Genomic Variants Interact with Each Other and the Environment to Influence Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Reykjavik, IcelandSeptember 14, 2023/PR Newswire/ --AmgenEnter(Amgen)SubsidiarydeCODE GeneticsScientists from IceThe collaborators from the Island Healthcare System and the University of Copenhagen published today in the journal "Cell"(Cell)UpPublished a study titled "Complex Effects of Sequence Variants on Lipid Levels and Coronary Artery Disease."  

The work described in the paper is based on finding variations in the genome associated with differences in quantitative traits, assuming that these variations must interact with other variations or environmental components.

As we all know, "bad" cholesterol (also known as non-HDL cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) directly leads to the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases.

Both environment and genome can influence bad cholesterol, thereby affecting cardiovascular health. This influence may be complex and interrelated. For example, alcohol consumption tends to increase bad cholesterol, but research has shown that carriers of specific sequence variants known to slow alcohol metabolism can be protected from the negative impact of drinking on coronary artery disease. Compared with non-carriers, carriers of specific sequence variants associated with liver fat are more likely to experience an increase in bad cholesterol after consuming oily fish.

Similarly, the author indicates that interactions among variations in the genome influence cholesterol levels. The study shows that homozygotes for the APOE2 allele, which can prevent Alzheimer's disease risk, may have high levels of bad cholesterol (non-HDL cholesterol) like non-carriers, but possess far fewer cholesterol-carrying particles (ApoB). These homozygotes share a similar risk of coronary artery disease with non-carriers, suggesting that it is the amount of bad cholesterol, rather than the number of particles carrying bad cholesterol, that contributes to disease risk. Additionally, the author demonstrates that secretor status affects cholesterol levels and cardiovascular disease risk in individuals with non-A1 blood types, but has no impact on those with A1 blood type.

These examples highlight the complex and fascinating ways in which the genome and the environment interact to influence health, and suggest the need for a broad range of models to fully understand the genetics of human disease.

deCODEHeadquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland, it is a global leader in analyzing and understanding the human genome. Utilizing its uniqueProfessional knowledge and human resources,deCODEAlreadyDozens of genetic risk factors for common diseases have been discovered. Understanding Disease GeneticsTo use this information to create new means for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases.deCODEAmgenEnter the company (Amgen，NASDAQ Stock Code:AMGN) NationwideSubsidiary company.

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