Identification of Novel Genetic Markers Associated with Clinical Phenotypes of Systemic Sclerosis through a Genome-Wide Association Strategy
2011

Identifying Genetic Markers for Systemic Sclerosis

Sample size: 2296 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Gorlova Olga, Martin Jose-Ezequiel, Rueda Blanca, Koeleman Bobby P. C., Ying Jun, Teruel Maria, Diaz-Gallo Lina-Marcela, Broen Jasper C., Vonk Madelon C., Simeon Carmen P., Alizadeh Behrooz Z., Coenen Marieke J. H., Voskuyl Alexandre E., Schuerwegh Annemie J., van Riel Piet L. C. M., Vanthuyne Marie, van 't Slot Ruben, Italiaander Annet, Ophoff Roel A., Hunzelmann Nicolas, Fonollosa Vicente, Ortego-Centeno Norberto, González-Gay Miguel A., García-Hernández Francisco J., González-Escribano María F., Airo Paolo, van Laar Jacob, Worthington Jane, Hesselstrand Roger, Smith Vanessa, de Keyser Filip, Houssiau Fredric, Chee Meng May, Madhok Rajan, Shiels Paul G., Westhovens Rene, Kreuter Alexander, de Baere Elfride, Witte Torsten, Padyukov Leonid, Nordin Annika, Scorza Raffaella, Lunardi Claudio, Lie Benedicte A., Hoffmann-Vold Anna-Maria, Palm Øyvind, García de la Peña Paloma, Carreira Patricia, Spanish Scleroderma Group, Varga John, Hinchcliff Monique, Lee Annette T., Gourh Pravitt, Amos Christopher I., Wigley Frederick M., Hummers Laura K., Hummers J., Nelson J. Lee, Riemekasten Gabriella, Herrick Ariane, Beretta Lorenzo, Fonseca Carmen, Denton Christopher P., Gregersen Peter K., Agarwal Sandeep, Assassi Shervin, Tan Filemon K., Arnett Frank C., Radstake Timothy R. D. J., Mayes Maureen D., Martin Javier

Hypothesis

The study aims to determine the genetic components contributing to different clinical sub-phenotypes of systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Conclusion

The study identified three new non-HLA genes associated with systemic sclerosis subphenotypes and highlighted the genetic heterogeneity underlying the disease.

Supporting Evidence

  • Three new non-HLA genes (IRF8, GRB10, and SOX5) were identified as associated with systemic sclerosis.
  • Significant associations were found in the HLA region with specific auto-antibody subgroups.
  • The study included a large sample size of SSc patients and healthy controls.

Takeaway

Researchers found new genes that can help explain why some people get different types of a disease called systemic sclerosis, which affects the skin and other organs.

Methodology

The study used a genome-wide association study (GWAS) approach to analyze genetic data from SSc patients and healthy controls.

Potential Biases

Potential bias due to the genetic diversity of the populations studied.

Limitations

The associations found in the study may vary among different populations, and some results were heterogeneous.

Participant Demographics

The study included Caucasian SSc patients and healthy controls from the USA, Spain, Germany, and The Netherlands.

Statistical Information

P-Value

2.32×10−12

Confidence Interval

0.69–0.81

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pgen.1002178

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