Genome-wide association analyses identify distinct genetic architectures for age-related macular degeneration across ancestries
- PMID: 39623103
- DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01764-0
Genome-wide association analyses identify distinct genetic architectures for age-related macular degeneration across ancestries
Abstract
To effectively reduce vision loss due to age-related macular generation (AMD) on a global scale, knowledge of its genetic architecture in diverse populations is necessary. A critical element, AMD risk profiles in African and Hispanic/Latino ancestries, remains largely unknown. We combined data in the Million Veteran Program with five other cohorts to conduct the first multi-ancestry genome-wide association study of AMD and discovered 63 loci (30 novel). We observe marked cross-ancestry heterogeneity at major risk loci, especially in African-ancestry populations which demonstrate a primary signal in a major histocompatibility complex class II haplotype and reduced risk at the established CFH and ARMS2/HTRA1 loci. Dissecting local ancestry in admixed individuals, we find significantly smaller marginal effect sizes for CFH risk alleles in African ancestry haplotypes. Broadening efforts to include ancestrally distinct populations helped uncover genes and pathways that boost risk in an ancestry-dependent manner and are potential targets for corrective therapies.
© 2024. This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.
Conflict of interest statement
Competing interests: A.S. and B.L.Y. are employees of Genentech/Roche and hold stock and stock options in Roche. E.J. is an employee and a stockholder of Regeneron Genetics Center. The other authors declare no competing interests.
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- IK6BX005233/Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development, VA Office of Research and Development (VA Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development)
- I01BX004557/Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB)
- I01BX003364/Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development, VA Office of Research and Development (VA Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development)
- R01 EY029315/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States
- R01 EY033298/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States
- R01 EY007361/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States
- IK6 BX005787/BX/BLRD VA/United States
- R01 EY028203/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States
- R01 EY013435/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States
- I01BX004189/Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development, VA Office of Research and Development (VA Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development)
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