12528 results for ""non-traditional+communal+storytelling+approach"+novel+segment+noted+in+critical+commentary"

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• Transcriptome alterations underlying metabolic dysfunction and liver disease in myotonic dystrophy type 1

  Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a multisystem disorder affecting various organs, including the skeletal muscles, eyes, heart, central nervous system, and endocrine system. Liver dysfunction and lipid metabolism abnormalities are frequently observed in DM1 but are not fully understood. To explore the molecular basis of these abnormalities, transcriptome analysis was performed on postmortem liver samples from DM1 patients DM1 patients (n = 11) and disease control patients (n = 9) using bulkRNA sequencing (RNA-seq) on the MGI DNBSEQ-G400RS. Differential gene expression and alternative splicing analyses revealed significant transcriptomic changes associated with lipid metabolism, liver fibrosis, and glucose homeostasis. Interestingly, transcriptome changes in DM1 livers also revealed partial resolution of sexual dimorphism in gene expression, along with unique sex-specific pathway alterations. A correlation between serum GGT levels and splicing abnormalities in DM1 patients was identified, suggesting a link between transcriptomic changes and clinical outcomes. This dataset provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying DM1-related liver dysfunction and metabolic abnormalities.

  Study JGAS000814

• Human induced pluripotent stem cells display a similar mutation burden as embryonic pluripotent cells in vivo

  Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold great promise for regenerative medicine, but genetic instability is a major concern. Embryonic pluripotent cells also accumulate mutations during early development, but how this relates to the mutation burden in iPSCs remains unknown. Here, we directly compared the mutation burden of cultured iPSCs with their isogenic embryonic cells during human embryogenesis. We generated developmental lineage trees of human fetuses by phylogenetic inference from somatic mutations in the genomes of multiple stem cells, which were derived from different germ layers. Using this approach, we characterized the mutations acquired pre-gastrulation and found a rate of 1.65 mutations per cell division. When cultured in hypoxic conditions, iPSCs generated from fetal stem cells of the assessed fetuses displayed a similar mutation rate and spectrum. Our results show that iPSCs maintain a genomic integrity during culture at a similar degree as their pluripotent counterparts do in vivo.

  Study EGAS00001005939

• Whole-exome ultra-high throughput sequencing in brain samples of suicide victims who had suffered from major depressive disorder and control subjects who had died from other causes

  We carried out whole-exome ultra-high throughput sequencing in brain samples of suicide victims who had suffered from major depressive disorder and control subjects who had died from other causes. This study aimed to reveal the selective accumulation of rare variants in the coding and the UTR sequences within the genes of suicide victims. We also analysed the potential effect of STR and CNV variations, as well as the infection of the brain with neurovirulent viruses in this behavioural disorder. As a result, we have identified several candidate genes, among others three calcium channel genes that may potentially contribute to completed suicide. We also explored the potential implication of the TGF-β signalling pathway in the pathogenesis of suicidal behaviour. To our best knowledge, this is the first study that uses whole-exome sequencing for the investigation of suicide.

  Study EGAS00001002818

• Epigenomics and Single-cell Sequencing Define a Developmental Hierarchy in Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis

  Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare neoplasm predominantly affecting children. It occupies a hybrid position between cancers and inflammatory diseases, and it provides an attractive model for studying cancer development. To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of LCH and its characteristic clinical heterogeneity, we investigated the transcriptomic and epigenomic diversity in primary LCH lesions. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we identified multiple recurrent types of LCH cells within these biopsies, including putative LCH progenitor cells and several subsets of differentiated LCH cells. We confirmed the presence of proliferative LCH cells in all analysed biopsies using immunohistochemistry, and we defined an epigenomic and gene-regulatory basis of the different LCH cell subsets by chromatin accessibility profiling. In summary, our single-cell analysis of LCH uncovered an unexpected degree of cellular, transcriptomic, and epigenomic heterogeneity among LCH cells, indicative of complex developmental hierarchies in LCH lesions.

  Study EGAS00001003822

• Association of Age at Diagnosis and Genetic Mutations in Patients with Neuroblastoma

  Neuroblastoma is diagnosed over a wide age range from birth through young adulthood, and older age at diagnosis is associated with a decline in survivability. We performed whole genome sequencing of DNA from diagnostic tumors and their matched germlines from 40 patients with metastatic neuroblastoma obtained between 1987 and 2009. To identify genetic lesions that are associated with age at diagnosis in patients with metastatic neuroblastoma. Age groups at diagnosis included infants (0-18 months), children (18 months-12 years), and adolescents and young adults (>12 years). To confirm the findings from this discovery cohort, validation testing using tumors from an additional 64 patients obtained between 1985 and 2009 was also performed. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissue was used for immunohistochemistry and fluorescent in situ hybridization. Telomere lengths were analyzed using the whole genome sequencing data, quantitative polymerase chain reaction and fluorescent in situ hybridization

  Study EGAS00001000213

• Heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension in a large Iberian family

  Data from a study of a large Iberian family (n=65 subjects, 5 generations) affected by pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and segregating with the BMPR2 missense mutation p.Arg491Gln (rs137852749, c.1472G>A). PAH is a rare disease characterized by an abnormal rise in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (> or equal to 25 mmHg at rest), which, in turn, leads to a progressive increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and ultimately to death, due to right ventricular failure. Heritable PAH has an overall prevalence below 1 case per million adults and is defined by either the presence of a known genetic defect linked to the disease or a positive family history. Heritable PAH is inherited as an autosomal dominant disease. However, not all BMPR2 mutation carriers develop the disease, highlighting the presence of reduced penetrance. In this family, there are 22 mutation carriers from which 8 were diagnosed with heritable PAH and the other 14 were healthy at the time of examination.

  Study EGAS00001003123

• Whole-exome ultra-high throughput sequencing in brain samples of suicide victims who had suffered from major depressive disorder and control subjects who had died from other causes.

  We carried out whole-exome ultra-high throughput sequencing in brain samples of suicide victims who had suffered from major depressive disorder and control subjects who had died from other causes. This study aimed to reveal the selective accumulation of rare variants in the coding and the UTR sequences within the genes of suicide victims. We also analysed the potential effect of STR and CNV variations, as well as the infection of the brain with neurovirulent viruses in this behavioural disorder. As a result, we have identified several candidate genes, among others three calcium channel genes that may potentially contribute to completed suicide. We also explored the potential implication of the TGF-β signalling pathway in the pathogenesis of suicidal behaviour. To our best knowledge, this is the first study that uses whole-exome sequencing for the investigation of suicide.

  Study EGAS00001003081

• Recurrent mTORC1-activating RRAGC mutations in follicular lymphoma

  Follicular lymphoma (FL) is an incurable B-cell malignancy characterized by the t(14;18) and mutations in one or more components of the epigenome. Whilst frequent gene mutations in signaling pathways, including JAK-STAT, NOTCH and NF-κB, have also been defined, the spectrum of these mutations typically overlap with the closely-related diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). A combination of discovery exome and extended targeted sequencing revealed recurrent somatic mutations in RRAGC uniquely enriched in FL patients (17%). More than half of the mutations preferentially co-occurred with ATP6V1B2 and ATP6AP1 mutations, components of the vacuolar H+-adenosine triphosphate ATPase (v-ATPase) known to be necessary for amino acid-dependent mTORC1 activation. RagC mutants increased raptor binding whilst rendering mTORC1 signaling resistant to amino acid deprivation through nucleotide-independent mechanisms. Collectively, the activating nature of the RRAGC mutations, their existence within the dominant clone and stability during disease progression supports their potential as an excellent candidate to be therapeutically exploited.

  Study EGAS00001001190

• Super enhancers define regulatory subtypes and cell identity in neuroblastoma - RNA-seq

  Half of the children diagnosed with neuroblastoma have high-risk disease, disproportionately contributing to overall childhood cancer-related deaths. In addition to recurrent gene mutations, there is increasing evidence supporting the role of epigenetic deregulation in disease pathogenesis. Yet, comprehensive cis-regulatory network descriptions from neuroblastoma tissues are lacking. Here, using genome-wide H3K27ac profiles across 60 neuroblastomas, covering the different clinical and molecular subtypes, we identified four major super enhancer-driven epigenetic subtypes and their underlying master regulatory networks. Three of these subtypes recapitulated known clinical groups, namely MYCN amplified, MYCN non-amplified high-risk and MYCN non-amplified low-risk neuroblastomas. The fourth subtype, exhibiting mesenchymal characteristics, shared features with multipotent Schwann cell precursors, was induced by RAS activation and enriched in relapsed disease. Notably, CCND1, a disease essential gene, was regulated by both mesenchymal and adrenergic regulatory networks converging on distinct super-enhancer modules. Together, this reveals subtype-specific super-enhancer regulation in neuroblastoma.

  Study EGAS00001004552

• Super enhancers define regulatory subtypes and cell identity in neuroblastoma

  Half of the children diagnosed with neuroblastoma have high-risk disease, disproportionately contributing to overall childhood cancer-related deaths. In addition to recurrent gene mutations, there is increasing evidence supporting the role of epigenetic deregulation in disease pathogenesis. Yet, comprehensive cis-regulatory network descriptions from neuroblastoma tissues are lacking. Here, using genome-wide H3K27ac profiles across 60 neuroblastomas, covering the different clinical and molecular subtypes, we identified four major super enhancer-driven epigenetic subtypes and their underlying master regulatory networks. Three of these subtypes recapitulated known clinical groups, namely MYCN amplified, MYCN non-amplified high-risk and MYCN non-amplified low-risk neuroblastomas. The fourth subtype, exhibiting mesenchymal characteristics, shared features with multipotent Schwann cell precursors, was induced by RAS activation and enriched in relapsed disease. Notably, CCND1, a disease essential gene, was regulated by both mesenchymal and adrenergic regulatory networks converging on distinct super-enhancer modules. Together, this reveals subtype-specific super-enhancer regulation in neuroblastoma.

  Study EGAS00001004551