Genome-wide scan identifies variant in TNFSF13 associated with serum IgM in a healthy Chinese male population

PLoS One. 2012;7(10):e47990. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0047990. Epub 2012 Oct 31.

Abstract

IgM provides a first line of defense during microbial infections. Serum IgM levels are detected routinely in clinical practice. And IgM is a genetically complex trait. We conducted a two-stage genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify genetic variants affecting serum IgM levels in a Chinese population of 3495, including 1999 unrelated subjects in the first stage and 1496 independent individuals in the second stage. Our data show that a common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs11552708 located in the TNFSF13 gene was significantly associated with IgM levels (p = 5.00×10(-7) in first stage, p = 1.34×10(-3) in second stage, and p = 4.22×10(-9) when combined). Besides, smoking was identified to be associated with IgM levels in both stages (P<0.05), but there was no significant interaction between smoking and the identified SNP (P>0.05). It is suggested that TNFSF13 may be a susceptibility gene affecting serum IgM levels in Chinese male population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • China
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Genotype
  • Health
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13 / genetics*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin M
  • TNFSF13 protein, human
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13