1. Impaired neurodevelopmental genes in Slovenian autistic children elucidate the comorbidity of autism with other developmental disordersDanijela Krgović, Mario Gorenjak, Nika Rihar, Iva Opalič, Špela Stangler Herodež, Hojka Gregorič Kumperščak, Peter Dovč, Nadja Kokalj-Vokač, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) represent a phenotypically heterogeneous group of patients that strongly intertwine with other neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), with genetics playing a significant role in their etiology. Whole exome sequencing (WES) has become predominant in molecular diagnostics for ASD by considerably increasing the diagnostic yield. However, the proportion of undiagnosed patients still remains high due to complex clinical presentation, reduced penetrance, and lack of segregation analysis or clinical information. Thus, reverse phenotyping, where we first identified a possible genetic cause and then determine its clinical relevance, has been shown to be a more efficient approach. WES was performed on 147 Slovenian pediatric patients with suspected ASD. Data analysis was focused on identifying ultrarare or “single event” variants in ASD-associated genes and further expanded to NDD-associated genes. Protein function and gene prioritization were performed on detected clinically relevant variants to determine their role in ASD etiology and phenotype. Reverse phenotyping revealed a pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant in ASD-associated genes in 20.4% of patients, with subsequent segregation analysis indicating that 14 were de novo variants and 1 was presumed compound heterozygous. The diagnostic yield was further increased by 2.7% by the analysis of ultrarare or “single event” variants in all NDD-associated genes. Protein function analysis established that genes in which variants of unknown significance (VUS) were detected were predominantly the cause of intellectual disability (ID), and in most cases, features of ASD as well. Using such an approach, variants in rarely described ASD-associated genes, such as SIN3B, NR4A2, and GRIA1, were detected. By expanding the analysis to include functionally similar NDD genes, variants in KCNK9, GNE, and other genes were identified. These would probably have been missed by classic genotype–phenotype analysis. Our study thus demonstrates that in patients with ASD, analysis of ultrarare or “single event” variants obtained using WES with the inclusion of functionally similar genes and reverse phenotyping obtained a higher diagnostic yield despite limited clinical data. The present study also demonstrates that most of the causative genes in our cohort were involved in the syndromic form of ASD and confirms their comorbidity with other developmental disorders.
Keywords: reverse phenotyping, single event variants, NDD-associated genes, GRIA1 gene, NR4A2 gene, SIN3B gene, autism, child
Published in DKUM: 12.12.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 5
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2. Single-cell transcriptomic and targeted genomic profiling adjusted for inflammation and therapy bias reveal CRTAM and PLCB1 as novel hub genes for anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha therapy response in Crohn’s diseaseMario Gorenjak, Boris Gole, Larisa Goričan, Gregor Jezernik, Uršula Prosenc Zmrzljak, Cvetka Pernat Drobež, Pavel Skok, Uroš Potočnik, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: The lack of reliable biomarkers in response to anti-TNFα biologicals hinders
personalized therapy for Crohn’s disease (CD) patients. The motivation behind our study is to shift
the paradigm of anti-TNFα biomarker discovery toward specific immune cell sub-populations using
single-cell RNA sequencing and an innovative approach designed to uncover PBMCs gene expression
signals, which may be masked due to the treatment or ongoing inflammation; Methods: The singlecell
RNA sequencing was performed on PBMC samples from CD patients either naïve to biological
therapy, in remission while on adalimumab, or while on ustekinumab but previously non-responsive
to adalimumab. Sieves for stringent downstream gene selection consisted of gene ontology and
independent cohort genomic profiling. Replication and meta-analyses were performed using publicly
available raw RNA sequencing files of sorted immune cells and an association analysis summary.
Machine learning, Mendelian randomization, and oligogenic risk score methods were deployed to
validate DEGs highly relevant to anti-TNFα therapy response; Results: This study found PLCB1 in
CD4+ T cells and CRTAM in double-negative T cells, which met the stringent statistical thresholds
throughout the analyses. An additional assessment proved causal inference of both genes in response
to anti-TNFα therapy; Conclusions: This study, jointly with an innovative design, uncovered
novel candidate genes in the anti-TNFα response landscape of CD, potentially obscured by therapy
or inflammation.
Keywords: inflammatory bowel diseases, Crohn’s disease, tumor necrosis factor alpha, adalimumab, single-cell gene expression analysis
Published in DKUM: 10.12.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 6
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3. Discovery of novel biomarkers with extended non-coding RNA interactor networks from genetic and protein biomarkersGregor Jezernik, Damjan Glavač, Pavel Skok, Martina Krušič, Uroš Potočnik, Mario Gorenjak, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Curated online interaction databases and gene ontology tools have streamlined the analysis of highly complex gene/protein networks. However, understanding of disease pathogenesis has gradually shifted from a protein-based core to complex interactive networks where non-coding RNA (ncRNA) is thought to play an essential role. As current gene ontology is based predominantly on protein-level information, there is a growing need to analyze networks with ncRNA. In this study, we propose a gene ontology workflow integrating ncRNA using the NPInter V5.0 database. To validate the proposed workflow, we analyzed our previously published curated biomarker datasets for hidden disease susceptibility processes and pharmacogenomics. Our results show a novel involvement of melanogenesis in psoriasis response to biological drugs in general. Hyperpigmentation has been previously observed in psoriasis following treatment with currently indicated biological drugs, thus calling attention to melanogenesis research as a response biomarker in psoriasis. Moreover, our proposed workflow highlights the need to critically evaluate computed ncRNA interactions within databases and a demand for gene ontology analysis of large miRNA blocks.
Keywords: gene ontology, non-coding RNA, disease pathogenesis
Published in DKUM: 06.12.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 7
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4. Meta-analytic comparison of global RNA transcriptomes of acute and chronic myeloid leukemia cells reveals novel gene candidates governing myeloid malignanciesStaša Jurgec, Gregor Jezernik, Mario Gorenjak, Tomaž Büdefeld, Uroš Potočnik, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Despite advances in the understanding of genetic risk factors and molecular mechanisms underlying acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), clinical outcomes of current therapies in terms of disease relapse and mortality rate pose a great economic and social burden. To overcome this, the identification of new molecular prognostic biomarkers and pharmacological targets is crucial. Recent studies have suggested that AML and CML may share common pathogenic mechanisms and cellular substrates. To this end, in the present study, global transcriptome profiles of AML and CML at the molecular and cellular level were directly compared using a combination of meta-analysis and modern statistics, and novel candidate genes and specific biological processes associated with the pathogenesis of AML and CML were characterized. Our study significantly improves our current understanding of myeloid leukemia and will help develop new therapeutic targets and biomarkers for disease progression, management and treatment response.
Keywords: AML, CML, meta-analysis, lincRNA, spliceosome
Published in DKUM: 05.12.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 5
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5. Identification of novel loci involved in adalimumab response in Crohn’s disease patients using integration of genome profiling and isoform-level immune-cell deconvoluted transcriptome profiling of colon tissueMario Gorenjak, Gregor Jezernik, Martina Krušič, Pavel Skok, Uroš Potočnik, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Crohn’s disease is a consequence of dysregulated inflammatory response to the host’s microbiota. Although anti-TNF treatment improves the quality of the patient’s life, a large proportion of patients lose response to the treatment. The past decade of research has led to a continuum of studies showcasing the heterogeneity of anti-TNF response; thus, the aim of the present study was to dissect transcriptome-wide findings to transcript isoform specific levels and combine the analyses with refined information of immune cell landscapes in colon tissue, and subsequently select promising candidates using gene ontology and genomic integration. We enrolled Slovenian Crohn’s disease patients who were naïve with respect to adalimumab treatment. We performed colon tissue RNA sequencing and peripheral blood mononuclear cell DNA genotyping with a subsequent contemporary integrative approach to combine immune cell deconvoluted isoform transcript specific transcriptome analysis, gene ontology layering and genomic data. We identified nine genes (MACF1, CTSE, HDLBP, HSPA9, HLA-DMB, TAP2, LGMN, ANAPC11, ACP5) with 15 transcripts and 16 variants involved in the adalimumab response. Our study identified loci, some of which were previously shown to contribute to inflammatory bowel disease susceptibility, as novel loci involved in adalimumab response in Crohn’s disease patients.
Keywords: Crohn’s disease, adalimumab, transcriptome, isoforms, deconvolution
Published in DKUM: 05.12.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 4
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6. Isoform-level transcriptome analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from breast cancer patients identifies a disease-associated RASGEF1A isoformHelena Sabina Čelešnik, Mario Gorenjak, Martina Krušič, Bojana Crnobrnja, Monika Sobočan, Iztok Takač, Darja Arko, Uroš Potočnik, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Breast cancer (BC) comprises multiple subtypes with distinct molecular features, which differ in their interplay with host immunity, prognosis, and treatment. Non-invasive blood analyses can provide valuable insights into systemic immunity during cancer. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression of transcriptional isoforms in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from BC patients and healthy women to identify potential BC immune biomarkers. Methods: RNA sequencing and isoform-level bioinformatics were performed on PBMCs from 12 triple-negative and 13 luminal A patients. Isoform expression validation by qRT-PCR and clinicopathological correlations were performed in a larger cohort (156 BC patients and 32 healthy women). Results: Transcriptional analyses showed a significant (p < 0.001) decrease in the ENST00000374459 RASGEF1A isoform in PBMCs of BC compared to healthy subjects, indicating disease-related expression changes. The decrease was associated with higher ctDNA and Ki-67 values. Conclusions: The levels of the RASGEF1A transcriptional isoform ENST00000374459 may have the potential to distinguish between BC and healthy subjects. The downregulation of ENST00000374459 in breast cancer is associated with higher proliferation and ctDNA shedding. Specialized bioinformatics analyses such as isoform analyses hold significant promise in the detection of biomarkers, since standard RNA sequencing analyses may overlook specific transcriptional changes that may be disease-associated and biologically important.
Keywords: breast cancer, peripheral blood, isoform-level RNA-seq, RASGEF1A ENST00000374459, ctDNA, Ki-67
Published in DKUM: 26.11.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 5
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7. Classifying asthma control using salivary and fecal bacterial microbiome in children with moderate-to-severe asthmaJelle M. Blankestijn, Alejandro Lopez-Rincon, Anne H. Neerincx, Susanne J Vijverberg, Simone Hashimoto, Mario Gorenjak, Olaia Sardon-Prado, Paula Corcuera-Elosegui, Javier Korta-Murua, Maria Pino-Yanes, Uroš Potočnik, 2023, original scientific article Published in DKUM: 09.05.2024; Views: 152; Downloads: 16
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9. Primerjava podpornih vektorjev, naključnih gozdov in nevronskih mrež za napoved odziva na zdravljenje z adalimumabom pri slovenskih bolnikih s crohnovo boleznijoKatja Nemec, 2024, master's thesis Abstract: Uvod: V našem magistrskem delu smo želeli ugotoviti učinkovitost metod strojnega učenja pri napovedi odziva bolnikov s Chronovo boleznijo na biološko zdravilo adalimumab.
Metode: Raziskava je vključevala 88 vzorcev, ki so bili analizirani glede na genetske, klinične in mešane podatke v različnih tednih zdravljenja. Uporabljene metode, kot so naključni gozdovi (RF), podporni vektorji (SVM) in nevronske mreže (NNET), so bile evalvirane z uporabo različnih metrik natančnosti, občutljivosti in Youdenovega indeksa.
Rezultati: Rezultati kažejo, da je metoda RF najboljša na mešanih podatkih, SVM izstopa pri kliničnih, medtem ko NNET in RF dosegata najboljše rezultate na genetskih podatkih v različnih obdobjih zdravljenja. Uporaba metode "bagging" je izboljšala natančnost, še posebej pri RF. Kljub temu se zahteva previdnost pri interpretaciji zaradi omejene velikosti vzorca.
Razprava: Naša analiza poudarja potrebo po preudarnem izboru metode, odvisnem od specifičnih značilnosti podatkov in ciljev analize.
Sklep: Naše ugotovitve na podlagi analize predstavljajo osnovo za nadaljnje raziskave v smeri izboljšanja natančnosti modelov napovedi zdravljenja.
Keywords: Crohnova bolezen, bioinformatika, napovedni modeli, strojno učenje
Published in DKUM: 26.03.2024; Views: 257; Downloads: 18
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10. Medication use in uncontrolled pediatric asthma : results from the SysPharmPediA studyAmir Hossein Alizadeh Bahmani, Elise M. A. Slob, Lizan D. Bloemsma, Susanne Brandstetter, Paula Corcuerea, Mario Gorenjak, Susanne Harner, Simone Hashimoto, Anna M. Hedman, Michael Kabesch, Uroš Potočnik, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Background
Uncontrolled pediatric asthma has a large impact on patients and their caregivers. More insight into determinants of uncontrolled asthma is needed. We aim to compare treatment regimens, inhaler techniques, medication adherence and other characteristics of children with controlled and uncontrolled asthma in the: Systems Pharmacology approach to uncontrolled Paediatric Asthma (SysPharmPediA) study.
Material and methods
145 children with moderate to severe doctor-diagnosed asthma (91 uncontrolled and 54 controlled) aged 6–17 years were enrolled in this multicountry, (Germany, Slovenia, Spain, and the Netherlands) observational, case-control study. The definition of uncontrolled asthma was based on asthma symptoms and/or exacerbations in the past year. Patient-reported adherence and clinician-reported medication use were assessed, as well as lung function and inhalation technique. A logistic regression model was fitted to assess determinants of uncontrolled pediatric asthma.
Results
Children in higher asthma treatment steps had a higher risk of uncontrolled asthma (OR (95%CI): 3.30 (1.56–7.19)). The risk of uncontrolled asthma was associated with a larger change in FEV1% predicted post and pre-salbutamol (OR (95%CI): 1.08 (1.02–1.15)). Adherence and inhaler techniques were not associated with risk of uncontrolled asthma in this population.
Conclusion
This study showed that children with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe asthma were treated in higher treatment steps compared to their controlled peers, but still showed a higher reversibility response to salbutamol. Self-reported adherence and inhaler technique scores did not differ between controlled and uncontrolled asthmatic children. Other determinants, such as environmental factors and differences in biological profiles, may influence the risk of uncontrolled asthma in this moderate to severe asthmatic population.
Keywords: pediatric asthma, asthma control, uncontrolled asthma, medication, adherence, inhaler technique
Published in DKUM: 16.08.2023; Views: 472; Downloads: 44
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