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 - Whole-Exome Sequencing Identifies Loci Associated with Blood Cell Traits and Reveals a Role for Alternative GFI1B Splice Variants in Human Hematopoiesis. JF - Am J Hum Genet Y1 - 2016 A1 - Polfus, Linda M A1 - Khajuria, Rajiv K A1 - Schick, Ursula M A1 - Pankratz, Nathan A1 - Pazoki, Raha A1 - Brody, Jennifer A A1 - Chen, Ming-Huei A1 - Auer, Paul L A1 - Floyd, James S A1 - Huang, Jie A1 - Lange, Leslie A1 - van Rooij, Frank J A A1 - Gibbs, Richard A A1 - Metcalf, Ginger A1 - Muzny, Donna A1 - Veeraraghavan, Narayanan A1 - Walter, Klaudia A1 - Chen, Lu A1 - Yanek, Lisa A1 - Becker, Lewis C A1 - Peloso, Gina M A1 - Wakabayashi, Aoi A1 - Kals, Mart A1 - Metspalu, Andres A1 - Esko, Tõnu A1 - Fox, Keolu A1 - Wallace, Robert A1 - Franceschini, Nora A1 - Matijevic, Nena A1 - Rice, Kenneth M A1 - Bartz, Traci M A1 - Lyytikäinen, Leo-Pekka A1 - Kähönen, Mika A1 - Lehtimäki, Terho A1 - Raitakari, Olli T A1 - Li-Gao, Ruifang A1 - Mook-Kanamori, Dennis O A1 - Lettre, Guillaume A1 - van Duijn, Cornelia M A1 - Franco, Oscar H A1 - Rich, Stephen S A1 - Rivadeneira, Fernando A1 - Hofman, Albert A1 - Uitterlinden, André G A1 - Wilson, James G A1 - Psaty, Bruce M A1 - Soranzo, Nicole A1 - Dehghan, Abbas A1 - Boerwinkle, Eric A1 - Zhang, Xiaoling A1 - Johnson, Andrew D A1 - O'Donnell, Christopher J A1 - Johnsen, Jill M A1 - Reiner, Alexander P A1 - Ganesh, Santhi K A1 - Sankaran, Vijay G VL - 99 IS - 3 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Whole-genome sequencing in diverse subjects identifies genetic correlates of leukocyte traits: The NHLBI TOPMed program. JF - Am J Hum Genet Y1 - 2021 A1 - Mikhaylova, Anna V A1 - McHugh, Caitlin P A1 - Polfus, Linda M A1 - Raffield, Laura M A1 - Boorgula, Meher Preethi A1 - Blackwell, Thomas W A1 - Brody, Jennifer A A1 - Broome, Jai A1 - Chami, Nathalie A1 - Chen, Ming-Huei A1 - Conomos, Matthew P A1 - Cox, Corey A1 - Curran, Joanne E A1 - Daya, Michelle A1 - Ekunwe, Lynette A1 - Glahn, David C A1 - Heard-Costa, Nancy A1 - Highland, Heather M A1 - Hobbs, Brian D A1 - Ilboudo, Yann A1 - Jain, Deepti A1 - Lange, Leslie A A1 - Miller-Fleming, Tyne W A1 - Min, Nancy A1 - Moon, Jee-Young A1 - Preuss, Michael H A1 - Rosen, Jonathon A1 - Ryan, Kathleen A1 - Smith, Albert V A1 - Sun, Quan A1 - Surendran, Praveen A1 - de Vries, Paul S A1 - Walter, Klaudia A1 - Wang, Zhe A1 - Wheeler, Marsha A1 - Yanek, Lisa R A1 - Zhong, Xue A1 - Abecasis, Goncalo R A1 - Almasy, Laura A1 - Barnes, Kathleen C A1 - Beaty, Terri H A1 - Becker, Lewis C A1 - Blangero, John A1 - Boerwinkle, Eric A1 - Butterworth, Adam S A1 - Chavan, Sameer A1 - Cho, Michael H A1 - Choquet, Helene A1 - Correa, Adolfo A1 - Cox, Nancy A1 - DeMeo, Dawn L A1 - Faraday, Nauder A1 - Fornage, Myriam A1 - Gerszten, Robert E A1 - Hou, Lifang A1 - Johnson, Andrew D A1 - Jorgenson, Eric A1 - Kaplan, Robert A1 - Kooperberg, Charles A1 - Kundu, Kousik A1 - Laurie, Cecelia A A1 - Lettre, Guillaume A1 - Lewis, Joshua P A1 - Li, Bingshan A1 - Li, Yun A1 - Lloyd-Jones, Donald M A1 - Loos, Ruth J F A1 - Manichaikul, Ani A1 - Meyers, Deborah A A1 - Mitchell, Braxton D A1 - Morrison, Alanna C A1 - Ngo, Debby A1 - Nickerson, Deborah A A1 - Nongmaithem, Suraj A1 - North, Kari E A1 - O'Connell, Jeffrey R A1 - Ortega, Victor E A1 - Pankratz, Nathan A1 - Perry, James A A1 - Psaty, Bruce M A1 - Rich, Stephen S A1 - Soranzo, Nicole A1 - Rotter, Jerome I A1 - Silverman, Edwin K A1 - Smith, Nicholas L A1 - Tang, Hua A1 - Tracy, Russell P A1 - Thornton, Timothy A A1 - Vasan, Ramachandran S A1 - Zein, Joe A1 - Mathias, Rasika A A1 - Reiner, Alexander P A1 - Auer, Paul L KW - Asthma KW - Biomarkers KW - Dermatitis, Atopic KW - Genetic Predisposition to Disease KW - Genome, Human KW - Genome-Wide Association Study KW - Humans KW - Leukocytes KW - National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (U.S.) KW - Phenotype KW - Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide KW - Prognosis KW - Proteome KW - Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive KW - Quantitative Trait Loci KW - United Kingdom KW - United States KW - Whole Genome Sequencing AB -

Many common and rare variants associated with hematologic traits have been discovered through imputation on large-scale reference panels. However, the majority of genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have been conducted in Europeans, and determining causal variants has proved challenging. We performed a GWAS of total leukocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, and basophil counts generated from 109,563,748 variants in the autosomes and the X chromosome in the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program, which included data from 61,802 individuals of diverse ancestry. We discovered and replicated 7 leukocyte trait associations, including (1) the association between a chromosome X, pseudo-autosomal region (PAR), noncoding variant located between cytokine receptor genes (CSF2RA and CLRF2) and lower eosinophil count; and (2) associations between single variants found predominantly among African Americans at the S1PR3 (9q22.1) and HBB (11p15.4) loci and monocyte and lymphocyte counts, respectively. We further provide evidence indicating that the newly discovered eosinophil-lowering chromosome X PAR variant might be associated with reduced susceptibility to common allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis and asthma. Additionally, we found a burden of very rare FLT3 (13q12.2) variants associated with monocyte counts. Together, these results emphasize the utility of whole-genome sequencing in diverse samples in identifying associations missed by European-ancestry-driven GWASs.

VL - 108 IS - 10 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Whole Genome Sequencing Based Analysis of Inflammation Biomarkers in the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) Consortium. JF - bioRxiv Y1 - 2023 A1 - Jiang, Min-Zhi A1 - Gaynor, Sheila M A1 - Li, Xihao A1 - Van Buren, Eric A1 - Stilp, Adrienne A1 - Buth, Erin A1 - Wang, Fei Fei A1 - Manansala, Regina A1 - Gogarten, Stephanie M A1 - Li, Zilin A1 - Polfus, Linda M A1 - Salimi, Shabnam A1 - Bis, Joshua C A1 - Pankratz, Nathan A1 - Yanek, Lisa R A1 - Durda, Peter A1 - Tracy, Russell P A1 - Rich, Stephen S A1 - Rotter, Jerome I A1 - Mitchell, Braxton D A1 - Lewis, Joshua P A1 - Psaty, Bruce M A1 - Pratte, Katherine A A1 - Silverman, Edwin K A1 - Kaplan, Robert C A1 - Avery, Christy A1 - North, Kari A1 - Mathias, Rasika A A1 - Faraday, Nauder A1 - Lin, Honghuang A1 - Wang, Biqi A1 - Carson, April P A1 - Norwood, Arnita F A1 - Gibbs, Richard A A1 - Kooperberg, Charles A1 - Lundin, Jessica A1 - Peters, Ulrike A1 - Dupuis, Josée A1 - Hou, Lifang A1 - Fornage, Myriam A1 - Benjamin, Emelia J A1 - Reiner, Alexander P A1 - Bowler, Russell P A1 - Lin, Xihong A1 - Auer, Paul L A1 - Raffield, Laura M AB -

Inflammation biomarkers can provide valuable insight into the role of inflammatory processes in many diseases and conditions. Sequencing based analyses of such biomarkers can also serve as an exemplar of the genetic architecture of quantitative traits. To evaluate the biological insight, which can be provided by a multi-ancestry, whole-genome based association study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of 21 inflammation biomarkers from up to 38,465 individuals with whole-genome sequencing from the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program. We identified 22 distinct single-variant associations across 6 traits - E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, interleukin-6, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 activity and mass, and P-selectin - that remained significant after conditioning on previously identified associations for these inflammatory biomarkers. We further expanded upon known biomarker associations by pairing the single-variant analysis with a rare variant set-based analysis that further identified 19 significant rare variant set-based associations with 5 traits. These signals were distinct from both significant single variant association signals within TOPMed and genetic signals observed in prior studies, demonstrating the complementary value of performing both single and rare variant analyses when analyzing quantitative traits. We also confirm several previously reported signals from semi-quantitative proteomics platforms. Many of these signals demonstrate the extensive allelic heterogeneity and ancestry-differentiated variant-trait associations common for inflammation biomarkers, a characteristic we hypothesize will be increasingly observed with well-powered, large-scale analyses of complex traits.

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