During the initial funding period, we employed whole exome sequencing in 190 families and to date have identified rare variants in 5 new genes that are associated with familial interstitial pneumonia (FIP). These include telomere related genes RTEL1 and DKC1; the G protein-coupled receptor GPR87; the centromere gene CENPN; and SYDE1. While it is generally believed that genetic risk for FIP is inherited in an autosomal dominant (AD) fashion, pedigree modeling of our FIP kindreds now suggests that as many as 39% of families could have alternative modes of inheritance, including X-linked (XL) or autosomal recessive (AR). Evaluating genetic risk based on these alternative inheritance models offers promise for identifying additional genes that contribute to FIP risk, as illustrated by our finding of an XL DKC1 mutation in FIP. Although we have identified novel heterozygous rare variants in several genes that are associated with FIP during the initial funding period, our findings indicate that rare variants in a variety of genes (not a single gene or small set of genes) contribute to FIP risk. This issue, along with limitations in the genetic informativeness of many of our FIP kindreds, has necessitated new approaches and novel analytic methods for identifying genetic risk factors in FIP. Along with Dr. Nancy Cox, a new co-investigator in Project 2, we have begun to use Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) datasets to build large-scale predictors of gene expression in human lungs and other tissues, which can be applied to identify genes involved in disease pathogenesis. We propose to use this approach coupled with BioVU, which is a unique resource at Vanderbilt that links de-identified medical records to genotyped DNA samples, to maximize informativeness of genetic studies in this proposal. In addition to studies in FIP, we believe it is important to broaden our focus by using next-generation sequencing techniques to determine the importance of the FIP-associated genes and pathways in the larger group of individuals with sporadic IPF. Based on a new collaborative arrangement with Genentech, whole genome sequencing is now feasible and will be pursued to develop a more complete understanding of genetic factors that underlie sporadic IPF. This project will investigate the hypothesis that development of FIP/IPF is influenced by multiple genetic factors that variably contribute to disease predisposition, including rare variants of major effect and common variants of minor effect. Identifying both types of disease-causing variants and the genes and biological pathways involved will elucidate critical mechanisms in the pathogenesis of FIP and sporadic IPF.
Specific aims are designed to: 1) identify rare variants associated with FIP that are inherited in an AD, AR, or XL manner; 2) investigate the contribution of rare, intermediate, and common genetic variations in FIP associated genes and pathways to sporadic IPF; 3) use GTEx datasets, BioVU, and advanced bioinformatics approaches to identify and prioritize candidate genes associated with FIP and sporadic IPF. Together with other projects in this program, these studies will enhance understanding of FIP/IPF by identifying new disease-associated genes and variants.
Interstitial lung diseases, including the idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, are a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality for which there are no effective treatments. In this program, we will study the genetics and underlying biological mechanisms that lead to progressive fibrosis in the lungs. Our integrated approach will lead to new concepts in disease pathogenesis and identify new targets for therapeutic intervention.
| Sivley, R Michael; Sheehan, Jonathan H; Kropski, Jonathan A et al. (2018) Three-dimensional spatial analysis of missense variants in RTEL1 identifies pathogenic variants in patients with Familial Interstitial Pneumonia. BMC Bioinformatics 19:18 |
| Burman, Ankita; Kropski, Jonathan A; Calvi, Carla L et al. (2018) Localized hypoxia links ER stress to lung fibrosis through induction of C/EBP homologous protein. JCI Insight 3: |
| Wilfong, Erin M; Lentz, Robert J; Guttentag, Adam et al. (2018) Interstitial Pneumonia With Autoimmune Features: An Emerging Challenge at the Intersection of Rheumatology and Pulmonology. Arthritis Rheumatol 70:1901-1913 |
| Celada, Lindsay J; Kropski, Jonathan A; Herazo-Maya, Jose D et al. (2018) PD-1 up-regulation on CD4+ T cells promotes pulmonary fibrosis through STAT3-mediated IL-17A and TGF-?1 production. Sci Transl Med 10: |
| Hewlett, Justin C; Kropski, Jonathan A; Blackwell, Timothy S (2018) Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions and emerging therapeutic targets. Matrix Biol 71-72:112-127 |
| Kropski, Jonathan A; Blackwell, Timothy S (2018) Endoplasmic reticulum stress in the pathogenesis of fibrotic disease. J Clin Invest 128:64-73 |
| Evans, Christopher M; Dickey, Burton F; Schwartz, David A (2018) E-Cigarettes: Mucus Measurements Make Marks. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 197:420-422 |
| Lentz, Robert J; Taylor, Trevor M; Kropski, Jonathan A et al. (2018) Utility of Flexible Bronchoscopic Cryobiopsy for Diagnosis of Diffuse Parenchymal Lung Diseases. J Bronchology Interv Pulmonol 25:88-96 |
| Brittain, Evan L; Thennapan, Thennapan; Maron, Bradley A et al. (2018) Update in Pulmonary Vascular Disease 2016 and 2017. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 198:13-23 |
| Kook, Seunghyi; Qi, Aidong; Wang, Ping et al. (2018) Gene-edited MLE-15 Cells as a Model for the Hermansky-Pudlak Syndromes. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 58:566-574 |
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