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Meta-Analysis
. 2021 Feb;53(2):128-134.
doi: 10.1038/s41588-020-00762-2. Epub 2021 Jan 25.

Shared genetic pathways contribute to risk of hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathies with opposite directions of effect

Rafik Tadros #  1   2 Catherine Francis #  3   4 Xiao Xu #  5 Alexa M C Vermeer #  6   7   8 Andrew R Harper  9   10 Roy Huurman  11 Ken Kelu Bisabu  12 Roddy Walsh  6 Edgar T Hoorntje  13   14 Wouter P Te Rijdt  13   14 Rachel J Buchan  3   4 Hannah G van Velzen  11 Marjon A van Slegtenhorst  15 Jentien M Vermeulen  16 Joost Allard Offerhaus  6 Wenjia Bai  17   18 Antonio de Marvao  5 Najim Lahrouchi  6 Leander Beekman  6 Jacco C Karper  19 Jan H Veldink  20 Elham Kayvanpour  21   22 Antonis Pantazis  3 A John Baksi  3   4 Nicola Whiffin  3   4   5 Francesco Mazzarotto  3   4   23   24 Geraldine Sloane  3   4 Hideaki Suzuki  18   25   26 Deborah Schneider-Luftman  27   28 Paul Elliott  28 Pascale Richard  29   30 Flavie Ader  29   30   31 Eric Villard  30 Peter Lichtner  32 Thomas Meitinger  32   33   34 Michael W T Tanck  35 J Peter van Tintelen  7   36 Andrew Thain  37 David McCarty  37 Robert A Hegele  37 Jason D Roberts  37 Julie Amyot  12 Marie-Pierre Dubé  38 Julia Cadrin-Tourigny  12 Geneviève Giraldeau  12 Philippe L L'Allier  12 Patrick Garceau  12 Jean-Claude Tardif  38 S Matthijs Boekholdt  39 R Thomas Lumbers  40   41   42 Folkert W Asselbergs  43   44 Paul J R Barton  3   4 Stuart A Cook  4   5   45   46 Sanjay K Prasad  3   4 Declan P O'Regan  5 Jolanda van der Velden  47 Karin J H Verweij  16 Mario Talajic  12 Guillaume Lettre  38 Yigal M Pinto  6   8 Benjamin Meder  21 Philippe Charron  8   30   48 Rudolf A de Boer  19 Imke Christiaans  13 Michelle Michels  11 Arthur A M Wilde  6   8 Hugh Watkins #  9   10 Paul M Matthews #  18 James S Ware #  49   50   51 Connie R Bezzina #  52   53
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Shared genetic pathways contribute to risk of hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathies with opposite directions of effect

Rafik Tadros et al. Nat Genet. 2021 Feb.

Abstract

The heart muscle diseases hypertrophic (HCM) and dilated (DCM) cardiomyopathies are leading causes of sudden death and heart failure in young, otherwise healthy, individuals. We conducted genome-wide association studies and multi-trait analyses in HCM (1,733 cases), DCM (5,521 cases) and nine left ventricular (LV) traits (19,260 UK Biobank participants with structurally normal hearts). We identified 16 loci associated with HCM, 13 with DCM and 23 with LV traits. We show strong genetic correlations between LV traits and cardiomyopathies, with opposing effects in HCM and DCM. Two-sample Mendelian randomization supports a causal association linking increased LV contractility with HCM risk. A polygenic risk score explains a significant portion of phenotypic variability in carriers of HCM-causing rare variants. Our findings thus provide evidence that polygenic risk score may account for variability in Mendelian diseases. More broadly, we provide insights into how genetic pathways may lead to distinct disorders through opposing genetic effects.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests statement

M.-P.D. is author on a patent pertaining to pharmacogenomics-guided CETP inhibition (US20170233812A1), has a minor equity interest in DalCor and has received honoraria from Dalcor and Servier and research support (access to samples and data) from AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Servier, Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline. J.-C.T. has received research grants from Amarin, AstraZeneca, DalCor, Esperion, Ionis, Sanofi and Servier; honoraria from AstraZeneca, DalCor, HLS, Sanofi and Servier; holds minor equity interest in DalCor; and is an author of a patent on pharmacogenomics-guided CETP inhibition (US20170233812A1). B.M. has received Research Funding from Siemens Healtheneers, Daiichi Sankyo. The UMCG, which employs R.A.d.B., has received research grants and/or fees from AstraZeneca, Abbott, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, and Roche. R.A.d.B. received speaker fees from Abbott, AstraZeneca, Novartis, and Roche. HW is a consultant for Cytokinetics. P.M.M. receives an honorarium as Chair of the UKRI Medical Research Council Neuroscience and Mental Health Board. He acknowledges consultancy fees from Adelphi Communications, MedScape, Neurodiem, Nodthera, Biogen, Celgene and Roche. He has received speakers’ honoraria from Celgene, Biogen, Novartis and Roche, and has received research or educational funds from Biogen, GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis. He is paid as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board for Ipsen Pharmaceuticals. J.S.W. has received research support and consultancy fees from Myokardia, Inc.

Figures

Extended Data Fig. 1
Extended Data Fig. 1. Manhattan and QQ plots of DCM GWAS and MTAG
a,b, Summary results of the dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) GWAS meta-analysis of 5,521 cases and 397,323 controls shown as Manhattan plots for the single trait (a) and the multi-trait analyses (MTAG; b). Single trait analysis (a) consisted of a fixed effects meta-analysis of case-control GWAS using summary statistics of three previously published DCM GWAS, and multi-trait analysis results (b) were obtained using MTAG for DCM, including GWAS for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and nine left ventricular (LV) traits. Red dashed line shows the significance threshold of P = 1 × 10-8. Quantile-quantile (QQ) plots shown as inserts in corresponding panels. Genomic inflation (λ) = 1.028 (single-trait) and 1.049 (MTAG). Numbering of signals as shown in Supplementary Table 7. Black numbers refer to loci reaching the statistical significance threshold in single trait analysis, while red numbers refer to loci only reaching statistical significance in the multi-trait analysis. The low density of association signals in the single trait analysis (a) is attributable to the inclusion of a large sample size study that used a low density array (Illumina Infinium HumanExome BeadChip; Supplementary Table 5).
Extended Data Fig. 2
Extended Data Fig. 2. Manhattan and QQ plots of LV ejection fraction GWAS and MTAG
a,b, Summary results of the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) GWAS in the UK Biobank (n = 19,260) shown as Manhattan plots for the single trait (a) and the multi-trait analyses (MTAG; b). Single trait analysis (a) consisted of a fixed effects meta-analysis of case-control GWAS using a linear mixed model (BOLT-LMM), and multi-trait analysis results (b) were obtained using MTAG including summary statistics for all nine left ventricular (LV) traits. Red dashed line shows the significance threshold of P = 1 × 10-8. Quantile-quantile (QQ) plots shown as inserts in corresponding panels. Genomic inflation (λ) = 1.041 (single-trait) and 1.049 (MTAG). Numbering of loci as shown in Supplementary Table 8. Black numbers refer to loci reaching the statistical significance threshold in any single trait analysis, while red numbers refer to loci only reaching statistical significance in the multi-trait analysis.
Extended Data Fig. 3
Extended Data Fig. 3. Manhattan and QQ plots of LV concentricity GWAS and MTAG
a,b, Summary results of the left ventricular concentricity index (LVconc) GWAS in the UK Biobank (n = 19,260) shown as Manhattan plots for the single trait (a) and the multi-trait analyses (MTAG; b). LVconc is defined as the ratio of left ventricular mass to the left ventricular end-diastolic volume. Single trait analysis (a) consisted of a fixed effects meta-analysis of case-control GWAS using a linear mixed model (BOLT-LMM), and multi-trait analysis results (b) were obtained using MTAG including summary statistics for all nine left ventricular (LV) traits. Red dashed line shows the significance threshold of P = 1 × 10-8. Quantile-quantile (QQ) plots shown as inserts in corresponding panels. Genomic inflation (λ) = 1.06 (single-trait) and 1.084 (MTAG). Numbering of signals as shown in Supplementary Table 8. Black numbers refer to loci reaching the statistical significance threshold in any single trait analysis, while red numbers refer to loci only reaching statistical significance in the multi-trait analysis.
Extended Data Fig. 4
Extended Data Fig. 4. Manhattan and QQ plots of LV mass GWAS and MTAG
a,b, Summary results of the left ventricular mass (LVM) GWAS in the UK Biobank (n = 19,260) shown as Manhattan plots for the single trait (a) and the multi-trait analyses (MTAG; b). Single trait analysis (a) consisted of a fixed effects meta-analysis of case-control GWAS using a linear mixed model (BOLT-LMM), and multi-trait analysis results (b) were obtained using MTAG including summary statistics for all nine left ventricular (LV) traits. Red dashed line shows the significance threshold of P = 1 × 10-8. Quantile-quantile (QQ) plots shown as inserts in corresponding panels. Genomic inflation (λ) = 1.081 (single-trait) and 1.071 (MTAG). Numbering of signals as shown in Supplementary Table 8.
Extended Data Fig. 5
Extended Data Fig. 5. Manhattan and QQ plots of LV end-diastolic volume GWAS and MTAG
a,b, Summary results of the left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) GWAS in the UK Biobank (N=19,260) shown as Manhattan plots for the single trait (a) and the multi-trait analyses (MTAG; b). Single trait analysis (a) consisted of a fixed effects meta-analysis of case-control GWAS using a linear mixed model (BOLT-LMM), and multi-trait analysis results (b) were obtained using MTAG including summary statistics for all nine left ventricular (LV) traits. Red dashed line shows the significance threshold of P = 1 × 10-8. Quantile-quantile (QQ) plots shown as inserts in corresponding panels. Genomic inflation (λ) = 1.076 (single-trait) and 1.078 (MTAG). Numbering of signals as shown in Supplementary Table 8. Black numbers refer to loci reaching the statistical significance threshold in any single trait analysis, while red numbers refer to loci only reaching statistical significance in the multi-trait analysis.
Extended Data Fig. 6
Extended Data Fig. 6. Manhattan and QQ plots of LV end-systolic volume GWAS and MTAG
Summary results of the left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) GWAS in the UK Biobank (n= 19,260) shown as Manhattan plots for the single trait (a) and the multi-trait analyses (MTAG; b). Single trait analysis (a) consisted of a fixed effects meta-analysis of case-control GWAS using a linear mixed model (BOLT-LMM), and multi-trait analysis results (b) were obtained using MTAG including summary statistics for all nine left ventricular (LV) traits. Red dashed line shows the significance threshold of P = 1 × 10-8. Quantile-quantile (QQ) plots shown as inserts in corresponding panels. Genomic inflation (λ) = 1.069 (single-trait) and 1.081 (MTAG). Numbering of signals as shown in Supplementary Table 8.
Extended Data Fig. 7
Extended Data Fig. 7. Manhattan and QQ plots of LV global circumferential strain GWAS and MTAG
a,b, Summary results of the left ventricular global circumferential strain (straincirc) GWAS in the UK Biobank (N=19,260) shown as Manhattan plots for the single trait (a) and the multi-trait analyses (MTAG; b). Single trait analysis (a) consisted of a fixed effects meta-analysis of case-control GWAS using a linear mixed model (BOLT-LMM), and multi-trait analysis results (b) were obtained using MTAG including summary statistics for all nine left ventricular (LV) traits. Red dashed line shows the significance threshold of P = 1 × 10-8. Quantile-quantile (QQ) plots shown as inserts in corresponding panels. Genomic inflation (λ) = 1.046 (single-trait) and 1.061 (MTAG). Numbering of signals as shown in Supplementary Table 8.
Extended Data Fig. 8
Extended Data Fig. 8. Manhattan and QQ plots of LV global radial strain GWAS and MTAG
a,b, Summary results of the left ventricular global radial strain (strainrad) GWAS in the UK Biobank (n = 19,260) shown as Manhattan plots for the single trait (a) and the multi-trait analyses (MTAG; b). Single trait analysis (a) consisted of a fixed effects meta-analysis of case-control GWAS using a linear mixed model (BOLT-LMM), and multi-trait analysis results (b) were obtained using MTAG including summary statistics for all nine left ventricular (LV) traits. Red dashed line shows the significance threshold of P = 1 × 10-8. Quantile-quantile (QQ) plots shown as inserts in corresponding panels. Genomic inflation (λ) = 1.049 (single-trait) and 1.057 (MTAG). Numbering of signals as shown in Supplementary Table 8. Black numbers refer to loci reaching the statistical significance threshold in any single trait analysis, while red numbers refer to loci only reaching statistical significance in the multi-trait analysis.
Extended Data Fig. 9
Extended Data Fig. 9. Manhattan and QQ plots of LV global longitudinal strain GWAS and MTAG
a,b, Summary results of the left ventricular global longitudinal strain (strainlong) GWAS in the UK Biobank (n = 19,260) shown as Manhattan plots for the single trait (a) and the multi-trait analyses (MTAG; b). Single trait analysis (a) consisted of a fixed effects meta-analysis of case-control GWAS using a linear mixed model (BOLT-LMM), and multi-trait analysis results (b) were obtained using MTAG including summary statistics for all nine left ventricular (LV) traits. Red dashed line shows the significance threshold of P = 1 × 10-8. Quantile-quantile (QQ) plots shown as inserts in corresponding panels. Genomic inflation (λ) = 1.040 (single-trait) and 1.059 (MTAG). Numbering of signals as shown in Supplementary Table 8.
Extended Data Fig. 10
Extended Data Fig. 10. Manhattan and QQ plots of LV mean wall thickness GWAS and MTAG
a,b, Summary results of the mean left ventricular wall thickness (meanWT) GWAS in the UK Biobank (n = 19,260) shown as Manhattan plots for the single trait (a) and the multi-trait analyses (MTAG; b). Single trait analysis (a) consisted of a fixed effects meta-analysis of case-control GWAS using a linear mixed model (BOLT-LMM), and multi-trait analysis results (b) were obtained using MTAG including summary statistics for all nine left ventricular (LV) traits. Red dashed line shows the significance threshold of P = 1 × 10-8. Quantile-quantile (QQ) plots shown as inserts in corresponding panels. Genomic inflation (λ) = 1.065 (single-trait) and 1.072 (MTAG). Numbering of signals as shown in Supplementary Table 8.
Figure 1
Figure 1. Study flowchart.
CMR, cardiac magnetic resonance; DCM, dilated cardiomyopathy; HCM, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; LV, left ventricle/ventricular; LDSC, LD score correlation; MTAG, multi-trait analysis of GWAS.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Summary results of the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) single trait GWAS and multi-trait analysis.
a,b, Single trait analysis (a) consisted of a fixed effects meta-analysis of case-control GWAS using a frequentist test, and multi-trait analysis results (b) were obtained using MTAG for HCM, including GWAS for dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and nine left ventricular (LV) traits. Summary statistics shown as Manhattan plots with red dashed line showing the genome-wide significance threshold of P = 1 × 10-8. Quantile-quantile (QQ) plots are shown as inserts in corresponding panels. Genomic inflation (λ) = 1.081 (single-trait) and 1.082 (MTAG). Six association signals were identified in single trait analysis (a), and an additional 10 signals were identified in multi-trait analysis (b). The wide signal on chromosome 11 tags founder MYBPC3 pathogenic variants. Locus #4 was only significant in the single-trait analysis and did not replicate in an independent HCM GWAS. Numbering of signals is as shown in Table 1 and Supplementary Table 4, where red numbers refer to signals reaching genome-wide significance only in the multi-trait analysis.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Genetic correlation between left ventricular traits, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and dilated cardiomyopathy.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM, red bars) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM, blue bars) show strong genetic correlations with quantitative cardiac left ventricular (LV) traits measured in the general population, but with opposite effects. Center values are the estimated genetic correlation (r g), and error bars indicate 95% confidence intervals. Samples sizes for included GWAS are as follows: 1,733 cases and 6,628 controls for HCM; 5,521 cases and 397,323 controls for DCM; and 19,260 for LV traits. Asterisks identify significant genetic correlations with a Benjamini–Hochberg false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05. Data shown correspond to that in Supplementary Table 9. DCM, dilated cardiomyopathy; straincirc, strainlong and strainrad, global circumferential, longitudinal and radial strain, respectively (measures of contractility based on myocardial deformation); HCM, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; LV, left ventricular; LVconc, LV concentricity (defined as LVM/LVEDV); LVEDV, LV end-diastolic volume; LVEF, LV ejection fraction (a volumetric measure of contractility); LVESV, LV end-systolic volume; LVM, LV mass; meanWT; mean LV wall thickness. Since straincirc and strainlong are always negative values, -straincirc and -strainlong are plotted to facilitate interpretation of effect direction.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Cross-trait associations of hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy loci.
Heatmap of cross-trait associations of the 16 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM, left side) and 13 dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM, right) risk variants in HCM, DCM and nine LV traits in the general population. The dbSNP ID and risk alleles are shown on the x-axis, with the corresponding locus number in parenthesis (corresponding to numbering in Fig. 2, Table 1 and Supplementary Table 4 for HCM, and Extended Data Fig. 1 and Supplementary Table 7 for DCM). Variants sorted along the x-axis using Euclidean distance and complete hierarchical clustering (dendrogram on top). Effect of the HCM or DCM risk alleles shown as a colormap of Z-scores (legend), where positive values (concordant effect) are in shades of blue, and negative values (discordant effect) are in shades of red. Only associations with FDR < 0.05 are shown. HCM and DCM loci show many and reciprocal cross-trait associations. Since straincirc and strainlong are negative values, we show -straincirc and -strainlong to facilitate interpretation of effect direction. Lookup in DCM was performed using SNP proxies to maximize sample size, as shown in Supplementary Table 4. Note that the DCM risk allele rs2042995-T also increases risk of HCM, potentially through pleiotropic effects (decreased contractility and increased LV wall thickness). LV traits are as defined in the legend of Figure 3.
Figure 5
Figure 5. A polygenic risk score for HCM stratifies event-free survival in carriers of disease-causing variants in sarcomere-encoding genes.
Kaplan-Meier curves showing survival free from adverse clinical events (composite of septal reduction therapy, cardiac transplantation, sustained ventricular arrhythmia, sudden cardiac death, appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator [ICD] therapy or atrial fibrillation/flutter) in sarcomeric (likely) pathogenic variant carriers stratified by polygenic score (PRSHCM) below (dark orange) vs. above (dark red) the median. Numbers at risk in each group along the time scale shown at the bottom of the plot. Ticks along the survival curves represent subject censoring. Two-sided log-rank test P = 0.032 (Cox proportional hazard analysis P = 9 × 10-3; see Supplementary Table 21).

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