title: Genome-wide association study with 1000 genomes imputation identifies signals for nine sex hormone-related phenotypes.
abstract: Genetic factors contribute strongly to sex hormone levels, yet knowledge of the regulatory mechanisms remains incomplete. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified only a small number of loci associated with sex hormone levels, with several reproductive hormones yet to be assessed. The aim of the study was to identify novel genetic variants contributing to the regulation of sex hormones. We performed GWAS using genotypes imputed from the 1000 Genomes reference panel. The study used genotype and phenotype data from a UK twin register. We included 2913 individuals (up to 294 males) from the Twins UK study, excluding individuals receiving hormone treatment. Phenotypes were standardised for age, sex, BMI, stage of menstrual cycle and menopausal status. We tested 7,879,351 autosomal SNPs for association with levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), oestradiol, free androgen index (FAI), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, progesterone, sex hormone-binding globulin and testosterone. Eight independent genetic variants reached genome-wide significance (P<5 × 10(-8)), with minor allele frequencies of 1.3-23.9%. Novel signals included variants for progesterone (P=7.68 × 10(-12)), oestradiol (P=1.63 × 10(-8)) and FAI (P=1.50 × 10(-8)). A genetic variant near the FSHB gene was identified which influenced both FSH (P=1.74 × 10(-8)) and LH (P=3.94 × 10(-9)) levels. A separate locus on chromosome 7 was associated with both DHEAS (P=1.82 × 10(-14)) and progesterone (P=6.09 × 10(-14)). This study highlights loci that are relevant to reproductive function and suggests overlap in the genetic basis of hormone regulation.
authors.affiliation: Genetics of Complex Traits, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: Katherine S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ruth
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Australia.
authors.forename: Purdey J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Australia.
authors.forename: Shelby
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chew
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Australia.|Pathwest Laboratory Medicine WA, Nedlands, Australia.
authors.forename: Ee Mun
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Australia.|Pathwest Laboratory Medicine WA, Nedlands, Australia.
authors.forename: Narelle
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hadlow
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Australia.|School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia.
authors.forename: Bronwyn G A
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Stuckey
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Australia.
authors.forename: Suzanne J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Bjarke
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1478-649X
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Feenstra
authors.affiliation: Pathwest Laboratory Medicine WA, Nedlands, Australia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Gabriela L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Surdulescu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Hou Feng
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, UK.|Department of Medicine, Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.|Lady Davis Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: J Brent
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.affiliation: Genetics of Complex Traits, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Tim D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Spector
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Australia.|School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia.|Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Scott G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Genetics of Complex Traits, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.|Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, UK.|MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: John R B
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Perry
mesh_terms: D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015894:Genome, Human; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D005838:Genotype; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D011374:Progesterone / Q000235:genetics*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone