Featured Publications
Bi-ancestral depression GWAS in the Million Veteran Program and meta-analysis in >1.2 million individuals highlight new therapeutic directions
Levey DF, Stein MB, Wendt FR, Pathak GA, Zhou H, Aslan M, Quaden R, Harrington KM, Nuñez YZ, Overstreet C, Radhakrishnan K, Sanacora G, McIntosh AM, Shi J, Shringarpure SS, Concato J, Polimanti R, Gelernter J. Bi-ancestral depression GWAS in the Million Veteran Program and meta-analysis in >1.2 million individuals highlight new therapeutic directions. Nature Neuroscience 2021, 24: 954-963. PMID: 34045744, PMCID: PMC8404304, DOI: 10.1038/s41593-021-00860-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTranscriptome-wide association studyMillion Veteran ProgramTranscriptome-wide association study (TWAS) analysisGenomic risk lociComplex psychiatric traitsGenetic architectureRisk lociGene expressionAssociation studiesLikely pathogenicityPsychiatric traitsVeteran ProgramNew therapeutic directionEuropean ancestryNew insightsAncestryUK BiobankAfrican ancestrySubstantial replicationExpressionLarge independent cohortsGWASTherapeutic directionsGenesLociGenome-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
2022
Genetically regulated multi-omics study for symptom clusters of posttraumatic stress disorder highlights pleiotropy with hematologic and cardio-metabolic traits
Pathak GA, Singh K, Wendt FR, Fleming TW, Overstreet C, Koller D, Tylee DS, De Angelis F, Cabrera Mendoza B, Levey DF, Koenen KC, Krystal JH, Pietrzak RH, O’ Donell C, Gaziano JM, Falcone G, Stein MB, Gelernter J, Pasaniuc B, Mancuso N, Davis LK, Polimanti R. Genetically regulated multi-omics study for symptom clusters of posttraumatic stress disorder highlights pleiotropy with hematologic and cardio-metabolic traits. Molecular Psychiatry 2022, 27: 1394-1404. PMID: 35241783, PMCID: PMC9210390, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01488-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLocal genetic correlationsCell type-specific expressionVanderbilt University biorepositoryMulti-omics studiesMulti-omics investigationsDorsolateral prefrontal cortex tissueGenomic evidenceLaboratory traitsSpecific expressionCardio-metabolic traitsMillion Veteran ProgramPrefrontal cortex tissueMiR-148GenesGenetic correlationsRegulatory profileTraitsProtein expressionCardiometabolic traitsExpressionVeteran ProgramCortex tissueBiological heterogeneitySplicingPrioritization approach
2020
Expanding the genetic architecture of nicotine dependence and its shared genetics with multiple traits
Quach BC, Bray MJ, Gaddis NC, Liu M, Palviainen T, Minica CC, Zellers S, Sherva R, Aliev F, Nothnagel M, Young KA, Marks JA, Young H, Carnes MU, Guo Y, Waldrop A, Sey NYA, Landi MT, McNeil DW, Drichel D, Farrer LA, Markunas CA, Vink JM, Hottenga JJ, Iacono WG, Kranzler HR, Saccone NL, Neale MC, Madden P, Rietschel M, Marazita ML, McGue M, Won H, Winterer G, Grucza R, Dick DM, Gelernter J, Caporaso NE, Baker TB, Boomsma DI, Kaprio J, Hokanson JE, Vrieze S, Bierut LJ, Johnson EO, Hancock DB. Expanding the genetic architecture of nicotine dependence and its shared genetics with multiple traits. Nature Communications 2020, 11: 5562. PMID: 33144568, PMCID: PMC7642344, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19265-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGenome-wide significant lociGenome-wide association studiesNearby gene expressionExpression of genesSmoking traitsGenetic architectureSignificant lociGenetic variationMultiple traitsGene expressionAssociation studiesLociTraitsGenetic knowledgeComposite phenotypeUK BiobankExpressionTENM2GNAI1GenesGeneticsVariantsPhenotype
2018
Genome-wide Association Study Identifies a Regulatory Variant of RGMA Associated With Opioid Dependence in European Americans
Cheng Z, Zhou H, Sherva R, Farrer LA, Kranzler HR, Gelernter J. Genome-wide Association Study Identifies a Regulatory Variant of RGMA Associated With Opioid Dependence in European Americans. Biological Psychiatry 2018, 84: 762-770. PMID: 29478698, PMCID: PMC6041180, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.12.016.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGenome-wide association studiesAssociation studiesHomologous mouse geneMouse geneAxon guidance proteinRegulatory variantsCoexpression analysisOpioid dependenceTranscript variantsGenetic studiesChromosome 15Guidance proteinsRNA expressionNominal significanceMessenger RNA expressionGenesRepulsive guidance molecule AHigh expressionRGMaRisk allelesChronic morphine injectionDSM-IV diagnosisExpressionNew leadsMorphine injection
2016
Review: DNA methylation and alcohol use disorders: Progress and challenges
Zhang H, Gelernter J. Review: DNA methylation and alcohol use disorders: Progress and challenges. American Journal On Addictions 2016, 26: 502-515. PMID: 27759945, PMCID: PMC6003819, DOI: 10.1111/ajad.12465.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDNA methylation changesDNA methylationMethylation changesGenome-wide DNA methylation studyGene expressionPromoter regionGlobal DNA methylation levelsDNA methylation profilesDNA methylation studiesDNA methylation levelsWidespread DNA methylationCandidate gene studiesEpigenetic mechanismsGenetic variationConsequences of AUDMethylation profilesMethylation studiesGene studiesMethylation levelsMethylationAUD subjectsGene-environment interactionsEnvironmental factorsInteractive effectsExpression
2010
Functional impact of a single-nucleotide polymorphism in the OPRD1 promoter region
Zhang H, Gelernter J, Gruen JR, Kranzler HR, Herman AI, Simen AA. Functional impact of a single-nucleotide polymorphism in the OPRD1 promoter region. Journal Of Human Genetics 2010, 55: 278-284. PMID: 20300121, PMCID: PMC2876206, DOI: 10.1038/jhg.2010.22.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAllelesCell LineElectrophoretic Mobility Shift AssayGene Expression RegulationHumansLuciferasesNuclear ProteinsOligonucleotide ProbesPolymorphism, Single NucleotidePromoter Regions, GeneticProtein BindingReceptors, Opioid, deltaRecombinant Fusion ProteinsTranscription FactorsTransfectionConceptsMinor G alleleG alleleΔ-opioid receptorsSubstances of abuseDual-luciferase reporterOpioid dependenceBrain nuclear proteinsGreater expression levelsA alleleLuciferase reporterRenilla luciferase vectorsSingle nucleotide polymorphismsLuciferase reporter vectorExpression levelsPromoter regionHEK293 cellsLuciferase vectorFunctional impactLuciferase expressionFunctional significanceExpressionRenilla luciferase expressionReporter vectorTranscription factors