Genome wide analysis of narcolepsy in China implicates novel immune loci and reveals changes in association prior to versus after the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic

PLoS Genet. 2013 Oct;9(10):e1003880. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003880. Epub 2013 Oct 31.

Abstract

Previous studies in narcolepsy, an autoimmune disorder affecting hypocretin (orexin) neurons and recently associated with H1N1 influenza, have demonstrated significant associations with five loci. Using a well-characterized Chinese cohort, we refined known associations in TRA@ and P2RY11-DNMT1 and identified new associations in the TCR beta (TRB@; rs9648789 max P = 3.7 × 10(-9) OR 0.77), ZNF365 (rs10995245 max P = 1.2 × 10(-11) OR 1.23), and IL10RB-IFNAR1 loci (rs2252931 max P = 2.2 × 10(-9) OR 0.75). Variants in the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)- DQ region were associated with age of onset (rs7744020 P = 7.9×10(-9) beta -1.9 years) and varied significantly among cases with onset after the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic compared to previous years (rs9271117 P = 7.8 × 10(-10) OR 0.57). These reflected an association of DQB1*03:01 with earlier onset and decreased DQB1*06:02 homozygosity following 2009. Our results illustrate how genetic association can change in the presence of new environmental challenges and suggest that the monitoring of genetic architecture over time may help reveal the appearance of novel triggers for autoimmune diseases.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Age of Onset
  • China
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Genome-Wide Association Study*
  • HLA-DQ Antigens / genetics
  • HLA-DQ beta-Chains / genetics
  • Humans
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / genetics*
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / pathogenicity
  • Influenza, Human / complications
  • Influenza, Human / genetics*
  • Influenza, Human / pathology
  • Interleukin-10 Receptor beta Subunit / genetics
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Narcolepsy / complications
  • Narcolepsy / genetics*
  • Narcolepsy / pathology
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Neuropeptides / genetics
  • Orexins
  • Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta / genetics
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / genetics

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • HLA-DQ Antigens
  • HLA-DQ beta-Chains
  • HLA-DQbeta antigen
  • IFNAR1 protein, human
  • IL10RB protein, human
  • Interleukin-10 Receptor beta Subunit
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Neuropeptides
  • Orexins
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
  • Transcription Factors
  • ZNF365 protein, human
  • Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta