title: Genome-wide association study of liver enzymes in korean children.
abstract: Liver enzyme elevations, as an indicator of liver function, are widely associated with metabolic diseases. Genome-wide population-based association studies have identified a genetic susceptibility to liver enzyme elevations and their related traits; however, the genetic architecture in childhood remains largely unknown. We performed a genome-wide association study to identify new genetic loci for liver enzyme levels in a Korean childhood cohort (n = 484). We observed three novel loci (rs4949718, rs80311637, and rs596406) that were multiply associated with elevated levels of alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase. Although there are some limitations, including genetic power, additional replication and functional characterization will support the clarity on the genetic contribution that the ST6GALNAC3, ADAMTS9, and CELF2 genes have in childhood liver function.
authors.affiliation: Division of Structural and Functional Genomics, Center for Genome Science, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongwon 363-951, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Joon
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Joo-Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Min Jin
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Go
authors.forename: Hye-Ja
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Han Byul
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Youngshim
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jae Heon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Kyung Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Min-Gyu
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jihyun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Bong-Jo
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jong-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: alanine transaminase; aspartate transaminase; childhood liver enzyme; genome-wide association study