Project description:Genome-wide DNA methylation profilinf from 67 non syndromic cleft lip and palate samples and controls using whole-blood DNA and Illumina Infinium Human Methylation 450K Bead array, in which over 485000 CpGs sites were analysed per sample
Project description:We sought to identify Hedgehog-regulated genes in the frontonasal process (FNP) and ventral prosencephalon at GD9.25 in mice, during the initial pathogenesis of cleft lip with or without cleft palate.
Project description:DNA methylation appears to play an essential mechanistic role in the pathogenesis of ALL, thereby potentiate its use as a biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis (Milani, Lundmark et al. 2010; Geng, Brennan et al. 2012; Sandoval, Heyn et al. 2013), and even a potential target of novel therapeutic approaches in ALL. In present study, we collected blood specimens for 4 pairs of monozygotic twins (MZ) and 1 pair of dizygotic twin (DZ) that are discordant for ALL. We sought to comprehensively assess the magnitude of genetic and epigenetic differences between ALL-affected and unaffected twins. we conducted whole genome and whole methylome sequencing on these five pairs of ALL-discordant twins. We also examined both the MZ and DZ twins using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS). At first, the methylation differences across the genome were addressed globally by Circos software. And then tried to characterize the co-twin methylation divergence in specific genomic regions between ALL-discordant twin pairs. These patterns of dynamic co-twin methylation changes in these discordant ALL samples were generally consistent among MZ and DZ twins, indicating similarities of methylation abnormalities. As a result, 780, 566, 309, 293 and 2110 DMRs were identified, with a similar distribution pattern across different genomic elements among the five twin pairs.Then we annotate whether these DMRs were located in regulatory elements and identification of genes with recurring methylation alterations in a cohort of ALL patients. We collected blood specimens from 4 pairs of MZ twins and 1 pair of DZ twin that are discordant for ALL. At first, the methylation differences across the genome were addressed globally by Circos software. And then tried to characterize the co-twin methylation divergence in specific genomic regions and differentially methylated gene regions (DMRs) were identified between ALL-discordant twin pairs. Then we annotate whether these DMRs were located in regulatory elements and identification of genes with recurring methylation alterations in a cohort of ALL patients.
Project description:The transcription factor Interferon Regulatory Factor 6 (IRF6) is crucially involved in craniofacial development and regulates the proliferation/differentiation balance in keratinocytes. Pathological IRF6 variants have been found in Van der Woude syndrome (VWS), the most common syndromic form of cleft lip / palate (CLP) as well as in non-syndromic CLP cases. Besides its prominent function in regulating keratinocyte differentiation, recent data revealed that IRF6 is also involved in wound healing and migration. Since a significant fraction of CLP patients undergoing corrective cleft surgery experience wound healing complications, IRF6 represents an interesting candidate gene linking the two processes. However, Irf6 function has been mainly studied in mice and knowledge on IRF6 in human cells remains sparse. Here, we aimed to elucidate the role of IRF6 in human postnatal skin- and oral mucosa-derived keratinocytes by its ablation using CRISPR/Cas9. We complement this approach by applying proteomics and identify that lack of IRF6 disrupts human epithelial homeostasis by altering cell colony morphology, migration pattern, and the differentiation potential of keratinocytes.
Project description:Cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) is a common birth defect with a complex, heterogeneous etiology. It is well-established that both common and rare sequence variants contribute to the formation of CL/P, however, the contribution of copy number variants (CNVs) to cleft formation remains relatively understudied. To fill this knowledge gap, we conducted a large-scale comparative analysis of genome-wide CNV profiles of 869 individuals from the Philippines and 233 individuals of European ancestry with CL/P with three primary goals: first, to evaluate whether differences in CNV number, amount of genomic content, or amount of coding genomic content existed within clefting subtypes; second, to assess whether CNVs in our cohort overlapped with known Mendelian clefting loci; and third, to identify unestablished Mendelian clefting genes. Significant differences in CNVs across cleft types or in individuals with non-syndromic versus syndromic clefts were not observed, however, several CNVs in our cohort overlapped with known syndromic and non-syndromic Mendelian clefting loci. Moreover, employing a filtering strategy relying on population genetics data that rare variants are on the whole more deleterious than common variants, we identify several CNV-associated gene losses likely driving non-syndromic clefting phenotypes. By prioritizing genes deleted at a rare frequency across multiple individuals with clefts yet enriched in our case cohort compared to controls, we identify COBLL1, RIC1, and ARHGEF38 as clefting genes. CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis of these genes in Xenopus laevis and Danio rerio yielded craniofacial dysmorphologies, including clefts analogous to those seen in human clefting disorders.
Project description:Cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) is a common birth defect with a complex, heterogeneous etiology. It is well-established that both common and rare sequence variants contribute to the formation of CL/P, however, the contribution of copy number variants (CNVs) to cleft formation remains relatively understudied. To fill this knowledge gap, we conducted a large-scale comparative analysis of genome-wide CNV profiles of 869 individuals from the Philippines and 233 individuals of European ancestry with CL/P with three primary goals: first, to evaluate whether differences in CNV number, amount of genomic content, or amount of coding genomic content existed within clefting subtypes; second, to assess whether CNVs in our cohort overlapped with known Mendelian clefting loci; and third, to identify unestablished Mendelian clefting genes. Significant differences in CNVs across cleft types or in individuals with non-syndromic versus syndromic clefts were not observed, however, several CNVs in our cohort overlapped with known syndromic and non-syndromic Mendelian clefting loci. Moreover, employing a filtering strategy relying on population genetics data that rare variants are on the whole more deleterious than common variants, we identify several CNV-associated gene losses likely driving non-syndromic clefting phenotypes. By prioritizing genes deleted at a rare frequency across multiple individuals with clefts yet enriched in our case cohort compared to controls, we identify COBLL1, RIC1, and ARHGEF38 as clefting genes. CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis of these genes in Xenopus laevis and Danio rerio yielded craniofacial dysmorphologies, including clefts analogous to those seen in human clefting disorders.
Project description:Autism spectrum disorder(ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder. Aberrant DNA methylation has been observed in ASD but the mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we employed discordant monozygotic twins to investigate the contribution of DNA methylation to ASD etiology. Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis was performed using samples obtained from five pairs of ASD-discordant monozygotic twins, which revealed a total of 2397 differentially methylated genes. Further, such gene list was annotated with Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and demonstrated predominant activation of neurotrophin signaling pathway in ASD-discordant monozygotic twins. The methylation of SH2B1 gene was further confirmed in the ASD-discordant, ASD-concordant monozygotic twins, and a set of 30 pairs of sporadic case-control by bisulfite-pyrosequencing. The results showed that there was a greater DNA methylation difference in ASD-discordant monozygotic twins than ASD-concordant monozygotic twins. Further, verification of the Chr.16:28856743 of SH2B1 showed significant differences in DNA methylation between case and control. These results suggest abnormal methylation of SH2B1 is associated with ASD etiology. Our data suggest that it might be worthwhile to further explore the functions of SH2B1 and related genes of neurotrophin signaling pathway in ASD.