Bao Zhang

Background: Antithyroid drug-induced agranulocytosis (TIA) is a rare and severe complication Graves disease (GD) treatment. Previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified ethnicity-specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) risk alleles for TIA, but limitations persist in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region coverage, variant resolution, and population generalizability. Methods: We conducted the first comprehensive MHC probe-capture sequencing (138× depth, covering 4.97 Mb) using a 2-stage study (Stage 1: 40 TIA cases, 93 GD controls; Stage 2: 20 TIA cases, 49 GD controls), with 1200 healthy controls as background references. High-resolution HLA typing, single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) association analysis, meta-analysis, and logistic regression were employed to identify TIA-related genetic variants, and a clinical nomogram was constructed for TIA risk prediction. Results: A total of 5661 MHC variants were detected, among which 133 TIA-risk SNPs were identified and grouped into 12 linkage disequilibrium blocks. The lead SNP rs9270003 (HLA-DRB1) was the most strongly associated variant (odds ratio, 10.19; Padj = 5.99 × 10−7). The C4A missense variant rs201016130 (Ser1286Ala) was correlated with milder TIA and lower serum C4 levels, revealing a novel link between complement system variation and TIA severity. Four human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles (HLA-B*38:02:01:02, HLA-B*39:01:01:02L, HLA-C*07:02:01:01, DRB1*08:03:02:01) were associated with TIA and validated in the Stage 2. Notably, homozygosity of HLA-C*07:02:01:01 was linked to more severe TIA phenotypes. A preliminary risk-stratification nomogram was developed (C-index = 0.792), necessitating prospective validation for further confirmation. Conclusion: Targeted MHC sequencing with high-resolution HLA typing identified novel genetic markers associated with TIA susceptibility and severity. Our findings may help lay a foundation for further investigation into individualized risk assessment in GD management.

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is characterized by synaptic structural deficits, yet how dysregulated noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) drive these abnormalities remains unknown. Through integrative multilayered analysis of SCZ data from whole transcriptome sequencing (blood samples), GWAS risk loci, and expression data using pipeline ceRNAxis, the THUMPD3‐AS1/miR‐485‐5p/ARHGAP8 axis is identified as a key regulator of synaptic function. Functional validation reveals that THUMPD3‐AS1 acts as a competitive endogenous RNA, sequestering miR‐485‐5p and thereby derepressing ARHGAP8. Despite suppressing RhoA activity, ARHGAP8 enhances ROCK2 activation through RhoB/C‐mediated compensatory mechanisms. Hyperactivation of ROCK2 through this noncanonical pathway disrupted actin cytoskeletal remodeling patterns, leading to increased immature dendritic spines and synaptic ultrastructural defects, which are pathological features associated with SCZ. In vivo, ventral hippocampal (vHip) overexpression of miR‐485‐5p or targeted knockdown of THUMPD3‐AS1 rescued MK‐801‐induced SCZ‐like phenotypes (anxiety, cognitive deficits, and social memory impairments) and restored synaptic ultrastructure. Crucially, this regulatory axis is cross‐species conservation, with bidirectional expression changes validated in patient‐derived blood and vHip tissues of mice. The findings reveal a novel ncRNA‐driven pathogenic cascade in SCZ, where dysregulated RhoB/C‐ROCK2 signaling, distinct from classical RhoA pathways, mediates synaptic destabilization. This presents a therapeutic axis for precision interventions targeting noncanonical actin cytoskeletal remodeling.

Objective Antithyroid drug (ATD)-induced agranulocytosis (TIA) is the most serious adverse effect during ATD treatment of Graves’ disease (GD). Previously, the MICA gene was reported to be associated with TIA. MICA protein is an important ligand for the NKG2D protein, which is encoded by the KLRK1 gene and KLRC4-KLRK1 read-through transcription. This study further investigated the association between KLRC4-KLRK1 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to TIA. Methods Twenty-eight candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on KLRC4-KLRK1 read-through transcription were evaluated by the iPLEX MassARRAY system in 209 GD control patients and 38 TIA cases. Results A significant association of rs2734565 polymorphism with TIA was found (p=0.02, OR=1.80, 95% CI=1.09–2.96). The haplotype C-A-A-C-G, including rs2734565-C, was associated with a significantly higher risk of TIA (p=4.79E-09, OR=8.361, 95% CI=3.737–18.707). In addition, the interval time from hyperthyroidism to agranulocytosis onset was shorter in patients carrying the rs2734565-C allele than in non-carrying groups (45.00 (14.00–6570.00) d vs. 1080.00 (30.00–3600.00) d, p=0.046), and the interval from ATD treatment to agranulocytosis onset was also shorter in patients carrying rs2734565-C allele (29.00 (13.00–75.00) d vs. 57.50 (21.00–240.00) d, p=0.023). Conclusions The findings suggest that the KLRC4-KLRK1 gene polymorphism is associated with susceptibility and progression of ATD-induced agranulocytosis. Patients carrying the rs2734565-C allele had a higher susceptibility and faster onset time of TIA.

Rwanda is one of the smallest countries of Africa, where forensic genetic studies are rarely being conducted and very few DNA databases have been developed. Short tandem repeats (STRs) polymorphisms were investigated in 505 unrelated Rwandese by using the HUMDNA TYPING (Yanhuang) Kit. The following STRs were targeted: D3S1358, D13S317, D7S820, D16S539, SE33, D10S1248, D5S818, D21S11, TPOX, D1S1656, D6S1043, D19S433, D22S1045, D8S1179, Penta E, D2S441, D12S391, D2S1338, vWA, Penta D, TH01, D18S51, CSF1PO and FGA. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the genetic diversity and explore the potential of applying these 24 STR in 505 Rwandan population in forensics. A total of 360 alleles, with corresponding allele frequencies in the range from 0.001 to 0.442, were found in the Rwandan population. SE33 presented the highest polymorphism (PIC=0.921) among these 24 loci, whereas D13S317 presented the lowest one (PIC=0.671). No deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed for any of the 24 loci. The forensic parameters, including the combined power of discrimination (PD and the combined exclusion power, have demonstrated that this panel of 24 STRs is highly informative and useful for forensic applications such as individuals’ identification and paternity tests. Additionally, the genetic distances between Rwanda population and other 24 published populations were calculated based on 8 overlapping loci with the polygenetic tree revealing significant clusters in the populations associated with their geographic locations and their historical relationship.

Parentage testing is routinely performed by genotyping short tandem repeat (STR) through capillary electrophoresis in the present. However, ambiguous or even misjudged paternity based on STRs happens from time to time in cases where only one putative parent is available. We analyzed STR data of 7,818,969 unrelated pairs and 75 close-relative pairs and found that although the probability of a random false match between non-relatives was 4.22 × 10^–6, the incidence of false or ambiguous paternity results between children and first-degree relatives of their true parent was as high as 18.67%. These results highlight the risk of false inclusion of a relative or even non-relatives in parentage testing with STRs. We then validated all ambiguous STR results by targeted sequencing with a custom panel containing 4,830 individual identification single nucleotide polymorphisms (IISNP), found that the ratio of mismatch loci to total SNPs was 1.78–6.95% in close relatives compared with 10.93–13.49% in unrelated pairs. Last, we reported three real cases with undetermined paternity by STRs and rectified them by dissecting with our IISNP panel. These results suggested that high-density IISNP panel can be used to identify and rectify misjudged cases effectively.

Background Graves' disease (GD) is a clinical autoimmune thyroid disease. During the treatment of GD, antithyroid drug‐induced agranulocytosis (TIA) is a common and even life‐threatening adverse drug reaction. Previous studies suggested that susceptibility to TIA is strongly associated with HLA‐B*27:05, HLA‐B*38:02, and HLA‐DRB1*08:03 genetic variation and six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in MICA genes. Aims The purpose of this study is to further study the associations between TIA, HLA‐B and MICA. Materials & Methods We genotyped MICA‐STR and MICA‐129 variants in 41 TIA and 308 control patients with GD and investigated the linkage effect among SNPs and short tandem repeat (STR) of MICA and HLA‐B alleles. Results The results showed that MICA*A5.1 was significantly associated with TIA (p = .007, odd ratio = 1.958, 95% confidence interval, 1.192–3.214). In addition, high linkage among MICA‐129 and six SNPs MICA and HLA‐B was detected, and two haplotypes (AAAACAAAAACGGCCTA and AACAAAAAAAACATTAA (p = 5.14E−07 and p = 3.42E−08, respectively)) were significantly associated with TIA. Furthermore, when we analyzed only MICA‐129 and HLA‐B separately, the haplotypes (AAAACAAAAAA with p = 2.49E−07 and AACAAAAAAAA with p = 2.14E−09) were identified with more significant effects. MICA‐129 was completely linked to six SNPs with haplotypes ACATTACA (p = 2.05E−05) significantly associated with TIA. Conclusion These data indicated that there was a significant linkage effect between MICA‐129 and other alleles, suggesting that they exert interactive effects as risk factors for the development of TIA.

The MiSeq® FGX Forensic system and the HID-Ion AmpliSeq Panel were previously developed for massively parallel sequencing (MPS) for forensic casework. Among the three major sequencing platforms, BGISEQ-500^TM, which is based on multiple PCRs, is still lacking in forensics. Here, a novel forensic panel was constructed to detect 186 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 123 short tandem repeats (STRs) with MPS technology on the BGISEQ-500™ platform. First, the library preparation, sequencing process, and data analysis were performed, focusing on the average depth of coverage and heterozygote balance. We calculated the allelic frequencies and forensic parameters of STR and SNP loci in 73 unrelated Chinese Han individuals. In addition, performance was evaluated with accuracy, uniformity, sensitivity, PCR inhibitor, repeatability and reproducibility, mixtures, degraded samples, case-type samples, and pedigree analyses. The results showed that 100% accurate and concordant genotypes can be obtained, and the loci with an abundance in the interquartile range accounted for 92.90% of the total, suggesting reliable uniformity in this panel. We obtained a locus detection rate that was higher than 98.78% from 78 pg of input DNA, and the optimal amount was 1.25–10 ng. The maximum concentrations of hematin and humic acid were 200 and 100 μM, respectively (the ratios of detected loci were 96.52% and 92.41%), in this panel. As a mixture, compared with those of SNPs, minor-contributor alleles of STRs could be detected at higher levels. For the degraded sample, the ratio of detected loci was 98.41%, and most profiles from case-type samples were not significantly different in abundance in our studies. As a whole, this panel showed high-performance, reliable, robust, repeatable, and reproducible results, which are sufficient for paternity testing, individual identification, and use for potentially degraded samples in forensic science.