Association signals of SNPs under replication.

Block 1 is formed by the three neighboring SNPs in intron 5 marked with asterisks. The second allele represents the minor allele of each marker. MAF, minor allele frequency calculated based on the genotypes of our study subjects. Marked in bold are the replication p values less than 0.05. Combined p values in 2 Caucasian replication cohorts were calculated using Fisher's method [29] or using the UNPHASED software (through association analysis on pooled sample containing the two cohorts) [58]. Combined p values in all 3 replication cohorts were calculated using Fisher's method only. The two SNPs, rs2348186 and rs7701979, deviate from HWE (p<0.001) in the Chinese cohort and hence were excluded from association analyses. The association analysis for Replication Cohorts I and II was performed under the dominant model. The analysis for Replication Cohort III was performed under the recessive model.