Whole genome sequence analyses of eGFR in 23,732 people representing multiple ancestries in the NHLBI trans-omics for precision medicine (TOPMed) consortium

EBioMedicine. 2021 Jan:63:103157. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.103157. Epub 2021 Jan 6.

Abstract

Background: Genetic factors that influence kidney traits have been understudied for low frequency and ancestry-specific variants.

Methods: We combined whole genome sequencing (WGS) data from 23,732 participants from 10 NHLBI Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) Program multi-ethnic studies to identify novel loci for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Participants included European, African, East Asian, and Hispanic ancestries. We applied linear mixed models using a genetic relationship matrix estimated from the WGS data and adjusted for age, sex, study, and ethnicity.

Findings: When testing single variants, we identified three novel loci driven by low frequency variants more commonly observed in non-European ancestry (PRKAA2, rs180996919, minor allele frequency [MAF] 0.04%, P = 6.1 × 10-11; METTL8, rs116951054, MAF 0.09%, P = 4.5 × 10-9; and MATK, rs539182790, MAF 0.05%, P = 3.4 × 10-9). We also replicated two known loci for common variants (rs2461702, MAF=0.49, P = 1.2 × 10-9, nearest gene GATM, and rs71147340, MAF=0.34, P = 3.3 × 10-9, CDK12). Testing aggregated variants within a gene identified the MAF gene. A statistical approach based on local ancestry helped to identify replication samples for ancestry-specific variants.

Interpretation: This study highlights challenges in studying variants influencing kidney traits that are low frequency in populations and more common in non-European ancestry.

Keywords: Ancestry-specific variants; Kidney traits; Rare variants; Whole genome sequencing.

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Genomics* / methods
  • Glomerular Filtration Rate*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (U.S.)
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Precision Medicine* / methods
  • Public Health Surveillance
  • Quantitative Trait, Heritable
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Whole Genome Sequencing*