Genomic view of bipolar disorder revealed by whole genome sequencing in a genetic isolate.

TitleGenomic view of bipolar disorder revealed by whole genome sequencing in a genetic isolate.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsGeorgi B, Craig D, Kember RL, Liu W, Lindquist I, Nasser S, Brown C, Egeland JA, Paul SM, Bućan M
JournalPLoS Genet
Volume10
Issue3
Paginatione1004229
Date Published2014 Mar
ISSN1553-7404
Abstract

Bipolar disorder is a common, heritable mental illness characterized by recurrent episodes of mania and depression. Despite considerable effort to elucidate the genetic underpinnings of bipolar disorder, causative genetic risk factors remain elusive. We conducted a comprehensive genomic analysis of bipolar disorder in a large Old Order Amish pedigree. Microsatellite genotypes and high-density SNP-array genotypes of 388 family members were combined with whole genome sequence data for 50 of these subjects, comprising 18 parent-child trios. This study design permitted evaluation of candidate variants within the context of haplotype structure by resolving the phase in sequenced parent-child trios and by imputation of variants into multiple unsequenced siblings. Non-parametric and parametric linkage analysis of the entire pedigree as well as on smaller clusters of families identified several nominally significant linkage peaks, each of which included dozens of predicted deleterious variants. Close inspection of exonic and regulatory variants in genes under the linkage peaks using family-based association tests revealed additional credible candidate genes for functional studies and further replication in population-based cohorts. However, despite the in-depth genomic characterization of this unique, large and multigenerational pedigree from a genetic isolate, there was no convergence of evidence implicating a particular set of risk loci or common pathways. The striking haplotype and locus heterogeneity we observed has profound implications for the design of studies of bipolar and other related disorders.

DOI10.1371/journal.pgen.1004229
Alternate JournalPLoS Genet.
PubMed ID24625924
PubMed Central IDPMC3953017
Grant ListR01 MH093415 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01MH093415 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States