Genome-wide meta-analysis implicates mediators of hair follicle development and morphogenesis in risk for severe acne

The Acne Genetic Study Group

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    38 Citations (Scopus)
    170 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Acne vulgaris is a highly heritable common, chronic inflammatory disease of the skin for which five genetic risk loci have so far been identified. Here, we perform a genome-wide association study of 3823 cases and 16,144 controls followed by meta-analysis with summary statistics from a previous study, with a total sample size of 26,722. We identify 20 independent association signals at 15 risk loci, 12 of which have not been previously implicated in the disease. Likely causal variants disrupt the coding region of WNT10A and a P63 transcription factor binding site in SEMA4B. Risk alleles at the 1q25 locus are associated with increased expression of LAMC2, in which biallelic loss-of-function mutations cause the blistering skin disease epidermolysis bullosa. These findings indicate that variation affecting the structure and maintenance of the skin, in particular the pilosebaceous unit, is a critical aspect of the genetic predisposition to severe acne.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number5075
    Number of pages8
    JournalNature Communications
    Volume9
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2018

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • General Chemistry
    • General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
    • General Physics and Astronomy

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