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Application of Bayesian networks to GAW20 genetic and blood lipid data

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Richard Howey, Professor Heather Cordell

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

© 2018 The Author(s). Background: Bayesian networks have been proposed as a way to identify possible causal relationships between measured variables based on their conditional dependencies and independencies. We explored the use of Bayesian network analyses applied to the GAW20 data to identify possible causal relationships between differential methylation of cytosine-phosphate-guanine dinucleotides (CpGs), single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and blood lipid trait (triglycerides [TGs]). Methods: After initial exploratory linear regression analyses, 2 Bayesian networks analyses were performed. First, we used the real data and modeled the effects of 4 CpGs previously found to be associated with TGs in the Genetics of Lipid Lowering Drugs and Diet Network Study (GOLDN). Second, we used the simulated data and modeled the effect of a fictional lipid modifying drug with 5 known causal SNPs and 5 corresponding CpGs. Results: In the real data we show that relationships are present between the CpGs, TGs, and other variables - age, sex, and center. In the simulated data, we show, using linear regression, that no CpGs and only 1 SNP were associated with a change in TG levels, and, using Bayesian network analysis, that relationships are present between the change in TG levels and most SNPs, but not with CpGs. Conclusions: Even when the causal relationships between variables are known, as with the simulated data, if the relationships are not strong then it is challenging to reproduce them in a Bayesian network.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Howey RAJ, Cordell HJ

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: BMC Proceedings

Year: 2018

Volume: 12

Issue: Suppl. 9

Online publication date: 17/09/2018

Acceptance date: 02/04/2018

Date deposited: 02/10/2018

ISSN (electronic): 1753-6561

Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd

URL: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12919-018-0116-y

DOI: 10.1186/s12919-018-0116-y

Notes: From Genetic Analysis Workshop 20, San Diego, CA, USA. 4-8 March 2017


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
087436/Z/08/ZWellcome Trust
102858/Z/13/ZWellcome Trust
GM031575

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