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Evidence for genetic correlation between human cerebral white matter microstructure and inflammation.

ABSTRACT: White matter microstructure is affected by immune system activity via the actions of circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines. Although white matter microstructure and inflammatory measures are significantly heritable, it is unclear if overlapping genetic factors influence these traits in humans. We conducted genetic correlation analyses of these traits using randomly ascertained extended pedigrees from the Genetics of Brain Structure and Function Study (N = 1862, 59% females, ages 18-97 years; 42 ± 15.7). White matter microstructure was assessed using fractional anisotropy (FA) calculated from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Circulating levels (pg/mL) of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, and TNFα) phenotypically associated with white matter microstructure were quantified from blood serum. All traits were significantly heritable (h² ranging from 0.41 to 0.66 for DTI measures and from 0.18 to 0.30 for inflammatory markers). Phenotypically, higher levels of circulating inflammatory markers were associated with lower FA values across the brain (r = -.03 to r = -.17). There were significant negative genetic correlations between most DTI measures and IL-8 and TNFα, although effects for TNFα were no longer significant when covarying for body mass index. Genetic correlations between DTI measures and IL-6 were not significant. Understanding the genetic correlation between specific inflammatory markers and DTI measures may help researchers focus questions related to inflammatory processes and brain structure.

SUBMITTER: Rodrigue AL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6707845 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Evidence for genetic correlation between human cerebral white matter microstructure and inflammation.

Rodrigue Amanda L AL Knowles Emma Em EE Mollon Josephine J Mathias Samuel R SR Koenis Marinka Mg MM Peralta Juan M JM Leandro Ana C AC Fox Peter T PT Sprooten Emma E Kochunov Peter P Olvera Rene L RL Duggirala Ravindranath R Almasy Laura L Curran Joanne E JE Blangero John J Glahn David C DC

Human brain mapping 20190611 14

White matter microstructure is affected by immune system activity via the actions of circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines. Although white matter microstructure and inflammatory measures are significantly heritable, it is unclear if overlapping genetic factors influence these traits in humans. We conducted genetic correlation analyses of these traits using randomly ascertained extended pedigrees from the Genetics of Brain Structure and Function Study (N = 1862, 59% females, ages 18-97 years; 42 ...[more]

PMID: 31187567

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Evidence for genetic correlation between human cerebral white matter microstructure and inflammation.

Publications

Evidence for genetic correlation between human cerebral white matter microstructure and inflammation.

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