Shared genetics of psychiatric disorders and type 2 diabetes:a large-scale genome-wide cross-trait analysis

J Psychiatr Res. 2023 Mar:159:185-195. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.01.037. Epub 2023 Jan 28.

Abstract

Background: Individuals with psychiatric disorders have elevated rates of type 2 diabetes comorbidity. Although little is known about the shared genetics and causality of this association. Thus, we aimed to investigate shared genetics and causal link between different type 2 diabetes and psychiatric disorders.

Methods: We conducted a large-scale genome-wide cross-trait association study(GWAS) to investigate genetic overlap between type 2 diabetes and anorexia nervosa, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and Tourette syndrome. By post-GWAS functional analysis, we identify variants genes expression in various tissues. Enrichment pathways, potential protein interaction and mendelian randomization also provided to research the relationship between type 2 diabetes and psychiatric disorders.

Results: We discovered that type 2 diabetes and psychiatric disorders had a significant correlation. We identified 138 related loci, 32 were novel loci. Post-GWAS analysis revealed that 86 differentially expressed genes were located in different brain regions and peripheral blood in type 2 diabetes and related psychiatric disorders. MAPK signaling pathway plays an important role in neural development and insulin signaling. In addition, there is a causal relationship between T2D and mental disorders. In PPI analysis, the central genes of the DEG PPI network were FTO and TCF7L2.

Conclusion: This large-scale genome-wide cross-trait analysis identified shared genetics andpotential causal links between type 2 diabetes and related psychiatric disorders, suggesting potential new biological functions in common among them.

Keywords: Cross-trait analysis; GWAS; Neurodevelopment; Psychiatric disorders; Type 2 diabetes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO / genetics
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* / genetics
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder* / genetics
  • Bipolar Disorder* / genetics
  • Depressive Disorder, Major* / genetics
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2*
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Humans
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Substances

  • FTO protein, human
  • Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO