Genetic variants of <i>FGFR</i> family associated with height, hypertension, and osteoporosis

Hypertension and osteoporosis are the most common types of health problems. A recent study suggested that the fibroblast growth factor receptor-like protein 1 (<i>FGFRL1</i>) gene in giraffes is the most promising candidate gene that may have direct effects on both the skeleton and the cardiovascular system. Our study purposed to replicate the finding that the <i>FGFR5</i> gene is related to giraffe-related characteristics (height, hypertension, and osteoporosis), and to assess the associations between genetic variants of the <i>FGFR</i> family and three phenotypes. An association study was performed to confirm the connections between hypertension, osteoporosis, and height and the <i>FGFR</i> family proteins (<i>FGFR1</i> to <i>FGFR5</i>). We identified a total of 192 genetic variants in the <i>FGFR</i> family and found six SNVs in the <i>FGFR2</i>, <i>FGFR3</i>, and <i>FGFR4</i> genes that were associated with two phenotypes simultaneously. Also, the <i>FGFR</i> family was found to be involved in calcium signalling, and three genetic variants of the <i>FGFR3</i> gene showed significant signals in the pituitary and hypothalamus. Taken together, these findings suggest that <i>FGFR</i> genes are associated with hypertension, height, and osteoporosis. In particular, the present study highlights the <i>FGFR3</i> gene, which influences two fundamental regulators of bone remodelling.