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Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Is Associated with Common Genetic Variants and Limited Rare Variants

Peljto, Anna L ; Westergren-Thorsson, Gunilla LU and Schwartz, David A (2023) In American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 207(9). p.1194-1202
Abstract

RATIONALE: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a rare, irreversible, and progressive disease of the lungs. Common genetic variants, in addition to non-genetic factors, have been consistently associated with IPF. Rare variants identified by candidate gene, family-based, and exome studies have also been reported to associate with IPF. However, the extent to which rare variants genome-wide may contribute to the risk of IPF remains unknown.

OBJECTIVES: We used whole-genome sequencing to investigate the role of rare variants, genome-wide, on IPF risk.

METHODS: As part of the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine Program, we sequenced 2,180 cases of IPF. Association testing focused on the aggregated effect of rare variants (minor allele... (More)

RATIONALE: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a rare, irreversible, and progressive disease of the lungs. Common genetic variants, in addition to non-genetic factors, have been consistently associated with IPF. Rare variants identified by candidate gene, family-based, and exome studies have also been reported to associate with IPF. However, the extent to which rare variants genome-wide may contribute to the risk of IPF remains unknown.

OBJECTIVES: We used whole-genome sequencing to investigate the role of rare variants, genome-wide, on IPF risk.

METHODS: As part of the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine Program, we sequenced 2,180 cases of IPF. Association testing focused on the aggregated effect of rare variants (minor allele frequency ≤0.01) within genes or regions. We also identified individual variants that are influential within genes and estimated the heritability of IPF based on rare and common variants.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Rare variants in both TERT and RTEL1 were significantly associated with IPF. A single rare variant in each of the TERT and RTEL1 genes was found to consistently influence the aggregated test statistics. There was no significant evidence of association with other previously reported rare variants. The SNP-heritability of IPF was estimated to be 32% (s.e. 3%).

CONCLUSIONS: Rare variants within the TERT and RTEL1 genes and well-established common variants have the largest contribution to IPF risk overall. Efforts in risk profiling or development of therapies for IPF that focus on TERT, RTEL1, common variants, and environmental risk factors are likely to have the largest impact on this complex disease.

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publication status
published
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in
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
volume
207
issue
9
pages
1194 - 1202
publisher
American Thoracic Society
external identifiers
  • pmid:36602845
  • scopus:85149220360
ISSN
1535-4970
DOI
10.1164/rccm.202207-1331OC
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
d8434886-907b-4b8e-83c8-df9c14e49258
date added to LUP
2023-01-12 12:36:02
date last changed
2024-04-19 20:07:11
@article{d8434886-907b-4b8e-83c8-df9c14e49258,
  abstract     = {{<p>RATIONALE: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a rare, irreversible, and progressive disease of the lungs. Common genetic variants, in addition to non-genetic factors, have been consistently associated with IPF. Rare variants identified by candidate gene, family-based, and exome studies have also been reported to associate with IPF. However, the extent to which rare variants genome-wide may contribute to the risk of IPF remains unknown.</p><p>OBJECTIVES: We used whole-genome sequencing to investigate the role of rare variants, genome-wide, on IPF risk.</p><p>METHODS: As part of the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine Program, we sequenced 2,180 cases of IPF. Association testing focused on the aggregated effect of rare variants (minor allele frequency ≤0.01) within genes or regions. We also identified individual variants that are influential within genes and estimated the heritability of IPF based on rare and common variants.</p><p>MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Rare variants in both TERT and RTEL1 were significantly associated with IPF. A single rare variant in each of the TERT and RTEL1 genes was found to consistently influence the aggregated test statistics. There was no significant evidence of association with other previously reported rare variants. The SNP-heritability of IPF was estimated to be 32% (s.e. 3%).</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: Rare variants within the TERT and RTEL1 genes and well-established common variants have the largest contribution to IPF risk overall. Efforts in risk profiling or development of therapies for IPF that focus on TERT, RTEL1, common variants, and environmental risk factors are likely to have the largest impact on this complex disease.</p>}},
  author       = {{Peljto, Anna L and Westergren-Thorsson, Gunilla and Schwartz, David A}},
  issn         = {{1535-4970}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  number       = {{9}},
  pages        = {{1194--1202}},
  publisher    = {{American Thoracic Society}},
  series       = {{American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine}},
  title        = {{Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Is Associated with Common Genetic Variants and Limited Rare Variants}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/rccm.202207-1331OC}},
  doi          = {{10.1164/rccm.202207-1331OC}},
  volume       = {{207}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}