1.PsyMuKB:An Integrative De Novo Variant Knowledge Base for Developmental Disorders
Lin Ning GUAN ; Guo SIJIA ; Tan XIAN ; Wang WEIDI ; Qian WEI ; Song WEICHEN ; Wang JINGRU ; Yu SHUNYING ; Wang ZHEN ; Cui DONGHONG ; Wang HAN
Genomics, Proteomics & Bioinformatics 2019;17(4):453-464
De novo variants (DNVs) are one of the most significant contributors to severe earlyonset genetic disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and other developmental and neuropsychiatric (DNP) disorders. Presently, a plethora of DNVs have been identified using next-generation sequencing, and many efforts have been made to understand their impact at the gene level. However, there has been little exploration of the effects at the isoform level. The brain contains a high level of alternative splicing and regulation, and exhibits a more divergent splicing program than other tissues. Therefore, it is crucial to explore variants at the transcriptional regulation level to better interpret the mechanisms underlying DNP disorders. To facilitate a better usage and improve the isoform-level interpretation of variants, we developed NeuroPsychiatric Mutation Knowledge Base (PsyMuKB). It contains a comprehensive, carefully curated list of DNVs with transcriptional and translational annotations to enable identification of isoformspecific mutations. PsyMuKB allows a flexible search of genes or variants and provides both table-based descriptions and associated visualizations, such as expression, transcript genomic structures, protein interactions, and the mutation sites mapped on the protein structures. It also provides an easy-to-use web interface, allowing users to rapidly visualize the locations and characteristics of mutations and the expression patterns of the impacted genes and isoforms. PsyMuKB thus constitutes a valuable resource for identifying tissue-specific DNVs for further functional studies of related disorders. PsyMuKB is freely accessible at http://psymukb.net.
2.Role of lipid metabolism in the progression and treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration
Weichen SONG ; Wen CHEN ; Jingyi CHI ; Wenwen ZHU
International Eye Science 2024;24(9):1432-1437
Neovascular age-related macular degeneration(nARMD)is a prevalent age-related retinal disease that significantly impairs vision. Numerous studies have shown that lipid metabolism disorders contribute to the progression of nARMD. The relationship is complex and involved factors such as fatty acids, cholesterol, variations in lipid metabolism genes, and other influencing factors. Lipid metabolism disorders lead to retinal vascular abnormalities and inflammatory responses by triggering oxidative stress and inhibiting autophagy. This, in turn, accelerates the formation of new blood vessels and causes damage to macular cells and tissues. In animal experiments, drugs designed for lipid metabolism disorders have shown that regulating lipid metabolism could be a potentially effective strategy for treating nARMD. This article reviews the role of lipid metabolism in the progression and treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration, aiming to offer new insights for nARMD treatment.