Pairwise effects between lipid GWAS genes modulate lipid plasma levels and cellular uptake

Magdalena Zimoń, Yunfeng Huang, Anthi Trasta, Aliaksandr Halavatyi, Jimmy Z. Liu, Chia-Yen Chen, Peter Blattmann, Bernd Klaus, Christopher D. Whelan, David Sexton, Sally John, Wolfgang Huber, Ellen A. Tsai, Rainer Pepperkok () and Heiko Runz ()
Additional contact information
Magdalena Zimoń: University of Heidelberg/EMBL
Yunfeng Huang: Translational Biology, Biogen Inc
Anthi Trasta: University of Heidelberg/EMBL
Aliaksandr Halavatyi: European Molecular Biological Laboratory
Jimmy Z. Liu: Translational Biology, Biogen Inc
Chia-Yen Chen: Translational Biology, Biogen Inc
Peter Blattmann: University of Heidelberg/EMBL
Bernd Klaus: European Molecular Biological Laboratory
Christopher D. Whelan: Translational Biology, Biogen Inc
David Sexton: Translational Biology, Biogen Inc
Sally John: Translational Biology, Biogen Inc
Wolfgang Huber: European Molecular Biological Laboratory
Ellen A. Tsai: Translational Biology, Biogen Inc
Rainer Pepperkok: University of Heidelberg/EMBL
Heiko Runz: University of Heidelberg/EMBL

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Abstract Complex traits are characterized by multiple genes and variants acting simultaneously on a phenotype. However, studying the contribution of individual pairs of genes to complex traits has been challenging since human genetics necessitates very large population sizes, while findings from model systems do not always translate to humans. Here, we combine genetics with combinatorial RNAi (coRNAi) to systematically test for pairwise additive effects (AEs) and genetic interactions (GIs) between 30 lipid genome-wide association studies (GWAS) genes. Gene-based burden tests from 240,970 exomes show that in carriers with truncating mutations in both, APOB and either PCSK9 or LPL (“human double knock-outs”) plasma lipid levels change additively. Genetics and coRNAi identify overlapping AEs for 12 additional gene pairs. Overlapping GIs are observed for TOMM40/APOE with SORT1 and NCAN. Our study identifies distinct gene pairs that modulate plasma and cellular lipid levels primarily via AEs and nominates putative drug target pairs for improved lipid-lowering combination therapies.

Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-26761-3

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26761-3

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