A2ML1 and otitis media: novel variants, differential expression, and relevant pathways.

Abstract

A genetic basis for otitis media is established, however, the role of rare variants in disease etiology is largely unknown. Previously a duplication variant within A2ML1 was identified as a significant risk factor for otitis media in an indigenous Filipino population and in US children. In this report exome and Sanger sequencing was performed using DNA samples from the indigenous Filipino population, Filipino cochlear implantees, US probands, Finnish, and Pakistani families with otitis media. Sixteen novel, damaging A2ML1 variants identified in otitis media patients were rare or low-frequency in population-matched controls. In the indigenous population, both gingivitis and A2ML1 variants including the known duplication variant and the novel splice variant c.4061 + 1 G>C were independently associated with otitis media. Sequencing of salivary RNA samples from indigenous Filipinos demonstrated lower A2ML1 expression according to the carriage of A2ML1 variants. Sequencing of additional salivary RNA samples from US patients with otitis media revealed differentially expressed genes that are highly correlated with A2ML1 expression levels. In particular, RND3 is upregulated in both A2ML1 variant carriers and high-A2ML1 expressors. These findings support a role for A2ML1 in keratinocyte differentiation within the middle ear as part of otitis media pathology and the potential application of ROCK inhibition in otitis media.

• Authors: Eric D Larson, Jose Pedrito M Magno, Matthew J Steritz, Erasmo Gonzalo D V Llanes, Jonathan Cardwell, Melquiadesa Pedro, Tori Bootpetch Roberts, Elisabet Einarsdottir, Rose Anne Q Rosanes, Christopher Greenlee, Rachel Ann P Santos, Ayesha Yousaf, Sven-Olrik Streubel, Aileen Trinidad R Santos, Amanda G Ruiz, Sheryl Mae Lagrana-Villagracia, Dylan Ray, Talitha Karisse L Yarza, Melissa A Scholes, Catherine B Anderson, Anushree Acharya, University of Washington Center for Mendelian Genomics, Samuel P Gubbels, Michael J Bamshad, Stephen P Cass, Nanette R Lee, Rehan S Shaikh, Deborah A Nickerson, Karen L Mohlke, Jeremy D Prager, Teresa Luisa G Cruz, Patricia J Yoon, Generoso T Abes, David A Schwartz, Abner L Chan, Todd M Wine, Eva Maria Cutiongco-de la Paz, Norman Friedman, Katerina Kechris, Juha Kere, Suzanne M Leal, Ivana V Yang, Janak A Patel, Ma Leah C Tantoco, Saima Riazuddin, Kenny H Chan, Petri S Mattila, Maria Rina T Reyes-Quintos, Zubair M Ahmed, Herman A Jenkins, Tasnee Chonmaitree, Lena Hafrén, Charlotte M Chiong, Regie Lyn P Santos-Cortez
• Journal: Human mutation (Hum Mutat) Vol. 40 Issue 8 Pg. 1156-1171 (08 2019) ISSN: 1098-1004 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 31009165 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
• Copyright: © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Chemical References

• A2ML1 protein, human
• alpha-Macroglobulins

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Down-Regulation
• Female
• Finland
• Gene Expression Profiling (methods)
• Gene Expression Regulation
• Genetic Predisposition to Disease
• Humans
• Infant
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mutation
• Otitis Media (genetics)
• Pakistan
• Pedigree
• Philippines
• Sequence Analysis, DNA (methods)
• Sequence Analysis, RNA
• Signal Transduction
• United States
• Young Adult
• alpha-Macroglobulins (genetics)