title: Novel locus FER is associated with serum HMW adiponectin levels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  High molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin is a predominant isoform of circulating adiponectin and has been related to type 2 diabetes. Previous linkage studies suggest that different genetic components might be involved in determining HMW and total adiponectin levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of serum HMW adiponectin levels in individuals of European ancestry drawn from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) (N = 1,591). The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified in the GWAS analysis were replicated in an independent cohort of Europeans (N = 626). We examined the associations of the identified variations with diabetes risk and metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified a novel locus near the FER gene (5q21) at a genome-wide significance level, best represented by SNP rs10447248 (P = 4.69 × 10(-8)). We also confirmed that variations near the adiponectin-encoding ADIPOQ locus (3q27) were related to serum HMW adiponectin levels. In addition, we found that FER SNP rs10447248 was related to HDL cholesterol levels (P = 0.009); ADIPOQ variation was associated with fasting glucose (P = 0.04), HDL cholesterol (P = 0.04), and a metabolic syndrome score (P = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that different loci may be involved in regulation of circulating HMW adiponectin levels and provide novel insight into the mechanisms that affect HMW adiponectin homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. nhlqi@channing.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Menzaghi
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salvemini
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Bonis
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Trischitta
authors.forename: Frank B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin