Sub-cellular level resolution of common genetic variation in the photoreceptor layer identifies continuum between rare disease and common variation.

Photoreceptor cells (PRCs) are the light-detecting cells of the retina. Such cells can be non-invasively imaged using optical coherence tomography (OCT) which is used in clinical settings to diagnose and monitor ocular diseases. Here we present the largest genome-wide association study of PRC morpho...

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Main Authors: Hannah Currant, Tomas W Fitzgerald, Praveen J Patel, Anthony P Khawaja, UK Biobank Eye and Vision Consortium, Andrew R Webster, Omar A Mahroo, Ewan Birney
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2023-02-01
Series:PLoS Genetics
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1010587&type=printable
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author Hannah Currant
Tomas W Fitzgerald
Praveen J Patel
Anthony P Khawaja
UK Biobank Eye and Vision Consortium
Andrew R Webster
Omar A Mahroo
Ewan Birney
author_facet Hannah Currant
Tomas W Fitzgerald
Praveen J Patel
Anthony P Khawaja
UK Biobank Eye and Vision Consortium
Andrew R Webster
Omar A Mahroo
Ewan Birney
author_sort Hannah Currant
collection DOAJ
description Photoreceptor cells (PRCs) are the light-detecting cells of the retina. Such cells can be non-invasively imaged using optical coherence tomography (OCT) which is used in clinical settings to diagnose and monitor ocular diseases. Here we present the largest genome-wide association study of PRC morphology to date utilising quantitative phenotypes extracted from OCT images within the UK Biobank. We discovered 111 loci associated with the thickness of one or more of the PRC layers, many of which had prior associations to ocular phenotypes and pathologies, and 27 with no prior associations. We further identified 10 genes associated with PRC thickness through gene burden testing using exome data. In both cases there was a significant enrichment for genes involved in rare eye pathologies, in particular retinitis pigmentosa. There was evidence for an interaction effect between common genetic variants, VSX2 involved in eye development and PRPH2 known to be involved in retinal dystrophies. We further identified a number of genetic variants with a differential effect across the macular spatial field. Our results suggest a continuum between common and rare variation which impacts retinal structure, sometimes leading to disease.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1553-7390
1553-7404
language English
publishDate 2023-02-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS Genetics
spelling doaj-art-cea33a204fb344ad9780126c38edef8b2025-08-20T03:25:19ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Genetics1553-73901553-74042023-02-01192e101058710.1371/journal.pgen.1010587Sub-cellular level resolution of common genetic variation in the photoreceptor layer identifies continuum between rare disease and common variation.Hannah CurrantTomas W FitzgeraldPraveen J PatelAnthony P KhawajaUK Biobank Eye and Vision ConsortiumAndrew R WebsterOmar A MahrooEwan BirneyPhotoreceptor cells (PRCs) are the light-detecting cells of the retina. Such cells can be non-invasively imaged using optical coherence tomography (OCT) which is used in clinical settings to diagnose and monitor ocular diseases. Here we present the largest genome-wide association study of PRC morphology to date utilising quantitative phenotypes extracted from OCT images within the UK Biobank. We discovered 111 loci associated with the thickness of one or more of the PRC layers, many of which had prior associations to ocular phenotypes and pathologies, and 27 with no prior associations. We further identified 10 genes associated with PRC thickness through gene burden testing using exome data. In both cases there was a significant enrichment for genes involved in rare eye pathologies, in particular retinitis pigmentosa. There was evidence for an interaction effect between common genetic variants, VSX2 involved in eye development and PRPH2 known to be involved in retinal dystrophies. We further identified a number of genetic variants with a differential effect across the macular spatial field. Our results suggest a continuum between common and rare variation which impacts retinal structure, sometimes leading to disease.https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1010587&type=printable
spellingShingle Hannah Currant
Tomas W Fitzgerald
Praveen J Patel
Anthony P Khawaja
UK Biobank Eye and Vision Consortium
Andrew R Webster
Omar A Mahroo
Ewan Birney
Sub-cellular level resolution of common genetic variation in the photoreceptor layer identifies continuum between rare disease and common variation.
PLoS Genetics
title Sub-cellular level resolution of common genetic variation in the photoreceptor layer identifies continuum between rare disease and common variation.
title_full Sub-cellular level resolution of common genetic variation in the photoreceptor layer identifies continuum between rare disease and common variation.
title_fullStr Sub-cellular level resolution of common genetic variation in the photoreceptor layer identifies continuum between rare disease and common variation.
title_full_unstemmed Sub-cellular level resolution of common genetic variation in the photoreceptor layer identifies continuum between rare disease and common variation.
title_short Sub-cellular level resolution of common genetic variation in the photoreceptor layer identifies continuum between rare disease and common variation.
title_sort sub cellular level resolution of common genetic variation in the photoreceptor layer identifies continuum between rare disease and common variation
url https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1010587&type=printable
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