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Concentrations of liver enzymes in plasma are widely used as indicators of liver disease. We carried out a genome-wide association study in 61,089 individuals, identifying 42 loci associated with concentrations of liver enzymes in plasma, of which 32 are new associations (P = 10(-8) to P = 10(-190)). We used functional genomic approaches including metabonomic profiling and gene expression analyses to identify probable candidate genes at these regions. We identified 69 candidate genes, including genes involved in biliary transport (ATP8B1 and ABCB11), glucose, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism (FADS1, FADS2, GCKR, JMJD1C, HNF1A, MLXIPL, PNPLA3, PPP1R3B, SLC2A2 and TRIB1), glycoprotein biosynthesis and cell surface glycobiology (ABO, ASGR1, FUT2, GPLD1 and ST3GAL4), inflammation and immunity (CD276, CDH6, GCKR, HNF1A, HPR, ITGA1, RORA and STAT4) and glutathione metabolism (GSTT1, GSTT2 and GGT), as well as several genes of uncertain or unknown function (including ABHD12, EFHD1, EFNA1, EPHA2, MICAL3 and ZNF827). Our results provide new insight into genetic mechanisms and pathways influencing markers of liver function.

Original publication

DOI

10.1038/ng.970

Type

Journal article

Journal

Nature genetics

Publication Date

16/10/2011

Volume

43

Pages

1131 - 1138

Addresses

Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, UK. john.chambers@ic.ac.uk

Keywords

Alcohol Genome-wide Association (AlcGen) Consortium, Diabetes Genetics Replication and Meta-analyses (DIAGRAM+) Study, Genetic Investigation of Anthropometric Traits (GIANT) Consortium, Global Lipids Genetics Consortium, Genetics of Liver Disease (GOLD) Consortium, International Consortium for Blood Pressure (ICBP-GWAS), Meta-analyses of Glucose and Insulin-Related Traits Consortium (MAGIC), Liver, Humans, Enzymes, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Genome-Wide Association Study, Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase