Cross-ethnic meta-analysis identifies association of the GPX3-TNIP1 locus with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Nat Commun. 2017 Sep 20;8(1):611. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-00471-1.

Abstract

Cross-ethnic genetic studies can leverage power from differences in disease epidemiology and population-specific genetic architecture. In particular, the differences in linkage disequilibrium and allele frequency patterns across ethnic groups may increase gene-mapping resolution. Here we use cross-ethnic genetic data in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), an adult-onset, rapidly progressing neurodegenerative disease. We report analyses of novel genome-wide association study data of 1,234 ALS cases and 2,850 controls. We find a significant association of rs10463311 spanning GPX3-TNIP1 with ALS (p = 1.3 × 10-8), with replication support from two independent Australian samples (combined 576 cases and 683 controls, p = 1.7 × 10-3). Both GPX3 and TNIP1 interact with other known ALS genes (SOD1 and OPTN, respectively). In addition, GGNBP2 was identified using gene-based analysis and summary statistics-based Mendelian randomization analysis, although further replication is needed to confirm this result. Our results increase our understanding of genetic aetiology of ALS.Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressing neurodegenerative disease. Here, Wray and colleagues identify association of the GPX3-TNIP1 locus with ALS using cross-ethnic meta-analyses.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / ethnology
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / genetics*
  • Asian People / genetics*
  • Australia
  • China
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Glutathione Peroxidase / genetics*
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
  • Humans
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • White People / genetics*

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • TNIP1 protein, human
  • GPX3 protein, human
  • Glutathione Peroxidase