EZH1/2 function mostly within canonical PRC2 and exhibit proliferation-dependent redundancy that shapes mutational signatures in cancer.

Genetic mutations affecting chromatin modifiers are widespread in cancers. In malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs), Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), which plays a crucial role in gene silencing, is inactivated through recurrent mutations in core subunits embryonic ectoderm development (EED) and suppressor of zeste 12 homolog (SUZ12), but mutations in PRC2's main catalytic subunit enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) have never been found. This is in contrast to myeloid and lymphoid malignancies, which harbor frequent loss-of-function mutations in EZH2. Here, we investigated whether the absence of EZH2 mutations in MPNST is due to a PRC2-independent (i.e., noncanonical) function of the enzyme or to redundancy with EZH1. We show that, in the absence of SUZ12, EZH2 remains bound to EED but loses its interaction with all other core and accessory PRC2 subunits. Through genetic and pharmacological analyses, we unambiguously establish that EZH2 is functionally inert in this context, thereby excluding a PRC2-independent function. Instead, we show that EZH1 and EZH2 are functionally redundant in the slowly proliferating MPNST precursors. We provide evidence that the compensatory function of EZH1 is alleviated upon higher proliferation. This work reveals how context-dependent redundancies can shape tumor-type specific mutation patterns in chromatin regulators.

Patient and Procedural Determinants of Postoperative Pain Trajectories.

BACKGROUND: The primary goal of this study was to evaluate patterns in acute postoperative pain in a mixed surgical patient cohort with the hypothesis that there would be heterogeneity in these patterns. METHODS: This study included 360 patients from a mixed surgical cohort whose pain was measured across postoperative days 1 through 7. Pain was characterized using the Brief Pain Inventory. Primary analysis used group-based trajectory modeling to estimate trajectories/patterns of postoperative pain. Secondary analysis examined associations between sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral patient factors and pain trajectories. RESULTS: Five distinct postoperative pain trajectories were identified. Many patients (167 of 360, 46%) were in the moderate-to-high pain group, followed by the moderate-to-low (88 of 360, 24%), high (58 of 360, 17%), low (25 of 360, 7%), and decreasing (21 of 360, 6%) pain groups. Lower age (odds ratio, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.91 to 0.99), female sex (odds ratio, 6.5; 95% CI, 1.49 to 15.6), higher anxiety (odds ratio, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.14), and more pain behaviors (odds ratio, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.18) were related to increased likelihood of being in the high pain trajectory in multivariable analysis. Preoperative and intraoperative opioids were not associated with postoperative pain trajectories. Pain trajectory group was, however, associated with postoperative opioid use (P < 0.001), with the high pain group (249.5 oral morphine milligram equivalents) requiring four times more opioids than the low pain group (60.0 oral morphine milligram equivalents). CONCLUSIONS: There are multiple distinct acute postoperative pain intensity trajectories, with 63% of patients reporting stable and sustained high or moderate-to-high pain over the first 7 days after surgery. These postoperative pain trajectories were predominantly defined by patient factors and not surgical factors.

Slow Dynamics of Acute Postoperative Pain Intensity Time Series Determined via Wavelet Analysis Are Associated With the Risk of Severe Postoperative Day 30 Pain.

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that increased early postoperative pain (POP) intensities are associated with increased pain in the weeks following surgery. However, it remains unclear which temporal aspects of this early POP relate to later pain experience. In this prospective cohort study, we used wavelet analysis of clinically captured POP intensity data on postoperative days 1 and 2 to characterize slow/fast dynamics of POP intensities and predict pain outcomes on postoperative day 30. METHODS: The study used clinical POP time series from the first 48 hours following surgery from 218 patients to predict their mean POP on postoperative day 30. We first used wavelet analysis to approximate the POP series and to represent the series at different time scales to characterize the early temporal profile of acute POP in the first 2 postoperative days. We then used the wavelet coefficients alongside demographic parameters as inputs to a neural network to predict the risk of severe pain 30 days after surgery. RESULTS: Slow dynamic approximation components, but not fast dynamic detailed components, were linked to pain intensity on postoperative day 30. Despite imbalanced outcome rates, using wavelet decomposition along with a neural network for classification, the model achieved an F score of 0.79 and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.74 on test-set data for classifying pain intensities on postoperative day 30. The wavelet-based approach outperformed logistic regression (F score of 0.31) and neural network (F score of 0.22) classifiers that were restricted to sociodemographic variables and linear trajectories of pain intensities. CONCLUSIONS: These findings identify latent mechanistic information within the temporal domain of clinically documented acute POP intensity ratings, which are accessible via wavelet analysis, and demonstrate that such temporal patterns inform pain outcomes at postoperative day 30.

OPRM1, OPRK1, and COMT genetic polymorphisms associated with opioid effects on experimental pain: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Genetic polymorphisms have been shown to affect opioid requirement for pain relief. However, true genetic effect is often difficult to assess due to underlying pain conditions and placebo effects. The goal of this study was to understand how common polymorphisms affect opioid effects while controlling for these factors. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was implemented to assess how opioid effects are modulated by COMT (rs6269, rs4633, rs4848, rs4680), OPRM1 (A118G), and OPRK1 (rs1051660, rs702764, rs16918875). One hundred and eight healthy subjects underwent experimental pain testing before and after morphine, butorphanol, and placebo (saline). Association analysis was performed between polymorphisms/haplotypes and opioid response, while correcting for race, gender, placebo effects, and multiple comparisons. Pressure pain was significantly associated with rs6269 and rs4633 following butorphanol. The AA genotype of rs4680 or A_T_C_A/ A_T_C_A (rs6269_rs4633_ rs4818_rs4680) diplotype of COMT, combined with the AG genotype of OPRM1 A118G, showed significantly increased pressure pain threshold from butorphanol. Opioid effects on pressure, ischemic, heat pain, and side effects were nominally associated with several SNPs and haplotypes. Effects were often present in one opioid but not the other. This indicates that these polymorphisms affect pain relief from opioids, and that their effects are opioid and pain modality specific.

NF1 patient missense variants predict a role for ATM in modifying neurofibroma initiation.

In Neurofibromatosis type 1, NF1 gene mutations in Schwann cells (SC) drive benign plexiform neurofibroma (PNF), and no additional SC changes explain patient-to-patient variability in tumor number. Evidence from twin studies suggests that variable expressivity might be caused by unidentified modifier genes. Whole exome sequencing of SC and fibroblast DNA from the same resected PNFs confirmed biallelic SC NF1 mutations; non-NF1 somatic SC variants were variable and present at low read number. We identified frequent germline variants as possible neurofibroma modifier genes. Genes harboring variants were validated in two additional cohorts of NF1 patients and by variant burden test. Genes including CUBN, CELSR2, COL14A1, ATR and ATM also showed decreased gene expression in some neurofibromas. ATM-relevant DNA repair defects were also present in a subset of neurofibromas with ATM variants, and in some neurofibroma SC. Heterozygous ATM G2023R or homozygous S707P variants reduced ATM protein expression in heterologous cells. In mice, genetic Atm heterozygosity promoted Schwann cell precursor self-renewal and increased tumor formation in vivo, suggesting that ATM variants contribute to neurofibroma initiation. We identify germline variants, rare in the general population, overrepresented in NF1 patients with neurofibromas. ATM and other identified genes are candidate modifiers of PNF pathogenesis.

Association of P2RX7 functional variants with localized aggressive periodontitis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate involvement of the P2X7 receptor in the rare condition, localized aggressive periodontitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Peripheral blood from 220 African Americans (103 with localized aggressive periodontitis and 117 healthy unrelated controls) was stimulated with lipopolysaccharide from E coli and Porphyromonas gingivalis. P2RX7 single nucleotide polymorphisms rs208294 (H155Y), rs1718119 (T348A), rs2230911 (T357S) and rs3751143 (E496A) were genotyped in 103 localized aggressive periodontitis patients and 117 healthy unrelated subjects. We examined genetic association between four P2RX7 single nucleotide polymorphisms and localized aggressive periodontitis, and tested for correlations between the single nucleotide polymorphisms and inflammatory response to lipopolysaccharide in blood samples from these patients. RESULTS: A significant association with localized aggressive periodontitis was observed with rs1718119 A (Thr) allele (P = 0.0063, odds ratio = 1.904) and with a haplotype containing this allele (P = 0.0075). Additionally, significant correlations with these data were found: the rs1718119 G allele correlated with greater production of IL-6, IL-2 and GM-CSF; the C (His) allele of rs208294 correlated with lower levels of IL-12p40; and the C (Thr) allele of rs2230911 correlated with greater levels of G-CSF. CONCLUSION: The data from these analyses support a possible biological relationship between P2RX7 genetic variants and inflammatory response in localized aggressive periodontitis patients.

Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in the COL11A2 Gene Associated with Heat Pain Sensitivity in Knee Osteoarthritis.

Abstract: Pain is one of the most prominent symptoms of osteoarthritis. However, there is often discordance between the pain experienced by individuals with osteoarthritis and the degree of articular pathology. This suggests that individual differences, including genetic variability in the central processing of nociceptive stimuli, may impact the presentation of osteoarthritis. Here, we show that the single nucleotide polymorphism rs16868943 in the collagen gene COL11A2 is significantly associated with lowered heat pain tolerance on the arm in participants with knee osteoarthritis (P = 1.21 × 10−6, P = 0.0053 after Bonferroni correction, beta = −3.42). A total of 161 knee osteoarthritis participants were included and evaluated for heat, punctate and pressure pain sensitivity of the affected knee and the ipsilateral arm. Each participant was genotyped for 4392 single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes implicated in pain perception, inflammation and mood and tested for association with pain sensitivity. The minor A allele of single nucleotide polymorphism rs16868943 was significantly associated with lower arm heat pain tolerance after correction for age, gender, race, and study site. This single nucleotide polymorphism was also nominally associated with other measures of heat pain sensitivity, including lowered knee heat pain tolerance (P = 1.14 × 10−5, P = 0.05 after Bonferroni correction), lowered arm heat pain threshold (P = 0.0039, uncorrected) and lowered knee heat pain threshold (P = 0.003, uncorrected). Addition of genotypes from 91 participants without knee pain produced a significant interaction between knee osteoarthritis status and the rs16868943 single nucleotide polymorphism in heat pain tolerance (P = 1.71 × 10−5), such that rs16868943 was not associated with heat pain tolerance in participants without knee pain (P = 0.12, beta = 1.3). This is the first study to show genetic association with heat pain tolerance in individuals with osteoarthritis. The association is specific to participants who have already developed knee osteoarthritis, suggesting that the COL11A2 gene, which has previously been associated with familial osteoarthritis, may play a role in pain sensitization after the development of osteoarthritis.

Immortalization of human normal and NF1 neurofibroma Schwann cells.

Neurofibromas, which are benign Schwann cell tumors, are the hallmark feature in the autosomal dominant condition neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) and are associated with biallelic loss of NF1 gene function. There is a need for effective therapies for neurofibromas, particularly the larger, plexiform neurofibromas. Tissue culture is an important tool for research. However, it is difficult to derive enriched human Schwann cell cultures, and most enter replicative senescence after 6-10 passages, impeding cell-based research in NF1. Through exogenous expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase and murine cyclin-dependent kinase (mCdk4), normal (NF1 wild-type), neurofibroma-derived Schwann cells heterozygous for NF1 mutation, and neurofibroma-derived Schwann cells homozygous for NF1 mutation were immortalized, including some matched samples from the same NF1 patient. Initial experiments employed retroviral vectors, while subsequent work utilized lentiviral vectors carrying these genes because of improved efficiency. Expression of both transgenes was required for immortalization. Molecular and immunohistochemical analysis indicated that these cell lines are of Schwann cell lineage and have a range of phenotypes, many of which are consistent with their primary cultures. This is the first report of immortalization and detailed characterization of multiple human NF1 normal nerve and neurofibroma-derived Schwann cell lines, which will be highly useful research tools to study NF1 and other Schwann tumor biology and conditions.

snRNA-seq of human cutaneous neurofibromas before and after selumetinib treatment implicates role of altered Schwann cell states, inter-cellular signaling, and extracellular matrix in treatment response.

Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) is caused by loss of function variants in the NF1 gene. Most patients with NF1 develop skin lesions called cutaneous neurofibromas (cNFs). Currently the only approved therapeutic for NF1 is selumetinib, a mitogen -activated protein kinase (MEK) inhibitor. The purpose of this study was to analyze the transcriptome of cNF tumors before and on selumetinib treatment to understand both tumor composition and response. We obtained biopsy sets of tumors both pre- and on- selumetinib treatment from the same individuals and were able to collect sets from four separate individuals. We sequenced mRNA from 5844 nuclei and identified 30,442 genes in the untreated group and sequenced 5701 nuclei and identified 30,127 genes in the selumetinib treated group. We identified and quantified distinct populations of cells (Schwann cells, fibroblasts, pericytes, myeloid cells, melanocytes, keratinocytes, and two populations of endothelial cells). While we anticipated that cell proportions might change with treatment, we did not identify any one cell population that changed significantly, likely due to an inherent level of variability between tumors. We also evaluated differential gene expression based on drug treatment in each cell type. Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) was also used to identify pathways that differ on treatment. As anticipated, we identified a significant decrease in ERK/MAPK signaling in cells including Schwann cells but most specifically in myeloid cells. Interestingly, there is a significant decrease in opioid signaling in myeloid and endothelial cells; this downward trend is also observed in Schwann cells and fibroblasts. Cell communication was assessed by RNA velocity, Scriabin, and CellChat analyses which indicated that Schwann cells and fibroblasts have dramatically altered cell states defined by specific gene expression signatures following treatment (RNA velocity). There are dramatic changes in receptor-ligand pairs following treatment (Scriabin), and robust intercellular signaling between virtually all cell types associated with extracellular matrix (ECM) pathways (Collagen, Laminin, Fibronectin, and Nectin) is downregulated after treatment. These response specific gene signatures and interaction pathways could provide clues for understanding treatment outcomes or inform future therapies.

Variant of TYR and autoimmunity susceptibility loci in generalized vitiligo.

BACKGROUND: Generalized vitiligo is an autoimmune disease characterized by melanocyte loss, which results in patchy depigmentation of skin and hair, and is associated with an elevated risk of other autoimmune diseases. METHODS: To identify generalized vitiligo susceptibility loci, we conducted a genomewide association study. We genotyped 579,146 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 1514 patients with generalized vitiligo who were of European-derived white (CEU) ancestry and compared the genotypes with publicly available control genotypes from 2813 CEU persons. We then tested 50 SNPs in two replication sets, one comprising 677 independent CEU patients and 1106 CEU controls and the other comprising 183 CEU simplex trios with generalized vitiligo and 332 CEU multiplex families. RESULTS: We detected significant associations between generalized vitiligo and SNPs at several loci previously associated with other autoimmune diseases. These included genes encoding major-histocompatibility-complex class I molecules (P=9.05x10(-23)) and class II molecules (P=4.50x10(-34)), PTPN22 (P=1.31x10(-7)), LPP (P=1.01x10(-11)), IL2RA (P=2.78x10(-9)), UBASH3A (P=1.26x10(-9)), and C1QTNF6 (P=2.21x10(-16)). We also detected associations between generalized vitiligo and SNPs in two additional immune-related loci, RERE (P=7.07x10(-15)) and GZMB (P=3.44x10(-8)), and in a locus containing TYR (P=1.60x10(-18)), encoding tyrosinase. CONCLUSIONS: We observed associations between generalized vitiligo and markers implicating multiple genes, some associated with other autoimmune diseases and one (TYR) that may mediate target-cell specificity and indicate a mutually exclusive relationship between susceptibility to vitiligo and susceptibility to melanoma.

Do polymorphisms in the TAS1R1 gene contribute to broader differences in human taste intensity?

The TAS1R genes encode heterodimeric receptors that mediate umami (hTAS1R1 + hTAS1R3) and sweet (hTAS1R2 + hTAS1R3) sensations. The question of interest for this study is if TAS1R1 variation associates with differences in overall taste intensity. We leveraged an existing database of adults (n = 92, primarily European American) to test associations between 2 TAS1R1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (intronic rs17492553, C/T and exonic rs34160967, G/A) and intensity of 4 prototypical tastants (NaCl, sucrose, citric acid, and quinine), applied regionally to fungiform and circumvallate loci, and sampled with the whole mouth. Both SNPs were associated with modest shifts in perceived intensities across all taste qualities. Three genotype groups were represented for the intronic SNP-minor allele homozygotes (TT) averaged 40% lower intensities than did CC homozygotes for all regionally applied tastants, as well as whole-mouth NaCl and citric acid. Similar, but less pronounced, intensity differences were seen for the exonic SNP (GG homozygotes reported greater intensities than did the AA/AG group). Our predominantly European American cohort had a low frequency of AA homozygotes, which may have attenuated the SNP-related differences in perceived intensity. These preliminary findings, if replicated, could add TAS1R1 polymorphisms to the repertoire of genotypic and phenotypic markers of heightened taste sensation.

Biopsychosocial influence on shoulder pain: results from a randomized preclinical trial of exercise-induced muscle injury.

ABSTRACT: Prior cohort studies validated that a subgroup defined by a specific COMT genotype and pain catastrophizing is at increased risk for heightened responses to exercise-induced or surgically induced shoulder pain. In this clinical trial, we used our preclinical model of exercise-induced muscle injury and pain to test the efficacy of interventions matched to characteristics of this high-risk subgroup (ie, personalized medicine approach). Potential participants provided informed consent to be screened for eligibility based on subgroup membership and then, as appropriate, were enrolled into the trial. Participants (n = 261) were randomized to 1 of 4 intervention groups comprised of pharmaceutical (propranolol or placebo) and informational (general education or psychologic intervention) combinations. After muscle injury was induced, participants received randomly assigned treatment and were followed for the primary outcome of shoulder pain intensity recovery over 4 consecutive days. Recovery rates were 56.4% (placebo and psychologic intervention), 55.4% (placebo and general education), 62.9% (propranolol and psychologic intervention), and 56.1% (propranolol and general education). No statistical differences were found between intervention groups in the primary analyses. Additional analyses found no differences between these intervention groups when shoulder pain duration was an outcome, and no differential treatment responses were detected based on sex, race, or level of pain catastrophizing. This trial indicates that these treatments were not efficacious for this high-risk subgroup when shoulder pain was induced by exercise-induced muscle injury. Accordingly, this phenotype should only be used for prognostic purposes until additional trials are completed in clinical populations.

Circulating Inflammatory Biomarkers Predict Pain Change Following Exercise-Induced Shoulder Injury: Findings From the Biopsychosocial Influence on Shoulder Pain Preclinical Trial.

Shoulder pain is a highly prevalent musculoskeletal condition that frequently leads to suboptimal clinical outcomes. This study tested the extent to which circulating inflammatory biomarkers are associated with reports of shoulder pain and upper-extremity disability for a high-risk genetic by psychological subgroup (catechol-O-methyltransferase [COMT] variation by pain catastrophizing [PCS]). Pain-free adults meeting high-risk COMT × PCS subgroup criteria completed an exercise-induced muscle injury protocol. Thirteen biomarkers were collected and analyzed from plasma 48 hours after muscle injury. Shoulder pain intensity and disability (Quick-DASH) were reported at 48 and 96 hours to calculate change scores. Using an extreme sampling technique, 88 participants were included in this analysis. After controlling for age, sex, and BMI, there were moderate positive associations between higher c-reactive protein (CRP; ߈ = .62; 95% confidence interval [CI] = -.03, 1.26), interleukin-6 (IL-6; ߈ = 3.13; CI = -.11, 6.38), and interleukin-10 (IL-10; ߈ = 2.51; CI = -.30, 5.32); and greater pain reduction from 48 to 96 hours post exercise muscle injury. Using an exploratory multivariable model to predict pain changes from 48 to 96 hours, we found participants with higher IL-10 were less likely to experience a high increase in pain (߈ = -10.77; CI = -21.25, -2.69). Study findings suggest CRP, IL-6, and IL-10 are related to shoulder pain change for a preclinical high-risk COMT × PCS subgroup. Future studies will translate to clinical shoulder pain and decipher the complex and seemingly pleiotropic interplay between inflammatory biomarkers and shoulder pain change. PERSPECTIVE: In a preclinical high-risk COMT × PCS subgroup, 3 circulating inflammatory biomarkers (CRP, IL-6, and IL-10) were moderately associated with pain improvement following exercise-induced muscle injury.

Variation in the gene TAS2R13 is associated with differences in alcohol consumption in patients with head and neck cancer.

Variation in responsiveness to bitter-tasting compounds has been associated with differences in alcohol consumption. One strong genetic determinant of variation in bitter taste sensitivity is alleles of the TAS2R gene family, which encode chemosensory receptors sensitive to a diverse array of natural and synthetic compounds. Members of the TAS2R family, when expressed in the gustatory system, function as bitter taste receptors. To better understand the relationship between TAS2R function and alcohol consumption, we asked if TAS2R variants are associated with measures of alcohol consumption in a head and neck cancer patient cohort. Factors associated with increased alcohol intake are of strong interest to those concerned with decreasing the incidence of cancers of oral and pharyngeal structures. We found a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) located within the TAS2R13 gene (rs1015443 [C1040T, Ser259Asn]), which showed a significant association with measures of alcohol consumption assessed via the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Analyses with other SNPs in close proximity to rs1015443 suggest that this locus is principally responsible for the association. Thus, our results provide additional support to the emerging hypothesis that genetic variation in bitter taste receptors can impact upon alcohol consumption.

Conditional Inactivation of Pten with EGFR Overexpression in Schwann Cells Models Sporadic MPNST.

The genetic mechanisms involved in the transformation from a benign neurofibroma to a malignant sarcoma in patients with neurofibromatosis-type-1- (NF1-)associated or sporadic malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) remain unclear. It is hypothesized that many genetic changes are involved in transformation. Recently, it has been shown that both phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) play important roles in the initiation of peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs). In human MPNSTs, PTEN expression is often reduced, while EGFR expression is often induced. We tested if these two genes cooperate in the evolution of PNSTs. Transgenic mice were generated carrying conditional floxed alleles of Pten, and EGFR was expressed under the control of the 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'phosphodiesterase (Cnp) promoter and a desert hedgehog (Dhh) regulatory element driving Cre recombinase transgenic mice (Dhh-Cre). Complete loss of Pten and EGFR overexpression in Schwann cells led to the development of high-grade PNSTs. In vitro experiments using immortalized human Schwann cells demonstrated that loss of PTEN and overexpression of EGFR cooperate to increase cellular proliferation and anchorage-independent colony formation. This mouse model can rapidly recapitulate PNST onset and progression to high-grade PNSTs, as seen in sporadic MPNST patients.

Targeted exon skipping of NF1 exon 17 as a therapeutic for neurofibromatosis type I.

We investigated the feasibility of utilizing an exon-skipping approach as a genotype-dependent therapeutic for neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) by determining which NF1 exons might be skipped while maintaining neurofibromin protein expression and GTPase activating protein (GAP)-related domain (GRD) function. Initial in silico analysis predicted exons that can be skipped with minimal loss of neurofibromin function, which was confirmed by in vitro assessments utilizing an Nf1 cDNA-based functional screening system. Skipping of exons 17 or 52 fit our criteria, as minimal effects on protein expression and GRD activity were noted. Antisense phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs) were utilized to skip exon 17 in human cell lines with patient-specific pathogenic variants in exon 17, c.1885G>A, and c.1929delG. PMOs restored functional neurofibromin expression. To determine the in vivo significance of exon 17 skipping, we generated a homozygous deletion of exon 17 in a novel mouse model. Mice were viable and exhibited a normal lifespan. Initial studies did not reveal the presence of tumor development; however, altered nesting behavior and systemic lymphoid hyperplasia was noted in peripheral lymphoid organs. Alterations in T and B cell frequencies in the thymus and spleen were identified. Hence, exon skipping should be further investigated as a therapeutic approach for NF1 patients with pathogenic variants in exon 17, as homozygous deletion of exon 17 is consistent with at least partial function of neurofibromin.

HUMAN STUDY COMT and DRD3 haplotype-associated pain intensity and acute care utilization in adult sickle cell disease.

A previous exploratory analysis of a COMT gene single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and a DRD3 SNP by our group suggested possible contributions to pain-related acute care utilization in people with sickle cell disease (SCD). Our aim was to extend the analysis to gene-spanning haplotypes of COMT SNPs and DRD3 SNPs to investigate possible associations with pain intensity and pain-related acute care utilization in an SCD cohort. Genotyping was conducted, and clinical data were collected, including self-reported pain intensity using PAINReportIt® (average of current pain and least and worst in past 24 hours, average pain intensity [API]) and medical record-extracted, pain-related acute care utilization data of 130 adults with SCD. Haplotype blocks were identified based on linkage disequilibria (COMT = 7 haploblocks; DRD3 = 8 haploblocks). Regression analyses were tested for association between haplotypes and API and utilization, yielding several significant findings. For COMT block 1 (rs2075507, rs4646310, rs737865), the A-G-G haplotype was associated with higher API compared to the reference A-G-A (p = 0.02), whereas the A-A-A haplotype was associated with higher utilization (p = 0.02). For DRD3 block 2 (rs9817063, rs2134655, rs963468, and rs3773679), relative to reference T-C-G-C, the T-T-G-C haplotype was associated with higher utilization (p = 0.01). For DRD3 block 4 (rs167770, rs324029, and rs324023), the A-G-T haplotype was associated with higher API (p = 0.04) and utilization (p < 0.001) relative to reference G-A-T, whereas the A-A-T haplotype was associated with higher utilization (p = 0.01). We found COMT and DRD3 haplotypes associated with pain-related SCD features, suggesting that in future studies more emphasis be placed on cis effects of SNP alleles in evaluating genetic contributions to SCD pain and acute care utilization for pain.

Analysis of AVPR1A, thermal and pressure pain thresholds, and stress in sickle cell disease.

Aim: In patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), negative physical and emotional experiences result from intense chronic and acute pain episodes, but factors underlying these, and their interactions, are not well understood. The arginine vasopressin receptor 1a gene (AVPR1A) single nucleotide polymorphism rs10877969 has been previously associated with aspects of acute pain and stress related pain. In this study, we tested for associations between this SNP, thermal and pressure pain thresholds, clinical pain, and stress in people with SCD. Methods: 150 adults enrolled with SCD completed pain intensity measures (Average Pain Intensity, API) and the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ). Thermal and pressure pain threshold data were available from quantitative sensory testing (QST), and rs10877969 genotypes were obtained. Results: In models adjusted for age and gender, between rs10877969 genotypes, we observed no significant differences in thermal (cold, p = 0.66; heat, p = 0.91) and mechanical (pressure, p = 0.33) pain thresholds. The association of rs10877969 with API (p = 0.09) was borderline, but non-significant with PSQ (p = 0.51). The correlation between clinical pain and environmental stress was significant, r = 0.18, p = 0.024, however, the interaction of genotype and PSQ was not significant (p = 0.63). Conclusion: Clinical and experimental pain were not significantly associated with the rs10877969 genotype. The rs10877969 genotype did not moderate the correlation between environmental stress and clinical pain in this population. However, a trend toward a protective T allele effect on average pain rating in SCD warrants future exploration of this SNP/gene in SCD.

A High-Throughput Screening Platform Identifies Novel Combination Treatments for Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) are soft-tissue sarcomas that are the leading cause of mortality in patients with Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Single chemotherapeutic agents have shown response rates ranging from 18% to 44% in clinical trials, so there is still a high medical need to identify chemotherapeutic combination treatments that improve clinical prognosis and outcome. We screened a collection of compounds from the NCATS Mechanism Interrogation PlatE (MIPE) library in three MPNST cell lines, using cell viability and apoptosis assays. We then tested whether compounds that were active as single agents were synergistic when screened as pairwise combinations. Synergistic combinations in vitro were further evaluated in patient-derived orthotopic xenograft/orthoxenograft (PDOX) athymic models engrafted with primary MPNST matching with their paired primary-derived cell line where synergism was observed. The high-throughput screening identified 21 synergistic combinations, from which four exhibited potent synergies in a broad panel of MPNST cell lines. One of the combinations, MK-1775 with Doxorubicin, significantly reduced tumor growth in a sporadic PDOX model (MPNST-SP-01; sevenfold) and in an NF1-PDOX model (MPNST-NF1-09; fourfold) and presented greater effects in TP53 mutated MPNST cell lines. The other three combinations, all involving Panobinostat (combined with NVP-BGT226, Torin 2, or Carfilzomib), did not reduce the tumor volume in vivo at noncytotoxic doses. Our results support the utility of our screening platform of in vitro and in vivo models to explore new therapeutic approaches for MPNSTs and identified that combination MK-1775 with Doxorubicin could be a good pharmacologic option for the treatment of these tumors.

Expansion of the human mu-opioid receptor gene architecture: novel functional variants.

The mu-opioid receptor (OPRM1) is the principal receptor target for both endogenous and exogenous opioid analgesics. There are substantial individual differences in human responses to painful stimuli and to opiate drugs that are attributed to genetic variations in OPRM1. In searching for new functional variants, we employed comparative genome analysis and obtained evidence for the existence of an expanded human OPRM1 gene locus with new promoters, alternative exons and regulatory elements. Examination of polymorphisms within the human OPRM1 gene locus identified strong association between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs563649 and individual variations in pain perception. SNP rs563649 is located within a structurally conserved internal ribosome entry site (IRES) in the 5'-UTR of a novel exon 13-containing OPRM1 isoforms (MOR-1K) and affects both mRNA levels and translation efficiency of these variants. Furthermore, rs563649 exhibits very strong linkage disequilibrium throughout the entire OPRM1 gene locus and thus affects the functional contribution of the corresponding haplotype that includes other functional OPRM1 SNPs. Our results provide evidence for an essential role for MOR-1K isoforms in nociceptive signaling and suggest that genetic variations in alternative OPRM1 isoforms may contribute to individual differences in opiate responses.