RESUMO
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified many disease-associated variants, yet mechanisms underlying these associations remain unclear. To understand obesity-associated variants, we generate gene regulatory annotations in adipocytes and hypothalamic neurons across cellular differentiation stages. We then test variants in 97 obesity-associated loci using a massively parallel reporter assay and identify putatively causal variants that display cell type specific or cross-tissue enhancer-modulating properties. Integrating these variants with gene regulatory information suggests genes that underlie obesity GWAS associations. We also investigate a complex genomic interval on 16p11.2 where two independent loci exhibit megabase-range, cross-locus chromatin interactions. We demonstrate that variants within these two loci regulate a shared gene set. Together, our data support a model where GWAS loci contain variants that alter enhancer activity across tissues, potentially with temporally restricted effects, to impact the expression of multiple genes. This complex model has broad implications for ongoing efforts to understand GWAS.
Assuntos
Adipócitos/fisiologia , Elementos Facilitadores Genéticos , Pleiotropia Genética , Obesidade/genética , Adipócitos/citologia , Arritmias Cardíacas/genética , Arritmias Cardíacas/patologia , Doenças Genéticas Ligadas ao Cromossomo X/genética , Doenças Genéticas Ligadas ao Cromossomo X/patologia , Estudo de Associação Genômica Ampla , Gigantismo/genética , Gigantismo/patologia , Cardiopatias Congênitas/genética , Cardiopatias Congênitas/patologia , Humanos , Hipotálamo/fisiologia , Deficiência Intelectual/genética , Deficiência Intelectual/patologia , MAP Quinase Quinase 5/genética , Neurônios/citologia , Neurônios/fisiologia , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único , Proteínas Quinases/genética , Locos de Características Quantitativas , ATPases Transportadoras de Cálcio do Retículo Sarcoplasmático/genética , Fatores de Transcrição/genética , TranscriptomaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: In moderately advanced Parkinson's disease (PD), low serum vitamin B12 levels are common and are associated with neuropathy and cognitive impairment. However, little is known about B12 in early PD. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of low vitamin B12 status in early PD and whether it is associated with clinical progression. METHODS: We measured vitamin B12 and other B12 status determinants (methylmalonic acid, homocysteine, and holotranscobalamin) in 680 baseline and 456 follow-up serum samples collected from DATATOP participants with early, untreated PD. Borderline low B12 status was defined as serum B12 <184 pmol/L (250 pg/mL), and elevated homocysteine was defined as >15 µmol/L. Outcomes included the UPDRS, ambulatory capacity score (sum of UPDRS items 13-15, 29&30), and MMSE, calculated as annualized rates of change. RESULTS: At baseline, 13% had borderline low B12 levels, 7% had elevated homocysteine, whereas 2% had both. Elevated homocysteine at baseline was associated with worse scores on the baseline MMSE. Analysis of study outcomes showed that compared with the other tertiles, participants in the low B12 tertile (<234 pmol/L; 317 pg/mL) developed greater morbidity as assessed by greater annualized worsening of the ambulatory capacity score. Elevated homocysteine was associated with greater annualized decline in MMSE (-1.96 vs. 0.06; P = 0001). Blood count indices were not associated with B12 or homocysteine status. CONCLUSIONS: In this study of early PD, low B12 status was common. Low B12 at baseline predicted greater worsening of mobility whereas elevated homocysteine predicted greater cognitive decline. Given that low B12 and elevated homocysteine can improve with vitamin supplementation, future studies should test whether prevention or early correction of these nutritionally modifiable conditions slows development of disability. © 2018 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.