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APOBEC mutagenesis is a common process in normal human small intestine

  • Yichen Wang
  • , Philip S. Robinson
  • , Tim H.H. Coorens
  • , Luiza Moore
  • , Henry Lee-Six
  • , Ayesha Noorani
  • , Mathijs A. Sanders
  • , Hyunchul Jung
  • , Riku Katainen
  • , Robert Heuschkel
  • , Roxanne Brunton-Sim
  • , Robyn Weston
  • , Debbie Read
  • , Beverley Nobbs
  • , Rebecca C. Fitzgerald
  • , Kourosh Saeb-Parsy
  • , Iñigo Martincorena
  • , Peter J. Campbell
  • , Simon Rushbrook
  • , Matthias Zilbauer
  • Simon James Alexander Buczacki, Michael R. Stratton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

APOBEC mutational signatures SBS2 and SBS13 are common in many human cancer types. However, there is an incomplete understanding of its stimulus, when it occurs in the progression from normal to cancer cell and the APOBEC enzymes responsible. Here we whole-genome sequenced 342 microdissected normal epithelial crypts from the small intestines of 39 individuals and found that SBS2/SBS13 mutations were present in 17% of crypts, more frequent than most other normal tissues. Crypts with SBS2/SBS13 often had immediate crypt neighbors without SBS2/SBS13, suggesting that the underlying cause of SBS2/SBS13 is cell-intrinsic. APOBEC mutagenesis occurred in an episodic manner throughout the human lifespan, including in young children. APOBEC1 mRNA levels were very high in the small intestine epithelium, but low in the large intestine epithelium and other tissues. The results suggest that the high levels of SBS2/SBS13 in the small intestine are collateral damage from APOBEC1 fulfilling its physiological function of editing APOB mRNA.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)246-254
Number of pages13
JournalNature Genetics
Volume55
Issue number2
Early online date26 Jan 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2023

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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