New loci associated with birth weight identify genetic links between intrauterine growth and adult height and metabolism

Early Growth Genetics EGG, MAGIC, Momoko Horikoshi, Hanieh Yaghootkar, Dennis O. Mook-Kanamori, Ulla Sovio, H. Rob Taal, Branwen J. Hennig, Jonathan P. Bradfield, Beate St Pourcain, David M. Evans, Pimphen Charoen, Marika Kaakinen, Diana L. Cousminer, Terho Lehtimaki, Eskil Kreiner-Moller, Nicole M. Warrington, Mariona Bustamante, Bjarke Feenstra, Diane J. Berry, Elisabeth ThieringThiemo Pfab, Sheila J. Barton, Beverley M. Shields, Marjan Kerkhof, Elisabeth M. van Leeuwen, Anthony J. Fulford, Zoltan Kutalik, Jing Hua Zhao, Marcel den Hoed, Anubha Mahajan, Virpi Lindi, Liang-Kee Goh, Jouke-Jan Hottenga, Ying Wu, Olli T. Raitakari, Marie N. Harder, Aline Meirhaeghe, Ioanna Ntalla, Rany M. Salem, Karen A. Jameson, Kaixin Zhou, Dorota M. Monies, Vasiliki Lagou, Mirna Kirin, Jani Heikkinen, Linda S. Adair, Fowzan S. Alkuraya, Ali Al-Odaib, Philippe Amouyel, Ehm Astrid Andersson, James F. Wilson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Birth weight within the normal range is associated with a variety of adult-onset diseases, but the mechanisms behind these associations are poorly understood(1). Previous genome-wide association studies of birth weight identified a variant in the ADCY5 gene associated both with birth weight and type 2 diabetes and a second variant, near CCNL1, with no obvious link to adult traits(2). In an expanded genome-wide association metaanalysis and follow-up study of birth weight (of up to 69,308 individuals of European descent from 43 studies), we have now extended the number of loci associated at genome-wide significance to 7, accounting for a similar proportion of variance as maternal smoking. Five of the loci are known to be associated with other phenotypes: ADCY5 and CDKAL1 with type 2 diabetes, ADRB1 with adult blood pressure and HMGA2 and LCORL with adult height. Our findings highlight genetic links between fetal growth and postnatal growth and metabolism.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)76-U115
Number of pages10
JournalNature Genetics
Volume45
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2013

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