Biology subjects

Benegiamo, G.

Publications and source records attributed to Benegiamo, G..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Proteome-wide QTL mapping enables gene-protein-phenotype metabolic network construction in a genetically diverse MASLD mouse model

The limited treatment options available for the estimated 38% of adults worldwide affected by Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) are largely due to an incomplete understanding of the complex molecular networks underlying disease pathogenesis. To dissect the genetic architecture and proteomic regulation underlying MASLD, we generated a genetically diverse mouse cohort through a four-way cross of founder strains with varying susceptibility to liver disease, producing 444 F2 mice with a spectrum of phenotypes and genotypes. Utilizing deep proteomic profiling of the livers of this population, we identified quantitative trait loci (QTL) for 2,652 proteins, spanning over 4,000 unique genomic loci, and distinguished cis- and trans-acting regulatory mechanisms. Integrating proteomic, genomic, and phenotypic data reveals key regulatory loci and candidate proteins influencing disease progression, creating a mineable proteogenomic resource for MASLD research. We utilize this resource to identify the E3 ubiquitin ligase Ubr1 as a candidate central regulator connecting proteostasis and lipid metabolism, with genetic polymorphisms that may alter its abundance and predispose to metabolic dysfunction. This study demonstrates how high-throughput, deep proteome profiling integrated with QTL mapping can reveal complex gene-protein networks governing MASLD susceptibility and progression, offering novel insights for biomarker discovery and therapeutic targeting.

systems biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Genetic and dietary modulators of the inflammatory response in the gastro-intestinal tract of the BXD mouse genetic reference population

Inflammatory gut disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), can be impacted by dietary, environmental and genetic factors. While the incidence of IBD is increasing worldwide, we still lack a complete understanding of the gene-by-environment interactions underlying inflammation and IBD. Here, we profiled the colon transcriptome of 52 BXD mouse strains fed with a chow or high-fat diet (HFD) and identified a subset of BXD strains that exhibit an IBD-like transcriptome signature on HFD, indicating that an interplay of genetics and diet can significantly affect intestinal inflammation. Using gene co-expression analyses, we identified modules that are enriched for IBD-dysregulated genes and found that these IBD-related modules share cis-regulatory elements that are responsive to the STAT2, SMAD3, and REL transcription factors. We used module quantitative trait locus (ModQTL) analyses to identify genetic loci associated with the expression of these modules. Through a prioritization scheme involving systems genetics in the mouse and integration with external human datasets, we identified Muc4 and Epha6 as the top candidates mediating differences in HFD-driven intestinal inflammation. This work provides insights into the contribution of genetics and diet to IBD risk and identifies two candidate genes, MUC4 and EPHA6, that may mediate IBD susceptibility in humans.

systems biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Genetic, metabolic, and molecular insights into the diverse outcomes of diet-induced obesity in mice

Overweight and obesity are increasingly common public health issues worldwide, leading to a wide range of diseases from metabolic syndrome to steatohepatitis and cardiovascular diseases. While the increase in the prevalence of obesity is partly attributable to changes in lifestyle (i.e. increased sedentarity and changes in eating behaviour), the metabolic and clinical impacts of these obesogenic conditions varies between sexes and genetic backgrounds. The conception of personalised treatments of obesity and its complications require a thorough understanding of the diversity of responses to conditions such as high-fat diet intake. By analysing nine genetically diverse mouse strains, we show that much like humans, mice respond to high-fat diet in a genetic- and sex-dependent manner. Physiological and molecular responses to high-fat diet are associated with expression of genes involved in immunity and mitochondrial function. Finally, we find that mitochondrial function may explain part of the diversity of physiological responses. By exploring the complex interactions between genetics and metabolic phenotypes via gene expression and molecular traits, we shed light on the importance of genetic background and sex in determining metabolic outcomes. In addition to providing the community with an extensive resource for optimizing future experiments, our work serves as an exemplary design for more generalizable translational studies.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2020

Gene replacement therapy provides benefit in an adult mouse model of Leigh syndrome

Mutations in nuclear-encoded mitochondrial genes are responsible for a broad spectrum of disorders among which Leigh syndrome (LS) is the most common in infancy. No effective therapies are available for this severe disease mainly because of the limited capabilities of the standard adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors to transduce both peripheral organs and the central nervous system (CNS) when injected systemically in adults. Here, we used the brain-penetrating AAV-PHP.B vector to reinstate gene expression in the Ndufs4 KO mouse model of LS. Intravenous delivery of an AAV.PHP.B-Ndufs4 vector in 1-month old KO mice restored mitochondrial complex I activity in several organs including the CNS. This gene replacement strategy extended lifespan, rescued metabolic parameters, provided behavioral improvement, and corrected the pathological phenotype in the brain, retina, and heart of Ndufs4 KO mice. These results provide a robust proof that gene therapy strategies targeting multiple organs can rescue fatal neurometabolic disorders with CNS involvement.

neuroscience↗