Estimation of causal effects of genes on complex traits using a Bayesian-network-based framework applied to GWAS data

Abstract

Deciphering the relationships between genes and complex traits can enhance our understanding of phenotypic variations and disease mechanisms. However, determining the specific roles of individual genes and quantifying their direct and indirect causal effects on complex traits remains a significant challenge. Here we present a framework (called Bayesian network genome-wide association studies (BN-GWAS)) to decipher the total and direct causal effects of individual genes. BN-GWAS leverages imputed expression profiles from GWAS and raw expression data from a reference dataset to construct a directed gene–gene–phenotype causal network. It allows gene expression and disease traits to be evaluated in different samples, significantly improving the flexibility and applicability of the approach. It can be extended to decipher the joint causal network of two or more traits, and exhibits high specificity and precision (positive predictive value), making it particularly useful for selecting genes for follow-up studies. We verified the feasibility and validity of BN-GWAS by extensive simulations and applications to 52 traits across 14 tissues in the UK Biobank, revealing insights into their genetic architectures, including the relative contributions of direct, indirect and mediating causal genes. The identified (direct) causal genes were significantly enriched for genes highlighted in the Open Targets database. Overall, BN-GWAS provides a flexible and powerful framework for elucidating the genetic basis of complex traits through a systems-level, causal inference approach.