Identificación de QTLs moleculares y sus interacciones con factores ambientales (GXE) en población infantil

Durada

2018-2020

Coordinador

Mariona Bustamante (ISGlobal)

Finançadors

Instituto de Salud Juan Carlos III, Unión Europea

Genetic variants, environmental exposures and their interactions (GxE) influence complex phenotypes in humans. However, they are difficult to identify. Molecular endophenotypes (ie. DNA methylation levels), which are more specific and can be measured with less error, might facilitate the identification of these determinants.

The objective of this project is the identification of genetic polymorphisms associated with molecular endophenotypes (molecular QTLs - quantitative trait loci) in children, and to evaluate their interaction with environmental factors (GxE).

The project is built on existing data of 1300 European children from HELIX (The Human Early-Life Exposome), consisting of prenatal and postnatal exposures (>200 variables) and molecular endophenotypes measured at the age of 7-9 years (methylation, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics). As part of this proposal, HELIX children will be genome-wide genotyped (GWAS), and loci associated with molecular endophenotypes levels (QTL) and variability (var-QTL) will be identified using multivariate linear regressions. The GxE interactions will be based on a priori hipothesis derived from the var-QTLs analysis or from studies of GxE in in vitro models.

The dissection at molecular level proposed in this project will help to elucidate the causes and mechanisms of complex diseases.

Budget

108.900,00 euros

Este proyecto está cofinanciado por el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER). “Una manera de hacer Europa”