miRNA Genetic Variants Alter Their Secondary Structure and Expression in Patients With RASopathies Syndromes.

RASopathies are a group of rare genetic diseases caused by germline mutations in genes involved in the RAS-mitogen-activated protein kinase (RAS-MAPK) pathway. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) is a powerful approach for identifying new variants in coding and noncoding DNA sequences, including miRNAs. miRNAs are fine-tuning negative regulators of gene expression. The presence of variants in miRNAs could lead to malfunctions of regulation, resulting in diseases. Here, we identified 41 variants in mature miRNAs through WES analysis in five patients with previous clinical diagnosis of RASopathies syndromes. The pathways, biological processes, and diseases that were over-represented among the target genes of the mature miRNAs harboring variants included the RAS, MAPK, RAP1, and PIK3-Akt signaling pathways, neuronal differentiation, neurogenesis and nervous system development, congenital cardiac defects (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy), and the phenotypes and syndromes of RASopathies (Noonan syndrome, Legius syndrome, Costello syndrome, Cafe au lait spots multiple, subaortic stenosis, pulmonary valve stenosis, and LEOPARD syndrome). Furthermore, eight selected variants in nine mature miRNAs (hsa-miR-1304, hsa-miR-146a, hsa-miR-196a2, hsa-miR-499a/hsa-miR-499b, hsa-miR-449b, hsa-miR-548l, hsa-miR-575, and hsa-miR-593) may have caused alterations in the secondary structures of miRNA precursor. Selected miRNAs containing variants such as hsa-miR-146a-3p, hsa-miR-196a-3p, hsa-miR-548l, hsa-miR-449b-5p, hsa-miR-575, and hsa-miR499a-3p could regulate classical genes associated with Rasopathies and RAS-MAPK pathways, contributing to modify the expression pattern of miRNAs in patients. RT-qPCR expression analysis revealed four differentially expressed miRNAs that were downregulated: miRNA-146a-3p in P1, P2, P3, P4, and P5, miR-1304-3p in P2, P3, P4, and P5, miR-196a2-3p in P3, and miR-499b-5p in P1. miR-499a-3p was upregulated in P1, P3, and P5. These results indicate that miRNAs show different expression patterns when these variants are present in patients. Therefore, this study characterized the role of miRNAs harboring variants related to RASopathies for the first time and indicated the possible implications of these variants for phenotypes of RASopathies such as congenital cardiac defects and cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. The expression and existence of miRNA variants may be used in the study of biomarkers of the RASopathies.

Estudo descritivo molecular de pacientes com RASopatia / Descriptive molecular study of patients with RASopathy

As RASopatias são um grupo de doenças cujos pacientes apresentam alterações constitucionais em genes que participam de uma mesma via de sinalização celular denominada Ras/MAPK, que desempenha um papel importante na proliferação, diferenciação, migração celular e apoptose, além de estar associada a processos carcinogênicos. Apesar dos avanços em métodos diagnósticos, cerca de 20 a 25% dos casos permanecem inconclusivos, o que impulsiona pesquisas que buscam alterações em outros níveis de regulação da via, como RNAs não codificantes e proteínas. O primeiro capítulo deste estudo, avalia um grupo de 6 pacientes diagnosticados clinicamente com RASopatia e com exomas sequenciados. Foram obtidos dados sobre mutações em seus miRNAs. O segundo capítulo relata o caso de um paciente com suspeita clínica de síndrome de Costello, mas sem mutações detectadas. Foram avaliados, in silico, dados sobre miRNAs reguladores do gene HRAS, bem como os diferentes tecidos nos quais o HRAS é expresso. Para o capítulo 3 foi realizado um estudo comparativo entre gêmeas com diagnóstico clínico de síndrome de Noonan, mas com fenótipo discordante. Foi realizado um array por RT-qPCR para diferentes RNAs reguladores e um estudo comparativo de proteoma com análise de vias biológicas, processos biológicos e genes alvo da regulação de fatores de transcrição putativos. No estudo de miRNAs foram encontradas mutações em heterozigose, que são de difícil avaliação em ensaios de expressão. No estudo de caso do paciente S4 (síndrome de Costello), não foram encontradas mutações nos miR-181d-5p, let-7a-5p, miR-143-3p, miR-181a-5p, miR-139-5p, miR-663a e let-7b-5p, descritos como reguladores do HRAS. Também não foram encontrados tecidos viáveis para coleta e análise da expressão do HRAS. Na expressão de RNAs reguladores nas gêmeas (S16 e S17) foram encontrados níveis de expressão aumentados em S17 para Lnc-C21orf33-1, ERBS3/SBNO2e, miR-200be, CTBP1-AS e Lnc_DC. Na análise do proteoma, foram encontradas diferenças de expressão em vias de integrinas, proteoglicanos e trombinas, além de diferenças em processos de transdução de sinal, crescimento e manutenção celular e metabolismo. Os genes com sítio de ligação para os fatores de transcrição como RREB1, ETS1, EGR1 e TBX5 também possuíam expressão diferente entre as gêmeas. Os resultados aqui apresentados apontam novos caminhos para estudos moleculares das RASopatias que possam preencher as lacunas diagnósticas ainda pendentes.

RASopathies are a group of diseases whose patients present constitutional changes in genes that participate in the same cellular signaling pathway called the Ras/MAPK, which plays an important role in proliferation, differentiation, cell migration and apoptosis, in addition to being associated with carcinogenic processes. Despite advances in diagnostic methods, about 20 to 25% of cases remain inconclusive, which drives research that seeks changes in other levels of pathway regulation, such as non-coding RNAs and proteins. The first chapter of this study evaluates a group of 6 patients clinically diagnosed with RASopathy and sequenced exomes. Data were obtained on mutations in their miRNAs. The second chapter reports the case of a patient with clinical suspicion of Costello syndrome, but without mutations detected. Data on the miRNAs regulating the HRAS gene, as well as the different tissues in which HRAS is expressed, were evaluated in silico. For chapter 3 a comparative study was performed between twins with clinical diagnosis of Noonan syndrome, but with a discordant phenotype. An array was performed by RT-qPCR for different regulatory RNAs and a comparative proteome study with analysis of biological pathways, biological processes and genes targeting the regulation of putative transcription factors. In the study of miRNAs, mutations were found in heterozygosis, which are difficult to evaluate in expression assays. In the case study of S4 patient (Costello syndrome), no mutations were found in miR-181d-5p, let-7a-5p, miR-143-3p, miR-181a-5p, miR-139-5p, miR-663a and let-7b -5p, described as HRAS regulators. No available tissues were also found for collection and analysis of HRAS expression. In expression of regulatory RNAs in the S16 and S17 twins, increased levels of S17 expression were found for Lnc-C21orf33-1, ERBS3 / SBNO2e, miR-200b, CTBP1-AS and Lnc_DC. In the proteome analysis, expression differences were found in integrins, proteoglycans and thrombin pathways, as well as differences in signal transduction processes, cell growth and maintenance, and metabolism. Genes with binding site for transcription factors such as RREB1, ETS1, EGR1 and TBX5 also had different expression between the twins. The results presented here point out new ways for molecular studies of RASopathies that may close the remaining diagnostic gaps.

Genetic Variants in Folate and Cobalamin Metabolism-Related Genes in Nonsyndromic Cleft Lip and/or Palate

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of the polymorphisms in TCN2 (rs1801198) gene and in MTRR (rs1801394) gene with nonsyndromic cleft lip and/or palate (NSCL/P) in a Brazilian population. Genomic DNA was extracted from buccal cells. The polymorphisms in TCN2 (rs1801198) and MTRR (rs1801394) genes were genotyped by carrying out real-time PCR and Taqman assay. Chi-square test was used to determine the association between genotype and allele frequencies with NSCL/P and NSCL/P subgroups (cleft lip only, cleft lip and palate, and cleft palate only). Eight hundred and sixty seven unrelated individuals (401 cases with NSCL/P and 466 individuals without cleft) were evaluated. Genotype distributions of TCN2 and MTRR polymorphisms were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The TCN2 polymorphic genotype GG was identified in 16.7% of the NSCL/P group and in 14.1% of the non-cleft group (p>0.05). Similarly, the frequency of MTRR genotype (GG) was similar in NSCL/P group (15.5%) and control group (17.8%) (p>0.05). Multivariate analysis showed an association between MTRR and the subgroup that the mother smoked during pregnancy (p=0.039). Our findings did not demonstrate an association between TCN2 polymorphisms and NSCL/P, however suggests an association between MTRR and NSCL/P etiology.

Resumo O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a associação entre os polimorfismos no gene TCN2 (rs1801198) e no gene MTRR (rs1801394) com fissura de lábio e/ou palato não sindrômica (NSFL/P) em uma população brasileira. DNA genômico foi extraído de células bucais. Os polimorfismos nos genes TCN2 (rs1801198) e MTRR (rs1801394) foram genotipados através do PCR em tempo real pelo método Taqman. O teste do qui-quadrado foi utilizado para determinar a associação entre a frequência alélica e genotípica e NSFL/P e nos subtipos (fissura de lábio, fissura de lábio com palato e fissura de palato). Oitocentos e sessenta e sete indivíduos não aparentados (401 casos com NSFL/P e 466 indivíduos sem fissura) foram avaliados. A distribuição dos genótipos dos polimorfismos de TCN2 e MTRR estavam em equilíbrio de Hardy-Weinberg. O genótipo polimórfico GG do gene TCN2 foi identificado em 16,7% do grupo com NSFL/P e em 14,1% do grupo sem fissura (p>0,05). Da mesma forma, a freqüência do genótipo GG do gene MTRR foi bastante semelhante entre o grupo com NSFL/P (15,5%) e o grupo controle (17,8%). A análise multivariada mostrou associação entre o gene MTRR e o subgrupo que apresentou tabagismo materno durante a gestação (p=0,039). Nossos resultados mostraram que não há associação entre os polimorfismos nos genes TCN2 e NSFL/P, entretanto sugerem uma associação entre MTRR e a etiologia de NSFL/P.

Genetic Variants in Folate and Cobalamin Metabolism-Related Genes in Nonsyndromic Cleft Lip and/or Palate.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of the polymorphisms in TCN2 (rs1801198) gene and in MTRR (rs1801394) gene with nonsyndromic cleft lip and/or palate (NSCL/P) in a Brazilian population. Genomic DNA was extracted from buccal cells. The polymorphisms in TCN2 (rs1801198) and MTRR (rs1801394) genes were genotyped by carrying out real-time PCR and Taqman assay. Chi-square test was used to determine the association between genotype and allele frequencies with NSCL/P and NSCL/P subgroups (cleft lip only, cleft lip and palate, and cleft palate only). Eight hundred and sixty seven unrelated individuals (401 cases with NSCL/P and 466 individuals without cleft) were evaluated. Genotype distributions of TCN2 and MTRR polymorphisms were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The TCN2 polymorphic genotype GG was identified in 16.7% of the NSCL/P group and in 14.1% of the non-cleft group (p>0.05). Similarly, the frequency of MTRR genotype (GG) was similar in NSCL/P group (15.5%) and control group (17.8%) (p>0.05). Multivariate analysis showed an association between MTRR and the subgroup that the mother smoked during pregnancy (p=0.039). Our findings did not demonstrate an association between TCN2 polymorphisms and NSCL/P, however suggests an association between MTRR and NSCL/P etiology.

Evidence of genetic variations associated with rotator cuff disease.

BACKGROUND: Rotator cuff disease (RCD) is a complex process influenced by a multitude of factors, and a number of gene pathways are altered in rotator cuff tears. Polymorphisms in these genes can lead to an extended tendon degeneration process, which explains why subsets of patients are more susceptible to RCD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three single-nucleotide polymorphisms within 6 genes involved in repair and degenerative processes (DEFB1, DENND2C, ESRRB, FGF3, FGF10, and FGFR1) were investigated in 410 patients, 203 with a diagnosis of RCD and 207 presenting with absence of RCD. Exclusion criteria were patients older than 60 years and younger than 45 years with a history of trauma, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune syndrome, pregnancy, and use of corticosteroids. Genomic DNA was obtained from saliva samples. Genetic markers were genotyped with TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction. The χ(2) test compared genotypes and haplotype differences between groups. Multivariate logistic regression analyzed the significance of many covariates and the incidence of RCD. RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed female sex (P = .001; odds ratio, 2.07 [1.30-3.30]) and being white (P = .002; odds ratio, 1.88 [1.21-2.90]) to be risk factors for RCD development. A significant association of haplotypes CCTTCCAG in ESRRB (P = .05), CGACG in FGF3 (P = .01), CC in DEFB1 (P = .03), and FGFR1 rs13317 (P = .02) with RCD could be observed. Also, association between FGF10 rs11750845 (P = .03) and rs1011814 (P = .01) was observed after adjustment by ethnic group and sex. CONCLUSIONS: Our work clearly supports the role of DEFB1, ESRRB, FGF3, FGF10, and FGFR1 genes in RCD. Identification of these variants can clarify causal pathways and provide a clue for therapeutic targets.