Biology subjects

Huan, T.

Publications and source records attributed to Huan, T..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2017

Multiethnic Meta-analysis Identifies New Loci for Pulmonary Function

Nearly 100 loci have been identified for pulmonary function, almost exclusively in studies of European ancestry populations. We extend previous research by meta-analyzing genome-wide association studies of 1000 Genomes imputed variants in relation to pulmonary function in a multiethnic population of 90,715 individuals of European (N=60,552), African (N=8,429), Asian (N=9,959), and Hispanic/Latino (N=11,775) ethnicities. We identified over 50 novel loci at genome-wide significance in ancestry-specific and/or multiethnic meta-analyses. Recent fine mapping methods incorporating functional annotation, gene expression, and/or differences in linkage disequilibrium between ethnicities identified potential causal variants and genes at known and newly identified loci. Sixteen of the novel genes encode proteins with predicted or established drug targets, including KCNK2 and CDK12.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2017

Dietary xenoestrogens significantly alter cellular metabolism induced by palbociclib/letrozole combination cancer therapy

HighlightsO_LISynergism of combined palbociclib/letrozole chemotherapy was examined by global metabolomics\nC_LIO_LICombination therapy led to more pronounced effects on the MCF-7 metabolome than single agents\nC_LIO_LIDietary phyto- and mycoestrogens significantly affected the metabolic and anti-oncogenic response of the drugs\nC_LIO_LIImplications of these bio-active chemicals on therapeutic success in breast cancer patients appear plausible\nC_LI\n\nIn BriefWarth et al. used innovative global metabolomics and pathway prediction technology to describe the metabolic effects of the combined palbociclib/letrozole breast cancer therapy. Moreover, the role of dietary xenoestrogens on this treatment was examined by metabolite data, proliferation experiments, and functional assays.\n\nSummaryRecently, the palbociclib/letrozole combination therapy was granted accelerated FDA approval for the treatment of estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer. Since the underlying metabolic effects of these drugs are yet unknown, we investigated their synergism at the metabolome level in MCF-7 cells. As xenoestrogens interact with the ER, we additionally aimed at deciphering the impact of the phytoestrogen genistein, and the estrogenic mycotoxin zearalenone on this treatment. A global metabolomics approach was applied to unravel metabolite and pathway modifications. The results clearly showed that the combined effects of palbociclib and letrozole on cellular metabolism were far more pronounced than that of each agent alone and potently influenced by xenoestrogens. This behavior was confirmed in proliferation experiments and functional assays. Specifically, amino acids and central carbon metabolites were attenuated while higher abundances were observed for fatty acids and most nucleic acid related metabolites. Interestingly, exposure to model xenoestrogens appeared to partially counteract these effects.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2017

Exposing the Exposome with Global Metabolomics andCognitive Computing

Concurrent exposure to a wide variety of xenobiotics and their combined toxic effects can play a pivotal role in health and disease, yet are largely unexplored. Investigating the totality of these exposures, i.e. the exposome, and their specific biological effects constitutes a new paradigm for environmental health but still lacks high-throughput, user-friendly technology. We demonstrate the utility of mass spectrometry-based global exposure metabolomics combined with tailored database queries and cognitive computing for comprehensive exposure assessment and the straightforward elucidation of biological effects. The METLIN Exposome database has been redesigned to help identify environmental toxicants, food contaminants and supplements, drugs, and antibiotics as well as their biotransformation products, through its expansion with over 700,000 chemical structures to now include more than 950,000 unique small molecules. More importantly, we demonstrate how the XCMS/METLIN platform now allows for the readout of the biological effect of a toxicant through metabolomic-derived pathway analysis and further, cognitive computing provides a means of assessing the role of a potential toxicant. The presented workflow addresses many of the outstanding methodological challenges current exposome research is facing and will serve to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of environmental exposures and combinatory toxic effects on human health.

epidemiology↗

bioRxiv2017

Genome-wide Association Study Of Plasma Proteins Identifies Putatively Causal Genes, Proteins, And Pathways For Cardiovascular Disease

Identifying genetic variants associated with circulating protein concentrations (pQTLs) and integrating them with variants from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) may illuminate the proteomes causal role in disease and bridge a GWAS knowledge gap for hitherto unexplained SNP-disease associations. We conducted GWAS of 71 high-value proteins for cardiovascular disease in 6,861 Framingham Heart Study participants followed by external replication. We comprehensively mapped thousands of pQTLs, including functional annotations and clinical-trait associations, and created an integrated plasma-protein-QTL searchable database. We next identified 15 proteins with pQTLs coinciding with coronary heart disease (CHD)-related variants from GWAS or tested causal for CHD by Mendelian randomization; most of these proteins were associated with new-onset cardiovascular disease events in Framingham participants with long-term follow-up. Identifying pQTLs and integrating them with GWAS results yields insights into genes, proteins, and pathways that may be causally associated with disease and can serve as therapeutic targets for treatment and prevention.

epidemiology↗