Exome sequencing and array-based comparative genomic hybridisation analysis of preferential 6-methylmercaptopurine producers.
Preferential conversion of azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine into methylated metabolites is a major cause of thiopurine resistance. To seek potentially Mendelian causes of thiopurine hypermethylation, we recruited 12 individuals who exhibited extreme therapeutic resistance while taking azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine and performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) and copy-number variant analysis by array-based comparative genomic hybridisation (aCGH). Exome-wide variant filtering highlighted four genes potentially associated with thiopurine metabolism (ENOSF1 and NFS1), transport (SLC17A4) or therapeutic action (RCC2). However, variants of each gene were found only in two or three patients, and it is unclear whether these genes could influence thiopurine hypermethylation. Analysis by aCGH did not identify any unusual or pathogenic copy-number variants. This suggests that if causative mutations for the hypermethylation phenotype exist they may be heterogeneous, occurring in several different genes, or they may lie within regulatory regions not captured by WES. Alternatively, hypermethylation may arise from the involvement of multiple genes with small effects. To test this hypothesis would require recruitment of large patient samples and application of genome-wide association studies.
Carney Centre for Pharmacogenomics and Department of Pathology, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand.|Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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Chua
Carney Centre for Pharmacogenomics and Department of Pathology, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand.
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Cree
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Christchurch Hospital, Canterbury District Health Board, Christchurch, New Zealand.|Department of Medicine, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand.
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Barclay
Molecular Pathology, Canterbury Health Laboratories, Christchurch, New Zealand.
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Doudney
School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
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Lehnert
Carney Centre for Pharmacogenomics and Department of Pathology, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand.
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Aitchison
Carney Centre for Pharmacogenomics and Department of Pathology, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand.
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Kennedy
D000328:Adult; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D055028:Comparative Genomic Hybridization; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D056915:DNA Copy Number Variations / Q000235:genetics; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D059472:Exome / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015122:Mercaptopurine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000235:genetics; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation
C010240:6-methylthiopurine; D015122:Mercaptopurine; D008780:Methyltransferases; C022745:thiopurine methyltransferase; D001379:Azathioprine