13376 results for ""60+mice"+"6+weeks"+diet+study+2014+2017+DOI"

in 25.60 milliseconds.

• Co-culture experiment (hashed samples)

  The principles governing tissue architecture and the mechanisms underlying its disruption in disease remain poorly understood. Here, we utilized single-cell and spatial mapping to interrogate the mechanisms directing immune cell organization in human lymph nodes and its disruption in architecturally distinct lymphoma entities: indolent follicular lymphoma (FL) and aggressive diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Our data substantiate the central role of lymph node stromal cells in chemokine-driven lymphocyte zonation and reveal an inflammatory feedback loop fueled by tumor-reactive T cells, triggering stromal remodeling, progressive loss of homeostatic chemokine gradients and tissue organization from non-malignant to FL and DLBCL. Loss of homeostatic chemokines was associated with adverse patient survival, identifying the underlying architectural rearrangement as a key event during lymphomagenesis. Collectively, our results highlight the principles of lymph node organization and suggest how lymphoma-induced microenvironmental reprogramming drives loss of tissue organization.

  Study EGAS50000001252

• RNA-seq as a tool for evaluating human embryo competence

  The majority of embryos that are created through IVF do not implant. It seems plausible that rates of implantation would improve if we had a better understanding of molecular factors affecting embryo competence. Currently, the process of selecting an embryo for uterine transfer utilizes an ad-hoc combination of morphological criteria, the kinetics of development, and genetic testing for aneuploidy. However, no single criterion can ensure selection of a viable embryo. In contrast, RNA-sequencing of embryos could yield highly dimensional data, which may provide additional insight and illuminate the discrepancies among current selection criteria. Indeed, recent advances enabling the production of RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) libraries from single cells have facilitated the application of this technique to the study of some transcriptional events in early human development. However, these studies have not assessed the quality of their constituent embryos relative to commonly used embryological criteria. Here, we perform proof-of-principle advancement to clinical selection procedures by generating high quality RNA-seq libraries from a trophectoderm biopsy as well as the remaining whole embryo. We combine state-of-the-art embryological methods with low-input RNA-seq to develop the first transcriptome-wide approach for use in future predictive embryology studies. Specifically, we demonstrate the capacity of RNA-seq as a promising tool in preimplantation screening by showing that biopsies of an embryo can capture valuable information content available in the whole embryo from which they are derived. Furthermore, we show that this technique can be used to generate a RNA-based digital karyotype, and to identify candidate competence-associated genes. Together, these data establish the foundation for a future RNA-based diagnostic in IVF.

  Dataset EGAD00001005044

• Longitudinal profiling of the immune response to Plasmodium vivax in naive hosts by RNA-sequencing

  Plasmodium vivax offers unique challenges for control and elimination, and may prove a tougher hurdle to overcome than Plasmodium falciparum. And yet compared to P. falciparum we know very little about the innate and adaptive immune responses that need to be harnessed to reduce disease and transmission. We recently generated a blood bank of a new clonal field isolate of P. vivax (PvW1) for human challenge studies and used systems immunology tools to track the host response throughout infection and convalescence. As part of this study, RNA-sequencing was used to resolve changes in whole blood gene expression through time in 6 volunteers (7-9 time-points per volunteer). In summary, these data show that P. vivax induces two distinct transcriptional programmes in whole blood during and after infection. During infection, transcriptional profiling reveals the rapid mobilisation of an emergency myeloid response, which leads to systemic inflammation and the recruitment of all major T cell subsets into lymphoid tissues. Six days after infection, this innate response subsides and a transcriptional signature of proliferation is revealed. This most likely represents widespread activation of lymphocytes, which return to the circulation after parasite clearance - transcriptional profiling of T cells at this time-point could therefore reveal the outcomes of critical cell-cell interactions that take place within the spleen during infection. This data is part of a pre-publication release. For information on the proper use of pre-publication data shared by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (including details of any publication moratoria), please see http://www.sanger.ac.uk/datasharing/ .

  Dataset EGAD00001006924

• Reprogramming of stroma-derived chemokine networks drives the loss of tissue organization in nodal B cell lymphoma

  Here, we utilized single-cell and spatial mapping to interrogate the mechanisms directing tissue architecture in human lymph nodes (LN) and its disruption in nodal B cell lymphoma. Specifically, we mapped the cellular landscape of follicular lymphoma (FL; n=6) and diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL; n=8) alongside non-malignant reactive LNs (rLN; n=5) using single-cell RNA sequencing. Our data support the central role of LN-resident stromal cells in chemokine-driven lymphocyte zonation and reveal an inflammatory feedback loop fueled by tumor-reactive T cells, triggering stromal remodeling, progressive loss of homeostatic chemokine gradients and tissue organization from non-malignant to FL and DLBCL. Collectively, our results highlight the principles of LN organization and suggest how lymphoma-induced microenvironmental reprogramming drives loss of tissue organization.

  Study EGAS00001006986

• Transcriptome Changes in ASD (NRXN1α+/-) iPSC-derived neurons

  NRXN1 deletions are identified as one of major rare risk factors for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders. ASD has 30% co-morbidity with epilepsy and the latter is associated with excessive neuronal firing. NRXN1 encodes hundreds of presynaptic neuro-adhesion proteins categorized as NRXN1α/β/γ. Previous studies on cultured cells show that the short NRXN1β primarily exerts excitation effect, whereas the long NRXN1α which is more commonly deleted in patients involves in both excitation and inhibition. However, patient-derived models are essential for understanding functional consequences of NRXN1α deletions in human neurons Quantitative RNA sequencing was performed by BGI using 50bp single-end strategy with BGI-SEQ500 sequencing device on iPSC-derived cortical neurons from 6 control lines; (2VC1, 3VCX1, 3VC2, 4C3, 4CX1, NCRM-1) of 4 healthy donors, and 4 NRXN1α+/- lines; (ND1C1, ND2C11, ND2CX1, ND4-1C2) from 3 ASD patients.

  Study EGAS00001005536

• NanoString nCounter® PanCancer IO 360™on anti-PD1/anti-PD1+CTLA4 in patients with metastatic melanoma

  Patients with advanced melanoma were treated with standard-of-care single agent anti-PD-1 (nivolumab or pembrolizumab) or a combined anti-PD-1+anti-CTLA-4 (ipilimumab) therapy. Patients were retrospectively identified, based on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue availability. Total RNA was isolated from macro-dissected FFPE tissue sections using the AllPrep DNA/RNA FFPE Kit (Qiagen) or High Pure FFPET RNA Isolation Kit (Roche) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. RNA quantity was assessed on Qubit, and RNA integrity was assessed using the Tapestation system (Agilent). Total RNA samples (60ng/ul, total 200ng) were used as input for the NanoString PanCancer IO360 Panel, run on the nCounter MAX/FLEX prep station and scanner. Samples were hybridised for 20hrs, and each cartridge contained a panel standard.

  Study EGAS00001006977

• Genome-wide cell-free DNA biological patterns in patients with cancer

  The structure of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is altered in the blood of cancer patients. From whole genome sequencing we retrieved the cfDNA fragment-end composition using a new software (FrEIA), as well as the cfDNA size and tumor fraction in three independent cohorts (n=925 cancer from >10 types and 321 control samples). At 95% specificity, we detect 72% of cancer samples using at least one cfDNA measure, including 64% of early-stage cancer (n=220). cfDNA detection correlates with a shorter overall (p=0.018) and recurrence-free (p=0.006) survival in patients with resectable esophageal adenocarcinoma. Integrating cfDNA measures with machine learning in an independent test set (n=396 cancer, 90 controls) achieve a detection accuracy of 82% and AUROC of 96%. In conclusion, harnessing the biological features of cfDNA can improve at no-extra cost the diagnostic performance of liquid biopsies.

  Study EGAS00001007400

• RNA sequencing in primary inflammatory (TPP) macrophages following deletion of a disease-associated gene desert at chr21q22, disruption of ETS2, or treatment of ETS2-edited macrophages with a HIF1α stabiliser.

  GWAS studies in five different inflammatory diseases have identified a strong genetic association at a gene desert at the chr21q22 locus. We have shown that this locus contains a monocyte/macrophage-specific enhancer that regulates ETS2 - a gene whose role in primary human monocytes/macrophages is incompletely understood. We therefore used a CRISPR-Cas9-based approach to delete the enhancer region or to disrupt ETS2, and performed RNA-sequencing to examine the transcriptional consequences. One effect of ETS2 disruption was upregulation of genes involved in aerobic respiration and oxidative phosphorylation. We therefore treated ETS2-edited inflammatory macrophages with roxadustat, a HIF1α stabiliser that can promote glycolysis via HIF1α-mediated metabolic reprogramming, and performed RNA-sequencing to determine whether this drug might rescue the transcriptional effects of ETS2 disruption.

  Study EGAS00001007553

• Cancer of Low survival and UnMet Need – Pathologist Initiated

  Despite significant advances in diagnostic cancer histopathology, a subset of tumors remain unable to be classified using WHO criteria. The resulting diagnostic uncertainty can result in inappropriate clinical management and negative patient outcomes. We investigated whether combining histopathology with whole genome and transcriptome sequencing (WGTS) could improve the classification of tumors that posed diagnostic dilemmas despite extensive histopathology and standard molecular work-up at a quaternary oncology center. We successfully sequenced 45 tumors from an initial set of 54 unclassified tumors (83% success rate). A confident diagnosis was made for 38/45 tumors (84%). Additionally, potential treatment targets were identified in 21/45 tumors (47%). Theoretical comparison with alternative assays demonstrated that WGTS was uniquely capable of detecting critical diagnostic findings in 15/38 tumors (39%). This work supports augmenting histopathology and standard molecular pathology with WGTS in the classification of difficult-to-diagnose tumors.

  Study EGAS00001008112

• PDX_models_from_Latin_America_WES_

  Acral melanoma (AM) is a subtype of cutaneous melanoma that occurs on glabrous skin of the hands and feet (palms, soles and nail apparatus) and which is relatively more common in non-European descent populations such as those of Latin America. Compared to other subtypes, it is poorly studied and experimental models that faithfully reproduce human AM features are urgently needed. We report the generation and preliminary characterisation of a collection of patient-derived xenografts of acral melanomas (AM-PDX) from Latin-American patients. PDX came from Brazilian and Mexican patients cared for at the Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA) and the Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia (INCan). The majority of the samples are acral lentiginous melanomas, ulcerated, with > 4mm Breslow depth and > 2 mitosis / mm2. Samples were mechanically fragmented and subcutaneously implanted in NSG mice and then collected for molecular analysis.

  Study EGAS00001005663

• PDX_models_from_Latin_America_RNAseq

  Acral melanoma (AM) is a subtype of cutaneous melanoma that occurs on glabrous skin of the hands and feet (palms, soles and nail apparatus) and which is relatively more common in non-European descent populations such as those of Latin America. Compared to other subtypes, it is poorly studied and experimental models that faithfully reproduce human AM features are urgently needed. We report the generation and preliminary characterisation of a collection of patient-derived xenografts of acral melanomas (AM-PDX) from Latin-American patients. PDX came from Brazilian and Mexican patients cared for at the Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA) and the Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia (INCan). The majority of the samples are acral lentiginous melanomas, ulcerated, with > 4mm Breslow depth and > 2 mitosis / mm2. Samples were mechanically fragmented and subcutaneously implanted in NSG mice and then collected for molecular analysis.

  Study EGAS00001008150

• PDX_models_from_Latin_America_Xenofiltered_WES

  Acral melanoma (AM) is a subtype of cutaneous melanoma that occurs on glabrous skin of the hands and feet (palms, soles and nail apparatus) and which is relatively more common in non-European descent populations such as those of Latin America. Compared to other subtypes, it is poorly studied and experimental models that faithfully reproduce human AM features are urgently needed. We report the generation and preliminary characterisation of a collection of patient-derived xenografts of acral melanomas (AM-PDX) from Latin-American patients. PDX came from Brazilian and Mexican patients cared for at the Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA) and the Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia (INCan). The majority of the samples are acral lentiginous melanomas, ulcerated, with > 4mm Breslow depth and > 2 mitosis / mm2. Samples were mechanically fragmented and subcutaneously implanted in NSG mice and then collected for molecular analysis.

  Study EGAS00001008231

• PDX_models_from_Latin_America_RNAseq_Xenofiltered

  Acral melanoma (AM) is a subtype of cutaneous melanoma that occurs on glabrous skin of the hands and feet (palms, soles and nail apparatus) and which is relatively more common in non-European descent populations such as those of Latin America. Compared to other subtypes, it is poorly studied and experimental models that faithfully reproduce human AM features are urgently needed. We report the generation and preliminary characterisation of a collection of patient-derived xenografts of acral melanomas (AM-PDX) from Latin-American patients. PDX came from Brazilian and Mexican patients cared for at the Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA) and the Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia (INCan). The majority of the samples are acral lentiginous melanomas, ulcerated, with > 4mm Breslow depth and > 2 mitosis / mm2. Samples were mechanically fragmented and subcutaneously implanted in NSG mice and then collected for molecular analysis.

  Study EGAS00001008232

• Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD - Imaging)

  Available DataAction to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD-Imaging), provides access to ECG signals data from the ACCORD clinical trial. The clinical phenotyping and outcomes data from the trial are associated with ACCORD-BioLINCC, phs003551.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to determine if intensive glycemic control, multiple lipid management and intensive blood pressure control could prevent major cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, stroke or cardiovascular death) in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Secondary hypotheses included treatment differences in other cardiovascular outcomes, total mortality, microvascular outcomes, health-related quality of life and cost-effectiveness.BackgroundGlycemia Trial:Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus die of cardiovascular disease (CVD) at rates two to four times higher than non-diabetic populations of similar demographic characteristics. They also experience increased rates of nonfatal myocardial infarction and stroke. With the growing prevalence of obesity in the United States, CVD associated with type 2 diabetes is expected to become an even greater public health challenge in the coming decades than it is now. Expected increases in event rates will be associated with a concomitant rise in suffering and resource utilization.The ACCORD study investigated whether intensive therapy to target normal glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels would reduce cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes who had either established cardiovascular disease or additional cardiovascular risk factors when compared to standard therapy (HbA1c between 7.0% and 7.9%). A separate analysis investigated whether reduction of blood glucose concentration decreases the rate of microvascular complications in these patients.Lipid Therapy Trial:Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have an increased incidence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease attributable, in part, to associated risk factors such as dyslipidemia. This is characterized by elevated plasma triglyceride levels, low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and small, dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles. The ACCORD Lipid Therapy trial was designed to test the effect of a therapeutic strategy that uses a fibrate to raise HDL-C and lower triglyceride levels and uses a statin for treatment of LDL-C reduce the rate of CVD events compared to a strategy that only uses a statin for treatment of LDL-C on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes that were at high risk for cardiovascular disease.Blood Pressure Trial:Diabetes mellitus increases the risk of cardiovascular disease at every level of systolic blood pressure. Because cardiovascular risk in patients with diabetes is graded and continuous across the entire range of levels of systolic blood pressure, even at prehypertensive levels, the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7) recommended beginning drug treatment in patients with diabetes who have systolic blood pressures of 130 mm Hg or higher, with a treatment goal of reducing systolic blood pressure to below 130 mm Hg. There is, however, a paucity of evidence from randomized clinical trials to support these recommendations. The ACCORD Blood Pressure trial tested the effect of a target systolic blood pressure below 120 mm Hg on major cardiovascular events among high-risk persons with type 2 diabetes compared to a strategy that targeted a SBP of EYE Substudy:Diabetic retinopathy, an important microvascular complication of diabetes, is a leading cause of blindness in the United States. Randomized, controlled clinical trials in cohorts of patients with type 1 diabetes and those with type 2 diabetes have shown the beneficial effects of intensive glycemic control and intensive treatment of elevated blood pressure on the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Elevated serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels have been implicated, in observational studies and small trials, as additional risk factors for the development of diabetic retinopathy and visual loss. The ACCORD EYE Substudy evaluated the effects of the ACCORD medical strategies on the progression of diabetic retinopathy in a subgroup of trial patients.MIND Substudy:Studies suggest that older persons with type 2 diabetes have at least twice the likelihood of developing late-life cognitive impairment or dementia compared to those without. The mechanisms underlying these cognitive disorders are increasingly thought to reflect a mixed pathology pattern with contributions from vascular, neurodegenerative and neurovascular processes. Pathophysiological mechanisms that have been described include inflammation, oxidative stress, energy imbalance, protein misfolding, glucocorticoid-mediated effects and differences in genetic susceptibilities. The ACCORD MIND substudy took as a premise that early intervention with the ACCORD therapeutic strategies to improve glycemic control could mitigate the adverse effects of type 2 diabetes on the brain.Subjects10,251 patients with type 2 diabetes and HbA1c concentrations of 7.5% or more participated in the trial. Of these patients, 5518 were assigned to the lipid therapy arm and 4733 to the blood pressure arm. EYE Substudy:A subgroup of 2856 patients was evaluated for the effects of the ACCORD interventions at 4 years on the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Patients who, at baseline, had a history of proliferative diabetic retinopathy that had been treated with laser photocoagulation or vitrectomy were excluded.MIND Substudy:A subgroup of 2977 patients was evaluated for cognitive function and brain volume. The ACCORD MIND substudy excluded patients aged DesignPatients were randomly assigned to undergo either intensive glycemic control (targeting a glycated hemoglobin level EYE Substudy:EYE Substudy patients were evaluated at two standardized and comprehensive eye examinations for the effects of the ACCORD interventions at 4 years on the progression of diabetic retinopathy by 3 or more steps on the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study Severity Scale (as assessed from seven-field stereoscopic fundus photographs, with 17 possible steps and a higher number of steps indicating greater severity) or the development of diabetic retinopathy necessitating laser photocoagulation or vitrectomy.MIND Substudy:The cognitive primary outcome, the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) score, was assessed at baseline, 20 and 40 months. Total brain volume (TBV), the primary brain structure outcome, was assessed with MRI at baseline and 40 months in a sub-set of 632 patients. All patients with follow-up data were included in the primary analyses.ConclusionsGlycemia Trial:As compared with standard therapy, the use of intensive therapy to target normal glycated hemoglobin levels for 3.5 years increased mortality and did not significantly reduce major cardiovascular events. (NEJM. 2008; 358(24): 2545-59).Microvascular Outcomes of the Glycemia Trial:Intensive therapy did not reduce the risk of advanced measures of microvascular outcomes, but delayed the onset of albuminuria and some measures of eye complications and neuropathy. Microvascular benefits of intensive therapy should be weighed against the risk of increased total and cardiovascular disease-related mortality, increased weight gain, and higher risk for severe hypoglycemia. (Lancet. 2010; 376(9739): 419-30)Lipid Therapy Trial:The combination of fenofibrate and simvastatin did not reduce the rate of fatal cardiovascular events, nonfatal myocardial infarction or nonfatal stroke, as compared with simvastatin alone. These results do not support the routine use of combination therapy with fenofibrate and simvastatin to reduce cardiovascular risk in the majority of high-risk patients with type 2 diabetes (NEJM. 2010; 362(17): 1563–1574).Blood Pressure Trial:In patients with type 2 diabetes at high risk for cardiovascular events, targeting a systolic blood pressure of less than 120 mm Hg, as compared with less than 140 mm Hg, did not reduce the rate of a composite outcome of fatal and nonfatal major cardiovascular events (NEJM. 2010; 362: 1575-1585).EYE Substudy:Intensive glycemic control and intensive combination treatment of dyslipidemia, but not intensive blood-pressure control, reduced the rate of progression of diabetic retinopathy (NEJM. 2010; 363: 233-244).MIND Substudy:Although significant differences in TBV favored the intensive therapy, cognitive outcomes were not different. Combined with the unfavorable effects on other ACCORD outcomes, MIND findings do not support using intensive therapy to reduce the adverse effects of diabetes on the brain in patients similar to MIND patients (Lancet Neurol. 2011; 10(11): 969–977).

  Study phs003562

• NHLBI TOPMed: My Life Our Future (MLOF) Research Repository of Patients with Hemophilia A (Factor VIII Deficiency) or Hemophilia B (Factor IX Deficiency)

  Hemophilia A and B are X-linked bleeding disorders resulting from a deficiency in coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) or factor IX (FIX), respectively. Hemophilia affects approximately 1/5000 male births worldwide, and results in premature death and disability due to bleeding if coagulation factor replacement therapy is not used effectively. Hemophilia is clinically categorized by coagulation factor activity levels and ranges in severity from mild (6% to 30%) to moderate (1-5%) to severe (<1%). Many female "carriers" of hemophilia also have decreased factor activity and morbidity from bleeding. Hemophilia A and B are almost always caused by identifiable mutations in the F8 and F9 genes, respectively, and these mutations are found throughout the structural genes. Although the hemophilias are monogenic disorders, there are wide variations in disease severity and therapeutic outcomes which are not readily explained by the disease causing mutations alone. The My Life Our Future (MLOF) project (www.mylifeourfuture.org) is a national resource developed by a partnership of BloodworksNW (BWNW, formerly the Puget Sound Blood Center), the American Thrombosis and Hemostasis Network (ATHN), the National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) and Bioverativ, to provide free F8 and F9 gene variant analysis to patients with hemophilia A or B, and to establish a research repository of DNA sequence, DNA, RNA, buffy coat, serum and plasma. The sequence analysis and serum samples are linked to a phenotypic database hosted by ATHN, with samples submitted and clinical data entered at ~100 hemophilia treatment centers (HTCs) nationwide. (See ATHN Research Report Brief in the resource center at www.athn.org). MLOF has become the largest hemophilia genetic project worldwide. The roles of the MLOF partners are: BWNW, to serve as the central laboratory for the project and house the research repository; ATHN, to support and provide the administrative link with HTCs, to facilitate the collection of accurate phenotypic data, to conduct research review and approval for use of the repository and with BWNW to provide samples and data for research projects; NHF, to provide consumer education and facilitate consumer input into the project; and Bioverativ, to provide financial support and scientific input. The project is governed by a Steering Committee consisting of one representative from each organization. Subject samples chosen from the MLOF parent study for TOPMed and WGS were drawn from those who gave (or parents gave) informed consent for the Research Repository and included patients of all severities and type, but with an emphasis on those with severe hemophilia and others at increased risk of neutralizing antibody (inhibitor) formation and who had samples in the Research Repository (plasma, serum, RNA) for potential additional -omic studies. Also included were samples from subjects where a likely causative variant for hemophilia was not found in the F8 or F9 coding region, intron-exon boundaries or immediate upstream and downstream regions. Since hemophilia is an X-linked disorder, the majority of subjects are male. Racial distribution is similar to the overall population distribution.

  Study phs001515

• RNA Expression in Diverse Donor Derived Dermal Fibroblasts Correlates with Reprogramming to Pluripotency

  The cohort used in this study includes 36 African American (17 female, 19 male) and 36 White American (19 female, 17 male) individuals. The total cohort has a median age of 32 years, with a range of 20-64 years. The African American cohort has a median age of 34, with a range of 21-52 years. The White American cohort has a median age of 31, with a range of 20-64 years. Primary dermal fibroblast lines were derived from skin biopsies obtained from adult individuals at the NIEHS under institutional review board approved protocol human subjects 10-E-0063, "Sample Collection Registry for Quality Control of Biological and Environmental Specimens and Assay Development and Testing protocol" (ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT01087307). All participants gave written informed consent for tissue donation. Donor sex, age, and ancestry were voluntarily self-reported. Fibroblast cells were reprogrammed via lentiviral transduction using six transcription factors contained in three plasmids (ADDGENE/PSIN4-EF2-N2L, ADDGENE/PSIN4-EF2-O2S and ADDGENE/PSIN4-CMV-K2M). Reprogramming efficiency was determined by alkaline phosphatase staining of triplicate 10cm reprogrammed dishes containing colonies, which were then scanned. The saved images were analyzed with ImageJ 1.51h (Wayne Rasband, National Institutes of Health, USA) to count colonies, using color threshold adjusted and binary converted images of each dish. Triplicate plates were averaged and reported as colony counts or percent reprogramming efficiency ((# of colonies/250,000) x100). The African American cohort had reprogramming efficiencies ranging from 0.06-1.37%, with a median of 0.655%. The White American cohort had reprogramming efficiencies ranging from 0.02-1.13%, with a median of 0.455%. Our goal was to define transcriptomic heterogeneity that could be contributing to differences in reprogramming efficiency between individuals and between groups. Total RNA was obtained from dermal fibroblasts and matched iPSCs. For each sample, 500 ng total RNA was used as input for preparation of whole transcriptome rRNA depleted libraries. An adapter-ligated library was prepared with the KAPA HyperPrep Kit (KAPA Biosystems, Wilmington, MA) using Bioo Scientific NEXTflex™ DNA Barcoded Adapters (Bioo Scientific, Austin, TX, USA) according to KAPA-provided protocol. Sequencing was performed using an Illumina HiSeq 2500 following Illumina-provided protocols for 2x150 bp paired-end sequencing. Each transcriptome was sequenced to a target depth of 125 million reads. The following mean raw reads were obtained: African American dermal fibroblasts= 129,571,450; White American dermal fibroblasts= 131,939,505; African American iPSCs= 132,501,335; White American iPSCs= 134,394,164. Raw reads were aligned to hg19 using the STAR alignment tool (https://github.com/alexdobin/STAR). The following mean aligned reads were obtained: African American dermal fibroblasts= 123,315,343; White American dermal fibroblasts= 125,178,035; African American iPSCs= 123,148,312; White American iPSCs= 123,886,992. Reprinted from L. C. Mackey et al., Epigenetic Enzymes, Age, and Ancestry Regulate the Efficiency of Human iPSC Reprogramming. Stem Cells 36, 1697-1708 (2018), with permission from Wiley. Reprinted from L. S. Bisogno et al., Ancestry-dependent gene expression correlates with reprogramming to pluripotency and multiple dynamic biological processes. Science Advances 6 (47) (2020) (PMID: 33219026), with permission from AAAS.

  Study phs002341

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) Gene Discovery in Autosomal Dominant Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)

  Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a frequent cause of end-stage renal disease. The pathogenesis of FSGS has not been precisely defined and there are no consistently effective treatments. Recent studies identifying causal genes in rare, inherited FSGS, including our own study, have associated mutations in at least six genes with familial FSGS, and each discovery has clarified molecular mechanisms of glomerular injury. To build on this productive line of inquiry, we have ascertained and carefully characterized 118 families with familial FSGS. We have screened the remainder of our families for mutations in genes known to cause FSGS and identified the causal mutations in an additional 6 kindreds; the genetic basis of disease in the remaining 111 families is unknown. The objective of this proposal is to use this valuable and unique family resource to systematically identify causal genes for familial FSGS. Limitations of current conventional linkage and positional cloning approaches include their requirement for large, multiplex families. In addition, narrowing candidate areas in traditional linkage analysis can be difficult due to large regions that lack recombination events and hence these regions have required cumbersome and lengthy screening for causative mutations. Powerful new genetic tools can facilitate this screening process and improve variant discovery in smaller families. In particular, efficient whole-exome sequencing, the targeted capture of protein-coding gene sequences, should be particularly useful in our studies since most Mendelian disorders are caused by mutations affecting exomes of the target gene. Thus, by combining genome-wide linkage analysis (GWLS) and whole-exome sequencing, we can maximize impact of our family data and accelerate identification of novel mutations in FSGS. In preliminary studies, we have used this combination to identify a novel variant in the WT1 (Wilms' Tumor-1) gene in one FSGS family, and we have evidence suggesting it is the causal mutation. This success provides proof-of-concept and provides a roadmap of how genes will be identified and evaluated in the proposed studies. Our hypothesis is that causes of inherited FSGS in our cohort of families will be sequence variants in the coding region of genes not previously associated with familial FSGS. We aim to: 1) Use GWLS and whole-exome sequencing to identify genetic variants associated with familial FSGS. 2) Characterize functional consequences of candidate causative mutations and 3) Determine the prevalence in the Duke FSGS dataset of these new causative mutations identified in Aim 2. Any genes found to have causative mutations will be sequenced in the remaining families and take full advantage of our family resource. By combining genome-wide linkage analysis (GWLS), whole-exome sequencing, and characterization of variants' functional consequences, we will significantly improve understanding of normal glomerular biology and of the pathogenesis of FSGS and related glomerular diseases. Moreover, our discoveries are likely to reveal new opportunities to improve therapy for a disease that currently has few effective treatments.

  Study phs000777

• Heart Failure Network - Xanthine Oxidase Inhibition for Hyperuricemic Heart Failure Patients (HFN EXACT-BioLINCC)

  ObjectivesTo determine the effect of allopurinol after 24 weeks on a composite clinical endpoint that classifies subject's clinical status (improved, worsened, unchanged) in patients with heart failure and high uric acid levels.BackgroundMorbidity and mortality rates for patients with heart failure are high, despite guideline-recommended therapy. Heart failure is characterized by an imbalance between left ventricular (LV) performance and myocardial energy consumption. There is a growing body of evidence that suggests oxidative stress contributes to ventricular and vascular remodeling, and disease progression in heart failure. Targeting potential source(s) of oxidative stress, e.g. Xanthine oxidase (XO), was the focus of recent clinical trials and epidemiological studies. Increased XO activity has been shown to lead to production of superoxide and uric acid (UA). Serum uric acid levels are included in heart failure risk scores, and hyperuricemia is present in about 25% of patients with heart failure. Hyperuricemia is associated with exercise intolerance, reduced survival, and worsening symptoms. The EXACT-HF trial tested allopurinol, an inhibitor of XO, as a potential target therapy for hyperuricemic heart failure patients.Subjects253 subjects were enrolled in the EXACT-HF study. 128 participants were randomized to the allopurinol arm, and of those participants, 119 completed the trial and 9 did not. 125 participants were randomized to the placebo arm, and of those participants, 116 completed the trial and 9 did not.DesignEXACT-HF was a multi-center, double-blind, placebo controlled, 24-week trial of allopurinol. Eligible participants had to be receiving a stable regimen for at least two weeks (3 months for beta-blockers) prior to randomization. Participants were randomized by an automated system to either the allopurinol or placebo arm, and started treatment within 12 hours of completing the baseline visit. During the first week, participants in both treatment arms received 300mg daily of the respective medications. For the following 23 weeks, participants in both treatment arms received 600mg daily of the respective medications. Patients unable to tolerate 600 mg were maintained on 300 mg.The primary endpoint was a composite clinical endpoint (CCE) that classified a subject's clinical status as improved, worsened, or unchanged at 24 weeks. The CCE was determined based on the following: death; hospitalization, emergency room visit or emergent clinic visit for worsening HF; medication change for worsening HF; and Patient Global Assessment using a 7-point scale. Secondary endpoints at 12 and 24 weeks included changes in quality of life as assessed by the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire, and submaximal exercise capacity as assessed by a 6-minute walk test.ConclusionsParticipants who received allopurinol had significantly less serum uric acid laboratory levels after 24 weeks; however, no significant difference was observed in the primary and secondary endpoints between the allopurinol and placebo-treated patients. Therefore, in high-risk HF patients with reduced ejection fraction and elevated uric acid levels, xanthine oxidase inhibition with allopurinol failed to improve clinical status, exercise capacity, quality of life, or LVEF at 24 weeks (Circulation. 2015 May 19; 131(20):1763-71).

  Study phs003533

• Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure Trial (SCD-HeFT-BioLINCC)

  Data Access NOTE: Please refer to the “Authorized Access” section below for information about how access to the data from this accession differs from many other dbGaP accessions. Objectives The Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure Trial (SCD-HeFT) was designed to evaluate the hypothesis that amiodarone or a conservatively programmed shock-only, single-lead implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) would decrease the risk of death from any cause in a broad population of patients with mild-to-moderate heart failure. Background Patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) can die suddenly and unpredictably from arrhythmia despite the use of proven medical therapies, such as beta-blockade. Two approaches have been developed to prevent sudden death among patients with CHF: therapy with amiodarone and therapy with an ICD. However, most of the mortality data on amiodarone and ICD therapy at the time of the study had been obtained in clinical trials performed after myocardial infarction in patients without CHF or those with ventricular arrhythmias. Thus, more data was needed to guide these therapies in patients who did not meet these criteria. Participants There were a total of 2521 participants. 847 were randomly assigned to placebo, 845 to amiodarone, and 829 to ICD therapy. Design Before randomization, participants underwent electrocardiography, a 6-minute walk test, 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography, liver and thyroid function studies, and chest radiography. Participants were required, if clinically reasonable, to receive treatment with a beta-blocker and an angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor, as well as an aldosterone antagonist, aspirin, and statins, when appropriate. Participants were randomly assigned in equal proportions to receive placebo, amiodarone, or a single-chamber ICD programmed to shock-only mode. Participants assigned to amiodarone or matching placebo began therapy as outpatients immediately after randomization. Placebo and amiodarone were administered as a loading dose of 800 mg/day for one week, 400 mg/day for three weeks, and then as a daily maintenance dosage according to weight and bradycardia status. Participants assigned to ICD therapy received their device a median of three days after randomization. The goal of ICD therapy was to treat only rapid, sustained ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Dual-chamber or biventricular devices, or antitachycardia or rate-response pacing therapies were not permitted. The ICD was uniformly programmed to have a detection rate of 187 beats per minute or more. Antibradycardia pacing was initiated only if the intrinsic rate decreased to less than 34 beats per minute. Median follow-up was 45.5 months. The primary end point was death from any cause. Secondary outcome measures included cardiac mortality, arrhythmic mortality, morbidity, quality of life, and incremental cost-effectiveness of the interventions. Each active treatment arm was compared to the placebo drug arm. Conclusions In participants with NYHA class II or III CHF and LVEF of 35% or less, amiodarone had no favorable effect on survival, whereas single-lead, shock-only ICD therapy reduced overall mortality by 23%.

  Study phs003654

• Public Access Defibrillation Community Trial (PAD)(PAD-BioLINCC)

  Data Access NOTE: Please refer to the “Authorized Access” section below for information about how access to the data from this accession differs from many other dbGaP accessions. Objectives The Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) Community Trial sought to evaluate broad implementation of Public Access Defibrillators (PAD) in urban community units. Survival to hospital discharge of participants with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest was the main outcome measure. Survival was compared in community units (e.g., apartment or office buildings, gated communities, sports venues, senior centers, shopping malls) served by non-medical responders trained in CPR and use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), to units receiving the traditional optimum community standard of care (i.e., rescuers trained to recognize a cardiac emergency, call 911, and initiate CPR). Background Sudden out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OOH-CA) remains a significant cause of death, in spite of recent declines in overall mortality from cardiovascular disease. Existing methods of emergency resuscitation are inadequate due to time delays inherent in transporting trained responders with defibrillation capabilities to the side of the OOH-CA victim. Existing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) systems typically combine paramedic Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) services with some level of community involvement, such as bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training. Some communities include automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at isolated sites or in mobile police or fire vehicles. Such an approach typically varies in effectiveness, with an incremental improvement in effectiveness seen in communities that organize and integrate services with the existing EMS system. However, optimal improvement in survival from sudden OOH-CA may require a program that utilizes volunteer non-medical responders (who may not have a traditional duty to respond to an emergency) trained to use AEDs. Participants The PAD trial was a prospective, randomized community based trial. More than 19,000 volunteer responders from 993 community units in 24 North American regions participated. The two study arms had similar unit and volunteer characteristics. Participants with treated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the two groups were similar in age (mean: 69.8 years), proportion of men (67 perecnt), rate of cardiac arrest in a public location (70 percent), and rate of witnessed cardiac arrest (72 percent). Conclusions Community units with volunteers trained in CPR and AEDs had significantly more participants surviving to hospital discharge than units with volunteers trained to use CPR only. There were 30 survivors among 128 definite cardiac arrests in the CPR+AED units and 15 survivors among 107 definite cardiac arrests in the CPR only units (p = 0.03). Serious adverse effects were rarely reported. No volunteers received inadvertent shocks, and no participants were shocked unnecessarily. AED maintenance problems were infrequent. A few participating volunteers reported severe stress related to responding to emergency situations. Although residential complexes represented 16% of the units and 29% of the treatable cardiac arrests, only 5% of the survivors were from residential complexes. Such information should be helpful for individual facilities that are considering implementing PAD programs. (NEJM 2004; 351:637-46).

  Study phs003858

• A_study_of_the_genetic_basis_of_evation_by_Acute_Myeloid_Leukaemia_of_Graft_vs_Leukaemia_effects_after_allogeneic_bone_marrow_transplantation

  Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is an aggressive and molecularly diverse disease with a poor overall survival of 20-25%. With an annual incidence of 2.9 per 100,000, AML is currently the commonest myeloid malignancy in Europe, yet the two main therapeutic options for this disease, anthracyclines and purine analogues, have remained unchanged for over 20 years. Currently patients are stratified at diagnosis according to a series of clinicopathological parameters (e.g. age, white cell count and presence/absence of previous clonal haematological disease) and molecular markers (e.g. chromosomal translocations/deletions, aneuploidy and mutations in genes such as FLT3 and NPM1). Patients with adverse prognostic features, whose prognosis is particularly poor (e.g. <15% long-term survival) are offered treatment with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT) if a sibling or unrelated donor is available. This can significantly improve survival (e.g. up to 40% long-term survival in some contexts), albeit at the expense of significant toxicity and transplant-related mortality (TRM). Allo-BMT is thought to work in part by allowing the delivery of large doses of chemotherapy followed by haemopoietic "rescue" with donor haemopoietic stem cells (haemopoietic failure would otherwise ensue). However, potentially the most potent effect of allo-BMT is the cytotoxic effect of donor lymphocytes against AML blasts, a phenomenon known as graft-vs-leukaemia (GVL) effect. Increasingly, transplants using reduced chemotherapy intensity (mini-allografts) are being used that partially circumvent the toxicity from chemotherapy and rely on GVL to effect cure. Nevertheless, AML relapse after allo-BMT still occurs at a significant rate of up to 80% depending on the type of transplant. There is accumulating evidence that genetic events in residual leukaemic cells enable them to evade immunodetection and therefore survive the GVL effect and expand to cause relapse. The most striking example of this is the loss of HLA antigens after transplants in which donor and recipient are not fully HLA-matched. In these cases, the leukaemia "deletes" the genomic region containing the disparate HLA antigen which was preferentially targeted as "foreign" by the GVL effect. However, the genetic basis of immune evasion in the majority of transplants, which are fully HLA matched, is not known. One possibility is that loss of genes coding for antigens outside the HLA locus but which are also targets of GVL may operate, alternatively genetic events that affect processes downstream of immunological cytotoxicity may be responsible.The identification of genetic events that mediate immune evasion would not only facilitate the understanding of this process but can help plan therapeutic interventions that improve the outcomes of allogeneic transplantation for AML and other disorders. We intend to study this by conducting exome sequencing on 6 cases of AMLs from patients that attend my clinic at Addenbrooke's hospital and have relapsed after allogeneic transplantation. Samples from AML diagnosis, remission/normal and AML relapse (total n=18) will be studied to identify somatic mutations in the primary AML and those acquired by the relapsed clone. The 18 samples will also be studied by array CGH to detect regions of genomic amplification or deletion.

  Study EGAS00001000145

• Genomic Profiling Reveals Spatial Intra-tumour Heterogeneity in Follicular Lymphoma

  Follicular lymphoma (FL) is an incurable indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) that behaves heterogeneously and is synonymous with the reciprocal translocation t(14;18)(q32;q21), leading to aberrant constitutive over-expression of BCL2 [ref]. High risk groups with poor overall survival include patients that transform to a high grade lymphoma, most commonly diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) or progress early (within 2 years) of receiving treatment. Recently several studies have shed light on the diverse genomic landscape of FL, with frequently mutated genes including those involved in chromatin remodelling, (CREBBP, KMT2D, EZH2, EP300), immune modulation (TNFRSF14), JAK-STAT (STAT6, SOCS1), NF-ĸB (CARD11, MYD88, TNFAIP3) and mTORC1 signalling (RRAGC) [ref]. To date, the majority of these studies have either focussed on inter-patient genetic heterogeneity or established the extent of clonal heterogeneity as a patient’s tumour evolves over time. Furthermore, these temporal studies have alluded to the existence of a tumour-repopulating population (referred to as the common progenitor cell (CPC)) that evades treatment and acts as a reservoir, seeding each subsequent relapse and transformation event. Although these previous studies have illuminated the longitudinal clonal dynamics that occur in FL, our understanding of the degree of spatial or intra-tumour heterogeneity (ITH) that exists within an individual patient thus far remains limited. Earlier studies have predominantly focused on differences in cytological grade and immunophenotype between spatially separated lymph nodes and bone marrow, the most common site of extra-nodal involvement in FL, with genomic profiling restricted to examining somatic hypermutation patterns in IgVH genes [ref]. In contrast next generation sequencing has been increasingly utilised in solid organ malignancies to derive comprehensive genomic profiles from spatially separated sites. The seminal study by Gerlinger et al revealed profound differences in the genetic make-up between individual primary and metastatic sites of renal cell carcinoma [ref]. Significant heterogeneity has since been demonstrated both between and within lesions in the same patient in lung, pancreas and breast cancer with presumed driver mutations distributed within the “branches” of the evolutionary phylogenetic tree, suggesting that a single biopsy is incapable of capturing the full genomic heterogeneity of an individual’s malignancy [ref]. This geographical heterogeneity not only adds to the diverse pool of tumour subclones that may contribute to drug resistance mechanisms but importantly, presents a major obstacle for precision-based approaches focussed on targeting specific lesions within a single biopsy. In FL, the exponential increase in clinical trials using novel agents such as EZH2, PI3K and BTK inhibitors reflects this shift in cancer care and along with the development of molecular prognostic scores such as the m7-FLIPI highlights the clinical need to accurately define genomic alterations with clinical relevance. As the majority of FL patients manifest disseminated tumour involvement, we sought to uncover the extent and clinical importance of spatial heterogeneity in FL by comprehensively genetically profiling 22 synchronously removed spatially separated biopsies from 9 patients. Using a combination of whole exome and targeted deep sequencing, our results inferred the complex subclonal architecture within these tumours and the mutational differences between anatomical sites, demonstrating cases with significant intrinsic genetic diversity.

  Study EGAS00001002492

• Procardis study on novel susceptibility genes for coronary artery disease (CAD)

  An increased level of Lp(a) lipoprotein has been identified as a risk factor for coronary artery disease that is highly heritable. The genetic determinants of the Lp(a) lipoprotein level and their relevance for the risk of coronary disease are incompletely understood. METHODS: We used a novel gene chip containing 48,742 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 2100 candidate genes to test for associations in 3145 case subjects with coronary disease and 3352 control subjects. Replication was tested in three independent populations involving 4846 additional case subjects with coronary disease and 4594 control subjects. RESULTS: Three chromosomal regions (6q26-27, 9p21, and 1p13) were strongly associated with the risk of coronary disease. The LPA locus on 6q26-27 encoding Lp(a) lipoprotein had the strongest association. We identified a common variant (rs10455872) at the LPA locus with an odds ratio for coronary disease of 1.70 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.49 to 1.95) and another independent variant (rs3798220) with an odds ratio of 1.92 (95% CI, 1.48 to 2.49). Both variants were strongly associated with an increased level of Lp(a) lipoprotein, a reduced copy number in LPA (which determines the number of kringle IV-type 2 repeats), and a small Lp(a) lipoprotein size. Replication studies confirmed the effects of both variants on the Lp(a) lipoprotein level and the risk of coronary disease. A meta-analysis showed that with a genotype score involving both LPA SNPs, the odds ratios for coronary disease were 1.51 (95% CI, 1.38 to 1.66) for one variant and 2.57 (95% CI, 1.80 to 3.67) for two or more variants. After adjustment for the Lp(a) lipoprotein level, the association between the LPA genotype score and the risk of coronary disease was abolished. CONCLUSIONS: We identified two LPA variants that were strongly associated with both an increased level of Lp(a) lipoprotein and an increased risk of coronary disease. Our findings provide support for a causal role of Lp(a) lipoprotein in coronary disease.

  Study EGAS00000000055

• Type 1 Diabetes Genetics Consortium (T1DGC): ImmunoChip Study

  The Type 1 Diabetes Genetics Consortium (T1DGC) was formed to address issues of limited sample size and consistency of phenotyping that had limited genetic investigations on risk of type 1 diabetes (T1D). The T1DGC first collected affected sib pair (ASP) families from four geographic networks (Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, United Kingdom). In addition, T1D cases and controls were ascertained from existing and de novo collections. The T1DGC assembled 2,601 T1D ASP families and 69 Parent-T1D offspring trios, T1D cases from the UK Genetic Resource Investigating Diabetes (UKGRID, N=6,670), and controls from the British 1958 Birth Cohort (B58BC, N=6,523), the UK National Blood Services collection (NBS, N=2,893) and the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre BioResource (CBR, N=2,846). All samples included in this series have reported or self-declared European ancestry. All DNA samples were collected after approval from relevant institutional research ethics committees. Genotyping was performed using a custom Illumina Infinium high-density genotyping array, ImmunoChip (Illumina, Inc; CA) according to manufacturer's protocols. The ImmunoChip was designed to densely genotype, using 1000 Genomes and any other available disease specific resequencing data, immune-mediated disease loci identified by common variant GWAS. The ImmunoChip Consortium selected 186 distinct loci containing markers meeting genome wide significance criteria (P<5x10-8) from twelve such diseases (autoimmune thyroid disease, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, IgA deficiency, multiple sclerosis, primary biliary cirrhosis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, T1D and ulcerative colitis). All 1000 Genomes Project pilot phase CEU population variants (Sept 2009 release) within 0.1cM (HapMap3 CEU) recombination blocks around each GWAS region lead marker were submitted for array design. No filtering on correlated variants (linkage disequilibrium) was applied. Additional content included regional resequencing data (submitted by several groups) as well as a small proportion of investigator-specific undisclosed content including intermediate GWAS results. After data cleaning and quality control, a total of 154,939 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 186 loci on ImmunoChip were scored. Case-control and family data were analyzed independently and combined by meta-analysis.

  Study phs000911

• Genome-Wide Association Study of Genetic Susceptibility for Graft-vs-Host Disease Cohort 1

  Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Allo-HSCT) is the only curative therapy for many advanced hematologic malignancies. Allo-HSCT is associated with significant morbidities and mortality, mainly because of the graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) caused by donor T cells recognizing antigens present in recipient tissues, and initiating an alloimmune response resulting in damage to many organs including the skin, gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and liver in recipient. More than half of all Allo-HSCT recipients develop different degrees of GVHD (grades I-IV). About 20% of recipients develop severe GVHD (grades III-IV) that is associated with a very high morbidity and mortality. The most important factor determining the severity of GVHD is the genetic disparities between donors and recipients, as is reflected in human leukocyte antigen (HLA) haplotypes that are routinely checked for donor selection. Even when donors and recipients are HLA-identical, many recipients develop severe GVHD. As a result, non-HLA antigens are important determinants of acute GVHD. An interesting and unique aspect of GVHD is that it is the consequence of an interaction between antigens present in one individual with the immune system of another individual. As a result, genotypes of both donor and recipient, and their interactions affect the pathogenesis of GVHD. To determine the genetic risk factors for GVHD, in the first aim (discovery phase), we will conduct Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) in 3,000 patients who underwent Allo-HSCT and in their respective donors (6000 DNA samples) that are provided to us by the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR), a research collaboration between the NMDP and Medical College of Wisconsin. In the second aim, we will validate the association between high risk genotypes detected in the first aim and severe GVHD in 1,750 donors and 1,750 recipients of Allo-HSCT, and perform the joint analysis with the discovery samples. In the third aim, we will investigate the functional effect of SNPs detected and validated to be significantly correlated with the severity of acute GVHD in mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR), as an ex vivo surrogate for an alloimmune response.

  Study phs002185