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Association between genetic variation and circulating selenium concentrations

Principal Investigator
Name
Ulrike Peters
Institution
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Email
About this CDAS Project
Study
PLCO (Learn more about this study)
Project ID
2011-0205
Initial CDAS Request Approval
Sep 22, 2011
Title
Association between genetic variation and circulating selenium concentrations
Summary
Selenium is an essential trace element for humans. Animal and human studies showed that selenium is associated with various health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease and cancer.(1-3) Proposed mechanism included antioxidant action, anti-inflammatory effects, effects on DNA repair, and modulation of cell cycle and apoptosis. Selenoproteins which incorporate selenium into their active center play in an important role in selenium metabolism in human body. Various foods, such as meat, dairy products, poultry, and fish, contribute to selenium sources. Selenium is digested in the intestine and suspended in blood as methylated selenium as well as among selenoproteins, specifically selenoprotein P. Our recent study showed that genetic variation in GPX1, one of the 25 identified selenoprotein genes, affects its activity.(4) For this reason, we believe that genetic variants may influence circulating selenium concentration in human. Thus, we propose to conduct a genome-wide association study to identify genetic variants that could predict circulating selenium concentration and examine their interaction with environmental factors influencing selenium levels.
Aims

(1) To identify genetic variants correlated with circulating selenium concentrations using the Genetics and Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer Consortium (GECCO) GWAS data. Thus, we would like to request circulating selenium level data from the previously gernerated lab data in the PLCO Trial. (2) To evaluate whether the effects of genetic variants on circulating selenium levels are modified by environmental factors influencing selenium levels including smoking, drinking and BMI.

Collaborators

Carolyn Hutter (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)
Jian Gong (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)