scholarly journals Detecting Local Genetic Correlations with Scan Statistics

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanmin Guo ◽  
James J. Li ◽  
Qiongshi Lu ◽  
Lin Hou

AbstractGenetic correlation analysis has quickly gained popularity in the past few years and provided insights into the genetic etiology of numerous complex diseases. However, existing approaches oversimplify the shared genetic architecture between different phenotypes and cannot effectively identify precise genetic regions contributing to the genetic correlation. In this work, we introduce LOGODetect, a powerful and efficient statistical method to identify small genome segments harboring local genetic correlation signals. LOGODetect automatically identifies genetic regions showing consistent associations with multiple phenotypes through a scan statistic approach. It uses summary association statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) as input and is robust to sample overlap between studies. Applied to five phenotypically distinct but genetically correlated psychiatric disorders, we identified 49 non-overlapping genome regions associated with multiple disorders, including multiple hub regions showing concordant effects on more than two disorders. Our method addresses critical limitations in existing analytic strategies and may have wide applications in post-GWAS analysis.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanmin Guo ◽  
James J. Li ◽  
Qiongshi Lu ◽  
Lin Hou

AbstractGenetic correlation analysis has quickly gained popularity in the past few years and provided insights into the genetic etiology of numerous complex diseases. However, existing approaches oversimplify the shared genetic architecture between different phenotypes and cannot effectively identify precise genetic regions contributing to the genetic correlation. In this work, we introduce LOGODetect, a powerful and efficient statistical method to identify small genome segments harboring local genetic correlation signals. LOGODetect automatically identifies genetic regions showing consistent associations with multiple phenotypes through a scan statistic approach. It uses summary association statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) as input and is robust to sample overlap between studies. Applied to seven phenotypically distinct but genetically correlated neuropsychiatric traits, we identify 227 non-overlapping genome regions associated with multiple traits, including multiple hub regions showing concordant effects on five or more traits. Our method addresses critical limitations in existing analytic strategies and may have wide applications in post-GWAS analysis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e001140
Author(s):  
Xinpei Wang ◽  
Jinzhu Jia ◽  
Tao Huang

ObjectiveWe aimed to estimate genetic correlation, identify shared loci and test causality between leptin levels and type 2 diabetes (T2D).Research design and methodsOur study consists of three parts. First, we calculated the genetic correlation of leptin levels and T2D or glycemic traits by using linkage disequilibrium score regression analysis. Second, we conducted a large-scale genome-wide cross-trait meta-analysis using cross-phenotype association to identify shared loci between trait pairs that showed significant genetic correlations in the first part. In the end, we carried out a bidirectional MR analysis to find out whether there is a causal relationship between leptin levels and T2D or glycemic traits.ResultsWe found positive genetic correlations between leptin levels and T2D (Rg=0.3165, p=0.0227), fasting insulin (FI) (Rg=0.517, p=0.0076), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (Rg=0.4785, p=0.0196), as well as surrogate estimates of β-cell function (HOMA-β) (Rg=0.4456, p=0.0214). We identified 12 shared loci between leptin levels and T2D, 1 locus between leptin levels and FI, 1 locus between leptin levels and HOMA-IR, and 1 locus between leptin levels and HOMA-β. We newly identified eight loci that did not achieve genome-wide significance in trait-specific genome-wide association studies. These shared genes were enriched in pancreas, thyroid gland, skeletal muscle, placenta, liver and cerebral cortex. In addition, we found that 1-SD increase in HOMA-IR was causally associated with a 0.329 ng/mL increase in leptin levels (β=0.329, p=0.001).ConclusionsOur results have shown the shared genetic architecture between leptin levels and T2D and found causality of HOMA-IR on leptin levels, shedding light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the association between leptin levels and T2D.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa A. Munn-Chernoff ◽  
Emma C. Johnson ◽  
Yi-Ling Chou ◽  
Jonathan R.I. Coleman ◽  
Laura M. Thornton ◽  
...  

AbstractEating disorders and substance use disorders frequently co-occur. Twin studies reveal shared genetic variance between liabilities to eating disorders and substance use, with the strongest associations between symptoms of bulimia nervosa (BN) and problem alcohol use (genetic correlation [rg], twin-based=0.23-0.53). We estimated the genetic correlation between eating disorder and substance use and disorder phenotypes using data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Four eating disorder phenotypes (anorexia nervosa [AN], AN with binge-eating, AN without binge-eating, and a BN factor score), and eight substance-use-related phenotypes (drinks per week, alcohol use disorder [AUD], smoking initiation, current smoking, cigarettes per day, nicotine dependence, cannabis initiation, and cannabis use disorder) from eight studies were included. Significant genetic correlations were adjusted for variants associated with major depressive disorder (MDD). Total sample sizes per phenotype ranged from ~2,400 to ~537,000 individuals. We used linkage disequilibrium score regression to calculate single nucleotide polymorphism-based genetic correlations between eating disorder and substance-use-related phenotypes. Significant positive genetic associations emerged between AUD and AN (rg=0.18; false discovery rate q=0.0006), cannabis initiation and AN (rg=0.23; q<0.0001), and cannabis initiation and AN with binge-eating (rg=0.27; q=0.0016). Conversely, significant negative genetic correlations were observed between three non-diagnostic smoking phenotypes (smoking initiation, current smoking, and cigarettes per day) and AN without binge-eating (rgs=-0.19 to −0.23; qs<0.04). The genetic correlation between AUD and AN was no longer significant after co-varying for MDD loci. The patterns of association between eating disorder- and substance-use-related phenotypes highlights the potentially complex and substance-specific relationships between these behaviors.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstantin Senkevich ◽  
Sara Bandres-Ciga ◽  
Eric Yu ◽  
Upekha E. Liyanage ◽  
Alastair J Noyce ◽  
...  

AbstractBackground and objectivesMost cancers appear with reduced frequency in Parkinson’s disease (PD), but the prevalence of melanoma and brain cancers are often reported to be increased. Shared genetic architecture and causal relationships to explain these associations have not been fully explored.MethodsLinkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) was applied for five cancer studies with available genome-wide association studies (GWAS) summary statistics to examine genetic correlations with PD. Additionally, we used GWAS summary statistics of 15 different types of cancers as exposures and two-sample Mendelian randomization to study the causal relationship with PD (outcome).ResultsLDSC analysis revealed a potential genetic correlation between PD and melanoma, breast cancer and prostate cancer. There was no evidence to support a causal relationship between the studied cancers and PD.ConclusionsOur results suggest shared genetic architecture between PD and melanoma, breast, and prostate cancers, but no obvious causal relationship between cancers and PD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel L. McCartney ◽  
Josine L. Min ◽  
Rebecca C. Richmond ◽  
Ake T. Lu ◽  
Maria K. Sobczyk ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Biological aging estimators derived from DNA methylation data are heritable and correlate with morbidity and mortality. Consequently, identification of genetic and environmental contributors to the variation in these measures in populations has become a major goal in the field. Results Leveraging DNA methylation and SNP data from more than 40,000 individuals, we identify 137 genome-wide significant loci, of which 113 are novel, from genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analyses of four epigenetic clocks and epigenetic surrogate markers for granulocyte proportions and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 levels, respectively. We find evidence for shared genetic loci associated with the Horvath clock and expression of transcripts encoding genes linked to lipid metabolism and immune function. Notably, these loci are independent of those reported to regulate DNA methylation levels at constituent clock CpGs. A polygenic score for GrimAge acceleration showed strong associations with adiposity-related traits, educational attainment, parental longevity, and C-reactive protein levels. Conclusion This study illuminates the genetic architecture underlying epigenetic aging and its shared genetic contributions with lifestyle factors and longevity.


BMC Medicine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chun Yu Li ◽  
Tian Mi Yang ◽  
Ru Wei Ou ◽  
Qian Qian Wei ◽  
Hui Fang Shang

Abstract Background Epidemiological and clinical studies have suggested comorbidity between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and autoimmune disorders. However, little is known about their shared genetic architecture. Methods To examine the relation between ALS and 10 autoimmune diseases, including asthma, celiac disease (CeD), Crohn’s disease (CD), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), multiple sclerosis (MS), psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), type 1 diabetes (T1D), and ulcerative colitis (UC), and identify shared risk loci, we first estimated the genetic correlation using summary statistics from genome-wide association studies, and then analyzed the genetic enrichment leveraging the conditional false discovery rate statistical method. Results We identified a significant positive genetic correlation between ALS and CeD, MS, RA, and SLE, as well as a significant negative genetic correlation between ALS and IBD, UC, and CD. Robust genetic enrichment was observed between ALS and CeD and MS, and moderate enrichment was found between ALS and UC and T1D. Thirteen shared genetic loci were identified, among which five were suggestively significant in another ALS GWAS, namely rs3828599 (GPX3), rs3849943 (C9orf72), rs7154847 (G2E3), rs6571361 (SCFD1), and rs9903355 (GGNBP2). By integrating cis-expression quantitative trait loci analyses in Braineac and GTEx, we further identified GGNBP2, ATXN3, and SLC9A8 as novel ALS risk genes. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that the shared risk genes were involved in four pathways including membrane trafficking, vesicle-mediated transport, ER to Golgi anterograde transport, and transport to the Golgi and subsequent modification. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate a specific genetic correlation between ALS and autoimmune diseases and identify shared risk loci, including three novel ALS risk genes. These results provide a better understanding for the pleiotropy of ALS and have implications for future therapeutic trials.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorien L. Treur ◽  
Mark Gibson ◽  
Amy E Taylor ◽  
Peter J Rogers ◽  
Marcus R Munafò

AbstractStudy Objectives:Higher caffeine consumption has been linked to poorer sleep and insomnia complaints. We investigated whether these observational associations are the result of genetic risk factors influencing both caffeine consumption and poorer sleep, and/or whether they reflect (possibly bidirectional) causal effects.Methods:Summary-level data were available from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on caffeine consumption (n=91,462), sleep duration, and chronotype (i.e., being a ‘morning’ versus an ‘evening’ person) (both n=128,266), and insomnia complaints (n=113,006). Linkage disequilibrium (LD) score regression was used to calculate genetic correlations, reflecting the extent to which genetic variants influencing caffeine consumption and sleep behaviours overlap. Causal effects were tested with bidirectional, two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR), an instrumental variable approach that utilizes genetic variants robustly associated with an exposure variable as an instrument to test causal effects. Estimates from individual genetic variants were combined using inverse-variance weighted meta-analysis, weighted median regression and MR Egger regression methods.Results:There was no clear evidence for genetic correlation between caffeine consumption and sleep duration (rg=0.000,p=0.998), chronotype (rg=0.086,p=0.192) or insomnia (rg=-0.034,p=0.700). Two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses did not support causal effects from caffeine consumption to sleep behaviours, or the other way around.Conclusions:We found no evidence in support of genetic correlation or causal effects between caffeine consumption and sleep. While caffeine may have acute effects on sleep when taken shortly before habitual bedtime, our findings suggest that a more sustained pattern of high caffeine consumption is likely associated with poorer sleep through shared environmental factors.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard J Allen ◽  
Beatriz Guillen-Guio ◽  
Emma Croot ◽  
Luke M Kraven ◽  
Samuel Moss ◽  
...  

AbstractGenome-wide association studies (GWAS) of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have identified genetic loci associated with both traits, suggesting possible shared biological mechanisms. Using updated GWAS of COVID-19 and IPF, we evaluated the genetic overlap between these two diseases and identified four genetic loci (including one novel) with likely shared causal variants between severe COVID-19 and IPF. Although there was a positive genetic correlation between COVID-19 and IPF, two of these four shared genetic loci had an opposite direction of effect. IPF-associated genetic variants related to telomere dysfunction and spindle assembly showed no association with COVID-19 phenotypes. Together, these results suggest there are both shared and distinct biological processes driving IPF and severe COVID-19 phenotypes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 689-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thibaud S Boutin ◽  
David G Charteris ◽  
Aman Chandra ◽  
Susan Campbell ◽  
Caroline Hayward ◽  
...  

Abstract Retinal detachment (RD) is a serious and common condition, but genetic studies to date have been hampered by the small size of the assembled cohorts. In the UK Biobank data set, where RD was ascertained by self-report or hospital records, genetic correlations between RD and high myopia or cataract operation were, respectively, 0.46 (SE = 0.08) and 0.44 (SE = 0.07). These correlations are consistent with known epidemiological associations. Through meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies using UK Biobank RD cases (N = 3 977) and two cohorts, each comprising ~1 000 clinically ascertained rhegmatogenous RD patients, we uncovered 11 genome-wide significant association signals. These are near or within ZC3H11B, BMP3, COL22A1, DLG5, PLCE1, EFEMP2, TYR, FAT3, TRIM29, COL2A1 and LOXL1. Replication in the 23andMe data set, where RD is self-reported by participants, firmly establishes six RD risk loci: FAT3, COL22A1, TYR, BMP3, ZC3H11B and PLCE1. Based on the genetic associations with eye traits described to date, the first two specifically impact risk of a RD, whereas the last four point to shared aetiologies with macular condition, myopia and glaucoma. Fine-mapping prioritized the lead common missense variant (TYR S192Y) as causal variant at the TYR locus and a small set of credible causal variants at the FAT3 locus. The larger study size presented here, enabled by resources linked to health records or self-report, provides novel insights into RD aetiology and underlying pathological pathways.


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