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Identification of novel risk loci for restless legs syndrome in genome-wide association studies in individuals of European ancestry: a meta-analysis.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Change log

Authors

Schormair, Barbara 
Zhao, Chen 
Tilch, Erik 
Salminen, Aaro V 

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Restless legs syndrome is a prevalent chronic neurological disorder with potentially severe mental and physical health consequences. Clearer understanding of the underlying pathophysiology is needed to improve treatment options. We did a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWASs) to identify potential molecular targets. METHODS: In the discovery stage, we combined three GWAS datasets (EU-RLS GENE, INTERVAL, and 23andMe) with diagnosis data collected from 2003 to 2017, in face-to-face interviews or via questionnaires, and involving 15 126 cases and 95 725 controls of European ancestry. We identified common variants by fixed-effect inverse-variance meta-analysis. Significant genome-wide signals (p≤5 × 10(-8)) were tested for replication in an independent GWAS of 30 770 cases and 286 913 controls, followed by a joint analysis of the discovery and replication stages. We did gene annotation, pathway, and gene-set-enrichment analyses and studied the genetic correlations between restless legs syndrome and traits of interest. FINDINGS: We identified and replicated 13 new risk loci for restless legs syndrome and confirmed the previously identified six risk loci. MEIS1 was confirmed as the strongest genetic risk factor for restless legs syndrome (odds ratio 1·92, 95% CI 1·85-1·99). Gene prioritisation, enrichment, and genetic correlation analyses showed that identified pathways were related to neurodevelopment and highlighted genes linked to axon guidance (associated with SEMA6D), synapse formation (NTNG1), and neuronal specification (HOXB cluster family and MYT1). INTERPRETATION: Identification of new candidate genes and associated pathways will inform future functional research. Advances in understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie restless legs syndrome could lead to new treatment options. We focused on common variants; thus, additional studies are needed to dissect the roles of rare and structural variations. FUNDING: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Helmholtz Zentrum München-Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt, National Research Institutions, NHS Blood and Transplant, National Institute for Health Research, British Heart Foundation, European Commission, European Research Council, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, and UK Medical Research Council.

Description

Keywords

DNA-Binding Proteins, European Continental Ancestry Group, GPI-Linked Proteins, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genome-Wide Association Study, Humans, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Restless Legs Syndrome, Semaphorins, Transcription Factors

Journal Title

Lancet Neurology

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1474-4422
1474-4465

Volume Title

16

Publisher

Elsevier
Sponsorship
British Heart Foundation (None)
Department of Health (via National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)) (NF-51-0510-10214)
Department of Health (via National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)) (NF-SI-0513-10151)
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) (11-01-GEN)
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) (WP12-01)
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (NF-SI-0512-10165)
Department of Health (via National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)) (NIHR BTRU-2014-10024)
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) (146281)
British Heart Foundation (CH/12/2/29428)
Medical Research Council (MR/P02811X/1)
European Commission and European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) FP7 Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) (116074)
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) (BRC)
Medical Research Council (MR/P013880/1)
Ume� University (unknown)
European Commission (279143)
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) (BRC 2012-2017)
British Heart Foundation (None)
Medical Research Council (MR/L003120/1)
European Commission (279233)
European Research Council (268834)
MRC (MR/J015709/1)
MRC (MR/J006602/1)
MRC (MR/J006599/1)
Medical Research Council (MR/M012816/1)
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) (146281)
British Heart Foundation (RG/16/4/32218)
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) (3819-1617-25)
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) (3819-1516-29)
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) (unknown)
British Heart Foundation (None)
Medical Research Council (G0800270)
European Commission (257082)
CCF (None)
Wellcome Trust (091310/Z/10/Z)
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Helmholtz Zentrum München–Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt, National Research Institutions, NHS Blood and Transplant, National Institute for Health Research, British Heart Foundation, European Commission, European Research Council, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, and UK Medical Research Council.