Wilms tumor is the most common childhood kidney cancer. Here we report the whole-exome sequencing of 44 Wilms tumors, identifying missense mutations in the microRNA (miRNA)-processing enzymes DROSHA and DICER1 and novel mutations in MYCN, SMARCA4 and ARID1A. Examination of tumor miRNA expression, in vitro processing assays, and genomic editing in human cells demonstrate that DICER1 and DROSHA mutations influence miRNA processing through distinct mechanisms. DICER1 RNase IIIB mutations preferentially impair processing of miRNAs deriving from the 5′ arm of pre-miRNA hairpins, while DROSHA RNase IIIB mutations globally inhibit miRNA biogenesis through a dominant-negative mechanism. Both DROSHA and DICER1 mutations impair expression of tumor-suppressing miRNAs including the let-7 family, important regulators of MYCN, LIN28 and other Wilms tumor oncogenes. These results provide new insights into the mechanisms through which mutations in miRNA biogenesis components reprogram miRNA expression in human cancer and suggest that these defects define a distinct subclass of Wilms tumors.

The ability to generate human neurons of specific subtypes of clinical importance offers experimental platforms that may be instrumental for disease modeling. We recently published a study demonstrating the use of neuronal microRNAs (miRNAs) and transcription factors to directly convert human fibroblasts to a highly enriched population of striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs), a neuronal subpopulation that has a crucial role in motor control and harbors selective susceptibility to cell death in Huntington's disease. Here we describe a stepwise protocol for the generation of MSNs by direct neuronal conversion of human fibroblasts in 30 d. We provide descriptions of cellular behaviors during reprogramming and crucial steps involved in gene delivery, cell adhesion and culturing conditions that promote cell survival. Our protocol offers a unique approach to combine microRNAs and transcription factors to guide the neuronal conversion of human fibroblasts toward a specific neuronal subtype.

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Loss of function of the DIS3L2 exoribonuclease is associated with Wilms tumor and the Perlman congenital overgrowth syndrome. LIN28, a Wilms tumor oncoprotein, triggers the DIS3L2-mediated degradation of the precursor of let-7, a microRNA that inhibits Wilms tumor development. These observations have led to speculation that DIS3L2-mediated tumor suppression is attributable to let-7 regulation. Here we examine new DIS3L2-deficient cell lines and mouse models, demonstrating that DIS3L2 loss has no effect on mature let-7 levels. Rather, analysis of -null nephron progenitor cells, a potential cell of origin of Wilms tumors, reveals up-regulation of, a growth-promoting gene strongly associated with Wilms tumorigenesis. These findings nominate a new potential mechanism underlying the pathology associated with DIS3L2 deficiency.

Neuron-enriched microRNAs (miRNAs), miR-9/9* and miR-124 (miR-9/9*-124), direct cell fate switching of human fibroblasts to neurons when ectopically expressed by repressing antineurogenic genes. How these miRNAs function after the repression of fibroblast genes for neuronal fate remains unclear. Here, we identified targets of miR-9/9*-124 as reprogramming cells activate the neuronal program and reveal the role of miR-124 that directly promotes the expression of its target genes associated with neuronal development and function. The mode of miR-124 as a positive regulator is determined by the binding of both AGO and a neuron-enriched RNA-binding protein, ELAVL3, to target transcripts. Although existing literature indicates that miRNA–ELAVL family protein interaction can result in either target gene up-regulation or down-regulation in a context-dependent manner, we specifically identified neuronal ELAVL3 as the driver for miR-124 target gene up-regulation in neurons. In primary human neurons, repressing miR-124 and ELAVL3 led to the down-regulation of genes involved in neuronal function and process outgrowth and cellular phenotypes of reduced inward currents and neurite outgrowth. Our results highlight the synergistic role between miR-124 and RNA-binding proteins to promote target gene regulation and neuronal function.

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BackgroundTo investigate the clinical features and the underlying causal gene of a family with hereditary late-onset deafness in Inner Mongolia of China, and to provide evidence for the early genetic screening and diagnosis of this disease.MethodsFamily data were collected to draw a pedigree. Audiological testing and physical examination of the family members were conducted following questionnaire. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of 5 family members (3 patients and 2 normal control) and subjected to whole genome sequencing for identifying deafness casual genes. The pathogenic variant in the deafness gene was further confirmed by Sanger sequencing.ResultsThe family is composed of a total of 6 generations, with 53 traceable individuals. In this family,19 of them were diagnosed with post lingual deafness with the age of onset between 10 and 40 years, displaying delayed and progressive hearing loss. Patients with hearing loss showed bilateral symmetry and mild to severe sensorineural deafness. The pattern of deafness inheritance in this family is autosomal dominant. Whole genome sequencing identified a novel pathogenic frameshift mutation, c.158_159delAA (p.Gln53Arg fs*100) in the gene OSBPL2 (Oxysterol-binding protein-related protein 2, NM_144498.2), which is absent from genomic data of 201 unrelated normal subjects. This pathogenic variant was further validated by Sanger sequencing, and was found to co-segregate in this family.ConclusionsWhole genome sequencing identified a two-nucleotide deletion in OSBPL2 (c.158_159delAA) as the pathogenic variant for deafness in the family. Our finding expands the mutational spectrum of OSBPL2 and contributes to the pathogenic variant list in genetic counseling for deafness screening.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12881-019-0781-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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