A groundbreaking study published in Nature Communications has revealed novel genetic variants associated with carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), a key marker of early atherosclerosis, among nearly 8,000 adults from sub-Saharan Africa. The research, part of the AWI-Gen project, included participants from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa and marks one of the largest genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on cardiovascular risk in African populations.
Two previously unidentified loci, SIRPA and FBXL17, were found to be significantly associated with cIMT, offering new insight into biological pathways involved in vascular health. Notably, the study also identified sex-specific genetic signals: SNX29 in men, and LARP6 and PROK1 in women, the latter two being enriched for estrogen response genes. These findings suggest different genetic mechanisms for cardiovascular risk between men and women.
Many of the variants identified in this African cohort are either rare or absent in European populations, emphasizing the critical need for diversity in genomic research. This study not only deepens our understanding of cardiovascular disease in African communities but also underscores the importance of building inclusive datasets to drive precision medicine. At MyAfroDNA, we champion this kind of Africa-led genomic science.
Read more on this research here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-28276-x