1. |
- Flannick, Jason, et al.
(author)
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Loss-of-function mutations in SLC30A8 protect against type 2 diabetes.
- 2014
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In: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1546-1718 .- 1061-4036. ; 46:4, s. 357-357
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Loss-of-function mutations protective against human disease provide in vivo validation of therapeutic targets, but none have yet been described for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Through sequencing or genotyping of ∼150,000 individuals across 5 ancestry groups, we identified 12 rare protein-truncating variants in SLC30A8, which encodes an islet zinc transporter (ZnT8) and harbors a common variant (p.Trp325Arg) associated with T2D risk and glucose and proinsulin levels. Collectively, carriers of protein-truncating variants had 65% reduced T2D risk (P = 1.7 × 10(-6)), and non-diabetic Icelandic carriers of a frameshift variant (p.Lys34Serfs*50) demonstrated reduced glucose levels (-0.17 s.d., P = 4.6 × 10(-4)). The two most common protein-truncating variants (p.Arg138* and p.Lys34Serfs*50) individually associate with T2D protection and encode unstable ZnT8 proteins. Previous functional study of SLC30A8 suggested that reduced zinc transport increases T2D risk, and phenotypic heterogeneity was observed in mouse Slc30a8 knockouts. In contrast, loss-of-function mutations in humans provide strong evidence that SLC30A8 haploinsufficiency protects against T2D, suggesting ZnT8 inhibition as a therapeutic strategy in T2D prevention.
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2. |
- Helgeland, Øyvind, et al.
(author)
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Genome-wide association study reveals dynamic role of genetic variation in infant and early childhood growth.
- 2019
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In: Nature communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 10:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Infant and childhood growth are dynamic processes with large changes in BMI during development. By performing genome-wide association studies of BMI at 12 time points from birth to eight years (9286 children, 74,105 measurements) in the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study, replicated in 5235 children, we identify a transient effect in the leptin receptor (LEPR) locus: no effect at birth, increasing effect in infancy, peaking at 6-12 months (rs2767486, P6m=2.0×10-21, β6m=0.16 sd-BMI), and little effect after age five. We identify a similar transient effect near the leptin gene (LEP), peaking at 1.5 years (rs10487505, P1.5y=1.3×10-8, β1.5y=0.079 sd-BMI). Both signals are protein quantitative trait loci for soluble-LEPR and LEP in plasma in adults independent from adult traits mapped to the respective genes, suggesting key roles of common variation in the leptin signaling pathway for healthy infant growth.
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3. |
- Johansson, Bente Berg, et al.
(author)
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Nuclear import of glucokinase in pancreatic beta-cells is mediated by a nuclear localization signal and modulated by SUMOylation
- 2017
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In: Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0303-7207. ; 454, s. 146-157
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The localization of glucokinase in pancreatic beta-cell nuclei is a controversial issue. Although previous reports suggest such a localization, the mechanism for its import has so far not been identified. Using immunofluorescence, subcellular fractionation and mass spectrometry, we present evidence in support of glucokinase localization in beta-cell nuclei of human and mouse pancreatic sections, as well as in human and mouse isolated islets, and murine MIN6 cells. We have identified a conserved, seven-residue nuclear localization signal (30LKKVMRR36) in the human enzyme. Substituting the residues KK31,32 and RR35,36 with AA led to a loss of its nuclear localization in transfected cells. Furthermore, our data indicates that SUMOylation of glucokinase modulates its nuclear import, while high glucose concentrations do not significantly alter the enzyme nuclear/cytosolic ratio. Thus, for the first time, we provide data in support of a nuclear import of glucokinase mediated by a redundant mechanism, involving a nuclear localization signal, and which is modulated by its SUMOylation. These findings add new knowledge to the functional role of glucokinase in the pancreatic beta-cell.
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4. |
- Laisk, Triin, et al.
(author)
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The genetic architecture of sporadic and multiple consecutive miscarriage.
- 2020
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In: Nature communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 11:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Miscarriage is a common, complex trait affecting ~15% of clinically confirmed pregnancies. Here we present the results of large-scale genetic association analyses with 69,054 cases from five different ancestries for sporadic miscarriage, 750 cases of European ancestry for multiple (≥3) consecutive miscarriage, and up to 359,469 female controls. We identify one genome-wide significant association (rs146350366, minor allele frequency (MAF) 1.2%, P=3.2 × 10-8, odds ratio (OR)=1.4) for sporadic miscarriage in our European ancestry meta-analysis and three genome-wide significant associations for multiple consecutive miscarriage (rs7859844, MAF=6.4%, P=1.3 × 10-8, OR=1.7; rs143445068, MAF=0.8%, P=5.2 × 10-9, OR=3.4; rs183453668, MAF=0.5%, P=2.8 × 10-8, OR=3.8). We further investigate the genetic architecture of miscarriage with biobank-scale Mendelian randomization, heritability, and genetic correlation analyses. Our results show that miscarriage etiopathogenesis is partly driven by genetic variation potentially related to placental biology, and illustrate the utility of large-scale biobank data for understanding this pregnancy complication.
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5. |
- Najmi, Laeya Abdoli, et al.
(author)
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Functional investigations of HNF1A identify rare variants as risk factors for type 2 diabetes in the general population
- 2017
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In: Diabetes. - : American Diabetes Association. - 0012-1797 .- 1939-327X. ; 66:2, s. 335-346
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Variants in HNF1A encoding hepatocyte nuclear factor 1a (HNF-1A) are associated with maturity-onset diabetes of the young form 3 (MODY 3) and type 2 diabetes. We investigated whether functional classification of HNF1A rare coding variants can inform models of diabetes risk prediction in the general population by analyzing the effect of 27 HNF1A variants identified in well-phenotyped populations (n = 4,115). Bioinformatics tools classified 11 variants as likely pathogenic and showed no association with diabetes risk (combined minor allele frequency [MAF] 0.22%; odds ratio [OR] 2.02; 95% CI 0.73-5.60; P = 0.18). However, a different set of 11 variants that reduced HNF-1A transcriptional activity to <60% of normal (wild-type) activity was strongly associated with diabetes in the general population (combined MAF 0.22%; OR 5.04; 95% CI 1.99-12.80; P = 0.0007). Our functional investigations indicate that 0.44% of the population carry HNF1A variants that result in a substantially increased risk for developing diabetes. These results suggest that functional characterization of variants within MODY genes may overcome the limitations of bioinformatics tools for the purposes of presymptomatic diabetes risk prediction in the general population.
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6. |
- Njølstad, Pål Rasmus, et al.
(author)
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Roadmap for a precision-medicine initiative in the Nordic region
- 2019
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In: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1061-4036 .- 1546-1718.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Nordic region, comprising primarily Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, has many of the necessary characteristics for being at the forefront of genome-based precision medicine. These include egalitarian and universal healthcare, expertly curated patient and population registries, biobanks, large population-based prospective cohorts linked to registries and biobanks, and a widely embraced sense of social responsibility that motivates public engagement in biomedical research. However, genome-based precision medicine can be achieved only through coordinated action involving all actors in the healthcare sector. Now is an opportune time to organize scientists in the Nordic region, together with other stakeholders including patient representatives, governments, pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions and funding agencies, to initiate a Nordic Precision Medicine Initiative. We present a roadmap for how this organization can be created. The Initiative should facilitate research, clinical trials and knowledge transfer to meet regional and global health challenges.
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7. |
- Solberg, Berit Skretting, et al.
(author)
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Maternal fiber intake during pregnancy and development of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms Across Childhood : The Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa)
- 2024
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In: Biological Psychiatry. - : Elsevier. - 0006-3223 .- 1873-2402. ; 95:9, s. 839-848
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies suggest that the maternal diet quality during pregnancy may influence the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in the offspring. Here we investigated the associations between maternal intake of dietary fiber and ADHD symptoms in early childhood.METHODS: We used longitudinal data of up to 21,852 mother-father-child trios (49.2% females) from the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study. The relationships between maternal fiber intake during pregnancy and offspring ADHD symptoms at ages three, five, and eight years were examined using: a) multivariate regression (overall levels of ADHD symptoms), b) latent class analysis (subclasses of ADHD symptoms by sex at each age), and c) latent growth curves (longitudinal change in offspring ADHD symptoms). Covariates were ADHD polygenic scores in child and parents, total energy intake and energy-adjusted sugar intake, parental ages at birth of the child, and socio-demographic factors.RESULTS: a) Higher maternal prenatal fiber intake was associated with lower offspring ADHD symptom scores at all examined ages (βage3=-0.14(95%CI -0.18, -0.10); βage5=-0.14(-0.19, -0.09); βage8=-0.14(-0.20, -0.09)). b) Of the derived low/middle/high subclasses of ADHD symptoms, fiber was associated with lower risk of belonging to middle subclass for boys and girls, and to high subclass for girls only (middle: ORboys 0.91(0.86-0.97)/ORgirls 0.86 (0.81-0.91); high ORgirls 0.82 (0.72-0.94)). c) Maternal fiber intake and rate of change in child ADHD symptoms across ages were not associated.CONCLUSIONS: A low prenatal maternal fiber intake may increase symptom levels of ADHD in childhood, independently of genetic predisposition to ADHD, unhealthy dietary exposures, and socio-demographic factors.
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8. |
- Tobias, Deirdre K, et al.
(author)
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Second international consensus report on gaps and opportunities for the clinical translation of precision diabetes medicine
- 2023
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In: Nature Medicine. - 1546-170X. ; 29:10, s. 2438-2457
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Precision medicine is part of the logical evolution of contemporary evidence-based medicine that seeks to reduce errors and optimize outcomes when making medical decisions and health recommendations. Diabetes affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide, many of whom will develop life-threatening complications and die prematurely. Precision medicine can potentially address this enormous problem by accounting for heterogeneity in the etiology, clinical presentation and pathogenesis of common forms of diabetes and risks of complications. This second international consensus report on precision diabetes medicine summarizes the findings from a systematic evidence review across the key pillars of precision medicine (prevention, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis) in four recognized forms of diabetes (monogenic, gestational, type 1, type 2). These reviews address key questions about the translation of precision medicine research into practice. Although not complete, owing to the vast literature on this topic, they revealed opportunities for the immediate or near-term clinical implementation of precision diabetes medicine; furthermore, we expose important gaps in knowledge, focusing on the need to obtain new clinically relevant evidence. Gaps include the need for common standards for clinical readiness, including consideration of cost-effectiveness, health equity, predictive accuracy, liability and accessibility. Key milestones are outlined for the broad clinical implementation of precision diabetes medicine.
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9. |
- Zhang, Ge, et al.
(author)
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Assessing the Causal Relationship of Maternal Height on Birth Size and Gestational Age at Birth: A Mendelian Randomization Analysis.
- 2015
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In: PLoS medicine. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1549-1676. ; 12:8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Observational epidemiological studies indicate that maternal height is associated with gestational age at birth and fetal growth measures (i.e., shorter mothers deliver infants at earlier gestational ages with lower birth weight and birth length). Different mechanisms have been postulated to explain these associations. This study aimed to investigate the casual relationships behind the strong association of maternal height with fetal growth measures (i.e., birth length and birth weight) and gestational age by a Mendelian randomization approach.
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