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Medicine Feb 2016Osteoarthritis (OA) is a complex disorder characterized by degenerative articular cartilage and is largely attributed to genetic risk factors. Single nucleotide... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a complex disorder characterized by degenerative articular cartilage and is largely attributed to genetic risk factors. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are common DNA variants that have shown promising and efficiency, compared with positional cloning, to map candidate genes of complex diseases, including OA. In this study, we aim to provide an overview of multiple SNPs from a number of genes that have recently been linked to OA susceptibility. We also performed a comprehensive meta-analysis to evaluate the association of SNP rs7639618 of double von Willebrand factor A domains (DVWA) gene with OA susceptibility. A systematic search of studies on the association of SNPs with susceptibility to OA was conducted in PubMed and Google scholar. Studies subjected to meta-analysis include human and case-control studies that met the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium model and provide sufficient data to calculate an odds ratio (OR). A total of 9500 OA cases and 9365 controls in 7 case-control studies relating to SNP rs7639618 were included in this study and the ORs with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Over 50 SNPs from different genes have been shown to be associated with either hip (23), or knee (20), or both (13) OA. The ORs of these SNPs for OA and the subtypes are not consistent. As to SNP rs7639618 of DVWA, increased knee OA risk was observed in all genetic models analyzed. Specifically, people from Asian with G-allele showed significantly increased risk of knee OA (A versus G: OR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.13-1.46; AA versus GG: OR = 1.60, 95% CI 1.25-2.05; GA versus GG: OR = 1.31, 95% CI 1.18-1.44; AA versus GA+GG: OR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.12-1.61; AA+GA versus GG: OR = 1.40, 95% CI 1.19-1.64), but not in Caucasians or with hip OA. Our results suggest that multiple SNPs play different roles in the pathogenesis of OA and its subtypes; SNP rs7639618 of DVWA gene is associated with a significantly increased risk of knee OA in Asians. Given the limited sample size, further studies are needed to evaluate this observation.
Topics: Collagen Type VI; Genetic Heterogeneity; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Humans; Odds Ratio; Osteoarthritis; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Pseudogenes
PubMed: 26886631
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000002811 -
Nature Genetics Aug 2020Standardized gene naming is crucial for effective communication about genes, and as genomics becomes increasingly important in healthcare, the need for a consistent...
Standardized gene naming is crucial for effective communication about genes, and as genomics becomes increasingly important in healthcare, the need for a consistent language for human genes becomes ever more vital. Here we present the current HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC) guidelines for naming not only protein-coding but also RNA genes and pseudogenes, and outline the changes in approach and ethos that have resulted from the discoveries of the last few decades.
Topics: Genes; Human Genetics; Humans; Pseudogenes; RNA
PubMed: 32747822
DOI: 10.1038/s41588-020-0669-3 -
Scientific Reports Oct 2022Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common and malignant carcinomas. Many long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to play important roles in the...
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common and malignant carcinomas. Many long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to play important roles in the tumorigenesis of CRC by influencing the expression of some mRNAs via competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks and interacting with miRNAs. Pseudogene is one kind of lncRNA and can act as RNA sponges for miRNAs and regulate gene expression via ceRNA networks. However, there are few studies about pseudogenes in CRC. In this study, 31 differentially expressed (DE) pseudogenes, 17 DE miRNAs and 152 DE mRNAs were identified by analyzing the expression profiles of colon adenocarcinoma obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas. A ceRNA network was constructed based on these RNAs. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that 7 pseudogenes, 4 miRNAs and 30 mRNAs were significantly associated with overall survival. Then multivariate Cox regression analysis of the ceRNA-related DE pseudogenes was performed and a 5-pseudogene signature with the greatest prognostic value for CRC was identified. Moreover, the results were validated by the Gene Expression Omnibus database, and quantitative real-time PCR in 113 pairs of CRC tissues and colon cancer cell lines. This study provides a pseudogene-associated ceRNA network, 7 prognostic pseudogene biomarkers, and a 5-pseudogene prognostic risk signature that may be useful for predicting the survival of CRC patients.
Topics: Humans; RNA, Long Noncoding; Prognosis; Pseudogenes; Gene Regulatory Networks; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Adenocarcinoma; Colonic Neoplasms; MicroRNAs; RNA, Messenger; Biomarkers
PubMed: 36272991
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22768-y -
BMC Medical Genomics Apr 2020Given the vast range of molecular mechanisms giving rise to breast cancer, it is unlikely universal cures exist. However, by providing a more precise prognosis for...
BACKGROUND
Given the vast range of molecular mechanisms giving rise to breast cancer, it is unlikely universal cures exist. However, by providing a more precise prognosis for breast cancer patients through integrative models, treatments can become more individualized, resulting in more successful outcomes. Specifically, we combine gene expression, pseudogene expression, miRNA expression, clinical factors, and pseudogene-gene functional networks to generate these models for breast cancer prognostics. Establishing a LASSO-generated molecular gene signature revealed that the increased expression of genes STXBP5, GALP and LOC387646 indicate a poor prognosis for a breast cancer patient. We also found that increased CTSLP8 and RPS10P20 and decreased HLA-K pseudogene expression indicate poor prognosis for a patient. Perhaps most importantly we identified a pseudogene-gene interaction, GPS2-GPS2P1 (improved prognosis) that is prognostic where neither the gene nor pseudogene alone is prognostic of survival. Besides, miR-3923 was predicted to target GPS2 using miRanda, PicTar, and TargetScan, which imply modules of gene-pseudogene-miRNAs that are potentially functionally related to patient survival.
RESULTS
In our LASSO-based model, we take into account features including pseudogenes, genes and candidate pseudogene-gene interactions. Key biomarkers were identified from the features. The identification of key biomarkers in combination with significant clinical factors (such as stage and radiation therapy status) should be considered as well, enabling a specific prognostic prediction and future treatment plan for an individual patient. Here we used our PseudoFuN web application to identify the candidate pseudogene-gene interactions as candidate features in our integrative models. We further identified potential miRNAs targeting those features in our models using PseudoFuN as well. From this study, we present an interpretable survival model based on LASSO and decision trees, we also provide a novel feature set which includes pseudogene-gene interaction terms that have been ignored by previous prognostic models. We find that some interaction terms for pseudogenes and genes are significantly prognostic of survival. These interactions are cross-over interactions, where the impact of the gene expression on survival changes with pseudogene expression and vice versa. These may imply more complicated regulation mechanisms than previously understood.
CONCLUSIONS
We recommend these novel feature sets be considered when training other types of prognostic models as well, which may provide more comprehensive insights into personalized treatment decisions.
Topics: Biomarkers, Tumor; Breast Neoplasms; Computational Biology; Female; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Gene Regulatory Networks; Humans; Prognosis; Pseudogenes; Survival Rate
PubMed: 32241256
DOI: 10.1186/s12920-020-0687-0 -
Scientific Reports Dec 2023Breast cancer (BC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in women. The present study explored the potential role of pseudogenes in BC via construction...
Breast cancer (BC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in women. The present study explored the potential role of pseudogenes in BC via construction and analysis of a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network through a three-step process. First, we screened differentially expressed genes in nine BC datasets. Then the gene-pseudogenes pairs (nine hub genes) were selected according to the functional enrichment and correlation analysis. Second, the candidate hub genes and interacting miRNAs were used to construct the ceRNA network. Further analysis of the ceRNA network revealed a crucial ceRNA module with two genes-pseudogene pairs and two miRNAs. The in-depth analysis identified the GBP1/hsa-miR-30d-5p/GBP1P1 axis as a potential tumorigenic axis in BC patients. In the third step, the GBP1/hsa-miR-30d-5p/GBP1P1 axis expression level was assessed in 40 tumor/normal BC patients and MCF-7 cell lines. The expression of GBP1 and GBP1P1 was significantly higher in the tumor compared to the normal tissue. However, the expression of hsa-miR-30d-5p was lower in tumor samples. Then, we introduced the GBP1P1 pseudogene into the MCF-7 cell line to evaluate its effect on GBP1 and hsa-miR-30d-5p expression. As expected, the GBP1 level increased while the hsa-miR-30d-5p level decreased in the GBP1P1-overexprsssing cell line. In addition, the oncogenic properties of MCF-7 (cell viability, clonogenicity, and migration) were improved after GBP1P1 overexpression. In conclusion, we report a ceRNA network that may provide new insight into the role of pseudogenes in BC development.
Topics: Humans; Female; Breast Neoplasms; Pseudogenes; RNA, Competitive Endogenous; MicroRNAs; MCF-7 Cells
PubMed: 38072995
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49110-4 -
Genome Biology Nov 2022Pseudogenes are excellent markers for genome evolution, which are emerging as crucial regulators of development and disease, especially cancer. However, systematic...
BACKGROUND
Pseudogenes are excellent markers for genome evolution, which are emerging as crucial regulators of development and disease, especially cancer. However, systematic functional characterization and evolution of pseudogenes remain largely unexplored.
RESULTS
To systematically characterize pseudogenes, we date the origin of human and mouse pseudogenes across vertebrates and observe a burst of pseudogene gain in these two lineages. Based on a hybrid sequencing dataset combining full-length PacBio sequencing, sample-matched Illumina sequencing, and public time-course transcriptome data, we observe that abundant mammalian pseudogenes could be transcribed, which contribute to the establishment of organ identity. Our analyses reveal that developmentally dynamic pseudogenes are evolutionarily conserved and show an increasing weight during development. Besides, they are involved in complex transcriptional and post-transcriptional modulation, exhibiting the signatures of functional enrichment. Coding potential evaluation suggests that 19% of human pseudogenes could be translated, thus serving as a new way for protein innovation. Moreover, pseudogenes carry disease-associated SNPs and conduce to cancer transcriptome perturbation.
CONCLUSIONS
Our discovery reveals an unexpectedly high abundance of mammalian pseudogenes that can be transcribed and translated, and these pseudogenes represent a novel regulatory layer. Our study also prioritizes developmentally dynamic pseudogenes with signatures of functional enrichment and provides a hybrid sequencing dataset for further unraveling their biological mechanisms in organ development and carcinogenesis in the future.
Topics: Humans; Mice; Animals; Pseudogenes; Genome; Mammals; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Neoplasms
PubMed: 36348461
DOI: 10.1186/s13059-022-02802-y -
Genome Biology May 2021Pseudogenes are gene copies presumed to mainly be functionless relics of evolution due to acquired deleterious mutations or transcriptional silencing. Using deep...
Pseudogenes are gene copies presumed to mainly be functionless relics of evolution due to acquired deleterious mutations or transcriptional silencing. Using deep full-length PacBio cDNA sequencing of normal human tissues and cancer cell lines, we identify here hundreds of novel transcribed pseudogenes expressed in tissue-specific patterns. Some pseudogene transcripts have intact open reading frames and are translated in cultured cells, representing unannotated protein-coding genes. To assess the biological impact of noncoding pseudogenes, we CRISPR-Cas9 delete the nucleus-enriched pseudogene PDCL3P4 and observe hundreds of perturbed genes. This study highlights pseudogenes as a complex and dynamic component of the human transcriptional landscape.
Topics: Cell Line; DNA, Complementary; Gene Deletion; Haploidy; Humans; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Pseudogenes; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Transcriptome
PubMed: 33971925
DOI: 10.1186/s13059-021-02369-0 -
Molecular Biology and Evolution Mar 2016By definition, pseudogenes are relics of former genes that no longer possess biological functions. Operationally, they are identified based on disruptions of open...
By definition, pseudogenes are relics of former genes that no longer possess biological functions. Operationally, they are identified based on disruptions of open reading frames (ORFs) or presumed losses of promoter activities. Intriguingly, a recent human proteomic study reported peptides encoded by 107 pseudogenes. These peptides may play currently unrecognized physiological roles. Alternatively, they may have resulted from accidental translations of pseudogene transcripts and possess no function. Comparing between human and macaque orthologs, we show that the nonsynonymous to synonymous substitution rate ratio (ω) is significantly smaller for translated pseudogenes than other pseudogenes. In particular, five of 34 translated pseudogenes amenable to evolutionary analysis have ω values significantly lower than 1, indicative of the action of purifying selection. This and other findings demonstrate that some but not all translated pseudogenes have selected functions at the protein level. Hence, neither ORF disruption nor presence of protein product disproves or proves gene functionality at the protein level.
Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Base Sequence; Computational Biology; Evolution, Molecular; Genomics; Humans; Molecular Sequence Data; Open Reading Frames; Protein Biosynthesis; Proteome; Pseudogenes; Selection, Genetic; Transcription, Genetic; Transcriptome
PubMed: 26589994
DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msv268 -
Cell Cycle (Georgetown, Tex.) Sep 2020Latest studies have shown that deregulated pseudogene transcripts contribute to cancer working as competing endogenous RNAs. Our research group has recently demonstrated...
Latest studies have shown that deregulated pseudogene transcripts contribute to cancer working as competing endogenous RNAs. Our research group has recently demonstrated that the overexpression of two pseudogenes, and , has a critical role in cancer progression. These pseudogenes work sustaining the expression of HMGA1 and other cancer-related genes. We generated a mouse model overexpressing to better study the -pseudogene function in a more physiological context. Here, we show the proliferation rate and the susceptibility to senescence of mouse embryonic fibroblasts obtained from -overexpressing mice to better characterize the HMGA1-pseudogene function. Indeed, our study reports that mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from mice express higher HMGA1 mRNA and protein levels. Moreover, these cells grow faster and senesce later than wild-type sustaining the oncogenic role of ceRNA crosstalk mediated by .
Topics: Animals; Cell Proliferation; Cells, Cultured; Cellular Senescence; Embryo, Mammalian; Fibroblasts; HMGA1a Protein; Humans; Mice, Transgenic; Pseudogenes; Up-Regulation
PubMed: 32787507
DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2020.1807080 -
Scientific Reports Apr 2020We have recently identified and characterized two pseudogenes (HMGA1P6 and HMGA1P7) of the HMGA1 gene, which has a critical role in malignant cell transformation and...
We have recently identified and characterized two pseudogenes (HMGA1P6 and HMGA1P7) of the HMGA1 gene, which has a critical role in malignant cell transformation and cancer progression. HMGA1P6 and HMGAP17 act as microRNA decoy for HMGA1 and other cancer-related genes upregulating their protein levels. We have previously shown that they are upregulated in several human carcinomas, and their expression positively correlates with a poor prognosis and an advanced cancer stage. To evaluate in vivo oncogenic activity of HMGA1 pseudogenes, we have generated a HMGA1P7 transgenic mouse line overexpressing this pseudogene. By a mean age of 12 months, about 50% of the transgenic mice developed splenomegaly and accumulation of lymphoid cells in several body compartments. For these mice FACS and immunohistochemical analyses suggested the diagnosis of B-cell lymphoma that was further supported by clonality analyses and RNA expression profile of the pathological tissues of the HMGA1P7 transgenic tissues. Therefore, these results clearly demonstrate the oncogenic activity of HMGA1 pseudogenes in vivo.
Topics: Animals; Flow Cytometry; HMGA1a Protein; Immunohistochemistry; Lymphocytes; Lymphoma, B-Cell; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; NIH 3T3 Cells; Pseudogenes; RNA-Seq
PubMed: 32341372
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-62974-0