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- Albert, Frank W., et al.
(author)
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Genetic architecture of tameness in a rat model of animal domestication
- 2009
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In: Genetics. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0016-6731 .- 1943-2631. ; 182:2, s. 541-554
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A common feature of domestic animals is tameness - i.e., they tolerate and are unafraid of human presence and handling. To gain insight into the genetic basis of tameness and aggression, we studied an intercross between two lines of rats (Rattus norvegicus) selected over >60 generations for increased tameness and increased aggression against humans, respectively. We measured 45 traits, including tameness and aggression, anxiety-related traits, organ weights, and levels of serum components in >700 rats from an intercross population. Using 201 genetic markers, we identified two significant quantitative trait loci (QTL) for tameness. These loci overlap with QTL for adrenal gland weight and for anxiety-related traits and are part of a five-locus epistatic network influencing tameness. An additional QTL influences the occurrence of white coat spots, but shows no significant effect on tameness. The loci described here are important starting points for finding the genes that cause tameness in these rats and potentially in domestic animals in general.
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- Breitfeld, Jana, et al.
(author)
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Genetic dissection of serum vaspin highlights its causal role in lipid metabolism
- 2023
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In: Obesity. - 1930-7381. ; 31:11, s. 2862-2874
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: Vaspin (visceral adipose tissue derived serine protease inhibitor, SERPINA12) is associated with obesity-related metabolic traits, but its causative role is still elusive. The role of genetics in serum vaspin variability to establish its causal relationship with metabolically relevant traits was investigated. Methods: A meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies for serum vaspin from six independent cohorts (N = 7446) was conducted. Potential functional variants of vaspin were included in Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to assess possible causal pathways between vaspin and homeostasis model assessment and lipid traits. To further validate the MR analyses, data from Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) were analyzed, db/db mice were treated with vaspin, and serum lipids were measured. Results: A total of 468 genetic variants represented by five independent variants (rs7141073, rs1956709, rs4905216, rs61978267, rs73338689) within the vaspin locus were associated with serum vaspin (all p < 5×10−8, explained variance 16.8%). MR analyses revealed causal relationships between serum vaspin and triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and total cholesterol. Gene expression correlation analyses suggested that genes, highly correlated with vaspin expression in adipose tissue, are enriched in lipid metabolic processes. Finally, in vivo vaspin treatment reduced serum triglycerides in obese db/db mice. Conclusions: The data show that serum vaspin is strongly determined by genetic variants within vaspin, which further highlight vaspin's causal role in lipid metabolism.
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- Friedrich, Nele, et al.
(author)
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Age and sex specific reference intervals across life-span for insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) and the IGF-I/IGFBP-3 ratio measured by new automated chemiluminescence assays.
- 2014
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In: The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism. - : The Endocrine Society. - 1945-7197 .- 0021-972X. ; 99:5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context: Measurement of IGFBP-3 can aid the diagnosis of growth hormone related diseases. Furthermore, epidemiological studies suggest that IGFBP-3 and the molar IGF-I/IGFBP-3 ratio are associated with clinical endpoints like cancer or cardiovascular disease. However, their clinical use is limited by the lack of validated reference intervals. Objectives: Establishment of age- and sex-specific reference intervals for IGFBP-3 and the molar IGF-I/IGFBP-3 ratio by newly developed automated immunoassays. Setting: Multicentre study with samples from 11 cohorts from the USA, Canada and Europe Participants: 14,970 subjects healthy subjects covering all ages from birth to senescence. Main outcome measures: Concentrations of IGFBP-3 and the IGF-I/IGFBP-3 ratio as determined by the IDS iSYS IGF-I and IGFBP-3 assays. Results: Both the concentration of IGFBP-3 and the IGF-I/IGFBP-3 ratio are mainly determined by age. IGFBP-3 concentrations increase until the age of 22 years, with a plateau being visible between 15 and 25 years. Determined by the high peripubertal peak in IGF-I, the peak in the IGF-I/IGFBP-3 ratio occurs already around the age of 15, with a slightly earlier and higher peak in females. Beyond the age of 60, IGFBP-3 concentrations remain higher in females, whereas IGF-I as well as the IGF-I/IGFBP-3 ratio remain significantly higher in males. Conclusions: We present an extensive set of assay specific, age and sex-adjusted normative data for concentrations of IGFBP-3 and the molar IGF-I/IGFBP-3 ratio and demonstrate distinct sex specific differences across lifespan.
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- Tönjes, Anke, et al.
(author)
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Genome Wide Meta-analysis Highlights the Role of Genetic Variation in RARRES2 in the Regulation of Circulating Serum Chemerin.
- 2014
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In: PLoS Genetics. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1553-7404. ; 10:12
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Chemerin is an adipokine proposed to link obesity and chronic inflammation of adipose tissue. Genetic factors determining chemerin release from adipose tissue are yet unknown. We conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for serum chemerin in three independent cohorts from Europe: Sorbs and KORA from Germany and PPP-Botnia from Finland (total N = 2,791). In addition, we measured mRNA expression of genes within the associated loci in peripheral mononuclear cells by micro-arrays, and within adipose tissue by quantitative RT-PCR and performed mRNA expression quantitative trait and expression-chemerin association studies to functionally substantiate our loci. Heritability estimate of circulating chemerin levels was 16.2% in the Sorbs cohort. Thirty single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at chromosome 7 within the retinoic acid receptor responder 2 (RARRES2)/Leucine Rich Repeat Containing (LRRC61) locus reached genome-wide significance (p<5.0×10-8) in the meta-analysis (the strongest evidence for association at rs7806429 with p = 7.8×10-14, beta = -0.067, explained variance 2.0%). All other SNPs within the cluster were in linkage disequilibrium with rs7806429 (minimum r2 = 0.43 in the Sorbs cohort). The results of the subgroup analyses of males and females were consistent with the results found in the total cohort. No significant SNP-sex interaction was observed. rs7806429 was associated with mRNA expression of RARRES2 in visceral adipose tissue in women (p<0.05 after adjusting for age and body mass index). In conclusion, the present meta-GWAS combined with mRNA expression studies highlights the role of genetic variation in the RARRES2 locus in the regulation of circulating chemerin concentrations.
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- Tönjes, Anke, et al.
(author)
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Genome-wide meta-analysis identifies novel determinants of circulating serum progranulin
- 2018
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In: Human Molecular Genetics. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0964-6906 .- 1460-2083. ; 27:3, s. 546-558
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Progranulin is a secreted protein with important functions in processes including immune and inflammatory response, metabolism and embryonic development. The present study aimed at identification of genetic factors determining progranulin concentrations. We conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis for serum progranulin in three independent cohorts from Europe: Sorbs (N=848) and KORA (N=1628) from Germany and PPP-Botnia (N=335) from Finland (total N=2811). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with progranulin levels were replicated in two additional German cohorts: LIFE-Heart Study (Leipzig; N=967) and Metabolic Syndrome Berlin Potsdam (Berlin cohort; N=833). We measured mRNA expression of genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by micro-arrays and performed mRNA expression quantitative trait and expression-progranulin association studies to functionally substantiate identified loci. Finally, we conducted siRNA silencing experiments in vitro to validate potential candidate genes within the associated loci. Heritability of circulating progranulin levels was estimated at 31.8% and 26.1% in the Sorbs and LIFE-Heart cohort, respectively. SNPs at three loci reached study-wide significance (rs660240 in CELSR2-PSRC1-MYBPHL-SORT1, rs4747197 in CDH23- PSAP and rs5848 in GRN) explaining 19.4%/15.0% of the variance and 61%/57% of total heritability in the Sorbs/LIFE-Heart Study. The strongest evidence for association was at rs660240 (P=5.75x10-50), which was also associated with mRNA expression of PSRC1 in PBMC (P=1.51x10-21). Psrc1 knockdown in murine preadipocytes led to a consecutive 30% reduction in progranulin secretion. In conclusion, the present meta-GWAS combined with mRNA expression identified three loci associated with progranulin and supports the role of PSRC1 in the regulation of progranulin secretion.
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