Dynamic silencing of somatic L1 retrotransposon insertions reflects the developmental and cellular contexts of their genomic integration.

BACKGROUND: The ongoing mobilization of mammalian transposable elements (TEs) contributes to natural genetic variation. To survey the epigenetic control and expression of reporter genes inserted by L1 retrotransposition in diverse cellular and genomic contexts, we engineered highly sensitive, real-time L1 retrotransposon reporter constructs. RESULTS: Here we describe different patterns of expression and epigenetic controls of newly inserted sequences retrotransposed by L1 in various somatic cells and tissues including cultured human cancer cells, mouse embryonic stem cells, and tissues of pseudofounder transgenic mice and their progeny. In cancer cell lines, the newly inserted sequences typically underwent rapid transcriptional gene silencing, but they lacked cytosine methylation even after many cell divisions. L1 reporter expression was reversible and oscillated frequently. Silenced or variegated reporter expression was strongly and uniformly reactivated by treatment with inhibitors of histone deacetylation, revealing the mechanism for their silencing. By contrast, de novo integrants retrotransposed by L1 in pluripotent mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells underwent rapid silencing by dense cytosine methylation. Similarly, de novo cytosine methylation also was identified at new integrants when studied in several distinct somatic tissues of adult founder mice. Pre-existing L1 elements in cultured human cancer cells were stably silenced by dense cytosine methylation, whereas their transcription modestly increased when cytosine methylation was experimentally reduced in cells lacking DNA methyltransferases DNMT1 and DNMT3b. As a control, reporter genes mobilized by piggyBac (PB), a DNA transposon, revealed relatively stable and robust expression without apparent silencing in both cultured cancer cells and ES cells. CONCLUSIONS: We hypothesize that the de novo methylation marks at newly inserted sequences retrotransposed by L1 in early pre-implantation development are maintained or re-established in adult somatic tissues. By contrast, histone deacetylation reversibly silences L1 reporter insertions that had mobilized at later timepoints in somatic development and differentiation, e.g., in cancer cell lines. We conclude that the cellular contexts of L1 retrotransposition can determine expression or silencing of newly integrated sequences. We propose a model whereby reporter expression from somatic TE insertions reflects the timing, molecular mechanism, epigenetic controls and the genomic, cellular and developmental contexts of their integration.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the FcγR3A and TAP1 genes impact ADCC in cynomolgus monkey PBMCs.

Phenotypic variability is often observed in cynomolgus monkeys on preclinical studies and may, in part, be driven by genetic variability. However, the role of monkey genetic variation remains largely unexplored in the context of drug response. This study evaluated genetic variation in cynomolgus monkey FcγR3A and TAP1 genes and the potential impact of identified polymorphisms on antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) in vitro. Studies in humans have demonstrated that a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), F158V, in FcγR3A can influence response to rituximab through altered ADCC and that SNPs in TAP1/2 decrease natural killer (NK) cell activity against major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I deficient cells, potentially through altered ADCC. Monkeys were genotyped for FcγR3A and TAP1 SNPs, and ADCC was assessed in vitro using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) treated with trastuzumab in the presence of NCI-N87 cells. FcγR3A g.1134A>C (exonic S42R), FcγR3A g.5027A>G (intronic), and TAP1 g.1A>G (start codon loss) SNPs were all significantly associated with decreased ADCC for at least one trastuzumab concentration ≥0.0001 µM when compared with wild type (WT). Regression analysis demonstrated significant association of the SNP-SNP pairs FcγR3A g.1134A>C/TAP1 g.1A>G and FcγR3A g.5027A>G/TAP1 g.1A>G with a combinatorial decrease on ADCC. Mechanisms underlying the decreased ADCC were investigated by measuring FcγR3A/IgG binding affinity and expression of FcγR3A and TAP1 in PBMCs; however, no functional associations were observed. These data demonstrate that genetic variation in cynomolgus monkeys is reflective of known human genetic variation and may potentially contribute to variable drug response in preclinical studies.

Identification of MHC Haplotypes Associated with Drug-induced Hypersensitivity Reactions in Cynomolgus Monkeys.

Drug-induced hypersensitivity reactions can significantly impact drug development and use. Studies to understand risk factors for drug-induced hypersensitivity reactions have identified genetic association with specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles. Interestingly, drug-induced hypersensitivity reactions can occur in nonhuman primates; however, association between drug-induced hypersensitivity reactions and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) alleles has not been described. In this study, tissue samples were collected from 62 cynomolgus monkeys from preclinical studies in which 9 animals had evidence of drug-induced hypersensitivity reactions. Microsatellite analysis was used to determine MHC haplotypes for each animal. A total of 7 haplotypes and recombinant MHC haplotypes were observed, with distribution frequency comparable to known MHC I allele frequency in cynomolgus monkeys. Genetic association analysis identified alleles from the M3 haplotype of the MHC I B region (B*011:01, B*075:01, B*079:01, B*070:02, B*098:05, and B*165:01) to be significantly associated (χ2 test for trend, p < 0.05) with occurrence of drug-induced hypersensitivity reactions. Sequence similarity from alignment of alleles in the M3 haplotype B region and HLA alleles associated with drug-induced hypersensitivity reactions in humans was 86% to 93%. These data demonstrate that MHC alleles in cynomolgus monkeys are associated with drug-induced hypersensitivity reactions, similar to HLA alleles in humans.

Regulatory effects of genomic translocations at the human carboxylesterase-1 (CES1) gene locus.

OBJECTIVE: CES1 encodes carboxylesterase-1, an important drug-metabolizing enzyme with high expression in the liver. Previous studies have reported a genomic translocation of the 5' region from the poorly expressed pseudogene CES1P1, to CES1, yielding the structural variant CES1VAR. The aim of this study was to characterize this translocation and its effect on CES1 expression in the human liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experiments were conducted in human liver tissues and cell culture (HepG2). The promoter and exon 1 of CES1 were sequenced by Sanger and Ion Torrent sequencing to identify gene translocations. The effects of CES1 5'UTRs on mRNA and protein expression were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR, allelic ratio mRNA analysis by primer extension (SNaPshot), quantitative targeted proteomics, and luciferase reporter gene assays. RESULTS: Sequencing of CES1 identified two translocations: first, CES1VAR (17% minor allele frequency) comprising the 5'UTR, exon 1, and part of intron 1. A second shorter translocation, CES1SVAR, was observed excluding exon 1 and intron 1 regions (<0.01% minor allele frequency). CES1VAR is associated with 2.6-fold decreased CES1 mRNA and ∼1.35-fold lower allelic mRNA. Luciferase reporter constructs showed that CES1VAR decreases luciferase activity 1.5-fold, whereas CES1SVAR slightly increases activity. CES1VAR was not associated with CES1 protein expression or metabolism of the CES1 substrates enalapril, clopidogrel, or methylphenidate in the liver. CONCLUSION: The frequent translocation variant CES1VAR reduces mRNA expression of CES1 in the liver by ∼30%, but protein expression and metabolizing activity in the liver were not detectably altered - possibly because of variable CES1 expression masking small allelic effects. Whether drug therapies are affected by CES1VAR will require further in-vivo studies.

Expression of mRNA transcripts encoding membrane transporters detected with whole transcriptome sequencing of human brain and liver.

BACKGROUND: Membrane transporters control the influx and efflux of endogenous and xenobiotic substrates, including nutrients and drugs, across cellular membranes. OBJECTIVE: Whole transcriptome sequencing enables simultaneous analysis of overall and allele-specific mRNA expression, and the detection of multiple RNA isoforms. METHODS: Here we characterize variation in RNA transcripts emanating from gene loci encoding transporters based on RNAseq data from 10 human brains (including cocaine overdose and normal brain tissues) and 12 normal livers. RESULTS: mRNA expression was detected in 65% of transporter genes in either tissue, with many genes generating multiple mRNA transcripts. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms within transporters with previous evidence for pharmacogenomics impact were detected. We also identified noncoding RNAs in the vicinity of transporter genes with potential regulatory functions. CONCLUSION: The results obtained with RNAseq provide detailed information on transporter mRNA expression at the molecular level, affording new avenues for the study of membrane transport, with relevance to drug efficacy and toxicity.

Regulatory polymorphisms in CYP2C19 affecting hepatic expression.

BACKGROUND: Cytochrome P450 2C19 is responsible for the metabolism of many drugs, including the activation of clopidogrel. The allele CYP2C19*17 is associated with ultra-rapid metabolizer phenotypes by increasing gene transcription. This study tests to what extent CYP2C19*17 enhances CYP2C19 expression in human liver and whether additional regulatory variants contribute to variation in CYP2C19 expression. METHODS: CYP2C19 mRNA was measured with quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), enzyme activity as metabolic velocity with S-mephenytoin as the substrate and allelic mRNA expression ratio with SNaPshot in human livers. CYP2C19 transcribed exons and a 4kb promoter region were sequenced using IonTorrent PGM or Sanger sequencing and screened for polymorphisms associated with total hepatic CYP2C19 mRNA, enzyme activity and allelic mRNA ratios. RESULTS: Livers heterozygote and homozygous for CYP2C19*17 had mRNA levels 1.8-fold (p=0.028) and 2.9-fold (p=0.006), respectively, above homozygous reference allele livers. CYP2C19*17 heterozygotes were also associated with increased allelic mRNA expression (allelic ratio ~1.8-fold, SD±0.6, p<0.005), whereas CYP2C19 enzyme activity was elevated 2.3-fold, with borderline significance (p=0.06) in CYP2C19*17 carriers. One liver sample of African ancestry displayed a 2-fold allelic expression ratio, and another sample, a ~12-fold increase in metabolic velocity. Neither case was accounted for by *17, which indicates the presence of additional regulatory variants. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm *17 as a regulatory polymorphism enhancing hepatic CYP2C19 expression 2-fold with potential to compensate for the loss of function allele CYP2C19*2. Additional regulatory factors may also enhance CYP2C19 expression in African American populations.

mRNA transcript diversity creates new opportunities for pharmacological intervention.

Most protein coding genes generate multiple RNA transcripts through alternative splicing, variable 3' and 5'UTRs, and RNA editing. Although drug design typically targets the main transcript, alternative transcripts can have profound physiological effects, encoding proteins with distinct functions or regulatory properties. Formation of these alternative transcripts is tissue-selective and context-dependent, creating opportunities for more effective and targeted therapies with reduced adverse effects. Moreover, genetic variation can tilt the balance of alternative versus constitutive transcripts or generate aberrant transcripts that contribute to disease risk. In addition, environmental factors and drugs modulate RNA splicing, affording new opportunities for the treatment of splicing disorders. For example, therapies targeting specific mRNA transcripts with splice-site-directed oligonucleotides that correct aberrant splicing are already in clinical trials for genetic disorders such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy. High-throughput sequencing technologies facilitate discovery of novel RNA transcripts and protein isoforms, applications ranging from neuromuscular disorders to cancer. Consideration of a gene's transcript diversity should become an integral part of drug design, development, and therapy.