Pathway-Based Association Analyses Identified TRAIL Pathway for Osteoporotic Fractures
2011

TRAIL Pathway and Hip Osteoporotic Fractures

Sample size: 700 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Zhang Yin-Ping, Liu Yao-Zhong, Guo Yan, Liu Xiao-Gang, Xu Xiang-Hong, Guo Yan-Fang, Chen Yuan, Zhang Feng, Pan Feng, Zhu Xue-Zhen, Deng Hong-Wen

Primary Institution: Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Medicine

Hypothesis

This study aims to verify the potential association between hip osteoporotic fractures and the TRAIL pathway.

Conclusion

The study supports the potential role of the TRAIL pathway in the pathogenesis of hip osteoporotic fractures in the Chinese Han population.

Supporting Evidence

  • The TRAIL pathway achieved a significant p value (p=0.01) for association with hip osteoporotic fractures.
  • Seven genes in the TRAIL pathway showed nominally significant associations with hip osteoporotic fractures.
  • SNPs from five genes of the pathway had minor alleles that appear to be protective against hip osteoporotic fractures.

Takeaway

Researchers studied older Chinese people to see if a specific pathway in the body, called the TRAIL pathway, is linked to hip fractures. They found that this pathway might play a role in causing these fractures.

Methodology

The study used genome-wide genotype data from Affymetrix 500 K SNP arrays and performed pathway-based association analyses on 700 elderly Chinese Han subjects.

Potential Biases

Potential bias may arise from the selection of controls and the exclusion criteria used.

Limitations

The study is limited to a specific population (Chinese Han) and may not be generalizable to other ethnic groups.

Participant Demographics

700 elderly Chinese Han subjects, including 350 with hip osteoporotic fractures and 350 healthy matched controls.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.01

Confidence Interval

95%CI:3.83–71.24

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0021835

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