New Role Discovered For Gene Critical In Heart Development

CRELD1 is known to play an important role in the development of the heart in embryos and that it remains active after birth, but the function of the gene was not known until now. 

“CRELD1 is a pivotal factor for heart development, the function of which is unknown in adult life. We here provide evidence that CRELD1 is an important gatekeeper of immune system homeostasis,” the researchers wrote.

For this research transcriptome data was combined from three different studies to include 4,500 subjects, in some of which the CRELD1 gene was significantly less active. During analysis the team discovered that blood of the donors contained very few T cells; further experiments and observations with mice studies revealed that the genetic loss of this gene was the reason behind the loss of T cells.

“This provided us with information on the activity of the genetic material, including the CRELD1 gene, of a total of 4,500 test subjects,” explained Anna Aschenbrenner, Ph.D., from the LIMES Institute at the University of Bonn and member of the ImmunoSensation² Cluster of Excellence. “In addition, the data for these participants also included information on certain immunological parameters, such as the number of different immune cells in their blood.”

“Loss of Creld1 was associated with simultaneous overactivation and increased apoptosis, resulting in a net loss of T cells with age. Creld1 was transcriptionally and functionally linked to Wnt signaling. Collectively, gene expression variance in large human cohorts combined with murine genetic models, transcriptomics, and functional testing defines CRELD1 as an important modulator of immune homeostasis,” noted the researchers.

“We see similar changes in people with an ‘aged’ immune system,” Aschenbrenner stressed. Those affected are much more susceptible to infections, as currently discussed in the context of COVID-19, but possibly also to age-related diseases such as cancer or Alzheimer’s disease. It is known that the activity of numerous genes in the blood is altered in a characteristic way, which experts also refer to as an immunological aging signature. “We found precisely this signature among participants with low CRELD1 activity,” said Aschenbrenner.

Moving forward the team is hoping that CRELD1 will help them to understand the causes of immunological aging as Acshenbrenner explains, “The long-term goal is to slow down or halt this process. This could perhaps significantly reduce the risk of illness in seniors.”