In silico search for modifier genes associated with pancreatic and liver disease in Cystic Fibrosis

PLoS One. 2017 Mar 24;12(3):e0173822. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173822. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Cystic Fibrosis is the most common lethal autosomal recessive disorder in the white population, affecting among other organs, the lung, the pancreas and the liver. Whereas Cystic Fibrosis is a monogenic disease, many studies reveal a very complex relationship between genotype and clinical phenotype. Indeed, the broad phenotypic spectrum observed in Cystic Fibrosis is far from being explained by obvious genotype-phenotype correlations and it is admitted that Cystic Fibrosis disease is the result of multiple factors, including effects of the environment as well as modifier genes. Our objective was to highlight new modifier genes with potential implications in the lung, pancreatic and liver outcomes of the disease. For this purpose we performed a system biology approach which combined, database mining, literature mining, gene expression study and network analysis as well as pathway enrichment analysis and protein-protein interactions. We found that IFI16, CCNE2 and IGFBP2 are potential modifiers in the altered lung function in Cystic Fibrosis. We also found that EPHX1, HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1, DSP and SLC33A1, GPNMB, NCF2, RASGRP1, LGALS3 and PTPN13, are potential modifiers in pancreas and liver, respectively. Associated pathways indicate that immune system is likely involved and that Ubiquitin C is probably a central node, linking Cystic Fibrosis to liver and pancreatic disease. We highlight here new modifier genes with potential implications in Cystic Fibrosis. Nevertheless, our in silico analysis requires functional analysis to give our results a physiological relevance.

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation
  • Cyclins / genetics
  • Cystic Fibrosis / complications
  • Cystic Fibrosis / genetics*
  • Databases, Genetic
  • Genes, Modifier*
  • Genetic Association Studies
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / genetics
  • Liver Diseases / complications
  • Liver Diseases / genetics*
  • Mutation
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Pancreatic Diseases / complications
  • Pancreatic Diseases / genetics*
  • Phenotype
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics

Substances

  • CCNE2 protein, human
  • Cyclins
  • IGFBP3 protein, human
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • IFI16 protein, human

Grants and funding

The study was funded by internal funds from our organizations: Inserm and Université de Bretagne Occidentale. PT and EG received a salary from Inserm and CF received a salary from Université de Bretagne Occidentale (UBO). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.