Work

DNAm scores for serum GDF15 and NT-proBNP levels associate with a range of traits affecting the body and brain

Year: 2023
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background Plasma growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are cardiovascular biomarkers that associate with a range of diseases. Epigenetic scores (EpiScores) for GDF15 and NT-proBNP may provide new routes for risk stratification. Results In the Generation Scotland cohort (N ≥ 16,963), GDF15 levels were associated with incident dementia, ischaemic stroke and type 2 diabetes, whereas NT-proBNP levels were associated with incident ischaemic heart disease, ischaemic stroke and type 2 diabetes (all P FDR < 0.05). Bayesian Epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) identified 12 and 4 DNA methylation (DNAm) CpG sites associated (Posterior Inclusion Probability [PIP] > 95%) with levels of GDF15 and NT-proBNP, respectively. EpiScores for GDF15 and NT-proBNP that were trained in a subset of the population. The GDF15 EpiScore replicated protein associations with incident dementia, type 2 diabetes and ischaemic stroke in the Generation Scotland test set (Hazard Ratios (HR) range 1.36 – 1.41, P FDR <0.03). The EpiScore for NT-proBNP replicated the protein association with type 2 diabetes, but failed to replicate an association with ischaemic stroke. EpiScores explained comparable variance in protein levels across both the Generation Scotland test set and the external LBC1936 test cohort (R 2 range of 5.7-12.2%). In LBC1936, both EpiScores were associated with indicators of poorer brain health. Neither EpiScore was associated with incident dementia in the LBC1936 population. Conclusions EpiScores for serum levels of GDF15 and Nt-proBNP associate with body and brain health traits. These EpiScores are provided as potential tools for disease risk stratification.
Source: medRxiv
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4387770303
Cites: 45
Cited by: 4
Related to: 10