Whole-genome analysis of plasma fibrinogen reveals population-differentiated genetic regulators with putative liver roles
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Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Genetic studies have identified numerous regions associated with plasma fibrinogen levels in Europeans, yet missing heritability and limited inclusion of non-Europeans necessitates further studies with improved power and sensitivity. Compared with array-based genotyping, whole genome sequencing (WGS) data provides better coverage of the genome and better representation of non-European variants. To better understand the genetic landscape regulating plasma fibrinogen levels, we meta-analyzed WGS data from the NHLBI's Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program (n=32,572), with array-based genotype data from the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology (CHARGE) Consortium (n=131,340) imputed to the TOPMed or Haplotype Reference Consortium panel. We identified 18 loci that have not been identified in prior genetic studies of fibrinogen. Of these, four are driven by common variants of small effect with reported MAF at least 10 percentage points higher in African populations. Three signals (SERPINA1, ZFP36L2, and TLR10) contain predicted deleterious missense variants. Two loci, SOCS3 and HPN, each harbor two conditionally distinct, non-coding variants. The gene region encoding the fibrinogen protein chain subunits (FGG;FGB;FGA), contains 7 distinct signals, including one novel signal driven by rs28577061, a variant common in African ancestry populations but extremely rare in Europeans (MAFAFR=0.180; MAFEUR=0.008). Through phenome-wide association studies in the VA Million Veteran Program, we found associations between fibrinogen polygenic risk scores and thrombotic and inflammatory disease phenotypes, including an association with gout. Our findings demonstrate the utility of WGS to augment genetic discovery in diverse populations and offer new insights for putative mechanisms of fibrinogen regulation.
Date Issued
2024-11-21
Date Acceptance
2024-06-17
Citation
Blood, 2024, 144 (21), pp.2248-2265
ISSN
0006-4971
Publisher
American Society of Hematology (ASH Publications)
Start Page
2248
End Page
2265
Journal / Book Title
Blood
Volume
144
Issue
21
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2024 American Society of Hematology. This is the author’s accepted manuscript made available under a CC-BY licence in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy)
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39226462
PII: 517658
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States
Date Publish Online
2024-09-05