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- Bandaru, Manoj Kumar, 1987-, et al.
(författare)
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Image-based, in vivo characterization of cardiometabolic consequences of mutations in pcsk9
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Based on the association of loss-of-function mutations in proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) with low plasma LDL cholesterol levels, inhibition of the PCSK9 protein using monoclonal antibodies have emerged as an effective treatment option to lower LDL cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. Despite these beneficial effects, PCSK9 inhibitors may increase the risk of diabetes. In this study, we mimicked the mechanistic action of PCSK9 inhibitors in humans by inducing mutations in pcsk9 in zebrafish and examining their effects on dyslipidemia, early-stage atherosclerosis and diabetes-related traits in data from nearly 5000 zebrafish larvae. At 10 days of age, larvae with mutations in pcsk9 were characterized by lower whole-body LDL cholesterol levels (beta±SE -0.056±0.025 SD units) and protection against early-stage atherosclerosis, with less vascular lipid deposition (-0.133±0.035 SD) and less co-localization of macrophages with lipids (-0.086±0.032 SD). Mutant larvae also had fewer pancreatic β-cells (-0.153±0.055 SD). Thus, our findings in pcsk9 mutant larvae are in line with results from people carrying loss-of-function PCSK9 mutations, and are also in line with the effects of PCSK9 inhibitors in humans. Further, our results suggest that mutations in pcsk9 may increase the risk of diabetes through a direct effect on pancreatic β-cells.
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| 2. |
- Bandaru, Manoj Kumar, et al.
(författare)
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Zebrafish larvae as a model system for systematic characterization of drugs and genes in dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Hundreds of loci have been robustly associated with circulating lipids, atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease; but for most loci the causal genes and mechanisms remain uncharacterized.Methods: We developed a semi-automated experimental pipeline for systematic, quantitative, large-scale characterization of mechanisms, drugs and genes associated with dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis in a zebrafish model system. We validated our pipeline using a dietary (n>2000), drug treatment (n>1000), and genetic intervention (n=384).Results: Our results show that five days of overfeeding and cholesterol supplementation had independent pro-atherogenic effects, which could be diminished by concomitant treatment with atorvastatin and ezetimibe. CRISPR-Cas9-induced mutations in orthologues of proof-of-concept genes resulted in higher LDL cholesterol levels (apoea), and more early stage atherosclerosis (apobb.1).Conclusions: In summary, our pipeline facilitates systematic, in vivo characterization of drugs and candidate genes to increase our understanding of disease etiology, and can likely help identify novel targets for therapeutic intervention.
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| 3. |
- Huang, Lam O., et al.
(författare)
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Genome-wide discovery of genetic loci that uncouple excess adiposity from its comorbidities
- 2021
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Ingår i: Nature Metabolism. - : Springer Nature. - 2522-5812. ; 3:2, s. 228-243
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases. Nevertheless, a substantial proportion of individuals with obesity do not suffer cardiometabolic comorbidities. The mechanisms that uncouple adiposity from its cardiometabolic complications are not fully understood. Here, we identify 62 loci of which the same allele is significantly associated with both higher adiposity and lower cardiometabolic risk. Functional analyses show that the 62 loci are enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue, and for regulatory variants that influence nearby genes that affect adipocyte differentiation. Genes prioritized in each locus support a key role of fat distribution (FAM13A, IRS1 and PPARG) and adipocyte function (ALDH2, CCDC92, DNAH10, ESR1, FAM13A, MTOR, PIK3R1 and VEGFB). Several additional mechanisms are involved as well, such as insulin-glucose signalling (ADCY5, ARAP1, CREBBP, FAM13A, MTOR, PEPD, RAC1 and SH2B3), energy expenditure and fatty acid oxidation (IGF2BP2), browning of white adipose tissue (CSK, VEGFA, VEGFB and SLC22A3) and inflammation (SH2B3, DAGLB and ADCY9). Some of these genes may represent therapeutic targets to reduce cardiometabolic risk linked to excess adiposity.
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| 4. |
- Mattis, Katia K, et al.
(författare)
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Loss of RREB1 in pancreatic beta cells reduces cellular insulin content and affects endocrine cell gene expression
- 2023
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Ingår i: Diabetologia. - : Springer Nature. - 0012-186X .- 1432-0428. ; 66:4, s. 674-694
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Genome-wide studies have uncovered multiple independent signals at the RREB1 locus associated with altered type 2 diabetes risk and related glycaemic traits. However, little is known about the function of the zinc finger transcription factor Ras-responsive element binding protein 1 (RREB1) in glucose homeostasis or how changes in its expression and/or function influence diabetes risk.METHODS: A zebrafish model lacking rreb1a and rreb1b was used to study the effect of RREB1 loss in vivo. Using transcriptomic and cellular phenotyping of a human beta cell model (EndoC-βH1) and human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived beta-like cells, we investigated how loss of RREB1 expression and activity affects pancreatic endocrine cell development and function. Ex vivo measurements of human islet function were performed in donor islets from carriers of RREB1 type 2 diabetes risk alleles.RESULTS: CRISPR/Cas9-mediated loss of rreb1a and rreb1b function in zebrafish supports an in vivo role for the transcription factor in beta cell mass, beta cell insulin expression and glucose levels. Loss of RREB1 also reduced insulin gene expression and cellular insulin content in EndoC-βH1 cells and impaired insulin secretion under prolonged stimulation. Transcriptomic analysis of RREB1 knockdown and knockout EndoC-βH1 cells supports RREB1 as a novel regulator of genes involved in insulin secretion. In vitro differentiation of RREB1KO/KO hiPSCs revealed dysregulation of pro-endocrine cell genes, including RFX family members, suggesting that RREB1 also regulates genes involved in endocrine cell development. Human donor islets from carriers of type 2 diabetes risk alleles in RREB1 have altered glucose-stimulated insulin secretion ex vivo, consistent with a role for RREB1 in regulating islet cell function.CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Together, our results indicate that RREB1 regulates beta cell function by transcriptionally regulating the expression of genes involved in beta cell development and function.
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| 7. |
- Mazzaferro, Eugenia
(författare)
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From GWAS to gene : Zebrafish as a model system for large-scale studies of obesity and comorbidities
- 2022
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Obesity increases the risk of developing comorbidities such as cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. However, not all obese individuals develop comorbidities, and those that do not are referred to as “metabolically healthy obesity” individuals. These contrast with lean individuals that display the metabolic profile of unhealthy obese individuals and are classified as “metabolically obese normal weight” individuals. The mechanisms underlying the variability in susceptibility to metabolic diseases are not fully understood and suggest the presence of biological and genetic components. This project aims to identify and characterize causal genes in loci identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) that are associated with higher adiposity and lower risk of comorbidities, or vice versa.In Study I, I integrated results from several bioinformatic approaches to prioritize candidate genes in loci identified in a genome-wide cross-phenotype meta-analysis of adiposity and cardiometabolic trait pairs. I prioritized 61 candidate genes in 42 of the 62 identifies loci, of which 39 genes were located in 25 novel loci.In Study II, I developed an experimental pipeline and validated 10-day old zebrafish larvae as a model system for image and CRISPR/Cas9-based characterization of candidate genes for obesity. I examined the effect of overfeeding and the effect of CRISPR/Cas9-induced mutations in 15 zebrafish orthologues of 12 established human obesity genes and of 16 human genes with an anticipated role in food intake. I show that 10 days is too early to see an effect of the genetic perturbation on lipid accumulation in adipocytes, but that such experiments can be used to see an effect on other cardiometabolic traits.In Study III, I described a framework to functionally characterize candidate genes in CRISPR/Cas9 founders by targeting the housekeeping kita gene in both mutagenized larvae for a candidate gene and sibling controls. By targeting both cases and controls at kita, the framework ensures that both groups undergo micro-injections, DNA editing, and DNA repair, and that any differences in phenotype can be attributed to mutations in the candidate gene.In Study IV, I applied the approach developed in Study III to examine the effect of mutations in five genes prioritized in Study I and in five additional genes for their effect on adiposity and cardiometabolic traits in crispants. I show that while 10 days is too early to see an effect on adiposity, effects on the cardiometabolic traits the genes were anticipated to affect can be observed.
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| 10. |
- von der Heyde, Benedikt, et al.
(författare)
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Translating GWAS-identified loci for cardiac rhythm and rate using an in vivo image- and CRISPR/Cas9-based approach
- 2020
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 10:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified eight loci that are associated with heart rate variability (HRV), but candidate genes in these loci remain uncharacterized. We developed an image- and CRISPR/Cas9-based pipeline to systematically characterize candidate genes for HRV in live zebrafish embryos. Nine zebrafish orthologues of six human candidate genes were targeted simultaneously in eggs from fish that transgenically express GFP on smooth muscle cells (Tg[acta2:GFP]), to visualize the beating heart. An automated analysis of repeated 30 s recordings of beating atria in 381 live, intact zebrafish embryos at 2 and 5 days post-fertilization highlighted genes that influence HRV (hcn4 and si:dkey-65j6.2 [KIAA1755]); heart rate (rgs6 and hcn4); and the risk of sinoatrial pauses and arrests (hcn4). Exposure to 10 or 25 mu M ivabradine-an open channel blocker of HCNs-for 24 h resulted in a dose-dependent higher HRV and lower heart rate at 5 days post-fertilization. Hence, our screen confirmed the role of established genes for heart rate and rhythm (RGS6 and HCN4); showed that ivabradine reduces heart rate and increases HRV in zebrafish embryos, as it does in humans; and highlighted a novel gene that plays a role in HRV (KIAA1755).
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