0000000000932213
AUTHOR
Nathan Pankratz
Genome Analyses of >200,000 Individuals Identify 58 Loci for Chronic Inflammation and Highlight Pathways that Link Inflammation and Complex Disorders
International audience; C-reactive protein (CRP) is a sensitive biomarker of chronic low-grade inflammation and is associated with multiple complex diseases. The genetic determinants of chronic inflammation remain largely unknown, and the causal role of CRP in several clinical outcomes is debated. We performed two genome-wide association studies (GWASs), on HapMap and 1000 Genomes imputed data, of circulating amounts of CRP by using data from 88 studies comprising 204,402 European individuals. Additionally, we performed in silico functional analyses and Mendelian randomization analyses with several clinical outcomes. The GWAS meta-analyses of CRP revealed 58 distinct genetic loci (p < 5 × 1…
A mutation in myotilin causes spheroid body myopathy
Background: Spheroid body myopathy (SBM) is a rare, autosomal dominant, neuromuscular disorder, which has only been previously reported in a single large kindred. Identification of the mutated gene in this disorder may provide insight regarding abnormal neuromuscular function. Methods: The authors completed a detailed clinical evaluation on an extensive kindred diagnosed with SBM. Genome-wide linkage analysis was performed to localize the disease gene to a specific chromosomal region. Further marker genotyping and screening of a positional, functional candidate gene were completed to detect the disease-causing mutation. Pathologic analysis of muscle biopsy was performed on three individuals…