Approved research
The genetic study of osteosarcopenic obesity
Lay summary
Osteosarcopenic obesity (OSO) is a term describing the concurrent appearance of obesity in individuals with low bone and muscle mass. It is a group of severe and common metabolic conditions, including osteoporosis, sarcopenia and obesity. These three components of OSO not only each has strong genetic determinants, but also have strong genetic interplays. However, our understanding to their genetic interactions is largely unknown. In this application, we plan to comprehensively analyze the genome-wide association data of body compositions, including fat mass, lean mass and bone traits, to identify their genetic relationships. Our study will help to understand the genetic determinants of each component of OSO as well as their interplays.
Scope extension: Osteosarcopenic obesity (OSO) is a term describing the concurrent appearance of obesity in individuals with low bone and muscle mass. The three components of OSO, namely osteoporosis, sarcopenia and obesity, not only are all under strong genetic determinants, but also are genetically related. However, our understanding of the genetic basis of their interplay and of OSO pathology is largely unknown. The aim of the present study is to reveal genetic basis and interplay of osteoporosis, sarcopenia and obesity pathology by comprehensive analyses of components of body compositions, including fat mass, lean mass and bone traits. The specific aims of this application are 1) to identify novel genomic loci that are associated with individual components of OSO; 2) to identify pleiotropic genes contributing to all components of OSO jointly; and 3) to identify interaction effects between the three components of OSO.
Body compositions influence other metabolic traits and diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart diseases. On the other hand, body compositions are influenced by other metabolic and epidemiological conditions such as life style and diet. However, the extent to which they are influenced and the causal relationship for such influence are largely unclear. The scope of this extension aims to comprehensively study the epidemiological and genetic background of each component of body compositions and of other relevant risk factors, and to uncover the interplay between them as well as the causal relationship underlying observational correlations.