Genome-wide associations of aortic distensibility suggest causality for aortic aneurysms and brain white matter hyperintensities.

ABSTRACT: Aortic dimensions and distensibility are key risk factors for aortic aneurysms and dissections, as well as for other cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. We present genome-wide associations of ascending and descending aortic distensibility and area derived from cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of up to 32,590 Caucasian individuals in UK Biobank. We identify 102 loci (including 27 novel associations) tagging genes related to cardiovascular development, extracellular matrix production, smooth muscle cell contraction and heritable aortic diseases. Functional analyses highlight four signalling pathways associated with aortic distensibility (TGF-β, IGF, VEGF and PDGF). We identify distinct sex-specific associations with aortic traits. We develop co-expression networks assoc

SUBMITTER: Francis CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9349177 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature