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Heritability and GWAS Studies for Monocyte-Lymphocyte Ratio
Bochao D Lin1, Gonneke Willemsen1, Iryna O Fedko1
1Netherlands Twin Register,Department of Biological Psychology,Vrije Universiteit,Amsterdam,the Netherlands.
Summary
The monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) is influenced by genetics, age, sex, and smoking. A study found that gene variants in ITGA4 are associated with MLR variation, suggesting further genetic factors are involved.
Area of Science:
- Human Genetics
- Immunology
- Biomarkers
Background:
- The monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) is a known biomarker for disease, but its genetic and environmental influences are not well understood.
- Understanding MLR variation is crucial for its application in clinical settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genetic architecture of MLR.
- To determine the impact of demographic and lifestyle factors on MLR.
- To identify specific genes associated with MLR variation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Netherlands Twin Register (N=9,501) including twins, siblings, and parents.
- Employed regression analyses for demographic and lifestyle factors (age, sex, smoking, BMI).
- Applied genetic structural equation modeling and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on SNP data.
Main Results:
- MLR variation is influenced by age, sex, and smoking, but not BMI.
- Heritability estimates for MLR, monocyte count, and lymphocyte count were 40%, 58%, and 58%, respectively.
- GWAS identified a significant locus on ITGA4 associated with MLR, and variants on ITPR3, LPAP1, and IRF8 for monocyte count.
Conclusions:
- MLR is a heritable trait influenced by age, sex, and smoking in the general population.
- Genetic variants in ITGA4 are associated with MLR variation.
- Significant SNP-heritability suggests that numerous other genetic variants contribute to MLR levels.
