A Genome-Wide Association Scan in Admixed Latin Americans Identifies Loci Influencing Facial and Scalp Hair Features

March 2016 in “ Nature Communications ”

Kaustubh Adhikari, Tania Fontanil, Santiago Cal, Javier Mendoza‐Revilla, Macarena Fuentes‐Guajardo, Juan Camilo Chacón-Duque, Farah Al-Saadi, Jeanette A. Johansson, Mirsha Quinto‐Sánchez, Víctor Acuña-Alonzo, Claudia Jaramillo, William Arias, Rodrigo Barquera, Gastón Macín Pérez, Jorge Gómez‐Valdés, Hugo Villamil‐Ramírez, Tábita Hünemeier, Virgínia Ramallo, Caio César Silva de Cerqueira, Malena Hurtado, Valeria Villegas, Vanessa Granja, Carla Gallo, Giovanni Poletti, Lavínia Schüler‐Faccini, Francisco M. Salzano, María Cátira Bortolini, Samuel Canizales‐Quinteros, Francisco Rothhammer, Gabriel Bedoya, Rolando González‐José, Denis J. Headon, Carlos López-Otı́n, Desmond J. Tobin, David J. Balding, Andrés Ruiz‐Linares

genome-wide association scan scalp hair hair greying balding facial hair genetic loci PRSS53 gene hair follicles Q30R substitution hair shape hair color hair traits

TLDR Genetic factors influence hair traits like shape, color, and greying in Latin Americans.

The study conducted a genome-wide association scan on over 6,000 Latin Americans to identify genetic loci influencing various hair features, including scalp hair shape, color, greying, balding, and facial hair characteristics. It identified 18 significant genetic signals, with 10 being novel associations, and was the first to report loci for hair greying and facial hair traits. A key finding was a locus affecting hair shape involving a Q30R substitution in the PRSS53 gene, which is highly expressed in hair follicles. The study highlighted the genetic diversity in the population, which included mixed European, Native American, and African ancestry, and provided insights into the heritability and genetic prediction of hair traits. The research suggested that genetic prediction models could be developed for hair traits, considering the genetic diversity in Latin American populations.

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