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Wu J, Chen X, Li R, Lu Q, Ba Y, Fang J, Liu Y, Li R, Liu Y, Wang Y, Chen J, Li Y, Huang Y. Identifying genetic determinants of sarcopenia-related traits: a Mendelian randomization study of druggable genes. Metabolism 2024; 160:155994. [PMID: 39117060 DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2024.155994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sarcopenia, characterized by progressive muscle mass and function loss, particularly affects the elderly, and leads to severe consequences such as falls and mortality. Despite its prevalence, targeted pharmacotherapies for sarcopenia are lacking. Utilizing large-sample genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data is crucial for cost-effective drug discovery. METHODS Herein, we conducted four studies to understand the putative causal effects of genetic components on muscle mass and function. Study 1 employed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) on 15,944 potential druggable genes, investigating their potential causality with muscle quantity and quality in a European population (N up to 461,089). Study 2 validated MR results through sensitivity analyses and colocalization analyses. Study 3 extended validation across other European cohorts, and study 4 conducted quantitative in vivo verification. RESULTS MR analysis revealed significant causality between four genes (BLOC-1 related complex subunit 7, BORCS7; peptidase m20 domain containing 1, PM20D1; nuclear casein kinase and cyclin dependent kinase substrate 1, NUCKS1 and ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase complex assembly factor 1, UQCC1) and muscle mass and function (p-values range 5.98 × 10-6 to 9.26 × 10-55). To be specific, BORCS7 and UQCC1 negatively regulated muscle quantity and quality, whereas enhancing PM20D1 and NUCKS1 expression showed promise in promoting muscle mass and function. Causal relationships remained robust across sensitivity analyses, with UQCC1 exhibiting notable colocalization effects (PP·H4 93.4 % to 95.8 %). Further validation and in vivo replication verified the potential causality between these genes and muscle mass as well as function. CONCLUSIONS Our druggable genome-wide MR analysis identifies BORCS7, PM20D1, NUCKS1, and UQCC1 as causally associated with muscle mass and function. These findings offer insights into the genetic basis of sarcopenia, paving the way for these genes to become promising drug targets in mitigating this debilitating condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihao Wu
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xiong Chen
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Ruijun Li
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Qiying Lu
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Yucheng Ba
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jiayun Fang
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yilin Liu
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Ruijie Li
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yixuan Liu
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yiling Wang
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jinsi Chen
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yanbing Li
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yinong Huang
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
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Zhang L, Li H, Zhao X, Wu Y, Li J, Yao Y, Yao Y, Wang L. Whole genome resequencing reveals the adaptability of native chickens to drought, tropical and frigid environments in Xinjiang. Poult Sci 2024; 103:103947. [PMID: 38986358 PMCID: PMC11295967 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Chickens exhibit extensive genetic diversity and are distributed worldwide. Different chicken breeds have evolved to thrive in diverse environmental conditions. However, research on the genetic mechanisms underlying chicken adaptation to extreme environments, such as tropical, frigid and drought-prone regions, remains limited. In this study, we conducted whole-genome sequencing of 240 individuals from six native chicken breeds in Xinjiang, China, as well as 4 publicly available chicken breeds inhabiting regions with varying annual precipitations, temperatures, and altitudes. Our analysis revealed several genetic variants among the examined breeds. Furthermore, we investigated the genetic diversity and population structure of breeds residing in extreme drought and temperature environments by comparing them. Notably, native chicken breeds exhibited different genetic diversity and population structures. Moreover, we identified candidate genes associated with chicken adaptability to the environment, such as CORO2A, CTNNA3, AGMO, GRID2, BBOX1, COL3A1, INSR, SOX5, MAP2 and PLPPR1. Additionally, pathways such as lysosome, cysteine and methionine metabolism, glycosaminoglycan degradation, and Wnt signaling may be play crucial roles in regulating chicken adaptation to drought environments. Overall, these findings contribute to our understanding of the genetic mechanisms governing chicken adaptation to extreme environments, and also offer insights for enhancing the resilience of chicken breeds to different climatic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihua Zhang
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China; State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310021, China
| | - Haiying Li
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China.
| | - Xiaoyu Zhao
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Yingping Wu
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Jiahui Li
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Yingying Yao
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Yang Yao
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Lin Wang
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
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Cao M, Cui B. Clinically relevant plasma proteome for adiposity depots: evidence from systematic mendelian randomization and colocalization analyses. Cardiovasc Diabetol 2024; 23:126. [PMID: 38614964 PMCID: PMC11016216 DOI: 10.1186/s12933-024-02222-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The accumulation of visceral and ectopic fat comprise a major cause of cardiometabolic diseases. However, novel drug targets for reducing unnecessary visceral and ectopic fat are still limited. Our study aims to provide a comprehensive investigation of the causal effects of the plasma proteome on visceral and ectopic fat using Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. METHODS We performed two-sample MR analyses based on five large genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics of 2656 plasma proteins, to screen for causal associations of these proteins with traits of visceral and ectopic fat in over 30,000 participants of European ancestry, as well as to assess mediation effects by risk factors of outcomes. The colocalization analysis was conducted to examine whether the identified proteins and outcomes shared casual variants. RESULTS Genetically predicted levels of 14 circulating proteins were associated with visceral and ectopic fat (P < 4.99 × 10- 5, at a Bonferroni-corrected threshold). Colocalization analysis prioritized ten protein targets that showed effect on outcomes, including FST, SIRT2, DNAJB9, IL6R, CTSA, RGMB, PNLIPRP1, FLT4, PPY and IL6ST. MR analyses revealed seven risk factors for visceral and ectopic fat (P < 0.0024). Furthermore, the associations of CTSA, DNAJB9 and IGFBP1 with primary outcomes were mediated by HDL-C and SHBG. Sensitivity analyses showed little evidence of pleiotropy. CONCLUSIONS Our study identified candidate proteins showing putative causal effects as potential therapeutic targets for visceral and ectopic fat accumulation and outlined causal pathways for further prevention of downstream cardiometabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Cao
- Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases of the National Health Commission of the PR China, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Endocrine Tumor, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Bin Cui
- Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases of the National Health Commission of the PR China, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Endocrine Tumor, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Zhang L, Li H, Tang B, Zhao X, Wu Y, Jiang T, Yao Y, Li J, Yao Y, Wang L. Genomic signatures reveal selection in Chinese and European domesticated geese. Anim Genet 2023; 54:763-771. [PMID: 37726929 DOI: 10.1111/age.13351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
The Swan goose and Greylag goose are species of geese native to East Asia and Europe, respectively, and are widely believed to be the ancestors of Chinese and European domesticated geese. The Yili goose (YL) and European domestic geese originated from the Greylag goose, but the history of domestication is unclear. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the genome of the YL goose and the Hortobagy goose to combine with other previously sequenced goose populations for in-depth analysis. The population genetic variations in Stone geese, East Zhejiang White Geese, Taihu geese and Zi geese were also identified and compared. The results showed that admixture gene flow existed in the YL geese population, which was introgressed by Chinese geese, suggesting that gene flow events were frequent and widespread among domesticated geese. Further selected sweep analysis identified candidate genes and metabolic pathways that may be related to the differences in morphology. Several genes such as TGFBR3L, CMYA5, FOXD1, ARHGEF28 and SUCLG2 are associated with growth, reproduction and fertility traits. The results of this study will help to understand the genetic characteristics of domestic geese and the genes affecting important traits and provide a basis for the improved breed of domestic geese.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihua Zhang
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Haiying Li
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Bihui Tang
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhao
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Yingping Wu
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Teng Jiang
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Yingying Yao
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Jiahui Li
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Yang Yao
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
| | - Lin Wang
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
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Han BX, Huang TY, Zhao QG, Yan SS, Xu Q, Ma XL, Luo Y, Pei YF. Screening Plasma Proteins for the Putative Drug Targets for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023; 43:4333-4344. [PMID: 37878141 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-023-01428-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The present study sought to identify putative causal proteins for CTS. We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to evaluate the causal association between 2859 plasma proteins (N = 35,559) and CTS (N = 1,239,680) based on the published GWAS summary statistics. Then we replicated the significant associations using an independent plasma proteome GWAS (N = 10,708). Sensitivity analyses were conducted to validate the robustness of MR results. Multivariate MR and mediation analyses were conducted to evaluate the mediation effects of body mass index (BMI), type 2 diabetes (T2D), and arm tissue composition on the association between putative causal proteins and CTS. Colocalization analysis was used to examine whether the identified proteins and CTS shared causal variant(s). Finally, we evaluated druggability of the identified proteins. Ten plasma proteins were identified as putative causal markers for CTS, including sCD14, PVR, LTOR3, CTSS, SIGIRR, IFNL3, ASPN, TM11D, ASIP, and ITIH1. Sensitivity analyses and reverse MR analysis validated the robustness of their causal effects. Arm tissue composition, BMI, and T2D may play a fully/partial mediating role in the causal relationships of ASIP, TM11D, IFNL3, PVR, and LTOR3 with CTS. The association of ASPN and sCD14 with CTS were supported by colocalization analysis. Druggability assessment demonstrated that sCD14, CTSS, TM11D, and IFNL3 were potential drug therapeutic targets. The present study identified several potential plasma proteins that were causally associated with CTS risk, providing new insights into the pathogenesis of protein-mediated CTS and offering potential targets for new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bai-Xue Han
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Tian-Ye Huang
- Department of Orthopedics, Taicang Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi-Gang Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Shan-Shan Yan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Xu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin-Ling Ma
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan Luo
- Department of Orthopedics, Taicang Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yu-Fang Pei
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China.
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Zhao Q, Han B, Xu Q, Wang T, Fang C, Li R, Zhang L, Pei Y. Proteome and genome integration analysis of obesity. Chin Med J (Engl) 2023; 136:910-921. [PMID: 37000968 PMCID: PMC10278747 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000002644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT The prevalence of obesity has increased worldwide in recent decades. Genetic factors are now known to play a substantial role in the predisposition to obesity and may contribute up to 70% of the risk for obesity. Technological advancements during the last decades have allowed the identification of many hundreds of genetic markers associated with obesity. However, the transformation of current genetic variant-obesity associations into biological knowledge has been proven challenging. Genomics and proteomics are complementary fields, as proteomics extends functional analyses. Integrating genomic and proteomic data can help to bridge a gap in knowledge regarding genetic variant-obesity associations and to identify new drug targets for the treatment of obesity. We provide an overview of the published papers on the integrated analysis of proteomic and genomic data in obesity and summarize four mainstream strategies: overlap, colocalization, Mendelian randomization, and proteome-wide association studies. The integrated analyses identified many obesity-associated proteins, such as leptin, follistatin, and adenylate cyclase 3. Despite great progress, integrative studies focusing on obesity are still limited. There is an increased demand for large prospective cohort studies to identify and validate findings, and further apply these findings to the prevention, intervention, and treatment of obesity. In addition, we also discuss several other potential integration methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qigang Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215213, China
| | - Baixue Han
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215213, China
| | - Qian Xu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215213, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215004, China
| | - Chen Fang
- Department of Endocrinology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215004, China
| | - Rui Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215213, China
- Center for Genetic Epidemiology and Genomics, School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Yufang Pei
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215213, China
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Chen BB, Wang JQ, Meng XH, Luo Z, Liu XW, Shen H, Xiao HM, Deng HW. Putative Candidate Drug Targets for Sarcopenia-Related Traits Identified Through Mendelian Randomization Analysis of the Blood Proteome. Front Genet 2022; 13:923429. [PMID: 35938019 PMCID: PMC9354522 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.923429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: The increasing prevalence of sarcopenia remains an ongoing challenge to health care systems worldwide. The lack of treatments encouraged the discovery of human proteomes to find potential therapeutic targets. As one of the major components of the human proteome, plasma proteins are functionally connected with various organs of the body to regulate biological processes and mediate overall homeostasis, which makes it crucial in various complex processes such as aging and chronic diseases. By performing a systematic causal analysis of the plasma proteome, we attempt to reveal the etiological mechanism and discover drug targets for sarcopenia. Methods: By using data from four genome-wide association studies for blood proteins and the UK Biobank data for sarcopenia-related traits, we applied two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to evaluate 310 plasma proteins as possible causal mediators of sarcopenia-related traits: appendicular lean mass (ALM) and handgrip strength (right and left). Then we performed a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis for the identified putatively causal proteins to assess potential reverse causality that the trait values may influence protein levels. Finally, we performed phenome-wide MR analysis of the identified putatively causal proteins for 784 diseases to test the possible side effects of these proteins on other diseases. Results: Five plasma proteins were identified as putatively causal mediators of sarcopenia-related traits. Specifically, leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor subfamily B member 2 (LILRB2), asporin (ASPN), and contactin-2 (CNTN2) had potential causal effects on appendicular lean mass, and ecto-ADP-ribosyltransferase 4 (ART4) and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) had putative causal effects on the handgrip strength, respectively. None of the five putatively causal proteins had a reverse causality relationship with sarcopenia-related traits, and no side effects on other diseases were identified. Conclusion: We identified five plasma proteins that may serve as putatively potential novel drug targets for sarcopenia. Our study attested to the value of two-sample MR analysis in identifying and prioritizing putatively potential therapeutic targets for complex diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin-Bin Chen
- Center for System Biology, Data Sciences and Reproductive Health, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jia-Qi Wang
- Center for System Biology, Data Sciences and Reproductive Health, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiang-He Meng
- Center for System Biology, Data Sciences and Reproductive Health, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhe Luo
- Tulane Center of Biomedical Informatics and Genomics, Deming Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Tulane University School, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Xiao-Wen Liu
- Tulane Center of Biomedical Informatics and Genomics, Deming Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Tulane University School, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Hui Shen
- Tulane Center of Biomedical Informatics and Genomics, Deming Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Tulane University School, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Hong-Mei Xiao
- Center for System Biology, Data Sciences and Reproductive Health, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hong-Wen Deng
- Tulane Center of Biomedical Informatics and Genomics, Deming Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Tulane University School, New Orleans, LA, United States
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