Genome wide association analysis in dilated cardiomyopathy revealed two new susceptibility loci for systolic heart failure

Abstract

Abstract We conducted the largest Genome Wide Association Study performed so far in Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM), a leading cause of systolic heart failure and cardiovascular death. Using a discovery phase of 2,719 cases and 4,440 controls and a replication phase of 584 independent cases and 966 controls, we identified and replicated two new DCM-associated loci, one on chromosome 3p (meta-analysis OR = 1.36 [1.25 - 1.48], p=5.3 10–13) and the second on chromosome 22q (meta-analysis OR = 1.33 [1.22 - 1.46], p=5.0 10–10), while confirming the two previously identified DCM loci on chromosome 10 and 1, BAG3 and HSPB7. We estimated the global heritability to 31% ± 8%. The genetic risk score constructed from the number of lead risk-alleles at these 4 loci revealed a 27% risk increased in individuals with 8 risk-alleles compared to the 5 risk alleles reference group (OR = 1.27 [1.14–1.42]). The two association signals were then fine-mapped by combining in silico and functional genomics investigations (as 4C-sequencing on iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes). While a few genes remain candidates at the second locus and deserve further investigations, our work clearly identified one gene as responsible for the association at the first locus whose role in the pathophysiology of DCM is supported by recent observations in human and mice. As the biological pathway in which this gene is involved is a potential target for pharmacological agents, our finding opens novel therapeutic perspectives for treating or preventing heart failure. We are convinced that these results provide new findings that add both on the understanding of the genetic architecture of heart failure and on potential new players involved in the pathophysiology of this devastating disease. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): GENMED Laboratory of Excellence on Medical Genomics, DETECTIN-HF project (ERA-CVD framework), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Délégation à la recherche clinique, the “Fondation LEDUCQ”, the PROMEX charitable foundation, the Société Française de Cardiologie/Fédération Française de Cardiologie, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, The Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Social Ministry of the Federal State of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, The German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Hospitals NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, NWO VENI grant (no. 016.176.136)