TY - JOUR
T1 - Genetic variants in CHI3L1 influencing YKL-40 levels
T2 - resequencing 900 individuals and genotyping 9000 individuals from the general population
AU - Kjaergaard, Alisa D
AU - Johansen, Julia S
AU - Nordestgaard, Børge G
AU - Bojesen, Stig E
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Background Despite its important role in many serious diseases, the genetic background for plasma YKL-40 has still not been systematically catalogued. Therefore, we aimed at identifying genetic variants in CHI3L1 influencing plasma YKL-40 levels in the general population. Methods We resequenced the promoter, all 10 exons and exon-flanking intron segments of CHI3L1 in 904 individuals from the Danish general population (n=8899) with extreme plasma YKL-40 levels, adjusted for age. To potentially identify clinically important genetic variants with elevated plasma YKL-40 levels, we included twice as many individuals with the highest plasma YKL-40 levels (n=603) compared with the lowest plasma YKL-40 levels (n=301). Next, we mapped linkage disequilibrium for all variants with a minor allele frequency (MAF) >0.005. Finally, all participants were genotyped for eight variants that had divergent MAFs in the two extreme plasma YKL-40 groups. Results We identified 59 genetic variants in CHI3L1. Fifteen of the genetic variants were associated with plasma YKL-40 levels. Three promoter SNPs, 1 nonsynonymous SNP, and four intronic SNPs in CHI3L1 were associated with plasma YKL-40 levels at or below genome-wide association significance levels (unadjusted p for trend: from 4 × 10-8 to 6 × 10-243; age adjusted percentiles p for trend: from 3 × 10-12 to 2 × 10-304). Conclusions In a systematic search to identify genetic variants influencing plasma YKL-40 levels, we identified eight SNPs associated with plasma YKL-40 levels in the general population.
AB - Background Despite its important role in many serious diseases, the genetic background for plasma YKL-40 has still not been systematically catalogued. Therefore, we aimed at identifying genetic variants in CHI3L1 influencing plasma YKL-40 levels in the general population. Methods We resequenced the promoter, all 10 exons and exon-flanking intron segments of CHI3L1 in 904 individuals from the Danish general population (n=8899) with extreme plasma YKL-40 levels, adjusted for age. To potentially identify clinically important genetic variants with elevated plasma YKL-40 levels, we included twice as many individuals with the highest plasma YKL-40 levels (n=603) compared with the lowest plasma YKL-40 levels (n=301). Next, we mapped linkage disequilibrium for all variants with a minor allele frequency (MAF) >0.005. Finally, all participants were genotyped for eight variants that had divergent MAFs in the two extreme plasma YKL-40 groups. Results We identified 59 genetic variants in CHI3L1. Fifteen of the genetic variants were associated with plasma YKL-40 levels. Three promoter SNPs, 1 nonsynonymous SNP, and four intronic SNPs in CHI3L1 were associated with plasma YKL-40 levels at or below genome-wide association significance levels (unadjusted p for trend: from 4 × 10-8 to 6 × 10-243; age adjusted percentiles p for trend: from 3 × 10-12 to 2 × 10-304). Conclusions In a systematic search to identify genetic variants influencing plasma YKL-40 levels, we identified eight SNPs associated with plasma YKL-40 levels in the general population.
U2 - 10.1136/jmedgenet-2013-101908
DO - 10.1136/jmedgenet-2013-101908
M3 - Journal article
SN - 0022-2593
VL - 50
SP - 831
EP - 837
JO - Journal of Medical Genetics
JF - Journal of Medical Genetics
IS - 12
ER -