Title |
Differential Effects of Environmental and Genetic Factors on T and B Cell Immune Traits
|
---|---|
Published in |
Cell Reports, November 2016
|
DOI | 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.10.053 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Raul Aguirre-Gamboa, Irma Joosten, Paulo C.M. Urbano, Renate G. van der Molen, Esther van Rijssen, Bram van Cranenbroek, Marije Oosting, Sanne Smeekens, Martin Jaeger, Maria Zorro, Sebo Withoff, Antonius E. van Herwaarden, Fred C.G.J. Sweep, Romana T. Netea, Morris A. Swertz, Lude Franke, Ramnik J. Xavier, Leo A.B. Joosten, Mihai G. Netea, Cisca Wijmenga, Vinod Kumar, Yang Li, Hans J.P.M. Koenen |
Abstract |
Effective immunity requires a complex network of cellular and humoral components that interact with each other and are influenced by different environmental and host factors. We used a systems biology approach to comprehensively assess the impact of environmental and genetic factors on immune cell populations in peripheral blood, including associations with immunoglobulin concentrations, from ∼500 healthy volunteers from the Human Functional Genomics Project. Genetic heritability estimation showed that variations in T cell numbers are more strongly driven by genetic factors, while B cell counts are more environmentally influenced. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping identified eight independent genomic loci associated with leukocyte count variation, including four associations with T and B cell subtypes. The QTLs identified were enriched among genome-wide association study (GWAS) SNPs reported to increase susceptibility to immune-mediated diseases. Our systems approach provides insights into cellular and humoral immune trait variability in humans. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 7 | 29% |
Italy | 1 | 4% |
Mexico | 1 | 4% |
Brazil | 1 | 4% |
Australia | 1 | 4% |
Netherlands | 1 | 4% |
Malaysia | 1 | 4% |
El Salvador | 1 | 4% |
Unknown | 10 | 42% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 12 | 50% |
Scientists | 6 | 25% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 5 | 21% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 1 | 4% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 3 | 1% |
Spain | 2 | <1% |
Netherlands | 1 | <1% |
Mexico | 1 | <1% |
United States | 1 | <1% |
Unknown | 214 | 96% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 58 | 26% |
Researcher | 40 | 18% |
Student > Master | 19 | 9% |
Student > Bachelor | 16 | 7% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 13 | 6% |
Other | 32 | 14% |
Unknown | 44 | 20% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 49 | 22% |
Immunology and Microbiology | 35 | 16% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 34 | 15% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 25 | 11% |
Neuroscience | 7 | 3% |
Other | 14 | 6% |
Unknown | 58 | 26% |