Identification of pleiotropic genetic variants affecting osteoporosis risk in a Korean elderly cohort
JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL METABOLISM
Authors: Hong, Eun Pyo; Rhee, Ka Hyun; Kim, Dong Hyun; Park, Ji Wan
Abstract
Pleiotropy has important implications for understanding the genetic basis and risk assessment of osteoporosis. Our aim was to identify pleiotropic genetic variants associated with the development of osteoporosis and predict osteoporosis risk by leveraging pleiotropic variants. We evaluated the effects of 21 conventional risk factors and 185 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 63 inflammation- and metabolism-related genes on osteoporosis risk in a community-based Korean cohort study of 1025 participants, the Hallym Aging Study. Ten nongenetic factors, including sex (female) and hematocrit level, and 12 SNPs across ten genes showed evidence of association with incident osteoporosis in 270 initially osteoporosis-free subjects who completed a 6-year follow up. Three gene variants, rs1801282 (PPARG-Pro12Ala, hazard ratio (HR)=3.26, P=0.008), rs1408282 (near EPHA7, HR=1.87, P=0.002), and rs2076212 (PNPLA3-Gly115Cys, HR=2.24, P=0.024), were associated with significant differences in survival among the three genotype groups (P-diff=0.042, 0.003, and 0.048, respectively). Individuals in the highest polygenic risk score tertile were 27.9 fold more likely to develop osteoporosis than those in the lowest tertile (P=0.004). The PPARG gene in particular was a hub pleiotropic gene in the epistasis network. Our findings highlight pleiotropic modulations of metabolism- and inflammation-related genes in the development of osteoporosis and demonstrate the contribution of pleiotropic genetic variants in prediction of osteoporosis risk.
Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue from Local Pig Breeds
GENES
Authors: Albuquerque, Andre; Ovilo, Cristina; Nunez, Yolanda; Benitez, Rita; Lopez-Garcia, Adrian; Garcia, Fabian; Felix, Maria do Rosario; Laranjo, Marta; Charneca, Rui; Martins, Jose Manuel
Abstract
When compared to modern lean-type breeds, Portuguese local Alentejano (AL) and Bisaro (BI) pig breeds present a high potential for subcutaneous and intramuscular fat (IMF) deposition which contributes for better meat quality. The aim of this work was to explore the genome function to better understand the underlying physiological mechanisms associated with body fat accretion. Dorsal subcutaneous fat samples were collected at slaughter from adult animals (n = 4 for each breed) with similar to 150 kg body weight. Total RNA was obtained and sequenced for transcriptome analysis using DESeq2. A total of 458 differentially expressed (DE) genes (q-value < 0.05) were identified, with 263 overexpressed in AL and 195 in BI. Key genes involved in de novo fatty acid biosynthesis, elongation and desaturation were upregulated in AL such as ACLY, FASN, ME1, ELOVL6 and SCD. A functional enrichment analysis of the DE genes was performed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. Cholesterol synthesis is suggested to be higher in AL via SREBF2, SCAP and PPARG, while lipolytic activity may be more active in BI through GH and AMPK signalling. Increased signalling of CD40 together with the predicted activation of INSIG1 and INSIG2 in BI suggests that this breed is more sensitive to insulin whereas the AL is less sensitive like the Iberian breed.