Integrating genetic regulation and single-cell expression with GWAS prioritizes causal genes and cell types for glaucoma

International Glaucoma Genetics Consortium (IGGC), Andrew R. Hamel, Wenjun Yan, John M. Rouhana, Aboozar Monovarfeshani, Xinyi Jiang, Puja A. Mehta, Jayshree Advani, Yuyang Luo, Qingnan Liang, Skanda Rajasundaram, Arushi Shrivastava, Katherine Duchinski, Sreekar Mantena, Jiali Wang, Tavé van Zyl, Louis R. Pasquale, Anand Swaroop, Puya Gharahkhani, Anthony P. KhawajaStuart MacGregor, Alex W. Hewitt, Alexander K. Schuster, Ananth C. Viswanathan, Andrew J. Lotery, Angela J. Cree, Calvin P. Pang, Caroline Brandl, Caroline C.W. Klaver, Caroline Hayward, Chiea Chuen Khor, Ching Yu Cheng, Christopher J. Hammond, Cornelia van Duijn, David A. Mackey, Einer Stefansson, Eranga N. Vithana, Francesca Pasutto, Fridbert Jonansson, Gudmar Thorleifsson, Jacyline Koh, James F. Wilson, Jamie E. Craig, Joëlle E. Vergroesen, John H. Fingert, Jost B. Jonas, Kári Stefánsson, Kathryn P. Burdon, Li Jia Chen, Michael Kass, Nomdo M. Jansonius

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Abstract

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), characterized by retinal ganglion cell death, is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. However, its molecular and cellular causes are not well understood. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is a major risk factor, but many patients have normal IOP. Colocalization and Mendelian randomization analysis of >240 POAG and IOP genome-wide association study (GWAS) loci and overlapping expression and splicing quantitative trait loci (e/sQTLs) in 49 GTEx tissues and retina prioritizes causal genes for 60% of loci. These genes are enriched in pathways implicated in extracellular matrix organization, cell adhesion, and vascular development. Analysis of single-nucleus RNA-seq of glaucoma-relevant eye tissues reveals that the POAG and IOP colocalizing genes and genome-wide associations are enriched in specific cell types in the aqueous outflow pathways, retina, optic nerve head, peripapillary sclera, and choroid. This study nominates IOP-dependent and independent regulatory mechanisms, genes, and cell types that may contribute to POAG pathogenesis.

Original languageEnglish
Article number396
Number of pages25
JournalNature Communications
Volume15
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec-2024

Keywords

  • Functional genomics
  • Optic nerve diseases
  • Statistical methods

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