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Biselli JM, Zampieri BL, Biselli-Chicote PM, de Souza JES, Bürger MC, da Silva WA, Goloni-Bertollo EM, Pavarino ÉC. Differential microRNA expression profile in blood of children with Down syndrome suggests a role in immunological dysfunction. Hum Cell 2022; 35:639-648. [PMID: 35060072 PMCID: PMC8773395 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-022-00672-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS), caused by trisomy of chromosome 21 (HSA21), results in a broad range of phenotypes. However, the determinants contributing to the complex and variable phenotypic expression of DS are still not fully known. Changes in microRNAs (miRNAs), short non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally, have been associated with some DS phenotypes. Here, we investigated the genome-wide mature miRNA expression profile in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of children with DS and controls and identified biological processes and pathways relevant to the DS pathogenesis. The expression of 754 mature miRNAs was profiled in PBMCs from six children with DS and six controls by RT-qPCR using TaqMan® Array Human MicroRNA Cards. Functions and signaling pathways analyses were performed using DIANA-miRPath v.3 and DIANA-microT-CDS software. Children with DS presented six differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRs): four overexpressed (miR-378a-3p, miR-130b-5p, miR-942-5p, and miR-424-3p) and two downregulated (miR-452-5p and miR-668-3p). HSA21-derived miRNAs investigated were not found to be differentially expressed between the groups. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses showed potential target genes involved in biological processes and pathways pertinent to immune response, e.g., toll-like receptors (TLRs) signaling, Hippo, and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling pathways. These results suggest that altered miRNA expression could be contributing to the well-known immunological dysfunction observed in individuals with DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joice Matos Biselli
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculdade de Medicina de São José Do Rio Preto , Genetics and Molecular Biology Research Unit (UPGEM), São José Do Rio Preto Medical School (FAMERP), Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, nº 5416 - UPGEM/Bloco U-6, CEP: 15.090-000, São José Do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bruna Lancia Zampieri
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculdade de Medicina de São José Do Rio Preto , Genetics and Molecular Biology Research Unit (UPGEM), São José Do Rio Preto Medical School (FAMERP), Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, nº 5416 - UPGEM/Bloco U-6, CEP: 15.090-000, São José Do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Matos Biselli-Chicote
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculdade de Medicina de São José Do Rio Preto , Genetics and Molecular Biology Research Unit (UPGEM), São José Do Rio Preto Medical School (FAMERP), Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, nº 5416 - UPGEM/Bloco U-6, CEP: 15.090-000, São José Do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jorge Estefano Santana de Souza
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Metrópole Digital Institute (IMD), UFRN, Natal, RN, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology in Stem Cell and Cell Therapy and Center for Cell Based Therapy, Ribeirao Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Matheus Carvalho Bürger
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology in Stem Cell and Cell Therapy and Center for Cell Based Therapy, Ribeirao Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Wilson Araújo da Silva
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology in Stem Cell and Cell Therapy and Center for Cell Based Therapy, Ribeirao Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eny Maria Goloni-Bertollo
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculdade de Medicina de São José Do Rio Preto , Genetics and Molecular Biology Research Unit (UPGEM), São José Do Rio Preto Medical School (FAMERP), Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, nº 5416 - UPGEM/Bloco U-6, CEP: 15.090-000, São José Do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Érika Cristina Pavarino
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculdade de Medicina de São José Do Rio Preto , Genetics and Molecular Biology Research Unit (UPGEM), São José Do Rio Preto Medical School (FAMERP), Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, nº 5416 - UPGEM/Bloco U-6, CEP: 15.090-000, São José Do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Illouz T, Biragyn A, Iulita MF, Flores-Aguilar L, Dierssen M, De Toma I, Antonarakis SE, Yu E, Herault Y, Potier MC, Botté A, Roper R, Sredni B, London J, Mobley W, Strydom A, Okun E. Immune Dysregulation and the Increased Risk of Complications and Mortality Following Respiratory Tract Infections in Adults With Down Syndrome. Front Immunol 2021; 12:621440. [PMID: 34248930 PMCID: PMC8267813 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.621440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The risk of severe outcomes following respiratory tract infections is significantly increased in individuals over 60 years, especially in those with chronic medical conditions, i.e., hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dementia, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer. Down Syndrome (DS), the most prevalent intellectual disability, is caused by trisomy-21 in ~1:750 live births worldwide. Over the past few decades, a substantial body of evidence has accumulated, pointing at the occurrence of alterations, impairments, and subsequently dysfunction of the various components of the immune system in individuals with DS. This associates with increased vulnerability to respiratory tract infections in this population, such as the influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), and bacterial pneumonias. To emphasize this link, here we comprehensively review the immunobiology of DS and its contribution to higher susceptibility to severe illness and mortality from respiratory tract infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomer Illouz
- The Leslie and Susan Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
- The Paul Feder Laboratory on Alzheimer’s Disease Research, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Arya Biragyn
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Maria Florencia Iulita
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Center of Biomedical Investigation Network for Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Lisi Flores-Aguilar
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Mara Dierssen
- Center for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center for Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ilario De Toma
- Center for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center for Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Stylianos E. Antonarakis
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Medigenome, Swiss Institute of Genomic Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
- iGE3 Institute of Genetics and Genomics of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Eugene Yu
- The Children’s Guild Foundation Down Syndrome Research Program, Genetics and Genomics Program and Department of Cancer Genetics and Genomics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States
- Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics Program, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Yann Herault
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, INSERM, Institut de Génétique Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, IGBMC - UMR 7104 - Inserm U1258, Illkirch, France
| | - Marie-Claude Potier
- Paris Brain Institute (ICM), CNRS UMR7225, INSERM U1127, Sorbonne Université, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Alexandra Botté
- Paris Brain Institute (ICM), CNRS UMR7225, INSERM U1127, Sorbonne Université, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Randall Roper
- Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Benjamin Sredni
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | | | - William Mobley
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Andre Strydom
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eitan Okun
- The Leslie and Susan Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
- The Paul Feder Laboratory on Alzheimer’s Disease Research, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
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Marcovecchio GE, Ferrua F, Fontana E, Beretta S, Genua M, Bortolomai I, Conti A, Montin D, Cascarano MT, Bergante S, D’Oria V, Giamberti A, Amodio D, Cancrini C, Carotti A, Di Micco R, Merelli I, Bosticardo M, Villa A. Premature Senescence and Increased Oxidative Stress in the Thymus of Down Syndrome Patients. Front Immunol 2021; 12:669893. [PMID: 34140950 PMCID: PMC8204718 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.669893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) patients prematurely show clinical manifestations usually associated with aging. Their immune system declines earlier than healthy individuals, leading to increased susceptibility to infections and higher incidence of autoimmune phenomena. Clinical features of accelerated aging indicate that trisomy 21 increases the biological age of tissues. Based on previous studies suggesting immune senescence in DS, we hypothesized that induction of cellular senescence may contribute to early thymic involution and immune dysregulation. Immunohistochemical analysis of thymic tissue showed signs of accelerated thymic aging in DS patients, normally seen in older healthy subjects. Moreover, our whole transcriptomic analysis on human Epcam-enriched thymic epithelial cells (hTEC), isolated from three DS children, which revealed disease-specific transcriptomic alterations. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) of DS TEC revealed an enrichment in genes involved in cellular response to stress, epigenetic histone DNA modifications and senescence. Analysis of senescent markers and oxidative stress in hTEC and thymocytes confirmed these findings. We detected senescence features in DS TEC, thymocytes and peripheral T cells, such as increased β-galactosidase activity, increased levels of the cell cycle inhibitor p16, telomere length and integrity markers and increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), all factors contributing to cellular damage. In conclusion, our findings support the key role of cellular senescence in the pathogenesis of immune defect in DS while adding new players, such as epigenetic regulation and increased oxidative stress, to the pathogenesis of immune dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genni Enza Marcovecchio
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Ferrua
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Paediatric Immunohematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Fontana
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Italy
- Milan Unit, Istituto di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica (IRGB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Beretta
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Genua
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Ileana Bortolomai
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Anastasia Conti
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Davide Montin
- Department of Pediatric and Public Health Sciences, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
- Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Cascarano
- Cardiochirurgia Pediatrica Ospedale Infantile Regina Margherita (OIRM), AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Sonia Bergante
- Laboratory of Stem Cells for Tissue Engineering, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Policlinico San Donato, Milan, Italy
| | - Veronica D’Oria
- Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, IRCCS San Donato Milanese Hospital, San Donato Milanese, Italy
| | - Alessandro Giamberti
- Department of Congenital Cardiac Surgery, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Italy
| | - Donato Amodio
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
- University Department of Pediatrics, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Caterina Cancrini
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
- University Department of Pediatrics, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Adriano Carotti
- Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, IRCCS Bambino Gesú Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaella Di Micco
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Ivan Merelli
- Institute for Biomedical Technologies-National Research Council, Segrate, Italy
| | - Marita Bosticardo
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, IDGS, DIR, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Anna Villa
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Milan Unit, Istituto di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica (IRGB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Milan, Italy
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Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection has spread uncontrollably worldwide while it remains unknown how vulnerable populations, such as Down syndrome (DS) individuals are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals with DS have more risk of infections with respiratory complications and present signs of auto-inflammation. They also present with multiple comorbidities that are associated with poorer COVID-19 prognosis in the general population. All this might place DS individuals at higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection or poorer clinical outcomes. In order to get insight into the interplay between DS genes and SARS-cov2 infection and pathogenesis we identified the genes associated with the molecular pathways involved in COVID-19 and the host proteins interacting with viral proteins from SARS-CoV-2. We then analyzed the overlaps of these genes with HSA21 genes, HSA21 interactors and other genes consistently differentially expressed in DS (using public transcriptomic datasets) and created a DS-SARS-CoV-2 network. We detected COVID-19 protective and risk factors among HSA21 genes and interactors and/or DS deregulated genes that might affect the susceptibility of individuals with DS both at the infection stage and in the progression to acute respiratory distress syndrome. Our analysis suggests that at the infection stage DS individuals might be more susceptible to infection due to triplication of TMPRSS2, that primes the viral S protein for entry in the host cells. However, as the anti-viral interferon I signaling is also upregulated in DS, this might increase the initial anti-viral response, inhibiting viral genome release, viral replication and viral assembly. In the second pro-inflammatory immunopathogenic phase of the infection, the prognosis for DS patients might worsen due to upregulation of inflammatory genes that might favor the typical cytokine storm of COVID-19. We also detected strong downregulation of the NLRP3 gene, critical for maintenance of homeostasis against pathogenic infections, possibly leading to bacterial infection complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilario De Toma
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Mara Dierssen
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
- Biomedical Research Networking Center On Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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Abstract
Down syndrome fits an immunophenotype of combined immunodeficiency with immunodysregulation, manifesting with increased susceptibility to infections, autoimmunity, autoinflammatory diseases, and hematologic malignancies. Qualitative and quantitative alterations in innate and adaptive immunity are found in most individuals with Down syndrome. However, there is substantial heterogeneity and no correlation between immunophenotype and clinical presentation. Previously, it was thought that the immunological changes in Down syndrome were caused by precocious aging. We emphasize in this review that the immune system in Down syndrome is intrinsically different from the very beginning. The overexpression of specific genes located on chromosome 21 contributes to immunodeficiency and immunodysregulation, but gene expression differs between genes located on chromosome 21 and depends on tissue and cell type. In addition, trisomy 21 results in gene dysregulation of the whole genome, reflecting the complex nature of this syndrome in comparison to well-known inborn errors of immunity that result from monogenic germline mutations. In this review, we provide an updated overview focusing on inborn errors of adaptive immunity in Down syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruud H J Verstegen
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. .,Division of Rheumatology, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Maaike A A Kusters
- Department of Immunology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
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Vieira SE, Bando SY, Lauterbach GDP, Moreira-Filho CA. Human Leukocyte Transcriptional Response to SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Clinics (Sao Paulo) 2020; 75:e2078. [PMID: 32578831 PMCID: PMC7297521 DOI: 10.6061/clinics/2020/e2078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Elisabete Vieira
- Departamento de Pediatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, BR
| | - Silvia Yumi Bando
- Departamento de Pediatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, BR
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Zuhra K, Augsburger F, Majtan T, Szabo C. Cystathionine-β-Synthase: Molecular Regulation and Pharmacological Inhibition. Biomolecules 2020; 10:E697. [PMID: 32365821 PMCID: PMC7277093 DOI: 10.3390/biom10050697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS), the first (and rate-limiting) enzyme in the transsulfuration pathway, is an important mammalian enzyme in health and disease. Its biochemical functions under physiological conditions include the metabolism of homocysteine (a cytotoxic molecule and cardiovascular risk factor) and the generation of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a gaseous biological mediator with multiple regulatory roles in the vascular, nervous, and immune system. CBS is up-regulated in several diseases, including Down syndrome and many forms of cancer; in these conditions, the preclinical data indicate that inhibition or inactivation of CBS exerts beneficial effects. This article overviews the current information on the expression, tissue distribution, physiological roles, and biochemistry of CBS, followed by a comprehensive overview of direct and indirect approaches to inhibit the enzyme. Among the small-molecule CBS inhibitors, the review highlights the specificity and selectivity problems related to many of the commonly used "CBS inhibitors" (e.g., aminooxyacetic acid) and provides a comprehensive review of their pharmacological actions under physiological conditions and in various disease models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karim Zuhra
- Chair of Pharmacology, Section of Medicine, University of Fribourg, 1702 Fribourg, Switzerland; (K.Z.); (F.A.)
| | - Fiona Augsburger
- Chair of Pharmacology, Section of Medicine, University of Fribourg, 1702 Fribourg, Switzerland; (K.Z.); (F.A.)
| | - Tomas Majtan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA;
| | - Csaba Szabo
- Chair of Pharmacology, Section of Medicine, University of Fribourg, 1702 Fribourg, Switzerland; (K.Z.); (F.A.)
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Panagaki T, Randi EB, Szabo C. Role of 3-Mercaptopyruvate Sulfurtransferase in the Regulation of Proliferation and Cellular Bioenergetics in Human Down Syndrome Fibroblasts. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10040653. [PMID: 32340322 PMCID: PMC7226246 DOI: 10.3390/biom10040653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (trisomy of human chromosome 21) is a common genetic disorder. Overproduction of the gaseous mediator hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurological and metabolic deficits associated with Down syndrome. Several lines of data indicate that an important enzyme responsible for H2S overproduction in Down syndrome is cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS), an enzyme localized on chromosome 21. The current study explored the possibility that a second H2S-producing enzyme, 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST), may also contribute to the development of functional deficits of Down syndrome cells. Western blotting analysis demonstrated a significantly higher level of 3-MST protein expression in human Down syndrome fibroblasts compared to cells from healthy control individuals; the excess 3-MST was mainly localized to the mitochondrial compartment. Pharmacological inhibition of 3-MST activity improved mitochondrial electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation parameters (but did not affect the suppressed glycolytic parameters) and enhanced cell proliferation in Down syndrome cells (but not in healthy control cells). The findings presented in the current report suggest that in addition to the indisputable role of CBS, H2S produced from 3-MST may also contribute to the development of mitochondrial metabolic and functional impairments in Down syndrome cells.
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Bertonha FB, Bando SY, Ferreira LR, Chaccur P, Vinhas C, Zerbini MCN, Carneiro-Sampaio MM, Moreira-Filho CA. Age-related transcriptional modules and TF-miRNA-mRNA interactions in neonatal and infant human thymus. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0227547. [PMID: 32294112 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The human thymus suffers a transient neonatal involution, recovers and then starts a process of decline between the 1st and 2nd years of life. Age-related morphological changes in thymus were extensively investigated, but the genomic mechanisms underlying this process remain largely unknown. Through Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) and TF-miRNA-mRNA integrative analysis we studied the transcriptome of neonate and infant thymic tissues grouped by age: 0–30 days (A); 31days-6 months (B); 7–12 months (C); 13–18 months (D); 19-31months (E). Age-related transcriptional modules, hubs and high gene significance (HGS) genes were identified, as well as TF-miRNA-hub/HGS co-expression correlations. Three transcriptional modules were correlated with A and/or E groups. Hubs were mostly related to cellular/metabolic processes; few were differentially expressed (DE) or related to T-cell development. Inversely, HGS genes in groups A and E were mostly DE. In A (neonate) one third of the hyper-expressed HGS genes were related to T-cell development, against one-twentieth in E, what may correlate with the early neonatal depletion and recovery of thymic T-cell populations. This genomic mechanism is tightly regulated by TF-miRNA-hub/HGS interactions that differentially govern cellular and molecular processes involved in the functioning of the neonate thymus and in the beginning of thymic decline.
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Chai M, Su L, Hao X, Zhang M, Zheng L, Bi J, Han X, Gao C. Identification of a thymus microRNA‑mRNA regulatory network in Down syndrome. Mol Med Rep 2019; 20:2063-2072. [PMID: 31257513 PMCID: PMC6691205 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2019.10433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The present bioinformatics analysis was performed using a multi‑step approach to identify a microRNA (miR)‑mRNA regulatory network in Down syndrome. miR (GSE69210) and mRNA (GSE70573) data was downloaded and collected from the thymic tissues of both Down syndrome and karyotypically normal subjects and placed in a public repository. Then, weighted gene co‑expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to screen for miRs and mRNAs associated with Down syndrome. Subsequently, differentially expressed miRs (DEmiRs) and mRNAs/differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified following screening and mapping to RNA data. Bidirectional hierarchical clustering analysis was then performed to distinguish DEmiRs and DEGs between Down syndrome samples and normal control samples. DEmiR targets were retrieved using the miRanda database and mapped to the mRNA module screen by WGCNA. A gene co‑expression network was constructed and subjected to functional enrichment analysis. During WGCNA, a total of 6 miR modules and 20 mRNA modules associated with Down syndrome were identified. Following mapping of these miRs and mRNAs to the miR and mRNA modules screened using WGNCA, a total of 12 DEmiRs and 237 DEGs were collected. Following comparison with DEmiR targets retrieved from the miRanda database, a total of 255 DEmiR‑DEG pairs, including 6 DEmiRs and 106 DEGs were obtained. At expression correlation coefficient >0.9, a total of 231 gene pairs were selected. These gene pairs were enriched in response to stress and response to stimuli following functional annotation and module division. An integrated analysis of miR and mRNA expression in the thymus in Down syndrome is reported in the present study. miR‑30c, miR‑145, miR‑183 and their targets may serve important roles in the pathogenesis and development of complications in Down syndrome. However, further experimental studies are required to verify these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Chai
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Hospital of Harbin, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150010, P.R. China
| | - Liju Su
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Hospital of Harbin, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150010, P.R. China
| | - Xiaolei Hao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Hospital of Harbin, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150010, P.R. China
| | - Meng Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Hospital of Harbin, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150010, P.R. China
| | - Lihui Zheng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Hospital of Harbin, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150010, P.R. China
| | - Jiabing Bi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Hospital of Harbin, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150010, P.R. China
| | - Xiao Han
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Hospital of Harbin, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150010, P.R. China
| | - Chunbo Gao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Hospital of Harbin, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150010, P.R. China
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Ge SX, Son EW, Yao R. iDEP: an integrated web application for differential expression and pathway analysis of RNA-Seq data. BMC Bioinformatics 2018; 19:534. [PMID: 30567491 PMCID: PMC6299935 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-018-2486-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 677] [Impact Index Per Article: 112.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND RNA-seq is widely used for transcriptomic profiling, but the bioinformatics analysis of resultant data can be time-consuming and challenging, especially for biologists. We aim to streamline the bioinformatic analyses of gene-level data by developing a user-friendly, interactive web application for exploratory data analysis, differential expression, and pathway analysis. RESULTS iDEP (integrated Differential Expression and Pathway analysis) seamlessly connects 63 R/Bioconductor packages, 2 web services, and comprehensive annotation and pathway databases for 220 plant and animal species. The workflow can be reproduced by downloading customized R code and related pathway files. As an example, we analyzed an RNA-Seq dataset of lung fibroblasts with Hoxa1 knockdown and revealed the possible roles of SP1 and E2F1 and their target genes, including microRNAs, in blocking G1/S transition. In another example, our analysis shows that in mouse B cells without functional p53, ionizing radiation activates the MYC pathway and its downstream genes involved in cell proliferation, ribosome biogenesis, and non-coding RNA metabolism. In wildtype B cells, radiation induces p53-mediated apoptosis and DNA repair while suppressing the target genes of MYC and E2F1, and leads to growth and cell cycle arrest. iDEP helps unveil the multifaceted functions of p53 and the possible involvement of several microRNAs such as miR-92a, miR-504, and miR-30a. In both examples, we validated known molecular pathways and generated novel, testable hypotheses. CONCLUSIONS Combining comprehensive analytic functionalities with massive annotation databases, iDEP ( http://ge-lab.org/idep/ ) enables biologists to easily translate transcriptomic and proteomic data into actionable insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Xijin Ge
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, South Dakota State University, Box 2225, Brookings, SD 57007 USA
| | - Eun Wo Son
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, South Dakota State University, Box 2225, Brookings, SD 57007 USA
| | - Runan Yao
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, South Dakota State University, Box 2225, Brookings, SD 57007 USA
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Moreira-Filho CA, Bando SY, Bertonha FB, Ferreira LR, Vinhas CDF, Oliveira LHB, Zerbini MCN, Furlanetto G, Chaccur P, Carneiro-Sampaio M. Minipuberty and Sexual Dimorphism in the Infant Human Thymus. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13169. [PMID: 30177771 PMCID: PMC6120939 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31583-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
AIRE expression in thymus is downregulated by estrogen after puberty, what probably renders women more susceptible to autoimmune disorders. Here we investigated the effects of minipuberty on male and female infant human thymic tissue in order to verify if this initial transient increase in sex hormones - along the first six months of life - could affect thymic transcriptional network regulation and AIRE expression. Gene co-expression network analysis for differentially expressed genes and miRNA-target analysis revealed sex differences in thymic tissue during minipuberty, but such differences were not detected in the thymic tissue of infants aged 7-18 months, i.e. the non-puberty group. AIRE expression was essentially the same in both sexes in minipuberty and in non-puberty groups, as assessed by genomic and immunohistochemical assays. However, AIRE-interactors networks showed several differences in all groups regarding gene-gene expression correlation. Therefore, minipuberty and genomic mechanisms interact in shaping thymic sexual dimorphism along the first six months of life.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Silvia Yumi Bando
- Departament of Pediatrics, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Paulo Chaccur
- Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Magda Carneiro-Sampaio
- Departament of Pediatrics, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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