Project description:SHOX mutations and deletions of the downstream regulatory region have been reported in cases with idiopathic short stature (ISS) and Leri-Weill dyschondrosteosis (LWD). Recently, a deletion and duplication of upstream enhancers have been described in ISS. Here, we aimed to evaluate the contribution of upstream copy number variations (CNVs) to the pathogenesis of ISS, to validate the enhancer role of the upstream enhancers in human cells, and to characterize the chromatin architecture of the cis-regulatory landscape of SHOX. CNV analysis of three upstream conserved non-coding elements (CNEs), CNE-5, CNE-3 and CNE-2, in 501 ISS referrals with no established molecular diagnosis revealed two deletions and one duplication. Enhancer activity of the upstream CNEs was corroborated by luciferase assays in human osteosarcoma U2OS cells. In addition, all three CNEs overlap with reported H3K27ac ChIP-seq marks in human embryonic limb buds. To characterize the chromatin interaction profile of the SHOX region, chromosome conformation capture (4C-seq) was performed in chicken embryo limb buds and in U2OS cells, revealing interactions of the upstream CNEs with the SHOX promoter. Moreover, the 4C-seq interaction maps and H3K27ac marks indicated that the cis-regulatory landscape of SHOX encompasses 1 Mb, suggesting additional cis-regulatory elements controlling SHOX.In conclusion, we showed that upstream CNVs of SHOX are rare in ISS and have incomplete penetrance. Chromatin interaction maps, luciferase assays and H3K27ac marks further support an enhancer function for the upstream CNEs. Finally, we demonstrated that the cis-regulatory landscape of SHOX is larger than previously anticipated potentially harboring novel cis-regulatory elements, which may be involved in the pathogenesis of molecularly unsolved ISS cases..
Project description:Deficiency of the human short stature homeobox-containing gene (SHOX) has been identified in several disorders characterized by reduced height and skeletal anomalies such as Turner, Leri-Weill and Langer syndrome as well as idiopathic short stature. Although highly conserved in vertebrates, rodents lack a SHOX orthologue. Here, we compared gene expression profiles of wildtype and SHOX transgenic mouse limbs using microarray experiments to identify SHOX target genes in the developing limb.
Project description:Deficiency of the human short stature homeobox-containing gene (SHOX) has been identified in several disorders characterized by reduced height and skeletal anomalies such as Turner, Leri-Weill and Langer syndrome as well as idiopathic short stature. Although highly conserved in vertebrates, rodents lack a SHOX orthologue. Here, we compared gene expression profiles of wildtype and SHOX transgenic mouse limbs using microarray experiments to identify SHOX target genes in the developing limb. Limbs of E12.5 mouse embryos were dissected, fore- and hindlimbs were pooled and genotyped for RNA extraction. RNA from 2 to 4 littermates was pooled per genotype (Wildtype and SHOX transgene) and compared. In total, 2 microarray hybridization experiments were performed using RNA from 2 biological replicate samples for each genotype.
Project description:Idiopathic short stature is diagnosed by a standing height of less than two standard deviation scores in a specific population adjusted for age and gender and the exclusion of identifiable diseases. A series of studies have confirmed that noncoding RNAs can regulate the chondrocyte proliferation, hypertrophy, and endochondral ossification in the growth plate. In order to analyze and find differentially expressed circRNAs in Idiopathic short stature and healthy controls, we aimed to explore whether differentially expressed circRNAs in idiopathic short stature. Four pairs of blood samples were subjected to microarray analysis using the Arraystar Human CircRNAs Microarray v2 (Arraystar, USA). Compared to normal individuals, in ISS patients, the expression levels of 83 circRNAs were upregulated and those of 62 were downregulated.
Project description:Idiopathic short stature is diagnosed by a standing height of less than two standard deviation scores in a specific population adjusted for age and gender and the exclusion of identifiable diseases. A series of studies have confirmed that noncoding RNAs can regulate the chondrocyte proliferation, hypertrophy, and endochondral ossification in the growth plate. In order to analyze and find differentially expressed ceRNAs (lncRNAs, circRNAs and mRNAs in peripheral blood exosomes of idiopathic short stature and healthy controls, we aimed to explore whether differentially expressed ceRNAs (lncRNAs, circRNAs and mRNAs) in peripheral blood exosomes of idiopathic short stature. Three pairs of peripheral blood exosomes samples were subjected to microarray analysis using the SBC human ceRNA Microarray.
Project description:To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms and to better understand the broad phenotypic spectrum of SHOX deficiency, we aimed to identify novel SHOX targets. We analyzed differentially expressed genes in SHOX-overexpressing human fibroblasts (NHDF)