TY - JOUR T1 - Genome-wide association meta-analysis of individuals of European ancestry identifies new loci explaining a substantial fraction of hair color variation and heritability. JF - Nat Genet Y1 - 2018 A1 - Hysi, Pirro G A1 - Valdes, Ana M A1 - Liu, Fan A1 - Furlotte, Nicholas A A1 - Evans, David M A1 - Bataille, Veronique A1 - Visconti, Alessia A1 - Hemani, Gibran A1 - McMahon, George A1 - Ring, Susan M A1 - Smith, George Davey A1 - Duffy, David L A1 - Zhu, Gu A1 - Gordon, Scott D A1 - Medland, Sarah E A1 - Lin, Bochao D A1 - Willemsen, Gonneke A1 - Jan Hottenga, Jouke A1 - Vuckovic, Dragana A1 - Girotto, Giorgia A1 - Gandin, Ilaria A1 - Sala, Cinzia A1 - Concas, Maria Pina A1 - Brumat, Marco A1 - Gasparini, Paolo A1 - Toniolo, Daniela A1 - Cocca, Massimiliano A1 - Robino, Antonietta A1 - Yazar, Seyhan A1 - Hewitt, Alex W A1 - Chen, Yan A1 - Zeng, Changqing A1 - Uitterlinden, André G A1 - Ikram, M Arfan A1 - Hamer, Merel A A1 - van Duijn, Cornelia M A1 - Nijsten, Tamar A1 - Mackey, David A A1 - Falchi, Mario A1 - Boomsma, Dorret I A1 - Martin, Nicholas G A1 - Hinds, David A A1 - Kayser, Manfred A1 - Spector, Timothy D AB -

Hair color is one of the most recognizable visual traits in European populations and is under strong genetic control. Here we report the results of a genome-wide association study meta-analysis of almost 300,000 participants of European descent. We identified 123 autosomal and one X-chromosome loci significantly associated with hair color; all but 13 are novel. Collectively, single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with hair color within these loci explain 34.6% of red hair, 24.8% of blond hair, and 26.1% of black hair heritability in the study populations. These results confirm the polygenic nature of complex phenotypes and improve our understanding of melanin pigment metabolism in humans.

VL - 50 IS - 5 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29662168?dopt=Abstract ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Genomic analyses identify hundreds of variants associated with age at menarche and support a role for puberty timing in cancer risk. JF - Nat Genet Y1 - 2017 A1 - Day, Felix R A1 - Thompson, Deborah J A1 - Helgason, Hannes A1 - Chasman, Daniel I A1 - Finucane, Hilary A1 - Sulem, Patrick A1 - Ruth, Katherine S A1 - Whalen, Sean A1 - Sarkar, Abhishek K A1 - Albrecht, Eva A1 - Altmaier, Elisabeth A1 - Amini, Marzyeh A1 - Barbieri, Caterina M A1 - Boutin, Thibaud A1 - Campbell, Archie A1 - Demerath, Ellen A1 - Giri, Ayush A1 - He, Chunyan A1 - Hottenga, Jouke J A1 - Karlsson, Robert A1 - Kolcic, Ivana A1 - Loh, Po-Ru A1 - Lunetta, Kathryn L A1 - Mangino, Massimo A1 - Marco, Brumat A1 - McMahon, George A1 - Medland, Sarah E A1 - Nolte, Ilja M A1 - Noordam, Raymond A1 - Nutile, Teresa A1 - Paternoster, Lavinia A1 - Perjakova, Natalia A1 - Porcu, Eleonora A1 - Rose, Lynda M A1 - Schraut, Katharina E A1 - Segrè, Ayellet V A1 - Smith, Albert V A1 - Stolk, Lisette A1 - Teumer, Alexander A1 - Andrulis, Irene L A1 - Bandinelli, Stefania A1 - Beckmann, Matthias W A1 - Benitez, Javier A1 - Bergmann, Sven A1 - Bochud, Murielle A1 - Boerwinkle, Eric A1 - Bojesen, Stig E A1 - Bolla, Manjeet K A1 - Brand, Judith S A1 - Brauch, Hiltrud A1 - Brenner, Hermann A1 - Broer, Linda A1 - Brüning, Thomas A1 - Buring, Julie E A1 - Campbell, Harry A1 - Catamo, Eulalia A1 - Chanock, Stephen A1 - Chenevix-Trench, Georgia A1 - Corre, Tanguy A1 - Couch, Fergus J A1 - Cousminer, Diana L A1 - Cox, Angela A1 - Crisponi, Laura A1 - Czene, Kamila A1 - Davey Smith, George A1 - de Geus, Eco J C N A1 - de Mutsert, Renée A1 - De Vivo, Immaculata A1 - Dennis, Joe A1 - Devilee, Peter A1 - Dos-Santos-Silva, Isabel A1 - Dunning, Alison M A1 - Eriksson, Johan G A1 - Fasching, Peter A A1 - Fernández-Rhodes, Lindsay A1 - Ferrucci, Luigi A1 - Flesch-Janys, Dieter A1 - Franke, Lude A1 - Gabrielson, Marike A1 - Gandin, Ilaria A1 - Giles, Graham G A1 - Grallert, Harald A1 - Gudbjartsson, Daniel F A1 - Guenel, Pascal A1 - Hall, Per A1 - Hallberg, Emily A1 - Hamann, Ute A1 - Harris, Tamara B A1 - Hartman, Catharina A A1 - Heiss, Gerardo A1 - Hooning, Maartje J A1 - Hopper, John L A1 - Hu, Frank A1 - Hunter, David J A1 - Ikram, M Arfan A1 - Im, Hae Kyung A1 - Järvelin, Marjo-Riitta A1 - Joshi, Peter K A1 - Karasik, David A1 - Kellis, Manolis A1 - Kutalik, Zoltán A1 - LaChance, Genevieve A1 - Lambrechts, Diether A1 - Langenberg, Claudia A1 - Launer, Lenore J A1 - Laven, Joop S E A1 - Lenarduzzi, Stefania A1 - Li, Jingmei A1 - Lind, Penelope A A1 - Lindström, Sara A1 - Liu, Yongmei A1 - Luan, Jian'an A1 - Mägi, Reedik A1 - Mannermaa, Arto A1 - Mbarek, Hamdi A1 - McCarthy, Mark I A1 - Meisinger, Christa A1 - Meitinger, Thomas A1 - Menni, Cristina A1 - Metspalu, Andres A1 - Michailidou, Kyriaki A1 - Milani, Lili A1 - Milne, Roger L A1 - Montgomery, Grant W A1 - Mulligan, Anna M A1 - Nalls, Mike A A1 - Navarro, Pau A1 - Nevanlinna, Heli A1 - Nyholt, Dale R A1 - Oldehinkel, Albertine J A1 - O'Mara, Tracy A A1 - Padmanabhan, Sandosh A1 - Palotie, Aarno A1 - Pedersen, Nancy A1 - Peters, Annette A1 - Peto, Julian A1 - Pharoah, Paul D P A1 - Pouta, Anneli A1 - Radice, Paolo A1 - Rahman, Iffat A1 - Ring, Susan M A1 - Robino, Antonietta A1 - Rosendaal, Frits R A1 - Rudan, Igor A1 - Rueedi, Rico A1 - Ruggiero, Daniela A1 - Sala, Cinzia F A1 - Schmidt, Marjanka K A1 - Scott, Robert A A1 - Shah, Mitul A1 - Sorice, Rossella A1 - Southey, Melissa C A1 - Sovio, Ulla A1 - Stampfer, Meir A1 - Steri, Maristella A1 - Strauch, Konstantin A1 - Tanaka, Toshiko A1 - Tikkanen, Emmi A1 - Timpson, Nicholas J A1 - Traglia, Michela A1 - Truong, Therese A1 - Tyrer, Jonathan P A1 - Uitterlinden, André G A1 - Edwards, Digna R Velez A1 - Vitart, Veronique A1 - Völker, Uwe A1 - Vollenweider, Peter A1 - Wang, Qin A1 - Widen, Elisabeth A1 - van Dijk, Ko Willems A1 - Willemsen, Gonneke A1 - Winqvist, Robert A1 - Wolffenbuttel, Bruce H R A1 - Zhao, Jing Hua A1 - Zoledziewska, Magdalena A1 - Zygmunt, Marek A1 - Alizadeh, Behrooz Z A1 - Boomsma, Dorret I A1 - Ciullo, Marina A1 - Cucca, Francesco A1 - Esko, Tõnu A1 - Franceschini, Nora A1 - Gieger, Christian A1 - Gudnason, Vilmundur A1 - Hayward, Caroline A1 - Kraft, Peter A1 - Lawlor, Debbie A A1 - Magnusson, Patrik K E A1 - Martin, Nicholas G A1 - Mook-Kanamori, Dennis O A1 - Nohr, Ellen A A1 - Polasek, Ozren A1 - Porteous, David A1 - Price, Alkes L A1 - Ridker, Paul M A1 - Snieder, Harold A1 - Spector, Tim D A1 - Stöckl, Doris A1 - Toniolo, Daniela A1 - Ulivi, Sheila A1 - Visser, Jenny A A1 - Völzke, Henry A1 - Wareham, Nicholas J A1 - Wilson, James F A1 - Spurdle, Amanda B A1 - Thorsteindottir, Unnur A1 - Pollard, Katherine S A1 - Easton, Douglas F A1 - Tung, Joyce Y A1 - Chang-Claude, Jenny A1 - Hinds, David A1 - Murray, Anna A1 - Murabito, Joanne M A1 - Stefansson, Kari A1 - Ong, Ken K A1 - Perry, John R B KW - Adolescent KW - Age Factors KW - Body Mass Index KW - Databases, Genetic KW - Female KW - Genetic Predisposition to Disease KW - Genome-Wide Association Study KW - Genomic Imprinting KW - Humans KW - Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins KW - Male KW - Membrane Proteins KW - Menarche KW - Neoplasms KW - Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide KW - Puberty KW - Quantitative Trait Loci KW - Ribonucleoproteins KW - Risk Factors AB -

The timing of puberty is a highly polygenic childhood trait that is epidemiologically associated with various adult diseases. Using 1000 Genomes Project-imputed genotype data in up to ∼370,000 women, we identify 389 independent signals (P < 5 × 10) for age at menarche, a milestone in female pubertal development. In Icelandic data, these signals explain ∼7.4% of the population variance in age at menarche, corresponding to ∼25% of the estimated heritability. We implicate ∼250 genes via coding variation or associated expression, demonstrating significant enrichment in neural tissues. Rare variants near the imprinted genes MKRN3 and DLK1 were identified, exhibiting large effects when paternally inherited. Mendelian randomization analyses suggest causal inverse associations, independent of body mass index (BMI), between puberty timing and risks for breast and endometrial cancers in women and prostate cancer in men. In aggregate, our findings highlight the complexity of the genetic regulation of puberty timing and support causal links with cancer susceptibility.

VL - 49 IS - 6 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28436984?dopt=Abstract ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Genome-wide association study identifies 74 loci associated with educational attainment. JF - Nature Y1 - 2016 A1 - Okbay, Aysu A1 - Beauchamp, Jonathan P A1 - Fontana, Mark Alan A1 - Lee, James J A1 - Pers, Tune H A1 - Rietveld, Cornelius A A1 - Turley, Patrick A1 - Chen, Guo-Bo A1 - Emilsson, Valur A1 - Meddens, S Fleur W A1 - Oskarsson, Sven A1 - Pickrell, Joseph K A1 - Thom, Kevin A1 - Timshel, Pascal A1 - de Vlaming, Ronald A1 - Abdellaoui, Abdel A1 - Ahluwalia, Tarunveer S A1 - Bacelis, Jonas A1 - Baumbach, Clemens A1 - Bjornsdottir, Gyda A1 - Brandsma, Johannes H A1 - Pina Concas, Maria A1 - Derringer, Jaime A1 - Furlotte, Nicholas A A1 - Galesloot, Tessel E A1 - Girotto, Giorgia A1 - Gupta, Richa A1 - Hall, Leanne M A1 - Harris, Sarah E A1 - Hofer, Edith A1 - Horikoshi, Momoko A1 - Huffman, Jennifer E A1 - Kaasik, Kadri A1 - Kalafati, Ioanna P A1 - Karlsson, Robert A1 - Kong, Augustine A1 - Lahti, Jari A1 - van der Lee, Sven J A1 - deLeeuw, Christiaan A1 - Lind, Penelope A A1 - Lindgren, Karl-Oskar A1 - Liu, Tian A1 - Mangino, Massimo A1 - Marten, Jonathan A1 - Mihailov, Evelin A1 - Miller, Michael B A1 - van der Most, Peter J A1 - Oldmeadow, Christopher A1 - Payton, Antony A1 - Pervjakova, Natalia A1 - Peyrot, Wouter J A1 - Qian, Yong A1 - Raitakari, Olli A1 - Rueedi, Rico A1 - Salvi, Erika A1 - Schmidt, Börge A1 - Schraut, Katharina E A1 - Shi, Jianxin A1 - Smith, Albert V A1 - Poot, Raymond A A1 - St Pourcain, Beate A1 - Teumer, Alexander A1 - Thorleifsson, Gudmar A1 - Verweij, Niek A1 - Vuckovic, Dragana A1 - Wellmann, Juergen A1 - Westra, Harm-Jan A1 - Yang, Jingyun A1 - Zhao, Wei A1 - Zhu, Zhihong A1 - Alizadeh, Behrooz Z A1 - Amin, Najaf A1 - Bakshi, Andrew A1 - Baumeister, Sebastian E A1 - Biino, Ginevra A1 - Bønnelykke, Klaus A1 - Boyle, Patricia A A1 - Campbell, Harry A1 - Cappuccio, Francesco P A1 - Davies, Gail A1 - De Neve, Jan-Emmanuel A1 - Deloukas, Panos A1 - Demuth, Ilja A1 - Ding, Jun A1 - Eibich, Peter A1 - Eisele, Lewin A1 - Eklund, Niina A1 - Evans, David M A1 - Faul, Jessica D A1 - Feitosa, Mary F A1 - Forstner, Andreas J A1 - Gandin, Ilaria A1 - Gunnarsson, Bjarni A1 - Halldórsson, Bjarni V A1 - Harris, Tamara B A1 - Heath, Andrew C A1 - Hocking, Lynne J A1 - Holliday, Elizabeth G A1 - Homuth, Georg A1 - Horan, Michael A A1 - Hottenga, Jouke-Jan A1 - de Jager, Philip L A1 - Joshi, Peter K A1 - Jugessur, Astanand A1 - Kaakinen, Marika A A1 - Kähönen, Mika A1 - Kanoni, Stavroula A1 - Keltigangas-Järvinen, Liisa A1 - Kiemeney, Lambertus A L M A1 - Kolcic, Ivana A1 - Koskinen, Seppo A1 - Kraja, Aldi T A1 - Kroh, Martin A1 - Kutalik, Zoltán A1 - Latvala, Antti A1 - Launer, Lenore J A1 - Lebreton, Maël P A1 - Levinson, Douglas F A1 - Lichtenstein, Paul A1 - Lichtner, Peter A1 - Liewald, David C M A1 - Loukola, Anu A1 - Madden, Pamela A A1 - Mägi, Reedik A1 - Mäki-Opas, Tomi A1 - Marioni, Riccardo E A1 - Marques-Vidal, Pedro A1 - Meddens, Gerardus A A1 - McMahon, George A1 - Meisinger, Christa A1 - Meitinger, Thomas A1 - Milaneschi, Yusplitri A1 - Milani, Lili A1 - Montgomery, Grant W A1 - Myhre, Ronny A1 - Nelson, Christopher P A1 - Nyholt, Dale R A1 - Ollier, William E R A1 - Palotie, Aarno A1 - Paternoster, Lavinia A1 - Pedersen, Nancy L A1 - Petrovic, Katja E A1 - Porteous, David J A1 - Räikkönen, Katri A1 - Ring, Susan M A1 - Robino, Antonietta A1 - Rostapshova, Olga A1 - Rudan, Igor A1 - Rustichini, Aldo A1 - Salomaa, Veikko A1 - Sanders, Alan R A1 - Sarin, Antti-Pekka A1 - Schmidt, Helena A1 - Scott, Rodney J A1 - Smith, Blair H A1 - Smith, Jennifer A A1 - Staessen, Jan A A1 - Steinhagen-Thiessen, Elisabeth A1 - Strauch, Konstantin A1 - Terracciano, Antonio A1 - Tobin, Martin D A1 - Ulivi, Sheila A1 - Vaccargiu, Simona A1 - Quaye, Lydia A1 - van Rooij, Frank J A A1 - Venturini, Cristina A1 - Vinkhuyzen, Anna A E A1 - Völker, Uwe A1 - Völzke, Henry A1 - Vonk, Judith M A1 - Vozzi, Diego A1 - Waage, Johannes A1 - Ware, Erin B A1 - Willemsen, Gonneke A1 - Attia, John R A1 - Bennett, David A A1 - Berger, Klaus A1 - Bertram, Lars A1 - Bisgaard, Hans A1 - Boomsma, Dorret I A1 - Borecki, Ingrid B A1 - Bültmann, Ute A1 - Chabris, Christopher F A1 - Cucca, Francesco A1 - Cusi, Daniele A1 - Deary, Ian J A1 - Dedoussis, George V A1 - van Duijn, Cornelia M A1 - Eriksson, Johan G A1 - Franke, Barbara A1 - Franke, Lude A1 - Gasparini, Paolo A1 - Gejman, Pablo V A1 - Gieger, Christian A1 - Grabe, Hans-Jörgen A1 - Gratten, Jacob A1 - Groenen, Patrick J F A1 - Gudnason, Vilmundur A1 - van der Harst, Pim A1 - Hayward, Caroline A1 - Hinds, David A A1 - Hoffmann, Wolfgang A1 - Hyppönen, Elina A1 - Iacono, William G A1 - Jacobsson, Bo A1 - Järvelin, Marjo-Riitta A1 - Jöckel, Karl-Heinz A1 - Kaprio, Jaakko A1 - Kardia, Sharon L R A1 - Lehtimäki, Terho A1 - Lehrer, Steven F A1 - Magnusson, Patrik K E A1 - Martin, Nicholas G A1 - McGue, Matt A1 - Metspalu, Andres A1 - Pendleton, Neil A1 - Penninx, Brenda W J H A1 - Perola, Markus A1 - Pirastu, Nicola A1 - Pirastu, Mario A1 - Polasek, Ozren A1 - Posthuma, Danielle A1 - Power, Christine A1 - Province, Michael A A1 - Samani, Nilesh J A1 - Schlessinger, David A1 - Schmidt, Reinhold A1 - Sørensen, Thorkild I A A1 - Spector, Tim D A1 - Stefansson, Kari A1 - Thorsteinsdottir, Unnur A1 - Thurik, A Roy A1 - Timpson, Nicholas J A1 - Tiemeier, Henning A1 - Tung, Joyce Y A1 - Uitterlinden, André G A1 - Vitart, Veronique A1 - Vollenweider, Peter A1 - Weir, David R A1 - Wilson, James F A1 - Wright, Alan F A1 - Conley, Dalton C A1 - Krueger, Robert F A1 - Davey Smith, George A1 - Hofman, Albert A1 - Laibson, David I A1 - Medland, Sarah E A1 - Meyer, Michelle N A1 - Yang, Jian A1 - Johannesson, Magnus A1 - Visscher, Peter M A1 - Esko, Tõnu A1 - Koellinger, Philipp D A1 - Cesarini, David A1 - Benjamin, Daniel J KW - Alzheimer Disease KW - Bipolar Disorder KW - Brain KW - Cognition KW - Computational Biology KW - Educational Status KW - Fetus KW - Gene Expression Regulation KW - Gene-Environment Interaction KW - Genome-Wide Association Study KW - Great Britain KW - Humans KW - Molecular Sequence Annotation KW - Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide KW - Schizophrenia AB -

Educational attainment is strongly influenced by social and other environmental factors, but genetic factors are estimated to account for at least 20% of the variation across individuals. Here we report the results of a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for educational attainment that extends our earlier discovery sample of 101,069 individuals to 293,723 individuals, and a replication study in an independent sample of 111,349 individuals from the UK Biobank. We identify 74 genome-wide significant loci associated with the number of years of schooling completed. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with educational attainment are disproportionately found in genomic regions regulating gene expression in the fetal brain. Candidate genes are preferentially expressed in neural tissue, especially during the prenatal period, and enriched for biological pathways involved in neural development. Our findings demonstrate that, even for a behavioural phenotype that is mostly environmentally determined, a well-powered GWAS identifies replicable associated genetic variants that suggest biologically relevant pathways. Because educational attainment is measured in large numbers of individuals, it will continue to be useful as a proxy phenotype in efforts to characterize the genetic influences of related phenotypes, including cognition and neuropsychiatric diseases.

VL - 533 IS - 7604 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27225129?dopt=Abstract ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Genome-wide association study of sexual maturation in males and females highlights a role for body mass and menarche loci in male puberty. JF - Hum Mol Genet Y1 - 2014 A1 - Cousminer, Diana L A1 - Stergiakouli, Evangelia A1 - Berry, Diane J A1 - Ang, Wei A1 - Groen-Blokhuis, Maria M A1 - Körner, Antje A1 - Siitonen, Niina A1 - Ntalla, Ioanna A1 - Marinelli, Marcella A1 - Perry, John R B A1 - Kettunen, Johannes A1 - Jansen, Rick A1 - Surakka, Ida A1 - Timpson, Nicholas J A1 - Ring, Susan A1 - McMahon, George A1 - Power, Chris A1 - Wang, Carol A1 - Kähönen, Mika A1 - Viikari, Jorma A1 - Lehtimäki, Terho A1 - Middeldorp, Christel M A1 - Hulshoff Pol, Hilleke E A1 - Neef, Madlen A1 - Weise, Sebastian A1 - Pahkala, Katja A1 - Niinikoski, Harri A1 - Zeggini, Eleftheria A1 - Panoutsopoulou, Kalliope A1 - Bustamante, Mariona A1 - Penninx, Brenda W J H A1 - Murabito, Joanne A1 - Torrent, Maties A1 - Dedoussis, George V A1 - Kiess, Wieland A1 - Boomsma, Dorret I A1 - Pennell, Craig E A1 - Raitakari, Olli T A1 - Hyppönen, Elina A1 - Davey Smith, George A1 - Ripatti, Samuli A1 - McCarthy, Mark I A1 - Widen, Elisabeth AB -

Little is known about genes regulating male puberty. Further, while many identified pubertal timing variants associate with age at menarche, a late manifestation of puberty, and body mass, little is known about these variants' relationship to pubertal initiation or tempo. To address these questions, we performed genome-wide association meta-analysis in over 11 000 European samples with data on early pubertal traits, male genital and female breast development, measured by the Tanner scale. We report the first genome-wide significant locus for male sexual development upstream of myocardin-like 2 (MKL2) (P = 8.9 × 10(-9)), a menarche locus tagging a developmental pathway linking earlier puberty with reduced pubertal growth (P = 4.6 × 10(-5)) and short adult stature (p = 7.5 × 10(-6)) in both males and females. Furthermore, our results indicate that a proportion of menarche loci are important for pubertal initiation in both sexes. Consistent with epidemiological correlations between increased prepubertal body mass and earlier pubertal timing in girls, body mass index (BMI)-increasing alleles correlated with earlier breast development. In boys, some BMI-increasing alleles associated with earlier, and others with delayed, sexual development; these genetic results mimic the controversy in epidemiological studies, some of which show opposing correlations between prepubertal BMI and male puberty. Our results contribute to our understanding of the pubertal initiation program in both sexes and indicate that although mechanisms regulating pubertal onset in males and females may largely be shared, the relationship between body mass and pubertal timing in boys may be complex and requires further genetic studies.

VL - 23 IS - 16 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24770850?dopt=Abstract ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Parent-of-origin-specific allelic associations among 106 genomic loci for age at menarche. JF - Nature Y1 - 2014 A1 - Perry, John R B A1 - Day, Felix A1 - Elks, Cathy E A1 - Sulem, Patrick A1 - Thompson, Deborah J A1 - Ferreira, Teresa A1 - He, Chunyan A1 - Chasman, Daniel I A1 - Esko, Tõnu A1 - Thorleifsson, Gudmar A1 - Albrecht, Eva A1 - Ang, Wei Q A1 - Corre, Tanguy A1 - Cousminer, Diana L A1 - Feenstra, Bjarke A1 - Franceschini, Nora A1 - Ganna, Andrea A1 - Johnson, Andrew D A1 - Kjellqvist, Sanela A1 - Lunetta, Kathryn L A1 - McMahon, George A1 - Nolte, Ilja M A1 - Paternoster, Lavinia A1 - Porcu, Eleonora A1 - Smith, Albert V A1 - Stolk, Lisette A1 - Teumer, Alexander A1 - Tšernikova, Natalia A1 - Tikkanen, Emmi A1 - Ulivi, Sheila A1 - Wagner, Erin K A1 - Amin, Najaf A1 - Bierut, Laura J A1 - Byrne, Enda M A1 - Hottenga, Jouke-Jan A1 - Koller, Daniel L A1 - Mangino, Massimo A1 - Pers, Tune H A1 - Yerges-Armstrong, Laura M A1 - Hua Zhao, Jing A1 - Andrulis, Irene L A1 - Anton-Culver, Hoda A1 - Atsma, Femke A1 - Bandinelli, Stefania A1 - Beckmann, Matthias W A1 - Benitez, Javier A1 - Blomqvist, Carl A1 - Bojesen, Stig E A1 - Bolla, Manjeet K A1 - Bonanni, Bernardo A1 - Brauch, Hiltrud A1 - Brenner, Hermann A1 - Buring, Julie E A1 - Chang-Claude, Jenny A1 - Chanock, Stephen A1 - Chen, Jinhui A1 - Chenevix-Trench, Georgia A1 - Collée, J Margriet A1 - Couch, Fergus J A1 - Couper, David A1 - Coviello, Andrea D A1 - Cox, Angela A1 - Czene, Kamila A1 - d'Adamo, Adamo Pio A1 - Davey Smith, George A1 - De Vivo, Immaculata A1 - Demerath, Ellen W A1 - Dennis, Joe A1 - Devilee, Peter A1 - Dieffenbach, Aida K A1 - Dunning, Alison M A1 - Eiriksdottir, Gudny A1 - Eriksson, Johan G A1 - Fasching, Peter A A1 - Ferrucci, Luigi A1 - Flesch-Janys, Dieter A1 - Flyger, Henrik A1 - Foroud, Tatiana A1 - Franke, Lude A1 - Garcia, Melissa E A1 - García-Closas, Montserrat A1 - Geller, Frank A1 - de Geus, Eco E J A1 - Giles, Graham G A1 - Gudbjartsson, Daniel F A1 - Gudnason, Vilmundur A1 - Guenel, Pascal A1 - Guo, Suiqun A1 - Hall, Per A1 - Hamann, Ute A1 - Haring, Robin A1 - Hartman, Catharina A A1 - Heath, Andrew C A1 - Hofman, Albert A1 - Hooning, Maartje J A1 - Hopper, John L A1 - Hu, Frank B A1 - Hunter, David J A1 - Karasik, David A1 - Kiel, Douglas P A1 - Knight, Julia A A1 - Kosma, Veli-Matti A1 - Kutalik, Zoltán A1 - Lai, Sandra A1 - Lambrechts, Diether A1 - Lindblom, Annika A1 - Mägi, Reedik A1 - Magnusson, Patrik K A1 - Mannermaa, Arto A1 - Martin, Nicholas G A1 - Masson, Gisli A1 - McArdle, Patrick F A1 - McArdle, Wendy L A1 - Melbye, Mads A1 - Michailidou, Kyriaki A1 - Mihailov, Evelin A1 - Milani, Lili A1 - Milne, Roger L A1 - Nevanlinna, Heli A1 - Neven, Patrick A1 - Nohr, Ellen A A1 - Oldehinkel, Albertine J A1 - Oostra, Ben A A1 - Palotie, Aarno A1 - Peacock, Munro A1 - Pedersen, Nancy L A1 - Peterlongo, Paolo A1 - Peto, Julian A1 - Pharoah, Paul D P A1 - Postma, Dirkje S A1 - Pouta, Anneli A1 - Pylkäs, Katri A1 - Radice, Paolo A1 - Ring, Susan A1 - Rivadeneira, Fernando A1 - Robino, Antonietta A1 - Rose, Lynda M A1 - Rudolph, Anja A1 - Salomaa, Veikko A1 - Sanna, Serena A1 - Schlessinger, David A1 - Schmidt, Marjanka K A1 - Southey, Mellissa C A1 - Sovio, Ulla A1 - Stampfer, Meir J A1 - Stöckl, Doris A1 - Storniolo, Anna M A1 - Timpson, Nicholas J A1 - Tyrer, Jonathan A1 - Visser, Jenny A A1 - Vollenweider, Peter A1 - Völzke, Henry A1 - Waeber, Gerard A1 - Waldenberger, Melanie A1 - Wallaschofski, Henri A1 - Wang, Qin A1 - Willemsen, Gonneke A1 - Winqvist, Robert A1 - Wolffenbuttel, Bruce H R A1 - Wright, Margaret J A1 - Boomsma, Dorret I A1 - Econs, Michael J A1 - Khaw, Kay-Tee A1 - Loos, Ruth J F A1 - McCarthy, Mark I A1 - Montgomery, Grant W A1 - Rice, John P A1 - Streeten, Elizabeth A A1 - Thorsteinsdottir, Unnur A1 - van Duijn, Cornelia M A1 - Alizadeh, Behrooz Z A1 - Bergmann, Sven A1 - Boerwinkle, Eric A1 - Boyd, Heather A A1 - Crisponi, Laura A1 - Gasparini, Paolo A1 - Gieger, Christian A1 - Harris, Tamara B A1 - Ingelsson, Erik A1 - Järvelin, Marjo-Riitta A1 - Kraft, Peter A1 - Lawlor, Debbie A1 - Metspalu, Andres A1 - Pennell, Craig E A1 - Ridker, Paul M A1 - Snieder, Harold A1 - Sørensen, Thorkild I A A1 - Spector, Tim D A1 - Strachan, David P A1 - Uitterlinden, André G A1 - Wareham, Nicholas J A1 - Widen, Elisabeth A1 - Zygmunt, Marek A1 - Murray, Anna A1 - Easton, Douglas F A1 - Stefansson, Kari A1 - Murabito, Joanne M A1 - Ong, Ken K KW - Adolescent KW - Age Factors KW - Alleles KW - Body Mass Index KW - Breast Neoplasms KW - Cardiovascular Diseases KW - Child KW - Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 KW - Europe KW - Female KW - Genetic Loci KW - Genome-Wide Association Study KW - Genomic Imprinting KW - Humans KW - Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System KW - Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins KW - Male KW - Membrane Proteins KW - Menarche KW - Obesity KW - Ovary KW - Parents KW - Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide KW - Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain KW - Proteins KW - Quantitative Trait Loci KW - Receptors, GABA-B KW - Receptors, Retinoic Acid KW - Ribonucleoproteins AB -

Age at menarche is a marker of timing of puberty in females. It varies widely between individuals, is a heritable trait and is associated with risks for obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, breast cancer and all-cause mortality. Studies of rare human disorders of puberty and animal models point to a complex hypothalamic-pituitary-hormonal regulation, but the mechanisms that determine pubertal timing and underlie its links to disease risk remain unclear. Here, using genome-wide and custom-genotyping arrays in up to 182,416 women of European descent from 57 studies, we found robust evidence (P < 5 × 10(-8)) for 123 signals at 106 genomic loci associated with age at menarche. Many loci were associated with other pubertal traits in both sexes, and there was substantial overlap with genes implicated in body mass index and various diseases, including rare disorders of puberty. Menarche signals were enriched in imprinted regions, with three loci (DLK1-WDR25, MKRN3-MAGEL2 and KCNK9) demonstrating parent-of-origin-specific associations concordant with known parental expression patterns. Pathway analyses implicated nuclear hormone receptors, particularly retinoic acid and γ-aminobutyric acid-B2 receptor signalling, among novel mechanisms that regulate pubertal timing in humans. Our findings suggest a genetic architecture involving at least hundreds of common variants in the coordinated timing of the pubertal transition.

VL - 514 IS - 7520 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25231870?dopt=Abstract ER -