Cited 1 times since 2024 (3.2 per year) source: EuropePMC Blood, Volume 144, Issue 21, 1 1 2024, Pages 2248-2265 Whole-genome analysis of plasma fibrinogen reveals population-differentiated genetic regulators with putative liver roles. Huffman JE, Nicholas J, Hahn J, Heath AS, Raffield LM, Yanek LR, Brody JA, Thibord F, Almasy L, Bartz TM, Bielak LF, Bowler RP, Carrasquilla GD, Chasman DI, Chen MH, Emmert DB, Ghanbari M, Haessler J, Hottenga JJ, Kleber ME, Le NQ, Lee J, Lewis JP, Li-Gao R, Luan J, Malmberg A, Mangino M, Marioni RE, Martinez-Perez A, Pankratz N, Polasek O, Richmond A, Rodriguez BAT, Rotter JI, Steri M, Suchon P, Trompet S, Weiss S, Zare M, Auer P, Cho MH, Christofidou P, Davies G, de Geus E, Deleuze JF, Delgado GE, Ekunwe L, Faraday N, Gögele M, Greinacher A, Gao H, Howard T, Joshi PK, Kilpeläinen TO, Lahti J, Linneberg A, Naitza S, Noordam R, Paüls-Vergés F, Rich SS, Rosendaal FR, Rudan I, Ryan KA, Souto JC, van Rooij FJA, Wang H, Zhao W, Becker LC, Beswick A, Brown MR, Cade BE, Campbell H, Cho K, Crapo JD, Curran JE, de Maat MPM, Doyle M, Elliott P, Floyd JS, Fuchsberger C, Grarup N, Guo X, Harris SE, Hou L, Kolcic I, Kooperberg C, Menni C, Nauck M, O'Connell JR, Orrù V, Psaty BM, Räikkönen K, Smith JA, Soria JM, Stott DJ,
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 provide 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 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute'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 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, 4 are driven by common variants of small effect with reported minor allele frequency (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 2 conditionally distinct, noncoding variants. The gene region encoding the fibrinogen protein chain subunits (FGG;FGB;FGA) contains 7 distinct signals, including 1 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.
