The impact of global and local Polynesian genetic ancestry on complex traits in Native Hawaiians

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009273
• Publication Date: 2021-02-11T22:49:20Z
• Authors: Hanxiao Sun; Meng Lin; Emily M. Russell; Ryan L. Minster; Tsz Fung Chan; Bryan L. Dinh; Take Naseri; Muagututi‘a Sefui...; Annette Lum-Jones; ; Iona Cheng; Lynne R. Wilkens; Loïc Le Marchand; Christopher A. Ha...; Charleston W. K. ...
• Keywords: Native Hawaiians; Genetic genealogy; Genetic admixture; Genome-wide Association Study; Genetic epidemiology

Epidemiological studies of obesity, Type-2 diabetes (T2D), cardiovascular diseases and several common cancers have revealed an increased risk in Native Hawaiians compared to European- or Asian-Americans living the Hawaiian islands. However, there remains a gap our understanding genetic factors that affect health Hawaiians. To fill this gap, we studied at both chromosomal sub-chromosomal scales using genome-wide SNP array data on ~4,000 from Multiethnic Cohort. We estimated genomic proportion ancestry (“global ancestry,” which presumed be Polynesian origin), as well ancestral component along each chromosome (“local ancestry”) tested their respective association with binary quantitative cardiometabolic traits. After attempting adjust for non-genetic covariates evaluated through questionnaires, found per 10% increase global ancestry, is 8.6%, 11.0% odds being diabetic ( P = 1.65×10 −4 ) having heart failure 2.18×10 ), 0.059 s.d. BMI 1.04×10 −10 ). When testing local disease biomarkers, identified chr6 region associated T2D. This was driven by uniquely prevalent variant individuals. could not replicate finding independent cohort Samoa due small sample size replication cohort. In conclusion, showed likely capture lifestyle factors, diabetes, failure, larger cohorts individuals will needed putative