Genome-wide meta-analysis revealed several genetic loci associated with serum uric acid levels in Korean population: an analysis of Korea Biobank data

Genome-wide association study and fine-mapping on Korean biobank to discover renal trait-associated variants

BACKGROUND

Chronic kidney disease is a significant health burden worldwide, with increasing incidence. Although several genome- wide association studies (GWAS) have investigated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) associated with kidney trait, most studies were focused on European ancestry.

METHODS

We utilized clinical and genetic information collected from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES).

RESULTS

More than five million SNPs from 58,406 participants were analyzed. After meta-GWAS, 1,360 loci associated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at a genome-wide significant level (p = 5 × 10-8) were identified. Among them, 399 loci were validated with at least one other biomarker (blood urea nitrogen [BUN] or eGFRcysC) and 149 loci were validated using both markers. Among them, 18 SNPs (nine known ones and nine novel ones) with 20 putative genes were found. The aggregated effect of genes estimated by MAGMA gene analysis showed that these significant genes were enriched in kidney-associated pathways, with the kidney and liver being the most enriched tissues.

CONCLUSION

In this study, we conducted GWAS for more than 50,000 Korean individuals and identified several variants associated with kidney traits, including eGFR, BUN, and eGFRcysC. We also investigated functions of relevant genes using computational methods to define putative causal variants.

Associations of serum uric acid with cardiovascular disease risk factors: a retrospective cohort study in southeastern China

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the associations between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, focusing on potential sex-specific differences.

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

A large community-based survey was conducted every two years from 2010 to 2018 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, outheastern China.

PARTICIPANTS

6119 participants aged 40 years and above who underwent at least three times of physical examinations were enrolled.

METHODS

Participants were categorised into four groups (Q1-Q4) based on baseline SUA quartiles within the normal range, with hyperuricaemia (HUA) as the fifth group. The Q1 was the reference. By stratifying participants by gender, the relationships between SUA levels and systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and total cholesterol (TC) were investigated using linear regression models in the generalised estimating equation. Additionally, the associations of elevated SUA levels and HUA with hypertension, hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia were correspondingly examined using multivariate logistic regression models.

RESULTS

After adjusting for confounding variables, we found positive associations between SUA levels and SBP, DBP, FBG and TC in women, and with TC in men (p<0.01). Likewise, elevated SUA quartiles and HUA were linked to increased dyslipidaemia risk in both sexes, and increased hyperglycaemia risk only in women, with HRs (95% CI) of 1.64 (1.05 to 2.55) and 2.37 (1.47 to 3.81) in the Q4 and HUA group, respectively. Women with HUA had higher hypertension risk (HR=1.45, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.73), while no such association was observed in men. Stratified analyses revealed significant associations between elevated SUA levels and CVD risk factors in postmenopausal and non-obese women.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated SUA levels increase the risk of dyslipidaemia in both sexes. SUA levels within normal range and HUA are positively associated with hyperglycaemia and hypertension in postmenopausal women, but not in men.

Genome-wide study on 72,298 individuals in Korean biobank data for 76 traits

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on diverse ancestry groups are lacking, resulting in deficits of genetic discoveries and polygenic scores. We conducted GWAS for 76 phenotypes in Korean biobank data, namely the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) (n = 72,298). Our analysis discovered 2,242 associated loci, including 122 novel associations, many of which were replicated in Biobank Japan (BBJ) GWAS. We also applied several up-to-date methods for genetic association tests to increase the power, discovering additional associations that are not identified in simple case-control GWAS. We evaluated genetic pleiotropy to investigate genes associated with multiple traits. Following meta-analysis of 32 phenotypes between KoGES and BBJ, we further identified 379 novel associations and demonstrated the improved predictive performance of polygenic risk scores by using the meta-analysis results. The summary statistics of 76 KoGES GWAS phenotypes are publicly available, contributing to a better comprehension of the genetic architecture of the East Asian population.

Trends in the Contribution of Genetic Susceptibility Loci to Hyperuricemia and Gout and Associated Novel Mechanisms

Hyperuricemia and gout are complex diseases mediated by genetic, epigenetic, and environmental exposure interactions. The incidence and medical burden of gout, an inflammatory arthritis caused by hyperuricemia, increase every year, significantly increasing the disease burden. Genetic factors play an essential role in the development of hyperuricemia and gout. Currently, the search on disease-associated genetic variants through large-scale genome-wide scans has primarily improved our understanding of this disease. However, most genome-wide association studies (GWASs) still focus on the basic level, whereas the biological mechanisms underlying the association between genetic variants and the disease are still far from well understood. Therefore, we summarized the latest hyperuricemia- and gout-associated genetic loci identified in the Global Biobank Meta-analysis Initiative (GBMI) and elucidated the comprehensive potential molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of these gene variants in hyperuricemia and gout based on genetic perspectives, in terms of mechanisms affecting uric acid excretion and reabsorption, lipid metabolism, glucose metabolism, and nod-like receptor pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and inflammatory pathways. Finally, we summarized the potential effect of genetic variants on disease prognosis and drug efficacy. In conclusion, we expect that this summary will increase our understanding of the pathogenesis of hyperuricemia and gout, provide a theoretical basis for the innovative development of new clinical treatment options, and enhance the capabilities of precision medicine for hyperuricemia and gout treatment.