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Identifying Novel Gene Variants in Coronary Artery Disease and Shared Genes With Several Cardiovascular Risk Factors
Marissa LeBlanc1, Verena Zuber1, Bettina Kulle Andreassen1
1From the Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (M.L., B.K.A.); Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Biostatistics, University of Oslo, and Research Support Services, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway (M.L., A.F.); NORMENT - K.G. Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (V.Z., A.W., F.B., Y.W., S.D., O.A.A.); Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway (V.Z., A.W., F.B., S.D., O.A.A.); Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Biostatistics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (B.K.A.); Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (L.Z., H.S.); Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung, partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany (L.Z., H.S.); Multimodal Imaging Laboratory, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla (Y.W., L.K.M., A.J.S., R.S.D., A.M.D., O.A.A.); Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, (Y.W., A.M.D.); Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla (L.K.M., R.S.D., A.M.D.); Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla (W.K.T., A.M.D.); Cognitive Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, (A.J.S.); Department of Medical Biochemistry, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway (S.R.); Department of Medical Biochemistry, Lovisenberg Diakonale Hospital, Oslo, Norway (S.R., K.M.G.); Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R., K.M.G.); Family and Preventive Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla (E.B.-C.); Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands (S.L., A.D.); Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom (C.P.N.,
Insights
This study reveals a shared genetic basis between coronary artery disease (CAD) and multiple cardiometabolic risk factors. Discovering novel CAD gene loci advances our understanding of the disease
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) significantly impacts morbidity and mortality.
- Cardiovascular disease risk factors may share genetic underpinnings with CAD, aiding gene discovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance the discovery of CAD genes.
- To clarify the pathogenic links between CAD and cardiovascular risk factors using a shared polygenic signal-informed framework.
Main Methods:
- Employed genome-wide association studies summary statistics.
- Utilized a shared polygenic pleiotropy-informed conditional and conjunctional false discovery rate methodology.
- Systematically investigated genetic overlap between CAD and eight cardiovascular risk traits.
Main Results:
- Found significant enrichment of single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with CAD across multiple risk factors.
- Identified 67 novel CAD-associated loci using the conditional false discovery rate method.
- Discovered 53 loci with effects on both CAD and at least one cardiovascular risk factor.
Conclusions:
- Polygenic overlap between CAD and cardiometabolic risk factors suggests a pathogenic relationship requiring further study.
- Identified novel gene loci implicating new genetic mechanisms in CAD development.
Rationale:
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a critical determinant of morbidity and mortality. Previous studies have identified several cardiovascular disease risk factors, which may partly arise from a shared genetic basis with CAD, and thus be useful for discovery of CAD genes.
Objective:
We aimed to improve discovery of CAD genes and inform the pathogenic relationship between CAD and several cardiovascular disease risk factors using a shared polygenic signal-informed statistical framework.
Methods And Results:
Using genome-wide association studies summary statistics and shared polygenic pleiotropy-informed conditional and conjunctional false discovery rate methodology, we systematically investigated genetic overlap between CAD and 8 traits related to cardiovascular disease risk factors: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, type 2 diabetes mellitus, C-reactive protein, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, and type 1 diabetes mellitus. We found significant enrichment of single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with CAD as a function of their association with low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, type 2 diabetes mellitus, C-reactive protein, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, and type 1 diabetes mellitus. Applying the conditional false discovery rate method to the enriched phenotypes, we identified 67 novel loci associated with CAD (overall conditional false discovery rate <0.01). Furthermore, we identified 53 loci with significant effects in both CAD and at least 1 of low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, type 2 diabetes mellitus, C-reactive protein, systolic blood pressure, and type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Conclusions:
The observed polygenic overlap between CAD and cardiometabolic risk factors indicates a pathogenic relation that warrants further investigation. The new gene loci identified implicate novel genetic mechanisms related to CAD.
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Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
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Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets
Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology
Pharmacogenetic Phenotypes: Alterations in Pharmacokinetics, Drug Targets and Biologic Milieu
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs

