Pracownie badawcze

Dr hab. Beata Burzyńska, Prof. IBB PAN

Pracownia Genetycznych Podstaw Chorób Człowieka

Stanowisko: Professor of IBB PAS

ORCID: 0000-0003-1595-0036

E-mail:

ResearchGate: Link

Zakres badań

Our laboratory focuses on the relationship between human genetics and various disease states.
Project 1 – Determination of genetic biomarkers that are associated with cardiovascular disorders at the mRNA and miRNA levels.
Project 2 – Studies of genetic determinants of hereditary hemolytic anemia.
Project 3 – The use of yeast as a model system to study human diseases.
Project 4 – Structural properties of thyroid peroxidase as an antigen in autoimmune disorders

Badania

Najważniejsze osiągnięcia badawcze

  • We showed that alterations of the expression of RNA that was isolated from peripheral blood leukocytes allow the identification of genes whose expression is significantly altered in the acute phase of MI.
  • We discovered that the identified alterations of gene expression at the early phase of AMI allow the differentiation of patients who develop heart failure from those who do not, and such alterations may serve as a convenient tool to contribute to the prognosis of HF.
  • We demonstrated the prognostic value of circulating miR-30a-5p and its association with LV dysfunction and symptoms of HF after AMI.

Opis badań

  • Current projects

Project 1

Heart failure (HF) is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries. Cardiac gene expression plays an important role in the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of HF. Specifically, the downregulation of mRNA in myocardial tissue in HF patients suggests the importance of molecular mechanisms that suppress steady-state levels of mRNA. The main aims during the report period were (1) to establish alterations of gene expression patterns in leukocytes that are associated with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and (2) to identify distinct biomarkers that correlate with the development of HF. We collected peripheral blood samples from patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) from study and validation groups. Control groups comprised patients with stable coronary artery disease without a history of MI. Based on plasma NT-proBNP levels and left ventricular ejection fraction parameters, the STEMI patients were divided into HF and non-HF groups. Microarrays were used to analyze mRNA levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells that were isolated from the study group at four time points and the control group. The microarray results were validated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) using whole-blood RNA from the validation group. We identified biologically relevant transcripts that were significantly altered in the early phase of MI and were associated with the development of post-MI HF.

We also sought to identify prognostic miRNAs that are associated with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction following AMI. Patients were divided into subgroups of patients who developed or did not develop LV dysfunction within 6 months of the infarction. miRNA profiles were determined in plasma and serum samples from the patients on the first day of AMI. Levels of 14 plasma miRNAs and 16 serum miRNAs were significantly different in samples from AMI patients who later developed LV dysfunction compared with MI patients who did not. Two miRNAs were upregulated in both types of material. Validation in an independent group of patients using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) confirmed that miR-30a-5p was significantly elevated on admission in patients who developed LV dysfunction and HF symptoms 6 months after AMI. A bioinformatics analysis indicated that miR-30a-5p may regulate genes that are involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease.

We recently focused on studying the prognostic value of circulating miRNAs that correlate with the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after cardiac ablation. Atrial fibrillation is the most common and persistent cardiac arrhythmia that increases the risk of death, stroke, and other thromboembolic incidents. Atrial fibrillation patients more frequently develop heart failure and have a higher rate of hospitalization. Approximately one-third of patients may not experience symptoms of arrhythmia. Such an asymptomatic course impedes and delays diagnosis and the implementation of proper treatment. Early diagnosis provides an opportunity to prescribe treatments that can protect against such devastating consequences. Thus, our next goal will be the detection of specific microRNAs as predictors of successful AF ablation.

Project 2

The main objective of this project is to determine the molecular background of congenital hemolytic anemias (CHAs) in selected patients with anemia of unclear etiology. The term CHAs encompasses a heterogeneous group of hereditary disorders that are associated with mutations of more than 70 genes and characterized by the destruction of abnormal red blood cells (RBCs), with presentations that range from asymptomatic to severe and life-threatening. Congenital hemolytic anemias are associated with ineffective erythropoiesis and the dysregulation of iron metabolism. The pathogenesis of CHAs is still only partially understood. An accurate diagnosis of CHAs is often challenging because the clinical presentation of genetically distinct diseases can be quite similar, and standard medical procedures are incapable of distinguishing individual nosological entities. This study investigates genetic determinants of CHAs that are caused by impairments in enzyme activity in RBCs, disturbances in membrane proteins, and abnormalities in the structure and synthesis of hemoglobin. We plan to perform whole-exome sequencing for selected patients with hemolytic anemia who lack an accurate diagnosis. Moreover, the analysis of previously uncharacterized variants, both novel and already reported, using bioinformatic tools and molecular modelling will be performed.

  • Past projects

Project 3

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a useful model for studying cellular mechanisms that are related to sterol synthesis in humans because of the high similarity of the mevalonate pathway between these organisms. In this project, we evaluated the effects of four statins that are widely used in clinical practice on mevalonate and associated pathways.

Project 4

Thyroid peroxidase is a major autoantigen in thyroid autoimmune disease, in which pathogenic autoantibodies recognize immunodominant conformational epitopes that are localized on the protein surface. To elucidate the basis of this autoantigenicity, we performed complex structural, functional, and antigenic characteristics of thyroid peroxidase. The project was undertaken in collaboration with Monash University (Australia) and the Medical Centre of Postgraduate Education (Poland).

Metodologia

We conduct research using microarray analyses (with cooperation with the Laboratory of Microarrays Analyses). We perform mutation analysis using Sanger sequencing and whole exome sequencing. For gene expression analysis, we utilize qPCR and ddPCR. In our laboratory, we have a ddPCR system (Bio-Rad) that enables the precise quantification of nucleic acids. The digital PCR concept has many potential advantages over classic RT-PCR, including the ability to obtain absolute quantification without external references and robustness to variations. In view of the fact that ddPCR has demonstrated a high degree of linearity and quantitative correlation in measuring miRNAs, we used this method to confirm the results from small RNA sequencing experiments.

Wybrane publikacje

  • Maciejak A, Kiliszek M, Michalak M, Tulacz D, Opolski G, Matlak K, Dobrzycki S, Segiet A, Gora M, Burzynska B. Gene expression profiling reveals potential prognostic biomarkers associated with the progression of heart failure. Genome Med. 2015 Mar 14;7(1):26. doi: 10.1186/s13073-015-0149-z.
  • Warchol I, Gora M, Wysocka-Kapcinska M, Komaszylo J, Swiezewska E, Sojka M, Danikiewicz W, Plochocka D, Maciejak A, Tulacz D, Leszczynska A, Kapur S, Burzynska B. Genetic engineering and molecular characterization of yeast strain expressing hybrid human-yeast squalene synthase as a tool for anti-cholesterol drug assessment. J Appl Microbiol. 2016 Apr;120(4):877-88. doi: 10.1111/jam.13053.
  • Maciejak A, Kostarska-Srokosz E, Gierlak W, Dluzniewski M, Kuch M, Marchel M, Opolski G, Kiliszek M, Matlak K, Dobrzycki S, Lukasik A, Segiet A, Sygitowicz G, Sitkiewicz D, Gora M, Burzynska B. Circulating miR-30a-5p as a prognostic biomarker of left ventricular dysfunction after acute myocardial infarction. Sci Rep. 2018 Jun 29;8(1):9883. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-28118-1.
  • Maciak K, Adamowicz-Salach A, Siwicka A, Poznanski J, Urasinski T, Plochocka D, Gora M, Burzynska B. Hereditary xerocytosis – spectrum and clinical manifestations of variants in the PIEZO1 gene, including co-occurrence with a novel β-globin mutation. Blood Cells Mol Dis. 2020 Feb;80:102378. doi: 10.1016/j.bcmd.2019.102378.

Współpraca

  • Dr hab. n. med. Marek Kiliszek Department of Cardiology and Internal Diseases, Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw
  • Dr hab. n. med. Anna Adamowicz-Salach Department of Paediatrics, Haematology and Oncology, Medical University of Warsaw
  • Dr hab. Beata Hukowska-Szematowicz Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Center, University of Szczecin
  • Dr hab. Grażyna Sygitowicz, Dr Agata Maciejak Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
  • Dr George Patrinos Erasmus University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Bioinformatics, Rotterdam, the Netherlands and University of Patras School of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, Patras, Greece
  • Dr Ashley Buckle Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia

Nagrody i wyróżnienia

  • Beata Burzynska, Agata Leszczynska 2017 Medical University of Warsaw, 1st degree award for didactic achievement.

Publikacje (z afiliacją IBB PAN)

GIELEŻYNSKA A., STACHURSKA A., FABIJAŃSKA-MITEK A., DĘBSKA M., BURZYŃSKA B., RAWA K., PAWLIK K., Feto-maternal haemorrhage assessment in a woman with a large population of red blood cells containing fetal haemoglobin. Ginekologia Polska (2014) 85(8): 614-618 IF 0.675
KACZOROWSKA-HAĆ B., BURZYŃSKA B., PŁOCHOCKA D., ŻAK-JASIŃSKA K., RAWA K., ADAMKIEWICZ-DROŻYŃSKA E., The first reported case of G6PD deficiency due to Seoul mutation in Poland. Annals of Hematology (2014) 93(5): 879-880 IF 2.396
GÓRA M., KILISZEK M., BURZYŃSKA B., Will global transcriptome analysis allow the detection of novel prognostic markers in coronary artery disease and heart failure? Current Genomics (2013) 14: 388-396 IF 2.475
RAWA K., CHELMECKA-HANUSIEWICZ L., PŁOCHOCKA D., PAWINSKA-WASIKOWSKA K., BALWIERZ W., BURZYŃSKA B., Characterization of a novel mutation in the NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase gene responsible for rare hereditary methaemoglobinaemia type I. Acta Haematologica (2013) 130(2): 122-125 IF 0.894
KILISZEK M., BURZYŃSKA B., MICHALAK M., GÓRA M., WINKLER A., MACIEJAK A., LESZCZYŃSKA A., GAJDA E., KOCHANOWSKI J., OPOLSKI G., Altered gene expression pattern in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with acute myocardial infarction. PLOS ONE (2012) 7(11): e50054 IF 4.092
RAWA K., ADAMOWICZ-SALACH A., MATYSIAK M., TRZEMECKA A., BURZYŃSKA B., Coexistence of Gilbert syndrome with hereditary haemolytic anaemias. Journal of Clinical Pathology (2012) 65(7): 663-665 IF 2.306
LESZCZYŃSKA A., GÓRA M., PŁOCHOCKA D., HOSER G., SZKOPIŃSKA A., KOBLOWSKA M., IWANICKA-NOWICKA R., KOTLIŃSKI M., RAWA K., KILISZEK M., BURZYŃSKA B., Different statins produce highly divergent changes in gene expression profiles of human hepatoma cells: a pilot study. Acta Biochimica Polonica (2011) 58(4): 635-639 IF 1.234
LESZCZYŃSKA A., BURZYŃSKA B., PŁOCHOCKA D., KAMIŃSKA J., ZIMNICKA M., KANIA M., KILISZEK M., WYSOCKA-KAPCIŃSKA M., DANIKIEWICZ W., SZKOPIŃSKA A., Investigating the effects of statins on cellular lipid metabolism using a yeast expression system. PLoS ONE (2009) 4(12): e8499 (6 p./electronic only) IF 4,351
MACIĄG M., ADAMOWICZ-SALACH A., SIWICKA A., SPYCHALSKA J., BURZYŃSKA B., The use of real-time PCR technique in the detection of novel protein 4.2 gene mutations that coexist with thalassaemia alpha in a single patient. European Journal of Haematology (2009) 83: 373-377 IF 2,237
MACIĄG M., PŁOCHOCKA D., ADAMOWICZ-SALACH A., BURZYŃSKA B., Novel beta-spectrin mutations in hereditary spherocytosis associated with decreased levels of mRNA. British Journal of Haematology (2009) 146: 326-332 IF 4,478
WYSOCKA-KAPCIŃSKA M., LUTYK-NADOLSKA J., KILISZEK M., PŁOCHOCKA D., MACIĄG M., LESZCZYŃSKA A., RYTKA J., BURZYŃSKA B., Functional expression of human HMG-CoA reducase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: a system to analyse normal and mutated version of the enzyme in the context of statin treatment. Journal of Applied Microbiology (2009) 106 : 895-902 IF 2,028
MACIĄG M., PŁOCHOCKA D., ADAMOWICZ-SALACH A., JACKOWSKA T., MENDEK-CZAJKOWSKA E., PAWELCZYK A., ZDEBSKA E., BURZYŃSKA B., Diversity of thalassemia variants in Poland - screening by real-time PCR. Acta Haematologica (2008) 120: 153-157 IF 1,564
PAWŁOWSKI P.H., BURZYŃSKA B., ZIELENKIEWICZ P., Theoretical model of thalassemic erythrocyte shape transformation. Journal of Theoretical Biology (2008) 254: 575-579 IF 2,323
MACIĄG M., PŁOCHOCKA D., JABŁOŃSKA-SKWIECIŃSKA E., MENDEK-CZAJKOWSKA E., GOŁASZEWSKA E., STROJNY W., BALWIERZ W., ZDEBSKA E., BURZYŃSKA B., Molecular analysis of three novel G6PD variants: G6PD Pedopolis-Ckaro, G6PD Piotrkow and G6PD Krakow. Acta Biochimica Polonica (2007) 54(4): 877-881 IF 1,363
KILISZEK M., BURZYŃSKA B., STYCZYŃSKI G., MACIĄG M., RABCZENKO D., OPOLSKI G., A1166C polymorphism of the angiotensin AT1 receptor (ATIR) gene alters endothelial response to statin treatment. Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (2007) 45: 839-842 IF 1,725
MACIĄG M., PŁOCHOCKA D., MENDEK-CZAJKOWSKA E., ADAMOWICZ-SALACH A., SPYCHALSKA J., ZDEBSKA E., JABŁOŃSKA-SKWIECIŃSKA E., KOŚCIELAK J., BURZYŃSKA B., Molecular and haematological studies of four families with hereditary spherocytosis resulting from band 3 deficiency. Acta Haematologica (2006) 116: 143-145 IF 1,564
PAWŁOWSKI P.H., BURZYŃSKA B., ZIELENKIEWICZ P., Theoretical model of reticulocyte to erythrocyte shape transformation. Journal of Theoretical Biology (2006) 243: 24-38 IF 2,264
BURZYŃSKA B., Ocena zmienności populacji żubra przy pomocy metod genetyki molekularnej. Chapter in: Health threats for the European Bison particularly in free-roaming populations in Poland. Ed. J. Kita, K. Anusz. SGGW Publishers (2006): 237-243

Zespół

Patenty

    • Burzynska B, Gora M, Maciejak A, Tulacz D, Kiliszek M, Michalak M, Opolski G, Matlak K, Dobrzycki S. „Transcriptomic biomarkers, method for determination thereof and use of transcriptomic biomarkers for individual risk assessment of developing post-infraction heart failure” European Patent EP 3105350