title: Seasonal changes in gene expression represent cell-type composition in whole blood.
abstract: Seasonal patterns in behavior and biological parameters are widespread. Here, we examined seasonal changes in whole blood gene expression profiles of 233 healthy subjects. Using weighted gene co-expression network analysis, we identified three co-expression modules showing circannual patterns. Enrichment analysis suggested that this signal stems primarily from red blood cells and blood platelets. Indeed, a large clinical database with 51 142 observations of blood cell counts over 3 years confirmed a corresponding seasonal pattern of counts of red blood cells, reticulocytes and platelets. We found no direct evidence that these changes are linked to genes known to be key players in regulating immune function or circadian rhythm. It is likely, however, that these seasonal changes in cell counts and gene expression profiles in whole blood represent biological and clinical relevant phenomena. Moreover, our findings highlight possible confounding factors relevant to the study of gene expression profiles in subjects collected at geographical locations with disparaging seasonality patterns.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Jong
authors.forename: Marjolein
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neeleman
authors.forename: Jurjen J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Luykx
authors.forename: Maarten J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: ten Berg
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Strengman
authors.forename: Hanneke H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Den Breeijen
authors.forename: Leon C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Stijvers
authors.forename: Jacobine E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Buizer-Voskamp
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Bakker
authors.forename: René S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Horvath
authors.forename: Wouter W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Van Solinge
authors.forename: Roel A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ophoff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010507:Periodicity; D017701:Reticulocyte Count; D012621:Seasons; D059467:Transcriptome / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins