IRAS FAMILY STUDY--MOLECULAR GENETICS

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Insulin resistance is an important risk factor for atherosclerosis. Insulin resistance varies widely within populations, and substantial evidence indicates that much of this variation can be attributed to genetic sources. Visceral adiposity, another important atherosclerosis risk factor, is strongly correlated with insulin resistance, and this trait also appears to be under substantial genetic control. The overall goals of the proposed research project are to: 1) identify the genetic determinants of insulin resistance and visceral adiposity; and 2) determine the extent to which insulin resistance, visceral adiposity, and metabolic cardiovascular disease risk factors share common genetic influences. To address these goals, we will enroll 160 families of African-American and Hispanic background who are participating in the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study (IRAS). Approximately 1280 additional family members will be recruited. Insulin resistance will be measured using the frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test, and visceral adiposity will be measured using computed tomography. A panel of other metabolic cardiovascular disease risk factors will also be assessed. A panel of 370 microsatellite markers will be genotyped from DNA, and a genome-wide scan will be performed at the Mammalian Genotyping Service to detect chromosomal regions containing loci that influence phenotypic variation. We will then saturate the regions of linkage identified in these analyses with additional markers and will then perform linkage disequilibrium analyses in effort to localize further the putative loci. The organization of this study will be similar to that of IRAS, with three clinical centers, a coordinating center, a central laboratory and a genetics laboratory. This Molecular Genetics component of the study will (1) carry out genomic DNA isolation and quality control, (2) fill significant gaps and correct errors in data from the whole genome screen, and (3) carry out detailed analysis of chromosome regions which show evidence for linkage. This project will contribute substantially to our understanding of the genetic determinants of insulin sensitivity, and consequently to risk of atherosclerosis.