Distinguishing genetic correlation from causation across 52 diseases and complex traits.
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| Abstract | Mendelian randomization, a method to infer causal relationships, is confounded by genetic correlations reflecting shared etiology. We developed a model in which a latent causal variable mediates the genetic correlation; trait 1 is partially genetically causal for trait 2 if it is strongly genetically correlated with the latent causal variable, quantified using the genetic causality proportion. We fit this model using mixed fourth moments [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] of marginal effect sizes for each trait; if trait 1 is causal for trait 2, then SNPs affecting trait 1 (large [Formula: see text]) will have correlated effects on trait 2 (large αα), but not vice versa. In simulations, our method avoided false positives due to genetic correlations, unlike Mendelian randomization. Across 52 traits (average n = 331,000), we identified 30 causal relationships with high genetic causality proportion estimates. Novel findings included a causal effect of low-density lipoprotein on bone mineral density, consistent with clinical trials of statins in osteoporosis. |
| Year of Publication | 2018
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| Journal | Nat Genet
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| Volume | 50
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| Issue | 12
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| Pages | 1728-1734
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| Date Published | 2018 Dec
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| ISSN | 1546-1718
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| DOI | 10.1038/s41588-018-0255-0
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| PubMed ID | 30374074
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| PubMed Central ID | PMC6684375
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| Grant list | U01 CA194393 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
U01 CA194393 / NH / NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH101244 / NH / NIH HHS / United States
T32 HG002295 / HG / NHGRI NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH107649 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH101244 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
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