Using genomics to elucidate the pathogenesis of granulomatosis with polyangiitis

描述（由申请人提供）：本K23奖申请为加州大学旧金山分校的风湿病学家Sharon Chung博士提出补充研究和培训计划。钟博士正在将自己定位为一名进行全身性血管炎患者导向基因组研究的转化研究者。在这个建议中，Dr. Chung将重点研究多血管炎肉芽肿病（GPA，以前称为Wegener肉芽肿病）作为其他系统性血管病变的潜在模型。研究计划的总体目标是广泛评估三种主要生物过程——基因突变、表观遗传失调和异常基因表达——对GPA疾病易感性和活性的贡献。在拟议的研究中，钟博士将利用尖端的下一代测序技术和最先进的DNA甲基化阵列来确定这些因素。具体而言，Chung博士将(1)执行外显子组测序，以识别与GPA疾病易感性相关的新型蛋白质影响遗传变异，(2)使用高通量甲基化阵列检查特定白细胞亚群的DNA甲基化（一种表观遗传修饰）如何影响疾病风险和活动，以及(3)通过特定白细胞亚群的rna测序确定基因表达模式如何随疾病活动变化。这些研究，以及结构化的教学和指导经验，将为钟博士提供以下方面的基本培训：(1)新兴的基因组方法和研究领域；(2)用于分析序列、甲基化和基因表达数据的先进统计技术；(3)组织、可视化和处理复杂遗传数据集的生物信息学工具。为了方便

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application for a K23 award proposes complementary research and training plans for Dr. Sharon Chung, a rheumatologist at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Chung is establishing herself as a translational investigator conducting patient-oriented genomic studies of systemic vasculitis. In this proposal, Dr. Chung will focus on granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA, formerly known as Wegener's granulomatosis) as a potential model for other systemic vasculitides. The overall goal of the research plan is to broadly assess the contribution of three major biologic processes--genetic mutation, epigenetic dysregulation, and aberrant gene expression--to disease susceptibility and activity in GPA. In the proposed studies, Dr. Chung will utilize cutting-edge next-generation sequencing techniques and state-of-the-art DNA methylation arrays to identify these factors. Specifically, Dr. Chung will (1) perform exome sequencing to identify novel protein-influencing genetic variants associated with GPA disease susceptibility, (2) examine how DNA methylation, an epigenetic modification, of specific leukocyte subsets influences disease risk and activity using high-throughput methylation arrays, and (3) determine how gene expression patterns assessed via RNA-sequencing of specific leukocyte subsets change with disease activity. These studies, as well as structured didactic and tutorial experiences, will provide Dr. Chung essential training in (1) emerging genomic methodologies and fields of research, (2) advanced statistical techniques used to analyze sequence, methylation, and gene expression data, and (3) bioinformatic tools to organize, visualize, and process complex genetic datasets. To facilitate the research and training provided by this award, Dr. Chung has assembled an outstanding multidisciplinary mentoring team comprised of Dr. Lindsey Criswell (a rheumatologist conducting genetic epidemiology studies of lupus and rheumatoid arthritis), Dr. Pui-Yan Kwok (an expert in applying state-of-the-art genomic tools to search for genetic factors associated with complex human diseases), and Dr. Joseph Costello (a leading investigator of epigenetic and transcriptional influences on brain tumors). Drs. John Witte and Mark Segal, experts in analysis of sequence and methylation data, will serve as advisors and provide guidance in bioinformatics and statistical methods. The training obtained with this K23 award will enable Dr. Chung to achieve her long-term objective of becoming an independent investigator and leader in the field of vasculitis genomics. The findings from these studies will provide critical preliminary data supporting an R01 application to conduct larger, more comprehensive evaluations of sequence variation, epigenetic modifications, and transcriptional changes to better understand the pathogenesis of systemic vasculitis.