In this study, we aimed to investigate functional mechanisms underlying coronary artery disease (CAD) loci and find molecular biomarkers for CAD. We devised a multiomics data analysis approach based o Show more
In this study, we aimed to investigate functional mechanisms underlying coronary artery disease (CAD) loci and find molecular biomarkers for CAD. We devised a multiomics data analysis approach based on Mendelian randomization and utilized it to search for molecular biomarkers causally associated with the risk of CAD within genomic regions known to be associated with CAD. Through our CAD-centered multiomics data analysis approach, we identified 33 molecular biomarkers (probes) that were causally associated with the risk of CAD. The majority of these (N=19) were methylation probes; moreover, methylation was often behind the causal effect of expression/protein probes. We identified a number of novel loci that have a causal impact on CAD including We demonstrate that multiomics data analysis is a powerful approach to unravel the functional mechanisms underlying CAD loci and to identify novel molecular biomarkers. Our results indicate epigenetic modifications are important in the pathogenesis of CAD and identifying and targeting these sites is of potential therapeutic interest to address the detrimental effects of both environmental and genetic factors. Show less