To date only a fraction of the genetic footprint of thyroid function has been clarified. We report a genome-wide association study meta-analysis of thyroid function in up to 271,040 individuals of European ancestry, including reference range thyrotropin (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), free and total triiodothyronine (T3), proxies for metabolism (T3/FT4 ratio) as well as dichotomized high and low TSH levels. We revealed 259 independent significant associations for TSH (61% novel), 85 for FT4 (67% novel), and 62 novel signals for the T3 related traits. The loci explained 14.1%, 6.0%, 9.5% and 1.1% of the total variation in TSH, FT4, total T3 and free T3 concentrations, respectively. Genetic correlations indicate that TSH associated loci reflect the thyroid function determined by free T3, whereas the FT4 associations represent the thyroid hormone metabolism. Polygenic risk score and Mendelian randomization analyses showed the effects of genetically determined variation in thyroid function on various clinical outcomes, including cardiovascular risk factors and diseases, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. In conclusion, our results improve the understanding of thyroid hormone physiology and highlight the pleiotropic effects of thyroid function on various diseases.

© 2024. The Author(s).

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TitleMulti-trait analysis characterizes the genetics of thyroid function and identifies causal associations with clinical implications.
DateJanuary 30th, 2024
Issue nameNature communications
Issue numberv15.1:888
DOI10.1038/s41467-024-44701-9
PubMed38291025
AuthorsSterenborg RBTM, Steinbrenner I, Li Y, Bujnis MN, Naito T, Marouli E, Galesloot TE, Babajide O, Andreasen L, Astrup A, Åsvold BO, Bandinelli S, Beekman M, Beilby JP, Bork-Jensen J, Boutin T, Brody JA, Brown SJ, Brumpton B, Campbell PJ, Cappola AR, Ceresini G, Chaker L, Chasman DI, Concas MP, Coutinho de Almeida R, Cross SM, Cucca F, Deary IJ, Kjaergaard AD, Echouffo Tcheugui JB, Ellervik C, Eriksson JG, Ferrucci L, Freudenberg J, Fuchsberger C, Gieger C, Giulianini F, Gögele M, Graham SE, Grarup N, Gunjača I, Hansen T, Harding BN, Harris SE, Haunsø S, Hayward C, Hui J, Ittermann T, Jukema JW, Kajantie E, Kanters JK, Kårhus LL, Kiemeney LALM, Kloppenburg M, Kühnel B, Lahti J, Langenberg C, Lapauw B, Leese G, Li S, Liewald DCM, Linneberg A, Lominchar JVT, Luan J, Martin NG, Matana A, Meima ME, Meitinger T, Meulenbelt I, Mitchell BD, Møllehave LT, Mora S, Naitza S, Nauck M, Netea-Maier RT, Noordam R, Nursyifa C, Okada Y, Onano S, Papadopoulou A, Palmer CNA, Pattaro C, Pedersen O, Peters A, Pietzner M, Polašek O, Pramstaller PP, Psaty BM, Punda A, Ray D, Redmond P, Richards JB, Ridker PM, Russ TC, Ryan KA, Olesen MS, Schultheiss UT, Selvin E, Siddiqui MK, Sidore C, Slagboom PE, Sørensen TIA, Soto-Pedre E, Spector TD, Spedicati B, Srinivasan S, Starr JM, Stott DJ, Tanaka T, Torlak V, Trompet S, Tuhkanen J, Uitterlinden AG, van den Akker EB, van den Eynde T, van der Klauw MM, van Heemst D, Verroken C, Visser WE, Vojinovic D, Völzke H, Waldenberger M, Walsh JP, Wareham NJ, Weiss S, Willer CJ, Wilson SG, Wolffenbuttel BHR, Wouters HJCM, Wright MJ, Yang Q, Zemunik T, Zhou W, Zhu G, Zöllner S, Smit JWA, Peeters RP, Köttgen A, Teumer A & Medici M
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