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Yu Z, Coorens THH, Uddin MM, Ardlie KG, Lennon N, Natarajan P. Genetic variation across and within individuals. Nat Rev Genet 2024:10.1038/s41576-024-00709-x. [PMID: 38548833 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-024-00709-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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Germline variation and somatic mutation are intricately connected and together shape human traits and disease risks. Germline variants are present from conception, but they vary between individuals and accumulate over generations. By contrast, somatic mutations accumulate throughout life in a mosaic manner within an individual due to intrinsic and extrinsic sources of mutations and selection pressures acting on cells. Recent advancements, such as improved detection methods and increased resources for association studies, have drastically expanded our ability to investigate germline and somatic genetic variation and compare underlying mutational processes. A better understanding of the similarities and differences in the types, rates and patterns of germline and somatic variants, as well as their interplay, will help elucidate the mechanisms underlying their distinct yet interlinked roles in human health and biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Yu
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Center and Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Md Mesbah Uddin
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Center and Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Niall Lennon
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Pradeep Natarajan
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Cardiovascular Research Center and Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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2
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Lin J, Wang J, Fang J, Li M, Xu S, Little PJ, Zhang D, Liu Z. The cytoplasmic sensor, the AIM2 inflammasome: A precise therapeutic target in vascular and metabolic diseases. Br J Pharmacol 2024. [PMID: 38528718 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardio-cerebrovascular diseases encompass pathological changes in the heart, brain and vascular system, which pose a great threat to health and well-being worldwide. Moreover, metabolic diseases contribute to and exacerbate the impact of vascular diseases. Inflammation is a complex process that protects against noxious stimuli but is also dysregulated in numerous so-called inflammatory diseases, one of which is atherosclerosis. Inflammation involves multiple organ systems and a complex cascade of molecular and cellular events. Numerous studies have shown that inflammation plays a vital role in cardio-cerebrovascular diseases and metabolic diseases. The absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome detects and is subsequently activated by double-stranded DNA in damaged cells and pathogens. With the assistance of the mature effector molecule caspase-1, the AIM2 inflammasome performs crucial biological functions that underpin its involvement in cardio-cerebrovascular diseases and related metabolic diseases: The production of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-18 (IL-18) and N-terminal pore-forming Gasdermin D fragment (GSDMD-N) mediates a series of inflammatory responses and programmed cell death (pyroptosis and PANoptosis). Currently, several agents have been reported to inhibit the activity of the AIM2 inflammasome and have the potential to be evaluated for use in clinical settings. In this review, we systemically elucidate the assembly, biological functions, regulation and mechanisms of the AIM2 inflammasome in cardio-cerebrovascular diseases and related metabolic diseases and outline the inhibitory agents of the AIM2 inflammasome as potential therapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiuguo Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaojiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jian Fang
- Huadu District People's Hospital of Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meihang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Suowen Xu
- Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Peter J Little
- Pharmacy Australia Centre of Excellence, School of Pharmacy, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
| | - Dongmei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiping Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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Knudsen AD, Eskelund CW, Benfield T, Zhao Y, Gelpi M, Køber L, Trøseid M, Kofoed KF, Ostrowski SR, Reilly C, Borges ÁH, Grønbæk K, Nielsen SD. Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential in persons with HIV. AIDS 2024; 38:487-495. [PMID: 37976039 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003788] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) has been associated with older age, inflammation and with risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed to characterize the burden of CHIP, and to explore the association between CHIP, inflammatory markers, and CAD in older persons with HIV (PWH). METHODS From the Copenhagen Comorbidity in HIV Infection (COCOMO) study, we included 190 individuals older than 55 years of age. We defined CHIP as variant allele fraction at least 2%. CAD was categorized according to the most severe coronary artery lesion on coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography as no coronary atherosclerosis; any atherosclerosis defined as at least 1% stenosis and obstructive CAD defined as at least 50% stenosis. RESULTS In the entire population (median age 66 years, 87% men), we identified a total of 62 mutations distributed among 49 (26%) participants. The three most mutated genes were DNMT3A , TET2 , and ASXL1 , accounting for 49, 25, and 16% of mutations, respectively. Age and sex were the only variables associated with CHIP. IL-1β, IL-1Ra, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, soluble CD14, soluble CD163 and TNF-α were not associated with CHIP, and CHIP was not associated with any atherosclerosis or with obstructive CAD in adjusted analyses. CONCLUSION In older, well treated, Scandinavian PWH, more than one in four had at least one CHIP mutation. We did not find evidence of an association between CHIP and inflammatory markers or between CHIP and CAD. CHIP is an unlikely underlying mechanism to explain the association between inflammation and CAD in treated HIV disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas D Knudsen
- Department of Infectious Diseases 8632
- Department of Cardiology, The Heart Center, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen
| | | | - Thomas Benfield
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre
| | | | | | - Lars Køber
- Department of Cardiology, The Heart Center, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen
| | - Marius Trøseid
- Section of Clinical Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Klaus F Kofoed
- Department of Cardiology, The Heart Center, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen
- Department of Radiology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen
| | - Sisse R Ostrowski
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Cavan Reilly
- Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, MN, USA
| | - Álvaro H Borges
- Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut
- Centre of Excellence for Health, Immunity and Infections (CHIP), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen
| | - Kirsten Grønbæk
- Department of Hematology, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Fidler TP, Dunbar A, Kim E, Hardaway B, Pauli J, Xue C, Abramowicz S, Xiao T, O’Connor K, Sachs N, Wang N, Maegdefessel L, Levine R, Reilly M, Tall AR. Suppression of IL-1β promotes beneficial accumulation of fibroblast-like cells in atherosclerotic plaques in clonal hematopoiesis. Nat Cardiovasc Res 2024; 3:60-75. [PMID: 38362011 PMCID: PMC10868728 DOI: 10.1038/s44161-023-00405-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Murine models of CH suggest a central role of inflammasomes and IL-1β in accelerated atherosclerosis and plaque destabilization. Here we show using single-cell RNA sequencing in human carotid plaques that inflammasome components are enriched in macrophages, while the receptor for IL-1β is enriched in fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells (SMCs). To address the role of inflammatory crosstalk in features of plaque destabilization, we conducted SMC fate mapping in Ldlr-/- mice modeling Jak2VF or Tet2 CH treated with IL-1β antibodies. Unexpectedly, this treatment minimally affected SMC differentiation, leading instead to a prominent expansion of fibroblast-like cells. Depletion of fibroblasts from mice treated with IL-1β antibody resulted in thinner fibrous caps. Conversely, genetic inactivation of Jak2VF during plaque regression promoted fibroblast accumulation and fibrous cap thickening. Our studies suggest that suppression of inflammasomes promotes plaque stabilization by recruiting fibroblast-like cells to the fibrous cap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor P. Fidler
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Andrew Dunbar
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Hematologic Malignancies, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eunyoung Kim
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brian Hardaway
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jessica Pauli
- Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich, Germany
| | - Chenyi Xue
- Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sandra Abramowicz
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tong Xiao
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kavi O’Connor
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Hematologic Malignancies, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nadja Sachs
- Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich, Germany
| | - Nan Wang
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lars Maegdefessel
- Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich, Germany
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ross Levine
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Hematologic Malignancies, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Muredach Reilly
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alan R. Tall
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
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Abstract
ABSTRACT Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) is described as the outsized contribution of expanded clones of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) to blood cell production. The prevalence of CH increases dramatically with age. CH can be caused by somatic mutations in individual genes or by gains and/or losses of larger chromosomal segments. CH is a premalignant state; the somatic mutations detected in CH are the initiating mutations for hematologic malignancies, and CH is a strong predictor of the development of blood cancers. Moreover, CH is associated with nonmalignant disorders and increased overall mortality. The somatic mutations that drive clonal expansion of HSPCs can alter the function of terminally differentiated blood cells, including the release of elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines. These cytokines may then contribute to a broad range of inflammatory disorders that increase in prevalence with age. Specific somatic mutations in the peripheral blood in coordination with blood count parameters can powerfully predict the development of hematologic malignancies and overall mortality in CH. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of CH nosology and origins. We provide an overview of available tools for risk stratification and discuss management strategies for patients with CH presenting to hematology clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lachelle D. Weeks
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Center for Early Detection and Interception of Blood Cancers, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Benjamin L. Ebert
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Center for Early Detection and Interception of Blood Cancers, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA
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De Luca G, Lev PR, Camacho MF, Goette NP, Sackmann F, Castro Ríos MA, Moiraghi B, Cortes Guerrieri V, Bendek G, Carricondo E, Enrico A, Vallejo V, Varela A, Khoury M, Gutierrez M, Larripa IB, Marta RF, Glembotsky AC, Heller PG. High cell-free DNA is associated with disease progression, inflammasome activation and elevated levels of inflammasome-related cytokine IL-18 in patients with myelofibrosis. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1161832. [PMID: 38035089 PMCID: PMC10687201 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1161832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Myelofibrosis (MF) is a clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorder classified among chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms, characterized by exacerbated myeloid and megakaryocytic proliferation and bone marrow fibrosis. It is induced by driver (JAK2/CALR/MPL) and high molecular risk mutations coupled to a sustained inflammatory state that contributes to disease pathogenesis. Patient outcome is determined by stratification into risk groups and refinement of current prognostic systems may help individualize treatment decisions. Circulating cell-free (cf)DNA comprises short fragments of double-stranded DNA, which promotes inflammation by stimulating several pathways, including inflammasome activation, which is responsible for IL-1β and IL-18 maturation and release. In this work, we assessed the contribution of cfDNA as a marker of disease progression and mediator of inflammation in MF. cfDNA was increased in MF patients and higher levels were associated with adverse clinical outcome, a high-risk molecular profile, advanced disease stages and inferior overall survival, indicating its potential value as a prognostic marker. Cell-free DNA levels correlated with tumor burden parameters and markers of systemic inflammation. To mimic the effects of cfDNA, monocytes were stimulated with poly(dA:dT), a synthetic double-stranded DNA. Following stimulation, patient monocytes released higher amounts of inflammasome-processed cytokine, IL-18 to the culture supernatant, reflecting enhanced inflammasome function. Despite overexpression of cytosolic DNA inflammasome sensor AIM2, IL-18 release from MF monocytes was shown to rely mainly on the NLRP3 inflammasome, as it was prevented by NLRP3-specific inhibitor MCC950. Circulating IL-18 levels were increased in MF plasma, reflecting in vivo inflammasome activation, and highlighting the previously unrecognized involvement of this cytokine in MF cytokine network. Monocyte counts were higher in patients and showed a trend towards correlation with IL-18 levels, suggesting monocytes represent a source of circulating IL-18. The close correlation shown between IL-18 and cfDNA levels, together with the finding of enhanced DNA-triggered IL-18 release from monocytes, suggest that cfDNA promotes inflammation, at least in part, through inflammasome activation. This work highlights cfDNA, the inflammasome and IL-18 as additional players in the complex inflammatory circuit that fosters MF progression, potentially providing new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geraldine De Luca
- División Hematología Investigación, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Dr. Alfredo Lanari, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas (IDIM), UBA-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Paola R. Lev
- División Hematología Investigación, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Dr. Alfredo Lanari, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas (IDIM), UBA-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maria F. Camacho
- Laboratorio de Genética Hematológica, Instituto de Medicina Experimental, IMEX-CONICET/Academia Nacional de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Nora P. Goette
- División Hematología Investigación, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Dr. Alfredo Lanari, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | | | - Beatriz Moiraghi
- Departamento de Hematología, Hospital Ramos Mejía, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Veronica Cortes Guerrieri
- División Hematología Clínica, IDIM Dr. Alfredo Lanari, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Georgina Bendek
- Departamento de Hematología, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Emiliano Carricondo
- Departamento de Hematología, Hospital Universitario Austral, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alicia Enrico
- Departamento de Hematología, Hospital Italiano de La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Veronica Vallejo
- Departamento de Hematología, Instituto Cardiovascular de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ana Varela
- Departamento de Hematología, Hospital Ramos Mejía, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marina Khoury
- Departamento de Docencia e Investigación, IDIM Dr. Alfredo Lanari, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marina Gutierrez
- Unidad Genómica, Laboratorio Stamboulian, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Irene B. Larripa
- Laboratorio de Genética Hematológica, Instituto de Medicina Experimental, IMEX-CONICET/Academia Nacional de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rosana F. Marta
- División Hematología Investigación, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Dr. Alfredo Lanari, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas (IDIM), UBA-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ana C. Glembotsky
- División Hematología Investigación, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Dr. Alfredo Lanari, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas (IDIM), UBA-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Paula G. Heller
- División Hematología Investigación, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Dr. Alfredo Lanari, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas (IDIM), UBA-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Emon IM, Al-Qazazi R, Rauh MJ, Archer SL. The Role of Clonal Hematopoiesis of Indeterminant Potential and DNA (Cytosine-5)-Methyltransferase Dysregulation in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Other Cardiovascular Diseases. Cells 2023; 12:2528. [PMID: 37947606 PMCID: PMC10650407 DOI: 10.3390/cells12212528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism that regulates gene expression without altering gene sequences in health and disease. DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) are enzymes responsible for DNA methylation, and their dysregulation is both a pathogenic mechanism of disease and a therapeutic target. DNMTs change gene expression by methylating CpG islands within exonic and intergenic DNA regions, which typically reduces gene transcription. Initially, mutations in the DNMT genes and pathologic DNMT protein expression were found to cause hematologic diseases, like myeloproliferative disease and acute myeloid leukemia, but recently they have been shown to promote cardiovascular diseases, including coronary artery disease and pulmonary hypertension. We reviewed the regulation and functions of DNMTs, with an emphasis on somatic mutations in DNMT3A, a common cause of clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminant potential (CHIP) that may also be involved in the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Accumulation of somatic mutations in DNMT3A and other CHIP genes in hematopoietic cells and cardiovascular tissues creates an inflammatory environment that promotes cardiopulmonary diseases, even in the absence of hematologic disease. This review summarized the current understanding of the roles of DNMTs in maintenance and de novo methylation that contribute to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases, including PAH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac M. Emon
- Department of Medicine, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (I.M.E.); (R.A.-Q.)
| | - Ruaa Al-Qazazi
- Department of Medicine, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (I.M.E.); (R.A.-Q.)
| | - Michael J. Rauh
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada;
| | - Stephen L. Archer
- Department of Medicine, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (I.M.E.); (R.A.-Q.)
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