Publication Date:
2021-04-13
Description:
Genome-wide association studies in Europeans and Asians have identified numerous variants in the transmembrane protease serine 6 (TMPRSS6) and transferrin (TF) genes that are associated with changes in iron status. We sought to investigate the effects of common TMPRSS6 and TF gene SNPs on iron status indicators in a cohort of healthy Africans from rural Gambia. We measured iron biomarkers and haematology traits on individuals participating in the Keneba Biobank with genotype data on TMPRSS6 (rs2235321, rs855791, rs4820268, rs2235324, rs2413450 and rs5756506) and TF (rs3811647 and rs1799852), n = 1316. After controlling for inflammation, age and sex, we analysed the effects of carrying either single or multiple iron-lowering alleles on iron status. TMPRSS6 rs2235321 significantly affected plasma hepcidin concentrations (AA genotypes having lower hepcidin levels; F ratio 3.7, P = 0.014) with greater impact in individuals with low haemoglobin or ferritin. No other TMPRSS6 variant affected hepcidin. None of the TMPRSS6 variants nor a TMPRSS6 allele risk score affected other iron biomarkers or haematological traits. TF rs3811647 AA carriers had 21% higher transferrin (F ratio 16.0, P
Electronic ISSN:
2045-2322
Topics:
Natural Sciences in General
Permalink