16484 results for "sec+and+unspecified+malignant+neoplasm"

in 23.38 milliseconds.

• RNA-seq study of longitudinal blood cell samples from children at risk of type 1 diabetes

  The appearance of type 1 diabetes (T1D)-associated autoantibodies is the first and only measurable parameter to predict progression toward T1D in genetically susceptible individuals. However, autoantibodies indicate an active autoimmune reaction, wherein the immune tolerance is already broken. Therefore, there is a clear and urgent need for new biomarkers that predict the onset of the autoimmune reaction preceding auto-antibody positivity or reflect progressive b-cell destruction. Here we report the mRNA sequencing–based analysis of 306 samples including fractionated samples of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells as well as CD4, CD8 cell fractions and unfractionated PBMC samples longitudinally collected from seven children who developed beta-cell autoimmunity (Case subjects) at a young age and matched control subjects.

  Study EGAS00001004071

• Pilot_experiment_on_functional_genomics_in_osteoarthritis_RNA

  The aim of this work is to apply an integrated systems approach to understand the biological underpinnings of large joint (hip and knee) osteoarthritis which culminates in the need for total joint replacement (TJR). In this pilot we will assess the feasibility of the approach in the relevant tissue. We will obtain diseased and non-diseased tissue (cartilage and endochondral bone) following TJR, coupled with a blood sample, from 12 patients. We will characterise the 12 pairs of diseased and non-diseased tissue samples in terms of transcription (RNASeq) The pilot will help assess the feasibility of isolating sufficient levels of starting material for the different approaches, and will instigate the development of analytical approaches to synthesising the resulting data.

  Study EGAS00001001203

• Clonal dominance defines metastatic dissemination in pancreatic cancer

  Using patient-derived cells from a pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, we created orthotopic clonal replica tumors to trace in an unbiased fashion clonal lineage dynamics of unperturbed tumor expansion and dissemination over time. The model revealed the complex multifaced nature of tumor clonal expansion and uncovered brisk changes in fitness that lead to a continuous reshuffling of tumor clonal architecture and alternating clonal dominance as a distinct feature of cancer growth. Paired analysis of clonal lineages in primary and secondary sites revealed fitness in the primary tumor as a major contributor to dissemination, although other clonal intrinsic and extrinsic factors may contribute to metastatic process. Molecular characterization of lineages with differential metastatic potential identified actionable strategy to suppress dissemination at the subclonal level.

  Study EGAS00001006358

• single-cell RNA-seq Case-Control study of children progressing to Type1 diabetes

  Single-cell RNA sequencing was carried out on four selected PBMC samples of Finnish children at risk of developing Type 1 diabetes and their gender age and HLA matched control children using 10X genomic platform. All four Case children were positive for multiple islet specific autoantibodies and two of them also progressed to clinical disease during the follow up whereas the control children remain negative for all autoantibodies. Age at seroconversion for Case 2, 3, 5, and 9 children is 12, 18, 24, and 18 months, respectively. Age at sampling, in months, for the pairs was as follows (Case/Control): pair 2:24/24; pair 3: 12/18; pair 5: 12/12; pair 9:24/18.

  Study EGAS00001004070

• Prognostic relevance of microenvironmental factors CD163 and CD8 combined with EZH2 and chromosome 18 gain in a validation cohort of follicular lymphoma patients of the Lunenburg Lymphoma Biomarker Consortium

  Background: In follicular lymphoma (FL), studies addressing the prognostic value of microenvironment-related immunohistochemical (IHC) markers and tumor cell-related genetic markers have yielded conflicting results, precluding implementation in practice. Therefore, the Lunenburg Lymphoma Biomarker Consortium (LLBC) performed a validation study for published markers. Methods: To maximize sensitivity, an end-of-spectrum design was applied for 122 uniformly immunochemotherapy-treated FL patients retrieved from international trials and registries; early failure (EF): progression or lymphoma-related death <2 years versus long remission: response duration of >5 years. IHC staining for T-cells and macrophages was performed on tissue microarrays from initial biopsy and scored with a validated computer-assisted protocol. Shallow whole-genome and deep targeted sequencing was performed on the same samples. Results: 96/122 cases with complete molecular and immunohistochemical data were included in the analysis. EZH2 wild-type (p=0.006), gain of chromosome 18 (p=0.002), low percentages of CD8+ cells (p=0.011) and CD163+ areas (p=0.038) were associated with EF. No significant differences in other markers were observed, thereby refuting previous claims on their prognostic significance. Conclusion: Using an optimized study design, this LLBC study validates wild-type EZH2 status, gain of chromosome 18, low percentages of CD8+ cells and CD163+ area as predictors of EF to immunochemotherapy in FL.

  Dataset EGAD00001002738

• CCOC WGS for the study Genomic consequences of aberrant DNA repair mechanisms stratify ovarian cancer histotypes

  For CCOC cohorts, OvCaRe cases were reviewed, including frozen material, by at least two expert gynecopathologists prior to inclusion in the sequencing cohort who provided the confirmation on final selected cohort. Frozen H&E from Tokyo were also used for evaluation along with representative H&E photos and review done at the Jikei School of Medicine. All CCOC tumours are primary tumour samples. Library construction and sequencing Frozen specimens with >50% tumour cellularity (based on initial slide review) were used for cryosectioning and subsequent nucleic acid extraction. Patient tumour and normal blood samples derived from primary, untreated fresh frozen tumour specimens harvested at diagnosis during standard of care debulking surgery. Germline DNA was provided from peripheral blood buffy coat on all specimens except 13 from Tokyo, where non-cancer frozen tissue was used as a germline source. DNA extraction from both matched normal (blood) and tumour samples (frozen tissue) were performed using the QIAamp Blood and Tissue DNA kit (Qiagen) and quantified using a Qbit fluorometer and reagents (high-sensitivity assay). Three lanes of Illumina HiSeq 2500 v4 chemistry for normal samples and five lanes for tumour samples were obtained. The PCR-free protocol was adopted to eliminate the PCR-induced bias and improve coverage across the genome.

  Dataset EGAD00001003265

• GCT WGS for the study Genomic consequences of aberrant DNA repair mechanisms stratify ovarian cancer histotypes

  For GCT cohorts, OvCaRe cases were reviewed, including frozen material, by at least two expert gynecopathologists prior to inclusion in the sequencing cohort who provided the confirmation on final selected cohort. Frozen H&E from Tokyo were also used for evaluation along with representative H&E photos and review done at the Jikei School of Medicine. All GCT tumours are primary tumour samples. Library construction and sequencing Frozen specimens with >50% tumour cellularity (based on initial slide review) were used for cryosectioning and subsequent nucleic acid extraction. Patient tumour and normal blood samples derived from primary, untreated fresh frozen tumour specimens harvested at diagnosis during standard of care debulking surgery. Germline DNA was provided from peripheral blood buffy coat on all specimens except 13 from Tokyo, where non-cancer frozen tissue was used as a germline source. DNA extraction from both matched normal (blood) and tumour samples (frozen tissue) were performed using the QIAamp Blood and Tissue DNA kit (Qiagen) and quantified using a Qbit fluorometer and reagents (high-sensitivity assay). Three lanes of Illumina HiSeq 2500 v4 chemistry for normal samples and five lanes for tumour samples were obtained. The PCR-free protocol was adopted to eliminate the PCR-induced bias and improve coverage across the genome.

  Dataset EGAD00001003267

• Single-nucleus RNA-sequencing of normal adrenal cortex and adrenocortical tumors

  BAM generated using Cell Ranger v3.1.0 and Space Ranger v1.3.1 and anonymized using BAMBoozle

  Dataset EGAD50000000835

• Lengthening and shortening of plasma DNA in hepatocellular carcinoma patients

  Lengthening and shortening of plasma DNA in hepatocellular carcinoma patients

  Study EGAS00001001024

• Benchmark and validation of whole exome sequencing of a trio and singleton for mobile element detection.

  Illumina HiSeq paired-end exome sequencing of a trio and singleton.

  Dataset EGAD00001000883

• Warm_autopsy__mutational_signatures_and_clonal_units

  Aims and objectives 1. To produce a ‘first generation map’ of mutational burdens and mutational processes that operate in normal human tissues. 2. To examine clonal units and their distribution across normal human tissues with the emphasis on these particular areas: a) Tissues with an architecturally defined unit: Are architectural structures populated by a progeny derived from a single stem cell? Are clonal units confined to a given architectural structure? Examples of tissues where such approach will be used include prostate gland (acini and ducts), small bowel (crypts), thyroid gland (follicles) and others. b) Tissues without an architecturally defined unit: What is the average size of clonal populations? This group includes stratified/pseudostratified epithelia with a basal layer within which there are stem cells that give rise to a progeny of cells showing upwards migration and lateral expansion (e.g. urothelium, cervical squamous epithelium, respiratory epithelium). This approach can also be used in tissues with a sheet-like cell arrangement, for example brain and adrenal gland. Methods To answer these questions, we will use a range of normal human tissue samples which have already been collected from a single deceased individual. The samples are currently stored in a -80C freezer. Ethanol fixed frozen sections will be prepared from these biopsies. Putative clonal units will be identified and dissected out using laser capture microscopy. DNA extraction will be performed using the in-house (CGP) protease based method. In terms of sequencing methods, the project will be split into 2 phases (2 different approaches): - Phase 1: This part of the project will utilise a combination of low input library preparation (developed by Peter Ellis) and standard whole genome sequencing (HiSeqX). The phase has already started (December 2016). This approach will be particularly useful in investigation of mitotically active tissues. - Phase 2: This part of the project will utilise a combination of low input library method (Peter Ellis) and Bottle-neck sequencing (BotSeqS). BotSeqS is a type of duplex sequencing method that offers a more accurate variant calling and allows genome interrogation at a single cell level. This method is currently being developed and is expected to be implemented in 3-6 months (March-April 2017). This approach will be particularly useful for post-mitotic tissues and tissues without pre-defined architectural units.

  Study EGAS00001002216

• CSER: Clinical Implementation of Carrier Testing Using Next Generation Sequencing (NextGen)

  We will investigate the clinical implementation of genome sequencing (GS) for carrier screening to aid reproductive decision-making in adults. The study is organized into three inter-related Projects. The study population will include women and their partners who receive pre-conception testing. In Project 1, we will conduct a Randomized Clinical Trial to test clinical implementation of WGS compared with usual care. We will integrate WGS results with the electronic medical record (EMR), and measure outcomes from patient and physician perspectives. In Project 2, we will perform whole genome sequencing, including validation and interpretation of the identified variants to identify "actionable variants", meaning variants deemed worthy of reporting. This will include a robust approach using a Return of Results Committee (RORC) for determination of reportable results. In Project 3, we will evaluate the ethical and psychosocial implications of expanded carrier screening using WGS for the return of carrier status and secondary findings, and measure the impact on downstream healthcare utilization and cost. Two groups of women are identified through the electronic medical record. The first group has a clinical carrier screening test, usually Cystic Fibrosis (CF), ordered and completed as part of a preconception planning visit. The second group has a carrier screening test, usually CF, performed during pregnancy, they have delivered their baby and are planning a future pregnancy. Eligible women are randomized to either usual care or genome sequencing (GS). Women randomized into the usual care arm have already received their clinical genetic test. These women will not receive genome sequencing. Women in the GS arm will receive their carrier status results for about 700 gene/condition pairs approximately three months after randomization. If there are results to return, women come in for a genetic counseling session. If there are no results, a letter is sent in the mail. Incidental findings (IF) are returned about one month later. As with the carrier status results, all IF are returned in person, and if there are no results a letter is sent in the mail. If a participant is found to be a carrier of an autosomal recessive condition, her male partner is then eligible and invited to participate in the study and receive GS.

  Study phs000927

• Overcoming Clinical Resistance to EZH2 Inhibition Using Rational Epigenetic Combination Therapy

  Essential epigenetic dependencies have become evident in many cancers. Based on functional antagonism between BAF/SWI/SNF and PRC2 in SMARCB1-deficient sarcomas, we and colleagues recently completed the clinical trial of the EZH2 inhibitor tazemetostat, leading to its FDA approval. However, the principles of tumor response to epigenetic therapy in general and tazemetostat in particular remain unknown. Using functional genomics of patient tumors and diverse experimental models, we defined molecular mechanisms of tazemetostat resistance. We found distinct classes of acquired mutations that converge on the RB1/E2F axis, decoupling EZH2-dependent differentiation and cell cycle control. This allows tumor cells to escape tazemetostat-induced G1 arrest despite EZH2 inhibition and suggests a general mechanism for effective EZH2 therapy. Using RNA-sequencing of patient tumor specimens, we identified specific genes as markers of a deficient RB1/E2F axis, which we propose as prospective biomarkers for therapy stratification. This offers a paradigm for rational epigenetic combination therapy suitable for immediate translation to clinical trials.This study was performed on archived tumor tissue collected as part of the above clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Patient tumors were classified into "Response" or "Progression" groups based on RECIST 1.1 criteria. "Response" included tumors exhibiting a complete response, partial response, or stable disease. All other tumors were classified under the "Progression" group. Archived frozen tumor samples were weighed and up to 20-30mg were homogenized in RLT buffer, followed by extraction using the AllPrep DNA/RNA Mini Kit (QIAGEN catalog 80204) according to the manufacturer's instructions. RNA was eluted in 13 μL nuclease-free water. After RiboGreen quantification and quality control by Agilent BioAnalyzer, 1 μg of total RNA with DV200 percentages varying from 78% to 100% underwent ribosomal depletion and library preparation using the TruSeq Stranded Total RNA LT Kit (Illumina catalog RS-122-1202) according to instructions provided by the manufacturer with 8 cycles of PCR. Samples were barcoded and sequenced using NovaSeq 6000 in a PE150 mode, with the NovaSeq 6000 S4 Reagent Kit (Illumina). On average, 84 million paired reads were generated per sample and 70% of the data mapped to mRNA. For analysis, read adaptors were trimmed and quality filtered using 'trim_galore' and mapped to GRCh38/hg19 reference genome using STAR v2.7.9 with default parameters.

  Study phs003188

• Whole Blood Transcriptomics of Patients With Melioidosis

  Melioidosis is a neglected tropical infection caused by the Gram negative bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei that is associated with high mortality rates in southeast Asia. The goal of this study was to a) identify human blood leukocyte transcriptomic features and pathways specific to melioidosis (vs other etiologies of infection), b) identify transcriptomic features and pathways specific to fatal melioidosis, and c) identify transcriptomic predictors of death in patients with melioidosis. This study used clinical data and whole blood leukocyte samples from a subset of participants in the Ubon Sepsis Study, a prospective single-center cohort study conducted at Sunpasitthiprasong Hospital, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand between 2013 and 2017. Participants in the Ubon Sepsis Study had suspected or documented infection with accompanying systemic manifestations of infection and were enrolled, with blood sampling, within 24 hours of admission to the study hospital. Enrolled patients were followed over time and vital status was determined at 28 days after enrollment. The subset of participants from the parent Ubon Sepsis Study cohort selected for this study was comprised of 164 patients with melioidosis (defined as having a culture of clinical sample positive for B. pseudomallei), 35 patients with Gram negative bacteremia due to either Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae, 16 patients with Gram positive bacteremia due to Staphylococcus aureus, and 19 patients who had negative blood cultures and no clinical sample culture-positive for B. pseudomallei. Fifty uninfected control patients with or without diabetes were recruited from the outpatient department and blood donation center at Udon Thani hospital, Udon Thani, Thailand from 2018 to 2019. Blood was collected at the time of enrollment in Tempus Blood RNA tubes. RNA was extracted using the Tempus Spin RNA Isolation kit. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was performed at the University of Washington Northwest Genomics Center. Analysis was performed using a variety of statistical methods. The main finding of the study was that the transcriptomes of melioidosis patients, compared to patients with other infections, were characterized by upregulation of interferon signaling. The transcriptomes of patients with fatal melioidosis were notable for upregulation of inflammatory and type 2 immune responses and downregulation of genes related to T-cell function. A five-gene (EPHB1, SYCP2L, MERTK, IL5RA, and SPOCK1) predictive signature for death in melioidosis was developed.

  Study phs003724

• A Case Controlled Etiologic Study of Sarcoidosis (ACCESS-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. Access to Biospecimens is through the NHLBI Biologic Specimen and Data Repository Information Coordinating Center (BioLINCC). Biospecimens from (ACCESS) include Bronchial Lavage, DNA, Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells, and Plasma. Please note that use of biospecimens in genetic research is subject to a tiered consent. Objectives: To determine the etiology of sarcoidosis by establishing a case control, multi-center study. In addition to etiology, this study also sought to examine socioeconomic variables and the clinical course of patients with sarcoidosis, including quality of life.Background: Sarcoidosis is a chronic granulomatous disorder of unknown cause that is characterized by activation of T-lymphocytes and macrophages. For many years, sarcoidosis was presumed to be an atypical manifestation of tuberculosis because of the similarity between the inflammatory responses of the two diseases. However, as culture techniques became more widely employed to diagnose tuberculosis and it became less common, it became clear that sarcoidosis was not simply a variation of tuberculosis. Data on the etiology of sarcoidosis have come from diverse sources: in clinical investigations, alveolitis has been found to precede granulomatous inflammation; in case control studies, familial aggregation has been identified; and in case reports, recurrence of granulomatous inflammation has been observed after lung transplantation. The cause may not prove to be a single, known exposure. Interactions of exposures with genetic dispositions could have important implications for our understanding of immune responses as well as the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis.Participants: 736 participants with sarcoidosis enrolled within 6 months of diagnosis from 10 clinical centers in the U.S. Using the ACCESS sarcoidosis assessment system, organ involvement was determined for the whole group and for subgroups differentiated by sex, race, and age (Conclusions: The initial presentation of sarcoidosis is related to sex, race and age, and it tends to remain stable over two years in the majority of patients. The etiology is probably multifactoral with both genetic and environmental factors contributing.Specimen Details: The PBMC for this study are pelleted and suspended in guanidinium-based solution and are nonviable.

  Study phs004276

• UK Biobank whole cohort directly genotyped and imputed data (~500,000 participants)

  Genotype data is available for all 500,000 participants in the UK Biobank cohort. Genotyping has been performed using the Affymetrix UK BiLEVE Axiom array on an initial 50,000 participants and the remaining 450,000 participants have been genotyped using the Affymetrix UK Biobank Axiom® array. The two arrays are extremely similar (with over 95% common content).Quality control and imputation (to over 90 million SNPs, indels and large structural variants) has been performed by a collaborative group headed by the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics.The following data are available:* A clean set of QC’ed genotype calls* Confidence values that a genotype call is correct* Intensity data to generate cluster plots* Extensive QC information regarding SNPs and samples including SNP metrics, batch effects, population structure and relatedness* Imputed dataFor further information, please refer to the UK Biobank website

  Study EGAS00001002399

• A Pilot Study of Neoadjuvant Nivolumab, Ipilimumab and Intralesional Oncolytic Virotherapy for HER2-Negative Breast Cancer

  This study was a single arm phase 1 trial that assessed the regimen safety and feasibility as well as tumor response in patients with localized HER2-negative breast cancer treated with talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) in combination with nivolumab and ipilimumab. The primary objective was to evaluate the safety and adverse event profile of this treatment combination. Six patients were enrolled, four having relapses after prior neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and two who were previously untreated. One patient had a pathological complete response, three patients had pathological partial responses, one showed no significant response, and one had disease progression. Biopsies demonstrated increased immune cell infiltration in samples from patients who responded to therapy. In this study, the checkpoint blockade immunotherapy combined with T-VEC provided responses in patients with advanced or relapsed HER2-negative breast cancer at the expense of long-term toxicities.

  Study phs003316

• International Collaboration of Incident HIV and HCV in Injecting Cohorts (InC3)

  This study represents a merged international multi-cohort project of pooled biological and behavioral data from ten prospective cohorts of injection drug users (Grebely J, Morris MD, Rice TM, Bruneau J, Cox AL, Kim AY, et al., 2012, PMID: 23203695). Of the 10 cohorts, six provided data and samples for the genome wide association study (GWAS) entitled “Genetic Analysis of Opioid Addiction in People Who Inject Drugs”. The InC3 cohorts included in the GWAS were: i) Australian Trial in Acute Hepatitis C (ATAHC-I, Sydney); ii) Hepatitis C Incidence and Transmission Study in Prison (HITS-p) (Sydney); iii) Hepatitis C Incidence and Transmission Study in Community (HITS-c) (Sydney); iv) HepCo Study (Montreal); v) SuperMIX Study (combining the Networks II & MIX studies, Melbourne); and vi) the UFO Study (San Francisco).

  Study phs002310

• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute SNP Health Association Asthma Resource Project (SHARP)

  SNP Health Association Resource (SHARe) Asthma Resource project (SHARP) is conducting a genome-wide analysis in adults and children who have participated in National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's clinical research trials on asthma. This includes 1041 children with asthma who participated in the Childhood Asthma Management Program (CAMP), 994 children who participated in one or five clinical trials conducted by the Childhood Asthma Research and Education (CARE) network, and 701 adults who participated in one of six clinical trials conducted by the Asthma Clinical Research Network (ACRN). There are three study types. The longitudinal clinical trials can be subsetted for population-based and/or case-control analyses. Each of the childhood asthma studies has a majority of children participating as part of a parent-child trio. The ACRN (adult) studies are probands alone. Control genotypes will be provided for case-control analyses.

  Study phs000166

• Single-cell analysis reveals different age-related somatic mutation profiles between stem and differentiated cells in human liver

  Highly metabolic liver is exposed to many sources of spontaneous mutagenesis resulting in increased genome instability that, potentially, causes age-related functional liver failure. Here we comparatively characterize the somatic mutational landscape in single human liver cells from individuals of various ages. Mutation frequency is very high in normal human hepatocytes, increasing dramatically with age as compared to other tissues and cell types, e.g., B-cells, neurons, and clonal surrogates of various adult stem cells. Moreover, differentiated hepatocytes tend to accumulate more mutations compared to age-matched proliferating liver stem cells (LSCs). Mutation spectra also differ dramatically between different cell types. Elevated oxidative hallmarks are observed in mouse liver and ex vivo cultured LSCs, but not during liver aging. Overall, human liver is prone to high age-dependent genome instability, compared to other tissues, and reveals functional difference between LSCs and hepatocytes.

  Study phs001956

• Whole Genome and Exon Capture Sequencing of Bladder Cancers

  One primary bladder cancer and paired peripheral blood sample were subjected to whole genome sequencing on an Illumina HiSeq 2000 platform. This technology was utilized to investigate the genetic basis of a durable remission of metastatic bladder cancer in a patient treated with everolimus, a drug that inhibits the mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) signaling pathway. Among the somatic mutations found was a loss-of-function mutation in TSC1 (Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 1), a regulator of mTOR pathway activation. Targeted sequencing using an exon capture and sequencing assay was performed on 13 tumors derived from patients on the same everolimus trial as the index patient and the sequencing data from these tumors is included. TSC1 mutation status was correlated with response to everolimus. The index patient responder tumor and peripheral blood DNA were also subjected to exon capture and sequencing.

  Study phs000535

• The genomic complexity of sporadic and inherited retinoblastoma with a matched orthotopic xenograft

  Retinoblastoma is a pediatric cancer of the developing retina. All retinoblastomas are believed to initiate with biallelic inactivation of the RB1 gene. To identify subsequent genetic lesions in retinoblastoma, we performed whole genome sequencing of tumor and normal DNA of 4 children with retinoblastoma and one matched orthotopic xenograft. Both alleles of RB1 were inactivated in the tumor samples. 3 of the patients had sporadic retinoblastoma and one patient had inherited retinoblastoma. Overall, there were few single nucleotide changes in coding regions of the genome and some of the tumors had few chromosomal lesions. There were very few new genetic lesions in the xenograft compared to the primary tumor. These data suggest that the genome in retinoblastoma is more stable than previously believed and there are relatively few recurrent genetic lesions in known cancer pathways other than the RB1 pathway.

  Study phs000352

• Gene Variants in Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma

  Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) are rare neuroendocrine tumors that arise from chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla and in extra-adrenal locations, respectively. PPGL has the strongest hereditary risk of all endocrine neoplasms with about 40% of cases harboring germline mutations and another 25-30% of cases arising from somatic mutations. To date, over 20 susceptibility genes have been suggested to play a role in PPGL pathogenesis, with more genes still being researched. This project will seek to identify new candidate genes in apparently sporadic PPGLs to reveal a possible genetic background in cases without variants in known susceptibility genes. Knowledge of the genetic background and the genes involved in the pathogenesis of PPGL allows for clustering and/or development of targeted therapies for the tumors that cannot be surgically resected or tumors that have metastasized.

  Study phs002405

• Alterations in the gut microbiome implicate key taxa and metabolic pathways across inflammatory arthritis phenotypes

  Musculoskeletal diseases affect up to 20% of adults worldwide. The gut microbiome has been implicated in inflammatory conditions, but large-scale metagenomic evaluations have not yet traced the routes by which immunity in the gut affects inflammatory arthritis. To characterize the community structure and associated functional processes driving gut microbial involvement in arthritis, the Inflammatory Arthritis Microbiome Consortium investigated 440 stool shotgun metagenomes comprising 221 adults diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or psoriatic arthritis and 219 healthy controls and individuals with joint pain without an underlying inflammatory cause. Diagnosis explained about 2% of gut taxonomic variability, which is comparable in magnitude to inflammatory bowel disease. We identified several candidate microbes with differential carriage patterns in patients with elevated blood markers for inflammation. Our results confirm and extend previous findings of increased carriage of typically oral and inflammatory taxa and decreased abundance and prevalence of typical gut clades, indicating that distal inflammatory conditions, as well as local conditions, correspond to alterations to the gut microbial composition. We identified several differentially encoded pathways in the gut microbiome of patients with inflammatory arthritis, including changes in vitamin B salvage and biosynthesis and enrichment of iron sequestration. Although several of these changes characteristic of inflammation could have causal roles, we hypothesize that they are mainly positive feedback responses to changes in host physiology and immune homeostasis. By connecting taxonomic alternations to functional alterations, this work expands our understanding of the shifts in the gut ecosystem that occur in response to systemic inflammation during arthritis.

  Dataset EGAD50000000567

• Genetic and Genomic Analysis of Primary Human Chondrocytes

  Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common, degenerative joint disease characterized by the gradual breakdown of the cartilage in the joints. Despite osteoarthritis affecting over 500 million individuals, the lack of a comprehensive mechanistic understanding of the disease has greatly hindered the development of adequate treatment options. To address this, we generated RNA-seq, Hi-C, and ATAC-seq data in primary human chondrocytes treated with either PBS as resting or a fibronectin fragment (FN-f) to model the OA chondrocyte phenotype. We mapped expression quantitative trait loci and splicing quantitative trait loci, and performed colocalization with OA GWAS data to identify putative OA risk genes. Integration of ATAC-seq and Hi-C data provided insights into the regulatory mechanisms. This study revealed both expression-based and splicing-based OA risk genes, several of which had not been previously identified in chondrocyte studies.

  Study phs003581