MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small non-coding single-stranded RNAs molecules, the dysregulation of which plays a critical role in the initiation and biological progression of malignancies. The current study demonstrated that miR-140-5p was frequently downregulated in breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), and miR-140-5p mimics could inhibit the proliferation of BCSCs. Moreover, Wnt1 was a direct target of miR-140-5p, as was proved by luciferase reporter assays. miR-140-5p mimics could downregulate the wnt1 mRNA and protein levels in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Furthermore, miR-140 mimics could enhance the sensitivity of BCSCs to doxorubicin (Dox) through the Wnt1/ABCB1 pathway both in vitro and vivo. Our findings have presented a novel miRNA-mediated regulatory network for BCSCs, which may provide a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer.

Hereditary non-syndromic deafness has been associated with a point mutation in the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene. We present data from deaf individuals in 12 nuclear families originating from a small village in Zaire. The patients have a sudden-onset and profound, bilateral sensorineural deafness with a highly variable age of onset. Inheritance is compatible with a mitochondrial DNA defect. Sequencing of the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene revealed the presence of a homoplasmic 1555 A to G mutation in the patients and their normal siblings. The mutation is invariably associated with a T to C transition at 1420 in the same gene. Additional (mitochondrial or autosomal) genetic defect(s) or an environmental factor must be implicated in the expression of the defect. In Epstein-Barr-virus-transformed lymphocytes harbouring the normal or mutant mitochondrial DNA, no differential effect of aminoglycosides on protein translation was observed.

Purpose

De novo variants (DNVs) represent an important fraction of the pathogenic variant burden in holoprosencephaly (HPE). However, unexpected recurrences can occur, as evidenced by multiple affected children harboring the same apparently DNV. This study was performed to estimate the rate of parental mosaicism in a cohort of patients with HPE.

Methods

We developed a targeted capture next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel of 153 genes with potential implication in HPE. Sequencing data from a cohort of 136 HPE family trios were analyzed to identify probands with apparently DNVs. DNVs were examined in the proband and their parents to detect any deviations from the expected ~50/50 allele ratio of true heterozygosity. Selected variants were confirmed by Droplet Digital™ polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR).

Results

We identified 28 high-confidence DNVs, 20 of which occurred in known HPE genes. Nineteen of the 20 variants (95%) were pathogenic or likely pathogenic. Sequence data analysis showed evidence of parental mosaicism in five cases, for an overall mosaicism rate of 26%. In addition, we found evidence for likely postzygotic events in four cases (50%).

Conclusions

High sensitivity methods, such as high-depth NGS and ddPCR, are essential to providing an accurate assessment of recurrence risk in HPE families with apparently DNVs.

Cancer is caused by germline and somatic mutations, which can share biological features such as amino acid change. However, integrated germline and somatic analysis remains uncommon. We present a framework that uses machine learning to learn features of recurrent somatic mutations to (1) predict somatic variants from tumor-only samples and (2) identify somatic-like germline variants for integrated analysis of tumor-normal DNA. Using data from 1769 patients from seven cancer types (bladder, glioblastoma, low-grade glioma, lung, melanoma, stomach, and pediatric glioma), we show that “somatic-like” germline variants are enriched for autosomal-dominant cancer-predisposition genes (p < 4.35 × 10⁻¹⁵), including TP53. Our framework identifies germline and somatic nonsense variants in BRCA2 and other Fanconi anemia genes in 11% (11/100) of bladder cancer cases, suggesting a potential genetic predisposition in these patients. The bladder carcinoma patients with Fanconi anemia nonsense variants display a BRCA-deficiency somatic mutation signature, suggesting treatment targeted to DNA repair.

With the ongoing demand for assisted reproduction, the need and ability to study the fundamentals of human reproduction at a cellular level have never been greater. At this juncture, we join other Nature Research Journals in formalizing our ethical guidelines for papers in this growing field.

Helsmoortel–van der Aa (SWI/SNF autism-related or ADNP syndrome) is an autosomal dominant monogenic syndrome caused by de novo variants in the last exon of ADNP gene and no deletions have been documented to date. We report the first case of a 3 years and 10 months old boy exhibiting typical features of ADNP syndrome, including intellectual disability, autistic traits, facial dysmorphism, hyperlaxity, mood disorder, behavioral problems, and severe chronic constipation. 60K Agilent array-comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) identified a heterozygous interstitial microdeletion at 20q13.13 chromosome region, encompassing ADNP and DPM1. Taking into account the clinical phenotype of previously reported cases with ADNP single-point variants, genotype–phenotype correlation in the proband was established and the diagnosis of Helsmoortel–van der Aa syndrome was made. Our report thus confirms that ADNP haploinsufficiency is associated with Helsmoortel–van der Aa syndrome as well as highlights the utility of whole-genome array-CGH for detection of unbalanced submicroscopic chromosomal rearrangements in routine clinical setting in patients with unexplained intellectual disability and/or syndromic autism.

Background

Allopurinol reduces oxidative stress and may thus have an anti-inflammatory effect. Previous studies suggest that allopurinol use might decrease the risk of prostate cancer (PCa) among gout patients. We studied the association between allopurinol use and PCa incidence.

Methods

The cohort consists of 76,874 men without prevalent PCa, originally identified for the Finnish Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (FinRSPC). The follow-up started at entry to the trial. We excluded men using allopurinol in the year before entry (wash-out). PCa cases detected during 1996–2015 were identified from the Finnish Cancer Registry. Information on tumor Gleason score and TNM stage were obtained from medical files. Information on PSA level was obtained from screening samples for men in the FinRSPC screening arm and from laboratory databases for men in the control arm. Information on BMI was based on a questionnaire sent to men in the FinRSPC screening arm in 2004–2008. Drug purchase information were obtained from the national prescription database. We used Cox regression (adjusted for age, FinRSPC trial arm, PCa family history and use of other medication) to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of PCa risk by allopurinol use. We analyzed medication as a time-dependent variable to minimize immortal time bias.

Results

There were 9062 new PCa diagnoses in the cohort. Follow-up time did not differ by allopurinol use (median 17 yr; IQR 11–19 vs median 17 yr; IQR 12.33–19). The risk of PCa did not differ by allopurinol use (multivariable adjusted HR 1.03; 95% CI 0.92–1.16). Allopurinol use did not associate with the risk of high-grade or metastatic cancer. Cumulative duration or average yearly dose of allopurinol use showed no association with PCa risk. No delayed risk associations were observed in the lag-time analyses.

Conclusions

We observed no difference in the PCa risk by allopurinol use.