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Tissink EP, Shadrin AA, van der Meer D, Parker N, Hindley G, Roelfs D, Frei O, Fan CC, Nagel M, Nærland T, Budisteanu M, Djurovic S, Westlye LT, van den Heuvel MP, Posthuma D, Kaufmann T, Dale AM, Andreassen OA. Abundant pleiotropy across neuroimaging modalities identified through a multivariate genome-wide association study. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2655. [PMID: 38531894 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46817-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetic pleiotropy is abundant across spatially distributed brain characteristics derived from one neuroimaging modality (e.g. structural, functional or diffusion magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]). A better understanding of pleiotropy across modalities could inform us on the integration of brain function, micro- and macrostructure. Here we show extensive genetic overlap across neuroimaging modalities at a locus and gene level in the UK Biobank (N = 34,029) and ABCD Study (N = 8607). When jointly analysing phenotypes derived from structural, functional and diffusion MRI in a genome-wide association study (GWAS) with the Multivariate Omnibus Statistical Test (MOSTest), we boost the discovery of loci and genes beyond previously identified effects for each modality individually. Cross-modality genes are involved in fundamental biological processes and predominantly expressed during prenatal brain development. We additionally boost prediction of psychiatric disorders by conditioning independent GWAS on our multimodal multivariate GWAS. These findings shed light on the shared genetic mechanisms underlying variation in brain morphology, functional connectivity, and tissue composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- E P Tissink
- Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Department of Sleep and Cognition, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - A A Shadrin
- NORMENT Centre, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Building 48, Oslo, Norway
| | - D van der Meer
- NORMENT Centre, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Building 48, Oslo, Norway
- School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - N Parker
- NORMENT Centre, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Building 48, Oslo, Norway
| | - G Hindley
- NORMENT Centre, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Building 48, Oslo, Norway
- Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosciences, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AB, United Kingdom
| | - D Roelfs
- NORMENT Centre, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Building 48, Oslo, Norway
| | - O Frei
- NORMENT Centre, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Building 48, Oslo, Norway
| | - C C Fan
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK, USA
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - M Nagel
- Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - T Nærland
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental disorders, Division of Paediatric Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Building 31, Oslo, Norway
| | - M Budisteanu
- Prof. Dr. Alex Obregia Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry, Bucharest, Romania
- "Victor Babes" National Institute of Pathology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - S Djurovic
- NORMENT Centre, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Building 48, Oslo, Norway
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental disorders, Division of Paediatric Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Building 31, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - L T Westlye
- NORMENT Centre, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Building 48, Oslo, Norway
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental disorders, Division of Paediatric Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Building 31, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - M P van den Heuvel
- Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychology and Psychiatry, section Complex Trait Genetics, Amsterdam Neuroscience, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - D Posthuma
- Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychology and Psychiatry, section Complex Trait Genetics, Amsterdam Neuroscience, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - T Kaufmann
- NORMENT Centre, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Building 48, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tübingen Center for Mental Health, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - A M Dale
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
- Center for Multimodal Imaging and Genetics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - O A Andreassen
- NORMENT Centre, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Building 48, Oslo, Norway.
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental disorders, Division of Paediatric Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Building 31, Oslo, Norway.
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Pettersson E, Lichtenstein P, Larsson H, Song J, Agrawal A, Børglum AD, Bulik CM, Daly MJ, Davis LK, Demontis D, Edenberg HJ, Grove J, Gelernter J, Neale BM, Pardiñas AF, Stahl E, Walters JTR, Walters R, Sullivan PF, Posthuma D, Polderman TJC. Genetic influences on eight psychiatric disorders based on family data of 4 408 646 full and half-siblings, and genetic data of 333 748 cases and controls. Psychol Med 2019; 49:1166-1173. [PMID: 30221610 PMCID: PMC6421104 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291718002039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Revised: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most studies underline the contribution of heritable factors for psychiatric disorders. However, heritability estimates depend on the population under study, diagnostic instruments, and study designs that each has its inherent assumptions, strengths, and biases. We aim to test the homogeneity in heritability estimates between two powerful, and state of the art study designs for eight psychiatric disorders. METHODS We assessed heritability based on data of Swedish siblings (N = 4 408 646 full and maternal half-siblings), and based on summary data of eight samples with measured genotypes (N = 125 533 cases and 208 215 controls). All data were based on standard diagnostic criteria. Eight psychiatric disorders were studied: (1) alcohol dependence (AD), (2) anorexia nervosa, (3) attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), (4) autism spectrum disorder, (5) bipolar disorder, (6) major depressive disorder, (7) obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and (8) schizophrenia. RESULTS Heritability estimates from sibling data varied from 0.30 for Major Depression to 0.80 for ADHD. The estimates based on the measured genotypes were lower, ranging from 0.10 for AD to 0.28 for OCD, but were significant, and correlated positively (0.19) with national sibling-based estimates. When removing OCD from the data the correlation increased to 0.50. CONCLUSIONS Given the unique character of each study design, the convergent findings for these eight psychiatric conditions suggest that heritability estimates are robust across different methods. The findings also highlight large differences in genetic and environmental influences between psychiatric disorders, providing future directions for etiological psychiatric research.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Pettersson
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - P. Lichtenstein
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - H. Larsson
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - J. Song
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - A. Agrawal
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in Saint Louis School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - A. D. Børglum
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- iPSYCH, The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, Aarhus, Denmark
- iSEQ, Centre for Integrative Sequencing, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - C. M. Bulik
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - M. J. Daly
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit (ATGU), Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - L. K. Davis
- Department of Medicine, Division of Genetic Medicine, Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - D. Demontis
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- iPSYCH, The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, Aarhus, Denmark
- iSEQ, Centre for Integrative Sequencing, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - H. J. Edenberg
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - J. Grove
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- iPSYCH, The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, Aarhus, Denmark
- iSEQ, Centre for Integrative Sequencing, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- BiRC-Bioinformatics Research Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - J. Gelernter
- Yale University School of Medicine, Genetics and Neurobiology, New Haven, CT, USA
- US Department of Veterans Affairs, Psychiatry, West Haven, CT, USA
- Yale University School of Medicine, Psychiatry, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - B. M. Neale
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit (ATGU), Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - A. F. Pardiñas
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales
| | - E. Stahl
- Division of Psychiatric Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - J. T. R. Walters
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales
| | - R. Walters
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit (ATGU), Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - P. F. Sullivan
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Genetics and Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - D. Posthuma
- Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Amsterdam Neuroscience, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Genetics, VU University Medical Center (VUMC), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - T. J. C. Polderman
- Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Amsterdam Neuroscience, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Pettersson E, Lichtenstein P, Larsson H, Song J, Agrawal A, Børglum AD, Bulik CM, Daly MJ, Davis LK, Demontis D, Edenberg HJ, Grove J, Gelernter J, Neale BM, Pardiñas AF, Stahl E, Walters JTR, Walters R, Sullivan PF, Posthuma D, Polderman TJC. Genetic influences on eight psychiatric disorders based on family data of 4 408 646 full and half-siblings, and genetic data of 333 748 cases and controls - CORRIGENDUM. Psychol Med 2019; 49:351. [PMID: 30334498 PMCID: PMC8054319 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291718002945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- E Pettersson
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics,Karolinska Institutet,Stockholm,Sweden
| | - P Lichtenstein
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics,Karolinska Institutet,Stockholm,Sweden
| | - H Larsson
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics,Karolinska Institutet,Stockholm,Sweden
| | - J Song
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics,Karolinska Institutet,Stockholm,Sweden
| | - A Agrawal
- Department of Psychiatry,Washington University in Saint Louis School of Medicine,Saint Louis, MO,USA
| | - A D Børglum
- Department of Biomedicine,Aarhus University,Aarhus,Denmark
| | - C M Bulik
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics,Karolinska Institutet,Stockholm,Sweden
| | - M J Daly
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit (ATGU), Department of Medicine,Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School,Boston, Massachusetts,USA
| | - L K Davis
- Department of Medicine, Division of Genetic Medicine,Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center,Nashville, TN,USA
| | - D Demontis
- Department of Biomedicine,Aarhus University,Aarhus,Denmark
| | - H J Edenberg
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,Indianapolis, IN,USA
| | - J Grove
- Department of Biomedicine,Aarhus University,Aarhus,Denmark
| | - J Gelernter
- Yale University School of Medicine, Genetics and Neurobiology,New Haven, CT,USA
| | - B M Neale
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit (ATGU), Department of Medicine,Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School,Boston, Massachusetts,USA
| | - A F Pardiñas
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University,Cardiff, Wales
| | - E Stahl
- Division of Psychiatric Genomics,Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai,New York, NY,USA
| | - J T R Walters
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University,Cardiff, Wales
| | - R Walters
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit (ATGU), Department of Medicine,Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School,Boston, Massachusetts,USA
| | - P F Sullivan
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics,Karolinska Institutet,Stockholm,Sweden
| | - D Posthuma
- Department of Complex Trait Genetics,Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Amsterdam Neuroscience, VU University Amsterdam,Amsterdam,The Netherlands
| | - T J C Polderman
- Department of Complex Trait Genetics,Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Amsterdam Neuroscience, VU University Amsterdam,Amsterdam,The Netherlands
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Taskesen E, Mishra A, van der Sluis S, Ferrari R, Veldink JH, van Es MA, Smit AB, Posthuma D, Pijnenburg Y. Author Correction: Susceptible genes and disease mechanisms identified in frontotemporal dementia and frontotemporal dementia with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis by DNA-methylation and GWAS. Sci Rep 2018; 8:7789. [PMID: 29760392 PMCID: PMC5951859 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21308-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Taskesen
- VU University Amsterdam, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Complex Trait Genetics (CTG), Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- VU University Medical Center (VUMC), Alzheimer Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A Mishra
- VU University Amsterdam, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Complex Trait Genetics (CTG), Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - S van der Sluis
- VU University Amsterdam, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Complex Trait Genetics (CTG), Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - R Ferrari
- UCL London, Institute of Neurology, Department of Molecular Neuroscience, London, UK
| | - J H Veldink
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - M A van Es
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - A B Smit
- VU University Amsterdam, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology (MCN), Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - D Posthuma
- VU University Amsterdam, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Complex Trait Genetics (CTG), Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- VU University Medical Center (VUMC), Alzheimer Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Y Pijnenburg
- VU University Medical Center (VUMC), Alzheimer Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Taskesen E, Mishra A, van der Sluis S, Ferrari R, Veldink JH, van Es MA, Smit AB, Posthuma D, Pijnenburg Y. Susceptible genes and disease mechanisms identified in frontotemporal dementia and frontotemporal dementia with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis by DNA-methylation and GWAS. Sci Rep 2017; 7:8899. [PMID: 28827549 PMCID: PMC5567187 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-09320-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurodegenerative disorder predominantly affecting the frontal and temporal lobes. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on FTD identified only a few risk loci. One of the possible explanations is that FTD is clinically, pathologically, and genetically heterogeneous. An important open question is to what extent epigenetic factors contribute to FTD and whether these factors vary between FTD clinical subgroup. We compared the DNA-methylation levels of FTD cases (n = 128), and of FTD cases with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (FTD-ALS; n = 7) to those of unaffected controls (n = 193), which resulted in 14 and 224 candidate genes, respectively. Cluster analysis revealed significant class separation of FTD-ALS from controls. We could further specify genes with increased susceptibility for abnormal gene-transcript behavior by jointly analyzing DNA-methylation levels with the presence of mutations in a GWAS FTD-cohort. For FTD-ALS, this resulted in 9 potential candidate genes, whereas for FTD we detected 1 candidate gene (ELP2). Independent validation-sets confirmed the genes DLG1, METTL7A, KIAA1147, IGHMBP2, PCNX, UBTD2, WDR35, and ELP2/SLC39A6 among others. We could furthermore demonstrate that genes harboring mutations and/or displaying differential DNA-methylation, are involved in common pathways, and may therefore be critical for neurodegeneration in both FTD and FTD-ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Taskesen
- VU University Amsterdam, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Complex Trait Genetics (CTG), Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,VU University Medical Center (VUMC), Alzheimer Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A Mishra
- VU University Amsterdam, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Complex Trait Genetics (CTG), Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - S van der Sluis
- VU University Amsterdam, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Complex Trait Genetics (CTG), Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - R Ferrari
- UCL London, Institute of Neurology, Department of Molecular Neuroscience, London, UK
| | | | - J H Veldink
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - M A van Es
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - A B Smit
- VU University Amsterdam, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology (MCN), Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - D Posthuma
- VU University Amsterdam, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Complex Trait Genetics (CTG), Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,VU University Medical Center (VUMC), Alzheimer Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Y Pijnenburg
- VU University Medical Center (VUMC), Alzheimer Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Jansen R, Penninx BWJH, Madar V, Xia K, Milaneschi Y, Hottenga JJ, Hammerschlag AR, Beekman A, van der Wee N, Smit JH, Brooks AI, Tischfield J, Posthuma D, Schoevers R, van Grootheest G, Willemsen G, de Geus EJ, Boomsma DI, Wright FA, Zou F, Sun W, Sullivan PF. Gene expression in major depressive disorder. Mol Psychiatry 2016; 21:444. [PMID: 26100536 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2015.94] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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7
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Jansen R, Penninx BWJH, Madar V, Xia K, Milaneschi Y, Hottenga JJ, Hammerschlag AR, Beekman A, van der Wee N, Smit JH, Brooks AI, Tischfield J, Posthuma D, Schoevers R, van Grootheest G, Willemsen G, de Geus EJ, Boomsma DI, Wright FA, Zou F, Sun W, Sullivan PF. Gene expression in major depressive disorder. Mol Psychiatry 2016; 21:339-47. [PMID: 26008736 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2015.57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2014] [Revised: 03/26/2015] [Accepted: 04/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The search for genetic variants underlying major depressive disorder (MDD) has not yet provided firm leads to its underlying molecular biology. A complementary approach is to study gene expression in relation to MDD. We measured gene expression in peripheral blood from 1848 subjects from The Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety. Subjects were divided into current MDD (N=882), remitted MDD (N=635) and control (N=331) groups. MDD status and gene expression were measured again 2 years later in 414 subjects. The strongest gene expression differences were between the current MDD and control groups (129 genes at false-discovery rate, FDR<0.1). Gene expression differences across MDD status were largely unrelated to antidepressant use, inflammatory status and blood cell counts. Genes associated with MDD were enriched for interleukin-6 (IL-6)-signaling and natural killer (NK) cell pathways. We identified 13 gene expression clusters with specific clusters enriched for genes involved in NK cell activation (downregulated in current MDD, FDR=5.8 × 10(-5)) and IL-6 pathways (upregulated in current MDD, FDR=3.2 × 10(-3)). Longitudinal analyses largely confirmed results observed in the cross-sectional data. Comparisons of gene expression results to the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) MDD genome-wide association study results revealed overlap with DVL3. In conclusion, multiple gene expression associations with MDD were identified and suggest a measurable impact of current MDD state on gene expression. Identified genes and gene clusters are enriched with immune pathways previously associated with the etiology of MDD, in line with the immune suppression and immune activation hypothesis of MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Jansen
- Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - B W J H Penninx
- Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - V Madar
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - K Xia
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Y Milaneschi
- Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - J J Hottenga
- Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A R Hammerschlag
- Department of Complex Trait Genetics, VU University Amsterdam, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A Beekman
- Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - N van der Wee
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - J H Smit
- Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A I Brooks
- Department of Genetics and the Human Genetics Institute, RUCDR Infinite Biologics, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - J Tischfield
- Department of Genetics and the Human Genetics Institute, RUCDR Infinite Biologics, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - D Posthuma
- Department of Complex Trait Genetics, VU University Amsterdam, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - R Schoevers
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - G van Grootheest
- Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - G Willemsen
- Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - E J de Geus
- Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - D I Boomsma
- Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - F A Wright
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,Department of Statistics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - F Zou
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - W Sun
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - P F Sullivan
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Giniatullina A, Maroteaux G, Geerts CJ, Koopmans B, Loos M, Klaassen R, Chen N, van der Schors RC, van Nierop P, Li KW, de Jong J, Altrock WD, Cornelisse LN, Toonen RF, van der Sluis S, Sullivan PF, Stiedl O, Posthuma D, Smit AB, Groffen AJ, Verhage M. Functional characterization of the PCLO p.Ser4814Ala variant associated with major depressive disorder reveals cellular but not behavioral differences. Neuroscience 2015; 300:518-38. [PMID: 26045179 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.05.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2014] [Revised: 05/17/2015] [Accepted: 05/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies have suggested a role for a genetic variation in the presynaptic gene PCLO in major depressive disorder (MDD). As with many complex traits, the PCLO variant has a small contribution to the overall heritability and the association does not always replicate. One variant (rs2522833, p.Ser4814Ala) is of particular interest given that it is a common, nonsynonymous exon variant near a calcium-sensing part of PCLO. It has been suggested that the molecular effects of such variations penetrate to a variable extent in the population due to phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity at the population level. More robust effects may be exposed by studying such variations in isolation, in a more homogeneous context. We tested this idea by modeling PCLO variation in a mouse knock-in model expressing the Pclo(SA)(/)(SA) variant. In the highly homogeneous background of inbred mice, two functional effects of the SA-variation were observed at the cellular level: increased synaptic Piccolo levels, and 30% increased excitatory synaptic transmission in cultured neurons. Other aspects of Piccolo function were unaltered: calcium-dependent phospholipid binding, synapse formation in vitro, and synaptic accumulation of synaptic vesicles. Moreover, anxiety, cognition and depressive-like behavior were normal in Pclo(SA)(/)(SA) mice. We conclude that the PCLO p.Ser4814Ala missense variant produces mild cellular phenotypes, which do not translate into behavioral phenotypes. We propose a model explaining how (subtle) cellular phenotypes do not penetrate to the mouse behavioral level but, due to genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity and non-linearity, can produce association signals in human population studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Giniatullina
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - G Maroteaux
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - C J Geerts
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - B Koopmans
- Sylics (Synaptologics BV), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - M Loos
- Sylics (Synaptologics BV), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - R Klaassen
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - N Chen
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - R C van der Schors
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - P van Nierop
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - K W Li
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - J de Jong
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - W D Altrock
- Department of Neurochemistry and Molecular Biology, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - L N Cornelisse
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Section Complex Trait Genetics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - R F Toonen
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - S van der Sluis
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Section Complex Trait Genetics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - P F Sullivan
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - O Stiedl
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - D Posthuma
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - A B Smit
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A J Groffen
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M Verhage
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Clinical Genetics, Section Complex Trait Genetics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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9
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Mous SE, Muetzel RL, El Marroun H, Polderman TJC, van der Lugt A, Jaddoe VW, Hofman A, Verhulst FC, Tiemeier H, Posthuma D, White T. Cortical thickness and inattention/hyperactivity symptoms in young children: a population-based study. Psychol Med 2014; 44:3203-3213. [PMID: 25065362 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291714000877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While many neuroimaging studies have investigated the neurobiological basis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), few have studied the neurobiology of attention problems in the general population. The ability to pay attention falls along a continuum within the population, with children with ADHD at one extreme of the spectrum and, therefore, a dimensional perspective of evaluating attention problems has an added value to the existing literature. Our goal was to investigate the relationship between cortical thickness and inattention and hyperactivity symptoms in a large population of young children. METHOD This study is embedded within the Generation R Study and includes 6- to 8-year-old children (n = 444) with parent-reported attention and hyperactivity measures and high-resolution structural imaging data. We investigated the relationship between cortical thickness across the entire brain and the Child Behavior Checklist Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Problems score. RESULTS We found that greater attention problems and hyperactivity were associated with a thinner right and left postcentral gyrus. When correcting for potential confounding factors and multiple testing, these associations remained significant. CONCLUSIONS In a large, population-based sample we showed that young (6- to 8-year-old) children who show more attention problems and hyperactivity have a thinner cortex in the region of the right and left postcentral gyrus. The postcentral gyrus, being the primary somatosensory cortex, reaches its peak growth early in development. Therefore, the thinner cortex in this region may reflect either a deviation in cortical maturation or a failure to reach the same peak cortical thickness compared with children without attention or hyperactivity problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- S E Mous
- The Generation R Study Group,Erasmus Medical Center,Rotterdam,The Netherlands
| | - R L Muetzel
- The Generation R Study Group,Erasmus Medical Center,Rotterdam,The Netherlands
| | - H El Marroun
- The Generation R Study Group,Erasmus Medical Center,Rotterdam,The Netherlands
| | - T J C Polderman
- Complex Trait Genetics, Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam (NCA),VU University,Amsterdam,The Netherlands
| | - A van der Lugt
- Department of Radiology,Erasmus Medical Center,Rotterdam,The Netherlands
| | - V W Jaddoe
- The Generation R Study Group,Erasmus Medical Center,Rotterdam,The Netherlands
| | - A Hofman
- Department of Epidemiology,Erasmus Medical Center,Rotterdam,The Netherlands
| | - F C Verhulst
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology,Erasmus Medical Center - Sophia Children's Hospital,Rotterdam,The Netherlands
| | - H Tiemeier
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology,Erasmus Medical Center - Sophia Children's Hospital,Rotterdam,The Netherlands
| | - D Posthuma
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology,Erasmus Medical Center - Sophia Children's Hospital,Rotterdam,The Netherlands
| | - T White
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology,Erasmus Medical Center - Sophia Children's Hospital,Rotterdam,The Netherlands
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Benyamin B, Pourcain BS, Davis OS, Davies G, Hansell NK, Brion MJA, Kirkpatrick RM, Cents RAM, Franić S, Miller MB, Haworth CMA, Meaburn E, Price TS, Evans DM, Timpson N, Kemp J, Ring S, McArdle W, Medland SE, Yang J, Harris SE, Liewald DC, Scheet P, Xiao X, Hudziak JJ, de Geus EJC, Jaddoe VWV, Starr JM, Verhulst FC, Pennell C, Tiemeier H, Iacono WG, Palmer LJ, Montgomery GW, Martin NG, Boomsma DI, Posthuma D, McGue M, Wright MJ, Smith GD, Deary IJ, Plomin R, Visscher PM. Childhood intelligence is heritable, highly polygenic and associated with FNBP1L. Mol Psychiatry 2014; 19:253-8. [PMID: 23358156 PMCID: PMC3935975 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2012.184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 167] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2012] [Revised: 10/28/2012] [Accepted: 11/12/2012] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Intelligence in childhood, as measured by psychometric cognitive tests, is a strong predictor of many important life outcomes, including educational attainment, income, health and lifespan. Results from twin, family and adoption studies are consistent with general intelligence being highly heritable and genetically stable throughout the life course. No robustly associated genetic loci or variants for childhood intelligence have been reported. Here, we report the first genome-wide association study (GWAS) on childhood intelligence (age range 6-18 years) from 17,989 individuals in six discovery and three replication samples. Although no individual single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected with genome-wide significance, we show that the aggregate effects of common SNPs explain 22-46% of phenotypic variation in childhood intelligence in the three largest cohorts (P=3.9 × 10(-15), 0.014 and 0.028). FNBP1L, previously reported to be the most significantly associated gene for adult intelligence, was also significantly associated with childhood intelligence (P=0.003). Polygenic prediction analyses resulted in a significant correlation between predictor and outcome in all replication cohorts. The proportion of childhood intelligence explained by the predictor reached 1.2% (P=6 × 10(-5)), 3.5% (P=10(-3)) and 0.5% (P=6 × 10(-5)) in three independent validation cohorts. Given the sample sizes, these genetic prediction results are consistent with expectations if the genetic architecture of childhood intelligence is like that of body mass index or height. Our study provides molecular support for the heritability and polygenic nature of childhood intelligence. Larger sample sizes will be required to detect individual variants with genome-wide significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Benyamin
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Brain Institute, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - BSt Pourcain
- Medical Research Council Centre for Causal Analyses in Translational Epidemiology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - OS Davis
- King's College London, Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
| | - G Davies
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - NK Hansell
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - M-JA Brion
- Medical Research Council Centre for Causal Analyses in Translational Epidemiology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- School of Women's and Infants' Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - RM Kirkpatrick
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, USA
| | - RAM Cents
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC-University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC-University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - S Franić
- Netherlands Twin Register, Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - MB Miller
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, USA
| | - CMA Haworth
- King's College London, Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
| | - E Meaburn
- Department of Psychology, Birkbeck University of London, London, UK
| | - TS Price
- King's College London, Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
| | - DM Evans
- Medical Research Council Centre for Causal Analyses in Translational Epidemiology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - N Timpson
- Medical Research Council Centre for Causal Analyses in Translational Epidemiology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - J Kemp
- Medical Research Council Centre for Causal Analyses in Translational Epidemiology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - S Ring
- Medical Research Council Centre for Causal Analyses in Translational Epidemiology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - W McArdle
- Medical Research Council Centre for Causal Analyses in Translational Epidemiology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - SE Medland
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - J Yang
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - SE Harris
- Molecular Medicine Centre, Institute for Genetics and Molecular Medicine Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - DC Liewald
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - P Scheet
- Netherlands Twin Register, Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - X Xiao
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - JJ Hudziak
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - EJC de Geus
- Netherlands Twin Register, Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - VWV Jaddoe
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC-University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - JM Starr
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - FC Verhulst
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC-University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - C Pennell
- School of Women's and Infants' Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - H Tiemeier
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC-University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus MC-University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - WG Iacono
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, USA
| | - LJ Palmer
- Genetic Epidemiology and Biostatistics Platform, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - GW Montgomery
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - NG Martin
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - DI Boomsma
- Netherlands Twin Register, Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - D Posthuma
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC-University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam (NCA), VU University Amsterdam and VU Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Section Medical Genomics, VU Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - M McGue
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - MJ Wright
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - G Davey Smith
- Medical Research Council Centre for Causal Analyses in Translational Epidemiology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - IJ Deary
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - R Plomin
- King's College London, Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
| | - PM Visscher
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Brain Institute, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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11
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Polderman TJC, Hoekstra RA, Vinkhuyzen AAE, Sullivan PF, van der Sluis S, Posthuma D. Attentional switching forms a genetic link between attention problems and autistic traits in adults. Psychol Med 2013; 43:1985-1996. [PMID: 23257114 PMCID: PMC3738022 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291712002863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2012] [Revised: 11/09/2012] [Accepted: 11/13/2012] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and autistic traits often occur together. The pattern and etiology of co-occurrence are largely unknown, particularly in adults. This study investigated the co-occurrence between both traits in detail, and subsequently examined the etiology of the co-occurrence, using two independent adult population samples. Method Data on ADHD traits (Inattention and Hyperactivity/Impulsivity) were collected in a population sample (S1, n = 559) of unrelated individuals. Data on Attention Problems (AP) were collected in a population-based family sample of twins and siblings (S2, n = 560). In both samples five dimensions of autistic traits were assessed (social skills, routine, attentional switching, imagination, patterns). RESULTS Hyperactive traits (S1) did not correlate substantially with the autistic trait dimensions. For Inattention (S1) and AP (S2), the correlations with the autistic trait dimensions were low, apart from a prominent correlation with the attentional switching scale (0.47 and 0.32 respectively). Analyses in the genetically informative S2 revealed that this association could be explained by a shared genetic factor. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the co-occurrence of ADHD traits and autistic traits in adults is not determined by problems with hyperactivity, social skills, imagination or routine preferences. Instead, the association between those traits is due primarily to shared attention-related problems (inattention and attentional switching capacity). As the etiology of this association is purely genetic, biological pathways involving attentional control could be a promising focus of future studies aimed at unraveling the genetic causes of these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- T J C Polderman
- Complex Trait Genetics, Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam (NCA), VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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12
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13
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Lips ES, Cornelisse LN, Toonen RF, Min JL, Hultman CM, Holmans PA, O'Donovan MC, Purcell SM, Smit AB, Verhage M, Sullivan PF, Visscher PM, Posthuma D. Functional gene group analysis identifies synaptic gene groups as risk factor for schizophrenia. Mol Psychiatry 2012; 17:996-1006. [PMID: 21931320 PMCID: PMC3449234 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2011.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2011] [Revised: 07/21/2011] [Accepted: 08/01/2011] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a highly heritable disorder with a polygenic pattern of inheritance and a population prevalence of ~1%. Previous studies have implicated synaptic dysfunction in schizophrenia. We tested the accumulated association of genetic variants in expert-curated synaptic gene groups with schizophrenia in 4673 cases and 4965 healthy controls, using functional gene group analysis. Identifying groups of genes with similar cellular function rather than genes in isolation may have clinical implications for finding additional drug targets. We found that a group of 1026 synaptic genes was significantly associated with the risk of schizophrenia (P=7.6 × 10(-11)) and more strongly associated than 100 randomly drawn, matched control groups of genetic variants (P<0.01). Subsequent analysis of synaptic subgroups suggested that the strongest association signals are derived from three synaptic gene groups: intracellular signal transduction (P=2.0 × 10(-4)), excitability (P=9.0 × 10(-4)) and cell adhesion and trans-synaptic signaling (P=2.4 × 10(-3)). These results are consistent with a role of synaptic dysfunction in schizophrenia and imply that impaired intracellular signal transduction in synapses, synaptic excitability and cell adhesion and trans-synaptic signaling play a role in the pathology of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- E S Lips
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - L N Cornelisse
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - R F Toonen
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - J L Min
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - C M Hultman
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Ulleråker, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - the International Schizophrenia Consortium13
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Ulleråker, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- School of Medicine, Department of Psychological Medicine, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Queensland Statistical Genetics Laboratory, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Department of Medical Genomics, VU Medical Center, Neuroscience Campus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - P A Holmans
- School of Medicine, Department of Psychological Medicine, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - M C O'Donovan
- School of Medicine, Department of Psychological Medicine, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - S M Purcell
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - A B Smit
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - M Verhage
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - P F Sullivan
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - P M Visscher
- Queensland Statistical Genetics Laboratory, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - D Posthuma
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Genomics, VU Medical Center, Neuroscience Campus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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14
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Rizzi TS, Beunders G, Rizzu P, Sistermans E, Twisk JWR, van Mechelen W, Deijen JB, Meijers-Heijboer H, Verhage M, Heutink P, Posthuma D. Supporting the generalist genes hypothesis for intellectual ability/disability: the case of SNAP25. Genes, Brain and Behavior 2012; 11:767-71. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-183x.2012.00819.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2012] [Revised: 06/20/2012] [Accepted: 06/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- T. S. Rizzi
- Functional Genomics, Centre for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research
| | | | | | | | | | | | - J. B. Deijen
- Department of Clinical Neuropsychology,; VU University; Amsterdam
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15
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Bosker FJ, Hartman CA, Nolte IM, Prins BP, Terpstra P, Posthuma D, van Veen T, Willemsen G, DeRijk RH, de Geus EJ, Hoogendijk WJ, Sullivan PF, Penninx BW, Boomsma DI, Snieder H, Nolen WA. Poor replication of candidate genes for major depressive disorder using genome-wide association data. Mol Psychiatry 2011; 16:516-32. [PMID: 20351714 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2010.38] [Citation(s) in RCA: 202] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Data from the Genetic Association Information Network (GAIN) genome-wide association study (GWAS) in major depressive disorder (MDD) were used to explore previously reported candidate gene and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) associations in MDD. A systematic literature search of candidate genes associated with MDD in case-control studies was performed before the results of the GAIN MDD study became available. Measured and imputed candidate SNPs and genes were tested in the GAIN MDD study encompassing 1738 cases and 1802 controls. Imputation was used to increase the number of SNPs from the GWAS and to improve coverage of SNPs in the candidate genes selected. Tests were carried out for individual SNPs and the entire gene using different statistical approaches, with permutation analysis as the final arbiter. In all, 78 papers reporting on 57 genes were identified, from which 92 SNPs could be mapped. In the GAIN MDD study, two SNPs were associated with MDD: C5orf20 (rs12520799; P=0.038; odds ratio (OR) AT=1.10, 95% CI 0.95-1.29; OR TT=1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.47) and NPY (rs16139; P=0.034; OR C allele=0.73, 95% CI 0.55-0.97), constituting a direct replication of previously identified SNPs. At the gene level, TNF (rs76917; OR T=1.35, 95% CI 1.13-1.63; P=0.0034) was identified as the only gene for which the association with MDD remained significant after correction for multiple testing. For SLC6A2 (norepinephrine transporter (NET)) significantly more SNPs (19 out of 100; P=0.039) than expected were associated while accounting for the linkage disequilibrium (LD) structure. Thus, we found support for involvement in MDD for only four genes. However, given the number of candidate SNPs and genes that were tested, even these significant may well be false positives. The poor replication may point to publication bias and false-positive findings in previous candidate gene studies, and may also be related to heterogeneity of the MDD phenotype as well as contextual genetic or environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- F J Bosker
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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Smit DJA, Boersma M, van Beijsterveldt CEM, Posthuma D, Boomsma DI, Stam CJ, de Geus EJC. Endophenotypes in a dynamically connected brain. Behav Genet 2010; 40:167-77. [PMID: 20111993 PMCID: PMC2829652 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-009-9330-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2009] [Accepted: 12/29/2009] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
We examined the longitudinal genetic architecture of three parameters of functional brain connectivity. One parameter described overall connectivity (synchronization likelihood, SL). The two others were derived from graph theory and described local (clustering coefficient, CC) and global (average path length, L) aspects of connectivity. We measured resting state EEG in 1,438 subjects from four age groups of about 16, 18, 25 and 50 years. Developmental curves for SL and L indicate that connectivity is more random at adolescence and old age, and more structured in middle-aged adulthood. Individual variation in SL and L were moderately to highly heritable at each age (SL: 40–82%; L: 29–63%). Genetic factors underlying these phenotypes overlapped. CC was also heritable (25–49%) but showed no systematic overlap with SL and L. SL, CC, and L in the alpha band showed high phenotypic and genetic stability from 16 to 25 years. Heritability for parameters in the beta band was lower, and less stable across ages, but genetic stability was high. We conclude that the connectivity parameters SL, CC, and L in the alpha band show the hallmarks of a good endophenotype for behavior and developmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J A Smit
- Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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18
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Jonker MA, Bhulai S, Boomsma DI, Ligthart RSL, Posthuma D, Van der Vaart AW. Gamma frailty model for linkage analysis with application to interval-censored migraine data. Biostatistics 2008; 10:187-200. [PMID: 18714083 DOI: 10.1093/biostatistics/kxn027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- M A Jonker
- Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1081 a, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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19
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Gosso MF, de Geus EJC, Polderman TJC, Boomsma DI, Heutink P, Posthuma D. Common variants underlying cognitive ability: further evidence for association between the SNAP-25 gene and cognition using a family-based study in two independent Dutch cohorts. Genes Brain Behav 2008; 7:355-64. [PMID: 17908175 DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-183x.2007.00359.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The synaptosomal associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25) gene, located on chromosome 20 p12-12p11.2 encodes a presynaptic terminal protein. SNAP-25 is differentially expressed in the brain, and primarily present in the neocortex, hippocampus, anterior thalamic nuclei, substantia nigra and cerebellar granular cells. Recently, a family-based genetic association was reported between variation in intelligence quotient (IQ) phenotypes and two intronic variants on the SNAP-25 gene. The present study is a follow-up association study in two Dutch cohorts of 371 children (mean age 12.4 years) and 391 adults (mean age 36.2 years). It examines the complete genomic region of the SNAP-25 gene to narrow down the location of causative genetic variant underlying the association. Two new variants in intron 1 (rs363043 and rs353016), close to the two previous reported variants (rs363039 and rs363050) showed association with variation in IQ phenotypes across both cohorts. All four single nucleotide polymorphisms were located in intron 1, within a region of about 13.8 kbp, and are known to affect transcription factor-binding sites. Contrary to what is expected in monogenic traits, subtle changes are postulated to influence the phenotypic outcome of complex (common) traits. As a result, functional polymorphisms in (non)coding regulatory sequences may affect spatial and temporal regulation of gene expression underlying normal cognitive variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M F Gosso
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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20
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Middeldorp CM, Hottenga JJ, Slagboom PE, Sullivan PF, de Geus EJC, Posthuma D, Willemsen G, Boomsma DI. Linkage on chromosome 14 in a genome-wide linkage study of a broad anxiety phenotype. Mol Psychiatry 2008; 13:84-9. [PMID: 17700576 PMCID: PMC4205275 DOI: 10.1038/sj.mp.4002061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Several linkage studies on anxiety have been carried out in samples ascertained through probands with panic disorder. The results indicated that using a broad anxiety phenotype instead of a DSM-IV anxiety disorder diagnosis might enhance the chance of finding a linkage signal. In the current study, a genome-wide linkage analysis was performed on anxiety measured with a self-report questionnaire whose scores are highly correlated with DSM-IV anxiety disorders. The self-report questionnaire was included in five surveys of a longitudinal study of the Netherlands Twin Register. Genotype and phenotype data were available for 1602 twins and siblings. To estimate identity by descent , additional genotype data for 564 parents and 22 siblings were used. Linkage analyses were carried out using MERLIN-regress on the average anxiety scores across time. A linkage signal (logarithm of odds score 3.4, empirical P-value 0.07) was obtained at chromosome 14 for marker D14S65 at 105 cM (90% confidence interval, 99-115 cM bounded by markers D14S1434 and D14S985). This finding replicates a linkage finding for a broad anxiety phenotype in a clinically based sample, indicating that the region might harbor a quantitative trait locus associated with the whole spectrum of general anxiety, that is from the normal to the clinical range. Moreover, genome-wide linkage and association studies on emotionality in mice obtained significant results in a syntenic region on mouse chromosome 12. Two homolog genes lie in this region -Dlk1 (delta-like 1 homolog, Drosophila) and Rtl1 (retrotransposon-like 1). Future association studies of these genes are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M Middeldorp
- Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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21
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Obesity is linked to asthma in a yet poorly understood manner. We examined the relationship between obesity and asthma in a population-based sample of twins. METHODS From the cohorts born between 1953 and 1982, who were enrolled in The Danish Twin Registry, a total of 29 183 twin individuals participated in a nationwide questionnaire study, where data on height, weight and asthma were collected. Latent factor models of genetic and environmental effects were fitted using maximum likelihood methods. RESULTS The age-adjusted risk of asthma was increased both in obese females, OR = 1.96 (1.45-2.64), P < or = 0.001 and in obese males, OR = 1.59 (1.08-2.33), P = 0.02. According to best-fitting models, the heritability for obesity was 81% in males and 92% in females, whereas the heritability for asthma was 78% and 68% in males and females respectively. The age-adjusted genetic liabilities to obesity and asthma were significantly correlated only in females, r = 0.28 (0.16-0.38). CONCLUSIONS Obese subjects have an increased risk for asthma, which in females seems partly because of common genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- S F Thomsen
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
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22
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Smit DJA, Posthuma D, Boomsma DI, De Geus EJC. Heritability of anterior and posterior visual N1. Int J Psychophysiol 2007; 66:196-204. [PMID: 17669532 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2007.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2006] [Revised: 06/19/2007] [Accepted: 06/28/2007] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have reported that individual variation in N1 amplitude is related to attentional problems and alcoholism. Using data from 651 twins and siblings from 292 families we examined whether variation in N1 amplitude and latency can be explained by genetic factors. In half of the subjects the age centered around 26 (young adult cohort), in the other half the age centered around 49 (middle-aged adult cohort). Two visual N1 components were identified by a spatial PCA -- an early anterior component peaking from 88 to 168 ms after stimulus presentation and a posterior one peaking from 132 to 220 ms. Significant heritability was found for anterior N1 amplitude (22%) and posterior amplitude (50%), and for anterior latency (45%) and posterior latency (43%). We conclude that visual N1 amplitude and latency may serve as endophenotypes to detect genetic variation in susceptibility to psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J A Smit
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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23
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Kuijper EAM, Lambalk CB, Boomsma DI, van der Sluis S, Blankenstein MA, de Geus EJC, Posthuma D. Heritability of reproductive hormones in adult male twins. Hum Reprod 2007; 22:2153-9. [PMID: 17569675 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dem145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Proper functioning of the male reproductive axis depends on complex feedback systems between several hormones. In this study, the genetic contribution of various endocrine components of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis is evaluated and previously observed differences in FSH and inhibin B levels between mono- (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins are re-investigated. METHODS Inhibin B, FSH, LH, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and testosterone levels were assayed in 128 adult males (20 MZ twin pairs, 7 single MZ twins, 10 DZ twin pairs, 27 single DZ twins and 34 siblings of twins, constituting 10 sibling pairs), aged 15.6-68.7 years. Hormone levels were compared across zygosity groups and heritability estimates were obtained using maximum likelihood variance component analysis. RESULTS Heritability estimates ranged from 56% (testosterone) to 81% (inhibin B and SHBG). For LH and FSH, the heritability was estimated at 68% and 80% respectively. No mean differences in hormone levels were observed across groups. CONCLUSIONS All measured hormones are highly heritable. A difference in the FSH-inhibin B feedback system between DZ twin males and MZ twin males could not be confirmed.
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Affiliation(s)
- E A M Kuijper
- Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, VU University Medical Center, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Smit DJA, Posthuma D, Boomsma DI, De Geus EJC. The relation between frontal EEG asymmetry and the risk for anxiety and depression. Biol Psychol 2007; 74:26-33. [PMID: 16875773 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2006.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2005] [Revised: 06/06/2006] [Accepted: 06/16/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Frontal asymmetry of EEG alpha power (FA) may index the risk for anxiety and depression. Evidence linking FA to the underlying biological mechanisms is scarce. This is unfortunate because FA has potential as a biological marker to support gene finding in anxiety and depression. We examined the heritability of FA in 732 twins and their singleton siblings, and established the genetic and environmental contribution to the relation between FA and the risk for anxiety and depression. Multivariate models showed that FA is heritable only in young adults (males 32% and females 37%) but not in middle-aged adults. A significant relation between FA and the risk for anxiety and depression was only found in young adult females. This relation was explained by shared genes influencing both EEG and disease risk. Future studies on asymmetry of left and right frontal brain activation should carefully consider the effects of sex and age.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J A Smit
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam, van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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25
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Gosso MF, van Belzen M, de Geus EJC, Polderman JC, Heutink P, Boomsma DI, Posthuma D. Association between the CHRM2 gene and intelligence in a sample of 304 Dutch families. Genes Brain Behav 2006; 5:577-84. [PMID: 17081262 DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-183x.2006.00211.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The CHRM2 gene is thought to be involved in neuronal excitability, synaptic plasticity and feedback regulation of acetylcholine release and has previously been implicated in higher cognitive processing. In a sample of 667 individuals from 304 families, we genotyped three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CHRM2 gene on 7q31-35. From all individuals, standardized intelligence measures were available. Using a test of within-family association, which controls for the possible effects of population stratification, a highly significant association was found between the CHRM2 gene and intelligence. The strongest association was between rs324650 and performance IQ (PIQ), where the T allele was associated with an increase of 4.6 PIQ points. In parallel with a large family-based association, we observed an attenuated - although still significant - population-based association, illustrating that population stratification may decrease our chances of detecting allele-trait associations. Such a mechanism has been predicted earlier, and this article is one of the first to empirically show that family-based association methods are not only needed to guard against false positives, but are also invaluable in guarding against false negatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- M F Gosso
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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26
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Silventoinen K, Posthuma D, van Beijsterveldt T, Bartels M, Boomsma DI. Genetic contributions to the association between height and intelligence: Evidence from Dutch twin data from childhood to middle age. Genes Brain Behav 2006; 5:585-95. [PMID: 17081263 DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-183x.2006.00208.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A positive association between intelligence (IQ) and height has been reported previously. It is generally assumed that this association reflects the effect of childhood environment on IQ, but there is still little research supporting directly this hypothesis. We studied the association between height and IQ in 209 Dutch twin pairs at the ages of 5, 7, 10 and 12 years, 208 twin pairs at 16 and 18 years of age and 567 twin pairs and their siblings in adulthood. The heritability of height was high in all cohorts and across all ages (a2 = 0.93 - 0.96). In adulthood, heritability was also high for full-scale IQ (FSIQ: a2 = 0.83-0.84) and somewhat lower for verbal IQ (VIQ: a2 = 0.66-0.84). In early childhood, the heritability was lower, and common environmental factors had a substantial effect on FSIQ and VIQ. A positive association of height and IQ was found in early childhood and adolescence. In adulthood, a correlation was found between height and FSIQ in young adulthood and between height and VIQ in middle age. All correlations could be ascribed to genetic factors influencing both height and IQ. Thus, these results show that the association between height and IQ should not be directly regarded as evidence for childhood living conditions affecting IQ, but the effect of genetic factors affecting independently or interacting with environmental factors should be considered as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Silventoinen
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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27
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Abstract
In the post Genome era, the aim of behavior genetics has shifted from estimating the relative contributions of genes and environmental factors to (co-)variation in human complex traits, to localization of genes and identification of functional genetic variants. This special issue reflects this transition and presents fifteen papers that report on genome-wide linkage scans for complex traits in humans and on methodological tools and innovations. Six papers focus on cognition and report overlapping linkage peaks on chromosomes 6p and 14p. Papers on addictive behavior, i.e. smoking and alcohol dependence and its endophenotypes, find moderate LOD scores on chromosomes 6p, 5q, 4p and 7q, respectively. Three papers concentrate on emotionality, depression and loneliness and examine chromosomes 2q and 12q. The papers in this issue represent a summary of the first large scale linkage enterprises of human behavioral traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Posthuma
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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28
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Gosso MF, de Geus EJC, van Belzen MJ, Polderman TJC, Heutink P, Boomsma DI, Posthuma D. The SNAP-25 gene is associated with cognitive ability: evidence from a family-based study in two independent Dutch cohorts. Mol Psychiatry 2006; 11:878-86. [PMID: 16801949 DOI: 10.1038/sj.mp.4001868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25) gene plays an integral role in synaptic transmission, and is differentially expressed in the mammalian brain in the neocortex, hippocampus, anterior thalamic nuclei, substantia nigra and cerebellar granular cells. Recent studies have suggested a possible involvement of SNAP-25 in learning and memory, both of which are key components of human intelligence. In addition, the SNAP-25 gene lies in a linkage area implicated previously in human intelligence. In two independent family-based Dutch samples of 391 (mean age 12.4 years) and 276 (mean age 37.3 years) subjects, respectively, we genotyped 12 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the SNAP-25 gene on 20p12-20p11.2. From all individuals, standardized intelligence measures were available. Using a family-based association test, a strong association was found between three SNPs in the SNAP-25 gene and intelligence, two of which showed association in both independent samples. The strongest, replicated association was found between SNP rs363050 and performance IQ (PIQ), where the A allele was associated with an increase of 2.84 PIQ points (P=0.0002). Variance in this SNP accounts for 3.4% of the phenotypic variance in PIQ.
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Affiliation(s)
- M F Gosso
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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29
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Abstract
We estimated the genetic and nongenetic (environmental) contributions to individual differences in the background EEG power spectrum in two age cohorts with mean ages of 26.2 and 49.4 years. Nineteen-lead EEG was recorded with eyes closed from 142 monozygotic and 167 dizygotic twin pairs and their siblings, totaling 760 subjects. We obtained power spectra in 24 bins of 1 Hz ranging from 1.0 to 25.0 Hz. Generally, heritability was highest around the alpha peak frequency and lower in the theta and delta bands. In the beta band heritability gradually decreased with increasing frequency, especially in the temporal regions. Genetic correlations between power in the classical broad bands indicated that half to three-quarters of the genetic variance can be attributed to a common source. We conclude that across the scalp and most of the frequency spectrum, individual differences in adult EEG are largely determined by genetic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J A Smit
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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30
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Posthuma D, Boomsma DI. Mx scripts library: structural equation modeling scripts for twin and family data. Behav Genet 2005; 35:499-505. [PMID: 15971030 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-005-2791-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2004] [Accepted: 01/10/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Structural equation modeling (SEM) provides a flexible tool to carry out genetic analyses of family and twin data. The basic model which decomposes the variance between and within families for a particular trait into genetic and non-genetic components can be generalized to multivariate and/or longitudinal data, incorporate sex differences in parameter estimates, and model the effects of measured environment, candidate genes or DNA marker data. We introduce a web-based library (http://www.psy.vu.nl/mxbib) of scripts for uni- and multivariate genetic epidemiological analyses, as well as for linkage and genetic association tests. The scripts are written to be used with the freely available software package Mx and provide a flexible and uniform approach to the analysis of data from relatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Posthuma
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081, BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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31
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Subjective well-being (SWB) can be partitioned into the components life satisfaction and affect. Research on factors influencing these components of well-being has mainly focused on environmental characteristics. The aim of this study was to investigate the relative contribution of genes and environment to individual differences in life satisfaction in a large sample of Dutch twins and their singleton siblings. METHOD Life satisfaction of 5668 subjects registered with The Netherlands Twin Registry (NTR) was measured with a Dutch version of the self-reported Satisfaction with Life Scale. An extended twin design was used to obtain correlations in life satisfaction scores for monozygotic twins, dizygotic twins and sibling pairs and to estimate the contribution of genes and environment to the variation in life satisfaction. RESULTS No differences between males and females were found in the mean level of life satisfaction. Broad-sense heritability was 38%. Non-additive genetic factors explained all or most of the genetic influences. The remaining 62% of the variance in life satisfaction could be attributed to unique environmental factors, both persistent and transitory, plus measurement error. CONCLUSIONS Individual differences in life satisfaction are determined in part by genetic factors that are largely or entirely non-additive in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- J H Stubbe
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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32
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de Craen AJM, Posthuma D, Remarque EJ, van den Biggelaar AHJ, Westendorp RGJ, Boomsma DI. Heritability estimates of innate immunity: an extended twin study. Genes Immun 2005; 6:167-70. [PMID: 15674372 DOI: 10.1038/sj.gene.6364162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Cytokines are key players in numerous inflammatory processes. Demonstration of a heritable component in the variation of cytokine production would indicate that simultaneous occurrence of conditions might be caused by a heritable inflammatory characteristic. We applied an extended twin study approach to assess heritability estimates of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-1ra, IL-10, IL-6, and TNF-alpha production capacity after ex vivo stimulation with lipopolysaccharide. Cytokine production capacity was assessed in 42 monozygotic pairs, 52 dizygotic pairs, one trizygotic triplet, 33 single twins, and 83 additional siblings. Heritability estimates were derived from variance decomposition models using maximum likelihood estimation. For all cytokines, over 50% of the variance was genetically determined. IL-1ra and TNF-alpha had the lowest heritability estimate of 53%. Estimates for IL-6 and IL-10 were 57 and 62%, respectively. IL-1beta had the highest estimate of 86%. We conclude that the production of cytokines is under tight genetic control.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J M de Craen
- Section Gerontology and Geriatrics, Department of General Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.
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33
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Vink JM, Beem AL, Posthuma D, Neale MC, Willemsen G, Kendler KS, Slagboom PE, Boomsma DI. Linkage analysis of smoking initiation and quantity in Dutch sibling pairs. Pharmacogenomics J 2005; 4:274-82. [PMID: 15170444 DOI: 10.1038/sj.tpj.6500255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The heritability of smoking initiation (SI) and number of cigarettes smoked (NC) was determined in 3657 Dutch twin pairs. For SI a heritability of 36% was found and for NC of 51%. Both SI and NC were also significantly influenced by environmental factors shared by family members. The etiological factors that influence these traits partly overlap. Linkage analyses were performed on data of 536 DZ twins and siblings from 192 families, forming 592 sibling pairs. Results suggested QTLs on chromosome 6 (LOD=3.05) and chromosome 14 (LOD=1.66) for SI and on chromosome 3 (LOD=1.98) for NC. Strikingly, on chromosome 10 a peak was found in the same region for both SI (LOD=1.92) and for NC (LOD=2.29) which may partly explain the overlapping etiological factors for SI and NC.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Vink
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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34
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de Geus EJC, Posthuma D, Kupper N, van den Berg M, Willemsen G, Beem AL, Slagboom PE, Boomsma DI. A whole-genome scan for 24-hour respiration rate: a major locus at 10q26 influences respiration during sleep. Am J Hum Genet 2005; 76:100-11. [PMID: 15558495 PMCID: PMC1196413 DOI: 10.1086/427267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2004] [Accepted: 11/08/2004] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Identification of genes causing variation in daytime and nighttime respiration rates could advance our understanding of the basic molecular processes of human respiratory rhythmogenesis. This could also serve an important clinical purpose, because dysfunction of such processes has been identified as critically important in sleep disorders. We performed a sib-pair-based linkage analysis on ambulatory respiration rate, using the data from 270 sibling pairs who were genotyped at 374 markers on the autosomes, with an average distance of 9.65 cM. Uni- and multivariate variance-components-based multipoint linkage analyses were performed for respiration rate during three daytime periods (morning, afternoon, and evening) and during nighttime sleep. Evidence of linkage was found at chromosomal locations 3q27, 7p22, 10q26, and 22q12. The strongest evidence of linkage was found for respiration rate during sleep, with LOD scores of 2.36 at 3q27, 3.86 at 10q26, and 1.59 at 22q12. In a simultaneous analysis of these three loci, >50% of the variance in sleep respiration rate could be attributed to a quantitative-trait loci near marker D10S1248 at 10q. Genes in this area (GFRA1, ADORA2L, FGR2, EMX2, and HMX2) can be considered promising positional candidates for genetic association studies of respiratory control during sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- E J C de Geus
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081-BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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35
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Abstract
Statistical methods aimed at the detection of genes for quantitative traits suffer from two problems: (i) when a linkage approach is employed, relatively large sample sizes are usually required; and (ii) when an association approach is employed, effects of population stratification may blur genuine locus-trait associations. The variance components method proposed by Fulker et al. (1999) addressed both these problems; it is statistically powerful because it involves a combined analysis of linkage and association and can include information from multiplex families, which reduces the overall amount of necessary individual genotypes. In addition, it includes an explicit test for the presence of spurious association. After a brief illustration of the various ways in which population stratification may affect locus-trait associations, the implementation in Mx (Neale, 1997) of the method as proposed by Fulker et al. (1999) is discussed and illustrated. In addition, an extension to this method is proposed that allows the use of (variable) sibship sizes greater than two, the estimation of additive and dominance association effects, and the use of multiple alleles. These extensions can be implemented when parental genotypes are available or unavailable.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Posthuma
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT The Netherlands.
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36
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Abstract
Psychometric IQ (WAIS-III), onset and peak latency of the lateralized readiness potential (LRP), decision time, and accuracy were assessed during an Eriksen Flanker task in a young (149 families) and in an older (122 families) cohort of twins and their siblings. Stimulus-response incongruency effects were found on all measures of processing speed and accuracy. The effects on the percentages of wrong button presses and too slow (>1,000 ms) responses were larger in the older than in the younger age cohort. Significant heritability was found for processing speed (33-48%), accuracy (41%), and stimulus-response incongruency effects (3-32%). Verbal and performance IQ correlated significantly with stimulus-response incongruency effects on accuracy (-0.22 to -0.39), and this correlation was completely mediated by an underlying set of common genes. It is concluded that measures of the ability to perform well under conditions of stimulus-response incongruency are viable endophenotypes of cognitive ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Posthuma
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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37
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Abstract
Blood handling required for different cellular variables is different. In a practical setting of blood sampling approximately 4 h separated from the first analysis, we compared the analysis of blood cell variables at this 4-h point with analysis of blood stored for approximately 48 h (over the weekend) at room temperature. Blood was collected from 304 apparently healthy individuals aged between 17 and 70 years, with a female/male ratio of 1.8, in K3EDTA. Measurement was performed with a Beckman Coulter Counter Maxm. In addition to the comparison of the data and their correlation on the two time points, we investigated agreement between the data using analysis according to Bland and Altman. Counts of white and red blood cells and platelets were found stable over time and agreement of data was excellent. Platelet mean volume increased as expected between the two time points from 8.8 to 10.3 fl. The white blood cell subpopulations, however, changed over time with a decrease in neutrophils and monocytes and increases in lymphocytes and eosinophils. Apparently, ageing of the sample resulted in the alteration of certain cell characteristics leading to a change in automated cell classification without changing the total number of cells. Among the preanalytical variables recorded, only the time of the year and gender were found to be minor determinants (r < .25) of some of the differences between approximately 4 and approximately 48 h analysis delay. It is concluded that after storage at room temperature over approximately 48 h counts of red, total white cells, platelets and analysis of platelet volume can be combined in one assay session.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Vogelaar
- Gaubius Laboratory, TNO-PG, Zernikedreef 9, P.O. Box 2215, 2301 CE Leiden, The Netherlands
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38
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Abstract
Individual differences in inspection time explain about 20% of IQ test variance. To determine whether the association between inspection time and IQ is mediated by common genes or by a common environmental factor, inspection time and IQ were assessed in an extended twin design. Data from 688 participants from 271 families were collected as part of a large ongoing project on the genetics of adult brain function and cognition. The sample consisted of a young adult cohort (mean age 26.2 years) and an older adult cohort (mean age 50.4 years). IQ was assessed with the Dutch version of the WAIS-3R. Inspection time was measured in the so-called II-paradigm, in which a subject is asked to decide which leg of the II-figure is longest at varying display times of the II-figure. The number of correct inspections per second (i.e., the reciprocal of inspection time) was used to index perceptual speed. For Verbal IQ and Performance IQ, heritabilities were 85% and 69%, respectively. For perceptual speed, 46% of the total variance was explained by genetic variance. No differences in heritability estimates across age cohorts or sexes were found. Across the whole sample, a significant phenotypic correlation was found between perceptual speed and Verbal IQ (0.19) and between perceptual speed and Performance IQ (0.27). These correlations were entirely due to a common genetic factor that accounted for 10% of the genetic variance in verbal IQ and for 22% of the genetic variance in performance IQ. This factor is hypothesized to reflect the influence of genetic factors that determine axonal myelination in the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Posthuma
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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39
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Abstract
It has often been proposed that faster central nervous system (CNS) processing amounts to a smarter brain. One way to index speed of CNS processing is through the assessment of brain oscillations via electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings. The dominant frequency (peak frequency) with which neuronal feedback loops in an adult human brain oscillate in a relaxed state is around 10 cycles/sec, but large individual differences exist in peak frequencies. Earlier studies have found high peak frequencies to be associated with higher intelligence. In the present study, data from 271 extended twin families (688 participants) were collected as part of a large, ongoing project on the genetics of adult brain function and cognition. IQ was assessed with the Dutch version of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IIIR), from which four dimensions were calculated (verbal comprehension, working memory, perceptual organization, and processing speed). Individual peak frequencies were picked according to the method described by Klimesch (1999) and averaged 9.9 Hz (SD 1.01). Structural equation modeling indicated that both peak frequency and the dimensions of IQ were highly heritable (range, 66% to 83%). A large part of the genetic variance in alpha peak frequency as well as in working memory and processing speed was due to nonadditive factors. There was no evidence of a genetic correlation between alpha peak frequency and any of the four WAIS dimensions: Smarter brains do not seem to run faster.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Posthuma
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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40
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de Geus EJ, Posthuma D, Ijzerman RG, Boomsma DI. Comparing blood pressure of twins and their singleton siblings: being a twin does not affect adult blood pressure. Twin Res 2001; 4:385-91. [PMID: 11869493 DOI: 10.1375/1369052012560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The hypothesis was tested that monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins, with their lower average birth weight, have higher adult blood pressure than their singleton brothers or sisters. From the Netherlands Twin Registry, 261 twin families were recruited from a young adult and an older adult cohort with mean ages of 26.2 and 50.4 respectively. These families yielded 204 MZ twins with 71 singleton siblings and 271 DZ twins with 103 of their singleton siblings. Anti-hypertensive medication use of these 649 participants was assessed twice with a two-year interval. Resting blood pressure was measured thrice during a standardized laboratory protocol. In spite of a significant difference in birth weight (1036 gram), no differences were found in anti-hypertensive medication use at both time points between twins and singletons nor between their resting laboratory diastolic or systolic blood pressure. These results applied to each gender and to both age cohorts. Limiting the analyses to matched twin-sibling pairs of the same families and taking current weight and height into account did not change the results; no evidence was found for a twin-singleton difference. It was concluded that estimates of genetic and environmental contributions to blood pressure deriving from twin studies do not appear to be biased and may be generalized to singletons. Our results suggest that the lower birth weight in twins does not reflect the intrauterine disadvantage described by the Barker hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- E J de Geus
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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41
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Baaré WF, Hulshoff Pol HE, Boomsma DI, Posthuma D, de Geus EJ, Schnack HG, van Haren NE, van Oel CJ, Kahn RS. Quantitative genetic modeling of variation in human brain morphology. Cereb Cortex 2001; 11:816-24. [PMID: 11532887 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/11.9.816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 238] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The degree to which individual variation in brain structure in humans is genetically or environmentally determined is as yet not well understood. We studied the brains of 54 monozygotic (33 male, 21 female) and 58 dizygotic (17 male, 20 female, 21 opposite sex) pairs of twins and 34 of their full siblings (19 male, 15 female) by means of high resolution magnetic resonance imaging scans. Structural equation modeling was used to quantify the genetic and environmental contributions to phenotypic (co)variance in whole brain, gray and white matter volume of the cerebrum, lateral ventricle volume and associated variables such as intracranial volume and height. Because the cerebral cortex makes up more that two-thirds of the brain mass and almost three-quarters of its synapses, our data predominantly concerns the telencephalon. Genetic factors accounted for most of the individual differences in whole brain (90%), gray (82%) and white (88%) matter volume. Individual differences in lateral ventricle volume were best explained by a model containing common (58%) and unique (42%) environmental factors, indicating genes to be of no or minor influence. In our sample, genetic or environmental influences were not different for males and females. The same genes influenced brain volumes and intracranial volume and almost completely explained their high phenotypic correlation. Genes influencing gray and white matter overlapped to a large extent and completely determined their phenotypic correlation. The high heritability estimates that were found indicate that brain volumes may be useful as intermediate phenotypes in behavioral genetic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- W F Baaré
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands
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42
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Wright M, De Geus E, Ando J, Luciano M, Posthuma D, Ono Y, Hansell N, Van Baal C, Hiraishi K, Hasegawa T, Smith G, Geffen G, Geffen L, Kanba S, Miyake A, Martin N, Boomsma D. Genetics of cognition: outline of a collaborative twin study. Twin Res 2001; 4:48-56. [PMID: 11665325 DOI: 10.1375/1369052012146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
A multidisciplinary collaborative study examining cognition in a large sample of twins is outlined. A common experimental protocol and design is used in The Netherlands, Australia and Japan to measure cognitive ability using traditional IQ measures (i.e., psychometric IQ), processing speed (e.g., reaction time [RT] and inspection time [IT]), and working memory (e.g., spatial span, delayed response [DR] performance). The main aim is to investigate the genetic covariation among these cognitive phenotypes in order to use the correlated biological markers in future linkage and association analyses to detect quantitative-trait loci (QTLs). We outline the study and methodology, and report results from our preliminary analyses that examines the heritability of processing speed and working memory indices, and their phenotypic correlation with IQ. Heritability of Full Scale IQ was 87% in the Netherlands, 83% in Australia, and 71% in Japan. Heritability estimates for processing speed and working memory indices ranged from 33-64%. Associations of IQ with RT and IT (-0.28 to -0.36) replicated previous findings with those of higher cognitive ability showing faster speed of processing. Similarly, significant correlations were indicated between IQ and the spatial span working memory task (storage [0.31], executive processing [0.37]) and the DR working memory task (0.25), with those of higher cognitive ability showing better memory performance. These analyses establish the heritability of the processing speed and working memory measures to be used in our collaborative twin study of cognition, and support the findings that individual differences in processing speed and working memory may underlie individual differences in psychometric IQ.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Wright
- Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Australia.
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43
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Abstract
The hunt for genes influencing behavior may be aided by the study of intermediate phenotypes for several reasons. First, intermediate phenotypes may be influenced by only a few genes, which facilitates their detection. Second, many intermediate phenotypes can be measured on a continuous quantitative scale and thus can be assessed in affected and unaffected individuals. Continuous measures increase the statistical power to detect genetic effects (Neale et al., 1994), and allow studies to be designed to collect data from informative subjects such as extreme concordant or discordant pairs. Intermediate phenotypes for discrete traits, such as psychiatric disorders, can be neurotransmitter levels, brain function, or structure. In this paper we conduct a multivariate analysis of data from 111 twin pairs and 34 additional siblings on cerebellar volume, intracranial space, and body height. The analysis is carried out on the raw data and specifies a model for the mean and the covariance structure. Results suggest that cerebellar volume and intracranial space vary with age and sex. Brain volumes tend to decrease slightly with age, and males generally have a larger brain volume than females. The remaining phenotypic variance of cerebellar volume is largely genetic (88%). These genetic factors partly overlap with the genetic factors that explain variance in intracranial space and body height. The applied method is presented as a general approach for the analysis of intermediate phenotypes in which the effects of correlated variables on the observed scores are modeled through multivariate analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Posthuma
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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44
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Abstract
The twin method has been criticised for its alleged non-generalisability. When population parameters of intellectual abilities are estimated from a twin sample, critics point to the twin-singleton differences in intrauterine and family environments. These differences are suggested to lead to suboptimal cognitive development in twins. Although previous studies have reported twin-singleton differences in intelligence, these studies had two major drawbacks: they tested young twins, and twins were compared with (genetically) unrelated singletons. To test accurately whether twin-singleton differences in intelligence exist, a group of adult twins and their non-twin siblings were administered the Dutch WAIS-III. The group was large enough to detect twin-singleton differences of magnitudes reported in earlier investigations. The data were analysed using maximum likelihood model fitting. No evidence of differences between adult twins and their non-twin siblings on cognitive performance was found. It is concluded that twin studies provide reliable estimates of heritabilities of intellectual abilities which can be generalised to the singleton population.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Posthuma
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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45
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Abstract
The power to detect sources of genetic and environmental variance varies with sample size, study design, effect size and the statistical significance level chosen. We explored whether the power of the classical twin study may be increased by adding non-twin siblings to the classical twin design. Sample sizes to detect genetic and shared environmental variation were compared for kinships with only twins, kinships consisting of twins and one additional sibling, and kinships with twins and two additional siblings. The effect of adding siblings to the classical twin design was considered for univariate and bivariate analyses. For the univariate case, adding one non-twin sibling resulted in a decrease in sample size needed to detect additive genetic influences in the presence of environmental influences. However, adding two additional siblings did not decrease the number of subjects as compared to the classical twin design. The sample size required to detect common environmental factors was also greatly decreased by adding one non-twin sibling. Adding two non-twin siblings resulted in a small additional decrease. In models including additive genetic, dominant genetic, and unique environmental effects, adding one sibling to a twin family decreased the required sample size to detect dominant genetic influences. Adding two siblings to a twin family resulted in only a slight additional decrease in sample size. In the bivariate case a similar pattern of results was found, in addition to the observation that the overall required sample size, as expected, was lower than in the univariate case. The decrease in sample size from bivariate testing was more pronounced in a design with one or two additional siblings, as compared to a design with twins only. It is concluded that a well considered choice of family design, i.e. including families with twins and one or two additional siblings increases the statistical power to detect sources of variance due to additive and non-additive genetic influences, and common environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Posthuma
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands.
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46
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Posthuma D, Vaatstra WJ. Changes in rabbit liver sterol patterns after administration of carbon tetrachloride in doses effective against Fasciola hepatica, the liver fluke. Biochem Pharmacol 1971; 20:1133-8. [PMID: 5118112 DOI: 10.1016/0006-2952(71)90343-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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47
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De Zoeten LW, Posthuma D, Tipker J. Intermediary metabolism of the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica, I. Biosynthesis of propionic acid. Hoppe Seylers Z Physiol Chem 1969; 350:683-90. [PMID: 5799707 DOI: 10.1515/bchm2.1969.350.1.683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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