Featured Publications
Genetic Liability to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Its Association With Cardiometabolic and Respiratory Outcomes
Pathak G, Singh K, Choi K, Fang Y, Kouakou M, Lee Y, Zhou X, Fritsche L, Wendt F, Davis L, Polimanti R. Genetic Liability to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Its Association With Cardiometabolic and Respiratory Outcomes. JAMA Psychiatry 2024, 81: 34-44. PMID: 37910111, PMCID: PMC10620678, DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.4127.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderBody mass indexMass General BrighamPTSD symptom severityElectronic health recordsSymptom severityRespiratory outcomesMass indexRisk factorsMedical outcomesHealth outcomesMendelian randomizationDisease categoriesGenetic liabilityMeta-analyzed associationsSignificant medical outcomesNonspecific chest painC-reactive proteinMental health disordersUK BiobankMultivariable Mendelian randomizationPosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomsChest painCardiac dysrhythmiasTobacco smoking
2024
Association of deployment characteristics and exposures with persistent ill health among 1990-1991 Gulf War veterans in the VA Million Veteran Program
Steele L, Quaden R, Ahmed S, Harrington K, Duong L, Ko J, Gifford E, Polimanti R, Gaziano J, Aslan M, Helmer D, Hauser E. Association of deployment characteristics and exposures with persistent ill health among 1990-1991 Gulf War veterans in the VA Million Veteran Program. Environmental Health 2024, 23: 92. PMID: 39456027, PMCID: PMC11520114, DOI: 10.1186/s12940-024-01118-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMillion Veteran ProgramVA Million Veteran ProgramGulf War veteransIll healthHealth outcomesGulf War IllnessVeteran ProgramMilitary characteristicsWar veteransChronic ill healthCenters for Disease Control and Prevention criteriaGulf War serviceEvaluation of genetic factorsGulf War exposureVeterans' healthPopulation of U.S.Pyridostigmine bromide pillsHealthcare providersWartime exposuresGulf War deploymentResultsThe final cohortVeteran cohortDeployment exposuresHealth problemsVeteransAssociation patterns of antisocial personality disorder across substance use disorders
Low A, Stiltner B, Nunez Y, Adhikari K, Deak J, Pietrzak R, Kranzler H, Gelernter J, Polimanti R. Association patterns of antisocial personality disorder across substance use disorders. Translational Psychiatry 2024, 14: 346. PMID: 39198385, PMCID: PMC11358160, DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-03054-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntisocial personality disorderSubstance use disordersPersonality disorderUse disorderAssociation of antisocial personality disorderPresence of antisocial personality disorderPrevalence of antisocial personality disorderHazardous useDSM-5 SUD diagnosesSubstance use disorder severityDiagnostic criteriaInteraction effects with sexTobacco use disorderDSM-5Association of alcoholSUD diagnosisDisordersCocaineRacial/ethnic backgroundsIndividualsCocUDSeverityCannabisAssociation patternsAssociation
2022
APOL1 Risk Variants, Acute Kidney Injury, and Death in Participants With African Ancestry Hospitalized With COVID-19 From the Million Veteran Program
Hung AM, Shah SC, Bick AG, Yu Z, Chen HC, Hunt CM, Wendt F, Wilson O, Greevy RA, Chung CP, Suzuki A, Ho YL, Akwo E, Polimanti R, Zhou J, Reaven P, Tsao PS, Gaziano JM, Huffman JE, Joseph J, Luoh SW, Iyengar S, Chang KM, Casas JP, Matheny ME, O’Donnell C, Cho K, Tao R, Susztak K, Robinson-Cohen C, Tuteja S, Siew ED, Hung A, Wallbom A, Palacio A, Robey B, Jhala D, Fujii D, Cohen D, Boyko E, Jacono F, Villareal G, Garcon H, Gaziano J, Lichy J, Norton J, Beckham J, Whittle J, Huffman J, Moser J, Greco J, Walsh J, Harley J, Wells J, Klein J, Moorman J, Constans J, Fayad J, Casas J, Xu J, Liao K, Alexander K, Cho K, Hammer K, Oursler K, Mattocks K, Chang K, Dellitalia L, Hamner M, Whooley M, Murdoch M, Gaddy M, Godschalk M, Rauchman M, Huq M, Tandon N, Kosik N, Ratcliffe N, Okusaga O, Roussos P, Strollo P, Meyer P, Sriram P, Wilson P, Liang P, Tsao P, Balasubramanian P, Ramoni R, McArdle R, Hauger R, Servatius R, Smith R, Striker R, Mathew R, Gappy S, Pyarajan S, Gutierrez S, Gupta S, Aguayo S, Sharma S, Damrauer S, Kinlay S, Yeh S, Luoh S, Tuteja S, Mastorides S, Iyengar S, Bhushan S, Muralidhar S, Ahuja S, Liangpunsakul S, Assimes T, Morgan T, Stapley T, Sun Y, Ballas Z. APOL1 Risk Variants, Acute Kidney Injury, and Death in Participants With African Ancestry Hospitalized With COVID-19 From the Million Veteran Program. JAMA Internal Medicine 2022, 182: 386-395. PMID: 35089317, PMCID: PMC8980930, DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2021.8538.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAcute kidney injuryNormal kidney functionHigh-risk groupAPOL1 risk variantsKidney functionAKI severityKidney injuryCohort studyMillion Veteran ProgramHigher oddsCOVID-19-associated acute kidney injuryRisk variantsMultivariable logistic regression analysisCOVID-19AKI risk factorsAKI severity stageRetrospective cohort studyAfrican ancestryApolipoprotein L1COVID-19 infectionCoronavirus disease 2019Logistic regression analysisHigh mortality rateVeteran ProgramAPOL1 kidney risk variants
2021
Biobank Scale Pharmacogenomics Informs the Genetic Underpinnings of Simvastatin Use
Wendt FR, Koller D, Pathak GA, Jacoby D, Miller EJ, Polimanti R. Biobank Scale Pharmacogenomics Informs the Genetic Underpinnings of Simvastatin Use. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics 2021, 110: 777-785. PMID: 33837531, PMCID: PMC8376807, DOI: 10.1002/cpt.2260.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLDL-C concentrationsSimvastatin useLow-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrationsLipoprotein cholesterol concentrationsDrug-metabolizing enzymesElectronic medical recordsStatin therapyStatin treatmentActivity scoreMedical recordsPilot cohortCholesterol concentrationsEuropean ancestry participantsMetabolizer phenotypeClinical decisionNAT2 allelesPolygenic riskNAT2Good responseUK BiobankBiological mechanismsPharmacogenesAssociationPotential benefitsPhenotype
2020
Epigenetic profiling of Italian patients identified methylation sites associated with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis
De Lillo A, Pathak GA, De Angelis F, Di Girolamo M, Luigetti M, Sabatelli M, Perfetto F, Frusconi S, Manfellotto D, Fuciarelli M, Polimanti R. Epigenetic profiling of Italian patients identified methylation sites associated with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis. Clinical Epigenetics 2020, 12: 176. PMID: 33203445, PMCID: PMC7672937, DOI: 10.1186/s13148-020-00967-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEpigenome-wide association studiesMethylation sitesEpigenetic differencesSignificant epigenetic differencesProtein interaction networksSignificant methylation changesAmyloidogenic mutationsDisease-causing mutationsProtein interactorsEpigenetic regulationHigh phenotypic variabilityEpigenetic profilingMethylation changesInteraction networksGene regionBiological processesMolecular mechanismsAssociation studiesMolecular pathwaysCoding mutationsPhenotypic variabilityNovel insightsGenesFiber formationMutationsGenetically-regulated transcriptomics & copy number variation of proctitis points to altered mitochondrial and DNA repair mechanisms in individuals of European ancestry
Pathak GA, Polimanti R, Silzer TK, Wendt FR, Chakraborty R, Phillips NR. Genetically-regulated transcriptomics & copy number variation of proctitis points to altered mitochondrial and DNA repair mechanisms in individuals of European ancestry. BMC Cancer 2020, 20: 954. PMID: 33008348, PMCID: PMC7530964, DOI: 10.1186/s12885-020-07457-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAgedDNA Copy Number VariationsDNA RepairEuropeHumansMaleMiddle AgedMitochondriaProctitisTranscriptomeConceptsWhole blood tissuesCopy number variationsNumber variationsGene expressionGenome-Wide Human SNP Array 6.0Mitochondrial apoptosis regulationRNA-seq informationGenetic variantsDNA repair mechanismsGene expression changesDNA repair processesGene expression associationsGene expression profilesGene network informationDNA repair genesCopy number dataCopy number analysisGene OntologyApoptosis regulationDNA repairEnriched pathwaysEnriched processesOrganismal injuryTranscriptomic profilesExpression changesAssociation of OPRM1 Functional Coding Variant With Opioid Use Disorder
Zhou H, Rentsch CT, Cheng Z, Kember RL, Nunez YZ, Sherva RM, Tate JP, Dao C, Xu K, Polimanti R, Farrer LA, Justice AC, Kranzler HR, Gelernter J. Association of OPRM1 Functional Coding Variant With Opioid Use Disorder. JAMA Psychiatry 2020, 77: 1072-1080. PMID: 32492095, PMCID: PMC7270886, DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.1206.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderUse disordersMendelian randomization analysisAfrican American individualsMAIN OUTCOMEFunctional coding variantSignificant associationCausal associationRandomization analysisElectronic health record dataCurrent opioid crisisAmerican individualsHealth record dataCognitive performanceInternational Statistical ClassificationRelated Health ProblemsPotential causal associationAmerican controlsEuropean American controlsAfrican-American controlsCoding variantBuprenorphine treatmentOUD diagnosisTobacco smokingNinth RevisionReproducible Genetic Risk Loci for Anxiety: Results From ∼200,000 Participants in the Million Veteran Program
Levey DF, Gelernter J, Polimanti R, Zhou H, Cheng Z, Aslan M, Quaden R, Concato J, Radhakrishnan K, Bryois J, Sullivan PF, Stein M. Reproducible Genetic Risk Loci for Anxiety: Results From ∼200,000 Participants in the Million Veteran Program. American Journal Of Psychiatry 2020, 177: 223-232. PMID: 31906708, PMCID: PMC7869502, DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.19030256.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNovel genome-wide significant associationsGene expressionGenome-wide significant signalsGenome-wide significant associationMillion Veteran ProgramWide association studyGenetic risk lociSignificant genetic correlationsGenetic risk mechanismsGenetic architectureGlobal regulatorChromosome 3Risk lociChromosome 6Chromosome 7Association studiesLargest GWASLarge biobanksGlobal regulationGenetic correlationsContinuous traitsVeteran ProgramGWASsLociPrevious GWASs
2019
Patterns and Correlates of Prescription Opioid Receipt Among US Veterans: A National, 18-Year Observational Cohort Study
Rentsch CT, Edelman EJ, Justice AC, Marshall BDL, Xu K, Smith AH, Crystal S, Gaither JR, Gordon AJ, Smith RV, Kember RL, Polimanti R, Gelernter J, Fiellin DA, Tate JP, Kranzler HR, Becker WC. Patterns and Correlates of Prescription Opioid Receipt Among US Veterans: A National, 18-Year Observational Cohort Study. AIDS And Behavior 2019, 23: 3340-3349. PMID: 31317364, PMCID: PMC7344341, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-019-02608-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderOpioid receiptCohort studyLong-term opioid therapyVeterans Aging Cohort StudyLatent growth mixture modellingPrescription opioid receiptObservational cohort studyAging Cohort StudyOpioid therapyCause mortalityHepatitis COpioid prescriptionsFuture prevention researchOUD diagnosisGrowth mixture modellingUS veteransHigh prevalenceLow doseHigh incidenceUse disordersPrevention researchGenetic discoveriesReceiptHIVGenome-wide Association Study of Maximum Habitual Alcohol Intake in >140,000 U.S. European and African American Veterans Yields Novel Risk Loci
Gelernter J, Sun N, Polimanti R, Pietrzak RH, Levey DF, Lu Q, Hu Y, Li B, Radhakrishnan K, Aslan M, Cheung KH, Li Y, Rajeevan N, Sayward F, Harrington K, Chen Q, Cho K, Honerlaw J, Pyarajan S, Lencz T, Quaden R, Shi Y, Hunter-Zinck H, Gaziano JM, Kranzler HR, Concato J, Zhao H, Stein MB, Program D, Program M. Genome-wide Association Study of Maximum Habitual Alcohol Intake in >140,000 U.S. European and African American Veterans Yields Novel Risk Loci. Biological Psychiatry 2019, 86: 365-376. PMID: 31151762, PMCID: PMC6919570, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.03.984.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAdditional genome-wide significant lociRisk lociWide association study (GWAS) analysisAssociation studiesGenome-wide significant lociGenome-wide association studiesGenetic correlationsWide association studyNovel risk lociAlcohol-related traitsStrong statistical supportSmoking-related traitsAdditional genomesSignificant lociPancreatic delta cellsChromosome 4Chromosome 11Protein productsChromosome 8Quantitative phenotypesMillion Veteran ProgramVeterans Affairs Million Veteran ProgramLociCell typesChromosome 17Genome-wide association study of alcohol consumption and use disorder in 274,424 individuals from multiple populations
Kranzler HR, Zhou H, Kember RL, Vickers Smith R, Justice AC, Damrauer S, Tsao PS, Klarin D, Baras A, Reid J, Overton J, Rader DJ, Cheng Z, Tate JP, Becker WC, Concato J, Xu K, Polimanti R, Zhao H, Gelernter J. Genome-wide association study of alcohol consumption and use disorder in 274,424 individuals from multiple populations. Nature Communications 2019, 10: 1499. PMID: 30940813, PMCID: PMC6445072, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09480-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGenome-wide association studiesAssociation studiesMillion Veteran Program sampleGenetic correlationsWide significant lociSignificant genetic correlationsPolygenic risk scoresCell type groupSignificant lociHeritable traitEnrichment analysisTraitsMultiple populationsLociPhenotypeProgram samplesEvidence of causal effect of major depression on alcohol dependence: findings from the psychiatric genomics consortium
Polimanti R, Peterson RE, Ong JS, MacGregor S, Edwards AC, Clarke TK, Frank J, Gerring Z, Gillespie NA, Lind PA, Maes HH, Martin NG, Mbarek H, Medland SE, Streit F, Agrawal A, Edenberg H, Kendler K, Lewis C, Sullivan P, Wray N, Gelernter J, Derks E. Evidence of causal effect of major depression on alcohol dependence: findings from the psychiatric genomics consortium. Psychological Medicine 2019, 49: 1218-1226. PMID: 30929657, PMCID: PMC6565601, DOI: 10.1017/s0033291719000667.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMajor depressionAlcohol dependenceAlcohol consumptionPsychiatric Genomics ConsortiumImportant public health concernMendelian randomizationPublic health concernUK BiobankClinical associationsHealth concernMR analysisReverse causationCausal roleNon-significant resultsCausal relationshipGenetic liabilityGenomics ConsortiumLinkage disequilibrium score regressionIntervention efforts
2018
Multivariate Pattern Analysis of Genotype–Phenotype Relationships in Schizophrenia
Zheutlin AB, Chekroud AM, Polimanti R, Gelernter J, Sabb FW, Bilder RM, Freimer N, London ED, Hultman CM, Cannon TD. Multivariate Pattern Analysis of Genotype–Phenotype Relationships in Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin 2018, 44: 1045-1052. PMID: 29534239, PMCID: PMC6101611, DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sby005.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMultivariate pattern analysisIndependent samplesVisual memoryCognitive endophenotypesPredictive strengthSchizophreniaMemoryIndividual variationPattern analysisSingle predictorCertain domainsDiscovery samplePsychiatric patientsPolygenic risk scoresPredictive powerScoresEndophenotypesPotential relationshipRelationshipRandom forestGenetic risk variantsLimited setPredictorsComprehensive setSamplesEffect of the GSTM1 gene deletion on glycemic variability, sympatho-vagal balance and arterial stiffness in patients with metabolic syndrome, but without diabetes
Iorio A, Ylli D, Polimanti R, Picconi F, Maggio P, Francomano D, Aversa A, Manfellotto D, Fuciarelli M, Frontoni S. Effect of the GSTM1 gene deletion on glycemic variability, sympatho-vagal balance and arterial stiffness in patients with metabolic syndrome, but without diabetes. Diabetes Research And Clinical Practice 2018, 138: 158-168. PMID: 29452132, DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2018.02.006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProtein kinase regulationGlutathione S-transferase geneCellular detoxification processesKinase regulationInvolvement of GSTRisk lociFunctional variantsGene deletionPutative roleDetoxification processDeletionGenesPolymorphism analysisOxidative stressCrucial roleGene polymorphism analysisGST gene polymorphismsNovel findingsGSTM1 gene deletionLociGSTM1 deletionRoleGSTRegulationPathway
2017
Genetic Risk Variants Associated With Comorbid Alcohol Dependence and Major Depression
Zhou H, Polimanti R, Yang BZ, Wang Q, Han S, Sherva R, Nuñez YZ, Zhao H, Farrer LA, Kranzler HR, Gelernter J. Genetic Risk Variants Associated With Comorbid Alcohol Dependence and Major Depression. JAMA Psychiatry 2017, 74: 1234-1241. PMID: 29071344, PMCID: PMC6331050, DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.3275.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAlcoholismBlack or African AmericanComorbidityDepressive Disorder, MajorDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental DisordersFemaleGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseGenetic VariationHumansMaleMiddle AgedMultifactorial InheritanceOrgan SizePutamenSemaphorin-3AUnited StatesWhite PeopleConceptsGenome-wide association studiesGenetic risk variantsNeuropsychiatric traitsAssociation studiesRisk variantsPolygenic risk allelesPolygenic risk scoresGenetic mechanismsGenetic basisAmerican data setMolecular natureTraitsCriterion countsGenetic causePossible genetic causesMD comorbidityRisk allelesComorbid alcohol dependenceA putative causal relationship between genetically determined female body shape and posttraumatic stress disorder
Polimanti R, Amstadter AB, Stein MB, Almli LM, Baker DG, Bierut LJ, Bradley B, Farrer LA, Johnson EO, King A, Kranzler HR, Maihofer AX, Rice JP, Roberts AL, Saccone NL, Zhao H, Liberzon I, Ressler KJ, Nievergelt CM, Koenen KC, Gelernter J, for The Psychiatric Genomics Consortium Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Workgroup. A putative causal relationship between genetically determined female body shape and posttraumatic stress disorder. Genome Medicine 2017, 9: 99. PMID: 29178946, PMCID: PMC5702961, DOI: 10.1186/s13073-017-0491-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGenome-wide association studiesLarge genome-wide association studiesPutative causal relationshipAnthropometric traitsBody shapeEvolutionary mechanismsTop associationsAssociation studiesReproductive behaviorGenetic correlationsPleiotropic effectsGenetic overlapFemale body shapePolygenic score approachTraitsMendelian randomization analysisSummary statisticsRandomization analysisHuman sexual behaviorMechanismA genome-wide gene-by-trauma interaction study of alcohol misuse in two independent cohorts identifies PRKG1 as a risk locus
Polimanti R, Kaufman J, Zhao H, Kranzler HR, Ursano RJ, Kessler RC, Gelernter J, Stein MB. A genome-wide gene-by-trauma interaction study of alcohol misuse in two independent cohorts identifies PRKG1 as a risk locus. Molecular Psychiatry 2017, 23: 154-160. PMID: 28265120, PMCID: PMC5589475, DOI: 10.1038/mp.2017.24.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGenome-wide interaction studyGene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysisOntology enrichment analysisProtein kinase 1Protein regulationSame effect directionCyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase 1Circadian rhythm regulationRisk lociWide geneEnrichment analysisInteraction studiesKinase 1Individual genetic riskPsychiatric geneticsCalcium-activated potassium channelsGenesLociPRKG1Potassium channelsEffect directionRhythm regulationAlcohol use problemsRegulationAlcohol misuse
2016
Genetic factor common to schizophrenia and HIV infection is associated with risky sexual behavior: antagonistic vs. synergistic pleiotropic SNPs enriched for distinctly different biological functions
Wang Q, Polimanti R, Kranzler HR, Farrer LA, Zhao H, Gelernter J. Genetic factor common to schizophrenia and HIV infection is associated with risky sexual behavior: antagonistic vs. synergistic pleiotropic SNPs enriched for distinctly different biological functions. Human Genetics 2016, 136: 75-83. PMID: 27752767, PMCID: PMC5215962, DOI: 10.1007/s00439-016-1737-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCross-Phenotype Polygenic Risk Score Analysis of Persistent Post-Concussive Symptoms in U.S. Army Soldiers with Deployment-Acquired Traumatic Brain Injury
Polimanti R, Chen CY, Ursano RJ, Heeringa SG, Jain S, Kessler RC, Nock MK, Smoller JW, Sun X, Gelernter J, Stein MB. Cross-Phenotype Polygenic Risk Score Analysis of Persistent Post-Concussive Symptoms in U.S. Army Soldiers with Deployment-Acquired Traumatic Brain Injury. Journal Of Neurotrauma 2016, 34: 781-789. PMID: 27439997, PMCID: PMC5314978, DOI: 10.1089/neu.2016.4550.Peer-Reviewed Original Research