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(Stroke. 2008;39:1096.)
© 2008 American Heart Association, Inc.
Original Contributions |
From the Department of Neurology (Y.M.R., G.J.E.R.), Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience and the Complex Genetics Section, Department of Biomedical Genetics (C.W., R.v.S., M.W.), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; the Departments of Neurology (Y.M.R., Y.B.W.E.M.R.) and Human Genetics (F.B., A.W.), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; and the Department of Genetics (C.W.), University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Correspondence to Ynte M. Ruigrok, MD, Department of Neurology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, PO Box 85500, 3500 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands. E-mail ij.m.ruigrok{at}umcutrecht.nl
| Abstract |
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Methods— A large, consanguineous pedigree with 7 of 20 siblings affected by intracranial aneurysms was compiled and a genomewide linkage analysis on this family was performed using Illuminas single nucleotide polymorphism-based linkage panel IV, which includes 5861 single nucleotide polymorphisms. A nonparametric linkage affecteds-only approach with GENEHUNTER was used.
Results— Two loci with suggestive linkage (nonparametric linkage=3.18) on chromosome regions 1p36 and Xp22 were identified. Additional microsatellite markers were genotyped in the 2 candidate loci and showed suggestive linkage to the locus on chromosome 1 with a nonparametric linkage of 3.18 at 1p36.11-p36.13 and significant linkage to the locus on chromosome X with a nonparametric linkage of 4.54 at Xp22.2-p22.32.
Conclusions— The 2 potential loci for intracranial aneurysms, which we identified in this large Dutch family, overlap with loci that have already been identified in previous linkage studies from different populations. Identification of genes from these loci will be important for a better understanding of the disease pathogenesis.
Key Words: aneurysm genetics subarachnoid hemorrhage
| Introduction |
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In complex diseases, the identification of susceptibility genes is hampered by their multigenic origin and genetic heterogeneity.10 Variants of susceptibility genes in complex diseases are expected to be common. Not all carriers of these common variants will become affected by the disease because they may not carry all the remaining disease-associated alleles of the susceptibility genes necessary to develop the disease.11 In addition, different combinations of genes may lead to the same phenotype in different populations.11 To overcome these difficulties, large single families can be studied in which the disease is expected to be genetically homogeneous and the disease-associated genes will lead to the same phenotype.12,13 Such large single families may represent highly penetrant and rare alleles.
We previously reported on a genomewide linkage study in a large, Dutch consanguineous family. Using a recessive mode of inheritance, positive evidence of linkage on chromosome 2p13 was found with a maximum logarithm of odds (LOD) score of 3.55.14 Because aneurysms develop over time, relatives with familial intracranial aneurysms are often screened at intervals; this yields a considerable benefit because new aneurysms are detected in approximately 10% of the relatives who previously had a negative screening result.15 Indeed, since the completion of our genomewide linkage study in 2004, repeated screening has revealed newly developed aneurysms in 2 siblings of our family 5 years after their last negative screening. Because these newly affected siblings did not carry the risk haplotype of chromosome 2p13, our previous results of positive linkage, assuming an autosomal-recessive mode of inheritance, were no longer significant. A follow-up genomewide linkage study in this family was therefore decided on. A model-free, nonparametric linkage, affecteds-only approach was used to overcome the possible problem of complex etiology.
| Subjects and Methods |
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Genotyping
A 2-stage design was used for the linkage analysis. First, a whole-genome screen was performed in all the available individuals (n=17) using Illuminas single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based linkage panel IV. Although we use an affecteds-only approach, it is not sufficient to only genotype the affecteds. Nonaffected family members are also genotyped to determine the phase of the affecteds. Genomic regions of potential interest were then followed up using microsatellite markers.
Genotyping of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Markers
Illuminas SNP-based linkage panel IV includes 5861 informative SNP markers distributed evenly across the human genome with an average distance of 0.64 cM.17 The information content of this linkage panel is comparable to standard 5 cM short-tandem-repeat marker maps. The SNPs were genotyped using the BeadArray technology on an Illumina BeadStation following the manufacturers protocol (www.illumina.com). All SNPs were examined for their resulting quality and those that had a low signal or were poorly clustered were excluded (n=109).
Genotyping of Microsatellite Markers
In potentially interesting regions (see "Linkage Analysis" section), additional microsatellite markers were genotyped (n=24; see supplemental Table I, online only). The markers were selected from the Marshfield Center for Medical Genetics marker set. Genotyping for the microsatellite analysis was performed by polymerase chain reaction with detection of fluorescent polymerase chain reaction products on a 3700 DNA sequencer (Applied Biosystems) and analyzed with GeneScan and Genotyper software (Applied Biosystems). For details of genotyping with microsatellite markers, see van Belzen et al.18 A Mendelian inheritance check was performed for both the SNP and microsatellite markers; markers with Mendelian errors were excluded (for SNPs n=41; for microsatellite markers n=0) from the linkage analysis.
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Linkage Analysis
Although the consanguinity of the parents in our family suggests an autosomal-recessive mode of inheritance, other modes of inheritance cannot be ruled out. Therefore, a model-free, nonparametric linkage (NPL) analysis was performed with the linkage program GENEHUNTER (version 2.1_r2 beta)19 using an affecteds-only approach. Using the NPL statistics, allele sharing in all possible pairs of affected individuals was determined and compared with the expected values for allele sharing. All the available 17 individuals who were genotyped were included in the analysis, and the disease status of the 7 patients with proven ruptured or unruptured intracranial aneurysms was set as affected. The other 10 were set as unknown. Because we had no DNA sample of individual II-2, who had an episode suggestive of aneurysmal SAH, she was not included in this analysis. Due to limitations of the GENEHUNTER program, we were only able to analyze microsatellite markers on the autosomal chromosomes with this program. For the analysis of the microsatellite markers on the X-chromosome, the nonparametric analysis of the MAPMAKER/SIBS program of GENEHUNTER (version 2.1_r2 beta)20 was used. Because the SNP marker sets per chromosome were too large for the GENEHUNTER program, they were divided into smaller sets of 100 SNPs with a sliding window of 20 SNPs. The family studied was also too large for analysis with either the GENEHUNTER and the MAPMAKER/SIBS programs and was therefore divided into 2 smaller families (family 1: IDs I-2, II-3, II-4, II-5, II-6, II-8, II-9, II-11, II-12; family 2: IDs I-2, II-13, II-14, II-15, II-16, II-17, II-18, II-19, II-20). After scanning these 2 families separately, the NPL scores were combined.
Probability values corresponding to the obtained NPL scores were determined according to Kruglyak et al.19 The threshold levels for linkage were determined according to the genomewide significance levels proposed by Kruglyak et al19 with suggestive linkage as an NPL score >3.18 (P=7.4x10–4), significant linkage as an NPL score >4.08 (P=2.2x10–5), and highly significant linkage as an NPL score >4.99 (P=3.0x10–7). Chromosomal regions with NPL scores >3.18 were considered potentially interesting.
| Results |
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Analysis of Microsatellite Markers
Analysis with 2 additional microsatellite markers (Table 2) reduced the evidence of linkage to 4p14-15.1 with NPL scores varying between 0.58 (P=0.28) and 0.90 (P=0.18), and to 21q22.3, with NPL scores between –0.59 (P=0.72) and –0.75 (P=0.77).
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Analysis of 10 additional microsatellite markers at the 1p36.13-36.21 locus showed a maximum NPL score of 3.18 (P=7.4x10–4; Figure 3A). The maximum NPL score peak occurred at markers D1S199, D1S552, and D1S2702 and the NPL-1 interval was flanked by markers D1S2826 and D1S234, which define an 18.05-cM interval. This corresponds to a 6-Mb segment from 18.6 million bp to 24.9 million bp on chromosome 1p36.11-36.13 (Figure 3A). The haplotypes from this region are shown in Figure 1. Six of the 7 patients share a 6-marker diplotype (ranging from D1S2644 to D1S1622) with one chromosome inherited from the father and one from the mother, consistent with an autosomal-recessive mode of inheritance. The risk diplotype of the locus on 1p36.13-36.21 identified by the SNP analysis also consists of one chromosome from the father and one from the mother. One patient (II-17) with an unruptured intracranial aneurysm inherited the whole haplotype from the mother but only part of the haplotype from the father. The as-yet unaffected sibling II-16 inherited the risk haplotypes from both parents. Analyzing the haplotypes shows that 2 of the patients are recombinants, which narrows down the critical region to lying between markers D1S2826 and D1S199. The number of observed recombinations on chromosome 1 exceeds the number expected for such an interval in the genome by approximately 6 times (the number expected is 0.04, whereas the number observed is 0.23). This observation is in agreement with the common phenomenon of loss of the tip of chromosome 1p and suggests that this portion of the genome is a recombination hot spot.
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Figure 3B shows that analysis of 9 additional microsatellite markers at the Xp22.2-22.31 locus using the MAPMAKER/SIBS program yielded a maximum NPL score of 4.54 (P=2.8x10–6). Marker DXS7108 has the maximum NPL score, whereas the NPL-1 interval is flanked by markers DXS6807 and DXS1224, defining a 7.73-cM interval. This corresponds to an 8 Mb segment from 4.6 million bp to 13.0 million bp on chromosome Xp22.2-p22.32. Six of the 7 patients share a 5-marker haplotype ranging from DXS6807 to DXS1224 inherited from the mother (Figure 2). However, patient II-15 who has an unruptured intracranial aneurysm did not inherit the risk haplotype from the mother, whereas sibling II-18, who is as-yet unaffected, did inherit this haplotype.
The presence of high linkage disequilibrium between SNP markers can cause inflation of multipoint linkage statistics, which leads to false-positive results.21 Therefore, the 2 intervals of potential interest identified by analysis of the SNP markers on chromosome 1 and X were confirmed by analyzing additional microsatellite markers in these regions. In view of the replication of linkage with the microsatellite markers, the NPL scores of the chromosome 1 and X regions are not likely to be inflated due to the presence of linkage disequilibrium between the SNP markers analyzed.
| Discussion |
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The locus at 1p36.11-36.13 overlaps with the previously reported locus on chromosome 1p34.3-p36.13 (ANIB3; HUGO Nomenclature Committee) identified in a single North American family.22 This family was analyzed under a dominant model and a maximum limit of detection score of 4.2 was found at marker D1S234, which appeared to be located adjacent to the marker generating the highest NPL score in our family (D1S2702). An excellent candidate gene in the overlapping region between the 2 studies is the perlecan gene, which codes for a heparan sulfate proteoglycan involved in the maintenance of the extracellular matrix of the arterial wall. It is a major component of basement membranes interacting with other basement membrane components such as laminin, collagen type IV, and other extracellular matrix molecules such as fibronectin.23 Perlecan is believed to be involved in stabilizing macromolecules and in cell adhesion.23 In a comprehensive case–control study with tag SNPs, we recently demonstrated SNPs in the perlecan gene to be associated with intracranial aneurysms in 3 independent populations (combined P=0.000524), further emphasizing the possible involvement of this gene in the pathogenesis of intracranial aneurysms. However, by sequencing of all the 96 exons and exon–intron boundaries of the perlecan gene, initially in 2 affected individuals of our consanguineous family and in 2 control subjects, no mutations were detected (data not shown).
The second locus on Xp22.2-p22.32 has also been previously reported in the literature.25,26 A nonparametric linkage analysis in 29 Japanese families, with 3 or more family members with intracranial aneurysms, identified 3 chromosomal regions, including the Xp22 locus with a maximum NPL score of 2.16. 25 Because the authors defined the boundaries of the locus by NPL scores with nominal probability values <0.05, it is not clear if this locus overlaps with our 90% support interval defined by the maximum NPL score –1. A Finnish linkage study analyzing affected sibpairs with intracranial aneurysms also found evidence for linkage to Xp22 with a maximum limit of detection score of 2.08, but after genotyping additional markers, their evidence for linkage was reduced in this region and it was not explored further.26 A susceptibility locus for intracranial aneurysms on the X chromosome may explain the preponderance of affected women with intracranial aneurysms1 because many genes on chromosome Xp escape X inactivation.27
Because intracranial aneurysms are found in 2% of the population1 and intracranial aneurysm is a complex disease, phenocopies may occur in our family. Phenocopies may influence linkage studies by lowering or by obscuring true linkage signals. Consequently, in theory, we may have left other loci than the 1p36.11-p36.13 and Xp22.2-p22.32 loci undetected in our family.
In our previous linkage study,14 one of the siblings was assigned as being affected because MRA had revealed an unruptured intracranial aneurysm. However, in follow-up MRAs, this aneurysm could no longer be identified. The misspecification of phenotype in our previous study is especially a problem in parametric analyses and the problem can even be ameliorated in parametric analyses by providing age-based penetrance functions. The misspecification once again emphasizes that the definition of the phenotype should meet high standards of reproducibility and validity.28 For our study, an improved specificity and sensitivity in detecting intracranial aneurysms is obtained by the improved image quality of MRAs performed with increasing magnetic field strengths.16 To guarantee reproducibility of the intracranial aneurysm diagnosis, conventional catheter angiography was performed for confirmation of the MRA findings in case an aneurysm was detected on MRA.
The 9 loci list detected in a variety of linkage studies (loci on chromosomes 1p34.3-p36.13,22 5p15.2-14.3,29 5q22-31,30 7q11,30,31 11q24-25,32 14q22,30,32 17cen,25,30 19q13.3,25,26,33,34 and Xp2225,26) confirm the genetic heterogeneity of intracranial aneurysms. Even in our single family, in which 2 loci on chromosome 1p36.11-36.13 and Xp22.2-p22.32 were identified, the disease appears to be genetically heterogeneous and multigenic. Because the locus on chromosome 1 had already been identified in another single, large family with intracranial aneurysms from North America,22 and evidence of linkage to the locus on chromosome Xp22 was obtained in affected sibpairs and multiple families with intracranial aneurysms in Japanese and Finnish populations,25,26 the 2 loci may thus be general risk factors for intracranial aneurysms in different populations.
| Acknowledgments |
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Source of Funding
Y.M.R. was supported by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), project no. 940-37-023.
Disclosures
None.
Received May 27, 2007; revision received September 13, 2007; accepted September 19, 2007.
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