Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39920830›Full record

ArticleGenome medicine2025

Imaging flow cytometry-based cellular screening elucidates pathophysiology in individuals with Variants of Uncertain Significance.

Irena Josephina Johanna Muffels, Hans R Waterham, Giuseppina D'Alessandro, Guido Zagnoli-Vieira, Michael Sacher, Dirk J Lefeber, Celine Van der Vinne, Chaim M Roifman, Koen L I Gassen, Holger Rehmann and 6 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Genome medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Irena Josephina Johanna MuffelsDepartment of Metabolic Diseases, Division Pediatrics, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands. i.j.j.muffels-2@umcutrecht.nl.ORCID 0000-0002-4335-5034
Hans R WaterhamUnited For Metabolic Diseases (UMD), Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Giuseppina D'AlessandroCancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Guido Zagnoli-VieiraThe Gurdon Institute and Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Michael SacherDepartment of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Dirk J LefeberTranslational Metabolic Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Celine Van der VinneDepartment of Metabolic Diseases, Division Pediatrics, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Chaim M RoifmanThe Hospital for Sick Children and Research Institute, The University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Koen L I GassenDepartment of Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Holger RehmannDepartment of Energy and Biotechnology, Flensburg University of Applied Sciences, Flensburg, Germany.
Desiree Y Van Haaften-VisserDepartment of Pediatrics, Center for Lysosomal and Metabolic Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Edward S S NieuwenhuisDepartment of Metabolic Diseases, Division Pediatrics, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Stephen P JacksonCancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Sabine A Fuchs *Department of Metabolic Diseases, Division Pediatrics, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Femke Wijk *Center for Translational Immunology (CTI), University Medical Center Utrecht (UMC), Utrecht University (UU), Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Peter van HasseltDepartment of Metabolic Diseases, Division Pediatrics, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands. p.vanhasselt@umcutrecht.nl.

Funding

UMD Catalyst GrantWilhelmina Kinderziekenhuis Stimuleringssbeurs 2019-2020
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDeciphering variants of uncertain significance (VUS) represents a major diagnostic challenge, partially due to the lack of easy-to-use and versatile cellular readouts that aid the interpretation of pathogenicity and pathophysiology. To address this challenge, we propose a high-throughput screening of cellular functionality through an imaging flow cytometry (IFC)-based platform.

methodsSix assays to evaluate autophagic-, lysosomal-, Golgi- health, mitochondrial function, ER stress, and NF-κβ activity were developed in fibroblasts. Assay sensitivity was verified with compounds (N = 5) and positive control patients (N = 6). Eight healthy controls and 20 individuals with VUS were screened.

resultsAll molecular compounds and positive controls showed significant changes on their cognate assays, confirming assay sensitivity. Simultaneous screening of positive control patients on all six assays revealed distinct phenotypic profiles. In addition, individuals with VUS(es) in well-known disease genes showed distinct - but similar-phenotypic profiles compared to patients with pathogenic variants in the same gene.. For all individuals with VUSes in Genes of Uncertain Significance (GUS), we found one or more of six assays were significantly altered. Broadening the screening to an untargeted approach led to the identification of two clusters that allowed for the recognition of altered cell cycle dynamics and DNA damage repair defects. Experimental follow-up of the 'DNA damage repair defect cluster' led to the discovery of highly specific defects in top2cc release from double-strand DNA breaks in one of these individuals, harboring a VUS in the RAD54L2 gene.

conclusionsOur high-throughput IFC-based platform simplifies the process of identifying VUS pathogenicity through six assays and allows for the recognition of useful pathophysiological markers that structure follow-up experiments, thereby representing a novel valuable tool for precise functional diagnostics in genomics.

Indexed as

Flow CytometryGenetic VariationFibroblastsHigh-Throughput Screening AssaysHumansDNA damage repair defectFunctional genomicsGenetic diseasesHigh-throughput screeningImaging flow cytometryMetabolic disordersPrecision genomic diagnosticsVariant of uncertain significance

Identifiers

PMID39920830
PMCPMC11806768

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.