RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Genome-wide association study identifies 17 new loci influencing concentrations of circulating cytokines and growth factors
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 045005
DO 10.1101/045005
A1 AV Ahola-Olli
A1 P Würtz
A1 AS Havulinna
A1 K Aalto
A1 N Pitkänen
A1 T Lehtimäki
A1 M Kähönen
A1 LP Lyytikäinen
A1 E Raitoharju
A1 I Seppälä
A1 AP Sarin
A1 S Ripatti
A1 A Palotie
A1 M Perola
A1 JS Viikari
A1 S Jalkanen
A1 M Maksimow
A1 V Salomaa
A1 M Salmi
A1 J Kettunen
A1 OT Raitakari
YR 2016
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2016/03/25/045005.abstract
AB Circulating cytokines and growth factors are regulators of inflammation and have been implicated in autoimmune and metabolic diseases. In this genome-wide association study (GWAS) up to n=8,293 Finns we identified 27 loci with genome-wide association (P-value<1.2×10-9) for one or more cytokines, including 17 unidentified in previous GWASes. Fifteen of the associated SNPs had expression quantitative trait loci in whole blood. We provide strong genetic instruments to clarify the causal roles of cytokine signaling and upstream inflammation in immune-related and other chronic diseases. We further link known autoimmune disease variants including Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis and ulcerative colitis with new inflammatory markers, which elucidate the molecular mechanisms underpinning these diseases and suggest potential drug targets.