Trans-Ethnic Polygenic Analysis Supports Genetic Overlaps of Lumbar Disc Degeneration With Height, Body Mass Index, and Bone Mineral Density.

ABSTRACT: Lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) is age-related break-down in the fibrocartilaginous joints between lumbar vertebrae. It is a major cause of low back pain and is conventionally assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Like most other complex traits, LDD is likely polygenic and influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. However, genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of LDD have uncovered few susceptibility loci due to the limited sample size. Previous epidemiology studies of LDD also reported multiple heritable risk factors, including height, body mass index (BMI), bone mineral density (BMD), lipid levels, etc. Genetics can help elucidate causality between traits and suggest loci with pleiotropic effects. One such approach is polygenic score (PGS) which summarizes the effect

SUBMITTER: Zhou X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6088183 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature