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Capture Hi-C identifies a novel causal gene, IL20RA, in the pan-autoimmune genetic susceptibility region 6q23

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Arthur Pratt, Dr Amy AndersonORCiD, Professor John IsaacsORCiD, Julie Diboll, Dr Nishanthi Thalayasingam

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

Background: The identification of causal genes from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) is the next important step for the translation of genetic findings into biologically meaningful mechanisms of disease and potential therapeutic targets. Using novel chromatin interaction detection techniques and allele specific assays in T and B cell lines, we provide compelling evidence that redefines causal genes at the 6q23 locus, one of the most important loci that confers autoimmunity risk.Results: Although the function of disease-associated non-coding single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at 6q23 is unknown, the association is generally assigned to TNFAIP3, the closest gene. However, the DNA fragment containing the associated SNPs interacts through chromatin looping not only with TNFAIP3, but also with IL20RA, located 680 kb upstream. The risk allele of the most likely causal SNP, rs6927172, is correlated with both a higher frequency of interactions and increased expression of IL20RA, along with a stronger binding of both the NF kappa B transcription factor and chromatin marks characteristic of active enhancers in T-cells.Conclusions: Our results highlight the importance of gene assignment for translating GWAS findings into biologically meaningful mechanisms of disease and potential therapeutic targets; indeed, monoclonal antibody therapy targeting IL-20 is effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, both with strong GWAS associations to this region.


Publication metadata

Author(s): McGovern A, Schoenfelder S, Martin P, Massey J, Duffus K, Plant D, Yarwood A, Pratt AG, Anderson AE, Isaacs JD, Diboll J, Thalayasingam N, Ospelt C, Barton A, Worthington J, Fraser P, Eyre S, Orozco G

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Genome Biology

Year: 2016

Volume: 17

Online publication date: 01/11/2016

Acceptance date: 05/10/2016

Date deposited: 21/12/2016

ISSN (electronic): 1474-760X

Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13059-016-1078-x

DOI: 10.1186/s13059-016-1078-x


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
National Institute for Health Research Manchester Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit
095684Wellcome Trust
20385Arthritis Research UK

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