Association study in African-admixed populations across the Americas recapitulates asthma risk loci in non-African populations
Authors: Daya Michelle , Rafaels Nicholas , Brunetti Tonya M. , Chavan Sameer , Levin Albert M. , Shetty Aniket , Gignoux Christopher R. , Boorgula Meher Preethi , Wojcik Genevieve , Campbell Monica , Vergara Candelaria , Torgerson Dara G. , Ortega Victor E. , Doumatey Ayo , Johnston Henry Richard , Acevedo Nathalie , Araujo Maria Ilma , Avila Pedro C. , Belbin Gillian , Bleecker Eugene , Bustamante Carlos , Caraballo Luis , Cruz Alvaro , Dunston Georgia M. , Eng Celeste , Faruque Mezbah U. , Ferguson Trevor S. , Figueiredo Camila , Ford Jean G. , Gan Weiniu , Gourraud Pierre-Antoine , Hansel Nadia N. , Hernandez Ryan D. , Herrera-Paz Edwin Francisco , Jiménez Silvia , Kenny Eimear E. , Knight-Madden Jennifer , Kumar Rajesh , Lange Leslie A. , Lange Ethan M. , Lizee Antoine , Maul Pissamai , Maul Trevor , Mayorga Alvaro , Meyers Deborah , Nicolae Dan L. , O’Connor Timothy D. , Oliveira Ricardo Riccio , Olopade Christopher O. , Olopade Olufunmilayo , Qin Zhaohui S. , Rotimi Charles , Vince Nicolas , Watson Harold , Wilks Rainford J. , Wilson James G. , Salzberg Steven , Ober Carole , Burchard Esteban G. , Williams L. Keoki , Beaty Terri H. , Taub Margaret A. , Ruczinski Ingo , Mathias Rasika A. , Barnes Kathleen C. ,   CAAPA, Adegnika Ayola Akim , Arinola Ganiyu , Ateba-Ngoa Ulysse , Ayestas Gerardo , Bjarnadóttir Hrafnhildur , Correa Adolfo , Erazo Said Omar Leiva , Foreman Marilyn G. , Foster Cassandra , Gao Li , Gao Jingjing , Grammer Leslie , Hansen Mark , Hartert Tina , Hu Yijuan , Königsberg Iain , Kim Kwang-Youn A. , Landaverde-Torres Pamela , Marrugo Javier , Martinez Beatriz , Martinez Rosella , Mayorga Luis F. , Mejia-Mejia Delmy-Aracely , Meza Catherine , Musani Solomon , Musharoff Shaila , Oluwole Oluwafemi , Pino-Yanes Maria , Ramos Hector , Saenz Allan , Samms-Vaughan Maureen , Schleimer Robert , Scott Alan F. , Shringarpure Suyash S. , Song Wei , Szpiech Zachary A. , Torres Raul , Varela Gloria , Vasquez Olga Marina , Vega Francisco M. De La , Ware Lorraine B. , Yazdanbakhsh Maria 
Published: February 2019

Asthma is a complex disease with striking disparities across racial and ethnic groups. Despite its relatively high burden, representation of individuals of African ancestry in asthma genome-wide association studies (GWAS) has been inadequate, and true associations in these underrepresented minority groups have been inconclusive. We report the results of a genome-wide meta-analysis from the Consortium on Asthma among African Ancestry Populations (CAAPA; 7009 asthma cases, 7645 controls). We find strong evidence for association at four previously reported asthma loci whose discovery was driven largely by non-African populations, including the chromosome 17q12–q21 locus and the chr12q13 region, a novel (and not previously replicated) asthma locus recently identified by the Trans-National Asthma Genetic Consortium (TAGC). An additional seven loci reported by TAGC show marginal evidence for association in CAAPA. We also identify two novel loci (8p23 and 8q24) that may be specific to asthma risk in African ancestry populations.