FNIP1 variants are associated with favourable metabolism in 1 million humans
Abstract
Altered energy metabolism is a shared driver across cardiometabolic diseases—the leading cause of death globally1. Energy metabolism varies between individuals and is partly heritable2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8–9. Here, to investigate the genetic basis of energy metabolism, we perform an exome-sequencing analysis of 1,032,116 people from America, Europe and Asia, and estimate associations between rare protein-coding variants and the ratio of triglyceride to high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (TG:HDL)—an energy-state biomarker that we associate with diverse cardiometabolic risk factors and diseases. We identify 59 independent genes (P < 1.04 × 10−7) that are enriched for liver- and adipose-expressed master regulators of energy balance, storage and metabolism; 23 (39%) of these genes encode approved or clinical-stage drug targets. Ultra-rare protein-truncating variants in FNIP1 (allele frequency, 0.01%), which encodes a suppressor of energy expenditure and mitochondrial metabolism, are associated with a lower TG:HDL ratio, lower liver fat, lower glycaemia, favourable fat distribution and around 60% lower odds of cardiometabolic disease. FNIP1 knockdown in primary human hepatocytes induces lipid breakdown and lysosomal gene expression, while combined hepatic knockdown of Fnip1 with its paralogue Fnip2 or knockdown of its interactor Flcn protect against weight gain, reduce liver fat and enhance insulin sensitivity in mice fed a high-fat diet. Our study implicates the FNIP1 pathway in human energy metabolism and highlights its inhibition as a potential therapeutic strategy in cardiometabolic disease. The FNIP1 pathway has a role in human energy metabolism, and its inhibition is a potential therapeutic strategy in cardiometabolic disease.