Multi-ancestry transcriptome-wide association analyses yield insights into tobacco use biology and drug repurposing

Fang Chen, Xingyan Wang, Seon Kyeong Jang, Bryan C. Quach, J. Dylan Weissenkampen, Chachrit Khunsriraksakul, Lina Yang, Renan Sauteraud, Christine M. Albert, Nicholette D.D. Allred, Donna K. Arnett, Allison E. Ashley-Koch, Kathleen C. Barnes, R. Graham Barr, Diane M. Becker, Lawrence F. Bielak, Joshua C. Bis, John Blangero, Meher Preethi Boorgula, Daniel I. ChasmanSameer Chavan, Yii Der I. Chen, Lee Ming Chuang, Adolfo Correa, Joanne E. Curran, Sean P. David, Lisa de las Fuentes, Ranjan Deka, Ravindranath Duggirala, Jessica D. Faul, Melanie E. Garrett, Sina A. Gharib, Xiuqing Guo, Michael E. Hall, Nicola L. Hawley, Jiang He, Brian D. Hobbs, John E. Hokanson, Chao A. Hsiung, Shih Jen Hwang, Thomas M. Hyde, Marguerite R. Irvin, Andrew E. Jaffe, Eric O. Johnson, Robert Kaplan, Sharon L.R. Kardia, Joel D. Kaufman, Tanika N. Kelly, Joel E. Kleinman, Charles Kooperberg, I. Te Lee, Daniel Levy, Sharon M. Lutz, Ani W. Manichaikul, Lisa W. Martin, Olivia Marx, Stephen T. McGarvey, Ryan L. Minster, Matthew Moll, Karine A. Moussa, Take Naseri, Kari E. North, Elizabeth C. Oelsner, Juan M. Peralta, Patricia A. Peyser, Bruce M. Psaty, Nicholas Rafaels, Laura M. Raffield, Muagututi’a Sefuiva Reupena, Stephen S. Rich, Jerome I. Rotter, David A. Schwartz, Aladdin H. Shadyab, Wayne H.H. Sheu, Mario Sims, Jennifer A. Smith, Xiao Sun, Kent D. Taylor, Marilyn J. Telen, Harold Watson, Daniel E. Weeks, David R. Weir, Lisa R. Yanek, Kendra A. Young, Kristin L. Young, Wei Zhao, Dana B. Hancock, Bibo Jiang, Scott Vrieze, Dajiang J. Liu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Most transcriptome-wide association studies (TWASs) so far focus on European ancestry and lack diversity. To overcome this limitation, we aggregated genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics, whole-genome sequences and expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) data from diverse ancestries. We developed a new approach, TESLA (multi-ancestry integrative study using an optimal linear combination of association statistics), to integrate an eQTL dataset with a multi-ancestry GWAS. By exploiting shared phenotypic effects between ancestries and accommodating potential effect heterogeneities, TESLA improves power over other TWAS methods. When applied to tobacco use phenotypes, TESLA identified 273 new genes, up to 55% more compared with alternative TWAS methods. These hits and subsequent fine mapping using TESLA point to target genes with biological relevance. In silico drug-repurposing analyses highlight several drugs with known efficacy, including dextromethorphan and galantamine, and new drugs such as muscle relaxants that may be repurposed for treating nicotine addiction.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)291-300
Number of pages10
JournalNature genetics
Volume55
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2023

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics

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