Underlying genetic models of inheritance in established type 2 diabetes associations.
American Journal of Epidemiology 2009 ; 170: 537-45.
Salanti G, Southam L, Altshuler D, Ardlie K, Barroso I, Boehnke M, Cornelis MC, Frayling TM, Grallert H, Grarup N, Groop L, Hansen T, Hattersley AT, Hu FB, Hveem K, Illig T, Kuusisto J, Laakso M, Langenberg C, Lyssenko V, McCarthy MI, Morris A, Morris AD, Palmer CN, Payne F, Platou CG, Scott LJ, Voight BF, Wareham NJ, Zeggini E, Ioannidis JP
DOI : 10.1093/aje/kwp145
PubMed ID : 19602701
PMCID : PMC2732984
Abstract
For most associations of common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with common diseases, the genetic model of inheritance is unknown. The authors extended and applied a Bayesian meta-analysis approach to data from 19 studies on 17 replicated associations with type 2 diabetes. For 13 SNPs, the data fitted very well to an additive model of inheritance for the diabetes risk allele; for 4 SNPs, the data were consistent with either an additive model or a dominant model; and for 2 SNPs, the data were consistent with an additive or recessive model. Results were robust to the use of different priors and after exclusion of data for which index SNPs had been examined indirectly through proxy markers. The Bayesian meta-analysis model yielded point estimates for the genetic effects that were very similar to those previously reported based on fixed- or random-effects models, but uncertainty about several of the effects was substantially larger. The authors also examined the extent of between-study heterogeneity in the genetic model and found generally small between-study deviation values for the genetic model parameter. Heterosis could not be excluded for 4 SNPs. Information on the genetic model of robustly replicated association signals derived from genome-wide association studies may be useful for predictive modeling and for designing biologic and functional experiments.