An immune response network associated with blood lipid levels

PLoS Genet. 2010 Sep 9;6(9):e1001113. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1001113.

Abstract

While recent scans for genetic variation associated with human disease have been immensely successful in uncovering large numbers of loci, far fewer studies have focused on the underlying pathways of disease pathogenesis. Many loci which are associated with disease and complex phenotypes map to non-coding, regulatory regions of the genome, indicating that modulation of gene transcription plays a key role. Thus, this study generated genome-wide profiles of both genetic and transcriptional variation from the total blood extracts of over 500 randomly-selected, unrelated individuals. Using measurements of blood lipids, key players in the progression of atherosclerosis, three levels of biological information are integrated in order to investigate the interactions between circulating leukocytes and proximal lipid compounds. Pair-wise correlations between gene expression and lipid concentration indicate a prominent role for basophil granulocytes and mast cells, cell types central to powerful allergic and inflammatory responses. Network analysis of gene co-expression showed that the top associations function as part of a single, previously unknown gene module, the Lipid Leukocyte (LL) module. This module replicated in T cells from an independent cohort while also displaying potential tissue specificity. Further, genetic variation driving LL module expression included the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) most strongly associated with serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, a key antibody in allergy. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) indicated that LL module is at least partially reactive to blood lipid levels. Taken together, this study uncovers a gene network linking blood lipids and circulating cell types and offers insight into the hypothesis that the inflammatory response plays a prominent role in metabolism and the potential control of atherogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Apolipoproteins B / blood
  • Cohort Studies
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Gene Regulatory Networks / genetics*
  • Genetic Variation
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity / blood
  • Hypersensitivity / genetics
  • Hypersensitivity / immunology
  • Immunity / genetics*
  • Inflammation Mediators / blood
  • Leukocytes / metabolism
  • Lipids / blood*
  • Lipoproteins, HDL / blood
  • Metabolic Syndrome / blood
  • Metabolic Syndrome / genetics
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Genetic
  • Obesity / blood
  • Obesity / genetics
  • Quantitative Trait Loci / genetics
  • Regression Analysis
  • Triglycerides / blood

Substances

  • Apolipoproteins B
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Lipids
  • Lipoproteins, HDL
  • Triglycerides