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Reay WR, Clarke E, Eslick S, Riveros C, Holliday EG, McEvoy MA, Peel R, Hancock S, Scott RJ, Attia JR, Collins CE, Cairns MJ. Using Genetics to Inform Interventions Related to Sodium and Potassium in Hypertension. Circulation 2024; 149:1019-1032. [PMID: 38131187 PMCID: PMC10962430 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.123.065394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypertension is a key risk factor for major adverse cardiovascular events but remains difficult to treat in many individuals. Dietary interventions are an effective approach to lower blood pressure (BP) but are not equally effective across all individuals. BP is heritable, and genetics may be a useful tool to overcome treatment response heterogeneity. We investigated whether the genetics of BP could be used to identify individuals with hypertension who may receive a particular benefit from lowering sodium intake and boosting potassium levels. METHODS In this observational genetic study, we leveraged cross-sectional data from up to 296 475 genotyped individuals drawn from the UK Biobank cohort for whom BP and urinary electrolytes (sodium and potassium), biomarkers of sodium and potassium intake, were measured. Biologically directed genetic scores for BP were constructed specifically among pathways related to sodium and potassium biology (pharmagenic enrichment scores), as well as unannotated genome-wide scores (conventional polygenic scores). We then tested whether there was a gene-by-environment interaction between urinary electrolytes and these genetic scores on BP. RESULTS Genetic risk and urinary electrolytes both independently correlated with BP. However, urinary sodium was associated with a larger BP increase among individuals with higher genetic risk in sodium- and potassium-related pathways than in those with comparatively lower genetic risk. For example, each SD in urinary sodium was associated with a 1.47-mm Hg increase in systolic BP for those in the top 10% of the distribution of genetic risk in sodium and potassium transport pathways versus a 0.97-mm Hg systolic BP increase in the lowest 10% (P=1.95×10-3). This interaction with urinary sodium remained when considering estimated glomerular filtration rate and indexing sodium to urinary creatinine. There was no strong evidence of an interaction between urinary sodium and a standard genome-wide polygenic score of BP. CONCLUSIONS The data suggest that genetic risk in sodium and potassium pathways could be used in a precision medicine model to direct interventions more specifically in the management of hypertension. Intervention studies are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R. Reay
- Schools of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy (W.R.R., R.J.S., M.J.C.), The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Precision Medicine Research Program (W.R.R., M.J.C.), New Lambton, NSW, Australia
| | - Erin Clarke
- Health Sciences (E.C., S.E., C.E.C.), The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Food and Nutrition Research Program (E.C., C.E.C.), New Lambton, NSW, Australia
| | - Shaun Eslick
- Health Sciences (E.C., S.E., C.E.C.), The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Carlos Riveros
- Hunter Medical Research Institute (C.R., E.G.H., J.R.A.), New Lambton, NSW, Australia
| | - Elizabeth G. Holliday
- Medicine and Public Health (E.G.H., R.P., S.H., J.R.A.), The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute (C.R., E.G.H., J.R.A.), New Lambton, NSW, Australia
| | - Mark A. McEvoy
- Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia (M.A.M.)
| | - Roseanne Peel
- Medicine and Public Health (E.G.H., R.P., S.H., J.R.A.), The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Stephen Hancock
- Medicine and Public Health (E.G.H., R.P., S.H., J.R.A.), The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Rodney J. Scott
- Schools of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy (W.R.R., R.J.S., M.J.C.), The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Cancer Detection and Therapy Research Program (R.J.S.), New Lambton, NSW, Australia
| | - John R. Attia
- Medicine and Public Health (E.G.H., R.P., S.H., J.R.A.), The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute (C.R., E.G.H., J.R.A.), New Lambton, NSW, Australia
| | - Clare E. Collins
- Health Sciences (E.C., S.E., C.E.C.), The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Food and Nutrition Research Program (E.C., C.E.C.), New Lambton, NSW, Australia
| | - Murray J. Cairns
- Schools of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy (W.R.R., R.J.S., M.J.C.), The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Precision Medicine Research Program (W.R.R., M.J.C.), New Lambton, NSW, Australia
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Reay WR, Kiltschewskij DJ, Di Biase MA, Gerring ZF, Kundu K, Surendran P, Greco LA, Clarke ED, Collins CE, Mondul AM, Albanes D, Cairns MJ. Genetic influences on circulating retinol and its relationship to human health. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1490. [PMID: 38374065 PMCID: PMC10876955 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45779-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Retinol is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays an essential role in many biological processes throughout the human lifespan. Here, we perform the largest genome-wide association study (GWAS) of retinol to date in up to 22,274 participants. We identify eight common variant loci associated with retinol, as well as a rare-variant signal. An integrative gene prioritisation pipeline supports novel retinol-associated genes outside of the main retinol transport complex (RBP4:TTR) related to lipid biology, energy homoeostasis, and endocrine signalling. Genetic proxies of circulating retinol were then used to estimate causal relationships with almost 20,000 clinical phenotypes via a phenome-wide Mendelian randomisation study (MR-pheWAS). The MR-pheWAS suggests that retinol may exert causal effects on inflammation, adiposity, ocular measures, the microbiome, and MRI-derived brain phenotypes, amongst several others. Conversely, circulating retinol may be causally influenced by factors including lipids and serum creatinine. Finally, we demonstrate how a retinol polygenic score could identify individuals more likely to fall outside of the normative range of circulating retinol for a given age. In summary, this study provides a comprehensive evaluation of the genetics of circulating retinol, as well as revealing traits which should be prioritised for further investigation with respect to retinol related therapies or nutritional intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R Reay
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW, Australia.
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Dylan J Kiltschewskij
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW, Australia
| | - Maria A Di Biase
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zachary F Gerring
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kousik Kundu
- Human Genetics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Praveen Surendran
- British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, School of Clinical Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Health Data Research UK, Wellcome Genome Campus and University of Cambridge, Hinxton, UK
| | - Laura A Greco
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW, Australia
| | - Erin D Clarke
- School of Health Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Food and Nutrition Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW, Australia
| | - Clare E Collins
- School of Health Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Food and Nutrition Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW, Australia
| | - Alison M Mondul
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Demetrius Albanes
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Murray J Cairns
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW, Australia.
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Silveira PP, Meaney MJ. Examining the biological mechanisms of human mental disorders resulting from gene-environment interdependence using novel functional genomic approaches. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 178:106008. [PMID: 36690304 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
We explore how functional genomics approaches that integrate datasets from human and non-human model systems can improve our understanding of the effect of gene-environment interplay on the risk for mental disorders. We start by briefly defining the G-E paradigm and its challenges and then discuss the different levels of regulation of gene expression and the corresponding data existing in humans (genome wide genotyping, transcriptomics, DNA methylation, chromatin modifications, chromosome conformational changes, non-coding RNAs, proteomics and metabolomics), discussing novel approaches to the application of these data in the study of the origins of mental health. Finally, we discuss the multilevel integration of diverse types of data. Advance in the use of functional genomics in the context of a G-E perspective improves the detection of vulnerabilities, informing the development of preventive and therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Pelufo Silveira
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Michael J Meaney
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Translational Neuroscience Program, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore; Brain - Body Initiative, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore.
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Adams DM, Reay WR, Cairns MJ. Multiomic prioritisation of risk genes for anorexia nervosa. Psychol Med 2023; 53:1-9. [PMID: 36803885 PMCID: PMC10600818 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723000235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a psychiatric disorder associated with marked morbidity. Whilst AN genetic studies could identify novel treatment targets, integration of functional genomics data, including transcriptomics and proteomics, would assist to disentangle correlated signals and reveal causally associated genes. METHODS We used models of genetically imputed expression and splicing from 14 tissues, leveraging mRNA, protein, and mRNA alternative splicing weights to identify genes, proteins, and transcripts, respectively, associated with AN risk. This was accomplished through transcriptome, proteome, and spliceosome-wide association studies, followed by conditional analysis and finemapping to prioritise candidate causal genes. RESULTS We uncovered 134 genes for which genetically predicted mRNA expression was associated with AN after multiple-testing correction, as well as four proteins and 16 alternatively spliced transcripts. Conditional analysis of these significantly associated genes on other proximal association signals resulted in 97 genes independently associated with AN. Moreover, probabilistic finemapping further refined these associations and prioritised putative causal genes. The gene WDR6, for which increased genetically predicted mRNA expression was correlated with AN, was strongly supported by both conditional analyses and finemapping. Pathway analysis of genes revealed by finemapping identified the pathway regulation of immune system process (overlapping genes = MST1, TREX1, PRKAR2A, PROS1) as statistically overrepresented. CONCLUSIONS We leveraged multiomic datasets to genetically prioritise novel risk genes for AN. Multiple-lines of evidence support that WDR6 is associated with AN, whilst other prioritised genes were enriched within immune related pathways, further supporting the role of the immune system in AN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle M. Adams
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Centre for Complex Disease Neurobiology and Precision Medicine, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - William R. Reay
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Centre for Complex Disease Neurobiology and Precision Medicine, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Murray J. Cairns
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Centre for Complex Disease Neurobiology and Precision Medicine, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
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Greco LA, Reay WR, Dayas CV, Cairns MJ. Pairwise genetic meta-analyses between schizophrenia and substance dependence phenotypes reveals novel association signals with pharmacological significance. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:403. [PMID: 36151087 PMCID: PMC9508072 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02186-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Almost half of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia also present with a substance use disorder, however, little is known about potential molecular mechanisms underlying this comorbidity. We used genetic analyses to enhance our understanding of the molecular overlap between these conditions. Our analyses revealed a positive genetic correlation between schizophrenia and the following dependence phenotypes: alcohol (rg = 0.368, SE = 0.076, P = 1.61 × 10-6), cannabis use disorder (rg = 0.309, SE = 0.033, P = 1.97 × 10-20) and nicotine (rg = 0.117, SE = 0.043, P = 7.0 × 10-3), as well as drinks per week (rg = 0.087, SE = 0.021, P = 6.36 × 10-5), cigarettes per day (rg = 0.11, SE = 0.024, P = 4.93 × 10-6) and life-time cannabis use (rg = 0.234, SE = 0.029, P = 3.74 × 10-15). We further constructed latent causal variable (LCV) models to test for partial genetic causality and found evidence for a potential causal relationship between alcohol dependence and schizophrenia (GCP = 0.6, SE = 0.22, P = 1.6 × 10-3). This putative causal effect with schizophrenia was not seen using a continuous phenotype of drinks consumed per week, suggesting that distinct molecular mechanisms underlying dependence are involved in the relationship between alcohol and schizophrenia. To localise the specific genetic overlap between schizophrenia and substance use disorders (SUDs), we conducted a gene-based and gene-set pairwise meta-analysis between schizophrenia and each of the four individual substance dependence phenotypes in up to 790,806 individuals. These bivariate meta-analyses identified 44 associations not observed in the individual GWAS, including five shared genes that play a key role in early central nervous system development. The results from this study further supports the existence of underlying shared biology that drives the overlap in substance dependence in schizophrenia, including specific biological systems related to metabolism and neuronal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A. Greco
- grid.266842.c0000 0000 8831 109XSchool of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW Australia ,grid.413648.cPrecision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW Australia
| | - William R. Reay
- grid.266842.c0000 0000 8831 109XSchool of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW Australia ,grid.413648.cPrecision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW Australia
| | - Christopher V. Dayas
- grid.266842.c0000 0000 8831 109XSchool of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW Australia
| | - Murray J. Cairns
- grid.266842.c0000 0000 8831 109XSchool of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW Australia ,grid.413648.cPrecision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW Australia
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Reay WR, Geaghan MP, Atkins JR, Carr VJ, Green MJ, Cairns MJ. Genetics-informed precision treatment formulation in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Am J Hum Genet 2022; 109:1620-1637. [PMID: 36055211 PMCID: PMC9502060 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2022.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetically informed drug development and repurposing is an attractive prospect for improving patient outcomes in psychiatry; however, the effectiveness of these endeavors is confounded by heterogeneity. We propose an approach that links interventions implicated by disorder-associated genetic risk, at the population level, to a framework that can target these compounds to individuals. Specifically, results from genome-wide association studies are integrated with expression data to prioritize individual "directional anchor" genes for which the predicted risk-increasing direction of expression could be counteracted by an existing drug. While these compounds represent plausible therapeutic candidates, they are not likely to be equally efficacious for all individuals. To account for this heterogeneity, we constructed polygenic scores restricted to variants annotated to the network of genes that interact with each directional anchor gene. These metrics, which we call a pharmagenic enrichment score (PES), identify individuals with a higher burden of genetic risk, localized in biological processes related to the candidate drug target, to inform precision drug repurposing. We used this approach to investigate schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and reveal several compounds targeting specific directional anchor genes that could be plausibly repurposed. These genetic risk scores, mapped to the networks associated with target genes, revealed biological insights that cannot be observed in undifferentiated genome-wide polygenic risk score (PRS). For example, an enrichment of these partitioned scores in schizophrenia cases with otherwise low PRS. In summary, genetic risk could be used more specifically to direct drug repurposing candidates that target particular genes implicated in psychiatric and other complex disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R Reay
- Centre for Complex Disease and Precision Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia; Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Michael P Geaghan
- Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, Garvan Medical Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
| | - Joshua R Atkins
- Centre for Complex Disease and Precision Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Vaughan J Carr
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW, Australia; Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Melissa J Green
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW, Australia; Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Murray J Cairns
- Centre for Complex Disease and Precision Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia; Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
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The genetic architecture of pneumonia susceptibility implicates mucin biology and a relationship with psychiatric illness. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3756. [PMID: 35768473 PMCID: PMC9243103 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31473-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Pneumonia remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In this study, we use genome-wide meta-analysis of lifetime pneumonia diagnosis (N = 391,044) to identify four association signals outside of the previously implicated major histocompatibility complex region. Integrative analyses and finemapping of these signals support clinically tractable targets, including the mucin MUC5AC and tumour necrosis factor receptor superfamily member TNFRSF1A. Moreover, we demonstrate widespread evidence of genetic overlap with pneumonia susceptibility across the human phenome, including particularly significant correlations with psychiatric phenotypes that remain significant after testing differing phenotype definitions for pneumonia or genetically conditioning on smoking behaviour. Finally, we show how polygenic risk could be utilised for precision treatment formulation or drug repurposing through pneumonia risk scores constructed using variants mapped to pathways with known drug targets. In summary, we provide insights into the genetic architecture of pneumonia susceptibility and genetics informed targets for drug development or repositioning.
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Reay WR, Haslam R, Cairns MJ, Moschonis G, Clarke E, Attia J, Collins CE. Variation in cardiovascular disease risk factors among older adults in the Hunter Community Study cohort; a comparison of diet quality versus polygenic risk score. J Hum Nutr Diet 2022; 35:675-688. [PMID: 35560851 PMCID: PMC9542949 DOI: 10.1111/jhn.13031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Background The interplay between cardiovascular disease (CVD) genetic risk indexed by a polygenic risk score (PRS) and diet quality still requires further investigation amongst older adults or those with established or treated CVD. The present study aimed to evaluate the relative contribution of diet quality, measured using the Australian Recommended Food Score (ARFS) and PRS, with respect to explaining variation in plasma lipids CVD outcomes in the Hunter Cohort. Methods The study comprised a secondary analysis of cross‐sectional data from the Hunter Cohort study. Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms from previously derived polygenic scores (PGSs) for three lipid classes were obtained: low‐density lipoprotein, high‐density lipoprotein and triglycerides, as well as PRS for coronary artery disease (CAD) from the PGS catalogue. Regression modelling and odds ratios were used to determine associations between PRS, ARFS and CVD risk. Results In total, 1703 participants were included: mean ± SD age 66 ± 7.4 years, 51% female, mean ± SD total ARFS 28.1 ± 8 (out of 74). Total diet quality and vegetable subscale were not significantly associated with measured lipids. By contrast, PGS for each lipid demonstrated a markedly strong, statistically significant correlation with its respective measured lipid. There was a significant association between CAD PRS and 5/6 CVD phenotypes (all except atrial fibrillation), with the largest effect size shown with coronary bypass. Adding dietary intake as a covariate did not change this relationship. Conclusions Lipid PGS explained more variance in measured lipids than diet quality. However, the poor diet quality observed in the current cohort may have limited the ability to observe any beneficial effects. Future research should investigate whether the diet quality of older adults can be improved and also the effect of these improvements on changes in polygenic risk. The Australian Recommended Food Score (ARFS) had little association with lipid and cardiovascular disease (CVD) endpoints. Lipid polygenic score (PGS) explained more variance in measured lipids than diet quality. The lipid PGS was associated with all three lipid parameters and some CVD endpoints, especially high cholesterol. Coronary artery disease polygenic risk score was associated with CVD endpoints angina, coronary bypass, heart attack, high cholesterol and hypertension and some lipid parameters (high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol).
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Affiliation(s)
- William R Reay
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW, Australia
| | - Rebecca Haslam
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW, Australia.,School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, The University of Newcastle Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Murray J Cairns
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW, Australia
| | - George Moschonis
- Department of Dietetics, Nutrition and Sport, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Erin Clarke
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW, Australia.,School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, The University of Newcastle Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - John Attia
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW, Australia.,School of Population Health and Medical Practice, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Clare Elizabeth Collins
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW, Australia.,School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, The University of Newcastle Callaghan, NSW, Australia
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Reay WR, Kiltschewskij DJ, Geaghan MP, Atkins JR, Carr VJ, Green MJ, Cairns MJ. Genetic estimates of correlation and causality between blood-based biomarkers and psychiatric disorders. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabj8969. [PMID: 35385317 PMCID: PMC8986101 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj8969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
There is a long-standing interest in exploring the relationship between blood-based biomarkers and psychiatric disorders, despite their causal role being difficult to resolve in observational studies. In this study, we leverage genome-wide association study data for a large panel of heritable serum biochemical traits to refine our understanding of causal effect in biochemical-psychiatric trait pairings. We observed widespread positive and negative genetic correlation between psychiatric disorders and biochemical traits. Causal inference was then implemented to distinguish causation from correlation, with strong evidence that C-reactive protein (CRP) exerts a causal effect on psychiatric disorders. Notably, CRP demonstrated both protective and risk-increasing effects on different disorders. Multivariable models that conditioned CRP effects on interleukin-6 signaling and body mass index supported that the CRP-schizophrenia relationship was not driven by these factors. Collectively, these data suggest that there are shared pathways that influence both biochemical traits and psychiatric illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R. Reay
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Dylan J. Kiltschewskij
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Michael P. Geaghan
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Joshua R. Atkins
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Vaughan J. Carr
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW, Australia
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Melissa J. Green
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW, Australia
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Murray J. Cairns
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
- Corresponding author.
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Reay WR, Cairns MJ. Advancing the use of genome-wide association studies for drug repurposing. Nat Rev Genet 2021; 22:658-671. [PMID: 34302145 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-021-00387-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revealed important biological insights into complex diseases, which are broadly expected to lead to the identification of new drug targets and opportunities for treatment. Drug development, however, remains hampered by the time taken and costs expended to achieve regulatory approval, leading many clinicians and researchers to consider alternative paths to more immediate clinical outcomes. In this Review, we explore approaches that leverage common variant genetics to identify opportunities for repurposing existing drugs, also known as drug repositioning. These approaches include the identification of compounds by linking individual loci to genes and pathways that can be pharmacologically modulated, transcriptome-wide association studies, gene-set association, causal inference by Mendelian randomization, and polygenic scoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R Reay
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.,Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Murray J Cairns
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia. .,Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
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