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Genomic analyses identify hundreds of variants associated with age at menarche and support a role for puberty timing in cancer risk

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Day, FR 
Thompson, DJ 
Helgason, H 
Chasman, DI 
Finucane, H 

Abstract

The timing of puberty is a highly polygenic childhood trait that is epidemiologically associated with various adult diseases. Using 1000 Genomes Project–imputed genotype data in up to ~370,000 women, we identify 389 independent signals (P < 5 × 10−8) for age at menarche, a milestone in female pubertal development. In Icelandic data, these signals explain ~7.4% of the population variance in age at menarche, corresponding to ~25% of the estimated heritability. We implicate ~250 genes via coding variation or associated expression, demonstrating significant enrichment in neural tissues. Rare variants near the imprinted genes MKRN3 and DLK1 were identified, exhibiting large effects when paternally inherited. Mendelian randomization analyses suggest causal inverse associations, independent of body mass index (BMI), between puberty timing and risks for breast and endometrial cancers in women and prostate cancer in men. In aggregate, our findings highlight the complexity of the genetic regulation of puberty timing and support causal links with cancer susceptibility.

Description

Keywords

cancer, genome-wide association studies, reproductive disorders

Journal Title

Nature Genetics

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1061-4036
1546-1718

Volume Title

Publisher

Nature Publishing Group
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12015/2)
Cancer Research Uk (None)
Cancer Research Uk (None)
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12015/1)
MRC (unknown)
Medical Research Council (G1000143)
Cancer Research Uk (None)
MRC (MC_PC_13048)
Cancer Research UK (16565)
Medical Research Council (G0401527)
Department of Health (via National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)) (NF-SI-0512-10135)
MRC (MC_PC_13046)
Medical Research Council (MR/N003284/1)
Medical Research Council (MC_EX_MR/L100002/1)
European Commission Horizon 2020 (H2020) Societal Challenges (633784)