Featured Publications
Genome-wide association analyses of post-traumatic stress disorder and its symptom subdomains in the Million Veteran Program
Stein MB, Levey DF, Cheng Z, Wendt FR, Harrington K, Pathak GA, Cho K, Quaden R, Radhakrishnan K, Girgenti MJ, Ho YA, Posner D, Aslan M, Duman RS, Zhao H, Polimanti R, Concato J, Gelernter J. Genome-wide association analyses of post-traumatic stress disorder and its symptom subdomains in the Million Veteran Program. Nature Genetics 2021, 53: 174-184. PMID: 33510476, PMCID: PMC7972521, DOI: 10.1038/s41588-020-00767-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGenome-wide association analysisAssociation analysisMillion Veteran ProgramGenomic structural equation modelingSignificant lociGenetic varianceGene expressionDrug repositioning candidatesBiological coherenceVeteran ProgramMultiple testing correctionSymptom phenotypeLociRepositioning candidatesAfrican ancestryHeritabilityPhenotypeAncestryExpressionPTSD symptom factorsRegionSubdomainsEnrichment
2024
Genome-wide association study of the common retinal disorder epiretinal membrane: Significant risk loci in each of three American populations
Gelernter J, Levey D, Galimberti M, Harrington K, Zhou H, Adhikari K, Gupta P, Program V, Gaziano J, Eliott D, Stein M. Genome-wide association study of the common retinal disorder epiretinal membrane: Significant risk loci in each of three American populations. Cell Genomics 2024, 4: 100582. PMID: 38870908, PMCID: PMC11228954, DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2024.100582.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGenome-wide association studiesMillion Veteran ProgramRisk lociAssociation studiesTrans-ancestry meta-analysisSignificant risk lociPathway enrichment analysisEpiretinal membraneTrans-ancestryGenome-wideMultiple traitsGenetic associationEnrichment analysisGene expressionEuropean AmericansLoss of visual acuityVeteran ProgramGenetic correlationsLociBiological mechanismsAmerican populationVisual acuityRetinal conditionsControl individualsRetinal surface
2022
Association of Kidney Comorbidities and Acute Kidney Failure With Unfavorable Outcomes After COVID-19 in Individuals With the Sickle Cell Trait
Verma A, Huffman JE, Gao L, Minnier J, Wu WC, Cho K, Ho YL, Gorman BR, Pyarajan S, Rajeevan N, Garcon H, Joseph J, McGeary JE, Suzuki A, Reaven PD, Wan ES, Lynch JA, Petersen JM, Meigs JB, Freiberg MS, Gatsby E, Lynch KE, Zekavat SM, Natarajan P, Dalal S, Jhala DN, Arjomandi M, Bonomo RA, Thompson TK, Pathak GA, Zhou JJ, Donskey CJ, Madduri RK, Wells QS, Gelernter J, Huang RDL, Polimanti R, Chang KM, Liao KP, Tsao PS, Sun YV, Wilson PWF, O’Donnell C, Hung AM, Gaziano JM, Hauger RL, Iyengar SK, Luoh SW, Muralidhar S, Beckham J, Moser J, Thomann L, Garcon H, Kosik N, Damrauer S, Assimes T, Roussos P, Striker R, Tuteja S, DuVall S, Lynch K, Gatsby E, Ramoni R, Breeling J, Huang G, Whitbourne S, Brewer J, Aslan M, Connor T, Argyres D, Stephens B, Brophy M, Humphries D, Selva L, Do N, Shayan S, Churby L, Hauser E, Zhao H, Wilson P, McArdle R, Dellitalia L, Mattocks K, Harley J, Whittle J, Jacono F, Wells J, Gutierrez S, Gibson G, Hammer K, Kaminsky L, Villareal G, Kinlay S, Xu J, Hamner M, Mathew R, Bhushan S, Iruvanti P, Godschalk M, Ballas Z, Ivins D, Mastorides S, Moorman J, Gappy S, Klein J, Ratcliffe N, Florez H, Okusaga O, Murdoch M, Sriram P, Yeh S, Tandon N, Jhala D, Aguayo S, Cohen D, Sharma S, Liangpunsakul S, Oursler K, Whooley M, Ahuja S, Constans J, Meyer P, Greco J, Rauchman M, Servatius R, Gaddy M, Wallbom A, Morgan T, Stapley T, Sherman S, Ross G, Tsao P, Strollo P, Boyko E, Meyer L, Gupta S, Huq M, Fayad J, Hung A, Lichy J, Hurley R, Robey B. Association of Kidney Comorbidities and Acute Kidney Failure With Unfavorable Outcomes After COVID-19 in Individuals With the Sickle Cell Trait. JAMA Internal Medicine 2022, 182: 796-804. PMID: 35759254, PMCID: PMC9237798, DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2022.2141.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAcute Kidney InjuryBlack or African AmericanCOVID-19HemoglobinsHumansKidneySickle Cell TraitConceptsAcute kidney failureSickle cell traitAssociation of SCTCOVID-19 outcomesCOVID-19 mortalityKidney diseaseKidney failureCell traitMillion Veteran ProgramCOVID-19Chronic kidney diseaseDiabetic kidney diseaseHypertensive kidney diseaseElectronic health recordsIndex dateAfrican ancestryPulmonary embolismClinical outcomesCerebrovascular diseaseMean ageUnfavorable outcomeClinical dataDiseases codesKidney morbidityMAIN OUTCOME
2021
Genome-wide association study of stimulant dependence
Cox J, Sherva R, Wetherill L, Foroud T, Edenberg HJ, Kranzler HR, Gelernter J, Farrer LA. Genome-wide association study of stimulant dependence. Translational Psychiatry 2021, 11: 363. PMID: 34226506, PMCID: PMC8257618, DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01440-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsStimulant dependenceAssociation studiesVoltage-gated channel proteinsGenome-wide association studiesNicotinic acetylcholine receptor genesTop GWAS signalsUse disordersAcetylcholine receptor genesWide association studyGWAS signalsSubstance use disordersEuropean ancestry subjectsNovel genesCocaine use disorderUsers of cocaineChannel proteinsGenetic studiesSpecific genetic factorsGenetics of AlcoholismSignificant pleiotropyEpigenomic Profiles of African-American Transthyretin Val122Ile Carriers Reveals Putatively Dysregulated Amyloid Mechanisms
Pathak GA, Wendt FR, De Lillo A, Nunez YZ, Goswami A, De Angelis F, Fuciarelli M, Kranzler HR, Gelernter J, Polimanti R. Epigenomic Profiles of African-American Transthyretin Val122Ile Carriers Reveals Putatively Dysregulated Amyloid Mechanisms. Circulation Genomic And Precision Medicine 2021, 14: e003011. PMID: 33428857, PMCID: PMC7887108, DOI: 10.1161/circgen.120.003011.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAmyloidosisATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1Black or African AmericanDNA MethylationEpigenomicsGene Regulatory NetworksGenome-Wide Association StudyHeart DiseasesHumansKv1.6 Potassium ChannelPhosphoproteinsPolymorphism, Single NucleotidePrealbuminQuantitative Trait LociUbiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes
2020
Genome-wide association study of smoking trajectory and meta-analysis of smoking status in 842,000 individuals
Xu K, Li B, McGinnis KA, Vickers-Smith R, Dao C, Sun N, Kember RL, Zhou H, Becker WC, Gelernter J, Kranzler HR, Zhao H, Justice AC. Genome-wide association study of smoking trajectory and meta-analysis of smoking status in 842,000 individuals. Nature Communications 2020, 11: 5302. PMID: 33082346, PMCID: PMC7598939, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18489-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGenome-wide association studiesLarge genome-wide association studiesMillion Veteran ProgramAssociation studiesExpression quantitative trait lociQuantitative trait lociChromatin interactionsComplex traitsFunctional annotationTrait lociSequencing ConsortiumDozen genesSignificant lociSmoking phenotypesLociMultiple populationsNew insightsPhenotypeVeteran ProgramGenetic vulnerabilityGenesTraitsAnnotationEuropean AmericansConsortiumGABAergic polygenic risk for cocaine use disorder is negatively correlated with precuneus activity during cognitive control in African American individuals
Yang BZ, Balodis IM, Kober H, Worhunsky PD, Lacadie CM, Gelernter J, Potenza MN. GABAergic polygenic risk for cocaine use disorder is negatively correlated with precuneus activity during cognitive control in African American individuals. Addictive Behaviors 2020, 114: 106695. PMID: 33153773, PMCID: PMC8299472, DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106695.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchA genome-wide association study of cocaine use disorder accounting for phenotypic heterogeneity and gene–environment interaction
Sun J, Kranzler HR, Gelernter J, Bi J. A genome-wide association study of cocaine use disorder accounting for phenotypic heterogeneity and gene–environment interaction. Journal Of Psychiatry And Neuroscience 2020, 45: 34-44. PMID: 31490055, PMCID: PMC6919916, DOI: 10.1503/jpn.180098.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGenetic lociGenome-wide association testsPhenotypic heterogeneityNew genetic lociGenetic variantsWide association studyGene-environment interplayNovel genetic variantsHigh heritability estimatesSignificant genomeReplication sampleSingle nucleotide polymorphismsGenetic variationAssociation studiesLociNucleotide polymorphismsAssociation TestHeritability estimatesGene-environment interactionsReplication resultsCluster analysisEnvironmental factorsTRAK2GenomeDiscovery phase
2019
Genomewide Gene-by-Sex Interaction Scans Identify ADGRV1 for Sex Differences in Opioid Dependent African Americans
Yang BZ, Zhou H, Cheng Z, Kranzler HR, Gelernter J. Genomewide Gene-by-Sex Interaction Scans Identify ADGRV1 for Sex Differences in Opioid Dependent African Americans. Scientific Reports 2019, 9: 18070. PMID: 31792237, PMCID: PMC6889277, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53560-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAllelesAnalgesics, OpioidBlack or African AmericanBrainCalcium-Binding ProteinsFemaleGene Expression ProfilingGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseGenome-Wide Association StudyHumansMaleMiddle AgedOpioid-Related DisordersPolymorphism, Single NucleotideReceptors, G-Protein-CoupledReceptors, Kainic AcidSex FactorsWhite PeopleConceptsOpioid dependenceOD riskSex-different effectsSex differencesInferior olivary nucleusDSM-IV diagnosisDimorphic riskSubstantia nigraAA menOlivary nucleusFrontal cortexEuropean-American subjectsADGRV1Further studiesRiskAfrican AmericansGenetic variantsDisease enrichment analysisBrainSex interactionNominal significanceMenFirst studyPutamenLungGenome-wide association study of alcohol dependence in male Han Chinese and cross-ethnic polygenic risk score comparison
Sun Y, Chang S, Wang F, Sun H, Ni Z, Yue W, Zhou H, Gelernter J, Malison RT, Kalayasiri R, Wu P, Lu L, Shi J. Genome-wide association study of alcohol dependence in male Han Chinese and cross-ethnic polygenic risk score comparison. Translational Psychiatry 2019, 9: 249. PMID: 31591379, PMCID: PMC6779867, DOI: 10.1038/s41398-019-0586-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAdultAlcohol DehydrogenaseAlcoholismAldehyde Dehydrogenase, MitochondrialAsian PeopleBlack or African AmericanCase-Control StudiesChinaCross-Cultural ComparisonGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseGenome-Wide Association StudyHumansLogistic ModelsMaleMiddle AgedMultifactorial InheritancePolymorphism, Single NucleotideWhite PeopleYoung AdultGenome‐wide scan identifies opioid overdose risk locus close to MCOLN1
Cheng Z, Yang B, Zhou H, Nunez Y, Kranzler HR, Gelernter J. Genome‐wide scan identifies opioid overdose risk locus close to MCOLN1. Addiction Biology 2019, 25: e12811. PMID: 31362332, PMCID: PMC7485539, DOI: 10.1111/adb.12811.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGenome-wide association studiesMucolipin-1Expression profilesGenome-wide significant signalsAssociation studiesPost-GWAS analysisWide association studyDrug repositioning analysisCation channel activityFunctional categoriesConnectivity Map databaseDrug targetsRisk genesGenesChannel activityPatatin-like phospholipaseNetwork analysisPNPLA6Significant signalEuropean AmericansPatterns 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 discoveriesReceiptHIVSalivary microRNAs identified by small RNA sequencing and machine learning as potential biomarkers of alcohol dependence
Rosato AJ, Chen X, Tanaka Y, Farrer LA, Kranzler HR, Nunez YZ, Henderson DC, Gelernter J, Zhang H. Salivary microRNAs identified by small RNA sequencing and machine learning as potential biomarkers of alcohol dependence. Epigenomics 2019, 11: 739-749. PMID: 31140863, PMCID: PMC6595542, DOI: 10.2217/epi-2018-0177.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchGenome-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 17Genetic associations with suicide attempt severity and genetic overlap with major depression
Levey DF, Polimanti R, Cheng Z, Zhou H, Nuñez YZ, Jain S, He F, Sun X, Ursano RJ, Kessler RC, Smoller JW, Stein MB, Kranzler HR, Gelernter J. Genetic associations with suicide attempt severity and genetic overlap with major depression. Translational Psychiatry 2019, 9: 22. PMID: 30655502, PMCID: PMC6336846, DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0340-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGWS associationsGenome-wide significant signalsCircadian clock regulationWide association studyGenetic overlapCatabolism of tyrosineClock regulationFirst GWASSignificant genetic overlapDiscovery GWASChromosome 12Large GWASMolecular mechanismsAssociation studiesChromosome 15Chromosome 18Genetic influencesDiscovery sampleGenetic associationSuicide attempt severityReplication analysisGWASAnaerobic energy productionGenetic risk factorsPolygenic risk scores
2018
GWAS and network analysis of co‐occurring nicotine and alcohol dependence identifies significantly associated alleles and network
Xiang B, Yang B, Zhou H, Kranzler H, Gelernter J. GWAS and network analysis of co‐occurring nicotine and alcohol dependence identifies significantly associated alleles and network. American Journal Of Medical Genetics Part B Neuropsychiatric Genetics 2018, 180: 3-11. PMID: 30488612, PMCID: PMC6918694, DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32692.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAlcoholismAllelesBlack or African AmericanComorbidityEthanolFemaleG(M2) Activator ProteinGene FrequencyGene Regulatory NetworksGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseGenome-Wide Association StudyHumansMaleMiddle AgedNicotinePolymorphism, Single NucleotideProtein Interaction MapsRisk FactorsTobacco Use DisorderWhite PeopleConceptsGene subnetworksProtein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysisGenome-wide significant variantsInteraction network analysisGene-set analysisFunctional enrichment analysisSignificant SNPsQuantitative lociNerve growth factor pathwayGene enrichmentEnrichment analysisNetwork analysisGenetic traitsGrowth factor pathwaysRisk genesSignificant variantsGenesStudy of AddictionSNPsFactor pathwayGM2AAmphetamine addictionGenetic riskGWASSubnetworksGenome-wide association study identifies glutamate ionotropic receptor GRIA4 as a risk gene for comorbid nicotine dependence and major depression
Zhou H, Cheng Z, Bass N, Krystal JH, Farrer LA, Kranzler HR, Gelernter J. Genome-wide association study identifies glutamate ionotropic receptor GRIA4 as a risk gene for comorbid nicotine dependence and major depression. Translational Psychiatry 2018, 8: 208. PMID: 30287806, PMCID: PMC6172277, DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0258-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGenome-wide association studiesGenome-wide association study identifiesRisk genesTop risk genesCalcium ion bindingGenomes reference panelFast excitatory synaptic transmissionGenetic risk variantsGenetic basisEnrichment analysisAssociation studiesExome arrayCell adhesionRisk variantsGenesReference panelGenetic riskAMPA-sensitive glutamate receptorsIntronic variantsIon bindingBiological mechanismsConditional analysisGRIA4Excitatory synaptic transmissionSynaptic transmissionAUDIT‐C and ICD codes as phenotypes for harmful alcohol use: association with ADH1B polymorphisms in two US populations
Justice AC, Smith RV, Tate JP, McGinnis K, Xu K, Becker WC, Lee K, Lynch K, Sun N, Concato J, Fiellin DA, Zhao H, Gelernter J, Kranzler HR, Program O. AUDIT‐C and ICD codes as phenotypes for harmful alcohol use: association with ADH1B polymorphisms in two US populations. Addiction 2018, 113: 2214-2224. PMID: 29972609, PMCID: PMC6226338, DOI: 10.1111/add.14374.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchGenome‐wide association study of cognitive flexibility assessed by the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test
Zhang H, Zhou H, Lencz T, Farrer LA, Kranzler HR, Gelernter J. Genome‐wide association study of cognitive flexibility assessed by the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. American Journal Of Medical Genetics Part B Neuropsychiatric Genetics 2018, 177: 511-519. PMID: 30134085, PMCID: PMC6110090, DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32642.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGenome-wide association studiesSingle nucleotide polymorphismsAssociation studiesGenome-wide significant associationUbiquitin-specific peptidase 9Top single nucleotide polymorphismsComplex trait analysisEnriched gene setsPolygenic risk score analysisCommon single nucleotide polymorphismsGWS associationsSame effect directionGene setsPopulation variationProtein degradationNongenetic factorsTrait analysisChromosome 15Genetic correlationsRisk score analysisNucleotide polymorphismsEffect directionEuropean-American subjectsGenetic factorsBrain developmentTranslational studies support a role for serotonin 2B receptor (HTR2B) gene in aggression-related cannabis response
Montalvo-Ortiz JL, Zhou H, D’Andrea I, Maroteaux L, Lori A, Smith A, Ressler KJ, Nuñez YZ, Farrer LA, Zhao H, Kranzler HR, Gelernter J. Translational studies support a role for serotonin 2B receptor (HTR2B) gene in aggression-related cannabis response. Molecular Psychiatry 2018, 23: 2277-2286. PMID: 29875475, PMCID: PMC6281782, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-018-0077-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGrady Trauma ProjectAfrican AmericansWild-type miceReceptor geneEffects of cannabisWide significant risk lociResident-intruder paradigmImpulsivity/aggressionConcordant findingsTHC administrationKnockout miceTranslational studiesAA subjectsCannabis useStudy designTrauma ProjectAdverse effectsMiceCannabisAggressive behaviorEuropean AmericansNominal associationAdverse consequencesGenome-wide association study (GWAS) designRisk loci