Associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms in iron-related genes and iron status in multiethnic populations

PLoS One. 2012;7(6):e38339. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038339. Epub 2012 Jun 22.

Abstract

The existence of multiple inherited disorders of iron metabolism suggests genetic contributions to iron deficiency. We previously performed a genome-wide association study of iron-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using DNA from white men aged ≥ 25 y and women ≥ 50 y in the Hemochromatosis and Iron Overload Screening (HEIRS) Study with serum ferritin (SF) ≤ 12 µg/L (cases) and controls (SF >100 µg/L in men, SF >50 µg/L in women). We report a follow-up study of white, African-American, Hispanic, and Asian HEIRS participants, analyzed for association between SNPs and eight iron-related outcomes. Three chromosomal regions showed association across multiple populations, including SNPs in the TF and TMPRSS6 genes, and on chromosome 18q21. A novel SNP rs1421312 in TMPRSS6 was associated with serum iron in whites (p = 3.7 × 10(-6)) and replicated in African Americans (p = 0.0012).Twenty SNPs in the TF gene region were associated with total iron-binding capacity in whites (p<4.4 × 10(-5)); six SNPs replicated in other ethnicities (p<0.01). SNP rs10904850 in the CUBN gene on 10p13 was associated with serum iron in African Americans (P = 1.0 × 10(-5)). These results confirm known associations with iron measures and give unique evidence of their role in different ethnicities, suggesting origins in a common founder.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Asian People / genetics
  • Asian People / statistics & numerical data
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Black or African American / genetics
  • Black or African American / statistics & numerical data
  • California / epidemiology
  • Ethnicity / genetics*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Genotype
  • Hemochromatosis / blood
  • Hemochromatosis / epidemiology
  • Hemochromatosis / genetics*
  • Hispanic or Latino / genetics
  • Hispanic or Latino / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Iron / blood*
  • Iron Overload / blood
  • Iron Overload / epidemiology
  • Iron Overload / genetics*
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / genetics*
  • Prognosis
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Serine Endopeptidases / genetics
  • White People / genetics
  • White People / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • intrinsic factor-cobalamin receptor
  • Iron
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • TMPRSS6 protein, human