A combination of transcriptome and methylation analyses reveals embryologically-relevant candidate genes in MRKH patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome is present in at least 1 out of 4,500 female live births and is the second most common cause for primary amenorrhea. It is characterized by vaginal and uterine aplasia in an XX indiv...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Riess Olaf, Schoenfisch Birgitt, Schaeferhoff Karin, Haebig Karina, Poths Sven, Walter Michael, Barresi Gianmaria, Rall Katharina, Wallwiener Diethelm, Bonin Michael, Brucker Sara
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2011-05-01
Series:Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases
Online Access:http://www.ojrd.com/content/6/1/32
_version_ 1819045009451646976
author Riess Olaf
Schoenfisch Birgitt
Schaeferhoff Karin
Haebig Karina
Poths Sven
Walter Michael
Barresi Gianmaria
Rall Katharina
Wallwiener Diethelm
Bonin Michael
Brucker Sara
author_facet Riess Olaf
Schoenfisch Birgitt
Schaeferhoff Karin
Haebig Karina
Poths Sven
Walter Michael
Barresi Gianmaria
Rall Katharina
Wallwiener Diethelm
Bonin Michael
Brucker Sara
author_sort Riess Olaf
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome is present in at least 1 out of 4,500 female live births and is the second most common cause for primary amenorrhea. It is characterized by vaginal and uterine aplasia in an XX individual with normal secondary characteristics. It has long been considered a sporadic anomaly, but familial clustering occurs. Several candidate genes have been studied although no single factor has yet been identified. Cases of discordant monozygotic twins suggest that the involvement of epigenetic factors is more likely.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Differences in gene expression and methylation patterns of uterine tissue between eight MRKH patients and eight controls were identified using whole-genome microarray analyses. Results obtained by expression and methylation arrays were confirmed by qRT-PCR and pyrosequencing.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We delineated 293 differentially expressed and 194 differentially methylated genes of which nine overlap in both groups. These nine genes are mainly embryologically relevant for the development of the female genital tract.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our study used, for the first time, a combined whole-genome expression and methylation approach to reveal the etiology of the MRKH syndrome. The findings suggest that either deficient estrogen receptors or the ectopic expression of certain <it>HOXA </it>genes might lead to abnormal development of the female reproductive tract. <it>In utero </it>exposure to endocrine disruptors or abnormally high maternal hormone levels might cause ectopic expression or anterior transformation of <it>HOXA </it>genes. It is, however, also possible that different factors influence the anti-Mullerian hormone promoter activity during embryological development causing regression of the Müllerian ducts. Thus, our data stimulate new research directions to decipher the pathogenic basis of MRKH syndrome.</p>
first_indexed 2024-12-21T10:21:45Z
format Article
id doaj.art-d0deffcf829f41f396dcdfdf1cb21f9c
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1750-1172
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-21T10:21:45Z
publishDate 2011-05-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases
spelling doaj.art-d0deffcf829f41f396dcdfdf1cb21f9c2022-12-21T19:07:25ZengBMCOrphanet Journal of Rare Diseases1750-11722011-05-01613210.1186/1750-1172-6-32A combination of transcriptome and methylation analyses reveals embryologically-relevant candidate genes in MRKH patientsRiess OlafSchoenfisch BirgittSchaeferhoff KarinHaebig KarinaPoths SvenWalter MichaelBarresi GianmariaRall KatharinaWallwiener DiethelmBonin MichaelBrucker Sara<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome is present in at least 1 out of 4,500 female live births and is the second most common cause for primary amenorrhea. It is characterized by vaginal and uterine aplasia in an XX individual with normal secondary characteristics. It has long been considered a sporadic anomaly, but familial clustering occurs. Several candidate genes have been studied although no single factor has yet been identified. Cases of discordant monozygotic twins suggest that the involvement of epigenetic factors is more likely.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Differences in gene expression and methylation patterns of uterine tissue between eight MRKH patients and eight controls were identified using whole-genome microarray analyses. Results obtained by expression and methylation arrays were confirmed by qRT-PCR and pyrosequencing.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We delineated 293 differentially expressed and 194 differentially methylated genes of which nine overlap in both groups. These nine genes are mainly embryologically relevant for the development of the female genital tract.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our study used, for the first time, a combined whole-genome expression and methylation approach to reveal the etiology of the MRKH syndrome. The findings suggest that either deficient estrogen receptors or the ectopic expression of certain <it>HOXA </it>genes might lead to abnormal development of the female reproductive tract. <it>In utero </it>exposure to endocrine disruptors or abnormally high maternal hormone levels might cause ectopic expression or anterior transformation of <it>HOXA </it>genes. It is, however, also possible that different factors influence the anti-Mullerian hormone promoter activity during embryological development causing regression of the Müllerian ducts. Thus, our data stimulate new research directions to decipher the pathogenic basis of MRKH syndrome.</p>http://www.ojrd.com/content/6/1/32
spellingShingle Riess Olaf
Schoenfisch Birgitt
Schaeferhoff Karin
Haebig Karina
Poths Sven
Walter Michael
Barresi Gianmaria
Rall Katharina
Wallwiener Diethelm
Bonin Michael
Brucker Sara
A combination of transcriptome and methylation analyses reveals embryologically-relevant candidate genes in MRKH patients
Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases
title A combination of transcriptome and methylation analyses reveals embryologically-relevant candidate genes in MRKH patients
title_full A combination of transcriptome and methylation analyses reveals embryologically-relevant candidate genes in MRKH patients
title_fullStr A combination of transcriptome and methylation analyses reveals embryologically-relevant candidate genes in MRKH patients
title_full_unstemmed A combination of transcriptome and methylation analyses reveals embryologically-relevant candidate genes in MRKH patients
title_short A combination of transcriptome and methylation analyses reveals embryologically-relevant candidate genes in MRKH patients
title_sort combination of transcriptome and methylation analyses reveals embryologically relevant candidate genes in mrkh patients
url http://www.ojrd.com/content/6/1/32
work_keys_str_mv AT riessolaf acombinationoftranscriptomeandmethylationanalysesrevealsembryologicallyrelevantcandidategenesinmrkhpatients
AT schoenfischbirgitt acombinationoftranscriptomeandmethylationanalysesrevealsembryologicallyrelevantcandidategenesinmrkhpatients
AT schaeferhoffkarin acombinationoftranscriptomeandmethylationanalysesrevealsembryologicallyrelevantcandidategenesinmrkhpatients
AT haebigkarina acombinationoftranscriptomeandmethylationanalysesrevealsembryologicallyrelevantcandidategenesinmrkhpatients
AT pothssven acombinationoftranscriptomeandmethylationanalysesrevealsembryologicallyrelevantcandidategenesinmrkhpatients
AT waltermichael acombinationoftranscriptomeandmethylationanalysesrevealsembryologicallyrelevantcandidategenesinmrkhpatients
AT barresigianmaria acombinationoftranscriptomeandmethylationanalysesrevealsembryologicallyrelevantcandidategenesinmrkhpatients
AT rallkatharina acombinationoftranscriptomeandmethylationanalysesrevealsembryologicallyrelevantcandidategenesinmrkhpatients
AT wallwienerdiethelm acombinationoftranscriptomeandmethylationanalysesrevealsembryologicallyrelevantcandidategenesinmrkhpatients
AT boninmichael acombinationoftranscriptomeandmethylationanalysesrevealsembryologicallyrelevantcandidategenesinmrkhpatients
AT bruckersara acombinationoftranscriptomeandmethylationanalysesrevealsembryologicallyrelevantcandidategenesinmrkhpatients
AT riessolaf combinationoftranscriptomeandmethylationanalysesrevealsembryologicallyrelevantcandidategenesinmrkhpatients
AT schoenfischbirgitt combinationoftranscriptomeandmethylationanalysesrevealsembryologicallyrelevantcandidategenesinmrkhpatients
AT schaeferhoffkarin combinationoftranscriptomeandmethylationanalysesrevealsembryologicallyrelevantcandidategenesinmrkhpatients
AT haebigkarina combinationoftranscriptomeandmethylationanalysesrevealsembryologicallyrelevantcandidategenesinmrkhpatients
AT pothssven combinationoftranscriptomeandmethylationanalysesrevealsembryologicallyrelevantcandidategenesinmrkhpatients
AT waltermichael combinationoftranscriptomeandmethylationanalysesrevealsembryologicallyrelevantcandidategenesinmrkhpatients
AT barresigianmaria combinationoftranscriptomeandmethylationanalysesrevealsembryologicallyrelevantcandidategenesinmrkhpatients
AT rallkatharina combinationoftranscriptomeandmethylationanalysesrevealsembryologicallyrelevantcandidategenesinmrkhpatients
AT wallwienerdiethelm combinationoftranscriptomeandmethylationanalysesrevealsembryologicallyrelevantcandidategenesinmrkhpatients
AT boninmichael combinationoftranscriptomeandmethylationanalysesrevealsembryologicallyrelevantcandidategenesinmrkhpatients
AT bruckersara combinationoftranscriptomeandmethylationanalysesrevealsembryologicallyrelevantcandidategenesinmrkhpatients