Discovery and refinement of loci associated with lipid levels
Using genome-wide and custom genotyping arrays, a SciLifeLab-associated research group has found that loci associated with blood lipid levels are often associated with cardiovascular and metabolic traits, including coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, blood pressure, waist-hip ratio and body mass index. The results demonstrate the value of using genetic data from individuals of diverse ancestry and provide insights into the biological mechanisms regulating blood lipids to guide future genetic, biological and therapeutic research.
Molecular understanding of the genes and pathways that modify blood lipid levels in humans will facilitate the design of new therapies for cardiovascular and metabolic disease. This understanding can be gained from studies of model organisms, in vitro experiments, bioinformatic analyses and human genetic studies. In the article, association between blood lipid levels and 62 new loci was demonstrated.
