Identification of inhibitory factors for the development of lifestyle-related diseases in high-risk groups based on genetic risk scores

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K22753
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 58:Society medicine, nursing, and related fields
• Research Institution: Kanazawa University
• Principal Investigator: Tajima Atsushi 金沢大学, 医学系, 教授 (10396864)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 觀音 隆幸 金沢大学, 医学系, 特任助教 (50525409)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-06-28 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 遺伝的リスクスコア / 発症ハイリスク群 / 生活習慣病 / 発症抑制因子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We estimated genome-wide polygenic risk scores (GPSs) for the development of various lifestyle-related diseases in each of the community-based cohort participants, and identified high-risk groups for developing the diseases based on GPSs. Further, we performed population-based case-control studies using baseline data (e.g., blood testing, lifestyle), medical information (e.g., complications, medication history) and genotypes, and found candidate factors (genetic and environmental factors) that could inhibit the development of lifestyle-related diseases.

Free Research Field

ゲノム医科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

研究開始当初は、疫学領域におけるゲノムワイド多遺伝子リスクスコアGPSの利活用は、世界的にも端緒についたばかりであった。とりわけ、GPSに基づく疾患ハイリスク群に焦点を当て、生活習慣病の発症抑制因子（遺伝・環境）を網羅的に探索することを目指すという研究課題は探索性が強く、また、芽生え期のものであった。本研究により同定された発症抑制因子は、個別化予防・医療といった新たな医療の実現に向けた根拠を与え、疾患の病態生理学的理解の深化に寄与することが期待できる。