Publications

958 Publications visible to you, out of a total of 958

Abstract (Expand)

Modern machine and deep learning methods require large datasets to achieve reliable and robust results. This requirement is often difficult to meet in the medical field, due to data sharing limitationsng limitations imposed by privacy regulations or the presence of a small number of patients (e.g., rare diseases). To address this data scarcity and to improve the situation, novel generative models such as Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) have been widely used to generate synthetic data that mimic real data by representing features that reflect health-related information without reference to real patients. In this paper, we consider several GAN models to generate synthetic data used for training binary (malignant/benign) classifiers, and compare their performances in terms of classification accuracy with cases where only real data are considered. We aim to investigate how synthetic data can improve classification accuracy, especially when a small amount of data is available. To this end, we have developed and implemented an evaluation framework where binary classifiers are trained on extended datasets containing both real and synthetic data. The results show improved accuracy for classifiers trained with generated data from more advanced GAN models, even when limited amounts of original data are available.

Authors: Masoud Abedi, Lars Hempel, Sina Sadeghi, Toralf Kirsten

Date Published: 1st Jul 2022

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

The prevalence of germ line mutations in non-BRCA1/2 genes associated with hereditary breast cancer (BC) is low, and the role of some of these genes in BC predisposition and pathogenesis is conflicting. In this study, 5589 consecutive BC index patients negative for pathogenic BRCA1/2 mutations and 2189 female controls were screened for germ line mutations in eight cancer predisposition genes (ATM, CDH1, CHEK2, NBN, PALB2, RAD51C, RAD51D, and TP53). All patients met the inclusion criteria of the German Consortium for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer for germ line testing. The highest mutation prevalence was observed in the CHEK2 gene (2.5%), followed by ATM (1.5%) and PALB2 (1.2%). The mutation prevalence in each of the remaining genes was 0.3% or lower. Using Exome Aggregation Consortium control data, we confirm significant associations of heterozygous germ line mutations with BC for ATM (OR: 3.63, 95%CI: 2.67-4.94), CDH1 (OR: 17.04, 95%CI: 3.54-82), CHEK2 (OR: 2.93, 95%CI: 2.29-3.75), PALB2 (OR: 9.53, 95%CI: 6.25-14.51), and TP53 (OR: 7.30, 95%CI: 1.22-43.68). NBN germ line mutations were not significantly associated with BC risk (OR:1.39, 95%CI: 0.73-2.64). Due to their low mutation prevalence, the RAD51C and RAD51D genes require further investigation. Compared with control datasets, predicted damaging rare missense variants were significantly more prevalent in CHEK2 and TP53 in BC index patients. Compared with the overall sample, only TP53 mutation carriers show a significantly younger age at first BC diagnosis. We demonstrate a significant association of deleterious variants in the CHEK2, PALB2, and TP53 genes with bilateral BC. Both, ATM and CHEK2, were negatively associated with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and estrogen receptor (ER)-negative tumor phenotypes. A particularly high CHEK2 mutation prevalence (5.2%) was observed in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive tumors.

Authors: Jan Hauke, Judit Horvath, Eva Groß, Andrea Gehrig, Ellen Honisch, Karl Hackmann, Gunnar Schmidt, Norbert Arnold, Ulrike Faust, Christian Sutter, Julia Hentschel, Shan Wang-Gohrke, Mateja Smogavec, Bernhard H. F. Weber, Nana Weber-Lassalle, Konstantin Weber-Lassalle, Julika Borde, Corinna Ernst, Janine Altmüller, Alexander E. Volk, Holger Thiele, Verena Hübbel, Peter Nürnberg, Katharina Keupp, Beatrix Versmold, Esther Pohl, Christian Kubisch, Sabine Grill, Victoria Paul, Natalie Herold, Nadine Lichey, Kerstin Rhiem, Nina Ditsch, Christian Ruckert, Barbara Wappenschmidt, Bernd Auber, Andreas Rump, Dieter Niederacher, Thomas Haaf, Juliane Ramser, Bernd Dworniczak, Christoph Engel, Alfons Meindl, Rita K. Schmutzler, Eric Hahnen

Date Published: 1st Apr 2018

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome

Abstract (Expand)

Heme and its breakdown products CO, Fe, and bilirubin are being recognized as signaling molecules or even therapeutic agents, but also exert adverse effects when released at high concentrations. Manipulating the pathway confers protection in rodent sepsis models via both control of free heme and formation of its first and higher-order products. Thus, regulatory elements present in human heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) and biliverdin reductases (BLVRA/B) genes might impact outcome. We tested whether a highly polymorphic (GT)n microsatellite and single-nucleotide polymorphisms in HMOX1 and BLVRA/B genes are associated with outcome of sepsis. Two cohorts (n = 430 and 398 patients) with severe sepsis were screened for single-nucleotide polymorphisms and/or the microsatellite by fragment length analysis and genotyping techniques. Heme oxygenase 1 plasma levels were determined in additional patients with severe sepsis (n = 92) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Based on mean Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment scores, patients homozygous for rs2071746 A allele or medium length (GT)n microsatellites of HMOX1 showed higher 28-day mortality (P = 0.047 and P = 0.033) in one cohort compared with other genotypes, whereas 90-day mortality rates showed no association. The T allele was less frequently observed in both cohorts than would be expected according to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Heme oxygenase 1 plasma levels were elevated in septic patients, independent of the genotype. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms within BLVRA/B showed no association with outcome. Short (GT)n repeats that are in linkage disequilibrium with the T allele of rs2071746 in HMOX1 are associated with favorable outcome, whereas no association with gene variants of BLVRA/B, involved in the generation of higher-order metabolites, was noticed.

Authors: Christoph Sponholz, Klaus Huse, Marcel Kramer, Evangelos J. Giamarellos-Bourboulis, Ralf A. Claus, Anna Kern, Christoph Engel, Evelyn Kuhnt, Michael Kiehntopf, Christina Routsi, Vassiliki Mylona, Iraklis Tsangaris, Stefan H. Heinemann, Konrad Reinhart, Matthias Platzer, Michael Bauer

Date Published: 2012

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: disease by infectious agent

Abstract (Expand)

In the present systematic review we identified and summarised current research activities in the field of time series forecasting and imputation with the help of generative adversarial networks (GANs). We differentiate between imputation which describes the filling of missing values at intermediate steps and forecasting defining the prediction of future values. Especially the utilisation of such methods in the biomedical domain was to be investigated. To this end, 1057 publications were identified with the help of PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus. All studies that describe the use of GANs for the imputation/forecasting of time series were included irrespective of the application domain. Finally, 33 records were identified as eligible and grouped according to the topologies, losses, inputs and outputs of the presented GANs. In combination with a summary of all described application domains, this grouping served as a basis for analysing the peculiarities of the method in the biomedical context. Due to the broad spectrum of biomedical research, nearly all recognised methodologies are also applied in this domain. We could not identify any approach that proved itself superior in the biomedical area. Although GANs were initially designed to work in the image domain, many publications show that they are capable of imputing/forecasting non-visual time series.

Authors: Sven Festag, Joachim Denzler, Cord Spreckelsen

Date Published: 1st May 2022

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

Genome-wide ‘omics'-assays provide a comprehensive view on the molecular landscapes of healthy and diseased cells. Bioinformatics traditionally pursues a ‘gene-centered' view by extracting lists of genes differentially expressed or methylated between healthy and diseased states. Biological knowledge mining is then performed by applying gene set techniques using libraries of functional gene sets obtained from independent studies. This analysis strategy neglects two facts: (i) that different disease states can be characterized by a series of functional modules of co-regulated genes and (ii) that the topology of the underlying regulatory networks can induce complex expression patterns that require analysis methods beyond traditional genes set techniques. The authors here provide a knowledge discovery method that overcomes these shortcomings. It combines machine learning using self-organizing maps with pathway flow analysis. It extracts and visualizes regulatory modes from molecular omics data, maps them onto selected pathways and estimates the impact of pathway-activity changes. The authors illustrate the performance of the gene set and pathway signal flow methods using expression data of oncogenic pathway activation experiments and of patient data on glioma, B-cell lymphoma and colorectal cancer.

Authors: L. Nersisyan, Henry Löffler-Wirth, A. Arakelyan, Hans Binder

Date Published: 1st Jun 2014

Publication Type: Not specified

Abstract (Expand)

Progranulin is a glycoprotein marking chronic inflammation in obesity and type 2 diabetes. Previous studies suggested PSRC1 (proline and serine rich coiled-coil 1) to be a target of genetic variants associated with serum progranulin levels. We aimed to identify potentially functional variants and characterize their role in regulation of PSRC1. Phylogenetic module complexity analysis (PMCA) prioritized four polymorphisms (rs12740374, rs629301, rs660240, rs7528419) altering transcription factor binding sites with an overall score for potential regulatory function of Sall \textgreater 7.0. The effects of these variants on transcriptional activity and binding of transcription factors were tested by luciferase reporter and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA). In parallel, blood DNA promoter methylation of two regions was tested in subjects with a very high (N = 100) or a very low (N = 100) serum progranulin. Luciferase assays revealed lower activities in vectors carrying the rs629301-A compared with the C allele. Moreover, EMSA indicated a different binding pattern for the two rs629301 alleles, with an additional prominent band for the A allele, which was finally confirmed with the supershift for the Yin Yang 1 transcription factor (YY1). Subjects with high progranulin levels manifested a significantly higher mean DNA methylation (P \textless 1 \times 10-7) in one promoter region, which was in line with a significantly lower PSRC1 mRNA expression levels in blood (P = 1 \times 10-3). Consistently, rs629301-A allele was associated with lower PSRC1 mRNA expression (P \textless 1 \times 10-7). Our data suggest that the progranulin-associated variant rs629301 modifies the transcription of PSRC1 through alteration of YY1 binding capacity. DNA methylation studies further support the role of PSRC1 in regulation of progranulin serum levels. KEY MESSAGES: PSRC1 (proline and serine rich coiled-coil 1) SNPs are associated with serum progranulin levels. rs629301 regulates PSRC1 expression by affecting Yin Yang 1 transcription factor (YY1) binding. PSRC1 is also epigenetically regulated in subjects with high progranulin levels.

Authors: Maria Keller, Claudia Gebhardt, Sandra Huth, Dorit Schleinitz, Henrike Heyne, Markus Scholz, Michael Stumvoll, Yvonne Böttcher, Anke Tönjes, Peter Kovacs

Date Published: 1st Aug 2020

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

Subcortical brain structures are integral to motion, consciousness, emotions and learning. We identified common genetic variation related to the volumes of the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, brainstem, caudate nucleus, globus pallidus, putamen and thalamus, using genome-wide association analyses in almost 40,000 individuals from CHARGE, ENIGMA and UK Biobank. We show that variability in subcortical volumes is heritable, and identify 48 significantly associated loci (40 novel at the time of analysis). Annotation of these loci by utilizing gene expression, methylation and neuropathological data identified 199 genes putatively implicated in neurodevelopment, synaptic signaling, axonal transport, apoptosis, inflammation/infection and susceptibility to neurological disorders. This set of genes is significantly enriched for Drosophila orthologs associated with neurodevelopmental phenotypes, suggesting evolutionarily conserved mechanisms. Our findings uncover novel biology and potential drug targets underlying brain development and disease.

Authors: Claudia L. Satizabal, Hieab H. H. Adams, Derrek P. Hibar, Charles C. White, Maria J. Knol, Jason L. Stein, Markus Scholz, Muralidharan Sargurupremraj, Neda Jahanshad, Gennady V. Roshchupkin, Albert V. Smith, Joshua C. Bis, Xueqiu Jian, Michelle Luciano, Edith Hofer, Alexander Teumer, Sven J. van der Lee, Jingyun Yang, Lisa R. Yanek, Tom V. Lee, Shuo Li, Yanhui Hu, Jia Yu Koh, John D. Eicher, Sylvane Desrivières, Alejandro Arias-Vasquez, Ganesh Chauhan, Lavinia Athanasiu, Miguel E. Rentería, Sungeun Kim, David Hoehn, Nicola J. Armstrong, Qiang Chen, Avram J. Holmes, Anouk den Braber, Iwona Kloszewska, Micael Andersson, Thomas Espeseth, Oliver Grimm, Lucija Abramovic, Saud Alhusaini, Yuri Milaneschi, Martina Papmeyer, Tomas Axelsson, Stefan Ehrlich, Roberto Roiz-Santiañez, Bernd Kraemer, Asta K. Håberg, Hannah J. Jones, G. Bruce Pike, Dan J. Stein, Allison Stevens, Janita Bralten, Meike W. Vernooij, Tamara B. Harris, Irina Filippi, A. Veronica Witte, Tulio Guadalupe, Katharina Wittfeld, Thomas H. Mosley, James T. Becker, Nhat Trung Doan, Saskia P. Hagenaars, Yasaman Saba, Gabriel Cuellar-Partida, Najaf Amin, Saima Hilal, Kwangsik Nho, Nazanin Mirza-Schreiber, Konstantinos Arfanakis, Diane M. Becker, David Ames, Aaron L. Goldman, Phil H. Lee, Dorret I. Boomsma, Simon Lovestone, Sudheer Giddaluru, Stephanie Le Hellard, Manuel Mattheisen, Marc M. Bohlken, Dalia Kasperaviciute, Lianne Schmaal, Stephen M. Lawrie, Ingrid Agartz, Esther Walton, Diana Tordesillas-Gutierrez, Gareth E. Davies, Jean Shin, Jonathan C. Ipser, Louis N. Vinke, Martine Hoogman, Tianye Jia, Ralph Burkhardt, Marieke Klein, Fabrice Crivello, Deborah Janowitz, Owen Carmichael, Unn K. Haukvik, Benjamin S. Aribisala, Helena Schmidt, Lachlan T. Strike, Ching-Yu Cheng, Shannon L. Risacher, Benno Pütz, Debra A. Fleischman, Amelia A. Assareh, Venkata S. Mattay, Randy L. Buckner, Patrizia Mecocci, Anders M. Dale, Sven Cichon, Marco P. Boks, Mar Matarin, Brenda W. J. H. Penninx, Vince D. Calhoun, M. Mallar Chakravarty, Andre F. Marquand, Christine Macare, Shahrzad Kharabian Masouleh, Jaap Oosterlaan, Philippe Amouyel, Katrin Hegenscheid, Jerome I. Rotter, Andrew J. Schork, David C. M. Liewald, Greig I. de Zubicaray, Tien Yin Wong, Li Shen, Philipp G. Sämann, Henry Brodaty, Joshua L. Roffman, Eco J. C. de Geus, Magda Tsolaki, Susanne Erk, Kristel R. van Eijk, Gianpiero L. Cavalleri, Nic J. A. van der Wee, Andrew M. McIntosh, Randy L. Gollub, Kazima B. Bulayeva, Manon Bernard, Jennifer S. Richards, Jayandra J. Himali, Markus Loeffler, Nanda Rommelse, Wolfgang Hoffmann, Lars T. Westlye, Maria C. Valdés Hernández, Narelle K. Hansell, Theo G. M. van Erp, Christiane Wolf, John B. J. Kwok, Bruno Vellas, Andreas Heinz, Loes M. Olde Loohuis, Norman Delanty, Beng-Choon Ho, Christopher R. K. Ching, Elena Shumskaya, Baljeet Singh, Albert Hofman, Dennis van der Meer, Georg Homuth, Bruce M. Psaty, Mark E. Bastin, Grant W. Montgomery, Tatiana M. Foroud, Simone Reppermund, Jouke-Jan Hottenga, Andrew Simmons, Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, Wiepke Cahn, Christopher D. Whelan, Marjolein M. J. van Donkelaar, Qiong Yang, Norbert Hosten, Robert C. Green, Anbupalam Thalamuthu, Sebastian Mohnke, Hilleke E. Hulshoff Pol, Honghuang Lin, Clifford R. Jack, Peter R. Schofield, Thomas W. Mühleisen, Pauline Maillard, Steven G. Potkin, Wei Wen, Evan Fletcher, Arthur W. Toga, Oliver Gruber, Matthew Huentelman, George Davey Smith, Lenore J. Launer, Lars Nyberg, Erik G. Jönsson, Benedicto Crespo-Facorro, Nastassja Koen, Douglas N. Greve, André G. Uitterlinden, Daniel R. Weinberger, Vidar M. Steen, Iryna O. Fedko, Nynke A. Groenewold, Wiro J. Niessen, Roberto Toro, Christophe Tzourio, William T. Longstreth, M. Kamran Ikram, Jordan W. Smoller, Marie-Jose van Tol, Jessika E. Sussmann, Tomas Paus, Hervé Lemaître, Matthias L. Schroeter, Bernard Mazoyer, Ole A. Andreassen, Florian Holsboer, Chantal Depondt, Dick J. Veltman, Jessica A. Turner, Zdenka Pausova, Gunter Schumann, Daan van Rooij, Srdjan Djurovic, Ian J. Deary, Katie L. McMahon, Bertram Müller-Myhsok, Rachel M. Brouwer, Hilkka Soininen, Massimo Pandolfo, Thomas H. Wassink, Joshua W. Cheung, Thomas Wolfers, Jean-Luc Martinot, Marcel P. Zwiers, Matthias Nauck, Ingrid Melle, Nicholas G. Martin, Ryota Kanai, Eric Westman, René S. Kahn, Sanjay M. Sisodiya, Tonya White, Arvin Saremi, Hans van Bokhoven, Han G. Brunner, Henry Völzke, Margaret J. Wright, Dennis van ’t Ent, Markus M. Nöthen, Roel A. Ophoff, Jan K. Buitelaar, Guillén Fernández, Perminder S. Sachdev, Marcella Rietschel, Neeltje E. M. van Haren, Simon E. Fisher, Alexa S. Beiser, Clyde Francks, Andrew J. Saykin, Karen A. Mather, Nina Romanczuk-Seiferth, Catharina A. Hartman, Anita L. DeStefano, Dirk J. Heslenfeld, Michael W. Weiner, Henrik Walter, Pieter J. Hoekstra, Paul A. Nyquist, Barbara Franke, David A. Bennett, Hans J. Grabe, Andrew D. Johnson, Christopher Chen, Cornelia M. van Duijn, Oscar L. Lopez, Myriam Fornage, Joanna M. Wardlaw, Reinhold Schmidt, Charles DeCarli, Philip L. de Jager, Arno Villringer, Stéphanie Debette, Vilmundur Gudnason, Sarah E. Medland, Joshua M. Shulman, Paul M. Thompson, Sudha Seshadri, M. Arfan Ikram

Date Published: 1st Nov 2019

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND The neuropeptide S receptor (NPSR1) and its ligand neuropeptide S (NPS) have received increased attention in the last few years, as both establish a previously unknown system of neuromodulation.. Animal research studies have suggested that NPS may be involved in arousal/wakefulness and may also have a crucial role in sleep regulation. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs324981 in NPSR1 has begun to shed light on a function of the NPS-system in human sleep regulation. Due to an amino acid exchange, the T-allele leads to an increased sensitivity of the NPSR1. In the only genome-wide association study to date on circadian sleep parameters in humans, an association was found between rs324981 and regular bedtime. However, the sleep parameters in this study were only measured by self-rating. Therefore, our study aimed to replicate these findings using an objective measure of sleep. METHODS The study included n = 393 white subjects (62-79 years) who participated in an actigraphic assessment for determining sleep duration, rest duration, sleep onset, rest onset and sleep onset latency. Genotyping of the SNP rs324981 was performed using the TaqMan OpenArray System. RESULTS The genotype at rs324981 was not significantly associated with rest onset (bedtime) or sleep onset (p = .146 and p = .199, respectively). However, the SNP showed a significant effect on sleep- and rest duration (p = .007 and p = .003, respectively). Subjects that were homozygous for the minor T-allele had a significantly decreased sleep- and rest duration compared to A-allele carriers. CONCLUSION The results of this study indicate that the sleep pattern in humans is influenced by the NPS-system. However, the previously reported association between bedtime and rs324981 could not be confirmed. The current finding of decreased sleep duration in T/T allele carriers is in accordance with studies in rodents reporting similar results after NPS application.

Authors: Janek Spada, Christian Sander, Ralph Burkhardt, Madlen Häntzsch, Roland Mergl, Markus Scholz, Ulrich Hegerl, Tilman Hensch

Date Published: 4th Jun 2014

Publication Type: Journal article

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)

OBJECTIVE To assess potential effects of variants in six lipid modulating genes (SORT1, HMGCR, MLXIPL, FADS2, APOE and MAFB) on early development of dyslipidemia independent of the degree of obesityy in children, we investigated their association with total (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) levels in 594 children. Furthermore, we evaluated the expression profile of the candidate genes during human adipocyte differentiation. RESULTS Expression of selected genes increased 101 to \textgreater104 fold during human adipocyte differentiation, suggesting a potential link with adipogenesis. In genetic association studies adjusted for age, BMI SDS and sex, we identified significant associations for rs599839 near SORT1 with TC and LDL-C and for rs4420638 near APOE with TC and LDL-C. We performed Bayesian modelling of the combined lipid phenotype of HDL-C, LDL-C and TG to identify potentially causal polygenic effects on this multi-dimensional phenotype and considering obesity, age and sex as a-priori modulating factors. This analysis confirmed that rs599839 and rs4420638 affect LDL-C. CONCLUSION We show that lipid modulating genes are dynamically regulated during adipogenesis and that variants near SORT1 and APOE influence lipid levels independent of obesity in children. Bayesian modelling suggests causal effects of these variants.   OBJECTIVE To assess potential effects of variants in six lipid modulating genes (SORT1, HMGCR, MLXIPL, FADS2, APOE and MAFB) on early development of dyslipidemia independent of the degree of obesity in children, we investigated their association with total (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) levels in 594 children. Furthermore, we evaluated the expression profile of the candidate genes during human adipocyte differentiation. RESULTS Expression of selected genes increased 10(1) to \textgreater10(4) fold during human adipocyte differentiation, suggesting a potential link with adipogenesis. In genetic association studies adjusted for age, BMI SDS and sex, we identified significant associations for rs599839 near SORT1 with TC and LDL-C and for rs4420638 near APOE with TC and LDL-C. We performed Bayesian modelling of the combined lipid phenotype of HDL-C, LDL-C and TG to identify potentially causal polygenic effects on this multi-dimensional phenotype and considering obesity, age and sex as a-priori modulating factors. This analysis confirmed that rs599839 and rs4420638 affect LDL-C. CONCLUSION We show that lipid modulating genes are dynamically regulated during adipogenesis and that variants near SORT1 and APOE influence lipid levels independent of obesity in children. Bayesian modelling suggests causal effects of these variants. //  OBJECTIVE To assess potential effects of variants in six lipid modulating genes (SORT1, HMGCR, MLXIPL, FADS2, APOE and MAFB) on early development of dyslipidemia independent of the degree of obesity in children, we investigated their association with total (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) levels in 594 children. Furthermore, we evaluated the expression profile of the candidate genes during human adipocyte differentiation. RESULTS Expression of selected genes increased 10(1) to \textgreater10(4) fold during human adipocyte differentiation, suggesting a potential link with adipogenesis. In genetic association studies adjusted for age, BMI SDS and sex, we identified significant associations for rs599839 near SORT1 with TC and LDL-C and for rs4420638 near APOE with TC and LDL-C. We performed Bayesian modelling of the combined lipid phenotype of HDL-C, LDL-C and TG to identify potentially causal polygenic effects on this multi-dimensional phenotype and considering obesity, age and sex as a-priori modulating factors. This analysis confirmed that rs599839 and rs4420638 affect LDL-C. CONCLUSION We show that lipid modulating genes are dynamically regulated during adipogenesis and that variants near SORT1 and APOE influence lipid levels independent of obesity in children. Bayesian modelling suggests causal effects of these variants.   OBJECTIVE To assess potential effects of variants in six lipid modulating genes (SORT1, HMGCR, MLXIPL, FADS2, APOE and MAFB) on early development of dyslipidemia independent of the degree of obesity in children, we investigated their association with total (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) levels in 594 children. Furthermore, we evaluated the expression profile of the candidate genes during human adipocyte differentiation. RESULTS Expression of selected genes increased 10(1) to \textgreater10(4) fold during human adipocyte differentiation, suggesting a potential link with adipogenesis. In genetic association studies adjusted for age, BMI SDS and sex, we identified significant associations for rs599839 near SORT1 with TC and LDL-C and for rs4420638 near APOE with TC and LDL-C. We performed Bayesian modelling of the combined lipid phenotype of HDL-C, LDL-C and TG to identify potentially causal polygenic effects on this multi-dimensional phenotype and considering obesity, age and sex as a-priori modulating factors. This analysis confirmed that rs599839 and rs4420638 affect LDL-C. CONCLUSION We show that lipid modulating genes are dynamically regulated during adipogenesis and that variants near SORT1 and APOE influence lipid levels independent of obesity in children. Bayesian modelling suggests causal effects of these variants. //  OBJECTIVE To assess potential effects of variants in six lipid modulating genes (SORT1, HMGCR, MLXIPL, FADS2, APOE and MAFB) on early development of dyslipidemia independent of the degree of obesity in children, we investigated their association with total (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) levels in 594 children. Furthermore, we evaluated the expression profile of the candidate genes during human adipocyte differentiation. RESULTS Expression of selected genes increased 10(1) to \textgreater10(4) fold during human adipocyte differentiation, suggesting a potential link with adipogenesis. In genetic association studies adjusted for age, BMI SDS and sex, we identified significant associations for rs599839 near SORT1 with TC and LDL-C and for rs4420638 near APOE with TC and LDL-C. We performed Bayesian modelling of the combined lipid phenotype of HDL-C, LDL-C and TG to identify potentially causal polygenic effects on this multi-dimensional phenotype and considering obesity, age and sex as a-priori modulating factors. This analysis confirmed that rs599839 and rs4420638 affect LDL-C. CONCLUSION We show that lipid modulating genes are dynamically regulated during adipogenesis and that variants near SORT1 and APOE influence lipid levels independent of obesity in children. Bayesian modelling suggests causal effects of these variants.

Authors: Clara Breitling, Arnd Gross, Petra Büttner, Sebastian Weise, Dorit Schleinitz, Wieland Kiess, Markus Scholz, Peter Kovacs, Antje Körner

Date Published: 16th Sep 2015

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

Cortical thickness, surface area and volumes vary with age and cognitive function, and in neurological and psychiatric diseases. Here we report heritability, genetic correlations and genome-wide associations of these cortical measures across the whole cortex, and in 34 anatomically predefined regions. Our discovery sample comprises 22,824 individuals from 20 cohorts within the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology (CHARGE) consortium and the UK Biobank. We identify genetic heterogeneity between cortical measures and brain regions, and 160 genome-wide significant associations pointing to wnt/beta-catenin, TGF-beta and sonic hedgehog pathways. There is enrichment for genes involved in anthropometric traits, hindbrain development, vascular and neurodegenerative disease and psychiatric conditions. These data are a rich resource for studies of the biological mechanisms behind cortical development and aging.

Authors: E. Hofer, G. V. Roshchupkin, H. H. H. Adams, M. J. Knol, H. Lin, S. Li, H. Zare, S. Ahmad, N. J. Armstrong, C. L. Satizabal, M. Bernard, J. C. Bis, N. A. Gillespie, M. Luciano, A. Mishra, M. Scholz, A. Teumer, R. Xia, X. Jian, T. H. Mosley, Y. Saba, L. Pirpamer, S. Seiler, J. T. Becker, O. Carmichael, J. I. Rotter, B. M. Psaty, O. L. Lopez, N. Amin, S. J. van der Lee, Q. Yang, J. J. Himali, P. Maillard, A. S. Beiser, C. DeCarli, S. Karama, L. Lewis, M. Harris, M. E. Bastin, I. J. Deary, A. Veronica Witte, F. Beyer, M. Loeffler, K. A. Mather, P. R. Schofield, A. Thalamuthu, J. B. Kwok, M. J. Wright, D. Ames, J. Trollor, J. Jiang, H. Brodaty, W. Wen, M. W. Vernooij, A. Hofman, A. G. Uitterlinden, W. J. Niessen, K. Wittfeld, R. Bulow, U. Volker, Z. Pausova, G. Bruce Pike, S. Maingault, F. Crivello, C. Tzourio, P. Amouyel, B. Mazoyer, M. C. Neale, C. E. Franz, M. J. Lyons, M. S. Panizzon, O. A. Andreassen, A. M. Dale, M. Logue, K. L. Grasby, N. Jahanshad, J. N. Painter, L. Colodro-Conde, J. Bralten, D. P. Hibar, P. A. Lind, F. Pizzagalli, J. L. Stein, P. M. Thompson, S. E. Medland, P. S. Sachdev, W. S. Kremen, J. M. Wardlaw, A. Villringer, C. M. van Duijn, H. J. Grabe, W. T. Jr Longstreth, M. Fornage, T. Paus, S. Debette, M. Arfan Ikram, H. Schmidt, R. Schmidt, S. Seshadri

Date Published: 22nd Sep 2020

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

Transcript co-expression is regulated by a combination of shared genetic and environmental factors. Here, we estimate the proportion of co-expression that is due to shared genetic variance. To do so, we estimated the genetic correlations between each pairwise combination of 2469 transcripts that are highly heritable and expressed in whole blood in 1748 unrelated individuals of European ancestry. We identify 556 pairs with a significant genetic correlation of which 77% are located on different chromosomes, and report 934 expression quantitative trait loci, identified in an independent cohort, with significant effects on both transcripts in a genetically correlated pair. We show significant enrichment for transcription factor control and physical proximity through chromatin interactions as possible mechanisms of shared genetic control. Finally, we construct networks of interconnected transcripts and identify their underlying biological functions. Using genetic correlations to investigate transcriptional co-regulation provides valuable insight into the nature of the underlying genetic architecture of gene regulation.Covariance of gene expression pairs is due to a combination of shared genetic and environmental factors. Here the authors estimate the genetic correlation between highly heritable pairs and identify transcription factor control and chromatin interactions as possible mechanisms of correlation.

Authors: Samuel W. Lukowski, Luke R. Lloyd-Jones, Alexander Holloway, Holger Kirsten, Gibran Hemani, Jian Yang, Kerrin Small, Jing Zhao, Andres Metspalu, Emmanouil T. Dermitzakis, Greg Gibson, Timothy D. Spector, Joachim Thiery, Markus Scholz, Grant W. Montgomery, Tonu Esko, Peter M. Visscher, Joseph E. Powell

Date Published: 1st Dec 2017

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

Phonological awareness is the best-validated predictor of reading and spelling skill and therefore highly relevant for developmental dyslexia. Prior imaging genetics studies link several dyslexia risk genes to either brain-functional or brain-structural factors of phonological deficits. However, coherent evidence for genetic associations with both functional and structural neural phenotypes underlying variation in phonological awareness has not yet been provided. Here we demonstrate that rs11100040, a reported modifier of SLC2A3, is related to the functional connectivity of left fronto-temporal phonological processing areas at resting state in a sample of 9- to 12-year-old children. Furthermore, we provide evidence that rs11100040 is related to the fractional anisotropy of the arcuate fasciculus, which forms the structural connection between these areas. This structural connectivity phenotype is associated with phonological awareness, which is in turn associated with the individual retrospective risk scores in an early dyslexia screening as well as to spelling. These results suggest a link between a dyslexia risk genotype and a functional as well as a structural neural phenotype, which is associated with a phonological awareness phenotype. The present study goes beyond previous work by integrating genetic, brain-functional and brain-structural aspects of phonological awareness within a single approach. These combined findings might be another step towards a multimodal biomarker for developmental dyslexia.

Authors: M. A. Skeide, H. Kirsten, I. Kraft, G. Schaadt, B. Muller, N. Neef, J. Brauer, A. Wilcke, F. Emmrich, J. Boltze, A. D. Friederici

Date Published: 17th Jun 2015

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: dyslexia

Abstract (Expand)

Sepsis is the dysregulated host response to an infection which leads to life-threatening organ dysfunction that varies by host genomic factors. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in 740 adult septic patients and focused on 28day mortality as outcome. Variants with suggestive evidence for an association (p\textless/=10-5) were validated in two additional GWA studies (n=3470) and gene coding regions related to the variants were assessed in an independent exome sequencing study (n=74). In the discovery GWAS, we identified 243 autosomal variants which clustered in 14 loci (p\textless/=10-5). The best association signal (rs117983287; p=8.16x10-8) was observed for a missense variant located at chromosome 9q21.2 in the VPS13A gene. VPS13A was further supported by additional GWAS (p=0.03) and sequencing data (p=0.04). Furthermore, CRISPLD2 (p=5.99x10-6) and a region on chromosome 13q21.33 (p=3.34x10-7) were supported by both our data and external biological evidence. We found 14 loci with suggestive evidence for an association with 28day mortality and found supportive, converging evidence for three of them in independent data sets. Elucidating the underlying biological mechanisms of VPS13A, CRISPLD2, and the chromosome 13 locus should be a focus of future research activities.   Sepsis is the dysregulated host response to an infection which leads to life-threatening organ dysfunction that varies by host genomic factors. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in 740 adult septic patients and focused on 28day mortality as outcome. Variants with suggestive evidence for an association (p\textless/=10-5) were validated in two additional GWA studies (n=3470) and gene coding regions related to the variants were assessed in an independent exome sequencing study (n=74). In the discovery GWAS, we identified 243 autosomal variants which clustered in 14 loci (p\textless/=10-5). The best association signal (rs117983287; p=8.16x10-8) was observed for a missense variant located at chromosome 9q21.2 in the VPS13A gene. VPS13A was further supported by additional GWAS (p=0.03) and sequencing data (p=0.04). Furthermore, CRISPLD2 (p=5.99x10-6) and a region on chromosome 13q21.33 (p=3.34x10-7) were supported by both our data and external biological evidence. We found 14 loci with suggestive evidence for an association with 28day mortality and found supportive, converging evidence for three of them in independent data sets. Elucidating the underlying biological mechanisms of VPS13A, CRISPLD2, and the chromosome 13 locus should be a focus of future research activities. //  Sepsis is the dysregulated host response to an infection which leads to life-threatening organ dysfunction that varies by host genomic factors. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in 740 adult septic patients and focused on 28day mortality as outcome. Variants with suggestive evidence for an association (p\textless/=10-5) were validated in two additional GWA studies (n=3470) and gene coding regions related to the variants were assessed in an independent exome sequencing study (n=74). In the discovery GWAS, we identified 243 autosomal variants which clustered in 14 loci (p\textless/=10-5). The best association signal (rs117983287; p=8.16x10-8) was observed for a missense variant located at chromosome 9q21.2 in the VPS13A gene. VPS13A was further supported by additional GWAS (p=0.03) and sequencing data (p=0.04). Furthermore, CRISPLD2 (p=5.99x10-6) and a region on chromosome 13q21.33 (p=3.34x10-7) were supported by both our data and external biological evidence. We found 14 loci with suggestive evidence for an association with 28day mortality and found supportive, converging evidence for three of them in independent data sets. Elucidating the underlying biological mechanisms of VPS13A, CRISPLD2, and the chromosome 13 locus should be a focus of future research activities.

Authors: Andre Scherag, Franziska Schoneweck, Miriam Kesselmeier, Stefan Taudien, Matthias Platzer, Marius Felder, Christoph Sponholz, Anna Rautanen, Adrian V. S. Hill, Charles J. Hinds, Hamid Hossain, Norbert Suttorp, Oliver Kurzai, Hortense Slevogt, Evangelos J. Giamarellos-Bourboulis, Apostolos Armaganidis, Evelyn Trips, Markus Scholz, Frank M. Brunkhorst

Date Published: 1st Oct 2016

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

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND\backslashr\backslashnPhytosterols are plant-derived sterols that are taken up from food and can serve as biomarkers of cholesterol uptake. Serum levels are under tight genetic control. We used a genomic approach to study the molecular regulation of serum phytosterol levels and potential links to coronary artery disease (CAD).\backslashr\backslashnMETHODS AND RESULTS\backslashr\backslashnA genome-wide association study for serum phytosterols (campesterol, sitosterol, brassicasterol) was conducted in a population-based sample from KORA (Cooperative Research in the Region of Augsburg) (n=1495) with subsequent replication in 2 additional samples (n=1157 and n=1760). Replicated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were tested for association with premature CAD in a metaanalysis of 11 different samples comprising 13 764 CAD cases and 13 630 healthy controls. Genetic variants in the ATP-binding hemitransporter ABCG8 and at the blood group ABO locus were significantly associated with serum phytosterols. Effects in ABCG8 were independently related to SNPs rs4245791 and rs41360247 (combined P=1.6 x 10(-50) and 6.2 x 10(-25), respectively; n=4412). Serum campesterol was elevated 12% for each rs4245791 T-allele. The same allele was associated with 40% decreased hepatic ABCG8 mRNA expression (P=0.009). Effects at the ABO locus were related to SNP rs657152 (combined P=9.4x10(-13)). Alleles of ABCG8 and ABO associated with elevated phytosterol levels displayed significant associations with increased CAD risk (rs4245791 odds ratio, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.14; P=2.2 x 10(-6); rs657152 odds ratio, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.19; P=9.4 x 10(-6)), whereas alleles at ABCG8 associated with reduced phytosterol levels were associated with reduced CAD risk (rs41360247 odds ratio, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.78 to 0.91; P=1.3 x 10(-5)).\backslashr\backslashnCONCLUSION\backslashr\backslashnCommon variants in ABCG8 and ABO are strongly associated with serum phytosterol levels and show concordant and previously unknown associations with CAD.

Authors: Daniel Teupser, Ronny Baber, Uta Ceglarek, Markus Scholz, Thomas Illig, Christian Gieger, Lesca Miriam Holdt, Alexander Leichtle, Karin H. Greiser, Dominik Huster, Patrick Linsel-Nitschke, Arne Schäfer, Peter S. Braund, Laurence Tiret, Klaus Stark, Dorette Raaz-Schrauder, Georg M. Fiedler, Wolfgang Wilfert, Frank Beutner, Stephan Gielen, Anika Grosshennig, Inke R. König, Peter Lichtner, Iris M. Heid, Alexander Kluttig, Nour E El Mokhtari, Diana Rubin, Arif B. Ekici, André Reis, Christoph D. Garlichs, Alistair S. Hall, Gert Matthes, Christian Wittekind, Christian Hengstenberg, Francois Cambien, Stefan Schreiber, Karl Werdan, Thomas Meitinger, Markus Loeffler, Nilesh J. Samani, Jeanette Erdmann, Heinz-Erich Wichmann, Heribert Schunkert, Joachim Thiery

Date Published: 1st Aug 2010

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

Dyslexia is characterized by impaired reading and spelling. The disorder has a prevalence of about 5% in Germany, and a strong hereditary component. Several loci are thought to be involved in the development of dyslexia. Scerri et al. identified eight potential dyslexia-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in seven genes on chromosome 18 in an English-speaking population. Here, we present an association analysis that explores the relevance of these SNPs in a German population comprising 388 dyslexia cases and 364 control cases. In case-control analysis, three nominal SNP associations were replicated. The major alleles of NEDD4L-rs12606138 and NEDD4L-rs8094327 were risk associated [odds ratio (OR) = 1.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.0-1.7, P-value = 0.017 and OR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.1-1.7, P-value = 0.007, respectively], and both SNPs were in strong linkage disequilibrium (r(2)  = 0.95). For MYO5B-rs555879, the minor allele was risk associated (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.1-1.6, P-value = 0.011). The combined analysis of SNP sets using set enrichment analysis revealed a study-wide significant association for three SNPs with susceptibility for dyslexia. In summary, our results substantiate genetic markers in NEDD4L and MYO5B as risk factors for dyslexia and provide first evidence that the relevance of these markers is not restricted to the English language.

Authors: B. Mueller, P. Ahnert, J. Burkhardt, J. Brauer, I. Czepezauer, E. Quente, J. Boltze, A. Wilcke, H. Kirsten

Date Published: 1st Mar 2014

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: Holger Kirsten, Markus Scholz, Peter Kovacs, Harald Grallert, Annette Peters, Konstantin Strauch, Josef Frank, Marcella Rietschel, Markus M. Nöthen, Heiko Witt, Jonas Rosendahl

Date Published: 8th Dec 2015

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND\backslashr\backslashnGenome-wide scans of hundreds of thousands of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have resulted in the identification of new susceptibility variants to common diseases and are providing new insights into the genetic structure and relationships of human populations. Moreover, genome-wide data can be used to search for signals of recent positive selection, thereby providing new insights into the genetic adaptations that occurred as modern humans spread out of Africa and around the world.\backslashr\backslashnMETHODOLOGY\backslashr\backslashnWe genotyped approximately 500,000 SNPs in 255 individuals (5 individuals from each of 51 worldwide populations) from the Human Genome Diversity Panel (HGDP-CEPH). When merged with non-overlapping SNPs typed previously in 250 of these same individuals, the resulting data consist of over 950,000 SNPs. We then analyzed the genetic relationships and ancestry of individuals without assigning them to populations, and we also identified candidate regions of recent positive selection at both the population and regional (continental) level.\backslashr\backslashnCONCLUSIONS\backslashr\backslashnOur analyses both confirm and extend previous studies; in particular, we highlight the impact of various dispersals, and the role of substructure in Africa, on human genetic diversity. We also identified several novel candidate regions for recent positive selection, and a gene ontology (GO) analysis identified several GO groups that were significantly enriched for such candidate genes, including immunity and defense related genes, sensory perception genes, membrane proteins, signal receptors, lipid binding/metabolism genes, and genes involved in the nervous system. Among the novel candidate genes identified are two genes involved in the thyroid hormone pathway that show signals of selection in African Pygmies that may be related to their short stature.

Authors: David López Herráez, Marc Bauchet, Kun Tang, Christoph Theunert, Irina Pugach, Jing Li, Madhusudan R. Nandineni, Arnd Gross, Markus Scholz, Mark Stoneking

Date Published: 18th Nov 2009

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

Population isolates have long been of interest to genetic epidemiologists because of their potential to increase power to detect disease-causing genetic variants. The Sorbs of Germany are considered as cultural and linguistic isolates and have recently been the focus of disease association mapping efforts. They are thought to have settled in their present location in eastern Germany after a westward migration from a largely Slavic-speaking territory during the Middle Ages. To examine Sorbian genetic diversity within the context of other European populations, we analyzed genotype data for over 30 000 autosomal single-nucleotide polymorphisms from over 200 Sorbs individuals. We compare the Sorbs with other European individuals, including samples from population isolates. Despite their geographical proximity to German speakers, the Sorbs showed greatest genetic similarity to Polish and Czech individuals, consistent with the linguistic proximity of Sorbian to other West Slavic languages. The Sorbs also showed evidence of subtle levels of genetic isolation in comparison with samples from non-isolated European populations. The level of genetic isolation was less than that observed for the Sardinians and French Basque, who were clear outliers on multiple measures of isolation. The finding of the Sorbs as only a minor genetic isolate demonstrates the need to genetically characterize putative population isolates, as they possess a wide range of levels of isolation because of their different demographic histories.

Authors: Krishna R. Veeramah, Anke Tönjes, Peter Kovacs, Arnd Gross, Daniel Wegmann, Patrick Geary, Daniela Gasperikova, Iwar Klimes, Markus Scholz, John Novembre, Michael Stumvoll

Date Published: 1st Sep 2011

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)

Coronary artery disease (CAD) has a complex etiology involving numerous environmental and genetic factors of disease risk. To date, the genetic 9p21 locus represents the most robust genetic finding for prevalent and incident CAD. However, limited information is available on the genetic background of the severity and distribution of CAD. CAD manifests itself as stable CAD or acute coronary syndrome. The Gensini score quantifies the extent CAD but requires coronary angiography. Here, we aimed to identify novel genetic variants associated with Gensini score severity and distribution of CAD. A two-stage approach including a discovery and a replication stage was used to assess genetic variants. In the discovery phase, a meta-analysis of genome-wide association data of 4,930 CAD-subjects assessed by the Gensini score was performed. Selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were replicated in 2,283 CAD-subjects by de novo genotyping. We identified genetic loci located on chromosome 2 and 9 to be associated with Gensini score severity and distribution of CAD in the discovery stage. Although the loci on chromosome 2 could not be replicated in the second stage, the known CAD-locus on chromosome 9p21, represented by rs133349, was identified and, thus, was confirmed as risk locus for CAD severity.

Authors: Tanja Zeller, Moritz Seiffert, Christian Müller, Markus Scholz, Anna Schäffer, Francisco Ojeda, Heinz Drexel, Axel Mündlein, Marcus E. Kleber, Winfried März, Christoph Sinning, Fabian J. Brunner, Christoph Waldeyer, Till Keller, Christoph H. Saely, Karsten Sydow, Joachim Thiery, Daniel Teupser, Stefan Blankenberg, Renate Schnabel

Date Published: 20th Sep 2017

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

The genetic basis of sleep is still poorly understood. Despite the moderate to high heritability of sleep-related phenotypes, known genetic variants explain only a small proportion of the phenotypical variance. However, most previous studies were based solely upon self-report measures. The present study aimed to conduct the first genome-wide association (GWA) of actigraphic sleep phenotypes. The analyses included 956 middle- to older-aged subjects (40-79 years) from the LIFE Adult Study. The SenseWear Pro 3 Armband was used to collect 11 actigraphic parameters of night- and daytime sleep and three parameters of rest (lying down). The parameters comprised measures of sleep timing, quantity and quality. A total of 7 141 204 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were analysed after imputation and quality control. We identified several variants below the significance threshold of P </= 5x 10(-8) (not corrected for analysis of multiple traits). The most significant was a hit near UFL1 associated with sleep efficiency on weekdays (P = 1.39 x 10(-8) ). Further SNPs were close to significance, including an association between sleep latency and a variant in CSNK2A1 (P = 8.20 x 10(-8) ), a gene known to be involved in the regulation of circadian rhythm. In summary, our GWAS identified novel candidate genes with biological plausibility being promising candidates for replication and further follow-up studies.

Authors: J. Spada, M. Scholz, H. Kirsten, T. Hensch, K. Horn, P. Jawinski, C. Ulke, R. Burkhardt, K. Wirkner, M. Loeffler, U. Hegerl, C. Sander

Date Published: 30th Apr 2016

Publication Type: Journal article

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 (Expand)

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified more than 170 breast cancer susceptibility loci. Here we hypothesize that some risk-associated variants might act in non-breast tissues, specifically adipose tissue and immune cells from blood and spleen. Using expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) reported in these tissues, we identify 26 previously unreported, likely target genes of overall breast cancer risk variants, and 17 for estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer, several with a known immune function. We determine the directional effect of gene expression on disease risk measured based on single and multiple eQTL. In addition, using a gene-based test of association that considers eQTL from multiple tissues, we identify seven (and four) regions with variants associated with overall (and ER-negative) breast cancer risk, which were not reported in previous GWAS. Further investigation of the function of the implicated genes in breast and immune cells may provide insights into the etiology of breast cancer.

Authors: Manuel A. Ferreira, Eric R. Gamazon, Fares Al-Ejeh, Kristiina Aittomäki, Irene L. Andrulis, Hoda Anton-Culver, Adalgeir Arason, Volker Arndt, Kristan J. Aronson, Banu K. Arun, Ella Asseryanis, Jacopo Azzollini, Judith Balmaña, Daniel R. Barnes, Daniel Barrowdale, Matthias W. Beckmann, Sabine Behrens, Javier Benitez, Marina Bermisheva, Katarzyna Białkowska, Carl Blomqvist, Natalia V. Bogdanova, Stig E. Bojesen, Manjeet K. Bolla, Ake Borg, Hiltrud Brauch, Hermann Brenner, Annegien Broeks, Barbara Burwinkel, Trinidad Caldés, Maria A. Caligo, Daniele Campa, Ian Campbell, Federico Canzian, Jonathan Carter, Brian D. Carter, Jose E. Castelao, Jenny Chang-Claude, Stephen J. Chanock, Hans Christiansen, Wendy K. Chung, Kathleen B. M. Claes, Christine L. Clarke, Fergus J. Couch, Angela Cox, Simon S. Cross, Kamila Czene, Mary B. Daly, Miguel de La Hoya, Joe Dennis, Peter Devilee, Orland Diez, Thilo Dörk, Alison M. Dunning, Miriam Dwek, Diana M. Eccles, Bent Ejlertsen, Carolina Ellberg, Christoph Engel, Mikael Eriksson, Peter A. Fasching, Olivia Fletcher, Henrik Flyger, Eitan Friedman, Debra Frost, Marike Gabrielson, Manuela Gago-Dominguez, Patricia A. Ganz, Susan M. Gapstur, Judy Garber, Montserrat García-Closas, José A. García-Sáenz, Mia M. Gaudet, Graham G. Giles, Gord Glendon, Andrew K. Godwin, Mark S. Goldberg, David E. Goldgar, Anna González-Neira, Mark H. Greene, Jacek Gronwald, Pascal Guénel, Christopher A. Haiman, Per Hall, Ute Hamann, Wei He, Jane Heyworth, Frans B. L. Hogervorst, Antoinette Hollestelle, Robert N. Hoover, John L. Hopper, Peter J. Hulick, Keith Humphreys, Evgeny N. Imyanitov, Claudine Isaacs, Milena Jakimovska, Anna Jakubowska, Paul A. James, Ramunas Janavicius, Rachel C. Jankowitz, Esther M. John, Nichola Johnson, Vijai Joseph, Beth Y. Karlan, Elza Khusnutdinova, Johanna I. Kiiski, Yon-Dschun Ko, Michael E. Jones, Irene Konstantopoulou, Vessela N. Kristensen, Yael Laitman, Diether Lambrechts, Conxi Lazaro, Goska Leslie, Jenny Lester, Fabienne Lesueur, Sara Lindström, Jirong Long, Jennifer T. Loud, Jan Lubiński, Enes Makalic, Arto Mannermaa, Mehdi Manoochehri, Sara Margolin, Tabea Maurer, Dimitrios Mavroudis, Lesley McGuffog, Alfons Meindl, Usha Menon, Kyriaki Michailidou, Austin Miller, Marco Montagna, Fernando Moreno, Lidia Moserle, Anna Marie Mulligan, Katherine L. Nathanson, Susan L. Neuhausen, Heli Nevanlinna, Ines Nevelsteen, Finn C. Nielsen, Liene Nikitina-Zake, Robert L. Nussbaum, Kenneth Offit, Edith Olah, Olufunmilayo I. Olopade, Håkan Olsson, Ana Osorio, Janos Papp, Tjoung-Won Park-Simon, Michael T. Parsons, Inge Sokilde Pedersen, Ana Peixoto, Paolo Peterlongo, Paul D. P. Pharoah, Dijana Plaseska-Karanfilska, Bruce Poppe, Nadege Presneau, Paolo Radice, Johanna Rantala, Gad Rennert, Harvey A. Risch, Emmanouil Saloustros, Kristin Sanden, Elinor J. Sawyer, Marjanka K. Schmidt, Rita K. Schmutzler, Priyanka Sharma, Xiao-Ou Shu, Jacques Simard, Christian F. Singer, Penny Soucy, Melissa C. Southey, John J. Spinelli, Amanda B. Spurdle, Jennifer Stone, Anthony J. Swerdlow, William J. Tapper, Jack A. Taylor, Manuel R. Teixeira, Mary Beth Terry, Alex Teulé, Mads Thomassen, Kathrin Thöne, Darcy L. Thull, Marc Tischkowitz, Amanda E. Toland, Diana Torres, Thérèse Truong, Nadine Tung, Celine M. Vachon, Christi J. van Asperen, Ans M. W. van den Ouweland, Elizabeth J. van Rensburg, Ana Vega, Alessandra Viel, Qin Wang, Barbara Wappenschmidt, Jeffrey N. Weitzel, Camilla Wendt, Robert Winqvist, Xiaohong R. Yang, Drakoulis Yannoukakos, Argyrios Ziogas, Peter Kraft, Antonis C. Antoniou, Wei Zheng, Douglas F. Easton, Roger L. Milne, Jonathan Beesley, Georgia Chenevix-Trench

Date Published: 1st Dec 2019

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome

Abstract (Expand)

Increased levels of the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) are associated with higher risk of kidney disease progression and cardiovascular events, but underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Here, we conduct trans-ethnic (n = 564,257) and European-ancestry specific meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies of UACR, including ancestry- and diabetes-specific analyses, and identify 68 UACR-associated loci. Genetic correlation analyses and risk score associations in an independent electronic medical records database (n = 192,868) reveal connections with proteinuria, hyperlipidemia, gout, and hypertension. Fine-mapping and trans-Omics analyses with gene expression in 47 tissues and plasma protein levels implicate genes potentially operating through differential expression in kidney (including TGFB1, MUC1, PRKCI, and OAF), and allow coupling of UACR associations to altered plasma OAF concentrations. Knockdown of OAF and PRKCI orthologs in Drosophila nephrocytes reduces albumin endocytosis. Silencing fly PRKCI further impairs slit diaphragm formation. These results generate a priority list of genes and pathways for translational research to reduce albuminuria.

Authors: Alexander Teumer, Yong Li, Sahar Ghasemi, Bram P. Prins, Matthias Wuttke, Tobias Hermle, Ayush Giri, Karsten B. Sieber, Chengxiang Qiu, Holger Kirsten, Adrienne Tin, Audrey Y. Chu, Nisha Bansal, Mary F. Feitosa, Lihua Wang, Jin-Fang Chai, Massimiliano Cocca, Christian Fuchsberger, Mathias Gorski, Anselm Hoppmann, Katrin Horn, Man Li, Jonathan Marten, Damia Noce, Teresa Nutile, Sanaz Sedaghat, Gardar Sveinbjornsson, Bamidele O. Tayo, Peter J. van der Most, Yizhe Xu, Zhi Yu, Lea Gerstner, Johan Ärnlöv, Stephan J. L. Bakker, Daniela Baptista, Mary L. Biggs, Eric Boerwinkle, Hermann Brenner, Ralph Burkhardt, Robert J. Carroll, Miao-Li Chee, Miao-Ling Chee, Mengmeng Chen, Ching-Yu Cheng, James P. Cook, Josef Coresh, Tanguy Corre, John Danesh, Martin H. de Borst, Alessandro de Grandi, Renée de Mutsert, Aiko P. J. de Vries, Frauke Degenhardt, Katalin Dittrich, Jasmin Divers, Kai-Uwe Eckardt, Georg Ehret, Karlhans Endlich, Janine F. Felix, Oscar H. Franco, Andre Franke, Barry I. Freedman, Sandra Freitag-Wolf, Ron T. Gansevoort, Vilmantas Giedraitis, Martin Gögele, Franziska Grundner-Culemann, Daniel F. Gudbjartsson, Vilmundur Gudnason, Pavel Hamet, Tamara B. Harris, Andrew A. Hicks, Hilma Holm, Valencia Hui Xian Foo, Shih-Jen Hwang, M. Arfan Ikram, Erik Ingelsson, Vincent W. V. Jaddoe, Johanna Jakobsdottir, Navya Shilpa Josyula, Bettina Jung, Mika Kähönen, Chiea-Chuen Khor, Wieland Kiess, Wolfgang Koenig, Antje Körner, Peter Kovacs, Holly Kramer, Bernhard K. Krämer, Florian Kronenberg, Leslie A. Lange, Carl D. Langefeld, Jeannette Jen-Mai Lee, Terho Lehtimäki, Wolfgang Lieb, Su-Chi Lim, Lars Lind, Cecilia M. Lindgren, Jianjun Liu, Markus Loeffler, Leo-Pekka Lyytikäinen, Anubha Mahajan, Joseph C. Maranville, Deborah Mascalzoni, Barbara McMullen, Christa Meisinger, Thomas Meitinger, Kozeta Miliku, Dennis O. Mook-Kanamori, Martina Müller-Nurasyid, Josyf C. Mychaleckyj, Matthias Nauck, Kjell Nikus, Boting Ning, Raymond Noordam, Jeffrey O’ Connell, Isleifur Olafsson, Nicholette D. Palmer, Annette Peters, Anna I. Podgornaia, Belen Ponte, Tanja Poulain, Peter P. Pramstaller, Ton J. Rabelink, Laura M. Raffield, Dermot F. Reilly, Rainer Rettig, Myriam Rheinberger, Kenneth M. Rice, Fernando Rivadeneira, Heiko Runz, Kathleen A. Ryan, Charumathi Sabanayagam, Kai-Uwe Saum, Ben Schöttker, Christian M. Shaffer, Yuan Shi, Albert V. Smith, Konstantin Strauch, Michael Stumvoll, Benjamin B. Sun, Silke Szymczak, E-Shyong Tai, Nicholas Y. Q. Tan, Kent D. Taylor, Andrej Teren, Yih-Chung Tham, Joachim Thiery, Chris H. L. Thio, Hauke Thomsen, Unnur Thorsteinsdottir, Anke Tönjes, Johanne Tremblay, André G. Uitterlinden, Pim van der Harst, Niek Verweij, Suzanne Vogelezang, Uwe Völker, Melanie Waldenberger, Chaolong Wang, Otis D. Wilson, Charlene Wong, Tien-Yin Wong, Qiong Yang, Masayuki Yasuda, Shreeram Akilesh, Murielle Bochud, Carsten A. Böger, Olivier Devuyst, Todd L. Edwards, Kevin Ho, Andrew P. Morris, Afshin Parsa, Sarah A. Pendergrass, Bruce M. Psaty, Jerome I. Rotter, Kari Stefansson, James G. Wilson, Katalin Susztak, Harold Snieder, Iris M. Heid, Markus Scholz, Adam S. Butterworth, Adriana M. Hung, Cristian Pattaro, Anna Köttgen

Date Published: 1st Dec 2019

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND Advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness. While around half of the genetic contribution to advanced AMD has been uncovered, little is known about the genetic architecture of early AMD. METHODS To identify genetic factors for early AMD, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis (14,034 cases, 91,214 controls, 11 sources of data including the International AMD Genomics Consortium, IAMDGC, and UK Biobank, UKBB). We ascertained early AMD via color fundus photographs by manual grading for 10 sources and via an automated machine learning approach for > 170,000 photographs from UKBB. We searched for early AMD loci via GWAS and via a candidate approach based on 14 previously suggested early AMD variants. RESULTS Altogether, we identified 10 independent loci with statistical significance for early AMD: (i) 8 from our GWAS with genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10- 8), (ii) one previously suggested locus with experiment-wise significance (P < 0.05/14) in our non-overlapping data and with genome-wide significance when combining the reported and our non-overlapping data (together 17,539 cases, 105,395 controls), and (iii) one further previously suggested locus with experiment-wise significance in our non-overlapping data. Of these 10 identified loci, 8 were novel and 2 known for early AMD. Most of the 10 loci overlapped with known advanced AMD loci (near ARMS2/HTRA1, CFH, C2, C3, CETP, TNFRSF10A, VEGFA, APOE), except two that have not yet been identified with statistical significance for any AMD. Among the 17 genes within these two loci, in-silico functional annotation suggested CD46 and TYR as the most likely responsible genes. Presence or absence of an early AMD effect distinguished the known pathways of advanced AMD genetics (complement/lipid pathways versus extracellular matrix metabolism). CONCLUSIONS Our GWAS on early AMD identified novel loci, highlighted shared and distinct genetics between early and advanced AMD and provides insights into AMD etiology. Our data provide a resource comparable in size to the existing IAMDGC data on advanced AMD genetics enabling a joint view. The biological relevance of this joint view is underscored by the ability of early AMD effects to differentiate the major pathways for advanced AMD.

Authors: Thomas W. Winkler, Felix Grassmann, Caroline Brandl, Christina Kiel, Felix Günther, Tobias Strunz, Lorraine Weidner, Martina E. Zimmermann, Christina A. Korb, Alicia Poplawski, Alexander K. Schuster, Martina Müller-Nurasyid, Annette Peters, Franziska G. Rauscher, Tobias Elze, Katrin Horn, Markus Scholz, Marisa Cañadas-Garre, Amy Jayne McKnight, Nicola Quinn, Ruth E. Hogg, Helmut Küchenhoff, Iris M. Heid, Klaus J. Stark, Bernhard H. F. Weber

Date Published: 1st Dec 2020

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

Registry-based epidemiologic studies suggest associations between chronic inflammatory intestinal diseases and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). As genetic susceptibility contributes to a large proportion of chronic inflammatory intestinal diseases, we hypothesize that the genomic regions surrounding established genome-wide associated variants for these chronic inflammatory diseases are associated with PDAC. We examined the association between PDAC and genomic regions (+/- 500 kb) surrounding established common susceptibility variants for ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, chronic pancreatitis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis. We analyzed summary statistics from genome-wide association studies data for 8,384 cases and 11,955 controls of European descent from two large consortium studies using the summary data-based adaptive rank truncated product method to examine the overall association of combined genomic regions for each inflammatory disease group. Combined genomic susceptibility regions for ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and chronic pancreatitis were associated with PDAC at P-values \textless 0.05 (0.0040, 0.0057, 0.011, and 3.4 \times 10-6, respectively). After excluding the 20 PDAC susceptibility regions (+/- 500 kb) previously identified by GWAS, the genomic regions for ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and inflammatory bowel disease remained associated with PDAC (P-values = 0.0029, 0.0057, and 0.0098, respectively). Genomic regions for celiac disease (P-value = 0.22) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (P-value = 0.078) were not associated with PDAC. Our results support the hypothesis that genomic regions surrounding variants associated with inflammatory intestinal diseases, particularly, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and chronic pancreatitis are associated with PDAC.

Authors: Fangcheng Yuan, Rayjean J. Hung, Naomi Walsh, Han Zhang, Elizabeth A. Platz, William Wheeler, Lei Song, Alan A. Arslan, Laura E. Beane Freeman, Paige Bracci, Federico Canzian, Mengmeng Du, Steven Gallinger, Graham G. Giles, Phyllis J. Goodman, Charles Kooperberg, Loic Le Marchand, Rachel E. Neale, Jonas Rosendahl, Ghislaine Scelo, Xiao-Ou Shu, Kala Visvanathan, Emily White, Wei Zheng, Demetrius Albanes, Pilar Amiano, Gabriella Andreotti, Ana Babic, William R. Bamlet, Sonja I. Berndt, Paul Brennan, Bas Bueno-de-Mesquita, Julie E. Buring, Peter T. Campbell, Stephen J. Chanock, Charles S. Fuchs, J. Michael Gaziano, Michael G. Goggins, Thilo Hackert, Patricia Hartge, Manal M. Hassan, Elizabeth A. Holly, Robert N. Hoover, Verena Katzke, Holger Kirsten, Robert C. Kurtz, I-Min Lee, Nuria Malats, Roger Milne, Neil Murphy, Kimmie Ng, Ann L. Oberg, Miquel Porta, Kari G. Rabe, Francisco X. Real, Nathaniel Rothman, Howard D. Sesso, Debra T. Silverman, Ian M. Thompson, Jean Wactawski-Wende, Xiaoliang Wang, Nicolas Wentzensen, Lynne R. Wilkens, Herbert Yu, Anne Zeleniuch-Jacquotte, Jianxin Shi, Eric J. Duell, Laufey T. Amundadottir, Donghui Li, Gloria M. Petersen, Brian M. Wolpin, Harvey A. Risch, Kai Yu, Alison P. Klein, Rachael Stolzenberg-Solomon

Date Published: 15th Sep 2020

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: Christopher J. Walker, Christopher C. Oakes, Luke K. Genutis, Brian Giacopelli, Sandya Liyanarachchi, Deedra Nicolet, Ann-Kathrin Eisfeld, Markus Scholz, Pamela Brock, Jessica Kohlschmidt, Krzysztof Mrózek, Marius Bill, Andrew J. Carroll, Jonathan E. Kolitz, Bayard L. Powell, Eunice S. Wang, Dietger W. Niederwieser, Richard M. Stone, John C. Byrd, Sebastian Schwind, Albert de La Chapelle, Clara D. Bloomfield

Date Published: 1st Mar 2019

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

OBJECTIVE: Alcohol-related pancreatitis is associated with a disproportionately large number of hospitalisations among GI disorders. Despite its clinical importance, genetic susceptibility to alcoholic chronic pancreatitis (CP) is poorly characterised. To identify risk genes for alcoholic CP and to evaluate their relevance in non-alcoholic CP, we performed a genome-wide association study and functional characterisation of a new pancreatitis locus. DESIGN: 1959 European alcoholic CP patients and population-based controls from the KORA, LIFE and INCIPE studies (n=4708) as well as chronic alcoholics from the GESGA consortium (n=1332) were screened with Illumina technology. For replication, three European cohorts comprising 1650 patients with non-alcoholic CP and 6695 controls originating from the same countries were used. RESULTS: We replicated previously reported risk loci CLDN2-MORC4, CTRC, PRSS1-PRSS2 and SPINK1 in alcoholic CP patients. We identified CTRB1-CTRB2 (chymotrypsin B1 and B2) as a new risk locus with lead single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs8055167 (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.6). We found that a 16.6 kb inversion in the CTRB1-CTRB2 locus was in linkage disequilibrium with the CP-associated SNPs and was best tagged by rs8048956. The association was replicated in three independent European non-alcoholic CP cohorts of 1650 patients and 6695 controls (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.42 to 1.86). The inversion changes the expression ratio of the CTRB1 and CTRB2 isoforms and thereby affects protective trypsinogen degradation and ultimately pancreatitis risk. CONCLUSION: An inversion in the CTRB1-CTRB2 locus modifies risk for alcoholic and non-alcoholic CP indicating that common pathomechanisms are involved in these inflammatory disorders.

Authors: J. Rosendahl, H. Kirsten, E. Hegyi, P. Kovacs, F. U. Weiss, H. Laumen, P. Lichtner, C. Ruffert, J. M. Chen, E. Masson, S. Beer, C. Zimmer, K. Seltsam, H. Algul, F. Buhler, M. J. Bruno, P. Bugert, R. Burkhardt, G. M. Cavestro, H. Cichoz-Lach, A. Farre, J. Frank, G. Gambaro, S. Gimpfl, H. Grallert, H. Griesmann, R. Grutzmann, C. Hellerbrand, P. Hegyi, M. Hollenbach, S. Iordache, G. Jurkowska, V. Keim, F. Kiefer, S. Krug, O. Landt, M. D. Leo, M. M. Lerch, P. Levy, M. Loffler, M. Lohr, M. Ludwig, M. Macek, N. Malats, E. Malecka-Panas, G. Malerba, K. Mann, J. Mayerle, S. Mohr, R. H. M. Te Morsche, M. Motyka, S. Mueller, T. Muller, M. M. Nothen, S. Pedrazzoli, S. P. Pereira, A. Peters, R. Pfutzer, F. X. Real, V. Rebours, M. Ridinger, M. Rietschel, E. Rosmann, A. Saftoiu, A. Schneider, H. U. Schulz, N. Soranzo, M. Soyka, P. Simon, J. Skipworth, F. Stickel, K. Strauch, M. Stumvoll, P. A. Testoni, A. Tonjes, L. Werner, J. Werner, N. Wodarz, M. Ziegler, A. Masamune, J. Mossner, C. Ferec, P. Michl, J. P H Drenth, H. Witt, M. Scholz, M. Sahin-Toth

Date Published: 30th Jul 2017

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

BRCA1-associated breast and ovarian cancer risks can be modified by common genetic variants. To identify further cancer risk-modifying loci, we performed a multi-stage GWAS of 11,705 BRCA1 carriers (of whom 5,920 were diagnosed with breast and 1,839 were diagnosed with ovarian cancer), with a further replication in an additional sample of 2,646 BRCA1 carriers. We identified a novel breast cancer risk modifier locus at 1q32 for BRCA1 carriers (rs2290854, P = 2.7 \times 10(-8), HR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.09-1.20). In addition, we identified two novel ovarian cancer risk modifier loci: 17q21.31 (rs17631303, P = 1.4 \times 10(-8), HR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.17-1.38) and 4q32.3 (rs4691139, P = 3.4 \times 10(-8), HR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.17-1.38). The 4q32.3 locus was not associated with ovarian cancer risk in the general population or BRCA2 carriers, suggesting a BRCA1-specific association. The 17q21.31 locus was also associated with ovarian cancer risk in 8,211 BRCA2 carriers (P = 2\times10(-4)). These loci may lead to an improved understanding of the etiology of breast and ovarian tumors in BRCA1 carriers. Based on the joint distribution of the known BRCA1 breast cancer risk-modifying loci, we estimated that the breast cancer lifetime risks for the 5% of BRCA1 carriers at lowest risk are 28%-50% compared to 81%-100% for the 5% at highest risk. Similarly, based on the known ovarian cancer risk-modifying loci, the 5% of BRCA1 carriers at lowest risk have an estimated lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer of 28% or lower, whereas the 5% at highest risk will have a risk of 63% or higher. Such differences in risk may have important implications for risk prediction and clinical management for BRCA1 carriers.

Authors: Fergus J. Couch, Xianshu Wang, Lesley McGuffog, Andrew Lee, Curtis Olswold, Karoline B. Kuchenbaecker, Penny Soucy, Zachary Fredericksen, Daniel Barrowdale, Joe Dennis, Mia M. Gaudet, Ed Dicks, Matthew Kosel, Sue Healey, Olga M. Sinilnikova, Adam Lee, François Bacot, Daniel Vincent, Frans B. L. Hogervorst, Susan Peock, Dominique Stoppa-Lyonnet, Anna Jakubowska, Paolo Radice, Rita Katharina Schmutzler, Susan M. Domchek, Marion Piedmonte, Christian F. Singer, Eitan Friedman, Mads Thomassen, Thomas v. O. Hansen, Susan L. Neuhausen, Csilla I. Szabo, Ignacio Blanco, Mark H. Greene, Beth Y. Karlan, Judy Garber, Catherine M. Phelan, Jeffrey N. Weitzel, Marco Montagna, Edith Olah, Irene L. Andrulis, Andrew K. Godwin, Drakoulis Yannoukakos, David E. Goldgar, Trinidad Caldes, Heli Nevanlinna, Ana Osorio, Mary Beth Terry, Mary B. Daly, Elizabeth J. van Rensburg, Ute Hamann, Susan J. Ramus, Amanda Ewart Toland, Maria A. Caligo, Olufunmilayo I. Olopade, Nadine Tung, Kathleen Claes, Mary S. Beattie, Melissa C. Southey, Evgeny N. Imyanitov, Marc Tischkowitz, Ramunas Janavicius, Esther M. John, Ava Kwong, Orland Diez, Judith Balmaña, Rosa B. Barkardottir, Banu K. Arun, Gad Rennert, Soo-Hwang Teo, Patricia A. Ganz, Ian Campbell, Annemarie H. van der Hout, Carolien H. M. van Deurzen, Caroline Seynaeve, Encarna B. Gómez Garcia, Flora E. van Leeuwen, Hanne E. J. Meijers-Heijboer, Johannes J. P. Gille, Margreet G. E. M. Ausems, Marinus J. Blok, Marjolijn J. L. Ligtenberg, Matti A. Rookus, Peter Devilee, Senno Verhoef, Theo A. M. van Os, Juul T. Wijnen, Debra Frost, Steve Ellis, Elena Fineberg, Radka Platte, D. Gareth Evans, Louise Izatt, Rosalind A. Eeles, Julian Adlard, Diana M. Eccles, Jackie Cook, Carole Brewer, Fiona Douglas, Shirley Hodgson, Patrick J. Morrison, Lucy E. Side, Alan Donaldson, Catherine Houghton, Mark T. Rogers, Huw Dorkins, Jacqueline Eason, Helen Gregory, Emma McCann, Alex Murray, Alain Calender, Agnès Hardouin, Pascaline Berthet, Capucine Delnatte, Catherine Nogues, Christine Lasset, Claude Houdayer, Dominique Leroux, Etienne Rouleau, Fabienne Prieur, Francesca Damiola, Hagay Sobol, Isabelle Coupier, Laurence Venat-Bouvet, Laurent Castera, Marion Gauthier-Villars, Mélanie Léoné, Pascal Pujol, Sylvie Mazoyer, Yves-Jean Bignon, Elżbieta Złowocka-Perłowska, Jacek Gronwald, Jan Lubinski, Katarzyna Durda, Katarzyna Jaworska, Tomasz Huzarski, Amanda B. Spurdle, Alessandra Viel, Bernard Peissel, Bernardo Bonanni, Giulia Melloni, Laura Ottini, Laura Papi, Liliana Varesco, Maria Grazia Tibiletti, Paolo Peterlongo, Sara Volorio, Siranoush Manoukian, Valeria Pensotti, Norbert Arnold, Christoph Engel, Helmut Deissler, Dorothea Gadzicki, Andrea Gehrig, Karin Kast, Kerstin Rhiem, Alfons Meindl, Dieter Niederacher, Nina Ditsch, Hansjoerg Plendl, Sabine Preisler-Adams, Stefanie Engert, Christian Sutter, Raymonda Varon-Mateeva, Barbara Wappenschmidt, Bernhard H. F. Weber, Brita Arver, Marie Stenmark-Askmalm, Niklas Loman, Richard Rosenquist, Zakaria Einbeigi, Katherine L. Nathanson, Timothy R. Rebbeck, Stephanie V. Blank, David E. Cohn, Gustavo C. Rodriguez, Laurie Small, Michael Friedlander, Victoria L. Bae-Jump, Anneliese Fink-Retter, Christine Rappaport, Daphne Gschwantler-Kaulich, Georg Pfeiler, Muy-Kheng Tea, Noralane M. Lindor, Bella Kaufman, Shani Shimon Paluch, Yael Laitman, Anne-Bine Skytte, Anne-Marie Gerdes, Inge Sokilde Pedersen, Sanne Traasdahl Moeller, Torben A. Kruse, Uffe Birk Jensen, Joseph Vijai, Kara Sarrel, Mark Robson, Noah Kauff, Anna Marie Mulligan, Gord Glendon, Hilmi Ozcelik, Bent Ejlertsen, Finn C. Nielsen, Lars Jønson, Mette K. Andersen, Yuan Chun Ding, Linda Steele, Lenka Foretova, Alex Teulé, Conxi Lazaro, Joan Brunet, Miquel Angel Pujana, Phuong L. Mai, Jennifer T. Loud, Christine Walsh, Jenny Lester, Sandra Orsulic, Steven A. Narod, Josef Herzog, Sharon R. Sand, Silvia Tognazzo, Simona Agata, Tibor Vaszko, JoEllen Weaver, Alexandra V. Stavropoulou, Saundra S. Buys, Atocha Romero, Miguel de La Hoya, Kristiina Aittomäki, Taru A. Muranen, Mercedes Duran, Wendy K. Chung, Adriana Lasa, Cecilia M. Dorfling, Alexander Miron, Javier Benitez, Leigha Senter, Dezheng Huo, Salina B. Chan, Anna P. Sokolenko, Jocelyne Chiquette, Laima Tihomirova, Tara M. Friebel, Bjarni A. Agnarsson, Karen H. Lu, Flavio Lejbkowicz, Paul A. James, Per Hall, Alison M. Dunning, Daniel Tessier, Julie Cunningham, Susan L. Slager, Chen Wang, Steven Hart, Kristen Stevens, Jacques Simard, Tomi Pastinen, Vernon S. Pankratz, Kenneth Offit, Douglas F. Easton, Georgia Chenevix-Trench, Antonis C. Antoniou

Date Published: 27th Mar 2013

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome

Abstract (Expand)

The volume of the lateral ventricles (LV) increases with age and their abnormal enlargement is a key feature of several neurological and psychiatric diseases. Although lateral ventricular volume is heritable, a comprehensive investigation of its genetic determinants is lacking. In this meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies of 23,533 healthy middle-aged to elderly individuals from 26 population-based cohorts, we identify 7 genetic loci associated with LV volume. These loci map to chromosomes 3q28, 7p22.3, 10p12.31, 11q23.1, 12q23.3, 16q24.2, and 22q13.1 and implicate pathways related to tau pathology, S1P signaling, and cytoskeleton organization. We also report a significant genetic overlap between the thalamus and LV volumes (\textgreekrgenetic = -0.59, p-value = 3.14 \times 10-6), suggesting that these brain structures may share a common biology. These genetic associations of LV volume provide insights into brain morphology.

Authors: Dina Vojinovic, Hieab H. Adams, Xueqiu Jian, Qiong Yang, Albert Vernon Smith, Joshua C. Bis, Alexander Teumer, Markus Scholz, Nicola J. Armstrong, Edith Hofer, Yasaman Saba, Michelle Luciano, Manon Bernard, Stella Trompet, Jingyun Yang, Nathan A. Gillespie, Sven J. van der Lee, Alexander Neumann, Shahzad Ahmad, Ole A. Andreassen, David Ames, Najaf Amin, Konstantinos Arfanakis, Mark E. Bastin, Diane M. Becker, Alexa S. Beiser, Frauke Beyer, Henry Brodaty, R. Nick Bryan, Robin Bülow, Anders M. Dale, Philip L. de Jager, Ian J. Deary, Charles DeCarli, Debra A. Fleischman, Rebecca F. Gottesman, Jeroen van der Grond, Vilmundur Gudnason, Tamara B. Harris, Georg Homuth, David S. Knopman, John B. Kwok, Cora E. Lewis, Shuo Li, Markus Loeffler, Oscar L. Lopez, Pauline Maillard, Hanan El Marroun, Karen A. Mather, Thomas H. Mosley, Ryan L. Muetzel, Matthias Nauck, Paul A. Nyquist, Matthew S. Panizzon, Zdenka Pausova, Bruce M. Psaty, Ken Rice, Jerome I. Rotter, Natalie Royle, Claudia L. Satizabal, Reinhold Schmidt, Peter R. Schofield, Pamela J. Schreiner, Stephen Sidney, David J. Stott, Anbupalam Thalamuthu, Andre G. Uitterlinden, Maria C. Valdés Hernández, Meike W. Vernooij, Wei Wen, Tonya White, A. Veronica Witte, Katharina Wittfeld, Margaret J. Wright, Lisa R. Yanek, Henning Tiemeier, William S. Kremen, David A. Bennett, J. Wouter Jukema, Tomas Paus, Joanna M. Wardlaw, Helena Schmidt, Perminder S. Sachdev, Arno Villringer, Hans Jörgen Grabe, W. T. Longstreth, Cornelia M. van Duijn, Lenore J. Launer, Sudha Seshadri, M. Arfan Ikram, Myriam Fornage

Date Published: 1st Dec 2018

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND We examined the associations between germline variants and breast cancer mortality using a large meta-analysis of women of European ancestry. METHODS Meta-analyses included summary estimatestes based on Cox models of twelve datasets using ~10.4 million variants for 96,661 women with breast cancer and 7697 events (breast cancer-specific deaths). Oestrogen receptor (ER)-specific analyses were based on 64,171 ER-positive (4116) and 16,172 ER-negative (2125) patients. We evaluated the probability of a signal to be a true positive using the Bayesian false discovery probability (BFDP). RESULTS We did not find any variant associated with breast cancer-specific mortality at P \textless 5 \times 10-8. For ER-positive disease, the most significantly associated variant was chr7:rs4717568 (BFDP = 7%, P = 1.28 \times 10-7, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.84-0.92); the closest gene is AUTS2. For ER-negative disease, the most significant variant was chr7:rs67918676 (BFDP = 11%, P = 1.38 \times 10-7, HR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.16-1.39); located within a long intergenic non-coding RNA gene (AC004009.3), close to the HOXA gene cluster. CONCLUSIONS We uncovered germline variants on chromosome 7 at BFDP \textless 15% close to genes for which there is biological evidence related to breast cancer outcome. However, the paucity of variants associated with mortality at genome-wide significance underpins the challenge in providing genetic-based individualised prognostic information for breast cancer patients.

Authors: Maria Escala-Garcia, Qi Guo, Thilo Dörk, Sander Canisius, Renske Keeman, Joe Dennis, Jonathan Beesley, Julie Lecarpentier, Manjeet K. Bolla, Qin Wang, Jean Abraham, Irene L. Andrulis, Hoda Anton-Culver, Volker Arndt, Paul L. Auer, Matthias W. Beckmann, Sabine Behrens, Javier Benitez, Marina Bermisheva, Leslie Bernstein, Carl Blomqvist, Bram Boeckx, Stig E. Bojesen, Bernardo Bonanni, Anne-Lise Børresen-Dale, Hiltrud Brauch, Hermann Brenner, Adam Brentnall, Louise Brinton, Per Broberg, Ian W. Brock, Sara Y. Brucker, Barbara Burwinkel, Carlos Caldas, Trinidad Caldés, Daniele Campa, Federico Canzian, Angel Carracedo, Brian D. Carter, Jose E. Castelao, Jenny Chang-Claude, Stephen J. Chanock, Georgia Chenevix-Trench, Ting-Yuan David Cheng, Suet-Feung Chin, Christine L. Clarke, Emilie Cordina-Duverger, Fergus J. Couch, David G. Cox, Angela Cox, Simon S. Cross, Kamila Czene, Mary B. Daly, Peter Devilee, Janet A. Dunn, Alison M. Dunning, Lorraine Durcan, Miriam Dwek, Helena M. Earl, Arif B. Ekici, A. Heather Eliassen, Carolina Ellberg, Christoph Engel, Mikael Eriksson, D. Gareth Evans, Jonine Figueroa, Dieter Flesch-Janys, Henrik Flyger, Marike Gabrielson, Manuela Gago-Dominguez, Eva Galle, Susan M. Gapstur, Montserrat García-Closas, José A. García-Sáenz, Mia M. Gaudet, Angela George, Vassilios Georgoulias, Graham G. Giles, Gord Glendon, David E. Goldgar, Anna González-Neira, Grethe I. Grenaker Alnæs, Mervi Grip, Pascal Guénel, Lothar Haeberle, Eric Hahnen, Christopher A. Haiman, Niclas Håkansson, Per Hall, Ute Hamann, Susan Hankinson, Elaine F. Harkness, Patricia A. Harrington, Steven N. Hart, Jaana M. Hartikainen, Alexander Hein, Peter Hillemanns, Louise Hiller, Bernd Holleczek, Antoinette Hollestelle, Maartje J. Hooning, Robert N. Hoover, John L. Hopper, Anthony Howell, Guanmengqian Huang, Keith Humphreys, David J. Hunter, Wolfgang Janni, Esther M. John, Michael E. Jones, Arja Jukkola-Vuorinen, Audrey Jung, Rudolf Kaaks, Maria Kabisch, Katarzyna Kaczmarek, Michael J. Kerin, Sofia Khan, Elza Khusnutdinova, Johanna I. Kiiski, Cari M. Kitahara, Julia A. Knight, Yon-Dschun Ko, Linetta B. Koppert, Veli-Matti Kosma, Peter Kraft, Vessela N. Kristensen, Ute Krüger, Tabea Kühl, Diether Lambrechts, Loic Le Marchand, Eunjung Lee, Flavio Lejbkowicz, Lian Li, Annika Lindblom, Sara Lindström, Martha Linet, Jolanta Lissowska, Wing-Yee Lo, Sibylle Loibl, Jan Lubiński, Michael P. Lux, Robert J. MacInnis, Melanie Maierthaler, Tom Maishman, Enes Makalic, Arto Mannermaa, Mehdi Manoochehri, Siranoush Manoukian, Sara Margolin, Maria Elena Martinez, Dimitrios Mavroudis, Catriona McLean, Alfons Meindl, Pooja Middha, Nicola Miller, Roger L. Milne, Fernando Moreno, Anna Marie Mulligan, Claire Mulot, Rami Nassir, Susan L. Neuhausen, William T. Newman, Sune F. Nielsen, Børge G. Nordestgaard, Aaron Norman, Håkan Olsson, Nick Orr, V. Shane Pankratz, Tjoung-Won Park-Simon, Jose I. A. Perez, Clara Pérez-Barrios, Paolo Peterlongo, Christos Petridis, Mila Pinchev, Karoliona Prajzendanc, Ross Prentice, Nadege Presneau, Darya Prokofieva, Katri Pylkäs, Brigitte Rack, Paolo Radice, Dhanya Ramachandran, Gadi Rennert, Hedy S. Rennert, Valerie Rhenius, Atocha Romero, Rebecca Roylance, Emmanouil Saloustros, Elinor J. Sawyer, Daniel F. Schmidt, Rita K. Schmutzler, Andreas Schneeweiss, Minouk J. Schoemaker, Fredrick Schumacher, Lukas Schwentner, Rodney J. Scott, Christopher Scott, Caroline Seynaeve, Mitul Shah, Jacques Simard, Ann Smeets, Christof Sohn, Melissa C. Southey, Anthony J. Swerdlow, Aline Talhouk, Rulla M. Tamimi, William J. Tapper, Manuel R. Teixeira, Maria Tengström, Mary Beth Terry, Kathrin Thöne, Rob A. E. M. Tollenaar, Ian Tomlinson, Diana Torres, Thérèse Truong, Constance Turman, Clare Turnbull, Hans-Ulrich Ulmer, Michael Untch, Celine Vachon, Christi J. van Asperen, Ans M. W. van den Ouweland, Elke M. van Veen, Camilla Wendt, Alice S. Whittemore, Walter Willett, Robert Winqvist, Alicja Wolk, Xiaohong R. Yang, Yan Zhang, Douglas F. Easton, Peter A. Fasching, Heli Nevanlinna, Diana M. Eccles, Paul D. P. Pharoah, Marjanka K. Schmidt

Date Published: 1st Mar 2019

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome

Abstract (Expand)

Developmental dyslexia (DD) is a learning disorder affecting the ability to read, with a heritability of 40-60%. A notable part of this heritability remains unexplained, and large genetic studies are warranted to identify new susceptibility genes and clarify the genetic bases of dyslexia. We carried out a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on 2274 dyslexia cases and 6272 controls, testing associations at the single variant, gene, and pathway level, and estimating heritability using single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data. We also calculated polygenic scores (PGSs) based on large-scale GWAS data for different neuropsychiatric disorders and cortical brain measures, educational attainment, and fluid intelligence, testing them for association with dyslexia status in our sample. We observed statistically significant (p < 2.8 x 10(-6)) enrichment of associations at the gene level, for LOC388780 (20p13; uncharacterized gene), and for VEPH1 (3q25), a gene implicated in brain development. We estimated an SNP-based heritability of 20-25% for DD, and observed significant associations of dyslexia risk with PGSs for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (at pT = 0.05 in the training GWAS: OR = 1.23[1.16; 1.30] per standard deviation increase; p = 8 x 10(-13)), bipolar disorder (1.53[1.44; 1.63]; p = 1 x 10(-43)), schizophrenia (1.36[1.28; 1.45]; p = 4 x 10(-22)), psychiatric cross-disorder susceptibility (1.23[1.16; 1.30]; p = 3 x 10(-12)), cortical thickness of the transverse temporal gyrus (0.90[0.86; 0.96]; p = 5 x 10(-4)), educational attainment (0.86[0.82; 0.91]; p = 2 x 10(-7)), and intelligence (0.72[0.68; 0.76]; p = 9 x 10(-29)). This study suggests an important contribution of common genetic variants to dyslexia risk, and novel genomic overlaps with psychiatric conditions like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and cross-disorder susceptibility. Moreover, it revealed the presence of shared genetic foundations with a neural correlate previously implicated in dyslexia by neuroimaging evidence.

Authors: A. Gialluisi, T. F. M. Andlauer, N. Mirza-Schreiber, K. Moll, J. Becker, P. Hoffmann, K. U. Ludwig, D. Czamara, B. S. Pourcain, F. Honbolygo, D. Toth, V. Csepe, G. Huguet, Y. Chaix, S. Iannuzzi, J. F. Demonet, A. P. Morris, J. Hulslander, E. G. Willcutt, J. C. DeFries, R. K. Olson, S. D. Smith, B. F. Pennington, A. Vaessen, U. Maurer, H. Lyytinen, M. Peyrard-Janvid, P. H. T. Leppanen, D. Brandeis, M. Bonte, J. F. Stein, J. B. Talcott, F. Fauchereau, A. Wilcke, H. Kirsten, B. Muller, C. Francks, T. Bourgeron, A. P. Monaco, F. Ramus, K. Landerl, J. Kere, T. S. Scerri, S. Paracchini, S. E. Fisher, J. Schumacher, M. M. Nothen, B. Muller-Myhsok, G. Schulte-Korne

Date Published: 14th Oct 2020

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

OBJECTIVE/METHODS: DNA methylation plays an important role in obesity and related metabolic complications. We examined genome-wide DNA promoter methylation along with mRNA profiles in paired samples of human subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and omental visceral adipose tissue (OVAT) from non-obese vs. obese individuals. RESULTS: We identified negatively correlated methylation and expression of several obesity-associated genes in our discovery dataset and in silico replicated ETV6 in two independent cohorts. Further, we identified six adipose tissue depot-specific genes (HAND2, HOXC6, PPARG, SORBS2, CD36, and CLDN1). The effects were further supported in additional independent cohorts. Our top hits might play a role in adipogenesis and differentiation, obesity, lipid metabolism, and adipose tissue expandability. Finally, we show that in vitro methylation of SORBS2 directly represses gene expression. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our data show distinct tissue specific epigenetic alterations which associate with obesity.

Authors: M. Keller, L. Hopp, X. Liu, T. Wohland, K. Rohde, R. Cancello, M. Klos, K. Bacos, M. Kern, F. Eichelmann, A. Dietrich, M. R. Schon, D. Gartner, T. Lohmann, M. Dressler, M. Stumvoll, P. Kovacs, A. M. DiBlasio, C. Ling, H. Binder, M. Bluher, Y. Bottcher

Date Published: 27th Jan 2017

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: obesity

Abstract (Expand)

Most meningiomas, accounting for about 20% of intracranial tumors, can be cured by surgical removal. Yet, 8-22% of these tumors are classified as atypical or anaplastic (WHO grade II or III, respectively) presenting with a more aggressive behavior and a high relapse rate. We analyzed genomic alterations of an atypical meningioma using high-density single nucleotide polymorphism arrays (SNP-A) karyotyping combined with GTG-banding, multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (M-FISH), and locus-specific FISH. In accordance to recent studies applying SNP-A karyotyping in different malignancies we found that genomic lesions are present at a higher frequency than predicted by traditional cytogenetics. Most of these aberrations have not been described before. Additionally, we unveiled loss of heterozygosity (LOH) without copy number changes on chromosome regions 1p31.1, 2p16.1, 2q23.3, 6q14.1, 6q21, 9p21.1, 10q21.1, and 14q23.3, suggesting partial uniparental disomy (UPD). UPDs are currently considered to play an important role in the initiation and progression of different malignancies. Furthermore, we detected two de novo reciprocal translocations, t(8;19)(q24;q13) and t(10;16)(q22;q12.1). While GTG-banding and M-FISH data suggested balanced translocations, SNP-A analysis clearly demonstrated imbalances in the same region.

Authors: Wolfgang Krupp, Heidrun Holland, Ronald Koschny, Manfred Bauer, Ralf Schober, Holger Kirsten, Michela Livrea, Jürgen Meixensberger, Peter Ahnert

Date Published: 1st Jul 2008

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

Chemerin is an adipokine proposed to link obesity and chronic inflammation of adipose tissue. Genetic factors determining chemerin release from adipose tissue are yet unknown. We conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for serum chemerin in three independent cohorts from Europe: Sorbs and KORA from Germany and PPP-Botnia from Finland (total N = 2,791). In addition, we measured mRNA expression of genes within the associated loci in peripheral mononuclear cells by micro-arrays, and within adipose tissue by quantitative RT-PCR and performed mRNA expression quantitative trait and expression-chemerin association studies to functionally substantiate our loci. Heritability estimate of circulating chemerin levels was 16.2% in the Sorbs cohort. Thirty single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at chromosome 7 within the retinoic acid receptor responder 2 (RARRES2)/Leucine Rich Repeat Containing (LRRC61) locus reached genome-wide significance (p\textless5.0\times10-8) in the meta-analysis (the strongest evidence for association at rs7806429 with p = 7.8\times10-14, beta = -0.067, explained variance 2.0%). All other SNPs within the cluster were in linkage disequilibrium with rs7806429 (minimum r2 = 0.43 in the Sorbs cohort). The results of the subgroup analyses of males and females were consistent with the results found in the total cohort. No significant SNP-sex interaction was observed. rs7806429 was associated with mRNA expression of RARRES2 in visceral adipose tissue in women (p\textless0.05 after adjusting for age and body mass index). In conclusion, the present meta-GWAS combined with mRNA expression studies highlights the role of genetic variation in the RARRES2 locus in the regulation of circulating chemerin concentrations.

Authors: Anke Tönjes, Markus Scholz, Jana Breitfeld, Carola Marzi, Harald Grallert, Arnd Gross, Claes Ladenvall, Dorit Schleinitz, Kerstin Krause, Holger Kirsten, Esa Laurila, Jennifer Kriebel, Barbara Thorand, Wolfgang Rathmann, Leif Groop, Inga Prokopenko, Bo Isomaa, Frank Beutner, Jürgen Kratzsch, Joachim Thiery, Mathias Fasshauer, Nora Klöting, Christian Gieger, Matthias Blüher, Michael Stumvoll, Peter Kovacs

Date Published: 18th Dec 2014

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

Progranulin is a secreted protein with important functions in processes including immune and inflammatory response, metabolism and embryonic development. The present study aimed at identification of genetic factors determining progranulin concentrations. We conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis for serum progranulin in three independent cohorts from Europe: Sorbs (N = 848) and KORA (N = 1628) from Germany and PPP-Botnia (N = 335) from Finland (total N = 2811). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with progranulin levels were replicated in two additional German cohorts: LIFE-Heart Study (Leipzig; N = 967) and Metabolic Syndrome Berlin Potsdam (Berlin cohort; N = 833). We measured mRNA expression of genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by micro-arrays and performed mRNA expression quantitative trait and expression-progranulin association studies to functionally substantiate identified loci. Finally, we conducted siRNA silencing experiments in vitro to validate potential candidate genes within the associated loci. Heritability of circulating progranulin levels was estimated at 31.8% and 26.1% in the Sorbs and LIFE-Heart cohort, respectively. SNPs at three loci reached study-wide significance (rs660240 in CELSR2-PSRC1-MYBPHL-SORT1, rs4747197 in CDH23-PSAP and rs5848 in GRN) explaining 19.4%/15.0% of the variance and 61%/57% of total heritability in the Sorbs/LIFE-Heart Study. The strongest evidence for association was at rs660240 (P = 5.75 x 10-50), which was also associated with mRNA expression of PSRC1 in PBMC (P = 1.51 x 10-21). Psrc1 knockdown in murine preadipocytes led to a consecutive 30% reduction in progranulin secretion. In conclusion, the present meta-GWAS combined with mRNA expression identified three loci associated with progranulin and supports the role of PSRC1 in the regulation of progranulin secretion.

Authors: A. Tonjes, M. Scholz, J. Kruger, K. Krause, D. Schleinitz, H. Kirsten, C. Gebhardt, C. Marzi, H. Grallert, C. Ladenvall, H. Heyne, E. Laurila, J. Kriebel, C. Meisinger, W. Rathmann, C. Gieger, L. Groop, I. Prokopenko, B. Isomaa, F. Beutner, J. Kratzsch, A. Fischer-Rosinsky, A. Pfeiffer, K. Krohn, J. Spranger, J. Thiery, M. Bluher, M. Stumvoll, P. Kovacs

Date Published: 1st Feb 2018

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Carotid artery plaque is an established marker of subclinical atherosclerosis and common patho-mechanisms with coronary artery disease (CAD) are hypothesized. We aimed to identify genetic variants associated with carotid plaque and to examine the potential shared genetic basis with CAD. METHODS: After investigating the reliability of plaque detection, we performed a genome-wide meta-association study in two independent cohorts (LIFE-Adult, n = 4037 and LIFE-Heart, n = 3152) for carotid plaque score (PS), defined as the sum of the plaque load of common carotid artery and carotid bulb. Further, we analyzed whether previously reported CAD and stroke loci were also associated with PS. RESULTS: We identified two loci with genome-wide significance for PS. One locus is the known CAD-locus at chromosome 9p21 (lead SNP rs9644862, p = 8.73 x 10(-12)). We also describe a novel locus on chromosome 10q24 within the SFXN2 gene as the most probable candidate (lead SNP rs2902548, p = 1.97 x 10(-8)). In addition, 17 out of 58 known CAD loci and six of 17 known stroke loci were associated with PS at a nominal level of significance. CONCLUSIONS: We showed that PS is a reliable trait to analyze genetics of atherosclerosis. Two new loci of genome-wide significant association with PS were found. The observed non-random overlap of CAD and PS associations strengthens the hypothesis of a shared genetic basis for these atherosclerotic manifestations.

Authors: J. Pott, R. Burkhardt, F. Beutner, K. Horn, A. Teren, H. Kirsten, L. M. Holdt, G. Schuler, D. Teupser, M. Loeffler, J. Thiery, M. Scholz

Date Published: 11th Mar 2017

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: atherosclerosis

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND: Cytology-based screening methods for cervical adenocarcinoma (ADC) and to a lesser extent squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC) suffer from low sensitivity. DNA hypermethylation analysis in cervical scrapings may improve detection of SCC, but few methylation markers have been described for ADC. We aimed to identify novel methylation markers for the early detection of both ADC and SCC. RESULTS: Genome-wide methylation profiling for 20 normal cervices, 6 ADC and 6 SCC using MethylCap-seq yielded 53 candidate regions hypermethylated in both ADC and SCC. Verification and independent validation of the 15 most significant regions revealed 5 markers with differential methylation between 17 normals and 13 cancers. Quantitative methylation-specific PCR on cervical cancer scrapings resulted in detection rates ranging between 80% and 92% while between 94% and 99% of control scrapings tested negative. Four markers (SLC6A5, SOX1, SOX14 and TBX20) detected ADC and SCC with similar sensitivity. In scrapings from women referred with an abnormal smear (n=229), CIN3+ sensitivity was between 36% and 71%, while between 71% and 93% of adenocarcinoma in situ (AdCIS) were detected; and CIN0/1 specificity was between 88% and 98%. Compared to hrHPV, the combination SOX1/SOX14 showed a similar CIN3+ sensitivity (80% vs. 75%, respectively, P>0.2), while specificity improved (42% vs. 84%, respectively, P < 10-5). CONCLUSION: SOX1 and SOX14 are methylation biomarkers applicable for screening of all cervical cancer types.

Authors: R. Wang, R. W. van Leeuwen, A. Boers, H. G. Klip, T. de Meyer, R. D. Steenbergen, W. van Criekinge, A. G. van der Zee, E. Schuuring, G. B. Wisman

Date Published: 6th Dec 2016

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: brain glioma

Abstract (Expand)

Follicular lymphoma (FL) with a t(14;18) is a B-cell neoplasm clinically characterized by multiple recurrencies. In order to investigate the clonal evolution of this lymphoma, we studied paired primary and relapse tumor samples from 33 patients with recurrent non-transformed t(14;18)-positive FL. We reconstructed phylogenetic trees of the evolution by taking advantage of the activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID)-mediated somatic hypermutation (SHM) active in the germinal center reaction using sequences of the clonal VHDHJH rearrangements of the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) locus. Mutational analysis of the IGH locus showed evidence for ongoing somatic mutation and for counter-selection of mutations affecting the BCR conformation during tumor evolution. We further followed evolutionary divergence by targeted sequencing of gene loci affected by aberrant SHM as well as of known driver genes of lymphomagenesis, and by array-based genome-wide chromosomal imbalance and DNA methylation analysis. We observed a wide spectrum of evolutionary patterns ranging from almost no evolution to divergent evolution within recurrent non-transformed t(14;18) FL. Remarkably, we observed a correlation of the magnitude of evolutionary divergence across all genetic and epigenetic levels suggesting co-evolution. The distribution of coding mutations in driver genes and the correlation with SHM suggest CREBBP and AID to be potential modifiers of genetic and epigenetic co-evolution in FL.

Authors: M. Loeffler, M. Kreuz, A. Haake, D. Hasenclever, H. Trautmann, C. Arnold, K. Winter, K. Koch, W. Klapper, R. Scholtysik, M. Rosolowski, S. Hoffmann, O. Ammerpohl, M. Szczepanowski, D. Herrmann, R. Kuppers, C. Pott, R. Siebert

Date Published: 17th Jul 2014

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: follicular lymphoma

Abstract (Expand)

Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is the most common B-cell lymphoma in children. Within the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC), we performed whole genome and transcriptome sequencing of 39 sporadic BL. Here, we unravel interaction of structural, mutational, and transcriptional changes, which contribute to MYC oncogene dysregulation together with the pathognomonic IG-MYC translocation. Moreover, by mapping IGH translocation breakpoints, we provide evidence that the precursor of at least a subset of BL is a B-cell poised to express IGHA. We describe the landscape of mutations, structural variants, and mutational processes, and identified a series of driver genes in the pathogenesis of BL, which can be targeted by various mechanisms, including IG-non MYC translocations, germline and somatic mutations, fusion transcripts, and alternative splicing.

Authors: C. Lopez, K. Kleinheinz, S. M. Aukema, M. Rohde, S. H. Bernhart, D. Hubschmann, R. Wagener, U. H. Toprak, F. Raimondi, M. Kreuz, S. M. Waszak, Z. Huang, L. Sieverling, N. Paramasivam, J. Seufert, S. Sungalee, R. B. Russell, J. Bausinger, H. Kretzmer, O. Ammerpohl, A. K. Bergmann, H. Binder, A. Borkhardt, B. Brors, A. Claviez, G. Doose, L. Feuerbach, A. Haake, M. L. Hansmann, J. Hoell, M. Hummel, J. O. Korbel, C. Lawerenz, D. Lenze, B. Radlwimmer, J. Richter, P. Rosenstiel, A. Rosenwald, M. B. Schilhabel, H. Stein, S. Stilgenbauer, P. F. Stadler, M. Szczepanowski, M. A. Weniger, M. Zapatka, R. Eils, P. Lichter, M. Loeffler, P. Moller, L. Trumper, W. Klapper, S. Hoffmann, R. Kuppers, B. Burkhardt, M. Schlesner, R. Siebert

Date Published: 29th Mar 2019

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma

Abstract (Expand)

Colorectal cancer (CRC) arising in Lynch syndrome (LS) comprises tumours with constitutional mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes. There is still a lack of whole-genome and transcriptome studies of LS-CRC to address questions about similarities and differences in mutation and gene expression characteristics between LS-CRC and sporadic CRC, about the molecular heterogeneity of LS-CRC, and about specific mechanisms of LS-CRC genesis linked to dysfunctional mismatch repair in LS colonic mucosa and the possible role of immune editing. Here, we provide a first molecular characterization of LS tumours and of matched tumour-distant reference colonic mucosa based on whole-genome DNA-sequencing and RNA-sequencing analyses. Our data support two subgroups of LS-CRCs, G1 and G2, whereby G1 tumours show a higher number of somatic mutations, a higher amount of microsatellite slippage, and a different mutation spectrum. The gene expression phenotypes support this difference. Reference mucosa of G1 shows a strong immune response associated with the expression of HLA and immune checkpoint genes and the invasion of CD4+ T cells. Such an immune response is not observed in LS tumours, G2 reference and normal (non-Lynch) mucosa, and sporadic CRC. We hypothesize that G1 tumours are edited for escape from a highly immunogenic microenvironment via loss of HLA presentation and T-cell exhaustion. In contrast, G2 tumours seem to develop in a less immunogenic microenvironment where tumour-promoting inflammation parallels tumourigenesis. Larger studies on non-neoplastic mucosa tissue of mutation carriers are required to better understand the early phases of emerging tumours. Copyright (c) 2017 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Authors: H. Binder, L. Hopp, M. R. Schweiger, S. Hoffmann, F. Juhling, M. Kerick, B. Timmermann, S. Siebert, C. Grimm, L. Nersisyan, A. Arakelyan, M. Herberg, P. Buske, H. Loeffler-Wirth, M. Rosolowski, C. Engel, J. Przybilla, M. Peifer, N. Friedrichs, G. Moeslein, M. Odenthal, M. Hussong, S. Peters, S. Holzapfel, J. Nattermann, R. Hueneburg, W. Schmiegel, B. Royer-Pokora, S. Aretz, M. Kloth, M. Kloor, R. Buettner, J. Galle, M. Loeffler

Date Published: 21st Jul 2017

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: Lynch syndrome, colorectal cancer

Abstract (Expand)

Molecular changes associated with the progression of glioblastoma after standard radiochemotherapy remain poorly understood. We compared genomic profiles of 27 paired primary and recurrent IDH1/2 wild-type glioblastomas by genome-wide array-based comparative genomic hybridization. By bioinformatic analysis, primary and recurrent tumor profiles were normalized and segmented, chromosomal gains and losses identified taking the tumor cell content into account, and difference profiles deduced. Seven of 27 (26%) pairs lacked DNA copy number differences between primary and recurrent tumors (equal pairs). The recurrent tumors in 9/27 (33%) pairs contained all chromosomal imbalances of the primary tumors plus additional ones, suggesting a sequential acquisition of and/or selection for aberrations during progression (sequential pairs). In 11/27 (41%) pairs, the profiles of primary and recurrent tumors were divergent, i.e., the recurrent tumors contained additional aberrations but had lost others, suggesting a polyclonal composition of the primary tumors and considerable clonal evolution (discrepant pairs). Losses on 9p21.3 harboring the CDKN2A/B locus were significantly more common in primary tumors from sequential and discrepant (nonequal) pairs. Nonequal pairs showed ten regions of recurrent genomic differences between primary and recurrent tumors harboring 46 candidate genes associated with tumor recurrence. In particular, copy numbers of genes encoding apoptosis regulators were frequently changed at progression. In summary, approximately 25% of IDH1/2 wild-type glioblastoma pairs have stable genomic imbalances. In contrast, approximately 75% of IDH1/2 wild-type glioblastomas undergo further genomic aberrations and alter their clonal composition upon recurrence impacting their genomic profile, a process possibly facilitated by 9p21.3 loss in the primary tumor. (c) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Authors: V. Riehmer, J. Gietzelt, U. Beyer, B. Hentschel, M. Westphal, G. Schackert, M. C. Sabel, B. Radlwimmer, T. Pietsch, G. Reifenberger, M. Weller, R. G. Weber, M. Loeffler

Date Published: 8th Apr 2014

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: glioblastoma multiforme

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND The role of the BARD1 gene in breast cancer (BC) and ovarian cancer (OC) predisposition remains elusive, as published case-control investigations have revealed controversial results. We aimedd to assess the role of deleterious BARD1 germline variants in BC/OC predisposition in a sample of 4920 BRCA1/2-negative female BC/OC index patients of the German Consortium for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (GC-HBOC). METHODS A total of 4469 female index patients with BC, 451 index patients with OC, and 2767 geographically matched female control individuals were screened for loss-of-function (LoF) mutations and potentially damaging rare missense variants in BARD1. All patients met the inclusion criteria of the GC-HBOC for germline testing and reported at least one relative with BC or OC. Additional control datasets (Exome Aggregation Consortium, ExAC; Fabulous Ladies Over Seventy, FLOSSIES) were included for the calculation of odds ratios (ORs). RESULTS We identified LoF variants in 23 of 4469 BC index patients (0.51%) and in 36 of 37,265 control individuals (0.10%), resulting in an OR of 5.35 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.17-9.04; P \textless 0.00001). BARD1-mutated BC index patients showed a significantly younger mean age at first diagnosis (AAD; 42.3 years, range 24-60 years) compared with the overall study sample (48.6 years, range 17-92 years; P = 0.00347). In the subgroup of BC index patients with an AAD \textless 40 years, an OR of 12.04 (95% CI = 5.78-25.08; P \textless 0.00001) was observed. An OR of 7.43 (95% CI = 4.26-12.98; P \textless 0.00001) was observed when stratified for an AAD \textless 50 years. LoF variants in BARD1 were not significantly associated with BC in the subgroup of index patients with an AAD ≥ 50 years (OR = 2.29; 95% CI = 0.82-6.45; P = 0.11217). Overall, rare and predicted damaging BARD1 missense variants were significantly more prevalent in BC index patients compared with control individuals (OR = 2.15; 95% CI = 1.26-3.67; P = 0.00723). Neither LoF variants nor predicted damaging rare missense variants in BARD1 were identified in 451 familial index patients with OC. CONCLUSIONS Due to the significant association of germline LoF variants in BARD1 with early-onset BC, we suggest that intensified BC surveillance programs should be offered to women carrying pathogenic BARD1 gene variants.

Authors: Nana Weber-Lassalle, Julika Borde, Konstantin Weber-Lassalle, Judit Horváth, Dieter Niederacher, Norbert Arnold, Silke Kaulfuß, Corinna Ernst, Victoria G. Paul, Ellen Honisch, Kristina Klaschik, Alexander E. Volk, Christian Kubisch, Steffen Rapp, Nadine Lichey, Janine Altmüller, Louisa Lepkes, Esther Pohl-Rescigno, Holger Thiele, Peter Nürnberg, Mirjam Larsen, Lisa Richters, Kerstin Rhiem, Barbara Wappenschmidt, Christoph Engel, Alfons Meindl, Rita K. Schmutzler, Eric Hahnen, Jan Hauke

Date Published: 1st Dec 2019

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome

Abstract (Expand)

Germline mutations in a number of genes involved in the recombinational repair of DNA double-strand breaks are associated with predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer. RAD51C is essential for homologous recombination repair, and a biallelic missense mutation can cause a Fanconi anemia-like phenotype. In index cases from 1,100 German families with gynecological malignancies, we identified six monoallelic pathogenic mutations in RAD51C that confer an increased risk for breast and ovarian cancer. These include two frameshift-causing insertions, two splice-site mutations and two nonfunctional missense mutations. The mutations were found exclusively within 480 pedigrees with the occurrence of both breast and ovarian tumors (BC/OC; 1.3%) and not in 620 pedigrees with breast cancer only or in 2,912 healthy German controls. These results provide the first unambiguous evidence of highly penetrant mutations associated with human cancer in a RAD51 paralog and support the ’common disease, rare allele’ hypothesis.

Authors: Alfons Meindl, Heide Hellebrand, Constanze Wiek, Verena Erven, Barbara Wappenschmidt, Dieter Niederacher, Marcel Freund, Peter Lichtner, Linda Hartmann, Heiner Schaal, Juliane Ramser, Ellen Honisch, Christian Kubisch, Hans E. Wichmann, Karin Kast, Helmut Deissler, Christoph Engel, Bertram Müller-Myhsok, Kornelia Neveling, Marion Kiechle, Christopher G. Mathew, Detlev Schindler, Rita K. Schmutzler, Helmut Hanenberg

Date Published: 1st May 2010

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome

Abstract (Expand)

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with a poor prognosis and defines a subgroup of patients who do not benefit from endocrine or anti-HER2 therapy. Rather than being a biological entity, TNBC represents a heterogeneous disease, and further subtyping is necessary to establish targeted therapies. Germline mutational status may serve as a robust biomarker predicting therapy response, especially with respect to compounds challenging the DNA repair machinery. Patients with TNBC usually show an early onset of the disease, as well as a positive family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer in more than one third of all cases, which suggests that TNBC is closely associated with a hereditary disease cause. In unselected TNBC cases, the prevalence of pathogenic germline BRCA1/2 mutations is approximately twice as high as in breast cancer overall. Early age at diagnosis and positive family history are strong predictors for an increased BRCA1/2 mutation probability, which is up to 40% when both risk factors are considered. Apart from BRCA1/2, the rarely mutated breast cancer predisposition genes PALB2 and FANCM have been associated with TNBC. This review summarizes the role of germline mutational status in TNBC pathogenesis. Clinical trials addressing BRCA1/2 mutation carriers are discussed.

Authors: Eric Hahnen, Jan Hauke, Christoph Engel, Guido Neidhardt, Kerstin Rhiem, Rita K. Schmutzler

Date Published: 7th Mar 2017

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: Reinhold Haux, P. Schmücker, Alfred Winter

Date Published: 1996

Publication Type: InCollection

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: Petra Knaup-Gregori, Christian Mauro, Jan Marco Leimeister, Alfred Winter

Date Published: 2008

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

Despite remarkable advances in the development of language resources over the recent years, there is still a shortage of annotated, publicly available corpora covering (German) medical language. With the initial release of the German Guideline Program in Oncology NLP Corpus (GGPONC), we have demonstrated how such corpora can be built upon clinical guidelines, a widely available resource in many natural languages with a reasonable coverage of medical terminology. In this work, we describe a major new release for GGPONC. The corpus has been substantially extended in size and re-annotated with a new annotation scheme based on SNOMED CT top level hierarchies, reaching high inter-annotator agreement (γ=.94). Moreover, we annotated elliptical coordinated noun phrases and their resolutions, a common language phenomenon in (not only German) scientific documents. We also trained BERT-based named entity recognition models on this new data set, which achieve high performance on short, coarse-grained entity spans (F1=.89), while the rate of boundary errors increases for long entity spans. GGPONC is freely available through a data use agreement. The trained named entity recognition models, as well as the detailed annotation guide, are also made publicly available.

Editor: Nicoletta Calzolari, Frédéric Béchet, Philippe Blache, Khalid Choukri, Christopher Cieri, Thierry Declerck, Sara Goggi, Hitoshi Isahara, Bente Maegaard, Joseph Mariani, Hélène Mazo, Jan Odijk, Stelios Piperidis

Date Published: 19th Jun 2022

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

The lack of publicly available text corpora is a major obstacle for progress in clinical natural language processing, for non-English speaking countries in particular. In this work, we present GGPONC (German Guideline Program in Oncology NLP Corpus), a freely distributable German language corpus based on clinical practice guidelines in the field of oncology. The corpus is one of the largest corpora of German medical text to date. It does not contain any patient-related data and can therefore be used without data protection restrictions. Moreover, it is the first corpus for the German language covering diverse conditions in a large medical subfield. In addition to the textual sources, we provide a large variety of metadata, such as literature references and evidence levels. By applying and evaluating existing medical information extraction pipelines for German text, we are able to draw comparisons for the use of medical language to other medical text corpora.

Authors: F. Borchert, C. Lohr, L. Modersohn, T. Langer, M. Follmann, J. P. Sachs, U. Hahn, M. P. Schapranow

Date Published: 13th Jul 2020

Publication Type: Misc

Abstract (Expand)

We have carried out meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) (n = 23 784) of the first two principal components (PCs) that group together cortical regions with shared variance in their surface area. PC1 (global) captured variations of most regions, whereas PC2 (visual) was specific to the primary and secondary visual cortices. We identified a total of 18 (PC1) and 17 (PC2) independent loci, which were replicated in another 25 746 individuals. The loci of the global PC1 included those associated previously with intracranial volume and/or general cognitive function, such as MAPT and IGF2BP1. The loci of the visual PC2 included DAAM1, a key player in the planar-cell-polarity pathway. We then tested associations with occupational aptitudes and, as predicted, found that the global PC1 was associated with General Learning Ability, and the visual PC2 was associated with the Form Perception aptitude. These results suggest that interindividual variations in global and regional development of the human cerebral cortex (and its molecular architecture) cascade-albeit in a very limited manner-to behaviors as complex as the choice of one’s occupation.

Authors: Jean Shin, Shaojie Ma, Edith Hofer, Yash Patel, Daniel E. Vosberg, Steven Tilley, Gennady V. Roshchupkin, André M. M. Sousa, Xueqiu Jian, Rebecca Gottesman, Thomas H. Mosley, Myriam Fornage, Yasaman Saba, Lukas Pirpamer, Reinhold Schmidt, Helena Schmidt, Amaia Carrion-Castillo, Fabrice Crivello, Bernard Mazoyer, Joshua C. Bis, Shuo Li, Qiong Yang, Michelle Luciano, Sherif Karama, Lindsay Lewis, Mark E. Bastin, Mathew A. Harris, Joanna M. Wardlaw, Ian E. Deary, Markus Scholz, Markus Loeffler, A. Veronica Witte, Frauke Beyer, Arno Villringer, Nicola J. Armstrong, Karen A. Mather, David Ames, Jiyang Jiang, John B. Kwok, Peter R. Schofield, Anbupalam Thalamuthu, Julian N. Trollor, Margaret J. Wright, Henry Brodaty, Wei Wen, Perminder S. Sachdev, Natalie Terzikhan, Tavia E. Evans, Hieab H. H. H. Adams, M. Arfan Ikram, Stefan Frenzel, Sandra van der Auwera-Palitschka, Katharina Wittfeld, Robin Bülow, Hans Jörgen Grabe, Christophe Tzourio, Aniket Mishra, Sophie Maingault, Stephanie Debette, Nathan A. Gillespie, Carol E. Franz, William S. Kremen, Linda Ding, Neda Jahanshad, Nenad Sestan, Zdenka Pausova, Sudha Seshadri, Tomas Paus

Date Published: 1st Jun 2020

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

The demand for evidence-based health informatics and benchmarking of ’good’ information systems in health care gives an opportunity to continue reporting on recent papers in the German journal GMS Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology (MIBE) here. The publications in focus deal with a comparison of benchmarking initiatives in German-speaking countries, use of communication standards in telemonitoring scenarios, the estimation of national cancer incidence rates and modifications of parametric tests. Furthermore papers in this issue of MIM are introduced which originally have been presented at the Annual Conference of the German Society of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology. They deal as well with evidence and evaluation of ’good’ information systems but also with data harmonization, surveillance in obstetrics, adaptive designs and parametrical testing in statistical analysis, patient registries and signal processing.   The demand for evidence-based health informatics and benchmarking of ’good’ information systems in health care gives an opportunity to continue reporting on recent papers in the German journal GMS Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology (MIBE) here. The publications in focus deal with a comparison of benchmarking initiatives in German-speaking countries, use of communication standards in telemonitoring scenarios, the estimation of national cancer incidence rates and modifications of parametric tests. Furthermore papers in this issue of MIM are introduced which originally have been presented at the Annual Conference of the German Society of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology. They deal as well with evidence and evaluation of ’good’ information systems but also with data harmonization, surveillance in obstetrics, adaptive designs and parametrical testing in statistical analysis, patient registries and signal processing. //  The demand for evidence-based health informatics and benchmarking of ’good’ information systems in health care gives an opportunity to continue reporting on recent papers in the German journal GMS Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology (MIBE) here. The publications in focus deal with a comparison of benchmarking initiatives in German-speaking countries, use of communication standards in telemonitoring scenarios, the estimation of national cancer incidence rates and modifications of parametric tests. Furthermore papers in this issue of MIM are introduced which originally have been presented at the Annual Conference of the German Society of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology. They deal as well with evidence and evaluation of ’good’ information systems but also with data harmonization, surveillance in obstetrics, adaptive designs and parametrical testing in statistical analysis, patient registries and signal processing.

Authors: Alfred Winter, R-D Hilgers, R. Hofestädt, Ursula Hübner, Petra Knaup-Gregori, C. Ose, C. Schmoor, A. Timmer, D. Wege

Date Published: 2015

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

We describe the creation of GRASCCO, a novel German-language corpus composed of some 60 clinical documents with more than.43,000 tokens. GRASCCO is a synthetic corpus resulting from a series of alienation steps to obfuscate privacy-sensitive information contained in real clinical documents, the true origin of all GRASCCO texts. Therefore, it is publicly shareable without any legal restrictions We also explore whether this corpus still represents common clinical language use by comparison with a real (non-shareable) clinical corpus we developed as a contribution to the Medical Informatics Initiative in Germany (MII) within the SMITH consortium. We find evidence that such a claim can indeed be made.

Authors: Luise Modersohn, Stefan Schulz, Christina Lohr, Udo Hahn

Date Published: 1st Aug 2022

Publication Type: InCollection

Abstract (Expand)

We describe the creation of GRASCCO, a novel German-language corpus composed of some 60 clinical documents with more than.43,000 tokens. GRASCCO is a synthetic corpus resulting from a series of alienation steps to obfuscate privacy-sensitive information contained in real clinical documents, the true origin of all GRASCCO texts. Therefore, it is publicly shareable without any legal restrictions We also explore whether this corpus still represents common clinical language use by comparison with a real (non-shareable) clinical corpus we developed as a contribution to the Medical Informatics Initiative in Germany (MII) within the SMITH consortium. We find evidence that such a claim can indeed be made.

Editor:

Date Published: 17th Aug 2022

Publication Type: InProceedings

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Growth is an important criterion to evaluate health in childhood and adolescence, especially in patients depending on special dietary treatment. Phenylketonuria (PKU) is thee most common inherited disease of amino acid metabolism. Patients with PKU depend on a special phenylalanine-restricted diet, low in natural protein. The study aimed to evaluate growth, growth rate, and target height in 224 patients with PKU. METHODS Retrospective, longitudinal analysis of standardized, yearly measurements of height, weight, and calculated growth rate (SD score [SDS]) of patients with PKU aged 0 to 18 years were conducted by using the national computerized CrescNet database. Inclusion was restricted to patients carried to term with a confirmed diagnosis of PKU or mild hyperphenylalaninemia determined by newborn screening and early treatment initiation. RESULTS From birth to adulthood, patients with PKU were significantly shorter than healthy German children (height SDS at 18 years: -0.882 \pm 0.108, P \textless .001). They missed their target height by 3 cm by adulthood (women: P = .02) and 5 cm (men: P = .01). In patients receiving casein hydrolysate during childhood, this was more pronounced compared with patients receiving amino acid mixtures (P \textless .001). Growth rate was significantly reduced during their first 2 years of life and in puberty (growth rate SDS: -1.1 to -0.5 m/year, P \textless .001 and -0.5; P \textless .02). CONCLUSIONS Early diagnosed, treated, and continuously monitored patients with PKU showed reduced height from birth onward. During the last 2 decades, this phenomenon attenuated, probably because of advances in PKU therapy related to protein supplements and special low-protein foods.

Authors: Alena G. Thiele, Ruth Gausche, Cornelia Lindenberg, Christoph Beger, Maria Arelin, Carmen Rohde, Ulrike Mütze, Johannes F. Weigel, Klaus Mohnike, Christoph Baerwald, Markus Scholz, Wieland Kiess, Roland Pfäffle, Skadi Beblo

Date Published: 1st Nov 2017

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: Alfred Winter, Elske Ammenwerth, Birgit Brigl, Reinhold Haux

Date Published: 2006

Publication Type: InCollection

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

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