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Orlando G, Serrano L, Schymkowitz J, Rousseau F. Integrating physics in deep learning algorithms: a force field as a PyTorch module. Bioinformatics 2024; 40:btae160. [PMID: 38514422 PMCID: PMC11007235 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btae160] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION Deep learning algorithms applied to structural biology often struggle to converge to meaningful solutions when limited data is available, since they are required to learn complex physical rules from examples. State-of-the-art force-fields, however, cannot interface with deep learning algorithms due to their implementation. RESULTS We present MadraX, a forcefield implemented as a differentiable PyTorch module, able to interact with deep learning algorithms in an end-to-end fashion. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION MadraX documentation, together with tutorials and installation guide, is available at madrax.readthedocs.io.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Orlando
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, VIB, Leuven 3000, Belgium
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for AI & Computational Biology, VIB, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Luis Serrano
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Dr Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- IC REA, Pg. Lluis Companys 23, Barcelona 08010, Spain
| | - Joost Schymkowitz
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, VIB, Leuven 3000, Belgium
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for AI & Computational Biology, VIB, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Frederic Rousseau
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, VIB, Leuven 3000, Belgium
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for AI & Computational Biology, VIB, Leuven 3000, Belgium
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Dhont S, Stassen J, Herbots L, Hoedemakers S, Bekhuis Y, Jasaityte R, Stroobants S, Petit T, Bakelants E, Falter M, Ferreira SM, Claessen G, Nijst P, Vandervoort PM, Bertrand PB, Verwerft J. Exercise pulmonary hypertension by the mPAP/CO slope in primary mitral regurgitation. Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2024; 25:530-538. [PMID: 37976175 DOI: 10.1093/ehjci/jead313] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Exercise-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH), defined by a mean pulmonary arterial pressure over cardiac output (mPAP/CO) slope >3 mmHg/L/min, has important diagnostic and prognostic implications. The aim of this study is to investigate the value of the mPAP/CO slope in patients with more than moderate primary mitral regurgitation (MR) with preserved ejection fraction and no or discordant symptoms. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 128 consecutive patients were evaluated with exercise echocardiography and cardiopulmonary testing. Clinical outcome was defined as the composite of mitral valve intervention, new-onset atrial fibrillation, cardiovascular hospitalization, and all-cause mortality. The mean age was 63 years, 61% were male, and the mean LVEF was 66 ± 6%. The mPAP/CO slope correlated with peak VO2 (r = -0.52, P < 0.001), while the peak systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) did not (r = -0.06, P = 0.584). Forty-six per cent (n = 59) had peak exercise sPAP ≥60 mmHg, and 37% (n = 47) had mPAP/CO slope >3 mmHg/L/min. Event-free survival was 55% at 1 year and 46% at 2 years, with reduced survival in patients with mPAP/CO slope >3 mmHg/L/min (hazard ratio, 4.9; 95% confidence interval, 2.9-8.2; P < 0.001). In 53 cases (41%), mPAP/CO slope and peak sPAP were discordant: patients with slope >3 mmHg/L/mmHg and sPAP <60 mmHg (n = 21) had worse outcome vs. peak sPAP ≥60 mmHg and normal slope (n = 32, log-rank P = 0.003). The mPAP/CO slope improved predictive models for outcome, incremental to resting and exercise sPAP, and peak VO2. CONCLUSION Exercise PH defined by the mPAP/CO slope >3 mmHg/L/min is associated with decreased exercise capacity and a higher risk of adverse events in significant primary MR and no or discordant symptoms. The slope provides a greater prognostic value than single sPAP measures and peak VO2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastiaan Dhont
- Department of Cardiology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Synaps Park 1, 3600 Genk, Belgium
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Jan Stassen
- Department of Cardiology, Jessa Hospital, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Lieven Herbots
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
- Department of Cardiology, Jessa Hospital, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Sarah Hoedemakers
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
- Department of Cardiology, Jessa Hospital, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Youri Bekhuis
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
- Department of Cardiology, Jessa Hospital, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Ruta Jasaityte
- Department of Cardiology, Jessa Hospital, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | | | - Thibault Petit
- Department of Cardiology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Synaps Park 1, 3600 Genk, Belgium
| | - Elise Bakelants
- Department of Cardiology, Imeldaziekenhuis, 2820 Bonheiden, Belgium
| | - Maarten Falter
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
- Department of Cardiology, Jessa Hospital, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Sara Moura Ferreira
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
- Department of Cardiology, Jessa Hospital, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Guido Claessen
- Department of Cardiology, Jessa Hospital, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Petra Nijst
- Department of Cardiology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Synaps Park 1, 3600 Genk, Belgium
| | - Pieter M Vandervoort
- Department of Cardiology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Synaps Park 1, 3600 Genk, Belgium
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Philippe B Bertrand
- Department of Cardiology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Synaps Park 1, 3600 Genk, Belgium
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Jan Verwerft
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
- Department of Cardiology, Jessa Hospital, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
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Garrez I, Teuwen DE, Sebera F, Mutungirehe S, Ndayisenga A, Kajeneza D, Umuhoza G, Kayirangwa J, Düll UE, Dedeken P, Boon PAJM. Very high epilepsy prevalence in rural Southern Rwanda: The underestimated burden of epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa. Trop Med Int Health 2024; 29:214-225. [PMID: 38124297 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13963] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Up to 85% of people living with epilepsy (PwE) reside in low-and middle-income countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, the lifetime prevalence of epilepsy is 16 per 1000 persons. In Northern rural Rwanda, a 47.7 per 1000 prevalence has been reported. As variations in prevalence across geographical areas have been observed, we studied the prevalence in Southern rural Rwanda using the same robust methodology as applied in the North. METHODS We conducted a three-stage, cross-sectional, door-to-door survey in two rural villages in Southern Rwanda from June 2022 to April 2023. First, trained enumerators administered the validated Limoges questionnaire for epilepsy screening. Second, neurologists examined the persons who had screened positively to confirm the epilepsy diagnosis. Third, cases with an inconclusive assessment were separately reexamined by two neurologists to reevaluate the diagnosis. RESULTS Enumerators screened 1745 persons (54.4% female, mean age: 24 ± 19.3 years), of whom 304 (17.4%) screened positive. Epilepsy diagnosis was confirmed in 133 (52.6% female, mean age: 30 ± 18.2 years) and active epilepsy in 130 persons. Lifetime epilepsy prevalence was 76.2 per 1000 (95% CI: 64.2-89.7‰). The highest age-specific rate occurred in the 29-49 age group. No gender-specific differences were noted. In 22.6% of the PwE, only non-convulsive seizures occurred. The treatment gap was 92.2%, including a diagnosis gap of 79.4%. CONCLUSION We demonstrated a very high epilepsy prevalence in Southern rural Rwanda, with over 20% of cases having only non-convulsive seizures, which are often underdiagnosed in rural Africa. In line with previous Rwandan reports, we reiterate the high burden of the disease in the country. Geographic variation in prevalence throughout Africa may result from differences in risk and aetiological factors. Case-control studies are underway to understand such differences and propose adapted health policies for epilepsy prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ieme Garrez
- Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dirk E Teuwen
- Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Fidèle Sebera
- Department of Neurology, Ndera Neuro-Psychiatric Teaching Hospital, Kigali, Rwanda
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda
| | | | | | | | - Georgette Umuhoza
- Department of Neurology, Ndera Neuro-Psychiatric Teaching Hospital, Kigali, Rwanda
| | | | - Uta E Düll
- Medicalized Health Center, Gikonko, Rwanda
| | - Peter Dedeken
- Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Heilig Hart Ziekenhuis, Lier, Belgium
| | - Paul A J M Boon
- Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
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Hefny ZA, Ji B, Elsemman IE, Nielsen J, Van Dijck P. Transcriptomic meta-analysis to identify potential antifungal targets in Candida albicans. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:66. [PMID: 38413885 PMCID: PMC10898158 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03213-8] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Candida albicans is a fungal pathogen causing human infections. Here we investigated differential gene expression patterns and functional enrichment in C. albicans strains grown under different conditions. METHODS A systematic GEO database search identified 239 "Candida albicans" datasets, of which 14 were selected after rigorous criteria application. Retrieval of raw sequencing data from the ENA database was accompanied by essential metadata extraction from dataset descriptions and original articles. Pre-processing via the tailored nf-core pipeline for C. albicans involved alignment, gene/transcript quantification, and diverse quality control measures. Quality assessment via PCA and DESeq2 identified significant genes (FDR < = 0.05, log2-fold change > = 1 or <= -1), while topGO conducted GO term enrichment analysis. Exclusions were made based on data quality and strain relevance, resulting in the selection of seven datasets from the SC5314 strain background for in-depth investigation. RESULTS The meta-analysis of seven selected studies unveiled a substantial number of genes exhibiting significant up-regulation (24,689) and down-regulation (18,074). These differentially expressed genes were further categorized into 2,497 significantly up-regulated and 2,573 significantly down-regulated Gene Ontology (GO) IDs. GO term enrichment analysis clustered these terms into distinct groups, providing insights into the functional implications. Three target gene lists were compiled based on previous studies, focusing on central metabolism, ion homeostasis, and pathogenicity. Frequency analysis revealed genes with higher occurrence within the identified GO clusters, suggesting their potential as antifungal targets. Notably, the genes TPS2, TPS1, RIM21, PRA1, SAP4, and SAP6 exhibited higher frequencies within the clusters. Through frequency analysis within the GO clusters, several key genes emerged as potential targets for antifungal therapies. These include RSP5, GLC7, SOD2, SOD5, SOD1, SOD6, SOD4, SOD3, and RIM101 which exhibited higher occurrence within the identified clusters. CONCLUSION This comprehensive study significantly advances our understanding of the dynamic nature of gene expression in C. albicans. The identification of genes with enhanced potential as antifungal drug targets underpins their value for future interventions. The highlighted genes, including TPS2, TPS1, RIM21, PRA1, SAP4, SAP6, RSP5, GLC7, SOD2, SOD5, SOD1, SOD6, SOD4, SOD3, and RIM101, hold promise for the development of targeted antifungal therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeinab Abdelmoghis Hefny
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, Leuven, B-3001, Belgium
| | - Boyang Ji
- BioInnovation Institute, Ole Maaløes Vej 3, Copenhagen, DK2200, Denmark
| | - Ibrahim E Elsemman
- Department of Information Systems, Faculty of Computers and Information, Assiut University, Assiut, 2071515, Egypt
| | - Jens Nielsen
- BioInnovation Institute, Ole Maaløes Vej 3, Copenhagen, DK2200, Denmark.
- Department of Life Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 10, SE41296, Gothenburg, SE41296, Sweden.
| | - Patrick Van Dijck
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, Leuven, B-3001, Belgium.
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Filez M, Walke P, Le-The H, Toyouchi S, Peeters W, Tomkins P, Eijkel JCT, De Feyter S, Detavernier C, De Vos DE, Uji-I H, Roeffaers MBJ. Nanoscale Chemical Diversity of Coke Deposits on Nanoprinted Metal Catalysts Visualized by Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy. Adv Mater 2024; 36:e2305984. [PMID: 37938141 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202305984] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Coke formation is the prime cause of catalyst deactivation, where undesired carbon wastes block the catalyst surface and hinder further reaction in a broad gamut of industrial chemical processes. Yet, the origins of coke formation and their distribution across the catalyst remain elusive, obstructing the design of coke-resistant catalysts. Here, the first-time application of tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) is demonstrated as a nanoscale chemical probe to localize and identify coke deposits on a post-mortem metal nanocatalyst. Monitoring coke at the nanoscale circumvents bulk averaging and reveals the local nature of coke with unmatched detail. The nature of coke is chemically diverse and ranges from nanocrystalline graphite to disordered and polymeric coke, even on a single nanoscale location of a top-down nanoprinted SiO2 -supported Pt catalyst. Surprisingly, not all Pt is an equal producer of coke, where clear isolated coke "hotspots" are present non-homogeneously on Pt which generate large amounts of disordered coke. After their formation, coke shifts to the support and undergoes long-range transport on the surrounding SiO2 surface, where it becomes more graphitic. The presented results provide novel guidelines to selectively free-up the coked metal surface at more mild rejuvenation conditions, thus securing the long-term catalyst stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Filez
- Centre for Membrane Separations, Adsorption, Catalysis and Spectroscopy for Sustainable Solutions (cMACS), KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
- Conformal Coating of Nanomaterials (CoCooN), Department of Solid State Sciences, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281/S1, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Peter Walke
- Division of Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
| | - Hai Le-The
- BIOS Lab-on-a-Chip Group, MESA+ Institute, University of Twente, Enschede, NB, 7522, The Netherlands
| | - Shuichi Toyouchi
- Division of Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
| | - Wannes Peeters
- Division of Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
| | - Patrick Tomkins
- Centre for Membrane Separations, Adsorption, Catalysis and Spectroscopy for Sustainable Solutions (cMACS), KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
| | - Jan C T Eijkel
- BIOS Lab-on-a-Chip Group, MESA+ Institute, University of Twente, Enschede, NB, 7522, The Netherlands
| | - Steven De Feyter
- Division of Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
| | - Christophe Detavernier
- Conformal Coating of Nanomaterials (CoCooN), Department of Solid State Sciences, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281/S1, Ghent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Dirk E De Vos
- Centre for Membrane Separations, Adsorption, Catalysis and Spectroscopy for Sustainable Solutions (cMACS), KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
| | - Hiroshi Uji-I
- Division of Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
- Research Institute for Electronic Science (RIES), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 001-0020, Japan
- Division of Information Science and Technology, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0814, Japan
| | - Maarten B J Roeffaers
- Centre for Membrane Separations, Adsorption, Catalysis and Spectroscopy for Sustainable Solutions (cMACS), KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
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Ayres NJ, Ban G, Bison G, Bodek K, Bondar V, Bouillaud T, Bowles D, Chanel E, Chen W, Chiu PJ, Crawford C, Naviliat-Cuncic O, Doorenbos CB, Emmenegger S, Fertl M, Fratangelo A, Griffith WC, Grujic ZD, Harris PG, Kirch K, Kletzl V, Krempel J, Lauss B, Lefort T, Lejuez A, Li R, Mullan P, Pacura S, Pais D, Piegsa FM, Rienäcker I, Ries D, Pignol G, Rebreyend D, Roccia S, Rozpedzik D, Saenz-Arevalo W, Schmidt-Wellenburg P, Schnabel A, Segarra EP, Severijns N, Svirina K, Tavakoli Dinani R, Thorne J, Vankeirsbilck J, Voigt J, Yazdandoost N, Zejma J, Ziehl N, Zsigmond G, nEDM collaboration at PSI T. Achieving ultra-low and -uniform residual magnetic fields in a very large magnetically shielded room for fundamental physics experiments. Eur Phys J C Part Fields 2024; 84:18. [PMID: 38205101 PMCID: PMC10774228 DOI: 10.1140/epjc/s10052-023-12351-8] [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] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
High-precision searches for an electric dipole moment of the neutron (nEDM) require stable and uniform magnetic field environments. We present the recent achievements of degaussing and equilibrating the magnetically shielded room (MSR) for the n2EDM experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institute. We present the final degaussing configuration that will be used for n2EDM after numerous studies. The optimized procedure results in a residual magnetic field that has been reduced by a factor of two. The ultra-low field is achieved with the full magnetic-field-coil system, and a large vacuum vessel installed, both in the MSR. In the inner volume of ∼ 1.4 m 3 , the field is now more uniform and below 300 pT. In addition, the procedure is faster and dissipates less heat into the magnetic environment, which in turn, reduces its thermal relaxation time from 12 h down to 1.5 h .
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Affiliation(s)
- N. J. Ayres
- Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - G. Ban
- Normandie Université, ENSICAEN, UNICAEN, CNRS/IN2P3, LPC Caen, 14000 Caen, France
| | - G. Bison
- Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - K. Bodek
- Marian Smoluchowski Institute of Physics, Jagiellonian University, 30-348 Kraków, Poland
| | - V. Bondar
- Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - T. Bouillaud
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, LPSC-IN2P3, 38026 Grenoble, France
| | - D. Bowles
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506 USA
| | - E. Chanel
- Laboratory for High Energy Physics and Albert Einstein Center for Fundamental Physics, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - W. Chen
- Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
- Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - P.-J. Chiu
- University of Zürich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - C. B. Crawford
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506 USA
| | - O. Naviliat-Cuncic
- Normandie Université, ENSICAEN, UNICAEN, CNRS/IN2P3, LPC Caen, 14000 Caen, France
| | - C. B. Doorenbos
- Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
- Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - S. Emmenegger
- Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - M. Fertl
- Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - A. Fratangelo
- Laboratory for High Energy Physics and Albert Einstein Center for Fundamental Physics, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - W. C. Griffith
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QH UK
| | - Z. D. Grujic
- Institute of Physics, Photonics Center, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, 11080 Serbia
| | - P. G. Harris
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QH UK
| | - K. Kirch
- Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
- Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - V. Kletzl
- Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
- Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - J. Krempel
- Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - B. Lauss
- Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - T. Lefort
- Normandie Université, ENSICAEN, UNICAEN, CNRS/IN2P3, LPC Caen, 14000 Caen, France
| | - A. Lejuez
- Normandie Université, ENSICAEN, UNICAEN, CNRS/IN2P3, LPC Caen, 14000 Caen, France
| | - R. Li
- Instituut voor Kern-en Stralingsfysica, University of Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - P. Mullan
- Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - S. Pacura
- Marian Smoluchowski Institute of Physics, Jagiellonian University, 30-348 Kraków, Poland
| | - D. Pais
- Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
- Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - F. M. Piegsa
- Laboratory for High Energy Physics and Albert Einstein Center for Fundamental Physics, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - I. Rienäcker
- Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - D. Ries
- Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - G. Pignol
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, LPSC-IN2P3, 38026 Grenoble, France
| | - D. Rebreyend
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, LPSC-IN2P3, 38026 Grenoble, France
| | - S. Roccia
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, LPSC-IN2P3, 38026 Grenoble, France
| | - D. Rozpedzik
- Marian Smoluchowski Institute of Physics, Jagiellonian University, 30-348 Kraków, Poland
| | - W. Saenz-Arevalo
- Normandie Université, ENSICAEN, UNICAEN, CNRS/IN2P3, LPC Caen, 14000 Caen, France
| | | | - A. Schnabel
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Abbestr. 2-12, 10587 Berlin, Germany
| | - E. P. Segarra
- Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - N. Severijns
- Instituut voor Kern-en Stralingsfysica, University of Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - K. Svirina
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, LPSC-IN2P3, 38026 Grenoble, France
| | - R. Tavakoli Dinani
- Instituut voor Kern-en Stralingsfysica, University of Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - J. Thorne
- Laboratory for High Energy Physics and Albert Einstein Center for Fundamental Physics, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - J. Vankeirsbilck
- Instituut voor Kern-en Stralingsfysica, University of Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - J. Voigt
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Abbestr. 2-12, 10587 Berlin, Germany
| | - N. Yazdandoost
- Department of Chemistry-TRIGA Site, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - J. Zejma
- Marian Smoluchowski Institute of Physics, Jagiellonian University, 30-348 Kraków, Poland
| | - N. Ziehl
- Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - G. Zsigmond
- Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - The nEDM collaboration at PSI
- Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
- Normandie Université, ENSICAEN, UNICAEN, CNRS/IN2P3, LPC Caen, 14000 Caen, France
- Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
- Marian Smoluchowski Institute of Physics, Jagiellonian University, 30-348 Kraków, Poland
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, LPSC-IN2P3, 38026 Grenoble, France
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506 USA
- Laboratory for High Energy Physics and Albert Einstein Center for Fundamental Physics, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- University of Zürich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QH UK
- Institute of Physics, Photonics Center, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, 11080 Serbia
- Instituut voor Kern-en Stralingsfysica, University of Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Abbestr. 2-12, 10587 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Chemistry-TRIGA Site, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany
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7
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Jacobs J, Van Aelst L, Breckpot J, Corveleyn A, Kuiperi C, Dupont M, Heggermont W, De Vadder K, Willems R, Van Cleemput J, Bogaert JG, Robyns T. Tools to differentiate between Filamin C and Titin truncating variant carriers: value of MRI. Eur J Hum Genet 2023; 31:1323-1332. [PMID: 37032351 PMCID: PMC10620392 DOI: 10.1038/s41431-023-01357-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Whereas truncating variants of the giant protein Titin (TTNtv) are the main cause of familial dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), recently Filamin C truncating variants (FLNCtv) were identified as a cause of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM). Our aim was to characterize and compare clinical and MRI features of TTNtv and FLNCtv in the Belgian population. In index patients referred for genetic testing of ACM/DCM, FLNCtv and TTNtv were found in 17 (3.6%) and 33 (12.3%) subjects, respectively. Further family cascade screening yielded 24 and 19 additional truncating variant carriers in FLNC and TTN, respectively. The main phenotype was ACM in FLNCtv carriers whereas TTNtv carriers showed either an ACM or DCM phenotype. Non-sustained Ventricular Tachycardia was frequent in both populations. MRI data, available in 28/40 FLNCtv and 32/52 TTNtv patients, showed lower Left Ventricular (LV) ejection fraction and lower LV strain in TTNtv patients (p < 0.01). Conversely, both the frequency (68% vs 22%) and extent of non-ischemic myocardial late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was significantly higher in FLNCtv patients (p < 0.01). Hereby, ring-like LGE was found in 16/19 (84%) FLNCtv versus 1/7 (14%) of TTNtv patients (p < 0.01). In conclusion, a large number of FLNCtv and TTNtv patients present with an ACM phenotype but can be separated by cardiac MRI. Whereas FLNCtv patients often have extensive myocardial fibrosis, typically following a ring-like pattern, LV dysfunction without or limited replacement fibrosis is the common TTNtv phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Jacobs
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Lucas Van Aelst
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | - Cuno Kuiperi
- Center for Human Genetics, UZ Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Matthias Dupont
- Department of Cardiology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg (ZOL), 3600, Genk, Belgium
| | - Ward Heggermont
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Cardiology, Onze-Lieve-Vrouwziekenhuis Aalst, 9300, Aalst, Belgium
| | | | - Rik Willems
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Johan Van Cleemput
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan G Bogaert
- Department of Radiology, UZ Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tomas Robyns
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
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8
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Janssen K, Duran-Romaña R, Bottu G, Guharoy M, Botzki A, Rousseau F, Schymkowitz J. SNPeffect 5.0: large-scale structural phenotyping of protein coding variants extracted from next-generation sequencing data using AlphaFold models. BMC Bioinformatics 2023; 24:287. [PMID: 37464277 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-023-05407-9] [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: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Next-generation sequencing technologies yield large numbers of genetic alterations, of which a subset are missense variants that alter an amino acid in the protein product. These variants can have a potentially destabilizing effect leading to an increased risk of misfolding and aggregation. Multiple software tools exist to predict the effect of single-nucleotide variants on proteins, however, a pipeline integrating these tools while starting from an NGS data output list of variants is lacking. RESULTS The previous version SNPeffect 4.0 (De Baets in Nucleic Acids Res 40(D1):D935-D939, 2011) provided an online database containing pre-calculated variant effects and low-throughput custom variant analysis. Here, we built an automated and parallelized pipeline that analyzes the impact of missense variants on the aggregation propensity and structural stability of proteins starting from the Variant Call Format as input. The pipeline incorporates the AlphaFold Protein Structure Database to achieve high coverage for structural stability analyses using the FoldX force field. The effect on aggregation-propensity is analyzed using the established predictors TANGO and WALTZ. The pipeline focuses solely on the human proteome and can be used to analyze proteome stability/damage in a given sample based on sequencing results. CONCLUSION We provide a bioinformatics pipeline that allows structural phenotyping from sequencing data using established stability and aggregation predictors including FoldX, TANGO, and WALTZ; and structural proteome coverage provided by the AlphaFold database. The pipeline and installation guide are freely available for academic users on https://github.com/vibbits/snpeffect and requires a computer cluster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kobe Janssen
- Switch Laboratory, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ramon Duran-Romaña
- Switch Laboratory, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Guy Bottu
- VIB Bioinformatics Core, VIB, Rijvisschestraat 120, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Mainak Guharoy
- VIB Bioinformatics Core, VIB, Rijvisschestraat 120, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Alexander Botzki
- VIB Bioinformatics Core, VIB, Rijvisschestraat 120, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Frederic Rousseau
- Switch Laboratory, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Joost Schymkowitz
- Switch Laboratory, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
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9
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De Bosscher R, Dausin C, Claus P, Bogaert J, Dymarkowski S, Goetschalckx K, Ghekiere O, Van De Heyning CM, Van Herck P, Paelinck B, Addouli HE, La Gerche A, Herbots L, Willems R, Heidbuchel H, Claessen G, Claeys M, Hespel P, Dresselaers T, Miljoen H, Belmans A, Favere K, Vermeulen D, Witvrouwen I, Hansen D, Eijnde BO, Thijs D, Vanvoorden P, Van Soest S. Lifelong endurance exercise and its relation with coronary atherosclerosis. Eur Heart J 2023; 44:2388-2399. [PMID: 36881712 PMCID: PMC10327878 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehad152] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS The impact of long-term endurance sport participation (on top of a healthy lifestyle) on coronary atherosclerosis and acute cardiac events remains controversial. METHODS AND RESULTS The Master@Heart study is a well-balanced prospective observational cohort study. Overall, 191 lifelong master endurance athletes, 191 late-onset athletes (endurance sports initiation after 30 years of age), and 176 healthy non-athletes, all male with a low cardiovascular risk profile, were included. Peak oxygen uptake quantified fitness. The primary endpoint was the prevalence of coronary plaques (calcified, mixed, and non-calcified) on computed tomography coronary angiography. Analyses were corrected for multiple cardiovascular risk factors. The median age was 55 (50-60) years in all groups. Lifelong and late-onset athletes had higher peak oxygen uptake than non-athletes [159 (143-177) vs. 155 (138-169) vs. 122 (108-138) % predicted]. Lifelong endurance sports was associated with having ≥1 coronary plaque [odds ratio (OR) 1.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17-2.94], ≥ 1 proximal plaque (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.24-3.11), ≥ 1 calcified plaques (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.01-2.49), ≥ 1 calcified proximal plaque (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.28-3.35), ≥ 1 non-calcified plaque (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.12-3.40), ≥ 1 non-calcified proximal plaque (OR 2.80, 95% CI 1.39-5.65), and ≥1 mixed plaque (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.06-2.99) as compared to a healthy non-athletic lifestyle. CONCLUSION Lifelong endurance sport participation is not associated with a more favourable coronary plaque composition compared to a healthy lifestyle. Lifelong endurance athletes had more coronary plaques, including more non-calcified plaques in proximal segments, than fit and healthy individuals with a similarly low cardiovascular risk profile. Longitudinal research is needed to reconcile these findings with the risk of cardiovascular events at the higher end of the endurance exercise spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben De Bosscher
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Division of Cardiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Christophe Dausin
- Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Tervuursevest 101, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Piet Claus
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Bogaert
- Division of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Steven Dymarkowski
- Division of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kaatje Goetschalckx
- Division of Cardiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Olivier Ghekiere
- Division of Radiology, Jessa Ziekenhuis, Stadsomvaat 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Hasselt, Stadsomvaart 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Caroline M Van De Heyning
- Division of Cardiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
- Cardiovascular Research, University of Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Paul Van Herck
- Division of Cardiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
- Cardiovascular Research, University of Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Bernard Paelinck
- Division of Cardiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
- Cardiovascular Research, University of Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Haroun El Addouli
- Division of Cardiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
- Cardiovascular Research, University of Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - André La Gerche
- Department of Cardiology, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, 75 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
| | - Lieven Herbots
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Hasselt, Stadsomvaart 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
- Division of Cardiology, Hartcentrum, Jessa Ziekenhuis, Stadsomvaart 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Rik Willems
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Division of Cardiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hein Heidbuchel
- Division of Cardiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
- Cardiovascular Research, University of Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Guido Claessen
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Hasselt, Stadsomvaart 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
- Department of Cardiology, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, 75 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
- Division of Cardiology, Hartcentrum, Jessa Ziekenhuis, Stadsomvaart 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Mathias Claeys
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Division of Cardiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Peter Hespel
- Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Tervuursevest 101, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tom Dresselaers
- Division of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hielko Miljoen
- Division of Cardiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
- Cardiovascular Research, University of Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Ann Belmans
- I-BioStat, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kasper Favere
- Division of Cardiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
- Cardiovascular Research, University of Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Dorien Vermeulen
- Division of Cardiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
- Cardiovascular Research, University of Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Isabel Witvrouwen
- Division of Cardiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
- Cardiovascular Research, University of Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Dominique Hansen
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Hasselt, Stadsomvaart 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
- REVAL/BIOMED, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Gebouw C, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Bert Op’t Eijnde
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Hasselt, Stadsomvaart 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
- REVAL/BIOMED, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Gebouw C, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Daisy Thijs
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Hasselt, Stadsomvaart 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Peter Vanvoorden
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Hasselt, Stadsomvaart 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Sofie Van Soest
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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10
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de Vries LM, Amelynck S, Nyström P, van Esch L, Van Lierde T, Warreyn P, Roeyers H, Noens I, Naulaers G, Boets B, Steyaert J. Investigating the development of the autonomic nervous system in infancy through pupillometry. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2023; 130:723-734. [PMID: 36906867 PMCID: PMC10008146 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-023-02616-7] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023]
Abstract
We aim to investigate early developmental trajectories of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) as indexed by the pupillary light reflex (PLR) in infants with (i.e. preterm birth, feeding difficulties, or siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder) and without (controls) increased likelihood for atypical ANS development. We used eye-tracking to capture the PLR in 216 infants in a longitudinal follow-up study spanning 5 to 24 months of age, and linear mixed models to investigate effects of age and group on three PLR parameters: baseline pupil diameter, latency to constriction and relative constriction amplitude. An increase with age was found in baseline pupil diameter (F(3,273.21) = 13.15, p < 0.001, [Formula: see text] = 0.13), latency to constriction (F(3,326.41) = 3.84, p = 0.010, [Formula: see text] = 0.03) and relative constriction amplitude(F(3,282.53) = 3.70, p = 0.012, [Formula: see text] = 0.04). Group differences were found for baseline pupil diameter (F(3,235.91) = 9.40, p < 0.001, [Formula: see text] = 0.11), with larger diameter in preterms and siblings than in controls, and for latency to constriction (F(3,237.10) = 3.48, p = 0.017, [Formula: see text] = 0.04), with preterms having a longer latency than controls. The results align with previous evidence, with development over time that could be explained by ANS maturation. To better understand the cause of the group differences, further research in a larger sample is necessary, combining pupillometry with other measures to further validate its value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyssa M de Vries
- Center for Developmental Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 Box 1029, 3000, Louvain, Belgium.
- University Hospital Leuven, Louvain, Belgium.
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Louvain, Belgium.
| | - Steffie Amelynck
- Center for Developmental Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 Box 1029, 3000, Louvain, Belgium
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Pär Nyström
- Developmental Psychology, Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lotte van Esch
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Louvain, Belgium
- Parenting and Special Education Research Unit, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Thijs Van Lierde
- RIDDL Lab, Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Petra Warreyn
- RIDDL Lab, Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Herbert Roeyers
- RIDDL Lab, Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ilse Noens
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Louvain, Belgium
- Parenting and Special Education Research Unit, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Gunnar Naulaers
- University Hospital Leuven, Louvain, Belgium
- Woman and Child, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Bart Boets
- Center for Developmental Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 Box 1029, 3000, Louvain, Belgium
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Jean Steyaert
- Center for Developmental Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 Box 1029, 3000, Louvain, Belgium
- University Hospital Leuven, Louvain, Belgium
- Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Louvain, Belgium
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11
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De Wel B, Huysmans L, Depuydt CE, Goosens V, Peeters R, Santos FP, Thal DR, Dupont P, Maes F, Claeys KG. Histopathological correlations and fat replacement imaging patterns in recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 12. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2023. [PMID: 37078404 DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.13234] [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] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the widespread use of proton density fat fraction (PDFF) measurements with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to track disease progression in muscle disorders, it is still unclear how these findings relate to histopathological changes in muscle biopsies of patients with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy autosomal recessive type 12 (LGMDR12). Furthermore, although it is known that LGMDR12 leads to a selective muscle involvement distinct from other muscular dystrophies, the spatial distribution of fat replacement within these muscles is unknown. METHODS We included 27 adult patients with LGMDR12 and 27 age-matched and sex-matched healthy controls and acquired 6-point Dixon images of the thighs and T1 and short tau inversion recovery (STIR) MR images of the whole body. In 16 patients and 15 controls, we performed three muscle biopsies, one in the semimembranosus, vastus lateralis, and rectus femoris muscles, which are severely, intermediately, and mildly affected in LGMDR12, respectively. We correlated the PDFF to the fat percentage measured on biopsies of the corresponding muscles, as well as to the Rochester histopathology grading scale. RESULTS In patients, we demonstrated a strong correlation of PDFF on MRI and muscle biopsy fat percentage for the semimembranosus (r = 0.85, P < 0.001) and vastus lateralis (r = 0.68, P = 0.005). We found similar results for the correlation between PDFF and the Rochester histopathology grading scale. Out of the five patients with inflammatory changes on muscle biopsy, three showed STIR hyperintensities in the corresponding muscle on MRI. By modelling the PDFF on MRI for 18 thigh muscles from origin to insertion, we observed a significantly inhomogeneous proximo-distal distribution of fat replacement in all thigh muscles of patients with LGMDR12 (P < 0.001), and different patterns of fat replacement within each of the muscles. CONCLUSIONS We showed a strong correlation of fat fraction on MRI and fat percentage on muscle biopsy for diseased muscles and validated the use of Dixon fat fraction imaging as an outcome measure in LGMDR12. The inhomogeneous fat replacement within thigh muscles on imaging underlines the risk of analysing only samples of muscles instead of the entire muscles, which has important implications for clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bram De Wel
- Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, Laboratory for Muscle Diseases and Neuropathies, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lotte Huysmans
- Medical Imaging Research Centre, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department ESAT - PSI, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Christophe E Depuydt
- Department of Neurosciences, Laboratory for Muscle Diseases and Neuropathies, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Veerle Goosens
- Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ronald Peeters
- Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Filipa P Santos
- Department of Neurosciences, Laboratory for Muscle Diseases and Neuropathies, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dietmar R Thal
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, Laboratory for Neuropathology, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Patrick Dupont
- Department of Neurosciences, Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frederik Maes
- Medical Imaging Research Centre, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department ESAT - PSI, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kristl G Claeys
- Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, Laboratory for Muscle Diseases and Neuropathies, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Leuven, Belgium
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12
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Decaesteker B, Durinck K, Van Roy N, De Wilde B, Van Neste C, Van Haver S, Roberts S, De Preter K, Vermeirssen V, Speleman F. From DNA Copy Number Gains and Tumor Dependencies to Novel Therapeutic Targets for High-Risk Neuroblastoma. J Pers Med 2021; 11:1286. [PMID: 34945759 PMCID: PMC8707517 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11121286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is a pediatric tumor arising from the sympatho-adrenal lineage and a worldwide leading cause of childhood cancer-related deaths. About half of high-risk patients die from the disease while survivors suffer from multiple therapy-related side-effects. While neuroblastomas present with a low mutational burden, focal and large segmental DNA copy number aberrations are highly recurrent and associated with poor survival. It can be assumed that the affected chromosomal regions contain critical genes implicated in neuroblastoma biology and behavior. More specifically, evidence has emerged that several of these genes are implicated in tumor dependencies thus potentially providing novel therapeutic entry points. In this review, we briefly review the current status of recurrent DNA copy number aberrations in neuroblastoma and provide an overview of the genes affected by these genomic variants for which a direct role in neuroblastoma has been established. Several of these genes are implicated in networks that positively regulate MYCN expression or stability as well as cell cycle control and apoptosis. Finally, we summarize alternative approaches to identify and prioritize candidate copy-number driven dependency genes for neuroblastoma offering novel therapeutic opportunities.
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Grants
- P30 CA008748 NCI NIH HHS
- G087221N, G.0507.12, G049720N,12U4718N, 11C3921N, 11J8313N, 12B5313N, 1514215N, 1197617N,1238420N, 12Q8322N, 3F018519, 12N6917N Fund for Scientific Research Flanders
- 2018-087, 2018-125, 2020-112 Belgian Foundation against Cancer
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Affiliation(s)
- Bieke Decaesteker
- Department for Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Medical Research Building (MRB1), Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; (B.D.); (K.D.); (N.V.R.); (B.D.W.); (C.V.N.); (S.V.H.); (K.D.P.); (V.V.)
| | - Kaat Durinck
- Department for Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Medical Research Building (MRB1), Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; (B.D.); (K.D.); (N.V.R.); (B.D.W.); (C.V.N.); (S.V.H.); (K.D.P.); (V.V.)
| | - Nadine Van Roy
- Department for Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Medical Research Building (MRB1), Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; (B.D.); (K.D.); (N.V.R.); (B.D.W.); (C.V.N.); (S.V.H.); (K.D.P.); (V.V.)
| | - Bram De Wilde
- Department for Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Medical Research Building (MRB1), Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; (B.D.); (K.D.); (N.V.R.); (B.D.W.); (C.V.N.); (S.V.H.); (K.D.P.); (V.V.)
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Christophe Van Neste
- Department for Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Medical Research Building (MRB1), Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; (B.D.); (K.D.); (N.V.R.); (B.D.W.); (C.V.N.); (S.V.H.); (K.D.P.); (V.V.)
| | - Stéphane Van Haver
- Department for Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Medical Research Building (MRB1), Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; (B.D.); (K.D.); (N.V.R.); (B.D.W.); (C.V.N.); (S.V.H.); (K.D.P.); (V.V.)
| | - Stephen Roberts
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA;
| | - Katleen De Preter
- Department for Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Medical Research Building (MRB1), Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; (B.D.); (K.D.); (N.V.R.); (B.D.W.); (C.V.N.); (S.V.H.); (K.D.P.); (V.V.)
| | - Vanessa Vermeirssen
- Department for Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Medical Research Building (MRB1), Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; (B.D.); (K.D.); (N.V.R.); (B.D.W.); (C.V.N.); (S.V.H.); (K.D.P.); (V.V.)
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, B-9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium
| | - Frank Speleman
- Department for Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Medical Research Building (MRB1), Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; (B.D.); (K.D.); (N.V.R.); (B.D.W.); (C.V.N.); (S.V.H.); (K.D.P.); (V.V.)
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13
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Pieters T, T’Sas S, Vanhee S, Almeida A, Driege Y, Roels J, Van Loocke W, Daneels W, Baens M, Marchand A, Van Trimpont M, Matthijssens F, Morscio J, Lemeire K, Lintermans B, Reunes L, Chaltin P, Offner F, Van Dorpe J, Hochepied T, Berx G, Beyaert R, Staal J, Van Vlierberghe P, Goossens S. Cyclin D2 overexpression drives B1a-derived MCL-like lymphoma in mice. J Exp Med 2021; 218:e20202280. [PMID: 34406363 PMCID: PMC8377631 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20202280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 10/24/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an aggressive B cell lymphoma with poor long-term overall survival. Currently, MCL research and development of potential cures is hampered by the lack of good in vivo models. MCL is characterized by recurrent translocations of CCND1 or CCND2, resulting in overexpression of the cell cycle regulators cyclin D1 or D2, respectively. Here, we show, for the first time, that hematopoiesis-specific activation of cyclin D2 is sufficient to drive murine MCL-like lymphoma development. Furthermore, we demonstrate that cyclin D2 overexpression can synergize with loss of p53 to form aggressive and transplantable MCL-like lymphomas. Strikingly, cyclin D2-driven lymphomas display transcriptional, immunophenotypic, and functional similarities with B1a B cells. These MCL-like lymphomas have B1a-specific B cell receptors (BCRs), show elevated BCR and NF-κB pathway activation, and display increased MALT1 protease activity. Finally, we provide preclinical evidence that inhibition of MALT1 protease activity, which is essential for the development of early life-derived B1a cells, can be an effective therapeutic strategy to treat MCL.
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MESH Headings
- Allografts
- Animals
- B-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- B-Lymphocytes/pathology
- Cyclin D2/genetics
- Cyclin D2/metabolism
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell/drug therapy
- Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell/genetics
- Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell/pathology
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Transgenic
- Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma Translocation 1 Protein/antagonists & inhibitors
- Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma Translocation 1 Protein/metabolism
- Neoplasms, Experimental/drug therapy
- Neoplasms, Experimental/genetics
- Neoplasms, Experimental/pathology
- Neoplastic Cells, Circulating
- Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/genetics
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Pieters
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University and University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sara T’Sas
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University and University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Stijn Vanhee
- Center for Inflammation Research, Flemish Institute for Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - André Almeida
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University and University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Yasmine Driege
- Center for Inflammation Research, Flemish Institute for Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Juliette Roels
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University and University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wouter Van Loocke
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University and University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Willem Daneels
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Hematology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Mathijs Baens
- Center for Innovation and Stimulation of Drug Discovery Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Arnaud Marchand
- Center for Innovation and Stimulation of Drug Discovery Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maaike Van Trimpont
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University and University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Filip Matthijssens
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University and University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Julie Morscio
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University and University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kelly Lemeire
- Center for Inflammation Research, Flemish Institute for Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Béatrice Lintermans
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University and University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lindy Reunes
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University and University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Patrick Chaltin
- Center for Innovation and Stimulation of Drug Discovery Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Center for Drug Design and Discovery, Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Fritz Offner
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Hematology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jo Van Dorpe
- Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Pathology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tino Hochepied
- Center for Inflammation Research, Flemish Institute for Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Geert Berx
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Inflammation Research, Flemish Institute for Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Rudi Beyaert
- Center for Inflammation Research, Flemish Institute for Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jens Staal
- Center for Inflammation Research, Flemish Institute for Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Pieter Van Vlierberghe
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University and University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Steven Goossens
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University and University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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14
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Borgmans S, Rogge SMJ, De Vos JS, Stevens CV, Van Der Voort P, Van Speybroeck V. Quantifying the Likelihood of Structural Models through a Dynamically Enhanced Powder X-Ray Diffraction Protocol. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:8913-8922. [PMID: 33493379 PMCID: PMC8048908 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202017153] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Structurally characterizing new materials is tremendously challenging, especially when single crystal structures are hardly available which is often the case for covalent organic frameworks. Yet, knowledge of the atomic structure is key to establish structure-function relations and enable functional material design. Herein, a new protocol is proposed to unambiguously predict the structure of poorly crystalline materials through a likelihood ordering based on the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern. Key of the procedure is the broad set of structures generated from a limited number of building blocks and topologies, which is submitted to operando structural characterization. The dynamic averaging in the latter accounts for the operando conditions and inherent temporal character of experimental measurements, yielding unparalleled agreement with experimental powder XRD patterns. The proposed concept can hence unquestionably identify the structure of experimentally synthesized materials, a crucial step to design next generation functional materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sander Borgmans
- Center for Molecular Modeling (CMM)Ghent UniversityTechnologiepark 469052ZwijnaardeBelgium
| | - Sven M. J. Rogge
- Center for Molecular Modeling (CMM)Ghent UniversityTechnologiepark 469052ZwijnaardeBelgium
| | - Juul S. De Vos
- Center for Molecular Modeling (CMM)Ghent UniversityTechnologiepark 469052ZwijnaardeBelgium
| | - Christian V. Stevens
- Research Group SynBioCDepartment of Green Chemistry and TechnologyFaculty of Bioscience EngineeringGhent UniversityCampus Coupure, Coupure Links 6539000GentBelgium
| | - Pascal Van Der Voort
- Center for Ordered Materials, Organometallics and Catalysis (COMOC)Department of Inorganic and Physical ChemistryGhent UniversityKrijgslaan 281 (S3)9000GentBelgium
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15
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Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a relentlessly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects motor neurons. Despite our increased understanding of the genetic factors contributing to ALS, no effective treatment is available. A growing body of evidence shows disturbances in energy metabolism in ALS. Moreover, the remarkable vulnerability of motor neurons to ATP depletion has become increasingly clear. Here, we review metabolic alterations present in ALS patients and models, discuss the selective vulnerability of motor neurons to energetic stress, and provide an overview of tested and emerging metabolic approaches to treat ALS. We believe that a further understanding of the metabolic biology of ALS can lead to the identification of novel therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tijs Vandoorne
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg O&N 4, Herestraat 49, PB 602, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katrien De Bock
- Laboratory of Exercise and Health, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ludo Van Den Bosch
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg O&N 4, Herestraat 49, PB 602, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
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16
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Coppens V, Leuckx G, Heremans Y, Staels W, Verdonck Y, Baeyens L, De Leu N, Heimberg H. Semi-automated digital measurement as the method of choice for beta cell mass analysis. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0191249. [PMID: 29408875 PMCID: PMC5800540 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 09/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreas injury by partial duct ligation (PDL) activates beta cell differentiation and proliferation in adult mouse pancreas but remains controversial regarding the anticipated increase in beta cell volume. Several reports unable to show beta cell volume augmentation in PDL pancreas used automated digital image analysis software. We hypothesized that fully automatic beta cell morphometry without manual micrograph artifact remediation introduces bias and therefore might be responsible for reported discrepancies and controversy. However, our present results prove that standard digital image processing with automatic thresholding is sufficiently robust albeit less sensitive and less adequate to demonstrate a significant increase in beta cell volume in PDL versus Sham-operated pancreas. We therefore conclude that other confounding factors such as quality of surgery, selection of samples based on relative abundance of the transcription factor Neurogenin 3 (Ngn3) and tissue processing give rise to inter-laboratory inconsistencies in beta cell volume quantification in PDL pancreas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Violette Coppens
- Beta cell Neogenesis, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken, Antwerp, Belgium
- University Department of Psychiatry, Campus Duffel, Duffel, Belgium
| | - Gunter Leuckx
- Beta cell Neogenesis, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yves Heremans
- Beta cell Neogenesis, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Willem Staels
- Beta cell Neogenesis, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Ghent University, Hospital and Department of Pediatrics and Genetics, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Yannick Verdonck
- Beta cell Neogenesis, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Luc Baeyens
- Beta cell Neogenesis, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nico De Leu
- Beta cell Neogenesis, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Endocrinology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Endocrinology, Algemeen Stedelijk Ziekenhuis Aalst, Aalst, Belgium
| | - Harry Heimberg
- Beta cell Neogenesis, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- * E-mail:
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17
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Benaets K, Van Geystelen A, Cardoen D, De Smet L, de Graaf DC, Schoofs L, Larmuseau MHD, Brettell LE, Martin SJ, Wenseleers T. Covert deformed wing virus infections have long-term deleterious effects on honeybee foraging and survival. Proc Biol Sci 2017; 284:20162149. [PMID: 28148747 PMCID: PMC5310602 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.2149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies have suggested that covert stressors can contribute to bee colony declines. Here we provide a novel case study and show using radiofrequency identification tracking technology that covert deformed wing virus (DWV) infections in adult honeybee workers seriously impact long-term foraging and survival under natural foraging conditions. In particular, our experiments show that adult workers injected with low doses of DWV experienced increased mortality rates, that DWV caused workers to start foraging at a premature age, and that the virus reduced the workers' total activity span as foragers. Altogether, these results demonstrate that covert DWV infections have strongly deleterious effects on honeybee foraging and survival. These results are consistent with previous studies that suggested DWV to be an important contributor to the ongoing bee declines in Europe and the USA. Overall, our study underlines the strong impact that covert pathogen infections can have on individual and group-level performance in bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristof Benaets
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Laboratory of Socio-ecology and Social Evolution, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anneleen Van Geystelen
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Laboratory of Socio-ecology and Social Evolution, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dries Cardoen
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Laboratory of Socio-ecology and Social Evolution, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lina De Smet
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, UGent, Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology, Gent, Belgium
| | - Dirk C de Graaf
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, UGent, Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology, Gent, Belgium
| | - Liliane Schoofs
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Research group of Functional Genomics and Proteomics, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maarten H D Larmuseau
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Laboratory of Socio-ecology and Social Evolution, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Forensic Genetics and Molecular Archaeology, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Forensic Medicine, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laura E Brettell
- School of Environment and Life Sciences, The University of Salford, Manchester, UK
| | - Stephen J Martin
- School of Environment and Life Sciences, The University of Salford, Manchester, UK
| | - Tom Wenseleers
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Laboratory of Socio-ecology and Social Evolution, Leuven, Belgium
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18
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Katsarou K, Mavrothalassiti E, Dermauw W, Van Leeuwen T, Kalantidis K. Combined Activity of DCL2 and DCL3 Is Crucial in the Defense against Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1005936. [PMID: 27732664 PMCID: PMC5061435 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [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: 01/09/2016] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Viroids are self replicating non-coding RNAs capable of infecting a wide range of plant hosts. They do not encode any proteins, thus the mechanism by which they escape plant defenses remains unclear. RNAi silencing is a major defense mechanism against virus infections, with the four DCL proteins being principal components of the pathway. We have used Nicotiana benthamiana as a model to study Potato spindle tuber viroid infection. This viroid is a member of the Pospiviroidae family and replicates in the nucleus via an asymmetric rolling circle mechanism. We have created knock-down plants for all four DCL genes and their combinations. Previously, we showed that DCL4 has a positive effect on PSTVd infectivity since viroid levels drop when DCL4 is suppressed. Here, we show that PSTVd levels remain decreased throughout infection in DCL4 knockdown plants, and that simultaneous knockdown of DCL1, DCL2 or DCL3 together with DCL4 cannot reverse this effect. Through infection of plants suppressed for multiple DCLs we further show that a combined suppression of DCL2 and DCL3 has a major effect in succumbing plant antiviral defense. Based on our results, we further suggest that Pospoviroids may have evolved to be primarily processed by DCL4 as it seems to be a DCL protein with less detrimental effects on viroid infectivity. These findings pave the way to delineate the complexity of the relationship between viroids and plant RNA silencing response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantina Katsarou
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | | | - Wannes Dermauw
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Thomas Van Leeuwen
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Belgium
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kriton Kalantidis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
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19
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Sojoodi M, Stradiot L, Tanaka K, Heremans Y, Leuckx G, Besson V, Staels W, Van de Casteele M, Marazzi G, Sassoon D, Heimberg H, Bonfanti P. The zinc finger transcription factor PW1/PEG3 restrains murine beta cell cycling. Diabetologia 2016; 59:1474-1479. [PMID: 27130279 PMCID: PMC4901110 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-016-3954-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2015] [Accepted: 03/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS Pw1 or paternally-expressed gene 3 (Peg3) encodes a zinc finger transcription factor that is widely expressed during mouse embryonic development and later restricted to multiple somatic stem cell lineages in the adult. The aim of the present study was to define Pw1 expression in the embryonic and adult pancreas and investigate its role in the beta cell cycle in Pw1 wild-type and mutant mice. METHODS We analysed PW1 expression by immunohistochemistry in pancreas of nonpregant and pregnant mice and following injury by partial duct ligation. Its role in the beta cell cycle was studied in vivo using a novel conditional knockout mouse and in vitro by lentivirus-mediated gene knockdown. RESULTS We showed that PW1 is expressed in early pancreatic progenitors at E9.5 but becomes progressively restricted to fully differentiated beta cells as they become established after birth and withdraw from the cell cycle. Notably, PW1 expression declines when beta cells are induced to proliferate and loss of PW1 function activates the beta cell cycle. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION These results indicate that PW1 is a co-regulator of the beta cell cycle and can thus be considered a novel therapeutic target in diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mozhdeh Sojoodi
- Diabetes Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Leslie Stradiot
- Diabetes Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Karo Tanaka
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Team, Institute of Cardiology and Nutrition, Inserm UMRS-1166, University Pierre and Marie Curie (Paris VI), Paris, France
| | - Yves Heremans
- Diabetes Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gunter Leuckx
- Diabetes Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Vanessa Besson
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Team, Institute of Cardiology and Nutrition, Inserm UMRS-1166, University Pierre and Marie Curie (Paris VI), Paris, France
| | - Willem Staels
- Diabetes Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mark Van de Casteele
- Diabetes Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Giovanna Marazzi
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Team, Institute of Cardiology and Nutrition, Inserm UMRS-1166, University Pierre and Marie Curie (Paris VI), Paris, France
| | - David Sassoon
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Team, Institute of Cardiology and Nutrition, Inserm UMRS-1166, University Pierre and Marie Curie (Paris VI), Paris, France
| | - Harry Heimberg
- Diabetes Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Paola Bonfanti
- Diabetes Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Brussels, Belgium.
- Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, WC1N 1EH, London, UK.
- Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, University College London, London, UK.
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