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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BBFGEN (Genetic analysis of rare and common variation in a large Brazilian bipolar family)

Teaser

Summary

For this project we set out to improve understanding of the genetic underpinnings of mood disorders. For this we utilized a unique dataset comprising a large multigenerational family, the Brazilian Bipolar Family (BBF). This family not only exhibits high incidence of depression and bipolar disorders (approximately one third of family is affected) but also features diminishing age of onset over generations and assortative mating, whereby many of the marriages in the family are between individuals both affected with a psychiatric disorder. Mood disorders are severe and leading contributors to the global burden of disease. Bipolar disorder (BP) features periods of elevated mood and periods of depression, while major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by pervasive and persistent low mood, low self-esteem and loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities. Heritability estimates are ~40% for MDD and up to 80% for BP, indicating a large role for genetic vulnerability for developing mood disorders. The genetic architecture is thought to consist of both common and rare variants contributing risk. My objective was to unravel the role of both rare and common genetic variation within a family context with the ultimate goal of examining the interaction between both types of genetic risk variation. The BBF provides a unique opportunity for achieving this goal. Within this framework we carried out three main studies, where we first find rare genetic variation associated to mood disorders in the family through traditional linkage analysis. Subsequently, we define common genetic risk through polygenic risk score profiles; in essence summing the small risk over thousands of common alleles per individual. Our results suggest that affected individuals marrying into the family (assortative mating) introduce a higher load of common risk variants for psychiatric disorders on top of the rare risk variants already present. This also appears to increase the contribution of common genetic risk factors over generations, in parallel with the diminishing age of onset. Finally, this reversal of risk type over generations is visible when combining these two analyses in an integrative analysis.

Work performed

Work Package 1: Genotyping & Quality Control
About 330 DNA samples were quality controlled and organized in the BRC local genotyping facility. Of those, 321 high quality samples were prepared for hybridization, and genotyping chips were run. I quality controlled the raw genotype data extensively by removing sample and SNP outliers through utilization of a published pipeline (Coleman et al., 2015). The common and rare variants were quality controlled separately as they require different QC parameters. The algorithms in QuantiSNP and PennCNV were used to call copy number variants (CNVs). The CNV set was exposed to a rigorous quality control procedure, including the requirement of overlapping calls between algorithms. Raw genotype data was obtained and, after outlier removal and quality control, there was data for common variants, rare variants and copy number variants.

Work Package 2: Analysis of common variation
Linkage analysis was performed on Affy 10k linkage panel data. I performed a standard case control association analysis on the common variants from the quality-controlled sets in WP1 in order to identify variants more common in cases as compared to unaffected family members. Linkage analysis resulted in several whole genome significant and suggestive genomic regions associated with mood disorders. No common SNPs or CNVs on a genome wide level showed a higher frequency in mood disorders as compared to unaffected family members.

Work Package 3 (1): Analysis of Polygenic Risk Scores
I have obtained the latest summary statistics from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium through their secondary analysis proposal process. I have used these to generate polygenic risk scores for schizophrenia (SCZ), Bipolar disorder (BP) and Major Depressive disorder (MDD) on the family members. In addition, we formed additional collaborations in Brazil, in order to obtain a Brazilian control group. I have performed analyses using linear mixed models in ASREML-R for which I have devised a strategy in collaboration with Dr. Hall and Dr. Thomson. In addition, I had the opportunity to apply this polygenic risk score method within a local brain-imaging project also including bipolar patients and their family members. Affected individuals in the family show a higher polygenic risk for SCZ, BP and MDD. The results suggest an influx of common genetic risk via affected individuals marrying into the family (an effect of assortative mating). This increases the common genetic risk for psychiatric disorders over generations, in parallel with the anticipatory pattern observed for symptoms and age of onset in the family.

Work Package 3 (2): Integrative analysis linkage & PRS
The combination of rare and common genetic risk within a family context is a new concept. I have developed and tested several strategies for identifying family members contributing most to linkage analysis results, therefore most likely to carry a deleterious rare variant. For this, I have selected the most significant linkage peak on chromosome 2p from WP2 and the polygenic risk score showing the best discrimination between affected and unaffected family members from WP3.1, that for bipolar disorder. I have stratified analysis based on â€œlinkage statusâ€ on individuals. Preliminary results suggest the existence of a risk allele typed on the previous linkage panel and a protective haplotype identified on the new Illumina data. Stratification by this genotype status does not show an interaction with affection status and polygenic scores, but it does suggest that common risk becomes more important over generations.

Work package 4: Analysis of rare variation
The linkage analysis mentioned in WP2 identified several interesting genomic regions associated to mood disorders. I have investigated the information on the new high-resolution Illumina psych chip data for fine-mapping of this large regions. Outside of the previous relatively successful exome sequencing fine mapping approach I

Final results

The concept and methodological approach within this MSCA is unique in that common risk variation for psychiatric disorders as captured by polygenic risk scores has not been studied within a family context before. Integrating GWAS results from large case/control consortia back into family-based studies is innovative and will be applicable to other psychiatric phenotypes or complex phenotype datasets and thereby significantly progresses the state of the art. This has had direct impact on my career as a researcher, as I am now equipped to design and perform experiments using this unique strategy. The host institution has benefitted from transfer of knowledge, closer existing collaborations and new international research groups. The current project has provided insight in the genetics of mood disorders, this can aid in prevention and treatment resulting in a more efficient control of mood disorders, which is beneficial to patients, their loved ones and society as a whole.