Association between Polygenetic Risk Scores of Low Immunity and Interactions between These Scores and Moderate Fat Intake in a Large Cohort.

Sunmin Park,Suna Kang

doi:10.3390/nu13082849

Abstract

White blood cell (WBC) counts represent overall immunity. However, a few studies have been conducted to explore the genetic impacts of immunity and their interaction with lifestyles. We aimed to identify genetic variants associated with a low-WBC risk and document interactions between polygenetic risk scores (PRS), lifestyle factors, and nutrient intakes that influence low-WBC risk in a large hospital-based cohort. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected by genome-wide association study of participants with a low-WBC count (<4 × 109/L, n = 4176; low-WBC group) or with a normal WBC count (≥4 × 109/L, n = 36,551; control group). The best model for gene-gene interactions was selected by generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction. PRS was generated by summing selected SNP risk alleles of the best genetic model. Adjusted odds ratio (ORs) of the low-WBC group were 1.467 (1.219–1.765) for cancer incidence risk and 0.458 (0.385–0.545) for metabolic syndrome risk. Vitamin D intake, plant-based diet, and regular exercise were positively related to the low-WBC group, but smoking and alcohol intake showed an inverse association. The 7 SNPs included in the best genetic model were PSMD3_rs9898547, LCT_rs80157389, HLA-DRB1_rs532162239 and rs3097649, HLA-C rs2308575, CDKN1A_rs3176337 and THRA_rs7502539. PRS with 7 SNP model were positively associated with the low-WBC risk by 2.123-fold (1.741 to 2.589). PRS interacted with fat intake and regular exercise but not with other nutrient intakes or lifestyles. The proportion with the low WBC in the participants with high-PRS was lower among those with moderate-fat intake and regular exercise than those with low-fat intake and no exercise. In conclusion, adults with high-PRS had a higher risk of a low WBC count, and they needed to be advised to have moderate fat intake (20–25 energy percent) and regular exercise.

Highlights

The immune system is composed of innate and adaptive immunity systems
Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for genders were inversely associated with White blood cells (WBC) counts after adjusting for metabolic syndrome (MetS)-related parameters, indicating men were inversely associated with the low-WBC risk (Table 1)
Cancer incidence was higher in the low-WBC group than in the other groups, and adjusted ORs were positively associated with WBC count by 1.467-fold

Summary

Introduction

The immune system is composed of innate and adaptive immunity systems. When foreign materials and pathogens enter the body, innate immunity is activated, and adaptive immunity is subsequently initiated. Immune exhaustion renders the individual susceptible to infection, certain cancers and sepsis, whereas its overactivation is associated with autoimmune diseases. White blood cells (WBC), called leukocytes, are responsible for innate and adaptive immunity [2]. WBCs protect the body against bacterial and viral infections and are more strongly linked to the innate immune system [3]. Mast cells, macrophages, eosinophils, basophils, neutrophils, and dendritic cells are components of the innate immune system, whereas other less numerous WBC, including B and T cells, are components of the adaptive immune

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