Publications

8 Publications visible to you, out of a total of 8

Abstract (Expand)

Background The pathophysiology of arterial stiffness is not completely understood. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is an established marker for arterial stiffness. We compare genetics of three PWV modes, namely carotid-femoral PWV (cfPWV), brachial-ankle (baPWV) and brachial-femoral (bfPWV), reflecting different vascular segments to analyse association with genetic variants, heritability and genetic correlation with other biological traits. Furthermore we searched for shared genetic architecture concerning PWV, blood pressure (BP) and coronary artery disease (CAD) and examined the causal relationship between PWV and BP. Methods and results We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for cfPWV, baPWV and bfPWV in LIFE-Adult (N = 3,643–6,734). We analysed the overlap of detected genetic loci with those of BP and CAD and performed genetic correlation analyses. By bidirectional Mendelian Randomization, we assessed the causal relationships between PWV and BP. For cfPWV we identified a new locus with genome-wide significance near SLC4A7 on cytoband 3p24.1 (lead SNP rs939834: p = 2.05x10-8). We replicated a known PWV locus on cytoband 14q32.2 near RP11-61O1.1 (lead SNPs: rs17773233, p = 1.38x10-4; rs1381289, p = 1.91x10-4) For baPWV we estimated a heritability of 28% and significant genetic correlation with hypertension (rg = 0.27, p = 6.65x10-8). We showed a positive causal effect of systolic blood pressure on PWV modes (cfPWV: p = 1.51x10-4; bfPWV: p = 1.45x10-3; baPWV: p = 6.82x10-15). Conclusions We identified a new locus for arterial stiffness and successfully replicated an earlier proposed locus. PWV shares common genetic architecture with BP and CAD. BP causally affects PWV. Larger studies are required to further unravel the genetic determinants and effects of PWV.

Authors: Michael Rode, Andrej Teren, Kerstin Wirkner, Katrin Horn, Holger Kirsten, Markus Loeffler, Markus Scholz, Janne Pott

Date Published: 13th Aug 2020

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: arteriosclerosis, arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: Markus Scholz, Sylvia Henger, Frank Beutner, Andrej Teren, Ronny Baber, Anja Willenberg, Uta Ceglarek, Janne Pott, Ralph Burkhardt, Joachim Thiery

Date Published: 3rd Aug 2020

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND: Carotid artery plaque is an established marker of subclinical atherosclerosis with pronounced sex-dimorphism. Here, we aimed to identify genetic variants associated with carotid plaque burden (CPB) and to examine potential sex-specific genetic effects on plaque sizes. METHODS AND RESULTS: We defined six operationalizations of CPB considering plaques in common carotid arteries, carotid bulb, and internal carotid arteries. We performed sex-specific genome-wide association analyses for all traits in the LIFE-Adult cohort (n = 727 men and n = 550 women) and tested significantly associated loci for sex-specific effects. In order to identify causal genes, we analyzed candidate gene expression data for correlation with CPB traits and corresponding sex-specific effects. Further, we tested if previously reported SNP associations with CAD and plaque prevalence are also associated with CBP. We found seven loci with suggestive significance for CPB (p<3.33x10-7), explaining together between 6 and 13% of the CPB variance. Sex-specific analysis showed a genome-wide significant hit for men at 5q31.1 (rs201629990, beta = -0.401, p = 5.22x10-9), which was not associated in women (beta = -0.127, p = 0.093) with a significant difference in effect size (p = 0.008). Analyses of gene expression data suggested IL5 as the most plausible candidate, as it reflected the same sex-specific association with CPBs (p = 0.037). Known plaque prevalence or CAD loci showed no enrichment in the association with CPB. CONCLUSIONS: We showed that CPB is a complementary trait in analyzing genetics of subclinical atherosclerosis. We detected a novel locus for plaque size in men only suggesting a role of IL5. Several estrogen response elements in this locus point towards a functional explanation of the observed sex-specific effect.

Authors: J. Pott, F. Beutner, K. Horn, H. Kirsten, K. Olischer, K. Wirkner, M. Loeffler, M. Scholz

Date Published: 30th May 2020

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: cardiovascular system disease, atherosclerosis

Abstract (Expand)

CONTEXT: Steroid hormones are important regulators of physiological processes in humans and are under genetic control. A link to coronary artery disease (CAD) is supposed. OBJECTIVE: Our main objectivee was to identify genetic loci influencing steroid hormone levels. As secondary aim, we searched for causal effects of steroid hormones on CAD. DESIGN: We conducted genome-wide meta-association studies for eight steroid hormones: cortisol, DHEA-S, estradiol and testosterone in two independent cohorts (LIFE-Adult, LIFE-Heart, max. n=7667), and progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione and aldosterone in LIFE-Heart only (max. n=2070). All genome-wide significant loci were tested for sex interactions. Further, we tested if previously reported CAD SNPs were associated with our steroid hormone panel and investigated causal links between hormone levels and CAD status using Mendelian Randomization (MR) approaches. RESULTS: We discovered 15 novel associated loci for 17-hydroxyprogesterone, progesterone, DHEA-S, cortisol, androstenedione, and estradiol. Five of these loci relate to genes directly involved in steroid metabolism: CYP21A1, CYP11B1, CYP17A1, STS, and HSD17B12, almost completing the set of steroidogenic enzymes with genetic associations. Sexual dimorphisms were found for seven of the novel loci. Other loci correspond, e.g., to the WNT4/β-catenin pathway. MR revealed that cortisol, androstenedione, 17-hydroxyprogesterone and DHEA-S had causal effects on CAD. We also observed enrichment of cortisol and testosterone associations among known CAD hits. CONCLUSION: Our study greatly improves insight into genetic regulation of steroid hormones and their dependency on sex. These results could serve as a basis for analyzing sex-dimorphisms in other complex diseases.

Authors: J. Pott, YJ. Bae, K. Horn, A. Teren, Andreas Kühnapfel, H. Kirsten, U. Ceglarek, Markus Löffler, J. Thiery, J. Kratzsch, Markus Scholz

Date Published: 6th Jun 2019

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: coronary artery disease

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND: Germinal center-derived B cell lymphomas are tumors of the lymphoid tissues representing one of the most heterogeneous malignancies. Here we characterize the variety of transcriptomic phenotypes of this disease based on 873 biopsy specimens collected in the German Cancer Aid MMML (Molecular Mechanisms in Malignant Lymphoma) consortium. They include diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL), Burkitt's lymphoma, mixed FL/DLBCL lymphomas, primary mediastinal large B cell lymphoma, multiple myeloma, IRF4-rearranged large cell lymphoma, MYC-negative Burkitt-like lymphoma with chr. 11q aberration and mantle cell lymphoma. METHODS: We apply self-organizing map (SOM) machine learning to microarray-derived expression data to generate a holistic view on the transcriptome landscape of lymphomas, to describe the multidimensional nature of gene regulation and to pursue a modular view on co-expression. Expression data were complemented by pathological, genetic and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: We present a transcriptome map of B cell lymphomas that allows visual comparison between the SOM portraits of different lymphoma strata and individual cases. It decomposes into one dozen modules of co-expressed genes related to different functional categories, to genetic defects and to the pathogenesis of lymphomas. On a molecular level, this disease rather forms a continuum of expression states than clearly separated phenotypes. We introduced the concept of combinatorial pattern types (PATs) that stratifies the lymphomas into nine PAT groups and, on a coarser level, into five prominent cancer hallmark types with proliferation, inflammation and stroma signatures. Inflammation signatures in combination with healthy B cell and tonsil characteristics associate with better overall survival rates, while proliferation in combination with inflammation and plasma cell characteristics worsens it. A phenotypic similarity tree is presented that reveals possible progression paths along the transcriptional dimensions. Our analysis provided a novel look on the transition range between FL and DLBCL, on DLBCL with poor prognosis showing expression patterns resembling that of Burkitt's lymphoma and particularly on 'double-hit' MYC and BCL2 transformed lymphomas. CONCLUSIONS: The transcriptome map provides a tool that aggregates, refines and visualizes the data collected in the MMML study and interprets them in the light of previous knowledge to provide orientation and support in current and future studies on lymphomas and on other cancer entities.

Authors: H. Loeffler-Wirth, M. Kreuz, L. Hopp, A. Arakelyan, A. Haake, S. B. Cogliatti, A. C. Feller, M. L. Hansmann, D. Lenze, P. Moller, H. K. Muller-Hermelink, E. Fortenbacher, E. Willscher, G. Ott, A. Rosenwald, C. Pott, C. Schwaenen, H. Trautmann, S. Wessendorf, H. Stein, M. Szczepanowski, L. Trumper, M. Hummel, W. Klapper, R. Siebert, M. Loeffler, H. Binder

Date Published: 30th Apr 2019

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: B-cell lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma

Abstract (Expand)

Carotid artery intima media thickness (cIMT) and carotid plaque are measures of subclinical atherosclerosis associated with ischemic stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD). Here, we undertake meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in 71,128 individuals for cIMT, and 48,434 individuals for carotid plaque traits. We identify eight novel susceptibility loci for cIMT, one independent association at the previously-identified PINX1 locus, and one novel locus for carotid plaque. Colocalization analysis with nearby vascular expression quantitative loci (cis-eQTLs) derived from arterial wall and metabolic tissues obtained from patients with CHD identifies candidate genes at two potentially additional loci, ADAMTS9 and LOXL4. LD score regression reveals significant genetic correlations between cIMT and plaque traits, and both cIMT and plaque with CHD, any stroke subtype and ischemic stroke. Our study provides insights into genes and tissue-specific regulatory mechanisms linking atherosclerosis both to its functional genomic origins and its clinical consequences in humans.

Authors: Nora Franceschini, Claudia Giambartolomei, Paul S. de Vries, Chris Finan, Joshua C. Bis, Rachael P. Huntley, Ruth C. Lovering, Salman M. Tajuddin, Thomas W. Winkler, Misa Graff, Maryam Kavousi, Caroline Dale, Albert V. Smith, Edith Hofer, Elisabeth M. van Leeuwen, Ilja M. Nolte, Lingyi Lu, Markus Scholz, Muralidharan Sargurupremraj, Niina Pitkänen, Oscar Franzén, Peter K. Joshi, Raymond Noordam, Riccardo E. Marioni, Shih-Jen Hwang, Solomon K. Musani, Ulf Schminke, Walter Palmas, Aaron Isaacs, Adolfo Correa, Alan B. Zonderman, Albert Hofman, Alexander Teumer, Amanda J. Cox, André G. Uitterlinden, Andrew Wong, Andries J. Smit, Anne B. Newman, Annie Britton, Arno Ruusalepp, Bengt Sennblad, Bo Hedblad, Bogdan Pasaniuc, Brenda W. Penninx, Carl D. Langefeld, Christina L. Wassel, Christophe Tzourio, Cristiano Fava, Damiano Baldassarre, Daniel H. O’Leary, Daniel Teupser, Diana Kuh, Elena Tremoli, Elmo Mannarino, Enzo Grossi, Eric Boerwinkle, Eric E. Schadt, Erik Ingelsson, Fabrizio Veglia, Fernando Rivadeneira, Frank Beutner, Ganesh Chauhan, Gerardo Heiss, Harold Snieder, Harry Campbell, Henry Völzke, Hugh S. Markus, Ian J. Deary, J. Wouter Jukema, Jacqueline de Graaf, Jacqueline Price, Janne Pott, Jemma C. Hopewell, Jingjing Liang, Joachim Thiery, Jorgen Engmann, Karl Gertow, Kenneth Rice, Kent D. Taylor, Klodian Dhana, Lambertus A. L. M. Kiemeney, Lars Lind, Laura M. Raffield, Lenore J. Launer, Lesca M. Holdt, Marcus Dörr, Martin Dichgans, Matthew Traylor, Matthias Sitzer, Meena Kumari, Mika Kivimaki, Mike A. Nalls, Olle Melander, Olli Raitakari, Oscar H. Franco, Oscar L. Rueda-Ochoa, Panos Roussos, Peter H. Whincup, Philippe Amouyel, Philippe Giral, Pramod Anugu, Quenna Wong, Rainer Malik, Rainer Rauramaa, Ralph Burkhardt, Rebecca Hardy, Reinhold Schmidt, Renée de Mutsert, Richard W. Morris, Rona J. Strawbridge, S. Goya Wannamethee, Sara Hägg, Sonia Shah, Stela McLachlan, Stella Trompet, Sudha Seshadri, Sudhir Kurl, Susan R. Heckbert, Susan Ring, Tamara B. Harris, Terho Lehtimäki, Tessel E. Galesloot, Tina Shah, Ulf de Faire, Vincent Plagnol, Wayne D. Rosamond, Wendy Post, Xiaofeng Zhu, Xiaoling Zhang, Xiuqing Guo, Yasaman Saba, Abbas Dehghan, Adrie Seldenrijk, Alanna C. Morrison, Anders Hamsten, Bruce M. Psaty, Cornelia M. van Duijn, Deborah A. Lawlor, Dennis O. Mook-Kanamori, Donald W. Bowden, Helena Schmidt, James F. Wilson, James G. Wilson, Jerome I. Rotter, Joanna M. Wardlaw, John Deanfield, Julian Halcox, Leo-Pekka Lyytikäinen, Markus Loeffler, Michele K. Evans, Stéphanie Debette, Steve E. Humphries, Uwe Völker, Vilmundur Gudnason, Aroon D. Hingorani, Johan L. M. Björkegren, Juan P. Casas, Christopher J. O’Donnell

Date Published: 1st Dec 2018

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND Inhibition of PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) is a novel strategy to treat hypercholesterolemia and reduce cardiovascular events. However, the potential role of circulatingg plasma PCSK9 concentrations as a diagnostic and predictive biomarker remains uncertain as of now. Here, we aimed to identify genetic variants associated with plasma PCSK9 and investigate possible causal effects on atherosclerotic vascular disease phenotypes. METHODS We performed the first genome-wide association study of plasma PCSK9 levels in a cohort of suspected and confirmed coronary artery disease (LIFE-Heart; n=3290). RESULTS Several independent variants at the PCSK9 gene locus were associated with circulating PCSK9 levels at genome-wide significance (lead SNP rs11591147, PCSK9-R46L; P=1.94\times10-17). We discovered 4 independent PCSK9 SNPs explaining 4.4% of the variance of plasma PCSK9. In addition, we identified a genome-wide significant locus at chromosome 7p22.1 (rs6957201; P=7.01\times10-9) and 7 suggestive hits (P\textless1\times10-6). Using MR (Mendelian Randomization), we detected significant causal effects of circulating PCSK9 on coronary artery disease status and severity, carotid plaques, and intima-media thickness. CONCLUSIONS Variants at the PCSK9 gene locus seem to be the major genetic determinants of plasma PCSK9 levels with 4 independent variants at the PCSK9 gene locus expressing allelic heterogeneity. The detected MR estimates support the hypothesis of a causal effect of PCSK9 on coronary artery disease and other vascular phenotypes. Other observed genetic associations for PCSK9 require validation in independent cohorts. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique Identifier: NCT00497887.

Authors: Janne Pott, Valentin Schlegel, Andrej Teren, Katrin Horn, Holger Kirsten, Christina Bluecher, Juergen Kratzsch, Markus Loeffler, Joachim Thiery, Ralph Burkhardt, Markus Scholz

Date Published: 1st May 2018

Publication Type: Journal article

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