Computational Biology Helps Understand How Polyploid Giant Cancer Cells Drive Tumor Success.

Precision and organization govern the cell cycle, ensuring normal proliferation. However, some cells may undergo abnormal cell divisions (neosis) or variations of mitotic cycles (endopolyploidy). Consequently, the formation of polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs), critical for tumor survival, resistance, and immortalization, can occur. Newly formed cells end up accessing numerous multicellular and unicellular programs that enable metastasis, drug resistance, tumor recurrence, and self-renewal or diverse clone formation. An integrative literature review was carried out, searching articles in several sites, including: PUBMED, NCBI-PMC, and Google Academic, published in English, indexed in referenced databases and without a publication time filter, but prioritizing articles from the last 3 years, to answer the following questions: (i) "What is the current knowledge about polyploidy in tumors?"; (ii) "What are the applications of computational studies for the understanding of cancer polyploidy?"; and (iii) "How do PGCCs contribute to tumorigenesis?"

Translational Bioinformatics Applied to the Study of Complex Diseases.

Translational Bioinformatics (TBI) is defined as the union of translational medicine and bioinformatics. It emerges as a major advance in science and technology by covering everything, from the most basic database discoveries, to the development of algorithms for molecular and cellular analysis, as well as their clinical applications. This technology makes it possible to access the knowledge of scientific evidence and apply it to clinical practice. This manuscript aims to highlight the role of TBI in the study of complex diseases, as well as its application to the understanding and treatment of cancer. An integrative literature review was carried out, obtaining articles through several websites, among them: PUBMED, Science Direct, NCBI-PMC, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), and Google Academic, published in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, indexed in the referred databases and answering the following guiding question: "How does TBI provide a scientific understanding of complex diseases?" An additional effort is aimed at the dissemination, inclusion, and perpetuation of TBI knowledge from the academic environment to society, helping the study, understanding, and elucidating of complex disease mechanics and their treatment.

The combined risk effect among BIN1, CLU, and APOE genes in Alzheimer's disease.

Genome-wide associations studies (GWAS) are detecting new variants associated with late-onset of Alzheimer's disease (LOAD), a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder. The variants rs744373 BIN1, rs11136000 CLU and rs3764650 ABCA7 uncovered by GWAS led to different AD pathways, such as metabolism, trafficking and endocytosis of lipids and inflammation. However, most of the association studies did not replicate these variants with significance. This could be due to a small power effect evident when these variants are tested independently with LOAD. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether the combination of different variants would additively modify the risk of association with LOAD that is observed in GWAS. We performed an association study testing pairwise variants in metabolism, trafficking and endocytosis of lipid (rs429358 and rs7412 APOE, rs744373 BIN1, rs3764650 ABCA7 and rs11136000 CLU) pathways with LOAD in samples from southeastern Brazil. Our data suggest a risk effect for LOAD between APOE with CLU and APOE with BIN1 genes.

Osteogenesis imperfecta in Brazilian patients.

Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) is a heterogeneous genetic disorder characterized by bone fragility and fracture. Mutations in 20 distinct genes can cause OI, and therefore, the genetic diagnosis of OI is frequently difficult to obtain because of the great number of genes that can be related with this disease. Studies that report the most frequently mutated genes in OI patients can help to improve molecular strategies for diagnosis of the disease. In order to characterize the mutation profile of OI in Brazilian patients, we analyzed 30 unrelated patients through SSCP screening, NGS gene panel, and/or Sanger sequencing for the 11 most frequently mutated genes in the database of mutations, including COL1A1, COL1A2, P3H1, CRTAP, PPIB, SERPINH1, SERPINF1, FKBP10, SP7, WNT1 and IFITM5. Disease-causing variants were identified in COL1A1, COL1A2, FKBP10, P3H1, and IFITM5. A total of 28 distinct mutations were identified, including seven novel changes. Our data show that the analysis of these five genes is able to detect at least 95% of causative mutations in OI disorder from Brazilian population. However, it has to be taken into considerations that distinct populations can have different frequencies of disease-causing variants. Hence, it is important to replicate this study in other groups.

An association study of FOXO3 variant and longevity.

Human longevity is a polygenic and multifactorial trait. Pathways related to lifespan are complex and involve molecular, cellular, and environmental processes. In this analytical observational study, we evaluated the relationship between environment factors, oxidative stress status, DNA integrity level, and the association of FOXO3 (rs2802292), SOD2 (rs4880), APOE (rs429358 and rs7412), and SIRT1 (rs2273773) polymorphisms with longevity in oldest-old individuals from southeastern Brazil. We found an association between the FOXO3 GG genotype and gender. While lifestyle, anthropometric, and biochemical characteristics showed significant results, DNA damage and oxidative stress were not related to lifespan. We found that long-lived individuals with FOXO3 GT genotype had low levels of triglycerides. This study is the first to demonstrate that FOXO3 could be a candidate gene for longevity in the Brazilian population. These results are important in terms of provisions of health care for age-related diseases and lifespan, and provide insight for further research on epigenetic, gene regulation, and expression in oldest-old individuals.

Associação da hipertensão arterial com polimorfismo da enzima conversora da angiotensina em indivíduos idosos / Association of hypertension with polymorphism of angiotensin converting enzyme in elderly persons

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A hipertensão arterial (HA), considerada como principal fator de risco cardiovascular em indivíduos idosos é influenciado por fatores ambientais e genéticos. Estima-se que o fator genético exerça uma influência de 30% a 40% neste fenótipo. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a participação do polimorfismo da enzima conversora da angiotensina (ECA) na HA em idosos atendidos em um serviço de geriatria.MÉTODO: Estudo observacional do tipo transversal em que foram avaliados 241 indivíduos atendidos no Serviço de Geriatria do Hospital Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Vitória (HSCMV), Vitória, ES. A determinação dos genótipos da ECA através da identificação dos alelos D e I foram baseadas na ampliação por PCR dos fragmentos do intron 16 do gene da ECA com visualização por eletroforese. Empregaram-se os testes Qui-quadrado e o t de Student para amostras independentes para análise dos dados. Foram considerados significantes valores inferiores a 0,05. RESULTADOS: Amostra composta por 241 indivíduos com média de idade de 78 ± 8 anos, 74,7% (180) hipertensos, 17,4% (42) diabéticos, 73,4% (176) do sexo feminino. Em relação à distribuição pelo polimorfismo da ECA observaram-se os seguintes genótipos: 20,33% (49) D/D; 68,41% (161) D/I e 12,86% (31) I/I. Os indivíduos apresentaram as seguintes distribuições: normotensos/hipertensos: 30,6% (15)/69,4% (34) D/D, 25,5% (41)/74,5% (120) D/I e 16,5% (5)/83,9% (26) I/I. (Qui-quadrado = 2,133; p = 0,34). CONCLUSÃO: Não foram encontradas associação entre o polimorfismo da ECA com HA na população estudada, possivelmente por menor participação do sistema renina-angiotensina na fisiopatogenia da hipertensão arterial nesta faixa etária.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Arterial hypertension (AH) is major risk factor for cardiovascular disease in older adults is influenced by environmental factors and genetic factors. It is estimated that genetic factors exert an influence of 30% to 40% in fenótipo. The aim of this study was to evaluate the contribution of the polymorphism of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) on hypertension in elderly patients in a geriatric unit. METHOD: An observational cross-sectional. We evaluated 241 subjects treated in the geriatric unit of Geriatric Service do Hospital Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Vitória (HSCMV), Vitória, ES. The determination of ACE genotypes by identifying the alleles D and I were based on the extension of PCR fragments of intron 16 of the ACE gene with visualization by electrophoresis. We use the Chi-square and Student t tests for independent samples for data analysis. The significance level below 0.05.RESULTS: A sample of 241 individuals with 78 ± 8 years old, 74.7% (180) were hypertensive, 17.4% (42) diabetes, 73.4% (176) female. Regarding the distribution of the polymorphism of ACE genotypes observed the following: 20.33% (49) D/D, 68.41% (161) D/I and 12.86% (31) I/I. Subjects had the following distribution normotensive/hypertensive: 30.6% (15)/69.4% (34) D/D, 25.5% (41)/74.5% (120) D/I and 16,5% (5)/83.9% (26) I/I (Chi-square = 2.133, p = 0.34). CONCLUSION: We found no association between the ACE polymorphism with AH in a sample of elderly individuals, likely due to lower participation of the renin-angiotensin system in the pathogenesis of hypertension in this age group.

[Study of mutations causing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in a group of patients from Espirito Santo, Brazil]. / Estudo de mutações causadoras de cardiomiopatia hipertrófica em um grupo de pacientes no Espírito Santo, Brasil.

BACKGROUND: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) is the most frequent cardiac hereditary disease, caused by mutations in sarcomere protein coding genes. Although more than 430 mutations have been identified in several continents and countries, there have been no reports of mutations in Brazil. OBJECTIVE: To carry out a genetic study to identify genetic mutations that cause HC in a group of patients in Espirito Santo, Brazil. METHODS: Using the SSCP technique, 12 exons from the three main genes involved in HC were studied: exons 15, 20, 21, 22 and 23 of the beta-myosin heavy chain gene (MYH7), exons 7, 16, 18, 22 and 24 of the myosin binding protein C gene (MYBPC3) and exons 8 and 9 of troponin T gene (TNNT2). RESULTS: 16 alterations were found, including two mutations, one of them possibly pathogenic in the MYBPC3 gene (p. Glu441Lys) and another pathogenic one, previously described in the TNNT2 gene (p.Arg92Trp), 8 rare sequence variations and 6 sequence variations with allelic frequency higher than 1% (polymorphisms). CONCLUSION: These data allow the conclusion that the genotyping of patients is feasible in our country. It is possible that the isolated p.Glu441Lys variant identified in exon 16 of the MYBPC3 gene is pathogenic, promoting a milder phenotype than that found when in association with other mutations. The p.Arg92Trp variant in the exon 9 of TNNT2 gene does not promote such a homogeneous phenotype as previously described and it can lead to severe hypertrophy.

Estudo de mutações causadoras de cardiomiopatia hipertrófica em um grupo de pacientes no Espírito Santo, Brasil / Study of mutations causing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in a group of patients from Espirito Santo, Brazil / Estudio de mutaciones causadoras de cardiomiopatía hipertrófica en un grupo de pacientes en Espírito Santo, Brasil

Fundamento: A cardiomiopatia hipertrófica (CH) é a doença cardíaca hereditária mais frequente, causada por mutações nos genes codificadores para proteínas do sarcômero. Embora mais de 430 mutações tenham sido identificadas em vários continentes e países, não há relato de que isso tenha sido estudado no Brasil. Objetivo: Conduzir um estudo genético para identificar mutações genéticas que causam a CH em um grupo de pacientes no estado do Espírito Santo, Brasil. Métodos: Usando a técnica SSCP, 12 exons dos três principais genes envolvidos com a CH foram estudados: exons 15, 20, 21, 22 e 23 do gene da cadeia pesada da β-miosina (MYH7), exons 7, 16, 18, 22 e 24 do gene da proteína C ligada à miosina (MYBPC3) e exons 8 e 9 do gene da troponina T (TNNT2). Resultados: 16 alterações foram encontradas, incluindo duas mutações, uma delas possivelmente patogênica no gene MYBPC3 gene (p. Glu441Lys) e a outra patogênica já descrita no gene TNNT2 (p.Arg92Trp); 8 variações de seqüência raras e 6 variações de seqüência com frequência alélica maior do que 1 por cento (polimorfismos). Conclusão: Com esses dados, é possível concluir que a genotipagem dos pacientes é factível em nosso meio. É possível que a variante p.Glu441Lys no exon 16 do gene MYBPC3 seja patogênica, resultando em um fenótipo mais leve do que o encontrado em associação com outras mutações. A variante p.Arg92Trp no exon 9 do gene TNNT2 não resulta em um fenótipo tão homogêneo como descrito anteriormente e pode levar à hipertrofia grave.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) is the most frequent cardiac hereditary disease, caused by mutations in sarcomere protein coding genes. Although more than 430 mutations have been identified in several continents and countries, there have been no reports of mutations in Brazil. Objective: To carry out a genetic study to identify genetic mutations that cause HC in a group of patients in Espirito Santo, Brazil. Methods: Using the SSCP technique, 12 exons from the three main genes involved in HC were studied: exons 15, 20, 21, 22 and 23 of the β-myosin heavy chain gene (MYH7), exons 7, 16, 18, 22 and 24 of the myosin binding protein C gene (MYBPC3) and exons 8 and 9 of troponin T gene (TNNT2). Results: 16 alterations were found, including two mutations, one of them possibly pathogenic in the MYBPC3 gene (p. Glu441Lys) and another pathogenic one, previously described in the TNNT2 gene (p.Arg92Trp), 8 rare sequence variations and 6 sequence variations with allelic frequency higher than 1 percent (polymorphisms). Conclusion: These data allow the conclusion that the genotyping of patients is feasible in our country. It is possible that the isolated p.Glu441Lys variant identified in exon 16 of the MYBPC3 gene is pathogenic, promoting a milder phenotype than that found when in association with other mutations. The p.Arg92Trp variant in the exon 9 of TNNT2 gene does not promote such a homogeneous phenotype as previously described and it can lead to severe hypertrophy.

Fundamento: La cardiomiopatía hipertrófica (CH) es la enfermedad cardíaca hereditaria más frecuente, causada por mutaciones en los genes codificadores para proteínas del sarcómero. Aunque se hayan identificado más de 430 mutaciones en varios continentes y países, no hay relato de que esto se haya estudiado en Brasil. Objetivo: Conducir un estudio genético para identificar mutaciones genéticas que causan la CH en un grupo de pacientes en el estado de Espírito Santo, Brasil. Métodos: Usando la técnica SSCP, se estudiaron 12 exones de los tres principales genes involucrados con la CH: exones 15, 20, 21, 22 y 23 del gen de la cadena pesada de la β-miosina (MYH7), exones 7, 16, 18, 22 y 24 del gen de la proteína C unida a la miosina (MYBPC3) y exones 8 y 9 del gen de la troponina T (TNNT2). Resultados: Se encontraron 16 alteraciones, incluyendo dos mutaciones, una de ellas posiblemente patogénica en el gen MYBPC3 gen (p. Glu441Lys) y otra patogénica ya descrita en el gen TNNT2 (p. Arg92Trp); 8 variaciones de secuencia raras y 6 variaciones de secuencia con frecuencia alélica mayor que el 1 por ciento (polimorfismos). Conclusiones: Con estos datos, es posible concluir que el genotipaje de los pacientes es factible en nuestro medio. Es posible que la variante p.Glu441Lys en el exón 16 del gen MYBPC3 sea patogénica, resultando en un fenotipo más leve que el encontrado en asociación con otras mutaciones. La variante p.Arg92Trp en el exón 9 del gen TNNT2 no resulta en un fenotipo tan homogéneo como el descrito anteriormente y puede llevar a hipertrofia grave.