rs551238

This is a regulatory region variant variant in the EPO gene.

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GWAS Catalog Trait Associations (2)

Genome-wide significant associations (p < 5×10⁻⁸) from the NHGRI-EBI GWAS Catalog.

erythrocyte count

Astle WJ et al. “The Allelic Landscape of Human Blood Cell Trait Variation and Links to Common Complex Disease.” Cell 167(5):1415-1429.e19 (2016)
Allele T
OR 0.07
p 2.0e-92
N 172,952
Large GWAS
European

hematocrit

Astle WJ et al. “The Allelic Landscape of Human Blood Cell Trait Variation and Links to Common Complex Disease.” Cell 167(5):1415-1429.e19 (2016)
Allele T
OR 0.04
p 4.0e-32
N 173,039
Large GWAS
European
Chen MH et al. “Trans-ethnic and Ancestry-Specific Blood-Cell Genetics in 746,667 Individuals from 5 Global Populations.” Cell 182(5):1198-1213.e14 (2020)
Allele T
OR 0.04
p 1.0e-14
N 142,940
Large GWAS
East Asian
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Research that mentions this SNP (2)

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Genetic association analysis highlights new loci that modulate hematological trait variation in Caucasians and African Americans
AssociationN=30,551Ken Sin Lo et al.(2011)· Human Genetics

Genetic association study in 23,439 Caucasians and 7,112 African Americans identified novel loci modulating hematological traits. G6PD rs1050828 (Val68Met) shows strong association with red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and mean corpuscular volume in African Americans (P < 2.0 × 10^−13), while TPM4 rs8109288 associates with platelet count in both Caucasians and African Americans (P = 3.0 × 10^−7). HBA2-HBA1 rs1211375 associates with red blood cell traits specifically in African Americans (P < 7 × 10^−8). Study replicated 36 previously reported associations and highlights ethnic differences in genetic architecture of blood traits.

Traits studied:Basophil countEosinophil countHematocritHemoglobinLymphocyte countMean corpuscular hemoglobinMean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrationMean corpuscular volumeMean platelet volumeMonocyte countNeutrophil countPlatelet countRed blood cell countWhite blood cell count
PubMedDOIMetascience Observatory
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Association Between Erythropoietin Gene Polymorphisms and Diabetic Retinopathy
AssociationN=518Abhary S. et al.(2010)· Archives of Ophthalmology

This case-control association study of 518 Australian subjects with diabetes found that three EPO (erythropoietin) gene SNPs (rs1617640, rs507392, rs551238) were significantly associated with diabetic retinopathy risk, particularly in type 2 diabetes. The GCC haplotype showed increased frequency in diabetic retinopathy cases with adjusted p-values of 0.006-0.008, and associations remained significant after adjustment for HbA1c, disease duration, and nephropathy.

Traits studied:Clinically significant macular edemaDiabetic retinopathyProliferative diabetic retinopathy
PubMedDOIMetascience Observatory

About EPO

This gene encodes a secreted, glycosylated cytokine composed of four alpha helical bundles. The encoded protein is mainly synthesized in the kidney, secreted into the blood plasma, and binds to the erythropoietin receptor to promote red blood cell production, or erythropoiesis, in the bone marrow. Expression of this gene is upregulated under hypoxic conditions, in turn leading to increased erythropoiesis and enhanced oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Expression of this gene has also been observed in brain and in the eye, and elevated expression levels have been observed in diabetic retinopathy and ocular hypertension. Recombinant forms of the encoded protein exhibit neuroprotective activity against a variety of potential brain injuries, as well as antiapoptotic functions in several tissue types, and have been used in the treatment of anemia and to enhance the efficacy of cancer therapies. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2017]

View all EPO variants →

Gene information from NCBI Gene. Variant classifications from ClinVar.

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