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Genetic Basis of Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in Africans: Impact on Precision Medicine

  • Genetics (AP Morris, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Recent advances in genomics provide opportunities for novel understanding of the biology of human traits with the goal of improving human health. Here, we review recent obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D)–related genomic studies in African populations and discuss the implications of limited genomics studies on health disparity and precision medicine.

Recent Findings

Genome-wide association studies in Africans have yielded genetic discovery that would otherwise not be possible; these include identification of novel loci associated with obesity (SEMA-4D, PRKCA, WARS2), metabolic syndrome (CA-10, CTNNA3), and T2D (AGMO, ZRANB3). ZRANB3 was recently demonstrated to influence beta cell mass and insulin response. Despite these promising results, genomic studies in African populations are still limited and thus genomics tools and approaches such as polygenic risk scores and precision medicine are likely to have limited utility in Africans with the unacceptable possibility of exacerbating prevailing health disparities.

Summary

African populations provide unique opportunities for increasing our understanding of the genetic basis of cardiometabolic disorders. We highlight the need for more coordinated and sustained efforts to increase the representation of Africans in genomic studies both as participants and scientists.

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Funding

This research was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Human Genome Research Institute in the Center for Research in Genomics and Global Health (CRGGH, Z01HG200362). Center for Research in Genomics and Global Health is also supported by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Center for Information Technology, and the Office of the Director at the National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Research on Genomics and Global Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, 12 South Drive, Building 12A, Room 4047, Bethesda, MD, 20862, USA

    Ayo P. Doumatey, Kenneth Ekoru, Adebowale Adeyemo & Charles N. Rotimi

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  1. Ayo P. Doumatey
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  2. Kenneth Ekoru
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  3. Adebowale Adeyemo
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  4. Charles N. Rotimi
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Contributions

CR is the corresponding author for the manuscript. All authors contributed to the drafting of the paper and reviewed and approved the manuscript content.

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Correspondence to Charles N. Rotimi.

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Conflict of Interest

Ayo P. Doumatey, Kenneth Ekoru, Adebowale Adeyemo, and Charles N. Rotimi declare no conflict of interest.

Human Rights and Informed Consent

All human research was conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki. The study protocol (AADM including WA and EA) was approved by the institutional ethics review board of each participating institution. Written informed consent was obtained from each participant prior to enrollment.

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Doumatey, A.P., Ekoru, K., Adeyemo, A. et al. Genetic Basis of Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in Africans: Impact on Precision Medicine. Curr Diab Rep 19, 105 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-019-1215-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-019-1215-5

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