Analyzing Networks of Phenotypes in Complex Diseases: Methodology and Applications in COPD

Authors

Jen-hwa Chu, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Craig P. Hersh, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Peter J. Castaldi, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Michael H. Cho, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Benjamin A. Raby, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Nan Laird, Harvard School of Public Health
Russell Bowler, National Jewish Health
Stephen I. Rennard, University of Nebraska Medical CenterFollow
Joseph Loscalzo, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
John Quackenbush, Harvard School of Public Health
Edwin K. Silverman, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Document Type

Article

Journal Title

BMC Systems Biology

Publication Date

2014

Volume

8

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The investigation of complex disease heterogeneity has been challenging. Here, we introduce a network-based approach, using partial correlations, that analyzes the relationships among multiple disease-related phenotypes.

RESULTS: We applied this method to two large, well-characterized studies of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We also examined the associations between these COPD phenotypic networks and other factors, including case-control status, disease severity, and genetic variants. Using these phenotypic networks, we have detected novel relationships between phenotypes that would not have been observed using traditional epidemiological approaches.

CONCLUSION: Phenotypic network analysis of complex diseases could provide novel insights into disease susceptibility, disease severity, and genetic mechanisms.

MeSH Headings

Case-Control Studies, Computational Biology, Humans, Phenotype, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive

DOI Link

10.1186/1752-0509-8-78

ISSN

1752-0509

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Chu, Jen-hwa; Hersh, Craig P.; Castaldi, Peter J.; Cho, Michael H.; Raby, Benjamin A.; Laird, Nan; Bowler, Russell; Rennard, Stephen I.; Loscalzo, Joseph; Quackenbush, John; and Silverman, Edwin K., "Analyzing Networks of Phenotypes in Complex Diseases: Methodology and Applications in COPD" (2014). Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med. 67.
https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/com_pulm_articles/67