Genome Analyses of >200,000 Individuals Identify 58 Loci for Chronic Inflammation and Highlight Pathways that Link Inflammation and Complex Disorders

René Pool, Eco de Geus, Jouke Jan Hottenga, Gonneke Willemsen, Dorret I. Boomsma, LifeLines Cohort Study, CHARGE Inflammation Working Group

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Abstract

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a sensitive biomarker of chronic low-grade inflammation and is associated with multiple complex diseases. The genetic determinants of chronic inflammation remain largely unknown, and the causal role of CRP in several clinical outcomes is debated. We performed two genome-wide association studies (GWASs), on HapMap and 1000 Genomes imputed data, of circulating amounts of CRP by using data from 88 studies comprising 204,402 European individuals. Additionally, we performed in silico functional analyses and Mendelian randomization analyses with several clinical outcomes. The GWAS meta-analyses of CRP revealed 58 distinct genetic loci (p < 5 × 10−8). After adjustment for body mass index in the regression analysis, the associations at all except three loci remained. The lead variants at the distinct loci explained up to 7.0% of the variance in circulating amounts of CRP. We identified 66 gene sets that were organized in two substantially correlated clusters, one mainly composed of immune pathways and the other characterized by metabolic pathways in the liver. Mendelian randomization analyses revealed a causal protective effect of CRP on schizophrenia and a risk-increasing effect on bipolar disorder. Our findings provide further insights into the biology of inflammation and could lead to interventions for treating inflammation and its clinical consequences.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)691-706
Number of pages16
JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics
Volume103
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2018

Funding

O.H.F. works at ErasmusAGE, a center for aging research across the life course funded by Nestlé Nutrition (Nestec Ltd.), Metagenics Inc., and AXA. Nestec Ltd., Metagenics Inc., and AXA had no role in the design or conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, or interpretation of the data; or preparation, review or approval of the manuscript. Bruce M. Psaty serves on the data and safety monitoring board of a clinical trial funded by Zoll LifeCor and on the steering committee of the Yale Open Data Access Project, funded by Johnson & Johnson.

FundersFunder number
Metagenics Inc.
National Institute on AgingP30AG049638

    Keywords

    • C-reactive protein
    • coronary artery disease
    • DEPICT
    • genome-wide association study
    • inflammation
    • inflammatory disorders
    • Mendelian randomization
    • schizophrenia
    • system biology

    Cohort Studies

    • Netherlands Twin Register (NTR)

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