Biology subjects

Abel, L.

Publications and source records attributed to Abel, L..

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

bioRxiv2019

Common homozygosity for predicted loss-of-function variants reveals both redundant and advantageous effects of dispensable human genes

Humans homozygous or hemizygous for variants predicted to cause a loss of function of the corresponding protein do not necessarily present with overt clinical phenotypes. However, the set of effectively dispensable genes in the human genome has not yet been fully characterized. We report here 190 autosomal genes with 207 predicted loss-of-function variants, for which the frequency of homozygous individuals exceeds 1% in at least one human population from five major ancestry groups. No such genes were identified on the X and Y chromosomes. Manual curation revealed that 28 variants (15%) had been misannotated as loss-of-function, mainly due to linkage disequilibrium with different compensatory variants. Of the 179 remaining variants in 166 genes (0.82% of 20,232 genes), only 11 alleles in 11 genes had previously been confirmed experimentally to be loss-of-function. The set of 166 dispensable genes was enriched in olfactory receptor genes (41 genes), but depleted of genes expressed in a wide range of organs and in leukocytes. The 125 dispensable non-olfactory receptor genes displayed a relaxation of selective constraints both between species and within humans, consistent with greater redundancy. In total, 62 of these 125 genes were found to be dispensable in at least three human populations, suggesting possible evolution toward pseudogenes. Out of the 179 common loss-of-function variants, 72 could be tested for two neutrality selection statistics, and eight displayed robust signals of positive selection. These variants included the known FUT2 mutant allele conferring resistance to intestinal viruses and an APOL3 variant involved in resistance to parasitic infections. Finally, the 41 dispensable olfactory receptor genes also displayed a strong relaxation of selective constraints similar to that observed for the 341 non-dispensable olfactory receptor genes. Overall, the identification of 166 genes for which a sizeable proportion of humans are homozygous for predicted loss-of-function alleles reveals both redundancies and advantages of such deficiencies for human survival.\n\nSignificance statementHuman genes homozygous for seemingly loss of function (LoF) variants are increasingly reported in a sizeable proportion of individuals without overt clinical phenotypes. Here, we found 166 genes with 179 predicted LoF variants for which the frequency of homozygous individuals exceeds 1% in at least one of the populations present in databases ExAC and gnomAD. This set of putatively dispensable genes showed relaxation of selective constraints suggesting that a large number of these genes are undergoing pseudogenization. Eight of the common LoF variants displayed robust signals of positive selection including two variants located in genes involved in resistance to infectious diseases. The identification of dispensable genes will allow identifying functions that are, at least nowadays, redundant, or possibly advantageous, for human survival.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2019

Pleiotropic effects for Parkin and LRRK2 in leprosy type-1 reactions and Parkinson’s disease

Type-1 reactions (T1Rs) are pathological inflammatory episodes and main contributors to nerve damage in leprosy. Here, we evaluate the gene-wise enrichment of rare protein altering variants in seven genes where common variants were previously associated with T1R. We selected 474 Vietnamese leprosy-patients of which 237 were T1R-affected and 237 were T1R-free matched controls. Gene-wise enrichment of nonsynonymous variants was tested with both kernel based (SKAT) and burden methods. Of the seven genes tested two showed statistical evidence of association with T1R. For the LRRK2 gene an enrichment of nonsynonymous variants was observed in T1R-free controls (p O_SCPCAPSKAT-OC_SCPCAP= 1.6x10-4). This gene-wise association was driven almost entirely by the gain of function variant R1628P (p = 0.004; OR = 0.29). The second gene-wise association was found for the Parkin coding gene PRKN (formerly PARK2) where seven rare variants were enriched in T1R-affected cases (p O_SCPCAPSKAT-OC_SCPCAP = 7.4x10-5). Mutations in both PRKN and LRRK2 are known causes of Parkinsons Disease (PD). Hence, we evaluated to what extent such rare amino acid changes observed in T1R are shared with PD. We observed that nonsynonymous T1R-risk mutations in Parkin were enriched for amino acid mutations implicated in PD (p = 1.5x10-4). Hence, neuro-inflammation in PD and peripheral nerve damage due to inflammation in T1R share overlapping mechanisms of pathogenicity.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2018

SeqTailor: a user-friendly webserver for the extraction of DNA or protein sequences from next-generation sequencing data

Human whole-genome sequencing generally reveals about 4,000,000 genetic variants, including 20,000 coding variants, in each individual studied. These data are mostly stored as VCF-format files. Although many variant analysis methods accept VCF files as input, many other tools require DNA or protein sequences, particularly for splicing prediction, sequence alignment, phylogenetic analysis, and structure prediction. However, there is currently no existing online tool for extracting DNA or protein sequences for genomic variants from VCF files with user-defined parameters in a user-friendly, efficient, and standardized manner. We developed the SeqTailor webserver to bridge this gap. It can be used for the rapid extraction of (1) DNA sequences around genetic variants, with customizable window sizes, from the hg19 or hg38 human reference genomes; and (2) protein sequences encoded by the DNA sequences around genetic variants, with built-in SnpEff annotation and customizable window sizes, from human canonical transcripts. The SeqTailor webserver streamlines the sequence extraction process, and accelerates the analysis of genetic variant data with software requiring DNA or protein sequences. SeqTailor will facilitate the study of human genomic variation, by increasing the feasibility of sequence-based analysis and prediction. The SeqTailor webserver is freely available from http://shiva.rockefeller.edu/SeqTailor/.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2018

Incomplete penetrance for isolated congenital asplenia in humans with mutations in translated and untranslated RPSA exons

Isolated congenital asplenia (ICA) is the only known human developmental defect exclusively affecting a lymphoid organ. In 2013, we showed that private deleterious mutations in the protein-coding region of RPSA, encoding ribosomal protein SA, caused ICA by haploinsufficiency with complete penetrance. We reported seven heterozygous protein-coding mutations in 8 of the 23 kindreds studied, including 6 of the 8 multiplex kindreds. We have since enrolled 33 new kindreds, 5 of which are multiplex. We describe here eleven new heterozygous ICA-causing RPSA protein-coding mutations, and the first two mutations in the 5-UTR of this gene, which disrupt mRNA splicing. Overall, 40 of the 73 ICA patients (55%) and 23 of the 56 kindreds (41%) carry mutations located in translated or untranslated exons of RPSA. Eleven of the 43 kindreds affected by sporadic disease (26%) carry RPSA mutations, whereas 12 of the 13 multiplex kindreds (92%) carry RPSA mutations. We also report that six of eighteen (33%) protein-coding mutations and the two (100%) 5-UTR mutations display incomplete penetrance. Three mutations were identified in 2 independent kindreds, due to a hotspot or a founder effect. Lastly, RPSA ICA-causing mutations were demonstrated to be de novo in 7 of the 23 probands. Mutations in RPSA exons can affect the translated or untranslated regions and can underlie ICA with complete or incomplete penetrance.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2018

Genetic factors and age are the strongest predictors of humoral immune responses to common pathogens and vaccines

IntroductionHumoral immune responses to infectious agents or vaccination vary substantially among individuals, and many of the factors responsible for this variability remain to be defined. Current evidence suggests that human genetic variation influences (i) serum immunoglobulin levels, (ii) seroconversion rates, and (iii) intensity of antigen-specific immune responses. Here, we evaluate the impact of intrinsic (age and sex), environmental and genetic factors on the variability of humoral response to common pathogens and vaccines.\n\nMethodsWe characterized the serological response to 15 antigens from common human pathogens or vaccines, in an age- and sex-stratified cohort of 1,000 healthy individuals (Milieu Interieur cohort). Using clinical-grade serological assays, we measured total IgA, IgE, IgG and IgM levels, as well as qualitative (serostatus) and quantitative IgG responses to cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex virus 1 & 2, varicella zoster virus, Helicobacter pylori, Toxoplasma gondii, influenza A virus, measles, mumps, rubella, and hepatitis B virus. Following genome-wide genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphisms and imputation, we examined associations between ~5 million genetic variants and antibody responses using single marker and gene burden tests.\n\nResults and discussionWe identified age and sex as important determinants of humoral response, with older individuals and women having higher rates of seropositivity for most antigens. Genome-wide association studies revealed significant associations between variants in the human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class II region on chromosome 6 and anti-EBV and anti-rubella IgG levels. We used HLA imputation to fine map these associations to amino acid variants in the peptide-binding groove of HLA-DR{beta}1 and HLA-DP{beta}1, respectively. We also observed significant associations for total IgA levels with two loci on chromosome 2 and with specific KIR-HLA combinations.\n\nConclusionsUsing extensive serological testing and genome-wide association analyses in a well-characterized cohort of healthy individuals, we demonstrate that age, sex and specific human genetic variants contribute to inter-individual variability in humoral response. By highlighting genes and pathways implicated in the normal antibody response to frequently encountered antigens, these findings provide a basis to better understand disease pathogenesis.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2017

IRF4 haploinsufficiency in a family with Whipples disease

The pathogenesis of Whipples disease (WD) remains largely unknown, as WD strikes only a very small minority of the individuals infected with Tropheryma whipplei (Tw). Asymptomatic carriage of Tw is less rare. We studied a large multiplex French kindred, containing four otherwise healthy WD patients (mean age: 76.7 years) and five healthy carriers of Tw (mean age: 55 years). We used a strategy combining genome-wide linkage analysis and whole-exome sequencing to test the hypothesis that WD is inherited in an autosomal dominant (AD) manner, with age-dependent incomplete penetrance. WD was linked to 12 genomic regions covering 27 megabases in the four patients. These regions contained only one very rare non-synonymous variation: the R98W variant of IRF4. The five Tw carriers were heterozygous for R98W. Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) is a transcription factor with pleiotropic roles in immunity. We showed that R98W was a loss-of-function allele, like only five other exceedingly rare IRF4 alleles of a total of 39 rare and common non-synonymous alleles tested. Furthermore, heterozygosity for R98W led to a distinctive pattern of transcription in leukocytes following stimulation with BCG or Tw. Finally, we found that IRF4 had evolved under purifying selection and that R98W was not dominant-negative, suggesting that the IRF4 deficiency in this kindred was due to haploinsufficiency. Overall, haploinsufficiency at the IRF4 locus selectively underlies WD in this multiplex kindred. This deficiency displays AD inheritance with incomplete penetrance, and chronic carriage probably precedes WD by several decades in Tw-infected heterozygotes.

immunology↗