Genome-wide scan identified genetic variants associated with skin aging in a Chinese female population

The progression of human skin aging has a strong genetic basis. However, recent studies have mainly focused on Caucasian populations and we have thus performed a genetic association study on skin aging signs in Han Chinese population.

To investigate genetic risk factors in skin aging in Han Chinese female, we performed a genome-wide association study.

We collected genotype data from 1534 Han Chinese female from Taizhou cohort and evaluated 15 skin aging phenotypes by using the validated skin aging SCINEXA™ score. Genetic associations were tested by linear and logistic regression analyses and adjusted for potential confounders.

Six genomic regions significantly associated with a risk for skin aging were revealed : 6q24.2 (rs3804540, P=4.6×10^-9, additive model) with size of pigmented spots on forehead, 10q26.13 (rs4962295, P=1.9 ×10^-8, additive model) with wrinkles under eyes, 15q21.1 (rs28392847, P=1.6×10^-8, additive model) with crow's feet, 2p25.1 (rs191497052, P=5.5×10^-9, dominant model) with telangiectasia, 13q34 (rs3825460, P=3.7×10^-8, dominant model) with size of pigmented spots on cheeks and 16p13.11(rs76053540, P=5.0×10^-9, dominant model) with nasolabialfold. The signal on 15q21.1 was replicated in the meta-analysis with two independent Caucasian cohorts (P=8.6×10^-10). We have also successfully replicated in our cohort an association between SNP rs1048943 of gene CYP1A1 (P=7.1 × 10^-4) and pigmented spots on cheeks previously described in Caucasian cohort.

Our study has identified new genetic risk factors for signs of skin aging in the Han Chinese. This study suggests there are differences in genetic susceptibility to skin aging between Caucasians and the Han Chinese.