10.1371/journal.pone.0160654 Renato Polimanti Renato Polimanti Bao Zhu Yang Bao Zhu Yang Hongyu Zhao Hongyu Zhao Joel Gelernter Joel Gelernter Evidence of Polygenic Adaptation in the Systems Genetics of Anthropometric Traits Public Library of Science 2016 WC European populations polygenic mechanisms protein interaction networks anthropometric traits body mass index signal GWAS BMI polygenic adaptation WHR adult locomotory behavior 2016-08-18 17:40:23 Dataset https://plos.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Evidence_of_Polygenic_Adaptation_in_the_Systems_Genetics_of_Anthropometric_Traits/3710811 <div><p>Many signals of natural selection have been identified in the human genome. However, except for some single-locus mechanisms, most molecular processes generating these adaptation signals are still unknown. We developed an approach that integrates datasets related to genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with information about systems biology and genetic signatures of natural selection to identify evidence of polygenic adaptation. Specifically, we focused on five anthropometric measurements: body mass index (BMI), height, waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI (WHR), and waist circumference adjusted for BMI (WC), and sex differences for WHR and WC. We performed an enrichment analysis for signals of natural selection in protein interaction networks associated with anthropometric traits in European populations. The adaptation signals-enriched gene networks associated highlighted epistatic interactions in the context of polygenic selection for the investigated traits. These polygenic mechanisms indicated intriguing selective mechanisms related to the anthropometric traits: adult locomotory behavior for BMI, infection resistance for height, interplay between lipid transport and immune systems for WHR, and female-specific polygenic adaptation for WHR and WC. In conclusion, we observed evidence of polygenic adaptation in the context of systems genetics of anthropometric traits that indicates polygenic mechanisms related to the natural selection in European populations.</p></div>