The Netherlands twin register biobank: A resource for genetic epidemiological studies
article
Willemsen, G.
Geus, E.J.C. de
Bartels, M.
Beijsterveldt, C.E.M.T. van
Brooks, A.I.
Estourgie-van Burk, G.F.
Fugman, D.A.
Hoekstra, C.
Hottenga, J.J.
Kluft, K.
Meijer, P.
Montgomery, G.W.
Rizzu, P.
Sondervan, D.
Smit, A.B.
Spijker, S.
Suchiman, H.E.D.
Tischfield, J.A.
Lehner, T.
Slagboom, P.E.
Boomsma, D.I.
In 2004 the Netherlands Twin Register (NTR) started a large scale biological sample collection in twin families to create a resource for genetic studies on health, lifestyle and personality. Between January 2004 and July 2008, adult participants from NTR research projects were invited into the study. During a home visit between 7:00 and 10:00 am, fasting blood and morning urine samples were collected. Fertile women were bled on day 2-4 of the menstrual cycle, or in their pill-free week. Biological samples were collected for DNA isolation, gene expression studies, creation of cell lines and for biomarker assessment. At the time of blood sampling, additional phenotypic information concerning health, medication use, body composition and smoking was collected. Of the participants contacted, 69% participated. Blood and urine samples were collected in 9,530 participants (63% female, average age 44.4 (SD 15.5) years) from 3,477 families. Lipid profile, glucose, insulin, HbA1c, haematology, CRP, fibrinogen, liver enzymes and creatinine have been assessed. Longitudinal survey data on health, personality and lifestyle are currently available for 90% of all participants. Genome-wide SNP data are available for 3,524 participants, with additional genotyping ongoing. The NTR biobank, combined with the extensive phenotypic information available within the NTR, provides a valuable resource for the study of genetic determinants of individual differences in mental and physical health. It offers opportunities for DNA-based and gene expression studies as well as for future metabolomic and proteomic projects.
Topics
Biomedical ResearchDNAGWASMental healthPhysical healthRNAalanine aminotransferaseaspartate aminotransferaseC reactive proteincholesterolcreatininefibrinogengamma glutamyltransferaseglucosehemoglobinhemoglobin A1chigh density lipoprotein cholesterolinsulinlow density lipoprotein cholesteroltriacylglyceroladultalanine aminotransferase blood levelarticleaspartate aminotransferase blood levelbasophilblood samplingbody compositioncell linecholesterol blood levelcreatinine blood levelDNA isolationeosinophil counterythrocyte countfemalefibrinogen blood levelgamma glutamyl transferase blood levelgene expressiongenetic epidemiologygenotypeglucose blood levelglucose metabolismhematocrithemoglobin blood levelheredityhumaninsulin blood levelleukocyte countlifestylelipoprotein blood levellymphocyte countmalemean corpuscular hemoglobinmean corpuscular volumemenstrual cyclemental healthmonocyteNetherlandsNetherlands twin register biobankneutrophil countphenotypepriority journalprofessional practiceregistersingle nucleotide polymorphismthrombocyte countthrombocyte volumetriacylglycerol blood levelurinalysis
TNO Identifier
364439
ISSN
18324274
Source
Twin Research and Human Genetics, 13(3), pp. 231-245.
Pages
231-245
Files
To receive the publication files, please send an e-mail request to TNO Repository.