title: Adipose co-expression networks across Finns and Mexicans identify novel triglyceride-associated genes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High serum triglyceride (TG) levels is an established risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). Fat is stored in the form of TGs in human adipose tissue. We hypothesized that gene co-expression networks in human adipose tissue may be correlated with serum TG levels and help reveal novel genes involved in TG regulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gene co-expression networks were constructed from two Finnish and one Mexican study sample using the blockwiseModules R function in Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA). Overlap between TG-associated networks from each of the three study samples were calculated using a Fisher's Exact test. Gene ontology was used to determine known pathways enriched in each TG-associated network.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We measured gene expression in adipose samples from two Finnish and one Mexican study sample. In each study sample, we observed a gene co-expression network that was significantly associated with serum TG levels. The TG modules observed in Finns and Mexicans significantly overlapped and shared 34 genes. Seven of the 34 genes (ARHGAP30, CCR1, CXCL16, FERMT3, HCST, RNASET2, SELPG) were identified as the key hub genes of all three TG modules. Furthermore, two of the 34 genes (ARHGAP9, LST1) reside in previous TG GWAS regions, suggesting them as the regional candidates underlying the GWAS signals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study presents a novel adipose gene co-expression network with 34 genes significantly correlated with serum TG across populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Genetics, Gonda Center, Los Angeles, California, 90095-7088, USA.
authors.forename: Blake E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Horvath
authors.forename: Kirsi H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Pietiläinen
authors.forename: Rita M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Cantor
authors.forename: Elina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nikkola
authors.forename: Daphna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weissglas-Volkov
authors.forename: Aila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rissanen
authors.forename: Mete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Civelek
authors.forename: Ivette
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cruz-Bautista
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Riba
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuusisto
authors.forename: Jaakko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaprio
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tusie-Luna
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laakso
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Aguilar-Salinas
authors.forename: Päivi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pajukanta
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005387:Finland; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks / Q000235:genetics*; D056426:Genetic Loci / Q000235:genetics; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000235:genetics; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D008800:Mexico; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D014427:Twins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides