Functional genomics of the CDKN2A/B locus in cardiovascular and metabolic disease: what have we learned from GWASs?

Sarah Anissa Hannou, Kristiaan Wouters, Rejane Paumelle, Bart Staels*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) provide an unprecedented opportunity to examine, on a large scale, the association of common genetic variants with complex diseases like type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease (CVD), thus allowing the identification of new potential disease loci. Using this approach, numerous studies have associated SNPs on chromosome 9p21.3 situated near the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A/B (CDKN2A/B) locus with the risk for coronary artery disease (CAD) and T2D. However, identifying the function of the nearby gene products (CDKN2A/B and ANRIL) in the pathophysiology of these conditions requires functional genomic studies. We review the current knowledge, from studies using human and mouse models, describing the function of CDKN2A/B gene products, which may mechanistically link the 9p21.3 risk locus with CVD and diabetes.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)176-184
JournalTrends in Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume26
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2015

Keywords

  • GWAS
  • type 2 diabetes
  • cardiovascular disease
  • CDKN2A
  • CDKN2B
  • ANRIL

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