Association of human height-related genetic variants with familial short stature in Han Chinese in Taiwan

Sci Rep. 2017 Jul 25;7(1):6372. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-06766-z.

Abstract

Human height can be described as a classical and inherited trait model. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revealed susceptible loci and provided insights into the polygenic nature of human height. Familial short stature (FSS) represents a suitable trait for investigating short stature genetics because disease associations with short stature have been ruled out in this case. In addition, FSS is caused only by genetically inherited factors. In this study, we explored the correlations of FSS risk with the genetic loci associated with human height in previous GWAS, alone and cumulatively. We systematically evaluated 34 known human height single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in relation to FSS in the additive model (p < 0.00005). A cumulative effect was observed: the odds ratios gradually increased with increasing genetic risk score quartiles (p < 0.001; Cochran-Armitage trend test). Six affected genes-ZBTB38, ZNF638, LCORL, CABLES1, CDK10, and TSEN15-are located in the nucleus and have been implicated in embryonic, organismal, and tissue development. In conclusion, our study suggests that 13 human height GWAS-identified SNPs are associated with FSS risk both alone and cumulatively.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Asian People / ethnology
  • Asian People / genetics*
  • Body Height / genetics*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / genetics
  • Cyclins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Endonucleases / genetics
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics*
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Humans
  • Multifactorial Inheritance
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Pilot Projects
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Taiwan / ethnology
  • Transcription Factors

Substances

  • CABLES1 protein, human
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cyclins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • ZBTB38 protein, human
  • ZNF638 protein, human
  • CDK10 protein, human
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases
  • Endonucleases
  • TSEN15 protein, human