Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Many genetic loci affect circulating lipid levels, but it remains unknown whether lifestyle factors, such as physical activity, modify these genetic effects. To identify lipid loci interacting with physical activity, we performed genome-wide analyses of circulating HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in up to 120,979 individuals of European, African, Asian, Hispanic, and Brazilian ancestry, with follow-up of suggestive associations in an additional 131,012 individuals. We find four loci, in/near CLASP1, LHX1, SNTA1, and CNTNAP2, that are associated with circulating lipid levels through interaction with physical activity; higher levels of physical activity enhance the HDL cholesterol-increasing effects of the CLASP1, LHX1, and SNTA1 loci and attenuate the LDL cholesterol-increasing effect of the CNTNAP2 locus. The CLASP1, LHX1, and SNTA1 regions harbor genes linked to muscle function and lipid metabolism. Our results elucidate the role of physical activity interactions in the genetic contribution to blood lipid levels.

Original publication

DOI

10.1038/s41467-018-08008-w

Type

Journal article

Journal

Nature communications

Publication Date

01/2019

Volume

10

Addresses

Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, 2200, Denmark. tuomas.kilpelainen@sund.ku.dk.

Keywords

Lifelines Cohort Study, Humans, Cholesterol, Lipids, Triglycerides, Calcium-Binding Proteins, Muscle Proteins, Microtubule-Associated Proteins, Membrane Proteins, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Transcription Factors, Exercise, Genotype, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Middle Aged, Brazil, Female, Male, Lipid Metabolism, Cholesterol, LDL, Cholesterol, HDL, Genome-Wide Association Study, Young Adult, Genetic Loci, LIM-Homeodomain Proteins, Hispanic or Latino, Asian People, White People, Black People