Xiu-Feng Huang
Wenzhou Medical College
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Featured researches published by Xiu-Feng Huang.
Genetics in Medicine | 2015
Xiu-Feng Huang; Fang Huang; Kun-Chao Wu; Juan Wu; Jie Chen; Chi Pui Pang; Fan Lu; Jia Qu; Zi-Bing Jin
Purpose:Inherited retinal dystrophy (IRD) is a leading cause of blindness worldwide. Because of extreme genetic heterogeneity, the etiology and genotypic spectrum of IRD have not been clearly defined, and there is limited information on genotype–phenotype correlations. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the mutational spectrum and genotype–phenotype correlations of IRD.Methods:We developed a targeted panel of 164 known retinal disease genes, 88 candidate genes, and 32 retina-abundant microRNAs, used for exome sequencing. A total of 179 Chinese families with IRD were recruited.Results:In 99 unrelated patients, a total of 124 mutations in known retinal disease genes were identified, including 79 novel mutations (detection rate, 55.3%). Moreover, novel genotype–phenotype correlations were discovered, and phenotypic trends noted. Three cases are reported, including the identification of AHI1 as a novel candidate gene for nonsyndromic retinitis pigmentosa.Conclusion:This study revealed novel genotype–phenotype correlations, including a novel candidate gene, and identified 124 genetic defects within a cohort with IRD . The identification of novel genotype–phenotype correlations and the spectrum of mutations greatly enhance the current knowledge of IRD phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity, which will assist both clinical diagnoses and personalized treatments of IRD patients.Genet Med 17 4, 271–278.
PLOS ONE | 2013
Xiu-Feng Huang; Ping Xiang; Jie Chen; Dong-Jun Xing; Na Huang; Qingjie Min; Feng Gu; Yi Tong; Chi Pui Pang; Jia Qu; Zi-Bing Jin
Usher syndrome (USH) is a leading cause of deaf-blindness in autosomal recessive trait. Phenotypic and genetic heterogeneities in USH make molecular diagnosis much difficult. This is a pilot study aiming to develop an approach based on next-generation sequencing to determine the genetic defects in patients with USH or allied diseases precisely and effectively. Eight affected patients and twelve unaffected relatives from five unrelated Chinese USH families, including 2 pseudo-dominant ones, were recruited. A total of 144 known genes of inherited retinal diseases were selected for deep exome resequencing. Through systematic data analysis using established bioinformatics pipeline and segregation analysis, a number of genetic variants were released. Eleven mutations, eight of them were novel, in the USH2A gene were identified. Biparental mutations in USH2A were revealed in 2 families with pseudo-dominant inheritance. A proband was found to have triple mutations, two of them were supposed to locate in the same chromosome. In conclusion, this study revealed the genetic defects in the USH2A gene and demonstrated the robustness of targeted exome sequencing to precisely and rapidly determine genetic defects. The methodology provides a reliable strategy for routine gene diagnosis of USH.
Nature Communications | 2014
Zi-Bing Jin; Xiu-Feng Huang; Ji-Neng Lv; Lue Xiang; Dong-Qing Li; Jiangfei Chen; Changjiang Huang; Jinyu Wu; Fan Lu; Jia Qu
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is characterized by degeneration of the retinal photoreceptors and is the leading cause of inherited blindness worldwide. Although few genes are known to cause autosomal recessive RP (arRP), a large proportion of disease-causing genes remain to be revealed. Here we report the identification of SLC7A14, a potential cationic transporter, as a novel gene linked to arRP. Using exome sequencing and direct screening of 248 unrelated patients with arRP, we find that mutations in the SLC7A14 gene account for 2% of cases of arRP. We further demonstrate that SLC7A14 is specifically expressed in the photoreceptor layer of the mammalian retina and its expression increases during postnatal retinal development. In zebrafish, downregulation of slc7a14 expression leads to an abnormal eye phenotype and defective light-induced locomotor response. Furthermore, targeted knockout of Slc7a14 in mice results in retinal degeneration with abnormal ERG response. This suggests that SLC7A14 has an important role in retinal development and visual function.
Genetics in Medicine | 2015
Xiu-Feng Huang; Juan Wu; Ji-Neng Lv; Xiao Zhang; Zi-Bing Jin
Purpose:Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a major cause of heritable human blindness with extreme genetic heterogeneity. A large number of causative genes have been defined by next-generation sequencing (NGS). However, due to technical limitations, determining the existence of uncovered or low-depth regions is a fundamental challenge in analyzing NGS data. Therefore, undetected mutations may exist in genomic regions less effectively covered by NGS.Methods:To address this problem, we tested a complementary approach for identifying previously undetected mutations in NGS data sets. The strategy consisted of coverage-based analysis and additional target screening of low-depth regions. Fifty RP patients were analyzed, and none of the mutations found had previously been identified by NGS.Results:Coverage-based analysis indicated that, because of a highly repetitive sequence, the RPGR open reading frame (ORF)15 was located in an uncovered or low-depth region. Through additional screening of ORF15, we identified pathogenic mutations in 14% (7/50) of patients, including four novel mutations first described herein.Conclusion:In brief, we support the need for a complementary approach to identify mutations undetected by NGS, underscoring the power and significance of combining coverage-based analysis with additional target screening of low-depth regions in improving diagnosis of genetic diseases. In addition to its usefulness in RP, this approach is likely applicable to other Mendelian diseases.Genet Med 17 4, 307–311.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America | 2017
Jian Yang; Zi-Bing Jin; Jie Chen; Xiu-Feng Huang; Xiaoman Li; Yuan-Bo Liang; Jian-Yang Mao; Xin Chen; Zhili Zheng; Andrew Bakshi; Dong-Dong Zheng; Mei-Qin Zheng; Naomi R. Wray; Peter M. Visscher; Fan Lu; Jia Qu
Significance The origin of Tibetans and the mechanism of how they adapted to the high-altitude environment remain mostly unknown. We conduct the largest genome-wide study in Tibetans to date. We detect signatures of natural selection at nine gene loci, two of which are strongly associated with blood phenotypes in present day Tibetans. We further show the genetic relatedness of Tibetans with other ethnic groups in China and estimate the divergence time between Tibetans and Han. These findings provide important knowledge to understand the genetic ancestry of Tibetans and the genetic basis of high-altitude adaptation. Indigenous Tibetan people have lived on the Tibetan Plateau for millennia. There is a long-standing question about the genetic basis of high-altitude adaptation in Tibetans. We conduct a genome-wide study of 7.3 million genotyped and imputed SNPs of 3,008 Tibetans and 7,287 non-Tibetan individuals of Eastern Asian ancestry. Using this large dataset, we detect signals of high-altitude adaptation at nine genomic loci, of which seven are unique. The alleles under natural selection at two of these loci [methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and EPAS1] are strongly associated with blood-related phenotypes, such as hemoglobin, homocysteine, and folate in Tibetans. The folate-increasing allele of rs1801133 at the MTHFR locus has an increased frequency in Tibetans more than expected under a drift model, which is probably a consequence of adaptation to high UV radiation. These findings provide important insights into understanding the genomic consequences of high-altitude adaptation in Tibetans.
Database | 2014
Xia Ran; Wei-Jun Cai; Xiu-Feng Huang; Qi Liu; Fan Lu; Jia Qu; Jinyu Wu; Zi-Bing Jin
Inherited retinal degeneration (IRD), a leading cause of human blindness worldwide, is exceptionally heterogeneous with clinical heterogeneity and genetic variety. During the past decades, tremendous efforts have been made to explore the complex heterogeneity, and massive mutations have been identified in different genes underlying IRD with the significant advancement of sequencing technology. In this study, we developed a comprehensive database, ‘RetinoGenetics’, which contains informative knowledge about all known IRD-related genes and mutations for IRD. ‘RetinoGenetics’ currently contains 4270 mutations in 186 genes, with detailed information associated with 164 phenotypes from 934 publications and various types of functional annotations. Then extensive annotations were performed to each gene using various resources, including Gene Ontology, KEGG pathways, protein–protein interaction, mutational annotations and gene–disease network. Furthermore, by using the search functions, convenient browsing ways and intuitive graphical displays, ‘RetinoGenetics’ could serve as a valuable resource for unveiling the genetic basis of IRD. Taken together, ‘RetinoGenetics’ is an integrative, informative and updatable resource for IRD-related genetic predispositions. Database URL: http://www.retinogenetics.org/.
PLOS ONE | 2014
Dong-Jun Xing; Hong-Xing Zhang; Na Huang; Kun-Chao Wu; Xiu-Feng Huang; Fang Huang; Yi Tong; Chi Pui Pang; Jia Qu; Zi-Bing Jin
Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is an autosomal recessive disorder with significant genetic heterogeneity. BBS is linked to mutations in 17 genes, which contain more than 200 coding exons. Currently, BBS is diagnosed by direct DNA sequencing for mutations in these genes, which because of the large genomic screening region is both time-consuming and expensive. In order to develop a practical method for the clinic diagnosis of BBS, we have developed a high-throughput targeted exome sequencing (TES) for genetic diagnosis. Five typical BBS patients were recruited and screened for mutations in a total of 144 known genes responsible for inherited retinal diseases, a hallmark symptom of BBS. The genomic DNA of these patients and their families were subjected to high-throughput DNA re-sequencing. Deep bioinformatics analysis was carried out to filter the massive sequencing data, which were further confirmed through co-segregation analysis. TES successfully revealed mutations in BBS genes in each patient and family member. Six pathological mutations, including five novel mutations, were revealed in the genes BBS2, MKKS, ARL6, MKS1. This study represents the first report of targeted exome sequencing in BBS patients and demonstrates that high-throughput TES is an accurate and rapid method for the genetic diagnosis of BBS.
British Journal of Ophthalmology | 2014
Yuqin Wang; Xiu-Feng Huang; Ming-ming Yang; Wei-Jun Cai; Mei-Qin Zheng; Guangyun Mao; Chi Pui Pang; Zi-Bing Jin
Background Complement Factor I (CFI) and the CD46 complement regulator (CD46) play an important role in the complement activation pathways, which is known to affect the development of uveitis. The present study was performed to investigate the association of the CFI and CD46 genes with acute anterior uveitis (AAU). Methods A total of 600 subjects (300 patients with AAU and 300 healthy controls) were recruited for this case-control study. Six CFI single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) (rs7356506, rs10029485, rs11726949, rs12512308, rs7438961, rs998538) and four CD46 SNPs (rs12138764, rs2466571, rs2796278, rs7545126) were genotyped using Sequenom MassARRAY technology. Allele and genotype frequencies were compared between patients and controls using the χ2 test. Analyses were stratified for gender, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27, and ankylosing spondylitis status. Results Rs7356506 in the CFI gene was found to be protective against AAU. There was a significant increase in the frequency of the A allele (p=0.003, pc=0.03, OR=0.684, CI 0.534 to 0.876) and AA homozygosity (p=0.004, pc=0.04, OR=0.624, CI 0.452 to 0.862) in AAU patients as compared to controls. Stratified analysis, according to gender and HLA-B27 status for AAU, also revealed the association with CFI-rs7356506. None of the tested SNPs of CD46 were associated with AAU. Conclusions This study has revealed a significant association between AAU and CFI-rs7356506, suggesting that CFI is involved in the pathogenesis of AAU, and that its influence on AAU may differ depending on gender and HLA-B27 status.
BioMed Research International | 2014
Juan Wu; Lijia Chen; Oi Sin Tam; Xiu-Feng Huang; Chi Pui Pang; Zi-Bing Jin
Next-generation sequencing has become more widely used to reveal genetic defect in monogenic disorders. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP), the leading cause of hereditary blindness worldwide, has been attributed to more than 67 disease-causing genes. Due to the extreme genetic heterogeneity, using general molecular screening alone is inadequate for identifying genetic predispositions in susceptible individuals. In order to identify underlying mutation rapidly, we utilized next-generation sequencing in a four-generation Chinese family with RP. Two affected patients and an unaffected sibling were subjected to whole exome sequencing. Through bioinformatics analysis and direct sequencing confirmation, we identified p.R135W transition in the rhodopsin gene. The mutation was subsequently confirmed to cosegregate with the disease in the family. In this study, our results suggest that whole exome sequencing is a robust method in diagnosing familial hereditary disease.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science | 2017
Xiu-Feng Huang; Jian-Yang Mao; Zhi-Qin Huang; Feng-Qin Rao; Fei-Fei Cheng; Fen‐Fen Li; Qing-Feng Wang; Zi-Bing Jin
Purpose Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of Mendelian disorders that plays a crucial role in the etiology of blindness across the world. Molecular genetic diagnosis of IRD remains extremely complex and challenging because mutations are only detected in 40% to 60% of cases. In this study, we aimed to dissect the contributions of copy number variations (CNVs) in IRD patients. Methods A total of 50 patients were diagnosed with IRD, all of whom previously tested negative for pathogenic mutations in known disease genes. Single-nucleotide polymorphism array analysis was performed by using the HumanCoreExome BeadChip. Analyses of CNVs were carried out by using GenomeStudio, KaryoStudio, and cnvPartition. The putative pathogenic CNVs were further confirmed by real-time quantitative PCR. Results We identified four novel CNVs in three different genes (one duplication in USH2A gene, two duplications in CEP290 gene, and one duplication in RIMS2 gene) in total four families, at a detection rate of 8% (4/50). All of these CNVs are currently absent in all databases. Three variations are located in genes that are already known to cause inherited retinal disease: USH2A and CEP290, while the association between mutation in the RIMS2 gene and IRD is reported for the first time. Conclusions We performed whole-genome-wide CNV analyses in a large cohort as an alternative approach to molecular diagnosis of IRDs. This study dissected the contributions of CNVs of IRDs, not only increasing the yield in genetic testing but also suggesting the CNVs should be analyzed in the patients with IRDs.