KCNJ5

Gene Summary

Gene:KCNJ5; potassium inwardly rectifying channel subfamily J member 5
Aliases: CIR, GIRK4, KATP1, LQT13, KIR3.4
Location:11q24.3
Summary:This gene encodes an integral membrane protein which belongs to one of seven subfamilies of inward-rectifier potassium channel proteins called potassium channel subfamily J. The encoded protein is a subunit of the potassium channel which is homotetrameric. It is controlled by G-proteins and has a greater tendency to allow potassium to flow into a cell rather than out of a cell. Naturally occurring mutations in this gene are associated with aldosterone-producing adenomas. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2017]
Databases:OMIM, HGNC, Ensembl, GeneCard, Gene
Protein:G protein-activated inward rectifier potassium channel 4
Source:NCBIAccessed: 31 August, 2019

Ontology:

What does this gene/protein do?
Show (10)

Cancer Overview

Research Indicators

Publications Per Year (1994-2019)
Graph generated 31 August 2019 using data from PubMed using criteria.

Literature Analysis

Mouse over the terms for more detail; many indicate links which you can click for dedicated pages about the topic.

  • Zona Glomerulosa
  • Adrenocortical Cancer
  • Chromosome 11
  • Adrenocortical Cancer
  • G Protein-Coupled Inwardly-Rectifying Potassium Channels
  • Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma
  • Adrenalectomy
  • Messenger RNA
  • Hydrocortisone
  • Phenotype
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP11B2
  • Genetic Predisposition
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptors
  • Paraneoplastic Endocrine Syndromes
  • Hypertension
  • Sodium Chloride, Dietary
  • Adrenocortical Adenoma
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway
  • Plasma Membrane Calcium-Transporting ATPases
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Polymorphism
  • Veins
  • Receptors, LHRH
  • Ventricular Remodeling
  • Hyperaldosteronism
  • Potassium
  • Risk Factors
  • Adenoma
  • Hyperplasia
  • Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase
  • DNA Sequence Analysis
  • Mutation
  • Adrenal Glands
  • Cancer Gene Expression Regulation
  • Young Adult
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Aldosterone
  • Calcium Channels, L-Type
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
Tag cloud generated 31 August, 2019 using data from PubMed, MeSH and CancerIndex

Specific Cancers (3)

Data table showing topics related to specific cancers and associated disorders. Scope includes mutations and abnormal protein expression.

Note: list is not exhaustive. Number of papers are based on searches of PubMed (click on topic title for arbitrary criteria used).

Latest Publications: KCNJ5 (cancer-related)

Nakano Y, Yoshimoto T, Watanabe R, et al.
miRNA299 involvement in CYP11B2 expression in aldosterone-producing adenoma.
Eur J Endocrinol. 2019; 181(1):69-78 [PubMed] Related Publications
Objective: The pathophysiology of aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs) has been intensively investigated using genetic and epigenetic approaches. However, the role of miRNAs in APA is not fully understood. The present study profiled miRNAs in APAs as an exploratory approach to elucidate their pathophysiological roles in APAs.
Design: Tissues of APAs and other adrenocortical adenomas were obtained from patients who underwent adrenalectomy.
Methods: Candidate miRNAs differentially detected from samples were examined by whole miRNA sequencing. The expression of candidate miRNAs in APA tissues were further validated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Further, differential miRNA expression between APAs with and without KCNJ5 somatic mutations was examined. Prediction of miRNA target genes was performed by bioinformatics analysis. For specific miRNAs, correlation analysis between the levels of their target genes and CYP11B2 was analyzed in APA tissues.
Results: Our study determined differential expression of six miRNAs in APA or APA with KCNJ5 mutations. We further demonstrated that miR299 levels were negatively correlated with mRNA levels of CACNB2, which encodes the beta-subunit of the L-type calcium channel. Additionally, we found significant correlations among miR299, CACNB2, and CYP11B2 levels in APA tissues.
Conclusions: Our study suggests the possible pathophysiological involvement of specific miRNAs in calcium signaling and aldosterone hypersecretion in APAs. Further studies, including in vitro analyses, are required to clarify these findings.

Ghasemi S, Emadi-Baygi M, Nikpour P
Down-regulation of circular RNA ITCH and circHIPK3 in gastric cancer tissues
Turk J Med Sci. 2019; 49(2):687-695 [PubMed] Related Publications
Background/aim: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the major causes of cancer mortality worldwide. As a novel type of endogenous noncoding RNAs, circular RNAs (circRNAs) are formed by a covalent link between 5’ and 3’ ends. They are very stable and abundant in eukaryotes. As there were no reported studies on the expression profiles of circular RNA ITCH (cir-ITCH) and circHIPK3 in GC, in the current study, we aimed to delineate the expression profiles and clinicopathological relevance of these two circRNAs in GC tissues compared to their paired adjacent noncancerous tissues.
Materials and methods: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to evaluate cir_ITCH and circHIPK3 expression in 30 paired gastric cancer tissues. The clinicopathological relevance of these two circular RNAs’ expression levels with gastric cancer was further examined.
Results: Our results showed that the expression of cir_ITCH and circHIPK3 were significantly downregulated in GC tumoral tissues compared with their paired adjacent nonneoplastic counterparts. Further analyses showed that cir_ITCH and circHIPK3 expression levels were related with numerous clinicopathological features of tumoral tissues.
Conclusion: Cir_ITCH and circHIPK3 may have imperative roles in GC and serve in the future as potential prognostic biomarkers in GC.

Maccormick TM, Carvalho CES, Bravo Neto GP, Carvalho MDGDC
Comparative analysis of glutathione transferase genetic polymorphism, Helicobacter pylori and Epstein-Barr virus between the tumor area and the proximal and distal resection margins of gastric cancer.
Rev Col Bras Cir. 2019; 46(1):e2068 [PubMed] Related Publications
OBJECTIVE: to compare the polymorphism of the Glutathione S-transferase theta 1 (GSTT1) and Glutathione S-transferase mu 1 (GSTM1) genes from the tumor area with the proximal and distal margins of stomach specimens resected from patients with gastric cancer, and to investigate the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA and Helicobacter pylori.
METHODS: we prospectively collected tissue specimens from the tumor area and from the proximal and distal resection margins of the stomachs of ten patients with gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy, and submitted these specimens to DNA extraction. We compared the tumor area with the proximal and distal margins of the resected stomachs for polymorphism of GSTT1 and GSTM1 genes and investigated the presence of EBV-DNA and H. pylori. We used the p53 exon 5 gene as an internal control of the multiplex PCR reaction.
RESULTS: in one patient, we detected null GSTT1 and GSTM1 genotypes in the tumor area, in contrast to the presence of both genes in the proximal and distal margins. We found EBV-DNA and H. pylori in the tumor area and also in the proximal and distal margins. In another patient, the proximal margin was negative for GSTT1, and EBV-DNA was negative in the distal margin. In three patients, EBV-DNA was negative only in the distal margin.
CONCLUSION: this is the first report where different genotypes, EBV-DNA and H. pylori infection were observed in the same patient, indicating a probable deletion of these genes in response to tumor progression and intratumoral heterogeneity.

Hellman P, Björklund P, Åkerström T
Aldosterone-Producing Adenomas.
Vitam Horm. 2019; 109:407-431 [PubMed] Related Publications
Aldosterone-producing adenomas (APA) are more common than initially anticipated. APA cause primary aldosteronism (PA), which affect 3-10% of the hypertensive population. Research during recent years has led to an increased knowledge of the background dysregulation of the increased aldosterone release, where mutation in the gene encoding the potassium channel GIRK4-KCNJ5-is the most common. Moreover, the discovery of aldosterone-producing cell clusters in apparently normal adenomas has also led to increased understanding of the development of PA, and presumably also APA. A continuum ranging from low-renin hypertension to APA and overt PA is reasoned, and the secondary effects of aldosterone on especially the cardiovascular system have also become more evident. Diagnostics of PA and APA is important in order to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, but the diagnostic methods are somewhat unspecific and insensitive, indicating the need for novel methods.

Kamilaris CDC, Stratakis CA
An update on adrenal endocrinology: significant discoveries in the last 10 years and where the field is heading in the next decade.
Hormones (Athens). 2018; 17(4):479-490 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
The last 10 years have produced an amazing number of significant discoveries in the field of adrenal endocrinology. The development of the adrenal gland was linked to specific molecules. Cortisol-producing lesions were associated mostly with defects of the cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling pathway, whereas aldosterone-producing lesions were found to be the result of defects in aldosterone biosynthesis or the potassium channel KCNJ5 and related molecules. Macronodular adrenal hyperplasia was linked to ARMC5 defects and new genes were found to be involved in adrenocortical cancer (ACC). The succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) enzyme was proven to be the most important molecular pathway involved in pheochromocytomas, along with several other genes. Adrenomedullary tumors are now largely molecularly elucidated. Unfortunately, most of these important discoveries have yet to produce new therapeutic tools for our patients with adrenal diseases: ACC in its advanced stages remains largely an untreatable disorder and malignant pheochromocytomas are equally hard to treat. Thus, the challenge for the next 10 years is to translate the important discoveries of the previous decade into substantial advances in the treatment of adrenal disorders and tumors.

Thol F, Gabdoulline R, Liebich A, et al.
Measurable residual disease monitoring by NGS before allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in AML.
Blood. 2018; 132(16):1703-1713 [PubMed] Related Publications
Molecular measurable residual disease (MRD) assessment is not established in approximately 60% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients because of the lack of suitable markers for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. To overcome this limitation, we established an error-corrected next-generation sequencing (NGS) MRD approach that can be applied to any somatic gene mutation. The clinical significance of this approach was evaluated in 116 AML patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) in complete morphologic remission (CR). Targeted resequencing at the time of diagnosis identified a suitable mutation in 93% of the patients, covering 24 different genes. MRD was measured in CR samples from peripheral blood or bone marrow before alloHCT and identified 12 patients with persistence of an ancestral clone (variant allele frequency [VAF] >5%). The remaining 96 patients formed the final cohort of which 45% were MRD

Xiaosu Z, Leqing C, Yazhen Q, et al.
Classifying AML patients with inv(16) into high-risk and low-risk relapsed patients based on peritransplantation minimal residual disease determined by CBFβ/MYH11 gene expression.
Ann Hematol. 2019; 98(1):73-81 [PubMed] Related Publications
Ninety acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with inv(16) were monitored CBFβ/MYH11 transcript around allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). A total of 23 patients received HLA-matched sibling donor transplantation (MSDT) and 67 patients received unmanipulated haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT) were analyzed in this study. Patients were divided into four groups based on CBFβ/MYH11 expression prior to transplantation (pre-MRD): with negative (group 1)/positive (group 2) pre-MRD before MSDT; with negative (group 3)/positive (group 4) pre-MRD before haplo-HSCT. The results showed that patients in group 2 had the highest cumulative incidence of relapse (2-year CIR, 40.7%), the lowest leukemia-free survival (2-year LFS, 50.8%), and overall survival (2-year OS, 62.5%). The other three groups of patients had comparable outcomes. The patients were also classified into the other three groups according to CBFβ/MYH11 value of + 1 month after transplantation: group 5: pre- and post-transplant MRD were both negative; group 6: the value of post-transplant MRD was lower than 0.2%; group 7: the value of post-transplant MRD was higher than 0.2%. Group 7 had the highest CIR and the lowest LFS. These results indicated that AML patients with inv(16) were able to be separated into high-risk and low-risk relapse groups based on peritransplant MRD determined by RQ-PCR-based CBFβ/MYH11. Haplo-HSCT might overcome the negative impact of pre-MRD on patient outcomes compared to MSDT.

Nanba K, Omata K, Else T, et al.
Targeted Molecular Characterization of Aldosterone-Producing Adenomas in White Americans.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018; 103(10):3869-3876 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 01/10/2019 Related Publications
Context: Somatic mutations have been identified in more than half of aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs) through mutation hotspot sequencing. The underlying pathogenesis of inappropriate aldosterone synthesis in the remaining population is still unknown.
Objective: To investigate the prevalence and spectrum of somatic mutations in APAs using an aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) immunohistochemistry (IHC)‒guided next-generation sequencing (NGS) approach.
Methods: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded adrenal tissue from white American patients with primary aldosteronism who underwent adrenalectomy at the University of Michigan was used. Genomic DNA was isolated from 75 APAs (identified by CYP11B2 IHC). NGS was performed to identify somatic mutations by sequencing the entire coding region of a panel of genes mutated in APAs.
Results: Somatic mutations were identified in 66 of 75 APAs (88%). Of the APAs with somatic mutations, six were smaller than coexisting CYP11B2-negative adrenocortical adenomas. The most frequently mutated gene was KCNJ5 (43%), followed by CACNA1D (21%), ATP1A1 (17%), ATP2B3 (4%), and CTNNB1 (3%). In addition to identification of previously reported mutations, we identified five previously unreported mutations (two in KCNJ5, one in ATP1A1, one in ATP2B3, and one in CACNA1D genes). KCNJ5 mutations were more frequent in women (70% vs 24% in men).
Conclusion: Comprehensive NGS of CYP11B2-expressing adrenal tumors identified somatic mutations in aldosterone-driving genes in 88% of APAs, a higher rate than in previous studies using conventional approaches.

Inoue K, Yamazaki Y, Kitamoto T, et al.
Aldosterone Suppression by Dexamethasone in Patients With KCNJ5-Mutated Aldosterone-Producing Adenoma.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018; 103(9):3477-3485 [PubMed] Related Publications
Context: Aldosterone biosynthesis is regulated principally by ACTH and gene mutations as well as by angiotensin II and serum potassium. In addition, previous studies have reported the potential effects of KCNJ5 mutations in aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) on cardiovascular diseases. However, responsiveness to ACTH in APAs according to potassium inwardly rectifying channel, subfamily J, member 5 (KCNJ5) mutations remains unknown.
Objective: To investigate KCNJ5 genotype-specific differences in aldosterone biosynthesis in response to ACTH stimulation.
Design and Setting: A cross-sectional study through retrieval of clinical records.
Participants: One hundred forty-one patients aged ≥20 years with APA were examined.
Main Outcome Measures: Associations between KCNJ5 mutations and clinical parameters reflecting the renin-angiotensin system [saline infusion test (SIT)] and ACTH pathways [dexamethasone suppression test (DST)].
Results: KCNJ5 mutations were detected in 107 cases. In the crude comparison, patients with mutations in KCNJ5 had higher plasma aldosterone concentrations (PACs) both at baseline and after the SIT. PAC after the DST showed a significant inverse association with KCNJ5 genotypes after controlling for age, sex, tumor size, and PAC after the SIT. Immunohistochemical analysis of 101 cases revealed more abundant immunoreactivity of CYP11B1 and CYP17 in the KCNJ5-mutated group than in the KCNJ5 wild-type group.
Conclusion: This report of marked suppression of PAC by dexamethasone in patients with KCNJ5-mutated APAs indicates that such APAs respond to endogenous ACTH more readily than APAs in nonmutated cases. Further molecular and epidemiologic studies are required to validate our results and clarify the clinical effectiveness of the DST for predicting KCNJ5 mutations before adrenalectomy.

Gagnon N, Cáceres-Gorriti KY, Corbeil G, et al.
Genetic Characterization of GnRH/LH-Responsive Primary Aldosteronism.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018; 103(8):2926-2935 [PubMed] Related Publications
Background: Recently, somatic β-catenin mutations (CTNNB1) identified in aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs) from three women were suggested to be responsible for the aberrant overexpression of luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor and gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor in the APA.
Objective: To genetically characterize patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) evaluated in vivo for gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)/luteinizing hormone (LH)-responsive aldosterone secretion.
Method: Patients with PA were evaluated in vivo to determine the possible regulation of aldosterone secretion by GnRH or LH. Genetic analysis of the CTNNB1, KCNJ5, ATP1A1, ATP2B3, CACNA1D, and GNAS genes were performed in this cohort and a control cohort of PA not tested in vivo for GnRH response.
Results: We studied 50 patients with confirmed PA, including 36 APAs, 12 bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasias, 1 oncocytoma, and 1 bilateral hyperplasia with cosecretion of cortisol. Among 23 patients tested in vivo for GnRH response of aldosterone, 7 (30.4%) had a positive response, 4 (17.4%) a partial response, and 12 (52.2%) no response. No somatic CTNNB1 mutations were identified, but the disease-causing c.451G>C KCNJ5 mutation was found in two individuals with partial and no GnRH responses and an individual showing a positive response to LH. Two additional somatic pathogenic mutations, CACNA1D c.776T>A and ATP1A1 c.311T>G, were identified in two patients with no GnRH responses. In the 26 patients not tested for GnRH response, we identified 2 CTNNB1 (7.7%), 13 KCNJ5 (50%), and 1 CACNA1D (3.8%) mutations.
Conclusion: Aberrant regulation of aldosterone by GnRH is frequent in PA, but is not often associated with somatic CTNNB1, although it may be found with somatic KCNJ5 mutations.

Morita K, Kantarjian HM, Wang F, et al.
Clearance of Somatic Mutations at Remission and the Risk of Relapse in Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
J Clin Oncol. 2018; 36(18):1788-1797 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 01/10/2019 Related Publications
Purpose The aim of the current study was to determine whether the degree of mutation clearance at remission predicts the risk of relapse in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Patients and Methods One hundred thirty-one previously untreated patients with AML who received intensive induction chemotherapy and attained morphologic complete remission (CR) at day 30 were studied. Pretreatment and CR bone marrow were analyzed using targeted capture DNA sequencing. We analyzed the association between mutation clearance (MC) on the basis of variant allele frequency (VAF) at CR (MC2.5: if the VAF of residual mutations was < 2.5%; MC1.0: if the VAF was < 1%; and complete MC [CMC]: if no detectable residual mutations) and event-free survival, overall survival (OS), and cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR). Results MC1.0 and CMC were associated with significantly better OS (2-year OS: 75% v 61% in MC1.0 v non-MC1.0; P = .0465; 2-year OS: 77% v 60% in CMC v non-CMC; P = .0303) and lower CIR (2-year CIR: 26% v 46% in MC1.0 v non-MC 1.0; P = .0349; 2 year-CIR: 24% v 46% in CMC v non-CMC; P = .03), whereas there was no significant difference in any of the above outcomes by MC2.5. Multivariable analysis adjusting for age, cytogenetic risk, allogeneic stem-cell transplantation, and flow cytometry-based minimal residual disease revealed that patients with CMC had significantly better event-free survival (hazard ratio [HR], 0.43; P = .0083), OS (HR, 0.47; P = .04), and CIR (HR, 0.27; P < .001) than did patients without CMC. These prognostic associations were stronger when preleukemic mutations, such as DNMT3A, TET2, and ASXL1, were removed from the analysis. Conclusion Clearance of somatic mutation at CR, particularly in nonpreleukemic genes, was associated with significantly better survival and less risk of relapse. Somatic mutations in nonpreleukemic genes may function as a molecular minimal residual disease marker in AML.

Mussano F, Ferrocino I, Gavrilova N, et al.
Apical periodontitis: preliminary assessment of microbiota by 16S rRNA high throughput amplicon target sequencing.
BMC Oral Health. 2018; 18(1):55 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 01/10/2019 Related Publications
BACKGROUND: Apical periodontitis includes periapical granulomas and radicular cysts, which are histologically distinguished by the absence and the presence of an epithelial lining, respectively. The main cause of apical periodontitis is the bacterial colonization of the root canal space. This research aimed at assessing whether and how periapical granulomas and radicular cysts differ in terms of microbiota using high throughput amplicon target sequencing (HTS) techniques.
METHODS: This study included 5 cases of Periapical Granulomas (PGs) and 5 cases of Radicular Cysts (RCs) selected on the base of histology out of 37 patients from January 2015 to February 2016. Complete medical history, panoramic radiograms (OPTs) and histologic records of each patient were assessed. Only lesions greater than 1 cm in diameter and developed in proximity to teeth with bad prognosis were included. The microbiota present in periapical granulomas and radicular cysts thus retrieved was finely characterized by pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA genes.
RESULTS: The core of OTUs shared between periapical granulomas and radicular cysts was dominated by the presence of facultative anaerobes taxa such as: Lactococcus lactis, Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus warneri, Acinetobacter johnsonii and Gemellales. L. lactis, the main OTUs of the entire datasets, was associated with periapical granuloma samples. Consistently with literature, the anaerobic taxa detected were most abundant in radicular cyst samples. Indeed, a higher abundance of presumptive predicted metabolic pathways related to Lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis was found in radicular cyst samples.
CONCLUSIONS: The present pilot study confirmed the different microbial characterization of the two main apical periodontitis types and shade light on the possible role of L. lactis in periapical granulomas.

Domínguez Ayala M, Expósito Rodríguez A, Bilbao González A, et al.
BRAF V600E mutation in papillary thyroid cancer and its effect on postoperative radioiodine (
Cir Esp. 2018; 96(5):276-282 [PubMed] Related Publications
INTRODUCTION: The BRAF V600E mutation in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) has been associated with resistance to
METHOD: A prospective cohort study was designed, from September 2015 to February 2016, which included patients with PTC receiving therapy after surgical treatment. Variables were described for age, gender, histology, tumor stage, thyroglobulin values before, 48h after and 6months after
RESULTS: 41 patients giving in total 67 thyroid remnants were included. 61% were BRAF+. In stagesiii and iv, 80% were BRAF+. In lateral resection, 100% were BRAF+. The number of nodes was higher in BRAF+: 3.4 vs 1.2 (P=.01). The classic variant was predominant in BRAF+ (91.7% vs 8.3%, P=.03). 85.7% vs 14.3% of BRAF+ had desmoplastic reaction (P=.02). The BRAF+ had a lower absorbed dose than the administered activity (5.4Gy/MBq vs 20Gy/MBq, P=.02); lower% activity with respect to the unit of mass at 2 (0.046%/g vs 0.103%/g, P=.02) and at 7days (0.006%/gr vs 0.034%/gr, P=.04) CONCLUSIONS: The mutation of the BRAF V600E gene is related with greater resistance to postoperative treatment with

Zhao X, Wang Z, Ruan G, et al.
Impact of pre-transplantation minimal residual disease determined by multiparameter flow cytometry on the outcome of AML patients with FLT3-ITD after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
Ann Hematol. 2018; 97(6):967-975 [PubMed] Related Publications
In this study, using multiparameter flow cytometry (FCM), we investigate the impact of minimal residual disease prior to transplantation (pre-MRD) on the transplant outcomes of AML patients with fms-related tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3)-internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutation. A total of 20 patients who received HLA-matched sibling donor transplantation (MSDT) and 63 patients who received unmanipulated haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT) were enrolled. Patients were classified into four groups based on the status of pre-FCM: group 1 with positive pre-FCM before MSDT, group 2 with negative pre-FCM before MSDT, group 3 with positive pre-FCM before haplo-HSCT, and group 4 with positive pre-FCM before haplo-HSCT. The results showed that patients in group 1 had the highest cumulative incidence of relapse (2-year CIR, 75.0%), the lowest leukemia-free survival (2-year LFS, 33.3%), and the overall survival (2-year OS, 25.0%) among all four groups. The other three groups of patients had comparable CIR (2-year CIR: group 2 vs. 3 vs. 4, 12.5% vs. 31.3% vs. 22.2%, P > 0.05) and LFS (2-year LFS: group 2 vs. 3 vs. 4, 87.5% vs. 62.5% vs. 66.5%, P > 0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that disease status (> CR) and pre-MRD were associated with a higher CIR and a lower LFS when patients were classified by pre-MRD and transplant type. Our results suggested that AML patients with FLT3-ITD were able to be separated into high-risk and low-risk relapse groups based on pre-MRD, as determined by multiparameter FCM. Haplo-HSCT might overcome the negative impact of pre-MRD on patient outcomes compared to MSDT. These results require further investigation in prospective study with large numbers of cases.

Kobuke K, Oki K, Gomez-Sanchez CE, et al.
Purkinje Cell Protein 4 Expression Is Associated With DNA Methylation Status in Aldosterone-Producing Adenoma.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018; 103(3):965-971 [PubMed] Related Publications
Context: Aldosterone production is stimulated by activation of calcium signaling in aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs), and epigenetic factors such as DNA methylation may be associated with the expression of genes involved in aldosterone regulation.
Objective: Our aim was to investigate the DNA methylation of genes related to calcium signaling cascades in APAs and the association of mutations in genes linked to APAs with DNA methylation levels.
Methods: Nonfunctioning adrenocortical adenoma (n = 12) and APA (n = 35) samples were analyzed. The KCNJ5 T158A mutation was introduced into human adrenocortical cell lines (HAC15 cells) using lentiviral delivery. DNA methylation array analysis was conducted using adrenal tumor samples and HAC15 cells.
Results: The Purkinje cell protein 4 (PCP4) gene was one of the most hypomethylated in APAs. DNA methylation levels in two sites of PCP4 showed a significant inverse correlation with messenger RNA expression in adrenal tumors. Bioinformatics and multiple regression analysis revealed that CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (CEBPA) may bind to the methylation site of the PCP4 promoter. According to chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, CEBPA was bound to the PCP4 hypomethylated region by chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. There were no significant differences in PCP4 methylation levels among APA genotypes. Moreover, KCNJ5 T158A did not influence PCP4 methylation levels in HAC15 cells.
Conclusions: We showed that the PCP4 promoter was one of the most hypomethylated in APAs and that PCP4 transcription may be associated with demethylation as well as with CEBPA in APAs. KCNJ5 mutations known to result in aldosterone overproduction were not related to PCP4 methylation in either clinical or in vitro studies.

Cossiolo DC, Costa HCM, Fernandes KBP, et al.
POLYMORPHISM OF THE COX-2 GENE AND SUSCEPTIBILITY TO COLON AND RECTAL CANCER.
Arq Bras Cir Dig. 2017 Apr-Jun; 30(2):114-117 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 01/10/2019 Related Publications
BACKGROUND: The colorectal neoplasm is the fourth most common malignancy among males and the third among females. In the Western world is estimated that 5% of the population will develop it, making this disease a major public health problem.
AIM: To analyze the prevalence of the polymorphism -765G / C region of the COX-2 gene in colorectal cancer patients compared to a control group, analyzing the possible association between this polymorphism and susceptibility to colorectal cancer.
METHOD: This is a case-control study with 85 participants. Were selected 25 with colorectal cancer (case group) and 60 participants without colorectal neoplasia (control group). The molecular genetic analysis was perform to identify the polymorphism -765G / C COX2 gene with standard literature technique. In addition, patient's clinical and pathological data were analyzed.
RESULTS: There was a light increase in prevalence between men in the case group, although this difference was not statistically significant. The results showed a high prevalence of GC and CC genotype in individuals with colorectal cancer, demonstrating an association between the presence of the polymorphism in the COX2 gene and susceptibility to colorectal cancer in this pattern (p=0.02). Similarly, there was also difference in allele frequencies in the groups. When patients with cancer were separated by tumor location, there was a higher prevalence of polymorphism in the left colon (p=0.02).
CONCLUSION: The polymorphism in the COX2 gene is associated with increased susceptibility to colorectal cancer, specially rectosigmoid tumors.

Nascimento EFR, Ribeiro ML, Magro DO, et al.
TISSUE EXPRESION OF THE GENES MUTYH AND OGG1 IN PATIENTS WITH SPORADIC COLORECTAL CANCER.
Arq Bras Cir Dig. 2017 Apr-Jun; 30(2):98-102 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 01/10/2019 Related Publications
BACKGROUND: MTUYH and OGG1 genes have importance in the base excision repair systems of oxidized DNA bases. Modification of the tissue expression of these genes is related to the increased risk of developing colorectal cancer.
AIM: To evaluate the tissue expression of MUTYH and OGG1 comparing normal and neoplastic tissues of patients with sporadic colorectal cancer and to correlate it with clinical and histopathological variables.
METHOD: MUTYH and OGG1 tissue expression was quantified by RT-PCR in patients with colorectal cancer and the values were compared in normal and neoplastic tissues. MUTYH and OGG1 expression was measured and normalized to the constitutive 18S gene. The level of expression of both genes was correlated with the variables: age, gender, tumor location, size of the tumor, histological type, degree of cell differentiation, invasion depth in the intestinal wall, angiolymphatic infiltration, lymph node involvement and TNM staging.
RESULTS: Was found downregulation of both genes in neoplastic when compared to normal tissue. There was downregulation of the MUTYH in larger tumors and in patients with angiolymphatic invasion. Tumors with more advanced TNM stages (III and IV) presented downregulation of both genes when compared to those with earlier stages (I and II).
CONCLUSION: The MUTYH and OGG1 genes present downregulation in the more advanced stages of colorectal cancer.

Li X, Wang B, Tang L, et al.
GSTA1 Expression Is Correlated With Aldosterone Level in KCNJ5-Mutated Adrenal Aldosterone-Producing Adenoma.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018; 103(3):813-823 [PubMed] Related Publications
Context: KCNJ5 mutation is a major cause of aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs). The development of APA apart from KCNJ5 mutation is less investigated.
Objective: To investigate other mechanisms affecting aldosterone secretion apart from KCNJ5.
Patients and Methods: Six pairs of KCNJ5-mutated, high and low aldosterone-secreting APAs, five non-KCNJ5-mutated APAs, and four normal adrenal glands were assayed by Affymetrix GeneChip Human Transcriptome Array 2.0. A total of 113 APA samples were investigated to explore the expression of glutathione-S-transferase A1 (GSTA1). H295R cells were used to verify the function of GSTA1.
Results: GSTA1 was the top gene downregulated in high-aldosterone KCNJ5-mutated APAs. GSTA1 was also downregulated in KCNJ5-mutated APAs compared with wild-type KCNJ5 APAs. Accordingly, mutant KCNJ5 decreased GSTA1 messenger RNA and protein expression levels. GSTA1 overexpression suppressed aldosterone secretion whether in wild-type or mutant KCNJ5 H295R cells. Adding ethacrynic acid or silencing of GSTA1 increased aldosterone secretion by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide, H2O2 levels, and Ca2+ influx. The expression of the transcription factors NR4A1, NR4A2, and CAMK1 and intracellular Ca2+ were significantly upregulated by GSTA1 inhibition. The reduced form of NAD phosphate oxidase inhibitor or H2O2 scavenger or blocking calmodulin or calcium channels could significantly reduce aldosterone secretion in GSTA1-inhibited cells.
Conclusions: (1) GSTA1 expression is reversely correlated with aldosterone level in KCNJ5-mutated APAs, (2) GSTA1 regulates aldosterone secretion by ROS and Ca2+ signaling, and (3) KCNJ5 mutation downregulates GSTA1 expression, and overexpression of GSTA1 reverses increased aldosterone in KCNJ5-mutated adrenal cells.

Yang Y, Jin L, Zhang J, et al.
High HSF4 expression is an independent indicator of poor overall survival and recurrence free survival in patients with primary colorectal cancer.
IUBMB Life. 2017; 69(12):956-961 [PubMed] Related Publications
Heat shock factor 4 (HSF4) is a member of the HSF family. In this study, by using data from the Cancer Genome Atlas-Colorectal Cancer (TCGA-CRC), we investigated the expression profile and the prognostic value of the HSF4 in terms of overall survival (OS) and recurrence free survival (RFS) in CRC patients. RNA-Seq data showed that HSF4 RNA expression was significantly higher in CRC tissues (N = 380) than in the corresponding normal tissues (N = 51) (mean ± SD: 3.56 ± 1.28 vs. 1.85 ± 0.87, P < 0.0001). High HSF4 expression group had significantly higher ratio of stages III/IV patients (52/86, 60.5%) than low HSF4 expression group (110/264, 41.7%; P = 0.0024). Besides, the high HSF4 expression group also had significantly increased expression of CEA (CEA ≥ 5, 26/51, 51.0% vs. 64/186, 34.4%), higher proportion of recurrence (32/86, 37.2% vs. 48/254, 18.9%, P = 0.0005) and death (36/90, 40.0% vs. 49/277, 17.7%, P < 0.0001) compared with the low HSF4 expression group. Multivariate analysis confirmed that high HSF4 expression was an independent prognostic factor of poor OS (HR = 2.111, 95%CI: 1.350-3.302, P = 0.001) and RFS (HR = 1.958, 95%CI: 1.224-3.131, P = 0.005). Bioinformatic analysis showed that HSF4 can directly interact with DUSP26, ZBED8, and MAPK14. It is also coexpressed with PTGER1, COL11A2, CLPS, and ARSA and colocalized with PTGER1, ADRB1, PEX12, CLPS, PSEN2, KCNJ5, CPA1, ARSA, PNLIP, IRX4, CPA2, IDUA, BCKDHA, and CTRL. We hypothesized that HSF4 might exert its oncogenic effects in CRC via some of these genes. © 2017 IUBMB Life, 69(12):956-961, 2017.

Kobuke K, Oki K, Gomez-Sanchez CE, et al.
Calneuron 1 Increased Ca
Hypertension. 2018; 71(1):125-133 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 01/10/2019 Related Publications
Aldosterone production is initiated by angiotensin II stimulation and activation of intracellular Ca

Cazzaniga G, De Lorenzo P, Alten J, et al.
Predictive value of minimal residual disease in Philadelphia-chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with imatinib in the European intergroup study of post-induction treatment of Philadelphia-chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia, based on immunoglobulin/T-cell receptor and BCR/ABL1 methodologies.
Haematologica. 2018; 103(1):107-115 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 01/10/2019 Related Publications
The prognostic value of minimal residual disease (MRD) in Philadelphia-chromosome-positive (Ph+) childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors is not fully established. We detected MRD by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) of rearranged immunoglobulin/T-cell receptor genes (IG/TR) and/or BCR/ABL1 fusion transcript to investigate its predictive value in patients receiving Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster (BFM) high-risk (HR) therapy and post-induction intermittent imatinib (the European intergroup study of post-induction treatment of Philadelphia-chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (EsPhALL) study). MRD was monitored after induction (time point (TP)1), consolidation Phase IB (TP2), HR Blocks, reinductions, and at the end of therapy. MRD negativity progressively increased over time, both by IG/TR and BCR/ABL1. Of 90 patients with IG/TR MRD at TP1, nine were negative and none relapsed, while 11 with MRD<5×10

Scholl UI
Unanswered Questions in the Genetic Basis of Primary Aldosteronism.
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Over the past six years, the genetic basis of a significant fraction of primary aldosteronism (PA) cases has been solved. Breakthrough discoveries include the role of somatic variants in the

Petit A, Trinquand A, Chevret S, et al.
Oncogenetic mutations combined with MRD improve outcome prediction in pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Blood. 2018; 131(3):289-300 [PubMed] Related Publications
Risk stratification in childhood T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is mainly based on minimal residual disease (MRD) quantification. Whether oncogenetic mutation profiles can improve the discrimination of MRD-defined risk categories was unknown. Two hundred and twenty FRALLE2000T-treated patients were tested retrospectively for

Jiang S, Zhu L, Yang J, et al.
Integrated expression profiling of potassium channels identifys KCNN4 as a prognostic biomarker of pancreatic cancer.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2017; 494(1-2):113-119 [PubMed] Related Publications
Dysregulated potassium (K

Jahn B, Rochau U, Kurzthaler C, et al.
Personalized treatment of women with early breast cancer: a risk-group specific cost-effectiveness analysis of adjuvant chemotherapy accounting for companion prognostic tests OncotypeDX and Adjuvant!Online.
BMC Cancer. 2017; 17(1):685 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 01/10/2019 Related Publications
BACKGROUND: Due to high survival rates and the relatively small benefit of adjuvant therapy, the application of personalized medicine (PM) through risk stratification is particularly beneficial in early breast cancer (BC) to avoid unnecessary harms from treatment. The new 21-gene assay (OncotypeDX, ODX) is a promising prognostic score for risk stratification that can be applied in conjunction with Adjuvant!Online (AO) to guide personalized chemotherapy decisions for early BC patients. Our goal was to evaluate risk-group specific cost effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy for women with early stage BC in Austria based on AO and ODX risk stratification.
METHODS: A previously validated discrete event simulation model was applied to a hypothetical cohort of 50-year-old women over a lifetime horizon. We simulated twelve risk groups derived from the joint application of ODX and AO and included respective additional costs. The primary outcomes of interest were life-years gained, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), costs and incremental cost-effectiveness (ICER). The robustness of results and decisions derived were tested in sensitivity analyses. A cross-country comparison of results was performed.
RESULTS: Chemotherapy is dominated (i.e., less effective and more costly) for patients with 1) low ODX risk independent of AO classification; and 2) low AO risk and intermediate ODX risk. For patients with an intermediate or high AO risk and an intermediate or high ODX risk, the ICER is below 15,000 EUR/QALY (potentially cost effective depending on the willingness-to-pay). Applying the AO risk classification alone would miss risk groups where chemotherapy is dominated and thus should not be considered. These results are sensitive to changes in the probabilities of distant recurrence but not to changes in the costs of chemotherapy or the ODX test.
CONCLUSIONS: Based on our modeling study, chemotherapy is effective and cost effective for Austrian patients with an intermediate or high AO risk and an intermediate or high ODX risk. In other words, low ODX risk suggests chemotherapy should not be considered but low AO risk may benefit from chemotherapy if ODX risk is high. Our analysis suggests that risk-group specific cost-effectiveness analysis, which includes companion prognostic tests are essential in PM.

Caroccia B, Prisco S, Seccia TM, et al.
Macrolides Blunt Aldosterone Biosynthesis: A Proof-of-Concept Study in
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Aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA), a major subtype of primary hyperaldosteronism, the main curable cause of human endocrine hypertension, involves somatic mutations in the potassium channel Kir3.4 (

Itcho K, Oki K, Kobuke K, et al.
Aberrant G protein-receptor expression is associated with DNA methylation in aldosterone-producing adenoma.
Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2018; 461:100-104 [PubMed] Related Publications
This study aimed to evaluate the methylation levels of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) related genes and the effects of methylation on mRNA expression levels in aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA). DNA methylation array and transcriptome analysis were applied in non-functioning adrenocortical adenoma (NFA) and APA. We investigated 192 GPCR-related genes and found hypo-methylation in the promoter region of 66 of these genes in APA. An integration study between microarray and methylation analysis revealed that HTR4, MC2R, TACR1, GRM3, and PTGER1 showed hypo-methylation and up-regulation of mRNA in APA. qPCR analysis showed that HTR4 and PTGER1 expression was 9.3-fold and 6.6-fold higher in APAs than in NFAs, respectively, whereas expression of the other genes was not different between the groups. Methylation of HTR4 and PTGER1 at positions -229 and -666 from the transcription start site, respectively, showed a significant inverse correlation with their mRNA levels. Methylation levels were not associated with KCNJ5 or ATP1A1 mutations in human adrenal samples. We demonstrated an increased incidence of CpG island demethylation of GPCR-related gene in APA. The expression of two receptors, HTR4 and PTGER1, showed a strong association with DNA methylation.

Frairia C, Aydin S, Audisio E, et al.
Post-remissional and pre-transplant role of minimal residual disease detected by WT1 in acute myeloid leukemia: A retrospective cohort study.
Leuk Res. 2017; 61:10-17 [PubMed] Related Publications
In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) is still under investigation. The aim of the present retrospective study was to assess the role of Wilms tumor gene 1 (WT1) overexpression in a large monocentric cohort of AML patients. Among 255 enrolled patients, MRD was investigated in those in complete remission (CR) with an available WT1 at baseline (>250 copies) and at two further time-points: after induction (n=117) and prior allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT), n=65. Baseline BM WT1 overexpression was not associated with response to induction (p=0.244). Median overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were significantly shorter in patients with >350 WT1 copies after induction compared to those with ≤350 (HR for mortality 2.13; 95% CI 1.14-3.97, p=0.018 and HR for relapse 2.81; 95% CI 1.14-6.93, p=0.025). Patients with WT1>150 copies pre allo-HCT had a significantly higher 2-year cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) compared to those with WT1≤150 (HR 4.61; 95% CI 1.72-12.31, p=0.002). The prognostic role of WT1 overexpression resulted independent from other well-established risk factors. According to these results, WT1 overexpression might represent an additional MRD tool for risk stratification in patients classified nowadays in CR.

Murakami M, Yoshimoto T, Nakabayashi K, et al.
Molecular characteristics of the KCNJ5 mutated aldosterone-producing adenomas.
Endocr Relat Cancer. 2017; 24(10):531-541 [PubMed] Related Publications
The pathophysiology of aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs) has been investigated via genetic approaches and the pathogenic significance of a series of somatic mutations, including

Li JF, Song YZ
Circular RNA GLI2 promotes osteosarcoma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by targeting miR-125b-5p.
Tumour Biol. 2017; 39(7):1010428317709991 [PubMed] Related Publications
Circular RNAs are novel identified type of endogenous non-coding RNAs, which exert vital functions in human and animals. However, the in-depth role of circular RNAs in the progression of tumorigenesis, especially osteosarcoma, is still undefined. Our preliminary study had found that cir-GLI2 was significantly upregulated in osteosarcoma tissues compared to adjacent non-tumor tissue. Moreover, cir-GLI2 silencing could effectively suppress the proliferation, migration, and invasion capacity of osteosarcoma cells, indicating the tumor-promoting role. Besides, bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay predicted the direct binding to miR-125b-5p, which has been reported to function as a tumor suppressor in osteosarcoma. Furthermore, functional experiments validated that cir-GLI2 exerted the tumor-promoting effects on osteosarcoma cells via negatively targeting miR-125b-5p. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that cir-GLI2 acts as an oncogenic circular RNA in osteosarcoma genesis, providing a novel diagnostic and therapeutic target for osteosarcoma.

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