Abstract:
Objective : To analyze and screen genetic markers related to testosterone levels in winter sport athletes through genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and explore the potential mechanisms of these genetic markers using bioinformatics methods, so as to provide references for athlete selection and scientific training in winter sports. Methods: 456 winter sport athletes were participated in this study, the distribution and differences in testosterone levels among different level athletes (general athletes and elite athletes) were analyzed. The testosterone levels were set as the phenotypic variable, gender, age, and the top five principal components with the largest eigenvalues from genomic principal component analysis were set as covariates for GWAS analysis of n=190 winter athletes by using PLINKv1.9 software. The 3D SNP tool was employed to annotate the biological functions of the included single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs).
Results 1) The testosterone levels of elite athletes were significantly higher than those of general athletes (P<0.01). 2) The testosterone levels of male elite athletes followed a normal distribution (P=0.09), ranging from 14.04 to 35.65 nmol/L, and the male general athletes also followed a normal distribution (P=0.20), ranging from 9.27 to 28.07 nmol/L. For female athletes, the testosterone levels of elite athletes did not follow a normal distribution (P=0.01), with levels ranging from 0.88 to 4.44 nmol/L, whereas those of general athletes followed a normal distribution (P=0.20), with levels ranging from 0.19 to 3.04 nmol/L. 3) A total of 413 SNPs, including rs7092867, rs9423319, and rs9423320, were significantly associated with testosterone levels (P<1×10−5). Notably, six SNPs (rs7092867, rs9423319, rs9423320, rs9423321, rs9423322, rs9423252) located on the ACADSB gene on chromosome 10 reached genome-wide significance (P<5×10−8). 4) The testosterone concentrations in male athletes with the aa genotype of the six ACADSB SNPs were significantly higher than those with the Aa genotype (P=0.014). Among female winter sport athletes, the testosterone concentrations in the aa genotype were higher than the Aa genotype, but no significant difference was observed (P=0.055). 5) 3D SNP annotation revealed that these six SNPs shared common 3D interaction genes (BUB3, C10orf88, HMX2, HMX3, IKZF5, PSTK) on chromosome 10.
Conclusions Elite winter sport athletes exhibit higher testosterone levels than general athletes. Six novel SNPs on the ACADSB gene were identified to be associated with testosterone levels in winter sport athletes, the male athletes with aa genotype showing higher testosterone concentrations than those with the Aa genotype.