ORCID Profile
0000-0002-0266-9424
Current Organisation
University of Bristol
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Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 08-10-2020
DOI: 10.1101/2020.10.08.331561
Abstract: Zebrafish scales are mineralised plates that can regenerate involving de novo bone formation. This presents an opportunity to uncover genes and pathways relevant to human musculoskeletal disease relevant to impaired bone formation. To investigate this hypothesis, we defined transcriptomic profiles of ontogenetic and regenerating scales, and identified 604 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were enriched for extracellular matrix, ossification, and cell adhesion pathways. Next, we showed that human orthologues of DEGs were 2.8 times more likely to cause human monogenic skeletal diseases (P ×10 −11 ), and they showed enrichment for human orthologues associated with polygenetic disease traits including stature, bone density and osteoarthritis (P .005). Finally, zebrafish mutants of two human orthologues that were robustly associated with height and osteoarthritis ( COL11A2 ) or bone density only ( SPP1 ) developed skeletal abnormalities consistent with our genetic association studies. Col11a2 Y228X/Y228X mutants showed endoskeletal features consistent with abnormal growth and osteoarthritis, whereas spp1 P160X/P160X mutants had elevated bone density (P .05). In summary, we show that transcriptomic studies of regenerating zebrafish scales have potential to identify new genes and pathways relevant to human skeletal disease.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 30-11-2021
DOI: 10.3389/FENDO.2021.731217
Abstract: The availability of large human datasets for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and the advancement of sequencing technologies have boosted the identification of genetic variants in complex and rare diseases in the skeletal field. Yet, interpreting results from human association studies remains a challenge. To bridge the gap between genetic association and causality, a systematic functional investigation is necessary. Multiple unknowns exist for putative causal genes, including cellular localization of the molecular function. Intermediate traits (“endophenotypes”), e.g. molecular quantitative trait loci (molQTLs), are needed to identify mechanisms of underlying associations. Furthermore, index variants often reside in non-coding regions of the genome, therefore challenging for interpretation. Knowledge of non-coding variance (e.g. ncRNAs), repetitive sequences, and regulatory interactions between enhancers and their target genes is central for understanding causal genes in skeletal conditions. Animal models with deep skeletal phenotyping and cell culture models have already facilitated fine mapping of some association signals, elucidated gene mechanisms, and revealed disease-relevant biology. However, to accelerate research towards bridging the current gap between association and causality in skeletal diseases, alternative in vivo platforms need to be used and developed in parallel with the current -omics and traditional in vivo resources. Therefore, we argue that as a field we need to establish resource-sharing standards to collectively address complex research questions. These standards will promote data integration from various -omics technologies and functional dissection of human complex traits. In this mission statement, we review the current available resources and as a group propose a consensus to facilitate resource sharing using existing and future resources. Such coordination efforts will maximize the acquisition of knowledge from different approaches and thus reduce redundancy and duplication of resources. These measures will help to understand the pathogenesis of osteoporosis and other skeletal diseases towards defining new and more efficient therapeutic targets.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 04-07-2023
DOI: 10.1038/S42003-023-04869-0
Abstract: Skull bone mineral density (SK-BMD) provides a suitable trait for the discovery of key genes in bone biology, particularly to intramembranous ossification, not captured at other skeletal sites. We perform a genome-wide association meta-analysis ( n ~ 43,800) of SK-BMD, identifying 59 loci, collectively explaining 12.5% of the trait variance. Association signals cluster within gene-sets involved in skeletal development and osteoporosis. Among the four novel loci ( ZIC1 , PRKAR1A , AZIN1/ATP6V1C1 , GLRX3 ), there are factors implicated in intramembranous ossification and as we show, inherent to craniosynostosis processes. Functional follow-up in zebrafish confirms the importance of ZIC1 on cranial suture patterning. Likewise, we observe abnormal cranial bone initiation that culminates in ectopic sutures and reduced BMD in mosaic atp6v1c1 knockouts. Mosaic prkar1a knockouts present asymmetric bone growth and, conversely, elevated BMD. In light of this evidence linking SK-BMD loci to craniofacial abnormalities, our study provides new insight into the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of skeletal diseases.
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 02-11-2021
DOI: 10.1101/2021.11.01.21265592
Abstract: Skull bone mineral density (SK-BMD) provides a suitable trait for the discovery of genes important to bone biology in general, and particularly for identifying components unique to intramembranous ossification, which cannot be captured at other skeletal sites. We assessed genetic determinants of SK-BMD in 43,800 in iduals, identifying 59 genome-wide significant loci (4 novel), explaining 12.5% of its variance. Pathway and enrichment analyses of the association signals resulted in clustering within gene-sets involved in regulating the development of the skeleton overexpressed in the musculoskeletal system and enriched in enhancer and transcribed regions in osteoblasts. From the four novel loci (mapping to ZIC1, PRKAR1A, ATP6V1C1, GLRX3 ), two ( ZIC1 and PRKAR1A ) have previously been related to craniofacial developmental defects. Functional validation of skull development in zebrafish revealed abnormal cranial bone initiation that culminated in ectopic sutures and reduced BMD in mutated zic1 and atp6v1c1 fish and asymmetric bone growth and elevated BMD in mutated prkar1a fish. We confirmed a role of ZIC1 loss-of-function in suture patterning and discovered ATP6V1C1 gene associated with suture development. In light of the evidence presented suggesting that SK-BMD is genetically related to craniofacial abnormalities, our study opens new avenues to the understanding of the pathophysiology of craniofacial defects and towards the effective pharmacological treatment of bone diseases.
Location: Brazil
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for Erika Kague.