Browsing by Author "Crowley, Blaine"
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Publication Chromatin regulators in the TBX1 network confer risk for conotruncal heart defects in 22q11.2DS(2023) Repetto, Gabriela; Zhao, Yingjie; Wang, Yujue; Shi, Lijie; McDonald, Donna; Crowley, Blaine; McGinn, Daniel; Tran, Oanh; Miller, Daniella; Lin, Jhih-Rong; Zacka, Elaine; Johnston, Richard; Chow, Eva; Vorstman, Jacob; Vingerhoets, Claudia; Van Amelsvoort, Therese; Gothelf, Doron; Swillen, Ann; Breckpot, Jeroen; Vermeesch, Joris; Eliez, Stephan; Schneider, Maude; Van den Bree, Marianne; Owen, Michael; Kates, Wendy; Shashi, Vandana; Schoch, Kelly; Bearden, Carrie; Digili, M. Cristina; Unolt, Marta; Putotto, Carolina; Marino, Bruno; Pontillo, Maria; Armando, Marco; Vicar, Stefano; Angkustsiri, Kathleen; Campbell, Linda; Busa, Tiffany; Heine, Damian; Murphy, Kieran; Murphy, DeclanCongenital heart disease (CHD) affecting the conotruncal region of the heart, occurs in 40-50% of patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS). This syndrome is a rare disorder with relative genetic homogeneity that can facilitate identification of genetic modifiers. Haploinsufficiency of TBX1, encoding a T-box transcription factor, is one of the main genes responsible for the etiology of the syndrome. We suggest that genetic modifiers of conotruncal defects in patients with 22q11.2DS may be in the TBX1 gene network. To identify genetic modifiers, we analyzed rare, predicted damaging variants in whole genome sequence of 456 cases with conotruncal defects and 537 controls, with 22q11.2DS. We then performed gene set approaches and identified chromatin regulatory genes as modifiers. Chromatin genes with recurrent damaging variants include EP400, KAT6A, KMT2C, KMT2D, NSD1, CHD7 and PHF21A. In total, we identified 37 chromatin regulatory genes, that may increase risk for conotruncal heart defects in 8.5% of 22q11.2DS cases. Many of these genes were identified as risk factors for sporadic CHD in the general population. These genes are co-expressed in cardiac progenitor cells with TBX1, suggesting that they may be in the same genetic network. The genes KAT6A, KMT2C, CHD7 and EZH2, have been previously shown to genetically interact with TBX1 in mouse models. Our findings indicate that disturbance of chromatin regulatory genes impact the TBX1 gene network serving as genetic modifiers of 22q11.2DS and sporadic CHD, suggesting that there are some shared mechanisms involving the TBX1 gene network in the etiology of CHDItem Complete Sequence of the 22q11.2 Allele in 1,053 Subjects with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome Reveals Modifiers of Conotruncal Heart Defects(American Society of Human Genetics by Elsevier Inc., 2020-01) Zhao, Yingjie; Diacou, Alexander; Johnston, Richard; Musfee, Fadi; McDonald-McGinn, Donna; McGinn, Daniel; Crowley, Blaine; Repetto, Gabriela; Swillen, Ann; Breckpot, Jeroen; Vermeesch, Joris; Kates, Wendy; Digilio, Cristina; Unolt, Marta; Marino, Bruno; Pontillo, Maria; Armando, Marco; Di Fabio, Fabio; Vicari, Stefano; van den Bree, Marianne; Moss, Hayley; Owen, Michael; Murphy, Kieran; Murphy, Clodagh; Murphy, Declan; Schoch, Kelly; Shashi, Vandana; Tassone, FloraThe 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) results from non-allelic homologous recombination between low-copy repeats termed LCR22. About 60%-70% of individuals with the typical 3 megabase (Mb) deletion from LCR22A-D have congenital heart disease, mostly of the conotruncal type (CTD), whereas others have normal cardiac anatomy. In this study, we tested whether variants in the hemizygous LCR22A-D region are associated with risk for CTDs on the basis of the sequence of the 22q11.2 region from 1,053 22q11.2DS individuals. We found a significant association (FDR p < 0.05) of the CTD subset with 62 common variants in a single linkage disequilibrium (LD) block in a 350 kb interval harboring CRKL. A total of 45 of the 62 variants were associated with increased risk for CTDs (odds ratio [OR) ranges: 1.64-4.75). Associations of four variants were replicated in a meta-analysis of three genome-wide association studies of CTDs in affected individuals without 22q11.2DS. One of the replicated variants, rs178252, is located in an open chromatin region and resides in the double-elite enhancer, GH22J020947, that is predicted to regulate CRKL (CRK-like proto-oncogene, cytoplasmic adaptor) expression. Approximately 23% of patients with nested LCR22C-D deletions have CTDs, and inactivation of Crkl in mice causes CTDs, thus implicating this gene as a modifier. Rs178252 and rs6004160 are expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) of CRKL. Furthermore, set-based tests identified an enhancer that is predicted to target CRKL and is significantly associated with CTD risk (GH22J020946, sequence kernal association test (SKAT) p = 7.21 × 10-5) in the 22q11.2DS cohort. These findings suggest that variance in CTD penetrance in the 22q11.2DS population can be explained in part by variants affecting CRKL expression.Publication Gathering the Stakeholder’s Perspective: Experiences and Opportunities in Rare Genetic Disease Research(2023) White, Lauren; Crowley, Blaine; Finucane, Brenda; McClellan, Emily; Donoghue, Sarah; Garcia, Sixto; Repetto, Gabriela; Fischer, Matthias; Jacquemont, Sebastien; Gur, Raquel; Maillard, Anne; Donald, Kirsten; Bassett, Anne; Swillen, Ann; McDonald, DonnaBackground: Research participant feedback is rarely collected; therefore, investigators have limited understanding regarding stakeholders’ (affected individuals/caregivers) motivation to participate. Members of the Genes to Mental Health Network (G2MH) surveyed stakeholders affected by copy number variants (CNVs) regarding perceived incentives for study participation, opinions concerning research priorities, and the necessity for future funding. Respondents were also asked about feelings of preparedness, research burden, and satisfaction with research study participation. Methods: Modified validated surveys were used to assess stakeholders´ views across three domains: (1) Research Study Enrollment, Retainment, Withdrawal, and Future Participation; (2) Overall Research Experience, Burden, and Preparedness; (3) Research Priorities and Obstacles. Top box score analyses were performed. Results: A total of 704 stakeholders´ responded from 29 countries representing 55 CNVs. The top reasons for initial participation in the research included reasons related to education and altruism. The top reasons for leaving a research study included treatment risks and side effects. The importance of sharing research findings and laboratory results with stakeholders was underscored by participants. Most stakeholders reported positive research experiences. Conclusions: This study provides important insight into how individuals and families affected with a rare CNV feel toward research participation and their overall experience in rare disease research. There are clear targets for areas of improvement for study teams, although manystakeholders reported positive research experiences. Key findings from this international survey may help advance collaborative research and improve the experience of participants, investigators, and other stakeholders moving forward.Item Mapping Subcortical Brain Alterations in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome: Effects of Deletion Size and Convergence With Idiopathic Neuropsychiatric Illness(2020) Ching, Christopher R.K.; Gutman, Boris A.; Sun, Daqiang; Villalon Reina, Julio; Ragothaman, Anjanibhargavi; Isaev, Dmitry; Zavaliangos-Petropulu, Artemis; Lin, Amy; Jonas, Rachel K.; Kushan, Leila; Pacheco-Hansen, Laura; Vajdi, Ariana; Forsyth, Jennifer K.; Jalbrzikowski, Maria; Bakker, Geor; Amelsvoort, Therese van; Antshel, Kevin M.; Fremont, Wanda; Kates, Wendy R.; Campbell, Linda E.; McCabe, Kathryn L.; Craig, Michael C.; Daly, Eileen; Gudbrandsen, Maria; Murphy, Clodagh M.; Murphy, Declan G.; Murphy, Kieran C.; Fiksinski, Ania; Koops, Sanne; Vorstman, Jacob; Crowley, Blaine; Emanuel, Beverly S.; Gur, Raquel E.; McDonald-McGinn, Donna M.; Roalf, David R.; Ruparel, Kosha; Schmitt, J. Eric; Zackaile, Elaine H.; Durdle, Courtney A.; Goodrich-Hunsaker, Naomi J.; Simon, Tony J.; Bassett, Anne S.; Butcher, Nancy J.; Chow, Eva W.C.; Vila-Rodriguez, Fidel; Cunningham, Adam; Doherty, Joanne; Linden, David E.; Moss, Hayley; Owen, Michael J.; Bree, Marianne van den; Crossley, Nicolas A.; Repetto, Gabriela; Thompson, Paul M.; Bearden, Carrie E.Objective: 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) is among the strongest known genetic risk factors for schizophrenia. Previous studies have reported variable alterations in subcortical brain structures in 22q11DS. To better characterize subcortical alterations in 22q11DS, including modulating effects of clinical and genetic heterogeneity, the authors studied a large multicenter neuroimaging cohort from the ENIGMA 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome Working Group. Methods: Subcortical structures were measured using harmonized protocols for gross volume and subcortical shape morphometry in 533 individuals with 22q11DS and 330 matched healthy control subjects (age range, 6–56 years; 49% female). Results: Compared with the control group, the 22q11DS group showed lower intracranial volume (ICV) and thalamus, putamen, hippocampus, and amygdala volumes and greater lateral ventricle, caudate, and accumbens volumes (Cohen’s d values, 20.90 to 0.93). Shape analysis revealed complex differences in the 22q11DS group across all structures. The larger A-D deletion was associated with more extensive shape alterations compared with the smaller A-B deletion. Participants with 22q11DS with psychosis showed lower ICV and hippocampus, amygdala, and thalamus volumes (Cohen’s d values, 20.91 to 0.53) compared with participants with 22q11DS without psychosis. Shape analysis revealed lower thickness and surface area across subregions of these structures. Compared with subcortical findings from other neuropsychiatric disorders studied by the ENIGMA consortium, significant convergence was observed between participants with 22q11DS with psychosis and participants with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Conclusions: In the largest neuroimaging study of 22q11DS to date, the authors found widespread alterations to subcortical brain structures, which were affected by deletion size and psychotic illness. Findings indicate significant overlap between 22q11DS-associated psychosis, idiopathic schizophrenia, and other severe neuropsychiatric illnesses.