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Taniguchi J, Masuda T, Iwatani Y, Yamamoto K, Sakai N, Okada Y, Watanabe M. Rigorous evaluation of genetic and epigenetic effects on clinical laboratory measurements using Japanese monozygotic twins. Clin Genet 2024; 105:159-172. [PMID: 37899590 DOI: 10.1111/cge.14443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
The investigation of environmental effects on clinical measurements using individual samples is challenging because their genetic and environmental factors are different. However, using monozygotic twins (MZ) makes it possible to investigate the influence of environmental factors as they have the same genetic factors within pairs because the difference in the clinical traits within the MZ mostly reflect the influence of environmental factors. We hypothesized that the within-pair differences in the traits that are strongly affected by genetic factors become larger after genetic risk score (GRS) correction. Using 278 Japanese MZ pairs, we compared the change in within-pair differences in each of the 45 normalized clinical measurements before and after GRS correction, and we also attempted to correct for the effects of genetic factors to identify Cytosine-phosphodiester-Guanine (CpG) sites in DNA sequences with epigenetic effects that are regulated by genetic factors. Five traits were classified into the high heritability group, which was strongly affected by genetic factors. CpG sites could be classified into three groups: regulated only by environmental factors, regulated by environmental factors masked by genetic factors, and regulated only by genetic factors. Our method has the potential to identify trait-related methylation sites that have not yet been discovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jumpei Taniguchi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory and Biomedical Sciences, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Tatsuo Masuda
- Department of Statistical Genetics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Iwatani
- Department of Clinical Laboratory and Biomedical Sciences, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
- Center for Twin Research, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Kenichi Yamamoto
- Department of Statistical Genetics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
- Laboratory of Statistical Immunology, Immunology Frontier Research Center (WPI-IFReC), Osaka University, Suita, Japan
- Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Norio Sakai
- Center for Twin Research, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
- Child Healthcare and Genetic Science Laboratory, Division of Health Sciences, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Yukinori Okada
- Department of Statistical Genetics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
- Laboratory of Statistical Immunology, Immunology Frontier Research Center (WPI-IFReC), Osaka University, Suita, Japan
- Laboratory for Systems Genetics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Kanagawa, Japan
- Department of Genome Informatics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mikio Watanabe
- Department of Clinical Laboratory and Biomedical Sciences, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
- Center for Twin Research, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
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Update on Osaka University Twin Registry: An Overview of Multidisciplinary Research Resources and Biobank at Osaka University Center for Twin Research. Twin Res Hum Genet 2020; 22:597-601. [PMID: 31910931 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2019.70] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The Osaka University Twin Registry was originally established as a registry of older twins but was subsequently expanded to include twins of all ages. The Center for Twin Research at Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine has been managing this registry, as well as collecting research information and bioresources from twin participants. Based on the resources, multidisciplinary research projects have been conducted in collaboration with researchers from institutions both inside and outside Japan. One of the main aims of the center is to collect research information as well as biological resources from registered twins, and to establish a biobank and databases of these data and bioresources. Although data availability may vary, the following data have been collected: physical data (e.g., height, body weight, blood pressure, theoretical visceral fat, pulse wave velocity and bone density); epidemiological data (e.g., medical history, lifestyle, quality of life, mood status, cognitive function and nutritional status); electrocardiography, ultrasonography (carotid artery and thyroid); dentistry, dermatological assessment; positron emission tomography; magnetoencephalographam; brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); and functional MRI. In addition to these in-person survey data, microbiome data have been collected from some participants. As for bioresources, peripheral blood is obtained from the participants for isolation of serum and extraction of DNA and RNA, then stored in deep freezers for further analyses. A variety of research projects are in progress and more are on the way both in Japan and internationally using these data.
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