A genome-wide association scan in admixed Latin Americans identifies loci influencing facial and scalp hair features.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 26926045.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/ncomms10815 and PMC identifier 4773514.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
We report a genome-wide association scan in over 6,000 Latin Americans for features of scalp hair (shape, colour, greying, balding) and facial hair (beard thickness, monobrow, eyebrow thickness). We found 18 signals of association reaching genome-wide significance (P values 5 × 10(-8) to 3 × 10(-119)), including 10 novel associations. These include novel loci for scalp hair shape and balding, and the first reported loci for hair greying, monobrow, eyebrow and beard thickness. A newly identified locus influencing hair shape includes a Q30R substitution in the Protease Serine S1 family member 53 (PRSS53). We demonstrate that this enzyme is highly expressed in the hair follicle, especially the inner root sheath, and that the Q30R substitution affects enzyme processing and secretion. The genome regions associated with hair features are enriched for signals of selection, consistent with proposals regarding the evolution of human hair.
Medical subject headings
- Face
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Genome-Wide Association Study
- Hair
- Racial Groups
- Scalp