Interethnic analyses of blood pressure loci in populations of East Asian and European descent
Authors: Takeuchi Fumihiko , Akiyama Masato , Matoba Nana , Katsuya Tomohiro , Nakatochi Masahiro , Tabara Yasuharu , Narita Akira , Saw Woei-Yuh , Moon Sanghoon , Spracklen Cassandra N. , Chai Jin-Fang , Kim Young-Jin , Zhang Liang , Wang Chaolong , Li Huaixing , Li Honglan , Wu Jer-Yuarn , Dorajoo Rajkumar , Nierenberg Jovia L. , Wang Ya Xing , He Jing , Bennett Derrick A. , Takahashi Atsushi , Momozawa Yukihide , Hirata Makoto , Matsuda Koichi , Rakugi Hiromi , Nakashima Eitaro , Isono Masato , Shirota Matsuyuki , Hozawa Atsushi , Ichihara Sahoko , Matsubara Tatsuaki , Yamamoto Ken , Kohara Katsuhiko , Igase Michiya , Han Sohee , Gordon-Larsen Penny , Huang Wei , Lee Nanette R. , Adair Linda S. , Hwang Mi Yeong , Lee Juyoung , Chee Miao Li , Sabanayagam Charumathi , Zhao Wanting , Liu Jianjun , Reilly Dermot F. , Sun Liang , Huo Shaofeng , Edwards Todd L. , Long Jirong , Chang Li-Ching , Chen Chien-Hsiun , Yuan Jian-Min , Koh Woon-Puay , Friedlander Yechiel , Kelly Tanika N. , Bin Wei Wen , Xu Liang , Cai Hui , Xiang Yong-Bing , Lin Kuang , Clarke Robert , Walters Robin G. , Millwood Iona Y. , Li Liming , Chambers John C. , Kooner Jaspal S. , Elliott Paul , van der Harst Pim ,   The International Genomics of Blood Pressure (iGEN-BP) Consortium, Loh Marie , Verweij Niek , Zhang Weihua , Lehne Benjamin , Mateo Leach Irene , Drong Alexander , Abbott James , Tan Sian-Tsung , Scott William R. , Campanella Gianluca , Chadeau-Hyam Marc , Afzal Uzma , Esko Tõnu , Harris Sarah E. , Hartiala Jaana , Kleber Marcus E. , Saxena Richa , Stewart Alexandre F. R. , Ahluwalia Tarunveer S. , Aits Imke , Couto Alves Alexessander Da Silva , Das Shikta , Hopewell Jemma C. , Koivula Robert W. , Lyytikäinen Leo-Pekka , Postmus Iris , Raitakari Olli T. , Scott Robert A. , Sorice Rossella , Tragante Vinicius , Traglia Michela , White Jon , Barroso Inês , Bjonnes Andrew , Collins Rory , Davies Gail , Delgado Graciela , Doevendans Pieter A. , Franke Lude , Gansevoort Ron T. , Grammer Tanja B. , Grarup Niels , Grewal Jagvir , Hartikainen Anna-Liisa , Hazen Stanley L. , Hsu Chris , Husemoen Lise L. N. , Justesen Johanne M. , Kumari Meena , Lieb Wolfgang , Liewald David C. M. , Mihailov Evelin , Milani Lili , Mills Rebecca , Mononen Nina , Nikus Kjell , Nutile Teresa , Parish Sarah , Rolandsson Olov , Ruggiero Daniela , Sala Cinzia F. , Snieder Harold , Spasø Thomas H. W. , Spiering Wilko , Starr John M. , Stott David J. , Stram Daniel O. , Szymczak Silke , Tang W. H. Wilson , Trompet Stella , Turjanmaa Väinö , Vaarasmaki Marja , van Gilst Wiek H. , van Veldhuisen Dirk J. , Viikari Jorma S. , Asselbergs Folkert W. , Ciullo Marina , Franke Andre , Franks Paul W. , Franks Steve , Gross Myron D. , Hansen Torben , Jarvelin Marjo-Riitta , Jørgensen Torben , Jukema Wouter J. , Kähönen Mika , Kivimaki Mika , Lehtimäki Terho , Linneberg Allan , Pedersen Oluf , Samani Nilesh J. , Toniolo Daniela , Allayee Hooman , Deary Ian J. , März Winfried , Metspalu Andres , Wijmenga Cisca , Wolffenbuttel Bruce H. W. , Vineis Paolo , Kyrtopoulos Soterios A. , Kleinjans Jos C. S. , McCarthy Mark I. , Scott James , Chen Zhengming , Sasaki Makoto , Shu Xiao-Ou , Jonas Jost B. , He Jiang , Heng Chew-Kiat , Chen Yuan-Tsong , Zheng Wei , Lin Xu , Teo Yik-Ying , Tai E-Shyong , Cheng Ching-Yu , Wong Tien Yin , Sim Xueling , Mohlke Karen L. , Yamamoto Masayuki , Kim Bong-Jo , Miki Tetsuro , Nabika Toru , Yokota Mitsuhiro , Kamatani Yoichiro , Kubo Michiaki , Kato Norihiro 
Published: November 2018

Blood pressure (BP) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and more than 200 genetic loci associated with BP are known. Here, we perform a multi-stage genome-wide association study for BP (max N = 289,038) principally in East Asians and meta-analysis in East Asians and Europeans. We report 19 new genetic loci and ancestry-specific BP variants, conforming to a common ancestry-specific variant association model. At 10 unique loci, distinct non-rare ancestry-specific variants colocalize within the same linkage disequilibrium block despite the significantly discordant effects for the proxy shared variants between the ethnic groups. The genome-wide transethnic correlation of causal-variant effect-sizes is 0.898 and 0.851 for systolic and diastolic BP, respectively. Some of the ancestry-specific association signals are also influenced by a selective sweep. Our results provide new evidence for the role of common ancestry-specific variants and natural selection in ethnic differences in complex traits such as BP.