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PubMed2025

Non-canonical functions of DNMT3A in hematopoietic stem cells regulate telomerase activity and genome integrity.

DNMT3A is a critical regulator of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) fate decisions and the most recurrently mutated gene in human clonal hematopoiesis (CH). DNMT3A is described as a DNA methyltransferase enzyme, but cells with DNMT3A loss of function show minor changes in DNA methylation that do not correlate with altered gene expression. To explore the possibility that Dnmt3a has DNA-methylation-independent functions in HSCs, we created an allelic series of mice with varying levels of DNA-methylation-impaired Dnmt3a. Clonal expansion of Dnmt3a-deficient HSCs was rescued by Dnmt3a proteins lacking DNA methylation capacity, suggesting that Dnmt3a has important non-canonical functions in HSCs. Dnmt3a-null HSCs can be transplanted indefinitely, implying the ability to circumvent mechanisms that limit the replicative lifespan of HSCs, such as telomere shortening. Dnmt3a-null HSCs show increased telomerase activity and sustain telomere length over serial transplantation, revealing a previously unidentified role for DNMT3A mutations in regulating HSC longevity that is unrelated to DNA methylation function.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Multidomain interaction governs the filamentous assembly of the dominant-negative DNMT3A R882H mutant.

DNA methyltransferase DNMT3A-mediated de novo DNA methylation is important for proper regulation of gene expression and genomic stability in development. The DNMT3A R882H (DNMT3AR882H) mutation, a hot-spot mutation in acute myeloid leukemia and developmental disorders, exerts a dominant-negative effect in DNMT3A-mediated DNA methylation through promoting high-order protein assembly. However, due to the lack of structural knowledge on DNMT3A homo-oligomers, the mechanism behind wild-type DNMT3A (DNMT3AWT) and DNMT3AR882H polymerization remains unclear. Here, we report the single-particle cryo-EM structures of homo-oligomeric DNMT3AWT and filamentous DNMT3AR882H, revealing the role of the regulatory Pro-Trp-Trp-Pro (PWWP) and ATRX-DNMT3-DNMT3L (ADD) domains of DNMT3A in their dynamic assembly. While the oligomeric assembly of DNMT3A is mainly driven by the well-characterized oligomer interfaces in the methyltransferase domain, the autoinhibitory interaction of the PWWP and ADD domains in DNMT3A places them in a position for intermolecular contact, thereby contributing to the filamentous assembly of DNMT3AR882H. Disrupting the autoinhibitory interaction facilitates the transition of DNMT3AR882H polymer toward the low-order oligomeric assembly, reinforcing the aggregation-attenuation effect of the previously characterized oligomer-interface mutation R676K. Together, this study uncovers a multidomain cooperated assembly mechanism for DNMT3A, with important implication in development of effective therapeutic strategies against DNMT3AR882H-associated diseases.

DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases↗

PubMed2026

Retrotransposable element derepression distinguishes DNMT3A-mutant from TET2-mutant clonal haematopoiesis.

Clonal haematopoiesis (CH) is driven by somatic mutations in haematopoietic stem cells that generate clonal populations detectable in peripheral blood and is present in 10-20% of individuals over the age of 65. Mutations in DNMT3A and TET2 are the most common drivers and have been linked to inflammatory phenotypes and increased risk of haematologic and cardiovascular disease. However, the cell-intrinsic mechanisms connecting these mutations to inflammatory signalling remain incompletely understood. Because retrotransposable elements (RTEs) are epigenetically regulated and can activate innate immune pathways when derepressed, we hypothesised that RTE reactivation may represent a mutation-specific mechanism linking clonal haematopoiesis driver mutations to inflammatory pathways. We analysed RTE expression and clonal burden in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples from 56 individuals with CH and 12 non-CH controls using integrated genomic and transcriptomic approaches, with complementary validation by TARGET-seq across haematopoietic lineages. High variant allele frequency (VAF; > 10%) DNMT3A-mutant clones exhibited widespread derepression of RTEs, particularly LINE and LTR families, whereas TET2-mutant clones showed a trend towards reduced RTE expression relative to controls. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that DNMT3A high-variant allele frequency clones with elevated RTE expression were enriched for inflammatory signalling pathways, including TNF-α/NF-κB signalling, interferon responses, and senescence-associated signatures. In contrast, TET2-mutant clones lacked these RTE-associated inflammatory signatures and instead showed enrichment of oxidative phosphorylation, reactive oxygen species signalling, and a mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 pathway. These findings were reproduced in an independent cohort. Collectively, our results highlight mutation-specific inflammatory mechanisms in clonal haematopoiesis and provide a foundation for future functional and preclinical studies to determine whether modulation of RTE activity can influence the inflammatory phenotype of DNMT3A-mutant CH and represent a potential therapeutic strategy.

DNMT3A↗

PubMed2026

Loss of Function Dnmt3a Mutation Leads to Aberrant Neutrophil Migration.

Clonal hematopoiesis (CH), an age-related expansion of somatically mutated hematopoietic clones, is associated with increased risk of severe infections including coronavirus disease (COVID)-19, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we investigated the impact of Dnmt3a deficiency in a murine model of influenza A virus (IAV) pneumonia. Dnmt3a-deficient mice exhibited increased pulmonary viral burden and reduced neutrophil accumulation in IAV-infected lungs despite comparable circulating neutrophil numbers. Functional analyses of neutrophils showed impaired chemotactic migration in vitro, whereas maturation, antimicrobial enzyme content, and metabolic capacity were unchanged. Transcriptomic profiling revealed downregulation of pathways involved in chemotaxis, cytokine signaling, and cellular activation, including reduced expression of Cxcr1. Supporting the translational relevance of these findings, proteomic analysis of plasma from individuals with germline DNMT3A mutations (Tatton-Brown-Rahman syndrome) revealed alterations in proteins associated with cell migration and cytoskeletal dynamics. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that Dnmt3a loss compromises innate immune defense by impairing neutrophil migration in a cell-intrinsic manner, leading to ineffective pathogen clearance. This work provides mechanistic insight into how CH-associated mutations contribute to age-associated susceptibility to infection and highlights altered leukocyte trafficking as a potential therapeutic target in aging populations with CH.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Integrated GWAS and methylation analysis identify DNMT3A as an important regulator of growth in rabbits.

The parameters of individual growth curve can serve as pseudo-phenotype for genetic evaluation in livestock. In this study, we compared five nonlinear growth models using post-weaning body weights of 706 New Zealand White rabbits. Under the best-fitting model, two parameters of mature weight and maturity rate were subjected to GWAS through single-step genomic BLUP framework that integrated phenotypic records from non-genotyped animals with 41,359 SNPs genotyped in 198 individuals. Association analysis identified 147 relevant genomic regions, and also highlighted DNMT3A as a promising candidate gene for further functional investigation. siRNA-mediated knockdown of DNMT3A significantly impaired myoblast proliferation. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing of DNMT3A-knockdown myoblasts identified 69,480 differentially methylated regions (DMRs). Integrative analyses revealed substantial overlap between DMR-associated genes and GWAS candidate genes, with significant enrichment in vitamin B6 and tyrosine metabolism pathways. These findings suggest that DNMT3A may regulate rabbit growth via mediating DNA methylation of downstream genes.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Clonal Hematopoiesis and Incident Heart Failure.

IMPORTANCE: Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), the age-related clonal expansion of hematopoietic cells with acquired preleukemic variants, has been associated with cardiometabolic diseases, including heart failure (HF). However, prior studies have lacked power to examine less common CHIP driver variants and have not investigated potential mediators of the CHIP-HF association. OBJECTIVE: To test whether specific CHIP subtypes are associated with incident HF and determine the extent to which CHIP-associated comorbidities mediate this association. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a UK Biobank prospective population-based cohort study of community-dwelling adults in the UK, with enrollment from 2006 to 2010 and follow-up through 2020. Included were participants with whole-exome sequencing (WES) and without prevalent HF, hematologic malignancy, or other CHIP-associated comorbidities (coronary artery disease [CAD], atrial fibrillation [AF], type 2 diabetes [T2D], or chronic kidney disease [CKD]) at baseline. Study data were analyzed from April through October 2025. EXPOSURES: Presence of CHIP and gene-specific CHIP subtypes (DNMT3A, non-DNMT3A, TET2, ASXL1, JAK2, DNA damage repair genes, and spliceosome genes). Mediation analyses examined CHIP-associated comorbidities (CAD, AF, T2D, and CKD). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was incident HF. Cox regression tested associations of CHIP and CHIP subtypes with incident HF, adjusted for age, sex, race, and cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS: Among 417 616 participants (mean [SD] age, 56.1 [8.1] years; 234 868 female [56.2%]), 7183 (1.7%) developed incident HF over a median (IQR) of 11.1 (10.4-11.8) years of follow-up. CHIP was associated with HF risk (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.27; 95% CI, 1.15-1.40; P < .001), driven by non-DNMT3A subtypes (aHR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.33-1.75; P < .001), including associations with TET2, ASXL1, JAK2, and spliceosome CHIP. DNMT3A CHIP was more modestly associated with HF (aHR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.00-1.31; P = .04). In mediation analyses, development of CAD, AF, T2D, and/or CKD collectively accounted for 28.2% of the association (95% CI, 11.6%-45.4%; P = .001) between non-DNMT3A CHIP and HF. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Results of this cohort study suggest that CHIP, especially non-DNMT3A CHIP, was associated with incident HF. Other CHIP-associated comorbidities explained only a minority of the association between non-DNMT3A CHIP and HF. These findings suggest that CHIP is an HF risk factor and potential therapeutic target.

Adult↗

PubMed2026

Mammalian DNA methyltransferases in DNA methylation and imprinted gene expression in extraembryonic ectoderm of post-implantation embryos.

DNA methylation in mammals is mainly catalyzed by three DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs). Conventionally, DNMT1 is considered the primary DNMT protein for maintenance DNA methylation, whereas DNMT3A and DNMT3B function in de novo DNA methylation. In two previous studies, we demonstrated that DNMT3A and DNMT3B maintain genome-wide DNA methylation in embryonic stem (ES) cells and in the epiblast of post-implantation embryos. Interestingly, DNMT3A and DNMT3B also sustain genome-wide DNA methylation in the extraembryonic ectoderm (EXE) of post-implantation embryos, including repeats, genic and intergenic regions. Although DNMT1 plays a major role in maintaining DNA methylation at the imprinting control regions (ICRs) in the imprinted regions, DNMT3A and DNMT3B are required for preserving DNA methylation at the ICRs of a subset of imprinted regions in EXE, similar to the observations in ES cells and epiblast. Surprisingly, de novo DNA methylation mediated by DNMT3A and DNMT3B leads to increased DNA methylation at a large subset of imprinted regions. These results are consistent with what we previously elucidated in the epiblast of post-implantation embryos. Importantly, loss of DNA methylation at the ICR of an imprinted region, resulting from the absence of DNMT1 or two DNMT3 proteins, causes allelic expression switch of the corresponding imprinted genes in that imprinted region. This study provides further evidence that DNMT3A and DNMT3B exert both maintenance and de novo DNA methylation functions across the genome in post-implantation embryos. It also validates some previous findings for DNA methylation-dependent allelic expression switch of imprinted genes.

DNA methylation↗

PubMed2026

Mutational Landscape and Clonal Dynamics in AML Undergoing PTCy Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

To improve risk stratification, we performed targeted NGS at diagnosis in 191 patients with AML undergoing myeloablative allogeneic HCT with PTCy-based prophylaxis. We also investigated clonal evolution using paired diagnostic and relapse samples from 39 individuals. A total of 610 mutations were detected in 184 patients (96%), most commonly in FLT3 (26%), DNMT3A (25%), RUNX1 (24%), and NPM1 (19%). Sixteen unique fusion genes were identified in 35 patients, with KMT2A (43%) and core binding factor rearrangements (23%) being the most frequent. TP53 and WT1 mutations were strongly associated with adverse outcomes, whereas NPM1 retained favorable significance. RUNX1 co-mutations with SF3B1 or NRAS were associated with inferior survival. In an exploratory allelic analysis, multi-hit TP53 alterations, but not single-hit mutations, were associated with distinctly poorer OS, EFS, and relapse risk. Relapse involved mutational shifts in ∼70% of cases, with significant enrichment of WT1 and more modest increases in TP53, KRAS, ASXL1, NF1, and MECOM, while DNMT3A, TET2, and ASXL1 persisted stably. Neither acute nor chronic graft-versus-host disease was associated with molecular remodeling at relapse. Incorporating TP53 and WT1 into risk models, recognizing context-dependent effects of DNMT3A and RUNX1, and applying longitudinal genomic monitoring may help guide personalized strategies to prevent relapse. Extended abstract BACKGROUND Relapse remains the leading cause of treatment failure after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), yet the genetic mechanisms underlying post-transplant relapse remain poorly understood, particularly in the era of post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy). Characterizing the mutational landscape at diagnosis and the clonal evolution leading to relapse may improve post-transplant risk stratification and identify opportunities for personalized surveillance and intervention. OBJECTIVES To characterize the diagnostic mutational landscape, evaluate its prognostic significance, and investigate clonal evolution from diagnosis to relapse in AML patients undergoing myeloablative HCT with PTCy-based graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis. STUDY DESIGN We performed targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) at diagnosis in 191 consecutive AML patients undergoing myeloablative allogeneic HCT with PTCy-based prophylaxis. Paired diagnostic and relapse samples were available for 39 patients to evaluate clonal evolution. RESULTS A total of 610 mutations were detected in 184 patients (96%), most commonly in FLT3 (26%), DNMT3A (25%), RUNX1 (24%), and NPM1 (19%). Sixteen unique fusion genes were identified in 35 patients, with KMT2A (43%) and core binding factor rearrangements (23%) being the most frequent. TP53 and WT1 mutations were strongly associated with adverse outcomes, whereas NPM1 retained favorable significance. RUNX1 co-mutations with SF3B1 or NRAS were associated with inferior survival. In an exploratory allelic analysis, multi-hit TP53 alterations, but not single-hit mutations, were associated with distinctly poorer OS, EFS, and relapse risk. Relapse involved mutational shifts in ∼70% of cases, with significant enrichment of WT1 and more modest increases in TP53, KRAS, ASXL1, NF1, and MECOM, while DNMT3A, TET2, and ASXL1 persisted stably. Neither acute nor chronic graft-versus-host disease was associated with molecular remodeling at relapse. CONCLUSIONS This study provides a comprehensive characterization of the mutational landscape and clonal evolution of AML undergoing contemporary PTCy-based allogeneic HCT. TP53 and WT1 identify patients at particularly high risk of post-transplant relapse, whereas NPM1 retains favorable prognostic significance. The frequent acquisition of new genetic lesions at relapse underscores the dynamic nature of post-transplant clonal evolution and supports longitudinal molecular monitoring together with genomically informed post-transplant surveillance and relapse-prevention strategies.

Clonal Dynamics↗

PubMed2026

Paternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics induces inter- and transgenerational bronchopulmonary dysplasia-like damage in male offspring by FtMt hypermethylation-mediated ferroptosis.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a major cause of chronic lung disease in both preterm infants and adults, but its etiology remains incompletely understood. In this study, F0 generation mice were exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs), and F1 to F3 generations were obtained by breeding. Multi-omics sequencing including whole genome methylation sequencing, single cell transcriptome sequencing and transcriptome sequencing was performed on the lungs of offspring. The levels of Fe2+, lipid peroxidation products and key gene expression were determined. Male mice exposed to PS-NPs at environmentally relevant doses produced offspring (F1 and F2) that exhibited a typical BPD-like phenotype. Meanwhile, the F0 males showed diminished sperm motility, demonstrating that paternal PS-NPs exposure constituted an etiological factor for BPD in descendants. Mechanistic studies showed that PS-NPs exposure upregulated the expression of DNA methyltransferase Dnmt3a, leading to global hypermethylation of the sperm genome. Importantly, the hypermethylated promoter signature of the mitochondrial ferritin (FtMt) gene partially resisted epigenetic reprogramming and was transmitted to the lungs of offspring, resulting in persistently low FtMt expression in F1 and F2 lungs. This led to increased intracellular Fe2+ levels, subsequently triggered ferroptosis in alveolar epithelial cells, and ultimately impaired alveolarization. Knockdown of FtMt confirmed that FtMt deficiency was sufficient to induce ferroptosis and BPD-like lung injury both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, using in vitro fertilization of F0 sperm combined with Dnmt3a siRNA microinjection, we directly demonstrated that Dnmt3a is a key driver for FtMt to escape reprogramming and maintain its hypermethylation. In summary, this study reveals for the first time that paternal PS-NPs exposure causes BPD through a Dnmt3a-FtMt hypermethylation intergenerational and transgenerational axis, providing an epigenetic basis for understanding paternal derived chronic lung disease and potential targets for early intervention.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

Clonal Hematopoiesis and Risk of New-Onset Myocarditis and Pericarditis.

IMPORTANCE: Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is the age-related clonal expansion of hematopoietic stem cells with leukemia-associated mutations. Certain CHIP mutations promote atherosclerosis and heart failure through immune-related pathways. OBJECTIVE: To test whether CHIP is associated with the development of myocarditis and pericarditis. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This observational population-based cohort study used data from the UK Biobank. Enrollment occurred between 2006 and 2010. Participants with whole-exome sequencing, no prevalent cardiovascular disease or hematological malignancy, and complete covariate data were included. Follow-up occurred for a median of 13.6 (IQR, 12.8-14.2) years. Analyses were conducted from November 2024 to July 2025. EXPOSURES: Any CHIP (variant allele frequency [VAF] ≥2%) and large CHIP (VAF ≥10%) constituted coprimary study exposures. Secondary analyses considered DNMT3A and TET2 CHIP as separate exposures. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was a composite of incident myocarditis and pericarditis. Cox regression tested associations of CHIP with myocarditis and pericarditis, adjusting for age, sex, race and ancestry, and cardiovascular risk factors. Secondary analyses considered myocarditis and pericarditis as separate outcomes. Additional analyses compared associations of CHIP with myocarditis and pericarditis with those with other cardiovascular diseases, and tested the bidirectional associations between CHIP and noncardiac immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. RESULTS: Among 335 426 participants (mean age, 56.1 years; 185 429 female [55.3%] and 149 997 male [44.7%]), 11 057 had any CHIP (3.3%), 7271 had large CHIP (2.2%), and 382 developed myocarditis or pericarditis (0.11%). Any and large CHIP were associated with multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios of 1.75 (95% CI, 1.14-2.68; P = .01) and 2.07 (95% CI, 1.28-3.33; P = .003), respectively, for the primary composite outcome of incident myocarditis and pericarditis. Increased risks were observed for DNMT3A and TET2 CHIP, with hazard ratios of 2.22 (95% CI, 1.17-4.21; P = .01) for DNMT3A with pericarditis and 3.65 (95% CI, 1.16-11.49; P = .03) for TET2 with myocarditis. CHIP associated with myocarditis and pericarditis more strongly than with other cardiovascular diseases (eg, coronary artery disease and heart failure). Any CHIP was also associated with 1.27-fold risk (95% CI, 1.16-1.39; P < .001) of developing noncardiac immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, without evidence for reverse causation. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this study, CHIP was a strong risk factor for myocarditis and pericarditis among middle-aged adults. Targeting CHIP and its downstream pathways may represent a strategy for preventing or treating pericarditis and myocarditis.

Adult↗

PubMed2025

TET2-mutant myeloid cells mitigate Alzheimer's disease progression via CNS infiltration and enhanced phagocytosis in mice.

Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) is associated with many age-related diseases, but its interaction with Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains unclear. Here, we show that TET2-mutant CH is associated with a 47% reduced risk of late-onset AD (LOAD) in the UK Biobank, whereas other drivers of CH do not confer protection. In a mouse model of AD, transplantation of Tet2-mutant bone marrow reduced cognitive decline and β-amyloid plaque formation, effects not observed with Dnmt3a-mutant marrow. Bone-marrow-derived microglia-like cells were detected at an increased rate in Tet2-mutant marrow recipients, and TET2-mutant human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived microglia were more phagocytic and hyperinflammatory than DNMT3A-mutant or wild-type microglia. Strikingly, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) revealed that macrophages and patrolling monocytes were increased in brains of mice transplanted with Tet2-mutant marrow in response to chemokine signaling. These studies reveal a TET2-specific protective effect of CH on AD pathogenesis mediated by peripheral myeloid cell infiltration.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Clonal haematopoiesis of indeterminate potential and epigenetic age acceleration: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Clonal haematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) represents somatic mutations in haematopoietic stem cells that drive clonal expansion. Epigenetic age acceleration (EAA), estimated from DNA methylation (DNAm) clocks, may capture age-related changes in haematopoiesis. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to synthesise evidence on associations between CHIP and EAA and explore shared biological mechanisms that may underlie this relationship. Six databases were searched from January 1, 2011, to June 6, 2025, adhering to PRISMA 2020. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed. Five studies comprising 7483 individuals (ages 55-79, 67.1% female) assessing associations between CHIP and DNAm clocks were included. Across studies, CHIP individuals had higher EAA than no-CHIP individuals, and larger clones were associated with higher EAA. Meta-analysis of three cross-sectional studies (n = 6946) showed that CHIP had higher EAA versus no-CHIP for Horvath1Age IEAA (mean difference, MD=2.84 years, 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.49-4.19), HannumAge EEAA (MD=2.31 years, 95% CI: 1.14-3.49), PhenoAge (MD=1.84 years, 95% CI: 0.96-2.71), and GrimAge (MD=1.20 years, 95% CI: 0.80-1.61). Both DNMT3A- and TET2-mutated CHIP were associated with higher EAA with TET2-mutated CHIP showing larger effect sizes and more consistent associations than DNMT3A-mutated CHIP across DNAm clocks tested. Higher EAA may also act as an effect modifier for morbidity and mortality in CHIP. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to verify a temporal relationship and determine whether EAA provides incremental prognostic value for morbidity and mortality in CHIP.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

The prevalence and clinical significance of clonal monocytosis.

The terms clonal monocytosis of undetermined significance (CMUS) and clonal cytopenia and monocytosis of undetermined significance (CCMUS) were introduced by the International Consensus Classification of Myeloid Neoplasms to describe cases of clonal hematopoiesis (CH) and concurrent monocytosis that did not meet the diagnostic criteria of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. To date, their practical relevance as clinicopathological entities at a population level has not been assessed. Here, we assess the prevalence, significance, and natural history of CMUS and CCMUS among 431 531 UK Biobank participants through analysis of clinical, genomic, and health outcome data. We find that CMUS with an absolute monocytosis and CCMUS are high-risk entities strongly associated with incident myeloid neoplasia (MN), cardiovascular disease, and renal disease. Noting the overall higher monocyte counts in men and the low rate of progression of DNMT3A-CMUS, we reveal that amending the definition of CMUS/CCMUS to incorporate sex-specific monocyte thresholds and the exclusion of isolated DNMT3A mutations from the definition significantly strengthens the association with incident MN. Finally, given their association with poor outcomes, we develop MoSAIC, a machine-learning classifier, to infer the presence of SRSF2 mutations (associated with high MN risk) among individuals with monocytosis, based on complete blood count indices alone. We corroborate our findings in an independent cohort of 625 328 Danish primary care patients. Our findings underscore the clinical relevance of CMUS and CCMUS as distinct high-risk states within the spectrum of CH and establish an evidence base to refine their diagnostic definition.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Network Interactions of Circulating FGF23, HRG-HMGB1, and Cardiac Disease in CKD.

KEY POINTS: Multitrait analysis of genome-wide association study boosts the statistical power to identify novel genetic traits for fibroblast growth factor 23. A functional genomics approach aided network discovery to identify histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) and high-mobility group protein box 1 (HMGB1) as key regulators of cardiac disease in CKD. Integration of clinical and genetic data enhances the discovery power and is crucial for understanding the genetic underpinnings of mineral bone disorder related to CKD. BACKGROUND: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified numerous genetic loci associated with mineral metabolism markers but have exclusively focused on single-trait analysis. In this study, we performed a multitrait analysis of GWAS (MTAG) of mineral metabolism, exploring overlapping genetic architecture between traits to identify novel genetic associations for fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23). METHODS: We applied MTAG to variants common to GWAS of five genetically correlated mineral metabolism markers in participants of European ancestry. We integrated UK Biobank GWAS for blood levels for phosphate, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and calcium (n=366,484) and Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genetic Epidemiology GWAS for parathyroid hormone (n=29,155) and FGF23 (n=13,716). We then used supervised and unsupervised deep machine learning to identify novel associations between genetic traits and FGF23. RESULTS: MTAG increased the effective sample size for mineral metabolism markers to n=50,325 for FGF23. After clumping, MTAG identified independent genome-wide significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms for all traits, including 62 loci for FGF23. Many of these loci have not been previously reported in single-trait analyses. Through a functional genomics approach, we identified histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) and high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) as master regulators of downstream canonical pathways associated with circulating FGF23, and both genes were highly enriched in hypertrophied cardiac tissue of deceased hemodialysis patients. In addition, we found that DNMT3A was associated with uremic toxin, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine, a biomarker of DNA damage. In silico gene perturbation analysis revealed that DNMT3A is protective in patients with heart failure caused by hypertrophied or dilated cardiomyopathy. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the importance of MTAG analysis of mineral metabolism markers to boost the number of genome-wide significant loci for FGF23 to identify novel genetic traits. Functional genomics revealed novel networks that inform unique cellular functions and identified HRG and HMGB1 as key master regulators of FGF23 and cardiovascular disease in CKD.

bones, stones, and mineral metabolism↗

PubMed2026

The machine-learning classifier ALLCatchR2 identifies 20 T-ALL subtypes across cohorts and age groups.

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) comprises molecularly diverse subtypes, but robust cross-cohort validations and operational gene-expression definitions are lacking. To establish a gene-expression-anchored framework for T-ALL subtyping, we aggregated 2314 transcriptomes (15 cohorts, age: 0.8-90.8 years). An extended unsupervised approach defined 17 main clusters and 3 subclusters in samples with high blast fractions. Supervised analyses added an overarching immature T-ALL (early T cell precursor [ETP]-like) definition and resolved the LMO2 γδ-like subtype. All clusters contained samples from at least two cohorts. Characteristic genomic driver enrichments were consistent across cohorts, while gene-expression clusters did not correspond exclusively to single driver events but also reflected developmental origins. A machine-learning classifier based on ALLCatchR, our B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) classifier, identified these 20 transcriptomic subtypes and the immature T-ALL (ETP-like) signature with 0.995-1.0 accuracy in a validation set (n = 203). Testing the classifier on a second hold-out data set (n = 265 samples) showed that 92.7% of predictions matched with corresponding driver alterations. Across all samples, 83.2% of cases received high-confidence predictions, 7.3% candidate predictions, and 9.5% remained unclassified, largely because of low blast fractions. We identified a novel gene-expression cluster markedly enriched (P < 0.001) for clonal hematopoiesis mutations (IDH2 R140Q, DNMT3A) and a stem-/progenitor cell-like gene expression. This novel clonal hematopoiesis-related T-ALL subtype was observed in six cohorts and accounted for 8.9% of adults and 39.5% of patients aged >50 years. We extended ALLCatchR into ALLCatchR2, a free R package that now enables B-/T-lineage separation, gene-expression subtyping, blast estimation, and developmental annotation to harmonize T-ALL classification across studies and clinical contexts.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2026

The landscape of clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential in long-term breast cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND: Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) can confound blood-based genomics and may be shaped by cytotoxic therapy; clarifying its persistence after breast-cancer chemotherapy is relevant for long-term survivorship follow-up. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Buffy-coat whole-exome sequencing was performed in 189 stage I-III breast-cancer survivors with blood collected a median 136.5 months after diagnosis. CHIP was assessed using a prespecified 100-gene hematopoietic-driver compendium and exome-wide interrogation. Clinical associations were assessed with univariable tests and multivariable logistic regression including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, age, smoking and obesity. RESULTS: Within the 100-gene compendium, 54/189 (28.6%) patients harbored ≥1 variant, predominantly missense, with DNMT3A and TET2 predominating and multi-hit cases rare. In multivariable models, chemotherapy was not associated with panel-defined CHIP (OR 0.77; 95% CI 0.40-1.48; p = 0.432). Similarly, age, adjuvant radiotherapy, obesity and smoking status were not significantly associated with panel-defined CHIP. Gene-level comparisons showed no differences by chemotherapy exposure. Exome-wide, 67/189 (35.4%) patients carried ≥1 variant; chemotherapy was not associated with exome-wide variant positivity (OR 0.89; 95% CI 0.48-1.67; p = 0.721), and no locus differed between chemotherapy-exposed and never-exposed women. CONCLUSION: Buffy-coat WES performed in long-term breast cancer survivors shows no cohort-level association between prior chemotherapy and increased CHIP.

Humans↗

PubMed2020

LINC00922 regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition, invasive and migratory capacities in breast cancer through promoting NKD2 methylation.

Breast cancer ranks as the major reason for mortality in women populations, accounting for 23% of all cancer deaths. One in every three Asian women encounters the risk of this cancer in their lifetime. Long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs) have emerged as tumor promoters and suppressors. The molecular mechanism of breast cancer remains elusive. Therefore, the current study aimed to explore the role lincRNA LINC00922 plays in the development of breast cancer. Breast cancer tissues and adjacent tissues were obtained from 109 patients with breast cancer. The RNA extraction and quantification and immunohistochemical staining characterized the high expression of LINC00922 and low expression of NKD2 in breast cancer tissues in comparison to its adjacent counterparts. Furthermore, the ectopic expression and knockdown experiments were conducted to figure out the in vivo and in vitro effects of LINC00922 on breast cancer progression. The ectopically expressed LINC00922 activated the Wnt signaling pathway, promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cell proliferative, invasive and migratory capacities, tumor growth and metastasis. Additionally, the RIP and ChIP assay identified that LINC00922 recruited DNMT1, DNMT3A and DNMT3B proteins in the promoter region of NKD2 to promote NKD2 promoter methylation, thus reducing the NKD2 expression. Moreover, the Wnt signaling pathway was activated subsequent to NKD2 silencing, which was reversed by LINC00922 silencing. Lastly, the anti-oncogenic effects of LINC00922 inhibition was antagonized after NKD2 knocked down. The current study provides evidence that LINC00922 acts as a tumor promoter by promoting NKD2 methylation. Hopefully, it provides a novel potential gene target for the treatment of breast cancer.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

PubMed2026

Genome-wide CRISPR screens map synthetic lethal interactions across recurrent cancer driver alterations.

Synthetic lethality (SL) provides a treatment paradigm for targeting cancer with alterations in driver genes that are not conventionally druggable, including tumor suppressor genes. We execute a series of genome-wide CRISPR screens using functionally validated isogenic cell lines and conduct a large-scale SL analysis using data from the cancer dependency map (DepMap). We chart SL interactions across 15 driver alterations: FBXW7, CCNE1, CDK12, ARID1A, KMT2D, DNMT3A, TET2, KEAP1, STK11, IDH1, SF3B1, SRSF2, U2AF1, chromosome 18q loss, and chromosome 13q loss. We show validation of several SL interactions, including ARID1A and the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway aminotransferase GFPT1, STK11 with CAMK protein kinase MARK2, FBXW7 and the CDK1 regulatory kinase PKMYT1, and CCNE1 amplification and the anaphase-promoting complex or cyclosome (APC/C). In summary, this study offers a rich resource of genetic interactions across cancer drivers enabling the discovery of biological insights and drug targets for future therapeutic development.

CP: cancer↗