Heritability of plasma neopterin levels in the Old Order Amish

J Neuroimmunol. 2017 Jun 15:307:37-41. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2017.02.016. Epub 2017 Feb 22.

Abstract

Background: We examined the heritability of neopterin, a biomarker for cell-mediated immunity and oxidative stress, and potentially for psychiatric disorders, in the Old Order Amish.

Methods: Plasma neopterin levels were determined in 2015 Old Order Amish adults. Quantitative genetic procedures were used to estimate heritability of neopterin.

Results: Heritability of log-neopterin was estimated at 0.07 after adjusting for age, gender, and household (p=0.03). The shared household effect was 0.06 (p<0.02).

Conclusions: We found a low heritability of neopterin and small household effect, suggesting that non-household environmental factors are more important determinants of variance of neopterin levels in the Amish.

Keywords: Biomarkers; Heritability; Neopterin; Old Order Amish; Psychiatric disorders.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aging / blood*
  • Aging / immunology
  • Amish / statistics & numerical data*
  • Environment
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neopterin / blood*
  • Neopterin / genetics
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Neopterin