@article {6133,
	title = {Novel gene variants predict serum levels of the cytokines IL-18 and IL-1ra in older adults.},
	journal = {Cytokine},
	volume = {65},
	year = {2014},
	month = {2014 Jan},
	pages = {10-6},
	abstract = {<p>Activation of inflammatory pathways measured by serum inflammatory markers such as interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) is strongly associated with the progression of chronic disease states in older adults. Given that these serum cytokine levels are in part a heritable trait, genetic variation may predict increased serum levels. Using the Cardiovascular Health Study and InCHIANTI cohorts, a genome-wide association study was performed to identify genetic variants that influence IL-18 and IL-1ra serum levels among older adults. Multiple linear regression models characterized the association between each SNP and log-transformed cytokine values. Tests for multiple independent signals within statistically significant loci were performed using haplotype analysis and regression models conditional on lead SNP in each region. Multiple SNPs were associated with these cytokines with genome-wide significance, including SNPs in the IL-18-BCO gene region of chromosome 2 for IL-18 (top SNP rs2250417, P=1.9{\texttimes}10(-32)) and in the IL-1 gene family region of chromosome 2 for IL-1ra (rs6743376, P=2.3{\texttimes}10(-26)). Haplotype tests and conditional linear regression models showed evidence of multiple independent signals in these regions. Serum IL-18 levels were also associated with a region on chromosome 2 containing the NLRC4 gene (rs12989936, P=2.7{\texttimes}10(-19)). These data characterize multiple robust genetic signals that influence IL-18 and IL-1ra cytokine production. In particular, the signal for serum IL-18 located on chromosome two is novel and potentially important in inflammasome triggered chronic activation of inflammation in older adults. Replication in independent cohorts is an important next step, as well as molecular studies to better understand the role of NLRC4. </p>},
	keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Calcium-Binding Proteins, CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins, Chromosomes, Human, Pair 2, Female, Genetic Variation, Genome-Wide Association Study, Genotype, Haplotypes, Humans, Inflammation, Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein, Interleukin-18, Male, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide},
	issn = {1096-0023},
	doi = {10.1016/j.cyto.2013.10.002},
	author = {Matteini, A M and Li, J and Lange, E M and Tanaka, T and Lange, L A and Tracy, R P and Wang, Y and Biggs, M L and Arking, D E and Fallin, M D and Chakravarti, A and Psaty, B M and Bandinelli, S and Ferrucci, L and Reiner, A P and Walston, J D}
}
@article {7375,
	title = {A DNA methylation biomarker of alcohol consumption.},
	journal = {Mol Psychiatry},
	year = {2016},
	month = {2016 Nov 15},
	abstract = {<p>The lack of reliable measures of alcohol intake is a major obstacle to the diagnosis and treatment of alcohol-related diseases. Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation may provide novel biomarkers of alcohol use. To examine this possibility, we performed an epigenome-wide association study of methylation of cytosine-phosphate-guanine dinucleotide (CpG) sites in relation to alcohol intake in 13 population-based cohorts (ntotal=13 317; 54\% women; mean age across cohorts 42-76 years) using whole blood (9643 European and 2423 African ancestries) or monocyte-derived DNA (588 European, 263 African and 400 Hispanic ancestry) samples. We performed meta-analysis and variable selection in whole-blood samples of people of European ancestry (n=6926) and identified 144 CpGs that provided substantial discrimination (area under the curve=0.90-0.99) for current heavy alcohol intake (⩾42 g per day in men and ⩾28 g per day in women) in four replication cohorts. The ancestry-stratified meta-analysis in whole blood identified 328 (9643 European ancestry samples) and 165 (2423 African ancestry samples) alcohol-related CpGs at Bonferroni-adjusted P<1 {\texttimes} 10(-7). Analysis of the monocyte-derived DNA (n=1251) identified 62 alcohol-related CpGs at P<1 {\texttimes} 10(-7). In whole-blood samples of people of European ancestry, we detected differential methylation in two neurotransmitter receptor genes, the γ-Aminobutyric acid-A receptor delta and γ-aminobutyric acid B receptor subunit 1; their differential methylation was associated with expression levels of a number of genes involved in immune function. In conclusion, we have identified a robust alcohol-related DNA methylation signature and shown the potential utility of DNA methylation as a clinically useful diagnostic test to detect current heavy alcohol consumption.Molecular Psychiatry advance online publication, 15 November 2016; doi:10.1038/mp.2016.192.</p>},
	issn = {1476-5578},
	doi = {10.1038/mp.2016.192},
	author = {Liu, C and Marioni, R E and Hedman, {\r A} K and Pfeiffer, L and Tsai, P-C and Reynolds, L M and Just, A C and Duan, Q and Boer, C G and Tanaka, T and Elks, C E and Aslibekyan, S and Brody, J A and K{\"u}hnel, B and Herder, C and Almli, L M and Zhi, D and Wang, Y and Huan, T and Yao, C and Mendelson, M M and Joehanes, R and Liang, L and Love, S-A and Guan, W and Shah, S and McRae, A F and Kretschmer, A and Prokisch, H and Strauch, K and Peters, A and Visscher, P M and Wray, N R and Guo, X and Wiggins, K L and Smith, A K and Binder, E B and Ressler, K J and Irvin, M R and Absher, D M and Hernandez, D and Ferrucci, L and Bandinelli, S and Lohman, K and Ding, J and Trevisi, L and Gustafsson, S and Sandling, J H and Stolk, L and Uitterlinden, A G and Yet, I and Castillo-Fernandez, J E and Spector, T D and Schwartz, J D and Vokonas, P and Lind, L and Li, Y and Fornage, M and Arnett, D K and Wareham, N J and Sotoodehnia, N and Ong, K K and van Meurs, J B J and Conneely, K N and Baccarelli, A A and Deary, I J and Bell, J T and North, K E and Liu, Y and Waldenberger, M and London, S J and Ingelsson, E and Levy, D}
}
