@article{meurs_montgomery_friedenberg_williams_gilger_2021, title={A defect in the NOG gene increases susceptibility to spontaneous superficial chronic corneal epithelial defects (SCCED) in boxer dogs}, volume={17}, ISSN={1746-6148}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12917-021-02955-1}, DOI={10.1186/s12917-021-02955-1}, abstractNote={Abstract
                Background
                Superficial chronic corneal epithelial defects (SCCEDs) are spontaneous corneal defects in dogs that share many clinical and pathologic characteristics to recurrent corneal erosions (RCE) in humans. Boxer dogs are predisposed to SCCEDs, therefore a search for a genetic defect was performed to explain this susceptibility. DNA was extracted from blood collected from Boxer dogs with and without SCCEDs followed by whole genome sequencing (WGS). RNA sequencing of corneal tissue and immunostaining of corneal sections from affected SCCED Boxer dogs with a deletion in the NOG gene and affected non-Boxer dogs without the deletion were performed.
              
                Results
                A 30 base pair deletion at a splice site in Noggin (NOG) (Chr 9:31453999) was identified by WGS and was significantly associated (P < 0.0001) with Boxer SCCEDs compared to unaffected non-Boxer dogs. NOG, BMP4, MMP13, and NCAM1 all had significant fold reductions in expression and SHH was significantly increased in Boxers with the NOG deletion as identified by RNA-Seq. Corneal IHC from NOG deletion dogs with SCCEDs had lower NOG and significantly higher scores of BMP2.
              
                Conclusions
                Many Boxer dogs with SCCED have a genetic defect in NOG. NOG is a constitutive protein in the cornea which is a potent inhibitor of BMP, which likely regulate limbal epithelial progenitor cells (LEPC). Dysregulation of LEPC may play a role in the pathogenesis of RCE.
              }, number={1}, journal={BMC Veterinary Research}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={Meurs, Kathryn M. and Montgomery, Keith and Friedenberg, Steven G. and Williams, Brian and Gilger, Brian C.}, year={2021}, month={Jul} }
 @article{meurs_williams_deprospero_friedenberg_malarkey_ezzell_keene_adin_defrancesco_tou_2021, title={A deleterious mutation in the ALMS1 gene in a naturally occurring model of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the Sphynx cat}, volume={16}, ISSN={["1750-1172"]}, DOI={10.1186/s13023-021-01740-5}, abstractNote={Abstract
                Background
                Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a common inherited cardiovascular disorder in people. Many causal mutations have been identified, but about 40% of cases do not have a known causative mutation. Mutations in the ALMS1 gene are associated with the development of Alstrom syndrome, a multisystem familial disease that can include cardiomyopathy (dilated, restrictive). Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy has not been described. The ALMS1 gene is a large gene that encodes for a ubiquitously expressed protein. The function of the protein is not well understood although it is believed to be associated with energy metabolism and homeostasis, cell differentiation and cell cycle control. The ALMS1 protein has also been shown to be involved in the regulation of cell cycle proliferation in perinatal cardiomyocytes. Although cardiomyocyte cell division and replication in mammals generally declines soon after birth, inhibition of ALMS1 expression in mice lead to increased cardiomyocyte proliferation, and deficiency of Alstrom protein has been suggested to impair post-natal cardiomyocyte cell cycle arrest. Here we describe the association of familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Sphynx cats with a novel ALMS1 mutation.

              
                Results
                A G/C variant was identified in exon 12 (human exon 13) of the ALMS1 gene in affected cats and was positively associated with the presence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the feline population (p < 0.0001). The variant was predicted to change a highly conserved nonpolar Glycine to a positively charged Arginine. This was predicted to be a deleterious change by three in silico programs. Protein prediction programs indicated that the variant changed the protein structure in this region from a coil to a helix. Light microscopy findings included myofiber disarray with interstitial fibrosis with significantly more nuclear proliferative activity in the affected cats than controls (p < 0.0001).

              
                Conclusion
                This study demonstrates a novel form of cardiomyopathy associated with ALMS1 in the cat. Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease of genetic heterogeneity; many of the known causative genes encoding for sarcomeric proteins. Our findings suggest that variants in genes involved with cardiac development and cell regulation, like the ALMS1 gene, may deserve further consideration for association with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
              }, number={1}, journal={ORPHANET JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES}, author={Meurs, Kathryn M. and Williams, Brian G. and DeProspero, Dylan and Friedenberg, Steven G. and Malarkey, David E. and Ezzell, J. Ashley and Keene, Bruce W. and Adin, Darcy B. and DeFrancesco, Teresa C. and Tou, Sandra}, year={2021}, month={Feb} }
 @article{williams_friedenberg_keene_tou_defrancesco_meurs_2021, title={Use of whole genome analysis to identify shared genomic variants across breeds in canine mitral valve disease}, volume={6}, ISSN={["1432-1203"]}, DOI={10.1007/s00439-021-02297-w}, abstractNote={Familial mitral valve prolapse in human beings has been associated with several genetic variants; however, in most cases, a known variant has not been identified. Dogs also have a naturally occurring form of familial mitral valve disease (MMVD) with similarities to the human disease. A shared genetic background and clinical phenotype of this disease in some dog breeds has indicated that the disease may share a common genetic cause. We evaluated DNA from 50 affected dogs from five different dog breeds in a whole genome sequencing approach to identify shared variants across and within breeds that could be associated with MMVD. No single causative genetic mutation was found from the 50 dogs with MMVD. Ten variants were identified in 37/50 dogs around and within the MED13L gene. These variants were no longer associated with MMVD when evaluated with a larger cohort including both affected and unaffected dogs. No high/moderate impact variants were identified in 10/10 miniature poodles, one was identified in 10/10 Yorkshire Terriers and 10/10 dachshunds, respectively, 14 were identified in 10/10 Miniature schnauzers, and 19 in 10/10 CKCS. Only one of these could be associated with the cardiac valve (Chr12:36801705, COL12A1; CKCS) but when evaluated in an additional 100 affected CKCS the variant was only identified in 84/100 affected dogs, perhaps indicating genetic heterogeneity in this disease. Our findings indicate that development of MMVD in the dog may be related to a combination of genetic and environmental factors that impact specific molecular pathways rather than a single shared genetic variant across or within breeds.}, journal={HUMAN GENETICS}, author={Williams, Brian and Friedenberg, Steven G. and Keene, Bruce W. and Tou, Sandy P. and DeFrancesco, Teresa C. and Meurs, Kathryn M.}, year={2021}, month={Jun} }
 @article{meurs_friedenberg_williams_keene_atkins_adin_aona_defrancesco_tou_mackay_et al._2018, title={Evaluation of genes associated with human myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs with familial myxomatous mitral valve degeneration}, volume={232}, ISSN={["1532-2971"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.tvjl.2017.12.002}, abstractNote={Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is the most common heart disease in the dog. It is believed to be heritable in Cavalier King Charles spaniels (CKCS) and Dachshunds. Myxomatous mitral valve disease is a familial disease in human beings as well and genetic mutations have been associated with its development. We hypothesized that a genetic mutation associated with the development of the human form of MMVD was associated with the development of canine MMVD. DNA was isolated from blood samples from 10 CKCS and 10 Dachshunds diagnosed with MMVD, and whole genome sequences from each animal were obtained. Variant calling from whole genome sequencing data was performed using a standardized bioinformatics pipeline for all samples. After filtering, the canine genes orthologous to the human genes known to be associated with MMVD were identified and variants were assessed for likely pathogenic implications. No variant was found in any of the genes evaluated that was present in least eight of 10 affected CKCS or Dachshunds. Although mitral valve disease in the CKCS and Dachshund is a familial disease, we did not identify genetic cause in the genes responsible for the human disease in the dogs studied here.}, journal={VETERINARY JOURNAL}, author={Meurs, Kathryn and Friedenberg, S. G. and Williams, B. and Keene, B. W. and Atkins, C. E. and Adin, D. and Aona, B. and DeFrancesco, Teresa and Tou, S. and Mackay, T. and et al.}, year={2018}, month={Feb}, pages={16–19} }