Genetic Epidemiology, Translational Neurogenomics, Psychiatric Genetics and Statistical Genetics Laboratories investigate the pattern of disease in families, particularly identical and non-identical twins, to assess the relative importance of genes and environment in a variety of important health problems.
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PMID
11511314
TITLE
Heritability and gene-environment interactions for melanocytic nevus density examined in a U.K. adolescent twin study.
ABSTRACT
Risk factors for melanoma include environmental (particularly ultraviolet exposure) and genetic factors. In rare families, susceptibility to melanoma is determined by high penetrance mutations in the genes CDKN2A or CDK4, with more common, less penetrant genes also postulated. A further, potent risk factor for melanoma is the presence of large numbers of melanocytic nevi so that genes controlling nevus phenotype could be such melanoma susceptibility genes. A large Australian study involving twins aged 12 y of predominantly U.K. ancestry showed strong evidence for genetic influence on nevus number and density. We carried out essentially the same study in the U.K. to gain insight into gene-environment interactions for nevi. One hundred and three monozygous (MZ) and 118 dizygous (DZ) twin pairs aged 10-18 y were examined in Yorkshire and Surrey, U.K. Nevus counts were, on average, higher in boys (mean = 98.6) than girls (83.8) (p = 0.009) and higher in Australia (110.4) than in the U.K. (79.2, adjusted to age 12 y, p < 0.0001), and nevus densities were higher on sun-exposed sites (92 per m2) than sun-protected sites (58 per m2) (p < 0.0001). Correlations in sex and age adjusted nevus density were higher in MZ pairs (0.94, 95%CI 0.92-0.96) than in DZ pairs (0.61, 95%CI 0.49-0.72), were notably similar to those of the Australian study (MZ = 0.94, DZ = 0.60), and were consistent with high heritability (65% in the U.K., 68% in Australia). We conclude that emergence of nevi in adolescents is under strong genetic control, whereas environmental exposures affect the mean number of nevi.
DATE PUBLISHED
2001 Aug
HISTORY
PUBSTATUS PUBSTATUSDATE
pubmed 2001/08/21 10:00
medline 2001/09/21 10:01
entrez 2001/08/21 10:00
AUTHORS
NAME COLLECTIVENAME LASTNAME FORENAME INITIALS AFFILIATION AFFILIATIONINFO
Wachsmuth RC Wachsmuth R C RC ICRF Genetic Epidemiology Division, ICRF Clinical Center in Leeds, UK.
Gaut RM Gaut R M RM
Barrett JH Barrett J H JH
Saunders CL Saunders C L CL
Randerson-Moor JA Randerson-Moor J A JA
Eldridge A Eldridge A A
Martin NG Martin N G NG
Bishop TD Bishop T D TD
Newton Bishop JA Newton Bishop J A JA
INVESTIGATORS
JOURNAL
VOLUME: 117
ISSUE: 2
TITLE: The Journal of investigative dermatology
ISOABBREVIATION: J. Invest. Dermatol.
YEAR: 2001
MONTH: Aug
DAY:
MEDLINEDATE:
SEASON:
CITEDMEDIUM: Print
ISSN: 0022-202X
ISSNTYPE: Print
MEDLINE JOURNAL
MEDLINETA: J Invest Dermatol
COUNTRY: United States
ISSNLINKING: 0022-202X
NLMUNIQUEID: 0426720
PUBLICATION TYPE
PUBLICATIONTYPE TEXT
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Twin Study
COMMENTS AND CORRECTIONS
GRANTS
GENERAL NOTE
KEYWORDS
MESH HEADINGS
DESCRIPTORNAME QUALIFIERNAME
Adolescent
Child
Environment
Female
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
Great Britain epidemiology
Humans epidemiology
Male epidemiology
Nevus, Pigmented genetics
Phenotype genetics
Risk Factors genetics
Skin Neoplasms genetics
Sunlight adverse effects
SUPPLEMENTARY MESH
GENE SYMBOLS
CHEMICALS
OTHER ID's