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. 2017 Mar 30:8:14898.
doi: 10.1038/ncomms14898.

Genome-wide association study identifies three novel loci in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy

Affiliations

Genome-wide association study identifies three novel loci in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy

Natalie A Afshari et al. Nat Commun. .

Abstract

The structure of the cornea is vital to its transparency, and dystrophies that disrupt corneal organization are highly heritable. To understand the genetic aetiology of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD), the most prevalent corneal disorder requiring transplantation, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on 1,404 FECD cases and 2,564 controls of European ancestry, followed by replication and meta-analysis, for a total of 2,075 cases and 3,342 controls. We identify three novel loci meeting genome-wide significance (P<5 × 10-8): KANK4 rs79742895, LAMC1 rs3768617 and LINC00970/ATP1B1 rs1200114. We also observe an overwhelming effect of the established TCF4 locus. Interestingly, we detect differential sex-specific association at LAMC1, with greater risk in women, and TCF4, with greater risk in men. Combining GWAS results with biological evidence we expand the knowledge of common FECD loci from one to four, and provide a deeper understanding of the underlying pathogenic basis of FECD.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Results from GWAS for FECD.
Negative log P values (vertical axis) from 8,680,745 SNPs are shown. The red horizontal line marks genome-wide significance (P=5 × 10−8). Negative log P values are condensed above P=10−12. Vertical grey lines are chromosome boundaries. The genomic control parameter was 1.033, indicating adequate control of test statistic inflation from population stratification (Supplementary Fig. 2).
Figure 2
Figure 2. ROC curves for FECD status.
Curves are shown from genetic risk scores based on all replicated loci (black), rs784257 in TCF4 only (blue) and all loci except rs784257 (magenta).

References

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Publication types

Supplementary concepts