Shared genetic architecture between stroke and blood lipids: a large-scale genome-wide cross-trait analysis

Abstract Background Blood lipid levels are linked to stroke risk, but the genetic correlation between blood lipids and stroke is not well understood. We investigated the shared genetic architecture between blood lipids and stroke, including its subtypes, identifying common risk loci, genes, and unde...

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Main Authors: Wenya Bai, Guilin Zhou, Huan Jiang, Xuelian Li, Jianlin Shao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Human Genomics
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40246-025-00789-8
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author Wenya Bai
Guilin Zhou
Huan Jiang
Xuelian Li
Jianlin Shao
author_facet Wenya Bai
Guilin Zhou
Huan Jiang
Xuelian Li
Jianlin Shao
author_sort Wenya Bai
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Blood lipid levels are linked to stroke risk, but the genetic correlation between blood lipids and stroke is not well understood. We investigated the shared genetic architecture between blood lipids and stroke, including its subtypes, identifying common risk loci, genes, and underlying genetic mechanisms. Methods Utilizing large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data, we identified genetic overlap between blood lipid levels and stroke. Cross-trait pleiotropic analysis was conducted to detect shared pleiotropic loci and genes. The statistical methods employed encompassed linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC), stratified-LDSC (s-LDSC), heritability estimation from summary statistics (rho-HESS), pleiotropic analysis under composite null hypothesis (PLACO), cross-trait meta-analyses, colocalization analysis, multi-marker analysis of genomic annotation (MAGMA), tissue-specific enrichment analysis (TSEA), and transcriptome-wide association studies (TWASs). Bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was employed to explore causal associations. Results Our research highlights the shared genetic mechanisms between stroke and blood lipid levels. We identified 147 pleiotropic loci at a genome-wide significance level (P < 5 × 10–8). Further gene-level analysis identified 10 unique pleiotropic genes shared by stroke and lipid traits, including CUX2, SH2B3, and ICA1L. Cross-trait meta-analysis identified 28 loci, with colocalization analysis revealing two unique pleiotropic genes, PPTPN11 and SH2B3, significantly enriched in adipose, musculoskeletal, and brain tissues. Two-sample MR analysis indicated that higher HDL-C levels were associated with reduced risks of stroke and IS, while elevated TG levels increased IS risk. In a transcriptome-wide association study, we identified one previously unreported pleiotropic gene (ALDH2). Conclusions Our research revealed a common genetic architecture between stroke and blood lipid levels, highlighting potential genetic pathways involved in both conditions.
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spelling doaj-art-b03b99538a7041f9a97656ed8538db522025-08-20T03:03:37ZengBMCHuman Genomics1479-73642025-07-0119111610.1186/s40246-025-00789-8Shared genetic architecture between stroke and blood lipids: a large-scale genome-wide cross-trait analysisWenya Bai0Guilin Zhou1Huan Jiang2Xuelian Li3Jianlin Shao4Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical UniversityDepartment of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical UniversityDepartment of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical UniversityDepartment of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical UniversityDepartment of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical UniversityAbstract Background Blood lipid levels are linked to stroke risk, but the genetic correlation between blood lipids and stroke is not well understood. We investigated the shared genetic architecture between blood lipids and stroke, including its subtypes, identifying common risk loci, genes, and underlying genetic mechanisms. Methods Utilizing large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data, we identified genetic overlap between blood lipid levels and stroke. Cross-trait pleiotropic analysis was conducted to detect shared pleiotropic loci and genes. The statistical methods employed encompassed linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC), stratified-LDSC (s-LDSC), heritability estimation from summary statistics (rho-HESS), pleiotropic analysis under composite null hypothesis (PLACO), cross-trait meta-analyses, colocalization analysis, multi-marker analysis of genomic annotation (MAGMA), tissue-specific enrichment analysis (TSEA), and transcriptome-wide association studies (TWASs). Bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was employed to explore causal associations. Results Our research highlights the shared genetic mechanisms between stroke and blood lipid levels. We identified 147 pleiotropic loci at a genome-wide significance level (P < 5 × 10–8). Further gene-level analysis identified 10 unique pleiotropic genes shared by stroke and lipid traits, including CUX2, SH2B3, and ICA1L. Cross-trait meta-analysis identified 28 loci, with colocalization analysis revealing two unique pleiotropic genes, PPTPN11 and SH2B3, significantly enriched in adipose, musculoskeletal, and brain tissues. Two-sample MR analysis indicated that higher HDL-C levels were associated with reduced risks of stroke and IS, while elevated TG levels increased IS risk. In a transcriptome-wide association study, we identified one previously unreported pleiotropic gene (ALDH2). Conclusions Our research revealed a common genetic architecture between stroke and blood lipid levels, highlighting potential genetic pathways involved in both conditions.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40246-025-00789-8StrokeBlood lipid levelGenetic correlationPleiotropyGenome-wide association studyShared genetics
spellingShingle Wenya Bai
Guilin Zhou
Huan Jiang
Xuelian Li
Jianlin Shao
Shared genetic architecture between stroke and blood lipids: a large-scale genome-wide cross-trait analysis
Human Genomics
Stroke
Blood lipid level
Genetic correlation
Pleiotropy
Genome-wide association study
Shared genetics
title Shared genetic architecture between stroke and blood lipids: a large-scale genome-wide cross-trait analysis
title_full Shared genetic architecture between stroke and blood lipids: a large-scale genome-wide cross-trait analysis
title_fullStr Shared genetic architecture between stroke and blood lipids: a large-scale genome-wide cross-trait analysis
title_full_unstemmed Shared genetic architecture between stroke and blood lipids: a large-scale genome-wide cross-trait analysis
title_short Shared genetic architecture between stroke and blood lipids: a large-scale genome-wide cross-trait analysis
title_sort shared genetic architecture between stroke and blood lipids a large scale genome wide cross trait analysis
topic Stroke
Blood lipid level
Genetic correlation
Pleiotropy
Genome-wide association study
Shared genetics
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40246-025-00789-8
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