Genome-wide linkage scan of a large family with IgA nephropathy localizes a novel susceptibility locus to chromosome 2q36

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common glomerulonephritis worldwide and an important cause of ESRD. Familial clustering of cases suggests genetic predisposition to this disease. Two recent genome-wide studies in IgAN have identified a major susceptibility locus on chromosome 6q22 (IGAN1) and two additional loci with suggestive linkage signals on chromosomes 4q26-31 and 17q12-22. A large four-generation family with 14 affected individuals has been clinically ascertained and excluded from linkage to these loci. A genome-wide linkage scan was performed on this family with GeneChip Mapping 10K 2.0 Arrays using an "affected-only" strategy. By nonparametric analysis, two regions of suggestive linkage (multipoint logarithm of odds [LOD] scores >2) were identified on chromosomes 2q36 and 13p12.3. By parametric analysis (assuming an autosomal dominant inheritance, a disease allele frequency of 0.001, phenocopy rate of 0.01, and penetrance of 75%), a significant linkage to chromosome 2q36 (maximum multipoint LOD score 3.47) was found. Nine simple sequence repeat markers then were genotyped in 21 members (included all of the affected individuals), and significant linkage to chromosome 2q36 over a region of 12.2 cM (maximum multipoint LOD score 3.46) was confirmed. Recombination events in two affected individuals, as detected by haplotype analysis, delineated a critical interval of approximately 9 cM (equivalent to approximately 7 Mb) between D2S1323 and D2S362. Taken together, these data provide strong evidence for a novel disease susceptibility locus for familial IgAN.