Genetics of Reproductive Life Period and Health Outcomes

说明(由申请人提供)：生育期的开始和结束是影响妇女晚年健康的主要因素。初潮年龄和绝经年龄影响不良健康结局的风险，包括骨质疏松症、心血管疾病和乳腺癌。需要进一步的科学研究来阐明更年期和生殖因素与衰老本身对女性晚年常见健康状况的影响。月经初潮和绝经年龄的变化有一半以上可归因于遗传因素，但控制这些特征的基因在很大程度上仍不清楚。来自纵向研究的数据，如弗雷明翰心脏研究(FHS)，提供了成年后的丰富数据，包括生殖因素、疾病发生率和男性和女性的健康行为。FHS是多代人的，包括一个广泛的遗传学数据库，其中包括通过NHLBI的SNP健康协会资源(SHARE)项目获得的55万全基因组扫描的现有基因分型。我们假设，影响月经初潮年龄和自然绝经的新的遗传变异可以通过密集的全基因组关联研究(GWAS)来识别。这项建议有以下具体目的：目的1.利用现有的550K基因分型数据，通过GWA型来确定影响月经初潮年龄和自然绝经年龄的遗传变异。以电子方式复制独立样品中的重要关联。目的2.在女性和男性中，研究AIM 1中确定的基因变异与使用双重X射线吸收测量法(DXA)和手部X光测量法获得的骨质疏松相关特征之间的相关性。目的3.利用与生殖衰老相关的基因类型进行表型扫描，以确定其他相关的表型，这可能为调节女性这种关联的潜在生物学机制提供更多的见解。也将对男性进行表型组扫描，以探索性别之间的联系。550K基因分型的使用将是资源有效的，我们的工作将通过位于NCBI的FHS Share项目公开，从而允许世界各地的研究人员开始这项研究。这个项目的见解可能导致发现与女性生殖老化和相关健康结果有关的基因，进而导致创新的诊断和治疗干预措施，以改善妇女的整体健康，并可能改善男性的整体健康。公共卫生相关性：该项目可能导致发现与女性生殖衰老(月经初潮和更年期)相关的基因，并反过来提供对导致女性晚年重要健康状况的病理生理机制的见解。所获得的知识可能导致创新的诊断和治疗干预措施，以改善妇女的整体健康，并可能改善男子的整体健康。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The onset and conclusion of the reproductive life period are central factors influencing women's health later in life. Age at menarche and menopausal age affect risk for adverse health outcomes including osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and breast cancer. Further scientific study is needed to elucidate the contribution of menopause and reproductive factors versus aging per se to health conditions common in women in later life. More than half the variation in age at menarche and menopause is attributable to genetic factors yet the genes regulating these traits remain largely unknown. Data from longitudinal studies, such as the Framingham Heart Study (FHS), provide a wealth of data across adulthood including reproductive factors, disease occurrence, and health behaviors in both women and men. The FHS is multigenerational and includes an extensive genetics database with extant genotyping from a 550K genome-wide scan obtained through the NHLBI's SNP Health Association Resource (SHARe) project. We postulate that novel genetic variants influencing the age of menarche and natural menopause can be identified using a dense genome-wide association study (GWAS). This proposal has the following specific aims: Aim 1. To identify genetic variants that influence age at menarche and age at natural menopause through a GWAS using extant 550K genotyping data. To perform in silico replication of significant associations in independent samples. Aim 2. To examine the associations between genetic variants identified in aim 1 and osteoporosis-related traits obtained using dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and hand radiogrammetry, in women as well as in men. Aim 3. To perform a phenome scan using the genotypes associated with reproductive aging to identify other associated phenotypes that may provide additional insights into underlying biological mechanisms mediating the associations in women. The phenome scan will also be performed in men to explore sex-specific associations. The use of the 550K genotyping will be resource effective and our work will be publicly available through the FHS SHARe Project located at the NCBI permitting investigators around the world to embark on this research. Insights from this project may lead to the discovery of genes related to female reproductive aging and associated health outcomes and in turn lead to innovative diagnostic and therapeutic interventions to improve the overall health of women and possibly of men. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This project may lead to the discovery of genes related to female reproductive aging (menarche and menopause) and in turn provide insights into the pathophysiologic mechanisms leading to important health conditions later in life in women. Knowledge gained may lead to innovative diagnostic and therapeutic interventions to improve the overall health of women and possibly of men.