A bivariate whole-genome linkage scan suggests several shared genomic regions for obesity and osteoporosis.
BACKGROUND
A genome-wide bivariate analysis was conducted for body fat mass (BFM) and bone mineral density (BMD) in a large Caucasian sample. We found some quantitative trait loci shared by BFM and BMD in the total sample and the gender-specific subgroups, and quantitative trait loci with potential pleiotropy were disclosed. BFM and BMD, as the respective measure for obesity and osteoporosis, are phenotypically and genetically correlated. However, specific genomic regions accounting for their genetic correlation are unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To identify systemically the shared genomic regions for BFM and BMD, we performed a bivariate whole-genome linkage scan in 4498 Caucasian individuals from 451 families for BFM and BMD at the hip, spine, and wrist, respectively. Linkage analyses were performed in the total sample and the male and female subgroups, respectively.


RESULTS
In the entire sample, suggestive linkages were detected at 7p22-p21 (LOD 2.69) for BFM and spine BMD, 6q27 (LOD 2.30) for BFM and hip BMD, and 11q13 (LOD 2.64) for BFM and wrist BMD. Male-specific suggestive linkages were found at 13q12 (LOD 3.23) for BFM and spine BMD and at 7q21 (LOD 2.59) for BFM and hip BMD. Female-specific suggestive LOD scores were 3.32 at 15q13 for BFM and spine BMD and 3.15 at 6p25-24 for BFM and wrist BMD.


CONCLUSIONS
Several shared genomic regions for BFM and BMD were identified here. Our data may benefit further positional and functional studies, aimed at eventually uncovering the complex mechanism underlying the shared genetic determination of obesity and osteoporosis.
Tang
Zi-Hui
ZH
Laboratory of Molecular and Statistical Genetics and the Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410081, People's Republic of China.
Xiao
Peng
P
Lei
Shu-Feng
SF
Deng
Fei-Yan
FY
Zhao
Lan-Juan
LJ
Deng
Hong-Yi
HY
Tan
Li-Jun
LJ
Shen
Hui
H
Xiong
Dong-Hai
DH
Recker
Robert R
RR
Deng
Hong-Wen
HW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015894:Genome, Human; D023281:Genomics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008126:Lod Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics*; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000235:genetics*; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci; D012737:Sex Factors