基因Dhcr7,也称为7-脱氢胆固醇还原酶,是一种关键的酶,参与胆固醇生物合成的最后一步。Dhcr7编码的蛋白质负责将7-脱氢胆固醇还原成胆固醇,这一过程对于维持细胞内胆固醇的稳态至关重要。胆固醇不仅是细胞膜的主要成分,而且在信号转导、维生素D合成和胆汁酸生产中发挥重要作用。
Dhcr7基因的突变会导致Smith-Lemli-Opitz综合征(SLOS),这是一种严重的发育障碍,患者表现为多种先天性异常和智力障碍[1]。SLOS患者的血浆和组织中胆固醇水平低,而7-脱氢胆固醇的浓度高,这是该综合征的诊断生化特征。Dhcr7基因突变导致7-脱氢胆固醇还原酶活性不足,进而导致胆固醇生物合成途径受阻。
Dhcr7基因的变异还与多种疾病的发生和发展相关。例如,Dhcr7基因的遗传变异与帕金森病(PD)的临床特征相关[2]。研究发现,Dhcr7/NADSYN1位点内的单核苷酸多态性(SNPs)与PD患者的运动功能特征相关,包括初始主要症状、步态冻结和跌倒等。此外,Dhcr7基因的突变还与复发性流产相关[5]。研究发现,波兰人群中DHCR7基因的c.452 G>A(p.Trp151Ter)变异在复发性流产患者中的携带频率较高,但并非导致复发性流产的风险因素。
Dhcr7基因在癌症的发生和发展中也起着重要作用。研究发现,DHCR7在乳腺癌细胞中的表达水平与肿瘤免疫浸润水平、病理M分期和不良预后显著相关[3]。DHCR7的敲低可以抑制乳腺癌细胞的增殖,诱导细胞凋亡并影响线粒体功能。此外,DHCR7的表达与急性髓细胞白血病(AML)患者的生存率相关[4]。一项研究发现,DHCR7是AML患者的预后基因之一,其高表达与TP53突变和胆固醇生物合成特征相关。此外,DHCR7的突变还与胃癌的发生和发展相关[6]。研究发现,DHCR7基因的突变可以抑制胃癌细胞的恶性行为,并诱导细胞凋亡。
综上所述,基因Dhcr7在胆固醇生物合成、细胞代谢和信号转导中发挥着重要作用。Dhcr7基因的突变与多种疾病的发生和发展相关,包括SLOS、PD、复发性流产和癌症。深入研究Dhcr7基因的功能和调控机制,有助于揭示相关疾病的发病机制,并为疾病的诊断和治疗提供新的思路和策略。
参考文献:
1. Jira, P E, Waterham, H R, Wanders, R J A, Sengers, R C A, Wevers, R A. . Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome and the DHCR7 gene. In Annals of human genetics, 67, 269-80. doi:. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12914579/
2. Alaylıoğlu, Merve, Dursun, Erdinç, Genç, Gençer, Yılmazer, Selma, Gezen-Ak, Duygu. 2020. Genetic variants of vitamin D metabolism-related DHCR7/NADSYN1 locus and CYP2R1 gene are associated with clinical features of Parkinson's disease. In The International journal of neuroscience, 132, 439-449. doi:10.1080/00207454.2020.1820502. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32938288/
3. Wang, Yanfeng, Fan, Jiaxin, Liu, Yongcheng, Wang, Huxia, Song, Zhangjun. 2024. Identification and validation of DHCR7 as a diagnostic biomarker involved in the proliferation and mitochondrial function of breast cancer. In Aging, 16, 5967-5986. doi:10.18632/aging.205683. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38526324/
4. Ortiz Rojas, Cesar Alexander, Pereira-Martins, Diego Antonio, Bellido More, Candy Christie, Schuringa, Jan Jacob, Rego, Eduardo Magalhães. 2024. A 4-gene prognostic index for enhancing acute myeloid leukaemia survival prediction. In British journal of haematology, 204, 2287-2300. doi:10.1111/bjh.19472. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38651345/
5. Chrzanowska-Steglińska, Marta, Moczulska, Hanna, Skoczylas, Beata, Borowiec, Maciej, Sieroszewski, Piotr. 2020. Occurrence of c.976 G>T (p.Val326Leu) and c.452 G>A (p.Trp151Ter) variants in DHCR7 gene in population of polish women with recurrent miscarriage. In European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology, 252, 252-255. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.05.063. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32629226/
6. Chen, Yuqi, Yan, Wenying, Yang, Kexi, Shi, Tongguo, Chen, Weichang. 2023. Integrated multi-dimensional analysis highlights DHCR7 mutations involving in cholesterol biosynthesis and contributing therapy of gastric cancer. In Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research : CR, 42, 36. doi:10.1186/s13046-023-02611-6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36710342/