Insights from GWAS, TWAS, and DEG analysis: CDKN2B-AS1, MAP3K4, and P2RX2-encoded P2X2 receptor identified as potential therapeutic targets for ischemic heart disease in Russian adults and long-living individuals
Background The purpose of this study was to investigate genetic risk factors associated with ischemic heart disease (IHD) in Russian adults, to develop prognostic PRS models for IHD risk stratification, and to gain a better understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying IHD through a transcriptome analysis. Materials and methods The study analyzed data from three independent cohorts: a population sample of 69,500 individuals, a cardiac sample of 5,875 IHD patients, and a sample of 2,870 long-living adults. To identify genomic loci associated with IHD, a GWAS was performed, and its findings were used to develop a PRS model for the IHD phenotype. Additionally, a transcriptome analysis was conducted. Results The GWAS for IHD adjusted for sex, age, and the first ten principal component accounting for population structure identified 75 variants, with 67 located at 9p21.3. Based on the GWAS findings, PRS models were developed and validated for IHD. The risk of IHD adjusted for sex, age, and BMI was the lowest in the sample of long-living adults. The TWAS revealed a significant association between IHD and increased CDKN2B expression in the aorta. According to the DEG results, the CDKN1A gene, a member of the same gene family as CDKN2B, was significantly hypoexpressed in the lower limb veins of patients with IHD. Conclusion PRS models offer great benefits for IHD risk prediction, particularly in individuals at the e tremes of the heritable risk distribution. lncRNAs, such as CDKN2BAS1 and lncRNA-MAP3K4, as well as P2X2 receptors, could be potential therapeutic targets for IHD.