants are also present, and show that a balanced expression of ATP5PO is required for normal ENS development.
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Affiliation(s)
- L E Kuil
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - R K Chauhan
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - B M de Graaf
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - W W Cheng
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - N J M Kakiailatu
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - R Lasabuda
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - C Verhaeghe
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - J D Windster
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Pediatric Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Sophia's Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - D Schriemer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, Section Molecular Neurobiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Z Azmani
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - A S Brooks
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - S Edie
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - R H Reeves
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - B J L Eggen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, Section Molecular Neurobiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - I T Shepherd
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - A J Burns
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Birth Defects Research Centre, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom; Gastrointestinal Drug Discovery Unit, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - R M W Hofstra
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - V Melotte
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Pathology, GROW-school for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - E Brosens
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - M M Alves
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Pediatric Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Sophia's Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
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Ding HY, Lei W, Xiao SJ, Deng H, Yuan LK, Xu L, Zhou JL, Huang R, Fang YL, Wang QY, Zhang Y, Zhang L, Zhu XC. High incidence of EDNRB gene mutation in seven southern Chinese familial cases with Hirschsprung's disease. Pediatr Surg Int 2024; 40:38. [PMID: 38253735 DOI: 10.1007/s00383-023-05620-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) is the leading cause of neonatal functional intestinal obstruction, which has been identified in many familial cases. HSCR, a multifactorial disorder of enteric nervous system (ENS) development, is associated with at least 24 genes and seven chromosomal loci, with RET and EDNRB as its major genes. We present a genetic investigation of familial HSCR to clarify the genotype-phenotype relationship. METHODS We performed whole exome sequencing (WES) on Illumina HiSeq X Ten platform to investigate genetic backgrounds of core family members, and identified the possibly harmful mutation genes. Mutation carriers and pedigree relatives were validated by Sanger sequencing for evaluating the gene penetrance. RESULTS Four familial cases showed potential disease-relative variants in EDNRB and RET gene, accounting for all detection rate of 57.1%. Three familial cases exhibited strong pathogenic variants as frameshift or missense mutations in EDNRB gene. A novel c.367delinsTT mutation of EDNRB was identified in one family member. The other two EDNRB mutations, c.553G>A in family 2 and c.877delinsTT in family 5, have been reported in previous literatures. The penetrance of EDNRB variants was 33-50% according mutation carries. In family 6, the RET c.1858T>C (C620R) point mutation has previously been reported to cause HSCR, with 28.5% penetrance. CONCLUSION We identified a novel EDNRB (deleted C and inserted TT) mutation in this study using WES. Heterozygote variations in EDNRB gene were significantly enriched in three families and RET mutations were identified in one family. EDNRB variants showed an overall higher incidence and penetrance than RET in southern Chinese families cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Yang Ding
- Department of Neonatal Surgery, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, 511400, China
| | - Wen Lei
- Maternal and Child Health Research Institute, Translational Medicine Center, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, 511400, China
| | - Shang-Jie Xiao
- Department of Neonatal Surgery, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, 511400, China
| | - Hua Deng
- Maternal and Child Health Research Institute, Translational Medicine Center, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, 511400, China
| | - Li-Ke Yuan
- Department of Neonatal Surgery, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, 511400, China
| | - Lu Xu
- Department of Neonatal Surgery, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, 511400, China
| | - Jia-Liang Zhou
- Department of Neonatal Surgery, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, 511400, China
| | - Rong Huang
- Department of Neonatal Surgery, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, 511400, China
| | - Yuan-Long Fang
- Department of Neonatal Surgery, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, 511400, China
| | - Qing-Yuan Wang
- Department of Neonatal Surgery, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, 511400, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Neonatal Surgery, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, 511400, China
| | - Liang Zhang
- Maternal and Child Health Research Institute, Translational Medicine Center, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, 511400, China.
| | - Xiao-Chun Zhu
- Department of Neonatal Surgery, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, 511400, China.
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Pai C, Sengupta R, Heuckeroth RO. Sequencing Reveals miRNAs Enriched in the Developing Mouse Enteric Nervous System. Noncoding RNA 2023; 10:1. [PMID: 38250801 PMCID: PMC10801555 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna10010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is an essential network of neurons and glia in the bowel wall. Defects in ENS development can result in Hirschsprung disease (HSCR), a life-threatening condition characterized by severe constipation, abdominal distention, bilious vomiting, and failure to thrive. A growing body of literature connects HSCR to alterations in miRNA expression, but there are limited data on the normal miRNA landscape in the developing ENS. We sequenced small RNAs (smRNA-seq) and messenger RNAs (mRNA-seq) from ENS precursor cells of mid-gestation Ednrb-EGFP mice and compared them to aggregated RNA from all other cells in the developing bowel. Our smRNA-seq results identified 73 miRNAs that were significantly enriched and highly expressed in the developing ENS, with miR-9, miR-27b, miR-124, miR-137, and miR-488 as our top 5 miRNAs that are conserved in humans. However, contrary to prior reports, our follow-up analyses of miR-137 showed that loss of Mir137 in Nestin-cre, Wnt1-cre, Sox10-cre, or Baf53b-cre lineage cells had no effect on mouse survival or ENS development. Our data provide important context for future studies of miRNAs in HSCR and other ENS diseases and highlight open questions about facility-specific factors in development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Pai
- The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
- Department of Pediatrics, The Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Rajarshi Sengupta
- American Association for Cancer Research, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA;
| | - Robert O. Heuckeroth
- The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
- Department of Pediatrics, The Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Kanai SM, Clouthier DE. Endothelin signaling in development. Development 2023; 150:dev201786. [PMID: 38078652 PMCID: PMC10753589 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Since the discovery of endothelin 1 (EDN1) in 1988, the role of endothelin ligands and their receptors in the regulation of blood pressure in normal and disease states has been extensively studied. However, endothelin signaling also plays crucial roles in the development of neural crest cell-derived tissues. Mechanisms of endothelin action during neural crest cell maturation have been deciphered using a variety of in vivo and in vitro approaches, with these studies elucidating the basis of human syndromes involving developmental differences resulting from altered endothelin signaling. In this Review, we describe the endothelin pathway and its functions during the development of neural crest-derived tissues. We also summarize how dysregulated endothelin signaling causes developmental differences and how this knowledge may lead to potential treatments for individuals with gene variants in the endothelin pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley M. Kanai
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - David E. Clouthier
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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Zhang X, Sun D, Xu Q, Liu H, Li Y, Wang D, Wang J, Zhang Q, Hou P, Mu W, Jia C, Li A. Risk factors for Hirschsprung disease-associated enterocolitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Surg 2023; 109:2509-2524. [PMID: 37288551 PMCID: PMC10442125 DOI: 10.1097/js9.0000000000000473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The incidence of Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is nearly 1/5000 and patients with HSCR are usually treated through surgical intervention. Hirschsprung disease-associated enterocolitis (HAEC) is a complication of HSCR with the highest morbidity and mortality in patients. The evidence on the risk factors for HAEC remains inconclusive to date. METHODS Four English databases and four Chinese databases were searched for relevant studies published until May 2022. The search retrieved 53 relevant studies. The retrieved studies were scored on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale by three researchers. Revman 5.4 software was employed for data synthesis and analysis. Stata 16 software was employed for sensitivity analysis and bias analysis. RESULTS A total of 53 articles were retrieved from the database search, which included 10 012 cases of HSCR and 2310 cases of HAEC. The systematic analysis revealed anastomotic stenosis or fistula [ I2 =66%, risk ratio (RR)=1.90, 95% CI 1.34-2.68, P <0.001], preoperative enterocolitis ( I2 =55%, RR=2.07, 95% CI 1.71-2.51, P <0.001), preoperative malnutrition ( I2 =0%, RR=1.96, 95% CI 1.52-2.53, P <0.001), preoperative respiratory infection or pneumonia ( I2 =0%, RR=2.37, 95% CI 1.91-2.93, P <0.001), postoperative ileus ( I2 =17%, RR=2.41, 95% CI 2.02-2.87, P <0.001), length of ganglionless segment greater than 30 cm ( I2 =0%, RR=3.64, 95% CI 2.43-5.48, P <0.001), preoperative hypoproteinemia ( I2 =0%, RR=1.91, 95% CI 1.44-2.54, P <0.001), and Down syndrome ( I2 =29%, RR=1.65, 95% CI 1.32-2.07, P <0.001) as the risk factors for postoperative HAEC. Short-segment HSCR ( I2 =46%, RR=0.62, 95% CI 0.54-0.71, P <0.001) and transanal operation ( I2 =78%, RR=0.56, 95% CI 0.33-0.96, P =0.03) were revealed as the protective factors against postoperative HAEC. Preoperative malnutrition ( I2 =35 % , RR=5.33, 95% CI 2.68-10.60, P <0.001), preoperative hypoproteinemia ( I2 =20%, RR=4.17, 95% CI 1.91-9.12, P <0.001), preoperative enterocolitis ( I2 =45%, RR=3.51, 95% CI 2.54-4.84, P <0.001), and preoperative respiratory infection or pneumonia ( I2 =0%, RR=7.20, 95% CI 4.00-12.94, P <0.001) were revealed as the risk factors for recurrent HAEC, while short-segment HSCR ( I2 =0%, RR=0.40, 95% CI 0.21-0.76, P =0.005) was revealed as a protective factor against recurrent HAEC. CONCLUSION The present review delineated the multiple risk factors for HAEC, which could assist in preventing the development of HAEC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Chunling Jia
- Stomatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Aiwu Li
- Departments ofPediatric surgery
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Chi S, Li S, Cao G, Guo J, Han Y, Zhou Y, Zhang X, Li Y, Luo Z, Li X, Rong L, Zhang M, Li L, Tang S. The interplay of common genetic variants NRG1 rs2439302 and RET rs2435357 increases the risk of developing Hirschsprung's disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1184799. [PMID: 37484916 PMCID: PMC10361661 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1184799] [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: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: As a congenital and genetically related disease, many single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been reported to be associated with the risk of HSCR. Our previous research showed that SNP rs2439302 (NRG1) interacted with rs2435357 (RET) to increase the risk of HSCR development. However, the underlying molecular mechanism is still not well understood. Methods: SNP rs2439302 (NRG1) and rs2435357 (RET) were genotyped in 470 HSCR cases. The expression of NRG1 and RET was investigated in the colon of HSCR patients. Knockdown of the NRG1 and RET homologs was performed in zebrafish to investigate their synergistic effect on ENS development. The effect of SNP rs2439302 and rs2435357 polymorphism on neuron proliferation, migration, and differentiation were investigated in SHSY-5Y cells and IPSCs. Results: Significant downregulation of NRG1 and RET expression was noticed in the aganglionic segment of HSCR patients and SHSY-5Y cells with rs2439302 GG/rs2435357 TT genotype. NRG1 and RET double mutants caused the most severe reduction in enteric neuron numbers than NRG1 single mutant or RET single mutant in the hindgut of zebrafish. SHSY-5Y cells and IPSCs with rs2439302 GG/rs2435357 TT genotype exhibited a decreased proliferative, migration, and differentiative capacity. CTCF showed a considerably higher binding ability to SNP rs2439302 CC than GG. NRG1 reduction caused a further decrease in SOX10 expression via the PI3K/Akt pathway, which regulates RET expression by directly binding to rs2435357. Discussion: SNP rs2439302 (NRG1) GG increases the risk of developing HSCR by affecting the binding of transcription factor CTCF and interacting with rs2435357 (RET) to regulate RET expression via the PI3K/Akt/SOX10 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuiqing Chi
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shuai Li
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Guoqing Cao
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jialing Guo
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yunqiao Han
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yun Zhou
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xi Zhang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yibo Li
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhibin Luo
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiangyang Li
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Liying Rong
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Mengxin Zhang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Linglu Li
- China Zebrafish Resource Center, National Aquatic Biological Resource Center, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Shaotao Tang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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11
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Li Z, Lui KNC, Lau ST, Lai FPL, Li P, Chung PHY, Wong KKY, Tam PKH, Garica-Barcelo MM, Hui CC, Sham PC, Ngan ESW. Transcriptomics of Hirschsprung disease patient-derived enteric neural crest cells reveals a role for oxidative phosphorylation. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2157. [PMID: 37061531 PMCID: PMC10105741 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37928-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Hirschsprung disease is characterized by the absence of enteric neurons caused by the defects of enteric neural crest cells, leading to intestinal obstruction. Here, using induced pluripotent stem cell-based models of Hirschsprung and single-cell transcriptomic analysis, we identify a gene set of 118 genes commonly dysregulated in all patient enteric neural crest cells, and suggest HDAC1 may be a key regulator of these genes. Furthermore, upregulation of RNA splicing mediators and enhanced alternative splicing events are associated with severe form of Hirschsprung. In particular, the higher inclusion rate of exon 9 in PTBP1 and the perturbed expression of a PTBP1-target, PKM, are significantly enriched in these patient cells, and associated with the defective oxidative phosphorylation and impaired neurogenesis. Hedgehog-induced oxidative phosphorylation significantly enhances the survival and differentiation capacity of patient cells. In sum, we define various factors associated with Hirschsprung pathogenesis and demonstrate the implications of oxidative phosphorylation in enteric neural crest development and HSCR pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixin Li
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Kathy Nga-Chu Lui
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Sin-Ting Lau
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Frank Pui-Ling Lai
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Peng Li
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Patrick Ho-Yu Chung
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Kenneth Kak-Yuen Wong
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Paul Kwong-Hing Tam
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | | | - Chi-Chung Hui
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5G1L7, ON, Canada
| | - Pak Chung Sham
- Department of Psychiatry, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Elly Sau-Wai Ngan
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
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Xu Z, Yan Y, Gu B, Cai W, Wang Y. Up-Regulation of microRNA-424 Causes an Imbalance in AKT Phosphorylation and Impairs Enteric Neural Crest Cell Migration in Hirschsprung Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076700. [PMID: 37047673 PMCID: PMC10094892 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Insights into the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in disease pathogenesis have made them attractive therapeutic targets, and numerous miRNAs have been functionally linked to Hirschsprung disease (HSCR), a life-threatening genetic disorder due to defective migration, proliferation, and colonization of enteric neural crest cells (ENCCs) in the gut. Recent studies have demonstrated that miR-424 strongly inhibits migration in a variety of cell types and its potential target RICTOR is essential for neural crest cell development. We therefore sought to interrogate how miR-424 and RICTOR contribute to the pathogenesis of HSCR. We utilized HSCR cases and human neural cells to evaluate the miR-424-mediated regulation of RICTOR and the downstream AKT phosphorylation. We further developed an ex vivo model to assess the effects of miR-424 on ENCC migration and proliferation. Then, single-cell atlases of gene expression in both human and mouse fetal intestines were used to determine the characteristics of RICTOR and AKT expression in the developing gut. Our findings demonstrate that miR-424 levels are markedly increased in the colonic tissues of patients with HSCR and that it regulates human neural cell migration by directly targeting RICTOR. Up-regulation of miR-424 leads to decreased AKT phosphorylation levels in a RICTOR-dependent manner, and this, in turn, impairs ENCC proliferation and migration in the developing gut. Interestingly, we further identified prominent RICTOR and AKT expressions in the enteric neurons and other types of enteric neural cells in human and mouse fetal intestines. Our present study reveals the role of the miR-424/RICTOR axis in HSCR pathogenesis and indicates that miR-424 is a promising candidate for the development of targeted therapies against HSCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze Xu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200092, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai 200092, China
- Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yingnan Yan
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200092, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Beilin Gu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai 200092, China
- Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Wei Cai
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200092, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai 200092, China
- Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200092, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai 200092, China
- Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Shanghai 200092, China
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13
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Exome sequencing identifies novel genes and variants in patients with Hirschsprung disease. J Pediatr Surg 2023; 58:723-728. [PMID: 36586783 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2022.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a complex genetic disease characterized by the absence of ganglion cells in the intestines, leading to a functional obstruction in infants. At least 24 genes have been identified for the pathogenesis of HSCR. They contributed to approximately 72% of HSCR cases. We aimed to elucidate further the genetic basis of HSCR in Indonesia using the whole-exome sequencing (WES) approach. METHODS WES was performed in 39 sporadic non-syndromic HSCR patients and 16 non-HSCR subjects as controls. Variants presented in controls were excluded, followed by in silico prediction tools and population allele frequency databases to select rare variants. We determined the minor allele frequency (MAF) using gnomAD (MAF <0.1%). RESULTS We involved 24 (61.5%) males and 15 (38.5%) females. Most patients (62%) had short-segment aganglionosis and underwent the Duhamel procedure (41%). We identified several candidate novel variants in HSCR-related genes, including UBR4, GDNF, and ECE1. Moreover, we also identified some novel candidate genes, including a possible compound heterozygous variant in the MUTYH gene: the first variant, a known protein-truncating variant associated with colorectal cancer (CRC), p.Glu452Ter and the second variant is novel, p.Ala39Val. Moreover, the type of variants was not associated with the aganglionosis type. CONCLUSIONS We identified several novel genes and variants, including the variant associated with CRC, that might contribute to the pathogenesis of HSCR. No genotype-phenotype associations were noted. Our study further confirms the complex network involved in enteric nervous system development and HSCR pathogenesis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III.
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14
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Abstract
Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) is a classical model of enteric neuropathy, occurring in approximately 2-2.8 in 10,000 newborns. It is the commonest form of congenital bowel obstruction and is characterized by the absence of enteric ganglia in distal colon. Recent advances in genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) and next generation sequencing (NGS) studies have led to the discovery of a number of new HSCR candidate genes, thereby providing new insights into the genetic architecture and molecular mechanisms of the disease. Altogether, these findings indicated that genetic heterogeneity, variable penetrance and expressivity, and genetic interaction are the pervasive characteristics of HSCR genetics. In this review, we will provide an update on the genetic landscape of HSCR and discuss how the common and rare variants may act together to modulate the phenotypic manifestation. Translating the genetic findings to genetic risk prediction and to optimize clinical outcomes are undoubtedly the ultimate goals for genetic studies on HSCR. From this perspective, we will further discuss the major obstacles in the clinical translation of these latest genetic findings. Lastly, new measures to address these clinical challenges are suggested to advance precision medicine and to develop novel alternative therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Sze-Man Tang
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. .,Li Dak-Sum Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong-Karolinska Institute Collaboration in Regenerative Medicine, Hong Kong SAR, China. .,Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Anwarul Karim
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yuanxin Zhong
- Department of Psychiatry, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Patrick Ho-Yu Chung
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Paul Kwong-Hang Tam
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. .,Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao, China.
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15
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Embryology and anatomy of Hirschsprung disease. Semin Pediatr Surg 2022; 31:151227. [PMID: 36417785 DOI: 10.1016/j.sempedsurg.2022.151227] [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: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Bowel has its own elegant nervous system - the enteric nervous system (ENS) which is a complex network of neurons and glial clones. Derived from neural crest cells (NCCs), this little brain controls muscle contraction, motility, and bowel activities in response to stimuli. Failure of developing enteric ganglia at the distal bowel results in intestinal obstruction and Hirschsprung disease (HSCR). This Review summarises the important embryological development of the ENS including proliferation, migration, and differentiation of NCCs. We address the signalling pathways which determine NCC cell fate and discuss how they are altered in the context of HSCR. Finally, we outline the anatomical defects and the mechanisms underlying gut motility in HSCR.
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16
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Whole genome sequencing reveals epistasis effects within RET for Hirschsprung disease. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20423. [PMID: 36443333 PMCID: PMC9705416 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24077-w] [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: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Common variants in RET and NRG1 have been associated with Hirschsprung disease (HSCR), a congenital disorder characterised by incomplete innervation of distal gut, in East Asian (EA) populations. However, the allelic effects so far identified do not fully explain its heritability, suggesting the presence of epistasis, where effect of one genetic variant differs depending on other (modifier) variants. Few instances of epistasis have been documented in complex diseases due to modelling complexity and data challenges. We proposed four epistasis models to comprehensively capture epistasis for HSCR between and within RET and NRG1 loci using whole genome sequencing (WGS) data in EA samples. 65 variants within the Topologically Associating Domain (TAD) of RET demonstrated significant epistasis with the lead enhancer variant (RET+3; rs2435357). These epistatic variants formed two linkage disequilibrium (LD) clusters represented by rs2506026 and rs2506028 that differed in minor allele frequency and the best-supported epistatic model. Intriguingly, rs2506028 is in high LD with one cis-regulatory variant (rs2506030) highlighted previously, suggesting that detected epistasis might be mediated through synergistic effects on transcription regulation of RET. Our findings demonstrated the advantages of WGS data for detecting epistasis, and support the presence of interactive effects of regulatory variants in RET for HSCR.
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17
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Lui KNC, NGAN ESW. Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Models for Hirschsprung Disease: From 2-D Cell to 3-D Organoid Model. Cells 2022; 11:cells11213428. [PMID: 36359824 PMCID: PMC9657902 DOI: 10.3390/cells11213428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a complex congenital disorder caused by defects in the development of the enteric nervous system (ENS). It is attributed to failures of the enteric neural crest stem cells (ENCCs) to proliferate, differentiate and/or migrate, leading to the absence of enteric neurons in the distal colon, resulting in colonic motility dysfunction. Due to the oligogenic nature of the disease, some HSCR conditions could not be phenocopied in animal models. Building the patient-based disease model using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) has opened up a new opportunity to untangle the unknowns of the disease. The expanding armamentarium of hPSC-based therapies provides needed new tools for developing cell-replacement therapy for HSCR. Here we summarize the recent studies of hPSC-based models of ENS in 2-D and 3-D culture systems. These studies have highlighted how hPSC-based models complement the population-based genetic screens and bioinformatic approaches for the discovery of new HSCR susceptibility genes and provide a human model for the close-to-physiological functional studies. We will also discuss the potential applications of these hPSC-based models in translational medicines and their advantages and limitations. The use of these hPSC-based models for drug discovery or cell replacement therapy likely leads to new treatment strategies for HSCR in the future. Further improvements in incorporating hPSC-based models with the human-mouse chimera model and organ-on-a-chip system for establishing a better disease model of HSCR and for drug discovery will further propel us to success in the development of an efficacious treatment for HSCR.
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NGS4THAL, a one-stop molecular diagnosis and carrier screening tool for thalassemia and other hemoglobinopathies by next-generation sequencing. J Mol Diagn 2022; 24:1089-1099. [PMID: 35868510 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2022.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Thalassemia is one of the most common genetic diseases and a major health threat worldwide. Accurate, efficient and scalable analysis of next-generation sequencing (NGS) data is much needed for its molecular diagnosis and carrier screening. We developed NGS4THAL, a bioinformatics analysis pipeline analyzing next generation sequencing (NGS) data to detect pathogenic variants for thalassemia and other hemoglobinopathies. NGS4THAL realigns ambiguously mapped NGS reads derived from the homologous hemoglobin gene clusters for accurate detection of point mutations and small insertion/deletions (InDels). It uses a combination of complementary structural variant (SV) detection tools and an inhouse database of control data containing specific SVs to achieve accurate detection of the complex SV types. Detected variants are matched with those in HbVar database, allowing recognition of known pathogenic variants, including disease modifiers. Tested on simulation data, NGS4THAL achieved high sensitivity and specificity. For targeted NGS sequencing data from samples with laboratory-confirmed pathogenic hemoglobin variants, it achieved 100% detection accuracy. Application of NGS4THAL on whole genome sequencing data from unrelated studies revealed thalassemia mutation carrier rates for Hong Kong Chinese and Northern Vietnamese that were consistent with previous reports. NGS4THAL is a highly accurate and efficient molecular diagnosis tool for thalassemia and other hemoglobinopathies based on tailored analysis of NGS data and is potentially scalable for population carrier screening.
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Powerful and robust inference of complex phenotypes' causal genes with dependent expression quantitative loci by a median-based Mendelian randomization. Am J Hum Genet 2022; 109:838-856. [PMID: 35460606 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2022.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Isolating the causal genes from numerous genetic association signals in genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of complex phenotypes remains an open and challenging question. In the present study, we proposed a statistical approach, the effective-median-based Mendelian randomization (MR) framework, for inferring the causal genes of complex phenotypes with the GWAS summary statistics (named EMIC). The effective-median method solved the high false-positive issue in the existing MR methods due to either correlation among instrumental variables or noises in approximated linkage disequilibrium (LD). EMIC can further perform a pleiotropy fine-mapping analysis to remove possible false-positive estimates. With the usage of multiple cis-expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs), EMIC was also more powerful than the alternative methods for the causal gene inference in the simulated datasets. Furthermore, EMIC rediscovered many known causal genes of complex phenotypes (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and total cholesterol) and reported many new and promising candidate causal genes. In sum, this study provided an efficient solution to discriminate the candidate causal genes from vast amounts of GWAS signals with eQTLs. EMIC has been implemented in our integrative software platform KGGSEE.
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Chau JFT, Yu MHC, Chui MMC, Yeung CCW, Kwok AWC, Zhuang X, Lee R, Fung JLF, Lee M, Mak CCY, Ng NYT, Chung CCY, Chan MCY, Tsang MHY, Chan JCK, Chan KYK, Kan ASY, Chung PHY, Yang W, Lee SL, Chan GCF, Tam PKH, Lau YL, Yeung KS, Chung BHY, Tang CSM. Comprehensive analysis of recessive carrier status using exome and genome sequencing data in 1543 Southern Chinese. NPJ Genom Med 2022; 7:23. [PMID: 35314707 PMCID: PMC8938515 DOI: 10.1038/s41525-022-00287-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditional carrier screening has been utilized for the detection of carriers of genetic disorders. Since a comprehensive assessment of the carrier frequencies of recessive conditions in the Southern Chinese population is not yet available, we performed a secondary analysis on the spectrum and carrier status for 315 genes causing autosomal recessive disorders in 1543 Southern Chinese individuals with next-generation sequencing data, 1116 with exome sequencing and 427 with genome sequencing data. Our data revealed that 1 in 2 people (47.8% of the population) was a carrier for one or more recessive conditions, and 1 in 12 individuals (8.30% of the population) was a carrier for treatable inherited conditions. In alignment with current American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) pan-ethnic carrier recommendations, 1 in 26 individuals were identified as carriers of cystic fibrosis, thalassemia, and spinal muscular atrophy in the Southern Chinese population. When the >1% expanded carrier screening rate recommendation by ACOG was used, 11 diseases were found to meet the criteria in the Southern Chinese population. Approximately 1 in 3 individuals (35.5% of the population) were carriers of these 11 conditions. If the 1 in 200 carrier frequency threshold is used, and additional seven genes would meet the criteria, and 2 in 5 individuals (38.7% of the population) would be detected as a carrier. This study provides a comprehensive catalogue of the carrier spectrum and frequency in the Southern Chinese population and can serve as a reference for careful evaluation of the conditions to be included in expanded carrier screening for Southern Chinese people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Fong Ting Chau
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Mullin Ho Chung Yu
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Martin Man Chun Chui
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Cyrus Chun Wing Yeung
- Department of Surgery, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Aaron Wing Cheung Kwok
- Department of Surgery, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xuehan Zhuang
- Department of Surgery, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ryan Lee
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jasmine Lee Fong Fung
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Mianne Lee
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Christopher Chun Yu Mak
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Nicole Ying Ting Ng
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Claudia Ching Yan Chung
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Marcus Chun Yin Chan
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Mandy Ho Yin Tsang
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Joshua Chun Ki Chan
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kelvin Yuen Kwong Chan
- Prenatal Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tsan Yuk Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Anita Sik Yau Kan
- Prenatal Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tsan Yuk Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Patrick Ho Yu Chung
- Department of Surgery, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Wanling Yang
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - So Lun Lee
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Godfrey Chi Fung Chan
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Paul Kwong Hang Tam
- Department of Surgery, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Li Dak-Sum Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong-Karolinska Institute Collaboration in Regenerative Medicine, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yu Lung Lau
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kit San Yeung
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Brian Hon Yin Chung
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Clara Sze Man Tang
- Department of Surgery, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- Li Dak-Sum Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong-Karolinska Institute Collaboration in Regenerative Medicine, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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21
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Luo J, Zou H, Guo Y, Huang K, Ngan ESW, Li P. BACE2 variant identified from HSCR patient causes AD-like phenotypes in hPSC-derived brain organoids. Cell Death Discov 2022; 8:47. [PMID: 35110536 PMCID: PMC8811022 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-022-00845-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
β-site APP-cleaving enzyme 2 (BACE2) is a homolog of BACE1, which is considered as the most promising therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the expression and functional role of BACE2 in central nervous system (CNS) remain obscured. Previously, we identified several BACE2 rare variants in Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) patients and proved that BACE2-mediated APP cleavage might represent a novel HSCR pathogenesis mechanism in enteric nervous system. Here, we validated that these HSCR-associated BACE2 variants were loss-of-function mutations. Using the human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived brain organoids (BOs), we further demonstrated that BACE2 was mainly expressed in the ventricular zone and cortical plate of BOs, and its expression level was gradually increased along with the BO maturation. Functionally, we found that the BOs carrying the BACE2 loss-of-function mutation (BACE2G446R) showed greater apoptosis and increased levels of Aβ oligomers compared to the control BOs, resembling with the AD-associated phenotypes. All these phenotypes could be rescued via the removal of APP protein in BACE2G446R BOs. Furthermore, rather than BACE2G446R, BACE2WT overexpression in BOs carrying the APP Swedish/Indiana mutations attenuated the AD-associated phenotypes, including Aβ accumulation and neuronal cell death. Taken together, our results unravel that BACE2 can protect the neuronal cell from apoptosis caused by Aβ accumulation, and the deficiency of BACE2-mediated APP cleavage may represent a common pathological mechanism for both HSCR and AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Luo
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Hailin Zou
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yibo Guo
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Ke Huang
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Elly Sau-Wai Ngan
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
| | - Peng Li
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
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22
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Cerrizuela S, Vega-Lopez GA, Méndez-Maldonado K, Velasco I, Aybar MJ. The crucial role of model systems in understanding the complexity of cell signaling in human neurocristopathies. WIREs Mech Dis 2022; 14:e1537. [PMID: 35023327 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Animal models are useful to study the molecular, cellular, and morphogenetic mechanisms underlying normal and pathological development. Cell-based study models have emerged as an alternative approach to study many aspects of human embryonic development and disease. The neural crest (NC) is a transient, multipotent, and migratory embryonic cell population that generates a diverse group of cell types that arises during vertebrate development. The abnormal formation or development of the NC results in neurocristopathies (NCPs), which are characterized by a broad spectrum of functional and morphological alterations. The impaired molecular mechanisms that give rise to these multiphenotypic diseases are not entirely clear yet. This fact, added to the high incidence of these disorders in the newborn population, has led to the development of systematic approaches for their understanding. In this article, we have systematically reviewed the ways in which experimentation with different animal and cell model systems has improved our knowledge of NCPs, and how these advances might contribute to the development of better diagnostic and therapeutic tools for the treatment of these pathologies. This article is categorized under: Congenital Diseases > Genetics/Genomics/Epigenetics Congenital Diseases > Stem Cells and Development Congenital Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology Neurological Diseases > Genetics/Genomics/Epigenetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Cerrizuela
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO, CONICET-UNT), Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Guillermo A Vega-Lopez
- Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO, CONICET-UNT), Tucumán, Argentina.,Instituto de Biología "Dr. Francisco D. Barbieri", Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Karla Méndez-Maldonado
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular - Neurociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico.,Departamento de Fisiología y Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Iván Velasco
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular - Neurociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico.,Laboratorio de Reprogramación Celular del Instituto de Fisiología Celular, UNAM en el Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía "Manuel Velasco Suárez", Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Manuel J Aybar
- Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO, CONICET-UNT), Tucumán, Argentina.,Instituto de Biología "Dr. Francisco D. Barbieri", Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
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23
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Jiang L, Jiang H, Dai S, Chen Y, Song Y, Tang CSM, Pang SYY, Ho SL, Wang B, Garcia-Barcelo MM, Tam PKH, Cherny SS, Li MJ, Sham PC, Li M. Deviation from baseline mutation burden provides powerful and robust rare-variants association test for complex diseases. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 50:e34. [PMID: 34931221 PMCID: PMC8989543 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab1234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Identifying rare variants that contribute to complex diseases is challenging because of the low statistical power in current tests comparing cases with controls. Here, we propose a novel and powerful rare variants association test based on the deviation of the observed mutation burden of a gene in cases from a baseline predicted by a weighted recursive truncated negative-binomial regression (RUNNER) on genomic features available from public data. Simulation studies show that RUNNER is substantially more powerful than state-of-the-art rare variant association tests and has reasonable type 1 error rates even for stratified populations or in small samples. Applied to real case-control data, RUNNER recapitulates known genes of Hirschsprung disease and Alzheimer's disease missed by current methods and detects promising new candidate genes for both disorders. In a case-only study, RUNNER successfully detected a known causal gene of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The present study provides a powerful and robust method to identify susceptibility genes with rare risk variants for complex diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Jiang
- Program in Bioinformatics, Zhongshan School of Medicine and The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Research Center of Medical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Center for Precision Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- Program in Bioinformatics, Zhongshan School of Medicine and The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Center for Precision Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sheng Dai
- Program in Bioinformatics, Zhongshan School of Medicine and The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Center for Precision Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying Chen
- Program in Bioinformatics, Zhongshan School of Medicine and The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Center for Precision Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Youqiang Song
- School of Biomedical Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR China.,State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR China
| | - Clara Sze-Man Tang
- Department of Surgery, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR China.,Dr. Li Dak-Sum Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong - Karolinska Institutet Collaboration in Regenerative Medicine, Hong Kong, SAR China
| | - Shirley Yin-Yu Pang
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR China
| | - Shu-Leong Ho
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR China
| | - Binbin Wang
- Department of Genetics, National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China
| | | | - Paul Kwong-Hang Tam
- Department of Surgery, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR China.,Dr. Li Dak-Sum Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong - Karolinska Institutet Collaboration in Regenerative Medicine, Hong Kong, SAR China.,Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, SAR China
| | | | - Mulin Jun Li
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Pak Chung Sham
- The Centre for PanorOmic Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR China.,State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR China.,Department of Psychiatry, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR China
| | - Miaoxin Li
- Program in Bioinformatics, Zhongshan School of Medicine and The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Center for Precision Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,The Centre for PanorOmic Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
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24
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Tang CSM, Mononen M, Lam WY, Jin SC, Zhuang X, Garcia-Barcelo MM, Lin Q, Yang Y, Sahara M, Eroglu E, Chien KR, Hong H, Tam PK, Gruber PJ. Sequencing of a Chinese tetralogy of fallot cohort reveals clustering mutations in myogenic heart progenitors. JCI Insight 2021; 7:152198. [PMID: 34905512 PMCID: PMC8855809 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.152198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the most common cyanotic heart defect, yet the underlying genetic mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we performed whole-genome sequencing analysis on 146 nonsyndromic TOF parent-offspring trios of Chinese ethnicity. Comparison of de novo variants and recessive genotypes of this data set with data from a European cohort identified both overlapping and potentially novel gene loci and revealed differential functional enrichment between cohorts. To assess the impact of these mutations on early cardiac development, we integrated single-cell and spatial transcriptomics of early human heart development with our genetic findings. We discovered that the candidate gene expression was enriched in the myogenic progenitors of the cardiac outflow tract. Moreover, subsets of the candidate genes were found in specific gene coexpression modules along the cardiomyocyte differentiation trajectory. These integrative functional analyses help dissect the pathogenesis of TOF, revealing cellular hotspots in early heart development resulting in cardiac malformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Sze Man Tang
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Mimmi Mononen
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Wai-Yee Lam
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Sheng Chih Jin
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States of America
| | - Xuehan Zhuang
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | - Qiongfen Lin
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Yujia Yang
- Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, United States of America
| | - Makoto Sahara
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elif Eroglu
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kenneth R Chien
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Haifa Hong
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Paul Kh Tam
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Peter J Gruber
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, United States of America
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25
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Genetic Background Influences Severity of Colonic Aganglionosis and Response to GDNF Enemas in the Holstein Mouse Model of Hirschsprung Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222313140. [PMID: 34884944 PMCID: PMC8658428 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222313140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hirschsprung disease is a congenital malformation where ganglia of the neural crest-derived enteric nervous system are missing over varying lengths of the distal gastrointestinal tract. This complex genetic condition involves both rare and common variants in dozens of genes, many of which have been functionally validated in animal models. Modifier loci present in the genetic background are also believed to influence disease penetrance and severity, but this has not been frequently tested in animal models. Here, we addressed this question using Holstein mice in which aganglionosis is due to excessive deposition of collagen VI around the developing enteric nervous system, thereby allowing us to model trisomy 21-associated Hirschsprung disease. We also asked whether the genetic background might influence the response of Holstein mice to GDNF enemas, which we recently showed to have regenerative properties for the missing enteric nervous system. Compared to Holstein mice in their original FVB/N genetic background, Holstein mice maintained in a C57BL/6N background were found to have a less severe enteric nervous system defect and to be more responsive to GDNF enemas. This change of genetic background had a positive impact on the enteric nervous system only, leaving the neural crest-related pigmentation phenotype of Holstein mice unaffected. Taken together with other similar studies, these results are thus consistent with the notion that the enteric nervous system is more sensitive to genetic background changes than other neural crest derivatives.
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26
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Sato H, Kamimura K, Matsui H, Owaki T, Morita S, Tanaka Y, Ishikawa N, Shimada Y, Yokoyama J, Wakai T, Terai S. Esophageal High-Resolution Manometry for Diagnosing the Severity of the Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction: A Case Series. Dig Dis Sci 2021; 66:3960-3967. [PMID: 33180245 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-020-06701-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is a severe and refractory intestinal motility disorder. However, due to its rarity and difficult histological investigation, its pathophysiology has not been characterized. AIM Therefore, in this study, we aimed to determine the role of esophageal high-resolution manometry (HRM) in CIPO and the histological and clinical characteristics of the disease. METHODS Patients with CIPO were analyzed for clinical characteristics; histological findings; and clinical courses after therapeutic intervention. In addition, HRM was performed to determine the esophageal involvement. RESULTS Eleven patients were diagnosed with CIPO, and five required the long period of parenteral nutrition showing impaired esophageal motility including achalasia and absent contractility diagnosed with HRM. The four of these five cases showed acute onset of the CIPO following the triggering events of pregnancy, appendicitis, and surgery. In contrast, other six patients with normal or Jackhammer esophagus on HRM had moderate severity of CIPO with gradual onset. The histological analyses revealed that the loss of the intestinal neural ganglion cells and layers by inflammation, destruction, and atrophy are related to the severity of the clinical course of the disease and esophageal HRM findings of achalasia and absent contractility. CONCLUSIONS HRM may be useful to diagnose the severity of the clinical course and to determine the therapeutic options for CIPO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Sato
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Niigata, 951-8510, Japan
| | - Kenya Kamimura
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Niigata, 951-8510, Japan.
| | - Hideaki Matsui
- Department of Neuroscience of Disease, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, 951-8585, Japan
| | - Takashi Owaki
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Niigata, 951-8510, Japan
| | - Shinichi Morita
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Niigata, 951-8510, Japan
| | - Yuto Tanaka
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Niigata, 951-8510, Japan
| | - Natsuki Ishikawa
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Niigata, 951-8510, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Shimada
- Division of Digestive and General Surgery, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, 951-8510, Japan
| | - Junji Yokoyama
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Niigata, 951-8510, Japan
| | - Toshifumi Wakai
- Division of Digestive and General Surgery, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, 951-8510, Japan
| | - Shuji Terai
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Niigata, 951-8510, Japan
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27
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Lai FPL, Li Z, Zhou T, Leung AOW, Lau ST, Lui KNC, Wong WYM, Sham PC, Hui CC, Ngan ESW. Ciliary protein Kif7 regulates Gli and Ezh2 for initiating the neuronal differentiation of enteric neural crest cells during development. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabf7472. [PMID: 34644112 PMCID: PMC8514102 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abf7472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal motility disorders occur frequently in patients with ciliopathy, but the underlying genetic link is unclear. The ciliary protein Kif7 can positively or negatively regulate Hedgehog signaling in different cellular contexts. Mice with neural crest cell (NCC)–specific Kif7 deficiency show a marked reduction of enteric NOS+ inhibitory neurons. Malformation of enteric nervous system (ENS) causes growth retardation and gut motility defect in mice. Mechanistically, Kif7 inhibits Gli2 in enteric NCCs (ENCCs), where Gli2 positively regulates the expression of Ezh2 by inhibiting the miR124-mediated suppression. In developing ENCCs, Ezh2 is a master regulator of 102 core genes underlying ENCC differentiation. Deletion of Gli2 or inhibition of Ezh2 favors the neurogenic lineage differentiation of mouse and human ENCCs and rescues the ENS defects of Kif7 mutants. In summary, Hedgehog signal, via Kif7-Gli-Ezh2, controls the timely expressions of the core genes to mediate the differentiation of ENCCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Pui-Ling Lai
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Zhixin Li
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Tingwen Zhou
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Adrian On Wah Leung
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Sin-Ting Lau
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Kathy Nga-Chu Lui
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - William Yu-Ming Wong
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Pak-Chung Sham
- Department of Psychiatry, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Chi-Chung Hui
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G1L7, Canada
| | - Elly Sau-Wai Ngan
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
- Corresponding author.
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28
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Roles of Enteric Neural Stem Cell Niche and Enteric Nervous System Development in Hirschsprung Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22189659. [PMID: 34575824 PMCID: PMC8465795 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of the enteric nervous system (ENS) is highly modulated by the synchronized interaction between the enteric neural crest cells (ENCCs) and the neural stem cell niche comprising the gut microenvironment. Genetic defects dysregulating the cellular behaviour(s) of the ENCCs result in incomplete innervation and hence ENS dysfunction. Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a rare complex neurocristopathy in which the enteric neural crest-derived cells fail to colonize the distal colon. In addition to ENS defects, increasing evidence suggests that HSCR patients may have intrinsic defects in the niche impairing the extracellular matrix (ECM)-cell interaction and/or dysregulating the cellular niche factors necessary for controlling stem cell behaviour. The niche defects in patients may compromise the regenerative capacity of the stem cell-based therapy and advocate for drug- and niche-based therapies as complementary therapeutic strategies to alleviate/enhance niche-cell interaction. Here, we provide a summary of the current understandings of the role of the enteric neural stem cell niche in modulating the development of the ENS and in the pathogenesis of HSCR. Deciphering the contribution of the niche to HSCR may provide important implications to the development of regenerative medicine for HSCR.
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29
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Elmentaite R, Kumasaka N, Roberts K, Fleming A, Dann E, King HW, Kleshchevnikov V, Dabrowska M, Pritchard S, Bolt L, Vieira SF, Mamanova L, Huang N, Perrone F, Goh Kai'En I, Lisgo SN, Katan M, Leonard S, Oliver TRW, Hook CE, Nayak K, Campos LS, Domínguez Conde C, Stephenson E, Engelbert J, Botting RA, Polanski K, van Dongen S, Patel M, Morgan MD, Marioni JC, Bayraktar OA, Meyer KB, He X, Barker RA, Uhlig HH, Mahbubani KT, Saeb-Parsy K, Zilbauer M, Clatworthy MR, Haniffa M, James KR, Teichmann SA. Cells of the human intestinal tract mapped across space and time. Nature 2021; 597:250-255. [PMID: 34497389 PMCID: PMC8426186 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03852-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 254] [Impact Index Per Article: 84.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The cellular landscape of the human intestinal tract is dynamic throughout life, developing in utero and changing in response to functional requirements and environmental exposures. Here, to comprehensively map cell lineages, we use single-cell RNA sequencing and antigen receptor analysis of almost half a million cells from up to 5 anatomical regions in the developing and up to 11 distinct anatomical regions in the healthy paediatric and adult human gut. This reveals the existence of transcriptionally distinct BEST4 epithelial cells throughout the human intestinal tract. Furthermore, we implicate IgG sensing as a function of intestinal tuft cells. We describe neural cell populations in the developing enteric nervous system, and predict cell-type-specific expression of genes associated with Hirschsprung's disease. Finally, using a systems approach, we identify key cell players that drive the formation of secondary lymphoid tissue in early human development. We show that these programs are adopted in inflammatory bowel disease to recruit and retain immune cells at the site of inflammation. This catalogue of intestinal cells will provide new insights into cellular programs in development, homeostasis and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasa Elmentaite
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | | | - Kenny Roberts
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Aaron Fleming
- Molecular Immunity Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Emma Dann
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Hamish W King
- Centre for Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | | | | | | | - Liam Bolt
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Sara F Vieira
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Lira Mamanova
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Ni Huang
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | | | - Issac Goh Kai'En
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Steven N Lisgo
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Matilda Katan
- Structural and Molecular Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Steven Leonard
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Thomas R W Oliver
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
- Department of Histopathology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - C Elizabeth Hook
- Department of Histopathology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Komal Nayak
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Lia S Campos
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | | | - Emily Stephenson
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Justin Engelbert
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Rachel A Botting
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | | | | | - Minal Patel
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Michael D Morgan
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - John C Marioni
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Kerstin B Meyer
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Xiaoling He
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Roger A Barker
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Holm H Uhlig
- Translational Gastroenterology Unit, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Krishnaa T Mahbubani
- Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kourosh Saeb-Parsy
- Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Matthias Zilbauer
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cambridge University Hospitals Trust, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Anne McLaren Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Menna R Clatworthy
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
- Molecular Immunity Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Muzlifah Haniffa
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Department of Dermatology and NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Kylie R James
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK.
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Sarah A Teichmann
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK.
- Theory of Condensed Matter Group, Cavendish Laboratory/Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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30
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Kuil LE, MacKenzie KC, Tang CS, Windster JD, Le TL, Karim A, de Graaf BM, van der Helm R, van Bever Y, Sloots CEJ, Meeussen C, Tibboel D, de Klein A, Wijnen RMH, Amiel J, Lyonnet S, Garcia-Barcelo MM, Tam PKH, Alves MM, Brooks AS, Hofstra RMW, Brosens E. Size matters: Large copy number losses in Hirschsprung disease patients reveal genes involved in enteric nervous system development. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009698. [PMID: 34358225 PMCID: PMC8372947 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a complex genetic disease characterized by absence of ganglia in the intestine. HSCR etiology can be explained by a unique combination of genetic alterations: rare coding variants, predisposing haplotypes and Copy Number Variation (CNV). Approximately 18% of patients have additional anatomical malformations or neurological symptoms (HSCR-AAM). Pinpointing the responsible culprits within a CNV is challenging as often many genes are affected. Therefore, we selected candidate genes based on gene enrichment strategies using mouse enteric nervous system transcriptomes and constraint metrics. Next, we used a zebrafish model to investigate whether loss of these genes affects enteric neuron development in vivo. This study included three groups of patients, two groups without coding variants in disease associated genes: HSCR-AAM and HSCR patients without associated anomalies (HSCR-isolated). The third group consisted of all HSCR patients in which a confirmed pathogenic rare coding variant was identified. We compared these patient groups to unaffected controls. Predisposing haplotypes were determined, confirming that every HSCR subgroup had increased contributions of predisposing haplotypes, but their contribution was highest in isolated HSCR patients without RET coding variants. CNV profiling proved that specifically HSCR-AAM patients had larger Copy Number (CN) losses. Gene enrichment strategies using mouse enteric nervous system transcriptomes and constraint metrics were used to determine plausible candidate genes located within CN losses. Validation in zebrafish using CRISPR/Cas9 targeting confirmed the contribution of UFD1L, TBX2, SLC8A1, and MAPK8 to ENS development. In addition, we revealed epistasis between reduced Ret and Gnl1 expression and between reduced Ret and Tubb5 expression in vivo. Rare large CN losses—often de novo—contribute to HSCR in HSCR-AAM patients. We proved the involvement of six genes in enteric nervous system development and Hirschsprung disease. Hirschsprung disease is a congenital disorder characterized by the absence of intestinal neurons in the distal part of the intestine. It is a complex genetic disorder in which multiple variations in our genome combined, result in disease. One of these variations are Copy Number Variations (CNVs): large segments of our genome that are duplicated or deleted. Patients often have Hirschsprung disease without other symptoms. However, a proportion of patients has additional associated anatomical malformations and neurological symptoms. We found that CNVs, present in patients with associated anomalies, are more often larger compared to unaffected controls or Hirschsprung patients without other symptoms. Furthermore, Copy Number (CN) losses are enriched for constrained coding regions (CCR; genes usually not impacted by genomic alterations in unaffected controls) of which the expression is higher in the developing intestinal neurons compared to the intestine. We modelled loss of these candidate genes in zebrafish by disrupting the zebrafish orthologues by genome editing. For several genes this resulted in changes in intestinal neuron development, reminiscent of HSCR observed in patients. The results presented here highlight the importance of Copy Number profiling, zebrafish validation and evaluating all CCR expressed in developing intestinal neurons during diagnostic evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E. Kuil
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC–Sophia Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Katherine C. MacKenzie
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC–Sophia Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Clara S. Tang
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Li Dak-Sum Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong–Karolinska Institutet Collaboration in Regenerative Medicine, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jonathan D. Windster
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC–Sophia Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Erasmus MC–Sophia Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Thuy Linh Le
- Laboratory of embryology and genetics of malformations, Institut Imagine Université de Paris INSERM UMR1163 Necker Enfants malades University Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Anwarul Karim
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Bianca M. de Graaf
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC–Sophia Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Robert van der Helm
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC–Sophia Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yolande van Bever
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC–Sophia Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Cornelius E. J. Sloots
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Erasmus MC–Sophia Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Conny Meeussen
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Erasmus MC–Sophia Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dick Tibboel
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Erasmus MC–Sophia Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annelies de Klein
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC–Sophia Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - René M. H. Wijnen
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Erasmus MC–Sophia Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jeanne Amiel
- Laboratory of embryology and genetics of malformations, Institut Imagine Université de Paris INSERM UMR1163 Necker Enfants malades University Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Stanislas Lyonnet
- Laboratory of embryology and genetics of malformations, Institut Imagine Université de Paris INSERM UMR1163 Necker Enfants malades University Hospital, Paris, France
| | | | - Paul K. H. Tam
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Li Dak-Sum Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong–Karolinska Institutet Collaboration in Regenerative Medicine, Hong Kong, China
| | - Maria M. Alves
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC–Sophia Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alice S. Brooks
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC–Sophia Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Robert M. W. Hofstra
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC–Sophia Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Erwin Brosens
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC–Sophia Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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31
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Karim A, Tang CSM, Tam PKH. The Emerging Genetic Landscape of Hirschsprung Disease and Its Potential Clinical Applications. Front Pediatr 2021; 9:638093. [PMID: 34422713 PMCID: PMC8374333 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.638093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is the leading cause of neonatal functional intestinal obstruction. It is a rare congenital disease with an incidence of one in 3,500-5,000 live births. HSCR is characterized by the absence of enteric ganglia in the distal colon, plausibly due to genetic defects perturbing the normal migration, proliferation, differentiation, and/or survival of the enteric neural crest cells as well as impaired interaction with the enteric progenitor cell niche. Early linkage analyses in Mendelian and syndromic forms of HSCR uncovered variants with large effects in major HSCR genes including RET, EDNRB, and their interacting partners in the same biological pathways. With the advances in genome-wide genotyping and next-generation sequencing technologies, there has been a remarkable progress in understanding of the genetic basis of HSCR in the past few years, with common and rare variants with small to moderate effects being uncovered. The discovery of new HSCR genes such as neuregulin and BACE2 as well as the deeper understanding of the roles and mechanisms of known HSCR genes provided solid evidence that many HSCR cases are in the form of complex polygenic/oligogenic disorder where rare variants act in the sensitized background of HSCR-associated common variants. This review summarizes the roadmap of genetic discoveries of HSCR from the earlier family-based linkage analyses to the recent population-based genome-wide analyses coupled with functional genomics, and how these discoveries facilitated our understanding of the genetic architecture of this complex disease and provide the foundation of clinical translation for precision and stratified medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anwarul Karim
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Clara Sze-Man Tang
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Li Dak-Sum Research Center, The University of Hong Kong—Karolinska Institute Collaboration in Regenerative Medicine, Hong Kong, China
| | - Paul Kwong-Hang Tam
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Li Dak-Sum Research Center, The University of Hong Kong—Karolinska Institute Collaboration in Regenerative Medicine, Hong Kong, China
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32
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Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is the largest division of the peripheral nervous system and closely resembles components and functions of the central nervous system. Although the central role of the ENS in congenital enteric neuropathic disorders, including Hirschsprung disease and inflammatory and functional bowel diseases, is well acknowledged, its role in systemic diseases is less understood. Evidence of a disordered ENS has accumulated in neurodegenerative diseases ranging from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer disease and multiple sclerosis to Parkinson disease as well as neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism. The ENS is a key modulator of gut barrier function and a regulator of enteric homeostasis. A 'leaky gut' represents the gateway for bacterial and toxin translocation that might initiate downstream processes. Data indicate that changes in the gut microbiome acting in concert with the individual genetic background can modify the ENS, central nervous system and the immune system, impair barrier function, and contribute to various disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease or neurodegeneration. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on the role of the ENS in gastrointestinal and systemic diseases, highlighting its interaction with various key players involved in shaping the phenotypes. Finally, current flaws and pitfalls related to ENS research in addition to future perspectives are also addressed.
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33
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Lu YJ, Yu WW, Cui MM, Yu XX, Song HL, Bai MR, Wu WJ, Gu BL, Wang J, Cai W, Chu X. Association Analysis of Variants of DSCAM and BACE2 With Hirschsprung Disease Susceptibility in Han Chinese and Functional Evaluation in Zebrafish. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:641152. [PMID: 34136475 PMCID: PMC8201997 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.641152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) has a higher incidence in children with Down syndrome (DS), which makes trisomy 21 a predisposing factor to HSCR. DSCAM and BACE2 are close together on the HSCR-associated critical region of chromosome 21. Common variants of DSCAM and rare variants of BACE2 were implicated to be associated with sporadic HSCR. However, the submucosal neuron defect of DS mouse model could not be rescued by normalization of Dscam. We aimed to explore the contribution of DSCAM and BACE2 to the development of the enteric nervous system (ENS) and HSCR susceptibility. We genotyped 133 tag single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in DSCAM and BACE2 gene region in 420 HSCR patients and 1,665 controls of Han Chinese. Expression of DSCAM and BACE2 homologs was investigated in the developing gut of zebrafish. Overexpression and knockdown of the homologs were performed in zebrafish to investigate their roles in the development of ENS. Two DSCAM SNPs, rs430255 (PAddtive = 0.0052, OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.10–1.68) and rs2837756 (PAddtive = 0.0091, OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.05–1.43), showed suggestive association with HSCR risk. Common variants in BACE2 were not associated with HSCR risk. We observed dscama, dscamb, and bace2 expression in the developing gut of zebrafish. Knockdown of dscama, dscamb, and bace2 caused a reduction of enteric neurons in the hindgut of zebrafish. Overexpression of DSCAM and bace2 had no effects on neuron number in the hindgut of zebrafish. Our results suggested that common variation of DSCAM contributed to HSCR risk in Han Chinese. The dysfunction of both dscams and bace2 caused defects in enteric neuron, indicating that DSCAM and BACE2 might play functional roles in the occurrence of HSCR. These novel findings might shed new light on the pathogenesis of HSCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Jiao Lu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Wen Yu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Meng-Meng Cui
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Xian-Xian Yu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Huan-Lei Song
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Mei-Rong Bai
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Jie Wu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Bei-Lin Gu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Cai
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Xun Chu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
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34
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Le TL, Galmiche L, Levy J, Suwannarat P, Hellebrekers DM, Morarach K, Boismoreau F, Theunissen TE, Lefebvre M, Pelet A, Martinovic J, Gelot A, Guimiot F, Calleroz A, Gitiaux C, Hully M, Goulet O, Chardot C, Drunat S, Capri Y, Bole-Feysot C, Nitschké P, Whalen S, Mouthon L, Babcock HE, Hofstra R, de Coo IF, Tabet AC, Molina TJ, Keren B, Brooks A, Smeets HJ, Marklund U, Gordon CT, Lyonnet S, Amiel J, Bondurand N. Dysregulation of the NRG1/ERBB pathway causes a developmental disorder with gastrointestinal dysmotility in humans. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:145837. [PMID: 33497358 DOI: 10.1172/jci145837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is the most frequent developmental anomaly of the enteric nervous system, with an incidence of 1 in 5000 live births. Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is less frequent and classified as neurogenic or myogenic. Isolated HSCR has an oligogenic inheritance with RET as the major disease-causing gene, while CIPO is genetically heterogeneous, caused by mutations in smooth muscle-specific genes. Here, we describe a series of patients with developmental disorders including gastrointestinal dysmotility, and investigate the underlying molecular bases. Trio-exome sequencing led to the identification of biallelic variants in ERBB3 and ERBB2 in 8 individuals variably associating HSCR, CIPO, peripheral neuropathy, and arthrogryposis. Thorough gut histology revealed aganglionosis, hypoganglionosis, and intestinal smooth muscle abnormalities. The cell type-specific ErbB3 and ErbB2 function was further analyzed in mouse single-cell RNA sequencing data and in a conditional ErbB3-deficient mouse model, revealing a primary role for ERBB3 in enteric progenitors. The consequences of the identified variants were evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) on patient-derived fibroblasts or immunoblot assays on Neuro-2a cells overexpressing WT or mutant proteins, revealing either decreased expression or altered phosphorylation of the mutant receptors. Our results demonstrate that dysregulation of ERBB3 or ERBB2 leads to a broad spectrum of developmental anomalies, including intestinal dysmotility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuy-Linh Le
- Laboratory of Embryology and Genetics of Human Malformation, Imagine Institute, INSERM UMR 1163, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Louise Galmiche
- INSERM UMR 1235, TENS, The Enteric Nervous System in Gut and Brain Diseases, IMAD, University of Nantes, Nantes, France.,Pathology Department, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Jonathan Levy
- Genetics Department, Robert Debré Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, NeuroDiderot, INSERM UMR 1141, Paris, France
| | - Pim Suwannarat
- Department of Genetics, Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, Suitland, Maryland, USA
| | - Debby Mei Hellebrekers
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Khomgrit Morarach
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Franck Boismoreau
- Institut de Biologie de l'ENS (IBENS), INSERM, CNRS, École Normale Supérieure, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Tom Ej Theunissen
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Mathilde Lefebvre
- Fetal Pathology Unit, Armand Trousseau Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Anna Pelet
- Laboratory of Embryology and Genetics of Human Malformation, Imagine Institute, INSERM UMR 1163, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Jelena Martinovic
- Fetal Pathology Unit, Antoine Béclère Hospital, AP-HP, Paris-Saclay University, Clamart, France
| | - Antoinette Gelot
- Neuropathology, Pathology Department, Armand Trousseau Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France.,Aix-Marseille University, INMED INSERM UMR1249, Campus de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Fabien Guimiot
- Université de Paris, NeuroDiderot, INSERM UMR 1141, Paris, France.,Fetal Pathology Unit, Robert Debré Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Amanda Calleroz
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Division, Children's National Hospital, Washington DC, USA
| | - Cyril Gitiaux
- Department of Pediatric Clinical Neurophysiology, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, AP-HP, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Marie Hully
- Department of Pediatric Neurology and Rehabilitation, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, AP-HP, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Goulet
- Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology-Hepatology-Nutrition, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Christophe Chardot
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Severine Drunat
- Genetics Department, Robert Debré Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, NeuroDiderot, INSERM UMR 1141, Paris, France
| | - Yline Capri
- Genetics Department, Robert Debré Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Christine Bole-Feysot
- Genomics Core Facility, Imagine Institute-Structure Federative de Recherche Necker, INSERM UMR 1163 and INSERM US24/CNRS UMS 3633, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | | | - Sandra Whalen
- Clinical Genetics Unit and Reference Center, Anomalies du Développement et Syndromes Malformatifs, AP-HP, Sorbonne University, Armand Trousseau Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Linda Mouthon
- Department of Genetics, La Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Holly E Babcock
- Children's National Hospital, Rare Disease Institute, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Robert Hofstra
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Irenaeus Fm de Coo
- Department of Toxicogenomics, Unit Clinical Genomics, Maastricht University, MHeNs School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Anne-Claude Tabet
- Genetics Department, Robert Debré Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France.,Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, Institut Pasteur, UMR3571 CNRS, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Thierry J Molina
- Pathology Department, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, Imagine Institute, Laboratory of Molecular Mechanisms of Hematological Disorders and Therapeutic Implications, INSERM UMR 1163, Paris, France
| | - Boris Keren
- Department of Genetics, La Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Alice Brooks
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Hubert Jm Smeets
- Department of Toxicogenomics, Unit Clinical Genomics, Maastricht University, MHeNs School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Ulrika Marklund
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christopher T Gordon
- Laboratory of Embryology and Genetics of Human Malformation, Imagine Institute, INSERM UMR 1163, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Stanislas Lyonnet
- Laboratory of Embryology and Genetics of Human Malformation, Imagine Institute, INSERM UMR 1163, Université de Paris, Paris, France.,Fédération de Génétique, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Jeanne Amiel
- Laboratory of Embryology and Genetics of Human Malformation, Imagine Institute, INSERM UMR 1163, Université de Paris, Paris, France.,Fédération de Génétique, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Nadège Bondurand
- Laboratory of Embryology and Genetics of Human Malformation, Imagine Institute, INSERM UMR 1163, Université de Paris, Paris, France
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35
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Pilon N. Treatment and Prevention of Neurocristopathies. Trends Mol Med 2021; 27:451-468. [PMID: 33627291 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2021.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Neurocristopathies form a heterogeneous group of rare diseases caused by abnormal development of neural crest cells. Heterogeneity of neurocristopathies directly relates to the nature of these migratory and multipotent cells, which generate dozens of specialized cell types throughout the body. Neurocristopathies are thus characterized by congenital malformations of tissues/organs that otherwise appear to have very little in common, such as the craniofacial skeleton and enteric nervous system. Treatment options are currently very limited, mainly consisting of corrective surgeries. Yet, as reviewed here, analyses of normal and pathological neural crest development in model organisms have opened up the possibility for better treatment options involving cellular and molecular approaches. These approaches provide hope that some neurocristopathies might soon be curable or preventable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Pilon
- Molecular Genetics of Development Laboratory, Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montréal H3C 3P8, Québec, Canada; Centre d'Excellence en Recherche sur les Maladies Orphelines - Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montréal H2X 3Y7, Québec, Canada; Département de Pédiatrie, Université de Montréal, Montréal H3T 1C5, Québec, Canada.
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36
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Chung PHY, Tam PKH. Academic leadership in and beyond pediatric surgery - A view from Hong Kong. Semin Pediatr Surg 2021; 30:151024. [PMID: 33648713 DOI: 10.1016/j.sempedsurg.2021.151024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Leadership is required in all professions and pediatric surgery is no exception. It includes but is more than 'management'. Specific qualities in personal traits, performance and collaboration are also required. Owing to our professional training and job nature, pediatric surgeons are inherently potential leaders. Academic leadership opportunities exist in our clinical practice, research activities, educational programme and administrative duties. While leadership positions are often taken up by the senior team members, these positions should not be monopolized by a single person. Junior surgeons are encouraged to take up some leadership roles in their early career. This does not only help to bring in new ideas and energy to an organization but also prepares them to become great leaders in future. In this article, we discuss leadership in and beyond our specialty based on the experience from two academic surgeons in Hong Kong.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Ho Yu Chung
- Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Paul Kwong Hang Tam
- Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China.
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Mesenteric Neural Crest Cells Are the Embryological Basis of Skip Segment Hirschsprung's Disease. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020; 12:1-24. [PMID: 33340715 PMCID: PMC8082118 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2020.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Defective rostrocaudal colonization of the gut by vagal neural crest cells (vNCCs) results in Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR), which is characterized by aganglionosis in variable lengths of the distal bowel. Skip segment Hirschsprung's disease (SSHD), referring to a ganglionated segment within an otherwise aganglionic intestine, contradicts HSCR pathogenesis and underscores a significant gap in our understanding of the development of the enteric nervous system. Here, we aimed to identify the embryonic origin of the ganglionic segments in SSHD. METHODS Intestinal biopsy specimens from HSCR patients were prepared via the Swiss-roll technique to search for SSHD cases. NCC migration from the neural tube to the gut was spatiotemporally traced using targeted cell lineages and gene manipulation in mice. RESULTS After invading the mesentery surrounding the foregut, vNCCs separated into 2 populations: mesenteric NCCs (mNCCs) proceeded to migrate along the mesentery, whereas enteric NCCs invaded the foregut to migrate along the gut. mNCCs not only produced neurons and glia within the gut mesentery, but also continuously complemented the enteric NCC pool. Two new cases of SSHD were identified from 183 HSCR patients, and Ednrb-mutant mice, but not Ret-/- mice, showed a high incidence rate of SSHD-like phenotypes. CONCLUSIONS mNCCs, a subset of vNCCs that migrate into the gut via the gut mesentery to give rise to enteric neurons, could provide an embryologic explanation for SSHD. These findings lead to novel insights into the development of the enteric nervous system and the etiology of HSCR.
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Common variants of NRG1 and ITGB4 confer risk of Hirschsprung disease in Han Chinese population. J Pediatr Surg 2020; 55:2758-2765. [PMID: 32418639 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2020.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a strong genetic component. Common variants of NRG1 contributed to HSCR risk in Asians, and rare variants of ERBB2 and ITGB4 were found to be associated with HSCR. ERBB2 and ITGB4 are partners of Nrg1/ErbB pathway, which is important in HSCR pathogenesis. We aimed to investigate whether common variants in NRG1, ERBB2 and ITGB4 were associated with HSCR in Chinese Han population. METHODS We genotype 17 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of NRG1, ERBB2 and ITGB4 in 420 HSCR patients and 1665 controls, and performed association analysis. RESULTS We validated associations of two NRG1 SNPs rs7835688 (PAllelic = 2.2 × 10-20, OR = 2.21, 95%CI = 1.86-2.62) and rs16879552 (PAllelic = 5.6 × 10-9, OR = 1.57, 95%CI = 1.35-1.83) with risk to HSCR. SNP rs3744000 located 5' upstream of ITGB4 showed association with HSCR (PAllelic = 2.4 × 10-3, OR = 1.27, 95%CI = 1.09-1.49). Four SNPs of ERBB2 exhibited no association. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggested that common variation of ITGB4 and NRG1 conferred risk to HSCR in Chinese Han population, which further highlighted Nrg-1/ErbB pathway involving in the pathogenesis of HSCR.
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Villalba-Benito L, Torroglosa A, Luzón-Toro B, Fernández RM, Moya-Jiménez MJ, Antiñolo G, Borrego S. ChIP-Seq-Based Approach in Mouse Enteric Precursor Cells Reveals New Potential Genes with a Role in Enteric Nervous System Development and Hirschsprung Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21239061. [PMID: 33260622 PMCID: PMC7730166 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21239061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a neurocristopathy characterized by intestinal aganglionosis which is attributed to a failure in neural crest cell (NCC) development during the embryonic stage. The colonization of the intestine by NCCs is a process finely controlled by a wide and complex gene regulatory system. Several genes have been associated with HSCR, but many aspects still remain poorly understood. The present study is focused on deciphering the PAX6 interaction network during enteric nervous system (ENS) formation. A combined experimental and computational approach was performed to identify PAX6 direct targets, as well as gene networks shared among such targets as potential susceptibility factors for HSCR. As a result, genes related to PAX6 either directly (RABGGTB and BRD3) or indirectly (TGFB1, HRAS, and GRB2) were identified as putative genes associated with HSCR. Interestingly, GRB2 is involved in the RET/GDNF/GFRA1 signaling pathway, one of the main pathways implicated in the disease. Our findings represent a new contribution to advance in the knowledge of the genetic basis of HSCR. The investigation of the role of these genes could help to elucidate their implication in HSCR onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leticia Villalba-Benito
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (L.V.-B.); (A.T.); (B.L.-T.); (R.M.F.); (G.A.)
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Ana Torroglosa
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (L.V.-B.); (A.T.); (B.L.-T.); (R.M.F.); (G.A.)
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Berta Luzón-Toro
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (L.V.-B.); (A.T.); (B.L.-T.); (R.M.F.); (G.A.)
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Raquel María Fernández
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (L.V.-B.); (A.T.); (B.L.-T.); (R.M.F.); (G.A.)
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - María José Moya-Jiménez
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, 41013 Seville, Spain;
| | - Guillermo Antiñolo
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (L.V.-B.); (A.T.); (B.L.-T.); (R.M.F.); (G.A.)
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Salud Borrego
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (L.V.-B.); (A.T.); (B.L.-T.); (R.M.F.); (G.A.)
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
- Correspondence:
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PHOX2B Immunostaining: A Simple and Helpful Tool for the Recognition of Ganglionic Cells and Diagnosis of Hirschsprung Disease. Am J Surg Pathol 2020; 44:1389-1397. [PMID: 32604166 DOI: 10.1097/pas.0000000000001528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Hirschsprung disease (HD) is a congenital disorder of the enteric nervous system that occurs in ∼1 in 5000 live births. It is characterized by the absence of ganglionic cells (GCs) in the distal intestine. The diagnosis relies on the thorough analysis of a rectal suction biopsy (RSB), which must show a complete absence of GCs after careful examination of at least 100 serial sections. Such a negative characteristic explains the difficulty of this diagnosis. Moreover, GCs may be immature in very young or preterm born children, making them hard to recognize. Therefore, ancillary techniques have been developed as diagnostic help, such as acetylcholinesterase histochemistry and calretinin immunostaining. These techniques reveal only indirect clues, focusing mainly on the changes in nerve fibers, but not on GCs themselves. As PHOX2B has been shown to be a very specific transcription factor in GCs and in progenitor enteric nerve cells, we have assessed (i) PHOX2B immunostaining in immature enteric ganglia and (ii) the use of PHOX2B immunostaining for the recognition of GCs on RSBs for suspicion of HD. We have observed PHOX2B expression in all GCs, both mature and immature, and its complete absence in Hirschsprung cases. We suggest that the use of PHOX2B immunostaining is of great help (i) in the recognition of GCs on RSBs regardless of their differentiation and therefore (ii) in the diagnosis of HD.
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Soret R, Schneider S, Bernas G, Christophers B, Souchkova O, Charrier B, Righini-Grunder F, Aspirot A, Landry M, Kembel SW, Faure C, Heuckeroth RO, Pilon N. Glial Cell-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Induces Enteric Neurogenesis and Improves Colon Structure and Function in Mouse Models of Hirschsprung Disease. Gastroenterology 2020; 159:1824-1838.e17. [PMID: 32687927 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2020.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a life-threatening birth defect in which the distal colon is devoid of enteric neural ganglia. HSCR is treated by surgical removal of aganglionic bowel, but many children continue to have severe problems after surgery. We studied whether administration of glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) induces enteric nervous system regeneration in mouse models of HSCR. METHODS We performed studies with four mouse models of HSCR: Holstein (HolTg/Tg, a model for trisomy 21-associated HSCR), TashT (TashTTg/Tg, a model for male-biased HSCR), Piebald-lethal (Ednrbs-l//s-l, a model for EDNRB mutation-associated HSCR), and Ret9/- (with aganglionosis induced by mycophenolate). Mice were given rectal enemas containing GDNF or saline (control) from postnatal days 4 through 8. We measured survival times of mice, and colon tissues were analyzed by histology, immunofluorescence, and immunoblots. Neural ganglia regeneration and structure, bowel motility, epithelial permeability, muscle thickness, and neutrophil infiltration were studied in colon tissues and in mice. Stool samples were collected, and microbiomes were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Time-lapse imaging and genetic cell-lineage tracing were used to identify a source of GDNF-targeted neural progenitors. Human aganglionic colon explants from children with HSCR were cultured with GDNF and evaluated for neurogenesis. RESULTS GDNF significantly prolonged mean survival times of HolTg/Tg mice, Ednrbs-l//s-l mice, and male TashTTg/Tg mice, compared with control mice, but not Ret9/- mice (which had mycophenolate toxicity). Mice given GDNF developed neurons and glia in distal bowel tissues that were aganglionic in control mice, had a significant increase in colon motility, and had significant decreases in epithelial permeability, muscle thickness, and neutrophil density. We observed dysbiosis in fecal samples from HolTg/Tg mice compared with feces from wild-type mice; fecal microbiomes of mice given GDNF were similar to those of wild-type mice except for Bacteroides. Exogenous luminal GDNF penetrated aganglionic colon epithelium of HolTg/Tg mice, inducing production of endogenous GDNF, and new enteric neurons and glia appeared to arise from Schwann cells within extrinsic nerves. GDNF application to cultured explants of human aganglionic bowel induced proliferation of Schwann cells and formation of new neurons. CONCLUSIONS GDNF prolonged survival, induced enteric neurogenesis, and improved colon structure and function in 3 mouse models of HSCR. Application of GDNF to cultured explants of aganglionic bowel from children with HSCR induced proliferation of Schwann cells and formation of new neurons. GDNF might be developed for treatment of HSCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodolphe Soret
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montréal, Québec, Canada; Centre d'excellence en recherche sur les maladies orphelines-Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Sabine Schneider
- Department of Pediatrics, the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Guillaume Bernas
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Briana Christophers
- Department of Pediatrics, the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ouliana Souchkova
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montréal, Québec, Canada; Centre d'excellence en recherche sur les maladies orphelines-Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Baptiste Charrier
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montréal, Québec, Canada; Centre d'excellence en recherche sur les maladies orphelines-Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Franziska Righini-Grunder
- Division de gastroentérologie, hépatologie et nutrition pédiatrique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Ann Aspirot
- Division de chirurgie pédiatrique, Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Département de pédiatrie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Mathieu Landry
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Steven W Kembel
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montréal, Québec, Canada; Centre d'excellence en recherche sur les maladies orphelines-Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Christophe Faure
- Centre d'excellence en recherche sur les maladies orphelines-Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Division de gastroentérologie, hépatologie et nutrition pédiatrique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Département de pédiatrie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Robert O Heuckeroth
- Department of Pediatrics, the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Nicolas Pilon
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montréal, Québec, Canada; Centre d'excellence en recherche sur les maladies orphelines-Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Département de pédiatrie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
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Mederer T, Schmitteckert S, Volz J, Martínez C, Röth R, Thumberger T, Eckstein V, Scheuerer J, Thöni C, Lasitschka F, Carstensen L, Günther P, Holland-Cunz S, Hofstra R, Brosens E, Rosenfeld JA, Schaaf CP, Schriemer D, Ceccherini I, Rusmini M, Tilghman J, Luzón-Toro B, Torroglosa A, Borrego S, Sze-man Tang C, Garcia-Barceló M, Tam P, Paramasivam N, Bewerunge-Hudler M, De La Torre C, Gretz N, Rappold GA, Romero P, Niesler B. A complementary study approach unravels novel players in the pathoetiology of Hirschsprung disease. PLoS Genet 2020; 16:e1009106. [PMID: 33151932 PMCID: PMC7643938 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Hirschsprung disease (HSCR, OMIM 142623) involves congenital intestinal obstruction caused by dysfunction of neural crest cells and their progeny during enteric nervous system (ENS) development. HSCR is a multifactorial disorder; pathogenetic variants accounting for disease phenotype are identified only in a minority of cases, and the identification of novel disease-relevant genes remains challenging. In order to identify and to validate a potential disease-causing relevance of novel HSCR candidate genes, we established a complementary study approach, combining whole exome sequencing (WES) with transcriptome analysis of murine embryonic ENS-related tissues, literature and database searches, in silico network analyses, and functional readouts using candidate gene-specific genome-edited cell clones. WES datasets of two patients with HSCR and their non-affected parents were analysed, and four novel HSCR candidate genes could be identified: ATP7A, SREBF1, ABCD1 and PIAS2. Further rare variants in these genes were identified in additional HSCR patients, suggesting disease relevance. Transcriptomics revealed that these genes are expressed in embryonic and fetal gastrointestinal tissues. Knockout of these genes in neuronal cells demonstrated impaired cell differentiation, proliferation and/or survival. Our approach identified and validated candidate HSCR genes and provided further insight into the underlying pathomechanisms of HSCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Mederer
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefanie Schmitteckert
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julia Volz
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Cristina Martínez
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Lleida Institute for Biomedical Research Dr. Pifarré Foundation (IRBLleida), Lleida, Spain
| | - Ralph Röth
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- nCounter Core Facility, Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Thumberger
- Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Jutta Scheuerer
- Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Cornelia Thöni
- Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Felix Lasitschka
- Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Leonie Carstensen
- Pediatric Surgery Division, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Patrick Günther
- Pediatric Surgery Division, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Robert Hofstra
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Erwin Brosens
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jill A. Rosenfeld
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Baylor Genetics Laboratories, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Christian P. Schaaf
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Baylor Genetics Laboratories, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Institute of Human Genetics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Duco Schriemer
- Department of Neuroscience, University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Isabella Ceccherini
- UOSD Genetica e Genomica delle Malattie Rare, IRCCS, Instituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Marta Rusmini
- UOSD Genetica e Genomica delle Malattie Rare, IRCCS, Instituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Joseph Tilghman
- Center for Human Genetics and Genomics, New York University School of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Berta Luzón-Toro
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, Seville, Spain
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Seville, Spain
| | - Ana Torroglosa
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, Seville, Spain
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Seville, Spain
| | - Salud Borrego
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, Seville, Spain
- Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Seville, Spain
| | - Clara Sze-man Tang
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mercè Garcia-Barceló
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Paul Tam
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Nagarajan Paramasivam
- Division of Theoretical Bioinformatics, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | | | - Norbert Gretz
- Center of Medical Research, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Gudrun A. Rappold
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Philipp Romero
- Pediatric Surgery Division, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Beate Niesler
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- nCounter Core Facility, Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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Zhuang X, Ye R, So MT, Lam WY, Karim A, Yu M, Ngo ND, Cherny SS, Tam PKH, Garcia-Barcelo MM, Tang CSM, Sham PC. A random forest-based framework for genotyping and accuracy assessment of copy number variations. NAR Genom Bioinform 2020; 2:lqaa071. [PMID: 33575619 PMCID: PMC7671382 DOI: 10.1093/nargab/lqaa071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Detection of copy number variations (CNVs) is essential for uncovering genetic factors underlying human diseases. However, CNV detection by current methods is prone to error, and precisely identifying CNVs from paired-end whole genome sequencing (WGS) data is still challenging. Here, we present a framework, CNV-JACG, for Judging the Accuracy of CNVs and Genotyping using paired-end WGS data. CNV-JACG is based on a random forest model trained on 21 distinctive features characterizing the CNV region and its breakpoints. Using the data from the 1000 Genomes Project, Genome in a Bottle Consortium, the Human Genome Structural Variation Consortium and in-house technical replicates, we show that CNV-JACG has superior sensitivity over the latest genotyping method, SV2, particularly for the small CNVs (≤1 kb). We also demonstrate that CNV-JACG outperforms SV2 in terms of Mendelian inconsistency in trios and concordance between technical replicates. Our study suggests that CNV-JACG would be a useful tool in assessing the accuracy of CNVs to meet the ever-growing needs for uncovering the missing heritability linked to CNVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuehan Zhuang
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Rui Ye
- Department of Psychiatry, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Man-Ting So
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wai-Yee Lam
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Anwarul Karim
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Michelle Yu
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ngoc Diem Ngo
- National Hospital of Pediatrics, Ha Noi 100000, Vietnam
| | - Stacey S Cherny
- Department of Psychiatry, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Paul Kwong-Hang Tam
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Clara Sze-Man Tang
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Pak Chung Sham
- Department of Psychiatry, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Whole-genome analysis of noncoding genetic variations identifies multiscale regulatory element perturbations associated with Hirschsprung disease. Genome Res 2020; 30:1618-1632. [PMID: 32948616 PMCID: PMC7605255 DOI: 10.1101/gr.264473.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
It is widely recognized that noncoding genetic variants play important roles in many human diseases, but there are multiple challenges that hinder the identification of functional disease-associated noncoding variants. The number of noncoding variants can be many times that of coding variants; many of them are not functional but in linkage disequilibrium with the functional ones; different variants can have epistatic effects; different variants can affect the same genes or pathways in different individuals; and some variants are related to each other not by affecting the same gene but by affecting the binding of the same upstream regulator. To overcome these difficulties, we propose a novel analysis framework that considers convergent impacts of different genetic variants on protein binding, which provides multiscale information about disease-associated perturbations of regulatory elements, genes, and pathways. Applying it to our whole-genome sequencing data of 918 short-segment Hirschsprung disease patients and matched controls, we identify various novel genes not detected by standard single-variant and region-based tests, functionally centering on neural crest migration and development. Our framework also identifies upstream regulators whose binding is influenced by the noncoding variants. Using human neural crest cells, we confirm cell stage-specific regulatory roles of three top novel regulatory elements on our list, respectively in the RET, RASGEF1A, and PIK3C2B loci. In the PIK3C2B regulatory element, we further show that a noncoding variant found only in the patients affects the binding of the gliogenesis regulator NFIA, with a corresponding up-regulation of multiple genes in the same topologically associating domain.
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Cardinal T, Bergeron KF, Soret R, Souchkova O, Faure C, Guillon A, Pilon N. Male-biased aganglionic megacolon in the TashT mouse model of Hirschsprung disease involves upregulation of p53 protein activity and Ddx3y gene expression. PLoS Genet 2020; 16:e1009008. [PMID: 32898154 PMCID: PMC7500598 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a complex genetic disorder of neural crest development resulting in incomplete formation of the enteric nervous system (ENS). This life-threatening neurocristopathy affects 1/5000 live births, with a currently unexplained male-biased ratio. To address this lack of knowledge, we took advantage of the TashT mutant mouse line, which is the only HSCR model to display a robust male bias. Our prior work revealed that the TashT insertional mutation perturbs a Chr.10 silencer-enriched non-coding region, leading to transcriptional dysregulation of hundreds of genes in neural crest-derived ENS progenitors of both sexes. Here, through sex-stratified transcriptome analyses and targeted overexpression in ENS progenitors, we show that male-biased ENS malformation in TashT embryos is not due to upregulation of Sry-the murine ortholog of a candidate gene for the HSCR male bias in humans-but instead involves upregulation of another Y-linked gene, Ddx3y. This discovery might be clinically relevant since we further found that the DDX3Y protein is also expressed in the ENS of a subset of male HSCR patients. Mechanistically, other data including chromosome conformation captured-based assays and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated deletions suggest that Ddx3y upregulation in male TashT ENS progenitors is due to increased transactivation by p53, which appears especially active in these cells yet without triggering apoptosis. Accordingly, in utero treatment of TashT embryos with the p53 inhibitor pifithrin-α decreased Ddx3y expression and abolished the otherwise more severe ENS defect in TashT males. Our data thus highlight novel pathogenic roles for p53 and DDX3Y during ENS formation in mice, a finding that might help to explain the intriguing male bias of HSCR in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Cardinal
- Molecular Genetics of Development Laboratory, Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Centre d'excellence en recherche sur les maladies orphelines-Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Karl-Frédérik Bergeron
- Centre d'excellence en recherche sur les maladies orphelines-Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Lipid Metabolism Laboratory, Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Rodolphe Soret
- Molecular Genetics of Development Laboratory, Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Centre d'excellence en recherche sur les maladies orphelines-Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Ouliana Souchkova
- Molecular Genetics of Development Laboratory, Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Centre d'excellence en recherche sur les maladies orphelines-Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Christophe Faure
- Centre d'excellence en recherche sur les maladies orphelines-Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Département de pédiatrie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Division de gastroentérologie, hépatologie et nutrition pédiatrique, Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Amélina Guillon
- Molecular Genetics of Development Laboratory, Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Nicolas Pilon
- Molecular Genetics of Development Laboratory, Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Centre d'excellence en recherche sur les maladies orphelines-Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Département de pédiatrie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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Niu WB, Bai MR, Song HL, Lu YJ, Wu WJ, Gong YM, Yu XX, Wei ZL, Yu WW, Gu BL, Cai W, Chu X. Association of Variants in PLD1, 3p24.1, and 10q11.21 Regions With Hirschsprung's Disease in Han Chinese Population. Front Genet 2020; 11:738. [PMID: 32765588 PMCID: PMC7381268 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims: Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) is a rare genetically heterogeneous congenital disorder. A recent study based on whole genome sequencing demonstrated that common variants at four novel loci, which contained two intronic variants on CASQ2 and PLD1, and intergenic variants located between SLC4A7 and EOMES at 3p24.1, and between LINC01518 and LOC283028 at 10q11.21, were associated with HSCR susceptibility. To validate these associations with HSCR susceptibility, we performed a case-control study in a Han Chinese sample set. Methods: We selected four previously identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for replication, along with tag SNPs to cover the four associated regions. In total, 61 SNPs were genotyped in 420 HSCR patients and 1,665 healthy controls from the Han Chinese population. Results: None of the 14 tag SNPs in the CASQ2 gene region, including the previously associated rs9428225, showed an association with HSCR. Among the 24 tag SNPs from the SLC4A7-EOMES region at 3p24.1, rs2642925 [odds ratio (OR) = 1.41, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.10-1.79; P Additive = 0.007] and the previously associated SNP rs9851320 showed a suggestive association (OR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.01-1.47; P Additive = 0.042). A non-synonymous SNP, rs2287579, in PLD1 showed a suggestive association with HSCR susceptibility (OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.18-2.46; P Additive = 0.004). Additionally, the previously associated PLD1 SNP rs12632766 showed a suggestive significance (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.01-1.42, P Additive = 0.038). In the LINC01518-LOC283028 region at 10q11.21, three SNPs meet the study-wide significance threshold. Rs17153309 was the most associated SNP (OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.34-1.90; P Additive = 1.13 × 10-7). The previously associated SNP rs1414027 also showed significant association (OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.20-1.70, P Additive = 3.92 × 10-5). Two associated SNPs at 10q11.21 (rs1414027 and rs624804) were expression quantitative trait loci in digestive tract tissues from GTEx databases. Conclusions: Our results confirmed that variants of the LINC01518-LOC283028 region were associated with HSCR in the Han Chinese population. Additionally, the susceptibility of SNPs in the LINC01518-LOC283028 region were associated with the expression levels of nearby genes. These results provide new insight into the pathogenesis of HSCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Bo Niu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Mei-Rong Bai
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Huan-Lei Song
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan-Jiao Lu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Jie Wu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi-Ming Gong
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Xian-Xian Yu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi-Liang Wei
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Wen Yu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Bei-Lin Gu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Cai
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Xun Chu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
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Wang Y, Jiang Q, Cai H, Xu Z, Wu W, Gu B, Li L, Cai W. Genetic variants in RET, ARHGEF3 and CTNNAL1, and relevant interaction networks, contribute to the risk of Hirschsprung disease. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:4379-4393. [PMID: 32139661 PMCID: PMC7093166 DOI: 10.18632/aging.102891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Hirschsprung disease (HSCR), the most common enteric neuropathy, stands as a model for complex genetic disorders. It has recently been demonstrated that both ARHGEF3 and CTNNAL1 map to the RET-dependent HSCR susceptibility loci. We therefore sought to explore whether genetic variants within RET, ARHGEF3 and CTNNAL1, and their genetic interaction networks are associated with HSCR. Taking advantage of a strategy that combined the MassArray system and gene-gene interaction analysis with case-control study, we interrogated 38 polymorphisms within RET, ARHGEF3 and CTNNAL1 in 1015 subjects (502 HSCR cases and 513 controls) of Han Chinese origin. There were statistically significant associations between 20 genetic variants in these three genes and HSCR. Haplotype analysis also revealed some significant global P values, i.e. RET_ rs2435357-rs752978-rs74400468-rs2435353-rs2075913-rs17028-rs2435355 (P = 3.79×10-58). Using the MDR and GeneMANIA platforms, we found strong genetic interactions among RET, ARHGEF3, and CTNNAL1 and our previously studied GAL, GAP43, NRSN1, PTCH1, GABRG2 and RELN genes. These results offer the first indication that genetic markers of RET, ARHGEF3 and CTNNAL1 and relevant genetic interaction networks confer the altered risk to HSCR in the Han Chinese population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Wang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Jiang
- Department of Medical Genetics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Cai
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Ze Xu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenjie Wu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Beilin Gu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Long Li
- Department of General Surgery, Capital Institute of Pediatrics Affiliated Children's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Cai
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
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Lau ST, Li Z, Pui-Ling Lai F, Nga-Chu Lui K, Li P, Munera JO, Pan G, Mahe MM, Hui CC, Wells JM, Ngan ESW. Activation of Hedgehog Signaling Promotes Development of Mouse and Human Enteric Neural Crest Cells, Based on Single-Cell Transcriptome Analyses. Gastroenterology 2019; 157:1556-1571.e5. [PMID: 31442438 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2019.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS It has been a challenge to develop fully functioning cells from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). We investigated how activation of hedgehog signaling regulates derivation of enteric neural crest (NC) cells from hPSCs. METHODS We analyzed transcriptomes of mouse and hPSC-derived enteric NCs using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to identify the changes in expression associated with lineage differentiation. Intestine tissues were collected from Tg(GBS-GFP), Sufuf/f; Wnt1-cre, Ptch1+/-, and Gli3Δ699/Δ699 mice and analyzed by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence for levels of messenger RNAs encoding factors in the hedgehog signaling pathway during differentiation of enteric NCs. Human NC cells (HNK-1+p75NTR+) were derived from IMR90 and UE02302 hPSC lines. hPSCs were incubated with a hedgehog agonist (smoothened agonist [SAG]) and antagonists (cyclopamine) and analyzed for differentiation. hPSC-based innervated colonic organoids were derived from these hPSC lines and analyzed by immunofluorescence and neuromuscular coupling assay for expression of neuronal subtype markers and assessment of the functional maturity of the hPSC-derived neurons, respectively. RESULTS Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis showed that neural fate acquisition by human and mouse enteric NC cells requires reduced expression of NC- and cell cycle-specific genes and up-regulation of neuronal or glial lineage-specific genes. Activation of the hedgehog pathway was associated with progression of mouse enteric NCs to the more mature state along the neuronal and glial lineage differentiation trajectories. Activation of the hedgehog pathway promoted development of cultured hPSCs into NCs of greater neurogenic potential by activating expression of genes in the neurogenic lineage. The hedgehog agonist increased differentiation of hPSCs into cells of the neuronal lineage by up-regulating expression of GLI2 target genes, including INSM1, NHLH1, and various bHLH family members. The hedgehog agonist increased expression of late neuronal markers and neuronal activities in hPSC-derived neurons. CONCLUSIONS In enteric NCs from humans and mice, activation of hedgehog signaling promotes differentiation into neurons by promoting cell-state transition, expression of genes in the neurogenic lineage, and functional maturity of enteric neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sin-Ting Lau
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Pokfulam, Hong Kong; Dr Li Dak Sum Research Centre, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Zhixin Li
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Pokfulam, Hong Kong; Dr Li Dak Sum Research Centre, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Frank Pui-Ling Lai
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Pokfulam, Hong Kong; Dr Li Dak Sum Research Centre, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Kathy Nga-Chu Lui
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Peng Li
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Jorge O Munera
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Guangjin Pan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, China
| | - Maxime M Mahe
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, Ohio; INSERM UMR 1235-TENS, INSERM, University of Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Chi-Chung Hui
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; The Hospital for Sick Children, and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - James M Wells
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Elly Sau-Wai Ngan
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
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Wang XJ, Camilleri M. Hirschsprung disease: Insights on genes, penetrance, and prenatal diagnosis. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2019; 31:e13732. [PMID: 31609069 DOI: 10.1111/nmo.13732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this mini-review is to provide insights on the advances in the understanding of the genetic variants associated with different manifestations of Hirschsprung disease, which may present with a range of denervation from a short segment of colon to total colonic and small bowel or extensive aganglionosis. A recent article in this journal documented potential gene variants involved in long-segment Hirschsprung disease in 23 patients. Gene variants were identified using a 31-gene panel of genes related to Hirschsprung disease or enteric neural crest cell development, as previously reported in the literature. The study identified potentially harmful variants in eight genes across 13 patients, with a detection rate of 56.5% (13/23 patients). Five patients had pathologic variants in RET, NRG1, and L1CAM, and the remainder were considered variants of unknown significance. The authors attempted prenatal diagnosis of Hirschsprung disease utilizing an amniocentesis sample obtained for advanced maternal age in a family with a known deleterious RET mutation, manifested in the father (long-segment Hirschsprung disease) and older daughter (total colonic aganglionosis). The fetus had the same RET variant but, after several years of follow-up, has not developed any symptoms of Hirschsprung disease, supporting the conclusion that this RET mutation is an autosomal dominant gene with incomplete penetrance. This experience suggests that genetic counseling is appropriate to carefully assess the justification of prenatal testing, especially, when the phenotype of long-segment Hirschsprung disease is so variable and the disease is potentially curable with surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Jing Wang
- Clinical Enteric Neuroscience Translational and Epidemiological Research (C.E.N.T.E.R.), Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Michael Camilleri
- Clinical Enteric Neuroscience Translational and Epidemiological Research (C.E.N.T.E.R.), Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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Jaroy EG, Acosta-Jimenez L, Hotta R, Goldstein AM, Emblem R, Klungland A, Ougland R. "Too much guts and not enough brains": (epi)genetic mechanisms and future therapies of Hirschsprung disease - a review. Clin Epigenetics 2019; 11:135. [PMID: 31519213 PMCID: PMC6743154 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-019-0718-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Hirschsprung disease is a neurocristopathy, characterized by aganglionosis in the distal bowel. It is caused by failure of the enteric nervous system progenitors to migrate, proliferate, and differentiate in the gut. Development of an enteric nervous system is a tightly regulated process. Both the neural crest cells and the surrounding environment are regulated by different genes, signaling pathways, and morphogens. For this process to be successful, the timing of gene expression is crucial. Hence, alterations in expression of genes specific for the enteric nervous system may contribute to the pathogenesis of Hirschsprung’s disease. Several epigenetic mechanisms contribute to regulate gene expression, such as modifications of DNA and RNA, histone modifications, and microRNAs. Here, we review the current knowledge of epigenetic and epitranscriptomic regulation in the development of the enteric nervous system and its potential significance for the pathogenesis of Hirschsprung’s disease. We also discuss possible future therapies and how targeting epigenetic and epitranscriptomic mechanisms may open new avenues for novel treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie G Jaroy
- Clinic for Diagnostics and Intervention and Institute of Medical Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, 0027, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, 0424, Oslo, Norway.,Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lourdes Acosta-Jimenez
- Clinic for Diagnostics and Intervention and Institute of Medical Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, 0027, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, 0424, Oslo, Norway.,Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ryo Hotta
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Allan M Goldstein
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ragnhild Emblem
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, 0424, Oslo, Norway.,Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
| | - Arne Klungland
- Clinic for Diagnostics and Intervention and Institute of Medical Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, 0027, Oslo, Norway.,Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
| | - Rune Ougland
- Clinic for Diagnostics and Intervention and Institute of Medical Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, 0027, Oslo, Norway. .,Department of Surgery, Baerum Hospital, Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, 3004, Drammen, Norway.
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