Multi-OMICS analyses unveil STAT1 as a potential modifier gene in mevalonate kinase deficiency

Abstract

Objectives The objective of the present study was to explain why two siblings carrying both the same homozygous pathogenic mutation for the autoinflammatory disease hyper IgD syndrome, show opposite phenotypes, that is, the first being asymptomatic, the second presenting all classical characteristics of the disease.

Methods Where single omics (mainly exome) analysis fails to identify culprit genes/mutations in human complex diseases, multiomics analyses may provide solutions, although this has been seldom used in a clinical setting. Here we combine exome, transcriptome and proteome analyses to decipher at a molecular level, the phenotypic differences between the two siblings.

Results This multiomics approach led to the identification of a single gene—STAT1—which harboured a rare missense variant and showed a significant overexpression of both mRNA and protein in the symptomatic versus the asymptomatic sister. This variant was shown to be of gain of function nature, involved in an increased activation of the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription signalling (JAK/STAT) pathway, known to play a critical role in inflammatory diseases and for which specific biotherapies presently exist. Pathway analyses based on information from differentially expressed transcripts and proteins confirmed the central role of STAT1 in the proposed regulatory network leading to an increased inflammatory phenotype in the symptomatic sibling.

Conclusions This study demonstrates the power of a multiomics approach to uncover potential clinically actionable targets for a personalised therapy. In more general terms, we provide a proteogenomics analysis pipeline that takes advantage of subject-specific genomic and transcriptomic information to improve protein identification and hence advance individualised medicine.

July 2018 / Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases – Raphael Carapito, Christine Carapito, Aurore Morlon, Nicodème Paul, Alvaro Sebastian Vaca Jacome, Ghada Alsaleh, Véronique Rolli, Ouria Tahar, Ismail Aouadi, Magali RompaisFrançois DelalandeAngélique PichotPhilippe Georgel, Laurent MesserJean SibiliaSarah CianferaniAlain Van Dorsselaer, Seiamak Bahram

The TRIDIAG project receives the label Eucor – The European Campus!

This label will enable us to benefit, if necessary, from support for the smooth running of the project but also to enhance ongoing cross-border cooperation and to consider continuity with our partners.

Eucor – The European Campus is a trinational consortium of five universities on the Upper Rhine nestled in the border region between Germany, France and Switzerland. The members include the Universities of BaselFreiburgHaute-Alsace and Strasbourg as well as the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

Altogether the EGTC gathers the skills and potential of 15,000 researchers, 11,000 doctoral students as well as more than 120,000 students in a strong economic and research border triangle region. The goal of the European campus is to build a clearly defined economic and research epicenter without walls and borders and with an international flair. In order to achieve it, the five universities cooperate in mutual research and teaching projects. Eucor- The European Campus concentrates in particular on research in the areas of quantum physics and quantum technology, precision medicine, sustainability sciences and cultural studies.

More on its website

26th June 2018. AFTERWORK. The border, an opportunity?

Weekly Afterwork of the ARISAL, the regional association of researchers and engineers of Alsace.

With R. CARAPITO, head of TRIDIAG, Interreg France-Switzerland-Germany cross-border project, UNISTRA
With L. Theriot, Director of Studies, LUK, Germany

Free entrance open to all!
Follow-up of a rich networking time
Consumptions are paid by everyone. Tapas are offered by ARISAL

Registration

Tue 26th June 2018 from 18:30 to 22:00
Location: Pan Y Vino, 6 Place des Orphelins, 67000 Strasbourg

Sorafenib promotes graft-versus-leukemia activity in mice and humans through IL-15 production in FLT3-ITD-mutant leukemia cells

Abstract

Individuals with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) harboring an internal tandem duplication (ITD) in the gene encoding Fms-related tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) who relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) have a 1-year survival rate below 20%. We observed that sorafenib, a multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, increased IL-15 production by FLT3-ITD+ leukemia cells. This synergized with the allogeneic CD8+ T cell response, leading to long-term survival in six mouse models of FLT3-ITD+ AML. Sorafenib-related IL-15 production caused an increase in CD8+CD107a+IFN-γ+ T cells with features of longevity (high levels of Bcl-2 and reduced PD-1 levels), which eradicated leukemia in secondary recipients. Mechanistically, sorafenib reduced expression of the transcription factor ATF4, thereby blocking negative regulation of interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7) activation, which enhanced IL-15 transcription. Both IRF7 knockdown and ATF4 overexpression in leukemia cells antagonized sorafenib-induced IL-15 production in vitro. Human FLT3-ITD+ AML cells obtained from sorafenib responders following sorafenib therapy showed increased levels of IL-15, phosphorylated IRF7, and a transcriptionally active IRF7 chromatin state. The mitochondrial spare respiratory capacity and glycolytic capacity of CD8+ T cells increased upon sorafenib treatment in sorafenib responders but not in nonresponders. Our findings indicate that the synergism of T cells and sorafenib is mediated via reduced ATF4 expression, causing activation of the IRF7-IL-15 axis in leukemia cells and thereby leading to metabolic reprogramming of leukemia-reactive T cells in humans. Therefore, sorafenib treatment has the potential to contribute to an immune-mediated cure of FLT3-ITD-mutant AML relapse, an otherwise fatal complication after allo-HCT.

March 2018 / Nature Medicine – Mathew NR, Baumgartner F, Braun L, O’Sullivan D, Thomas S, Waterhouse M, Müller TA, Hanke K, Taromi S, Apostolova P, Illert AL, Melchinger W, Duquesne S, Schmitt-Graeff A, Osswald L, Yan KL, Weber A, Tugues S, Spath S, Pfeifer D, Follo M, Claus R, Lübbert M, Rummelt C, Bertz H, Wäsch R, Haag J, Schmidts A1, Schultheiss M, Bettinger D, Thimme R, Ullrich E, Tanriver Y, Vuong GL, Arnold R, Hemmati P, Wolf D, Ditschkowski M, Jilg C, Wilhelm K, Leiber C, Gerull S, Halter J, Lengerke C, Pabst T, Schroeder T, Kobbe G, Rösler W, Doostkam S, Meckel S, Stabla K, Metzelder SK, Halbach S, Brummer T, Hu Z, Dengjel J, Hackanson B, Schmid C, Holtick U, Scheid C, Spyridonidis A, Stölzel F, Ordemann R, Müller LP, Sicre-de-Fontbrune F, Ihorst G, Kuball J, Ehlert JE, Feger D, Wagner EM, Cahn JY, Schnell J, Kuchenbauer F, Bunjes D, Chakraverty R, Richardson S, Gill S, Kröger N, Ayuk F, Vago L, Ciceri F, Müller AM, Kondo T, Teshima T, Klaeger S, Kuster B, Kim DDH, Weisdorf D, van der Velden W, Dörfel D, Bethge W, Hilgendorf I, Hochhaus A, Andrieux G, Börries M, Busch H, Magenau J, Reddy P, Labopin M, Antin JH, Henden AS, Hill GR, Kennedy GA, Bar M, Sarma A, McLornan D, Mufti G, Oran B, Rezvani K, Shah O, Negrin RS, Nagler A, Prinz M, Burchert A, Neubauer A, Beelen D, Mackensen A, von Bubnoff N, Herr W4, Becher B, Socié G, Caligiuri MA, Ruggiero E, Bonini C, Häcker G, Duyster J, Finke J, Pearce E, Blazar BR, Zeiser R

Influence of Blood Pressure and Calcineurin Inhibitors on Kidney Function After Heart or Liver Transplantation

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Chronic kidney disease is common after heart or liver transplantation, with calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) considered the key contributor. A possible influence of posttransplant blood pressure has not been extensively examined.

METHODS:

Data from adult recipients of a first heart or liver transplant were analyzed regarding the relationship between blood pressure at year 1, renal function at year 5, and CNI therapy.

RESULTS:

Whereas we confirmed the well-known detrimental effect of increased 1-year systolic blood pressure on 5-year kidney graft survival, heart or liver graft survival were not affected. However, among 2,534 heart transplant recipients with good renal function at year 1, increasing systolic blood pressure at year 1 was associated with higher rates of poor renal function at year 5 posttransplant. This association was confirmed on multivariate analysis overall (odds ratio [OR] 1.25 per 20 mmHg increment, P<0.001) and within subgroups. Similar results were observed in 1,822 liver transplant recipients (OR 1.35, P<0.001). Neither the type of CNI nor CNI dose or trough level at year 1 showed a significant association with kidney function at year 5.

CONCLUSIONS:

One-year blood pressure was identified as the major modifiable risk factor associated with deteriorating kidney function between years 1 to 5 after heart or liver transplantation.

December 2017 / Transplantation – Morath C, Opelz G, Döhler B, Zeier M, Süsal C