Project description:Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are identifying genetic predisposition to various diseases. The rs1859962 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) part of the 17q24.3 locus is a risk factor for prostate cancer (PCa). It defines a 130kb linkage disequilibrium (LD) block that lies in a ~2Mb gene desert area. Despite a role for the proximal SOX9 gene in PCa development, the functional biology driving the risk of this 17q24.3 risk locus is unknown. In the present study, we integrate genome-wide chromatin landscape datasets, namely epigenomes and chromatin openness from diverse cell-types to identify one PCa specific enhancer within the rs1859962 risk LD block. We reveal that this enhancer is part of a 1Mb chromatin loop with the SOX9 gene in PCa cells. The rs8072254 and rs1859961 SNPs part of this LD block map to this enhancer and impose allele-specific gene expression. The variant allele of rs1859961 directly decreases FoxA1 binding while increasing AP-1 binding compared to the reference allele. This latter is key in driving allele-specific gene expression. Together, our results demonstrate the risk associated with the PCa rs1859962 risk LD block is accounted for by multiple genetic variants mapping to a unique enhancer looping to the SOX9 oncogene. Allele-specific recruitment of the transcription factor AP-1 accounts in part for the increased enhancer activity ascribed to this PCa risk LD block. This further demonstrates that an integrative genomics approach can identify the functional biology disrupted by genetic risk-variants. Examination of histone modification H3K36me3 in the prostate cancer LNCaP cell line under DHT treatment.
Project description:Studying properties of non-cancerous high-risk human breast epithelial cells is challenged by limitations in acquiring primary epithelial cells for investigation. Here we used conditional reprogramming cell (CRC) technology to isolate n=27 serial samples of non-cancer derived mammary epithelial cells ipsilateral to breast cancer, considered at risk cells for future breast cancer development. Comparative samples included cancer (n=8) and contralateral (n=3) and prophylactic mastectomy (n=1) non-cancer derived breast epithelial cells. Significant in vitro behavioral differences between samples were connected to baseline transcriptome characteristics. An exploratory analysis identified patterns of aberrantly expressed pregnancy development genes in both at risk and cancer samples. In conclusion, it is possible to approach the investigation of breast cancer risk utilizing human primary breast epithelial cells for targeted in vitro and genetic studies.
Project description:Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a rare atopic disorder associated with esophageal dysfunction, including difficulty swallowing, food impaction, and inflammation. EoE develops in a small subset of people with food allergies under the influence of environmental and genetic risk factors. Genome wide association studies (GWAS) have identified 31 independent risk loci for the disease, and linkage disequilibrium (LD) expansion of these loci nominates a set of 531 variants that are potentially causal. These risk variants are non-coding, suggesting a likely role in altered gene regulatory mechanisms. To systematically interrogate the gene regulatory activity of these variants, we designed a massively parallel reporter assay (MPRA) containing the alleles of each variant within their 170 bp genomic sequence context cloned into a GFP reporter library. Transfection of the MPRA library into TE-7 esophageal epithelial cells, HaCaT skin keratinocytes, and Jurkat T cells revealed cell-type-specific gene regulation. We identify 32 allelic enhancer variants (allelic enVars) that regulate reporter gene expression in a genotype-dependent manner in at least one cellular context. By annotating these variants with expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) and chromatin looping data in related tissues and cell types, we identify putative target genes affected by genetic variation in EoE patients, including TSLP and multiple genes at the HLA locus. Transcription factor enrichment analyses reveal possible roles for cell-type specific regulators, including GATA-3, a key regulator of type 2 inflammation. Collectively, our approach reduces the large set of EoE-associated variants to a set of 32 with allelic regulatory activity, providing new functional insights into the effects of genetic variation in this disease.
Project description:Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a rare atopic disorder associated with esophageal dysfunction, including difficulty swallowing, food impaction, and inflammation. EoE develops in a small subset of people with food allergies under the influence of environmental and genetic risk factors. Genome wide association studies (GWAS) have identified 31 independent risk loci for the disease, and linkage disequilibrium (LD) expansion of these loci nominates a set of 531 variants that are potentially causal. These risk variants are non-coding, suggesting a likely role in altered gene regulatory mechanisms. To systematically interrogate the gene regulatory activity of these variants, we designed a massively parallel reporter assay (MPRA) containing the alleles of each variant within their 170 bp genomic sequence context cloned into a GFP reporter library. Transfection of the MPRA library into TE-7 esophageal epithelial cells, HaCaT skin keratinocytes, and Jurkat T cells revealed cell-type-specific gene regulation. We identify 32 allelic enhancer variants (allelic enVars) that regulate reporter gene expression in a genotype-dependent manner in at least one cellular context. By annotating these variants with expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) and chromatin looping data in related tissues and cell types, we identify putative target genes affected by genetic variation in EoE patients, including TSLP and multiple genes at the HLA locus. Transcription factor enrichment analyses reveal possible roles for cell-type specific regulators, including GATA-3, a key regulator of type 2 inflammation. Collectively, our approach reduces the large set of EoE-associated variants to a set of 32 with allelic regulatory activity, providing new functional insights into the effects of genetic variation in this disease.
Project description:Esophageal cancer is among the 10 most common malignancies and ranks as the 6th leading cause of death from cancer. It constitutes 7% of all gastrointestinal cancers and is one of the most lethal of all cancers. The large variation in the incidence of esophageal cancer in different geographic regions has often been thought to be due to variation in exposure to environmental factors; however, hereditary factors may also contribute to the variation in rates. A positive family history was found to be associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer in several case-control and cohort studies in China. Familial aggregation also has been observed in Iran and Japan. The cancer data generated from six hospital based cancer registries in India under National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP, Annual Report, 2003-2004) has revealed that the occurrence of esophageal cancer in Assam is highest in India. The aggregation of esophageal cancer in families is a long-observed and well-documented phenomenon in Assam of North-east part of India (AAR=32.6). In Assam high incidence of esophageal cancer with familial aggregation need investigation for etiology. The etiology of esophageal cancer in Northeast Indian population is different from other population at India due to wide variations in dietary habits or nutritional factors, tobacco chewing and alcohol habits. With in these high-risk regions, studies have shown a strong tendency toward familial aggregation, suggesting that genetic susceptibility, in conjunction with potential environmental exposures, may be involved in the etiology of esophageal cancer. Familial clustering of cancer has been one of the main avenues to the understanding of cancer etiology and the signal to the involvement of heritable genes. Familial clustering of cancer may be due to environmental factors shared by family members or due to shared genes. However, the familial aggregation of esophageal cancer among the population in northeast India may reflect the influence of environmental factors operating on individuals who are already genetically susceptible. Epidemiological studies indicate that tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption are the major factors for esophageal cancer, the role of genetic factors for familial aggregation has not been elucidated. In this study, tumor and matched normal tissue from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients with a family history of upper gastrointestinal cancer were analyzed using cDNA microarray containing 10,000genes to evaluate gene expression differences in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients with a family history of upper gastrointestinal cancer from a high- risk area in India. To identify alteration in genes and molecular functional pathways in esophageal cancer in a high incidence region of India where there is wide spread use of tobacco and betel quid with fermented areca nuts and familial aggregation cancer. Keywords: Gene Expression
Project description:DNA regulatory elements are reported to be enriched for variants identified by genome-wide association studies to be significantly assocaited with risk of complext traits. Here, we have performed genome-wide mapping of histone modifications in two endometrial cancer cell lines and performed interestions of these sites with genetic risk variants identified by genome-wide association study of endometrial cancer. Histone modifications indicative of enhancers (H3K4Me1 and H3K27Ac) and promoters (H3K27Ac and H3K4Me3) were identified by ChIP-seq in Ishikawa and JHUEM-14 cells, pre- and post-stimulation by estrogen. Overall, 73% of endometrial cancer genetic risk variants overlapped at least histone modification site. This overlap was significantly greater than the overlap observed for these histone marks with genetic risk variants related to, for example, endometriosis (51%; Fisher’s Exact p = 8.7x10-8) or schizophrenia (40%; Fisher’s Exact p < 2.2x10-16). These findings indicate the relevance of the selected cell and tissue types for informing endometrial cancer biology. Overlaps between genetic risk variants and histone modification sites increased significantly after stimulation with estrogen (50% versus 38% for unstimulated features; Fisher’s Exact p = 5.6x10-3), emphasizing the importance of estrogen in endometrial cancer aetiology.
2019-05-17 | GSE113818 | GEO
Project description:Investigation of chicken genetic variants
| PRJEB71347 | ENA
Project description:Investigation of rice genetic variants
| PRJEB55326 | ENA
Project description:Investigation of dugong genetic variants