Relative influence of heritability, environment and genetics on serum sclerostin.

ABSTRACT: We determined factors associated with serum sclerostin in 446 Afro-Caribbean family members. Age, weight, sex, diabetes and kidney function were associated with sclerostin. Sclerostin was heritable, and nine SNPs in the SOST gene region were associated with sclerostin. Variation in serum sclerostin is a heritable factor that is determined by both genetic and environmental factors.Sclerostin, encoded by the SOST gene, is a Wnt inhibitor that regulates bone mineralization and is a candidate gene locus for osteoporosis. However, little is known about the genetic and non-genetic sources of inter-individual variation in serum sclerostin levels.Serum sclerostin was measured in 446 Afro-Caribbean men and women aged 18+ from seven large, multigenerational families (mean family size, 64; 3,840 relative pairs). Thirty-six common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were genotyped within a 100 kb region encompassing the gene encoding sclerostin (SOST). Genetic and non-genetic factors were tested for association with serum sclerostin.Mean serum sclerostin was 41.3 pmol/l and was greater in men than in women (P?

SUBMITTER: Kuipers AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3948173 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature