TY - JOUR T1 - Exome Genotyping Identifies Pleiotropic Variants Associated with Red Blood Cell Traits. JF - Am J Hum Genet Y1 - 2016 A1 - Chami, Nathalie A1 - Chen, Ming-Huei A1 - Slater, Andrew J A1 - Eicher, John D A1 - Evangelou, Evangelos A1 - Tajuddin, Salman M A1 - Love-Gregory, Latisha A1 - Kacprowski, Tim A1 - Schick, Ursula M A1 - Nomura, Akihiro A1 - Giri, Ayush A1 - Lessard, Samuel A1 - Brody, Jennifer A A1 - Schurmann, Claudia A1 - Pankratz, Nathan A1 - Yanek, Lisa R A1 - Manichaikul, Ani A1 - Pazoki, Raha A1 - Mihailov, Evelin A1 - Hill, W David A1 - Raffield, Laura M A1 - Burt, Amber A1 - Bartz, Traci M A1 - Becker, Diane M A1 - Becker, Lewis C A1 - Boerwinkle, Eric A1 - Bork-Jensen, Jette A1 - Bottinger, Erwin P A1 - O'Donoghue, Michelle L A1 - Crosslin, David R A1 - de Denus, Simon A1 - Dubé, Marie-Pierre A1 - Elliott, Paul A1 - Engström, Gunnar A1 - Evans, Michele K A1 - Floyd, James S A1 - Fornage, Myriam A1 - Gao, He A1 - Greinacher, Andreas A1 - Gudnason, Vilmundur A1 - Hansen, Torben A1 - Harris, Tamara B A1 - Hayward, Caroline A1 - Hernesniemi, Jussi A1 - Highland, Heather M A1 - Hirschhorn, Joel N A1 - Hofman, Albert A1 - Irvin, Marguerite R A1 - Kähönen, Mika A1 - Lange, Ethan A1 - Launer, Lenore J A1 - Lehtimäki, Terho A1 - Li, Jin A1 - Liewald, David C M A1 - Linneberg, Allan A1 - Liu, Yongmei A1 - Lu, Yingchang A1 - Lyytikäinen, Leo-Pekka A1 - Mägi, Reedik A1 - Mathias, Rasika A A1 - Melander, Olle A1 - Metspalu, Andres A1 - Mononen, Nina A1 - Nalls, Mike A A1 - Nickerson, Deborah A A1 - Nikus, Kjell A1 - O'Donnell, Chris J A1 - Orho-Melander, Marju A1 - Pedersen, Oluf A1 - Petersmann, Astrid A1 - Polfus, Linda A1 - Psaty, Bruce M A1 - Raitakari, Olli T A1 - Raitoharju, Emma A1 - Richard, Melissa A1 - Rice, Kenneth M A1 - Rivadeneira, Fernando A1 - Rotter, Jerome I A1 - Schmidt, Frank A1 - Smith, Albert Vernon A1 - Starr, John M A1 - Taylor, Kent D A1 - Teumer, Alexander A1 - Thuesen, Betina H A1 - Torstenson, Eric S A1 - Tracy, Russell P A1 - Tzoulaki, Ioanna A1 - Zakai, Neil A A1 - Vacchi-Suzzi, Caterina A1 - van Duijn, Cornelia M A1 - van Rooij, Frank J A A1 - Cushman, Mary A1 - Deary, Ian J A1 - Velez Edwards, Digna R A1 - Vergnaud, Anne-Claire A1 - Wallentin, Lars A1 - Waterworth, Dawn M A1 - White, Harvey D A1 - Wilson, James G A1 - Zonderman, Alan B A1 - Kathiresan, Sekar A1 - Grarup, Niels A1 - Esko, Tõnu A1 - Loos, Ruth J F A1 - Lange, Leslie A A1 - Faraday, Nauder A1 - Abumrad, Nada A A1 - Edwards, Todd L A1 - Ganesh, Santhi K A1 - Auer, Paul L A1 - Johnson, Andrew D A1 - Reiner, Alexander P A1 - Lettre, Guillaume AB -

Red blood cell (RBC) traits are important heritable clinical biomarkers and modifiers of disease severity. To identify coding genetic variants associated with these traits, we conducted meta-analyses of seven RBC phenotypes in 130,273 multi-ethnic individuals from studies genotyped on an exome array. After conditional analyses and replication in 27,480 independent individuals, we identified 16 new RBC variants. We found low-frequency missense variants in MAP1A (rs55707100, minor allele frequency [MAF] = 3.3%, p = 2 × 10(-10) for hemoglobin [HGB]) and HNF4A (rs1800961, MAF = 2.4%, p < 3 × 10(-8) for hematocrit [HCT] and HGB). In African Americans, we identified a nonsense variant in CD36 associated with higher RBC distribution width (rs3211938, MAF = 8.7%, p = 7 × 10(-11)) and showed that it is associated with lower CD36 expression and strong allelic imbalance in ex vivo differentiated human erythroblasts. We also identified a rare missense variant in ALAS2 (rs201062903, MAF = 0.2%) associated with lower mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (p < 8 × 10(-9)). Mendelian mutations in ALAS2 are a cause of sideroblastic anemia and erythropoietic protoporphyria. Gene-based testing highlighted three rare missense variants in PKLR, a gene mutated in Mendelian non-spherocytic hemolytic anemia, associated with HGB and HCT (SKAT p < 8 × 10(-7)). These rare, low-frequency, and common RBC variants showed pleiotropy, being also associated with platelet, white blood cell, and lipid traits. Our association results and functional annotation suggest the involvement of new genes in human erythropoiesis. We also confirm that rare and low-frequency variants play a role in the architecture of complex human traits, although their phenotypic effect is generally smaller than originally anticipated.

VL - 99 IS - 1 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27346685?dopt=Abstract ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Large-Scale Exome-wide Association Analysis Identifies Loci for White Blood Cell Traits and Pleiotropy with Immune-Mediated Diseases. JF - Am J Hum Genet Y1 - 2016 A1 - Tajuddin, Salman M A1 - Schick, Ursula M A1 - Eicher, John D A1 - Chami, Nathalie A1 - Giri, Ayush A1 - Brody, Jennifer A A1 - Hill, W David A1 - Kacprowski, Tim A1 - Li, Jin A1 - Lyytikäinen, Leo-Pekka A1 - Manichaikul, Ani A1 - Mihailov, Evelin A1 - O'Donoghue, Michelle L A1 - Pankratz, Nathan A1 - Pazoki, Raha A1 - Polfus, Linda M A1 - Smith, Albert Vernon A1 - Schurmann, Claudia A1 - Vacchi-Suzzi, Caterina A1 - Waterworth, Dawn M A1 - Evangelou, Evangelos A1 - Yanek, Lisa R A1 - Burt, Amber A1 - Chen, Ming-Huei A1 - van Rooij, Frank J A A1 - Floyd, James S A1 - Greinacher, Andreas A1 - Harris, Tamara B A1 - Highland, Heather M A1 - Lange, Leslie A A1 - Liu, Yongmei A1 - Mägi, Reedik A1 - Nalls, Mike A A1 - Mathias, Rasika A A1 - Nickerson, Deborah A A1 - Nikus, Kjell A1 - Starr, John M A1 - Tardif, Jean-Claude A1 - Tzoulaki, Ioanna A1 - Velez Edwards, Digna R A1 - Wallentin, Lars A1 - Bartz, Traci M A1 - Becker, Lewis C A1 - Denny, Joshua C A1 - Raffield, Laura M A1 - Rioux, John D A1 - Friedrich, Nele A1 - Fornage, Myriam A1 - Gao, He A1 - Hirschhorn, Joel N A1 - Liewald, David C M A1 - Rich, Stephen S A1 - Uitterlinden, Andre A1 - Bastarache, Lisa A1 - Becker, Diane M A1 - Boerwinkle, Eric A1 - de Denus, Simon A1 - Bottinger, Erwin P A1 - Hayward, Caroline A1 - Hofman, Albert A1 - Homuth, Georg A1 - Lange, Ethan A1 - Launer, Lenore J A1 - Lehtimäki, Terho A1 - Lu, Yingchang A1 - Metspalu, Andres A1 - O'Donnell, Chris J A1 - Quarells, Rakale C A1 - Richard, Melissa A1 - Torstenson, Eric S A1 - Taylor, Kent D A1 - Vergnaud, Anne-Claire A1 - Zonderman, Alan B A1 - Crosslin, David R A1 - Deary, Ian J A1 - Dörr, Marcus A1 - Elliott, Paul A1 - Evans, Michele K A1 - Gudnason, Vilmundur A1 - Kähönen, Mika A1 - Psaty, Bruce M A1 - Rotter, Jerome I A1 - Slater, Andrew J A1 - Dehghan, Abbas A1 - White, Harvey D A1 - Ganesh, Santhi K A1 - Loos, Ruth J F A1 - Esko, Tõnu A1 - Faraday, Nauder A1 - Wilson, James G A1 - Cushman, Mary A1 - Johnson, Andrew D A1 - Edwards, Todd L A1 - Zakai, Neil A A1 - Lettre, Guillaume A1 - Reiner, Alex P A1 - Auer, Paul L AB -

White blood cells play diverse roles in innate and adaptive immunity. Genetic association analyses of phenotypic variation in circulating white blood cell (WBC) counts from large samples of otherwise healthy individuals can provide insights into genes and biologic pathways involved in production, differentiation, or clearance of particular WBC lineages (myeloid, lymphoid) and also potentially inform the genetic basis of autoimmune, allergic, and blood diseases. We performed an exome array-based meta-analysis of total WBC and subtype counts (neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, basophils, and eosinophils) in a multi-ancestry discovery and replication sample of ∼157,622 individuals from 25 studies. We identified 16 common variants (8 of which were coding variants) associated with one or more WBC traits, the majority of which are pleiotropically associated with autoimmune diseases. Based on functional annotation, these loci included genes encoding surface markers of myeloid, lymphoid, or hematopoietic stem cell differentiation (CD69, CD33, CD87), transcription factors regulating lineage specification during hematopoiesis (ASXL1, IRF8, IKZF1, JMJD1C, ETS2-PSMG1), and molecules involved in neutrophil clearance/apoptosis (C10orf54, LTA), adhesion (TNXB), or centrosome and microtubule structure/function (KIF9, TUBD1). Together with recent reports of somatic ASXL1 mutations among individuals with idiopathic cytopenias or clonal hematopoiesis of undetermined significance, the identification of a common regulatory 3' UTR variant of ASXL1 suggests that both germline and somatic ASXL1 mutations contribute to lower blood counts in otherwise asymptomatic individuals. These association results shed light on genetic mechanisms that regulate circulating WBC counts and suggest a prominent shared genetic architecture with inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

VL - 99 IS - 1 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27346689?dopt=Abstract ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Platelet-Related Variants Identified by Exomechip Meta-analysis in 157,293 Individuals. JF - Am J Hum Genet Y1 - 2016 A1 - Eicher, John D A1 - Chami, Nathalie A1 - Kacprowski, Tim A1 - Nomura, Akihiro A1 - Chen, Ming-Huei A1 - Yanek, Lisa R A1 - Tajuddin, Salman M A1 - Schick, Ursula M A1 - Slater, Andrew J A1 - Pankratz, Nathan A1 - Polfus, Linda A1 - Schurmann, Claudia A1 - Giri, Ayush A1 - Brody, Jennifer A A1 - Lange, Leslie A A1 - Manichaikul, Ani A1 - Hill, W David A1 - Pazoki, Raha A1 - Elliot, Paul A1 - Evangelou, Evangelos A1 - Tzoulaki, Ioanna A1 - Gao, He A1 - Vergnaud, Anne-Claire A1 - Mathias, Rasika A A1 - Becker, Diane M A1 - Becker, Lewis C A1 - Burt, Amber A1 - Crosslin, David R A1 - Lyytikäinen, Leo-Pekka A1 - Nikus, Kjell A1 - Hernesniemi, Jussi A1 - Kähönen, Mika A1 - Raitoharju, Emma A1 - Mononen, Nina A1 - Raitakari, Olli T A1 - Lehtimäki, Terho A1 - Cushman, Mary A1 - Zakai, Neil A A1 - Nickerson, Deborah A A1 - Raffield, Laura M A1 - Quarells, Rakale A1 - Willer, Cristen J A1 - Peloso, Gina M A1 - Abecasis, Goncalo R A1 - Liu, Dajiang J A1 - Deloukas, Panos A1 - Samani, Nilesh J A1 - Schunkert, Heribert A1 - Erdmann, Jeanette A1 - Fornage, Myriam A1 - Richard, Melissa A1 - Tardif, Jean-Claude A1 - Rioux, John D A1 - Dubé, Marie-Pierre A1 - de Denus, Simon A1 - Lu, Yingchang A1 - Bottinger, Erwin P A1 - Loos, Ruth J F A1 - Smith, Albert Vernon A1 - Harris, Tamara B A1 - Launer, Lenore J A1 - Gudnason, Vilmundur A1 - Velez Edwards, Digna R A1 - Torstenson, Eric S A1 - Liu, Yongmei A1 - Tracy, Russell P A1 - Rotter, Jerome I A1 - Rich, Stephen S A1 - Highland, Heather M A1 - Boerwinkle, Eric A1 - Li, Jin A1 - Lange, Ethan A1 - Wilson, James G A1 - Mihailov, Evelin A1 - Mägi, Reedik A1 - Hirschhorn, Joel A1 - Metspalu, Andres A1 - Esko, Tõnu A1 - Vacchi-Suzzi, Caterina A1 - Nalls, Mike A A1 - Zonderman, Alan B A1 - Evans, Michele K A1 - Engström, Gunnar A1 - Orho-Melander, Marju A1 - Melander, Olle A1 - O'Donoghue, Michelle L A1 - Waterworth, Dawn M A1 - Wallentin, Lars A1 - White, Harvey D A1 - Floyd, James S A1 - Bartz, Traci M A1 - Rice, Kenneth M A1 - Psaty, Bruce M A1 - Starr, J M A1 - Liewald, David C M A1 - Hayward, Caroline A1 - Deary, Ian J A1 - Greinacher, Andreas A1 - Völker, Uwe A1 - Thiele, Thomas A1 - Völzke, Henry A1 - van Rooij, Frank J A A1 - Uitterlinden, André G A1 - Franco, Oscar H A1 - Dehghan, Abbas A1 - Edwards, Todd L A1 - Ganesh, Santhi K A1 - Kathiresan, Sekar A1 - Faraday, Nauder A1 - Auer, Paul L A1 - Reiner, Alex P A1 - Lettre, Guillaume A1 - Johnson, Andrew D AB -

Platelet production, maintenance, and clearance are tightly controlled processes indicative of platelets' important roles in hemostasis and thrombosis. Platelets are common targets for primary and secondary prevention of several conditions. They are monitored clinically by complete blood counts, specifically with measurements of platelet count (PLT) and mean platelet volume (MPV). Identifying genetic effects on PLT and MPV can provide mechanistic insights into platelet biology and their role in disease. Therefore, we formed the Blood Cell Consortium (BCX) to perform a large-scale meta-analysis of Exomechip association results for PLT and MPV in 157,293 and 57,617 individuals, respectively. Using the low-frequency/rare coding variant-enriched Exomechip genotyping array, we sought to identify genetic variants associated with PLT and MPV. In addition to confirming 47 known PLT and 20 known MPV associations, we identified 32 PLT and 18 MPV associations not previously observed in the literature across the allele frequency spectrum, including rare large effect (FCER1A), low-frequency (IQGAP2, MAP1A, LY75), and common (ZMIZ2, SMG6, PEAR1, ARFGAP3/PACSIN2) variants. Several variants associated with PLT/MPV (PEAR1, MRVI1, PTGES3) were also associated with platelet reactivity. In concurrent BCX analyses, there was overlap of platelet-associated variants with red (MAP1A, TMPRSS6, ZMIZ2) and white (PEAR1, ZMIZ2, LY75) blood cell traits, suggesting common regulatory pathways with shared genetic architecture among these hematopoietic lineages. Our large-scale Exomechip analyses identified previously undocumented associations with platelet traits and further indicate that several complex quantitative hematological, lipid, and cardiovascular traits share genetic factors.

VL - 99 IS - 1 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27346686?dopt=Abstract ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Discovery and replication of SNP-SNP interactions for quantitative lipid traits in over 60,000 individuals. JF - BioData Min Y1 - 2017 A1 - Holzinger, Emily R A1 - Verma, Shefali S A1 - Moore, Carrie B A1 - Hall, Molly A1 - De, Rishika A1 - Gilbert-Diamond, Diane A1 - Lanktree, Matthew B A1 - Pankratz, Nathan A1 - Amuzu, Antoinette A1 - Burt, Amber A1 - Dale, Caroline A1 - Dudek, Scott A1 - Furlong, Clement E A1 - Gaunt, Tom R A1 - Kim, Daniel Seung A1 - Riess, Helene A1 - Sivapalaratnam, Suthesh A1 - Tragante, Vinicius A1 - van Iperen, Erik P A A1 - Brautbar, Ariel A1 - Carrell, David S A1 - Crosslin, David R A1 - Jarvik, Gail P A1 - Kuivaniemi, Helena A1 - Kullo, Iftikhar J A1 - Larson, Eric B A1 - Rasmussen-Torvik, Laura J A1 - Tromp, Gerard A1 - Baumert, Jens A1 - Cruickshanks, Karen J A1 - Farrall, Martin A1 - Hingorani, Aroon D A1 - Hovingh, G K A1 - Kleber, Marcus E A1 - Klein, Barbara E A1 - Klein, Ronald A1 - Koenig, Wolfgang A1 - Lange, Leslie A A1 - Mӓrz, Winfried A1 - North, Kari E A1 - Charlotte Onland-Moret, N A1 - Reiner, Alex P A1 - Talmud, Philippa J A1 - van der Schouw, Yvonne T A1 - Wilson, James G A1 - Kivimaki, Mika A1 - Kumari, Meena A1 - Moore, Jason H A1 - Drenos, Fotios A1 - Asselbergs, Folkert W A1 - Keating, Brendan J A1 - Ritchie, Marylyn D AB -

BACKGROUND: The genetic etiology of human lipid quantitative traits is not fully elucidated, and interactions between variants may play a role. We performed a gene-centric interaction study for four different lipid traits: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG).

RESULTS: Our analysis consisted of a discovery phase using a merged dataset of five different cohorts (n = 12,853 to n = 16,849 depending on lipid phenotype) and a replication phase with ten independent cohorts totaling up to 36,938 additional samples. Filters are often applied before interaction testing to correct for the burden of testing all pairwise interactions. We used two different filters: 1. A filter that tested only single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with a main effect of p < 0.001 in a previous association study. 2. A filter that only tested interactions identified by Biofilter 2.0. Pairwise models that reached an interaction significance level of p < 0.001 in the discovery dataset were tested for replication. We identified thirteen SNP-SNP models that were significant in more than one replication cohort after accounting for multiple testing.

CONCLUSIONS: These results may reveal novel insights into the genetic etiology of lipid levels. Furthermore, we developed a pipeline to perform a computationally efficient interaction analysis with multi-cohort replication.

VL - 10 ER -