Genetic influences on human blood metabolites in the Japanese population

Abstract

An increase in ethnic diversity in genetic studies has the potential to provide unprecedented insights into how genetic variations influence human phenotypes. In this study, we conducted a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of 121 metabolites measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with plasma samples from 4, 888 Japanese individuals. We found 60 metabolite-gene associations, of which 13 have not been previously reported. Meta-analyses with another Japanese and a European study identified six and two additional unreported loci, respectively. Genetic variants influencing metabolite levels were more enriched in protein-coding regions than in the regulatory regions while being associated with the risk of various diseases. Finally, we identified a signature of strong negative selection for uric acid (Ŝ = −1.53, p = 6.2 × 10⁻¹⁸). Our study expanded the knowledge of genetic influences on human blood metabolites, providing valuable insights into their physiological, pathological, and selective properties.