We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Genomic Atlas of Human Plasma Proteome Publicized

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 26 Jun 2018
Although plasma proteins have important roles in biological processes and are the direct targets of many drugs, the genetic factors that control inter-individual variation in plasma protein levels are not well understood.

Bringing in expression quantitative trait locus (QTL) and protein QTL data, biological pathway clues, drug database insights, and variants identified in prior genome-wide association studies, a team of scientists subsequently searched for plasma proteins contributing to common conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, as well as for potential drugs for altering these pathways.

A large team of scientists collaborating with those at the University of Cambridge (Cambridge, UK) characterized the genetic architecture of the human plasma proteome in healthy blood donors. More...
The study involved about 50,000 participants, and the team systematically quantified levels for thousands of proteins in plasma samples from 3,301 seemingly healthy, genotyped individuals. With these data, they uncovered more than 1,900 interactions between almost 800 genomic regions and nearly 1,500 proteins.

The scientists used the SOMAscan, an aptamer-based multiplex protein assay. They quantified plasma levels of 3,622 proteins in blood samples from 3,301 healthy donors. They set those proteome data alongside genetic profiles for the participants, searching for associations between plasma proteins and 10.6 million autosomal SNPs that were imputed or directly assessed using Affymetrix Axiom UK Biobank arrays. The team's analysis uncovered 1,927 associations involving 1,478 proteins and 764 regions in the genome. Most of those associations, 89%, had not been described previously.

The team noted that 502 of the protein-associated loci appeared to act locally, or in cis, while 228 had trans effects on plasma proteins. The remaining 34 loci appeared to have both cis and trans protein interactions. They validated 106 of 163 proposed protein QTLs using an Olink protein assay (Uppsala, Sweden; www.olink.com) on samples from another 4,998 individuals, noting that the cis pQTLs appeared more apt to replicate than those involving longer-range trans interactions. After exploring the overlap between the proposed pQTLs and expression QTLs reported in the past, the investigators incorporated information from prior genome-wide association study.

The authors concluded that by linking genetic factors to diseases via specific proteins, their analyses highlight potential therapeutic targets, opportunities for matching existing drugs with new disease indications, and potential safety concerns for drugs under development. The study was published on June 6, 2018, in the journal Nature.

Related Links:
University of Cambridge


Gold Member
Quality Control Material
iPLEX Pro Exome QC Panel
Portable Electronic Pipette
Mini 96
New
Autoimmune Liver Diseases Assay
Microblot-Array Liver Profile Kit
New
Gold Member
Cardiovascular Risk Test
Metabolic Syndrome Array I & II
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: New research points to protecting blood during radiation therapy (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Pioneering Model Measures Radiation Exposure in Blood for Precise Cancer Treatments

Scientists have long focused on protecting organs near tumors during radiotherapy, but blood — a vital, circulating tissue — has largely been excluded from dose calculations. Each blood cell passing through... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The VENTANA HER2 (4B5) test is now CE-IVDR approved (Photo courtesy of Roche)

Companion Diagnostic Test Identifies HER2-Ultralow Breast Cancer and Biliary Tract Cancer Patients

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Europe, with more than 564,000 new cases and 145,000 deaths annually. Metastatic breast cancer is rising in younger populations and remains the leading cause... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: An adult fibrosarcoma case report has shown the importance of early diagnosis and targeted therapy (Photo courtesy of Sultana and Sailaja/Oncoscience)

Accurate Pathological Analysis Improves Treatment Outcomes for Adult Fibrosarcoma

Adult fibrosarcoma is a rare and highly aggressive malignancy that develops in connective tissue and often affects the limbs, trunk, or head and neck region. Diagnosis is complex because tumors can mimic... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: Conceptual design of the CORAL capsule for microbial sampling in the small intestine (H. Mohammed et al., Device (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.device.2025.100904)

Coral-Inspired Capsule Samples Hidden Bacteria from Small Intestine

The gut microbiome has been linked to conditions ranging from immune disorders to mental health, yet conventional stool tests often fail to capture bacterial populations in the small intestine.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.