Table 1.

Genetic approaches to studies of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) in humans

Family-based approaches:

1. Family aggregation studies (numerous reports)

2. Traditional whole-genome linkage scans (3 reported)

3. Quantitative whole-genome linkage scans for Gd-IgA1 and related phenotypes (in progress)

Population-based approaches:

1. Candidate gene associations for susceptibility and progression of IgAN (over 120 reported)

2. Genome-wide case–control association studies of IgAN (in progress)

3. Genome-wide quantitative association studies of Gd-IgA1 and related phenotypes (in progress)

Anticipated future approaches:

1. Studies of copy number variants (CNVs) in IgAN

2. Population-based and family-based studies of genome-wide gene expression in IgAN

3. Integrative genomics approaches to derive disturbed molecular networks in IgAN

4. Whole-genome sequencing to discover rare variants in IgAN