Sex differences in the genetic basis of morning serum cortisol levels: genome-wide screen identifies two novel loci specific to women.

TitleSex differences in the genetic basis of morning serum cortisol levels: genome-wide screen identifies two novel loci specific to women.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2005
AuthorsKurina LM, Weiss LA, Graves SW, Parry R, Williams GH, Abney M, Ober C
JournalThe Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
Volume90
Pagination4747-52
Date Published8
ISSN0021-972X
Abstract{CONTEXT Relatively little is known about the influence of specific genes on cortisol levels, particularly morning cortisol levels. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci associated with morning serum cortisol levels. DESIGN We carried out a genome screen for morning serum cortisol using linkage and association methods tailored for use in large pedigrees. We conducted these analyses both in the whole sample and partitioned by sex. SETTING This study was conducted on nine communal Hutterite farms in South Dakota. PARTICIPANTS The Hutterites are a young founder population who practice a communal, farming lifestyle in the western United States and in Canada. Hutterites (n = 504, 53% female) aged 11-89 yr from a single pedigree participated in this study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The main outcome measures were markers significantly linked or associated with variation in morning serum cortisol levels. RESULTS One genome-wide significant association was identified in the whole sample on 11p (D11S1981
DOI10.1210/jc.2005-0384