Circulating cytokines and growth factors are regulators of inflammation and have been implicated in autoimmune and metabolic diseases. In this genome-wide association study (GWAS) of up to 8,293 Finns we identified 27 genome-widely significant loci (p < 1.2 × 10) for one or more cytokines. Fifteen of the associated variants had expression quantitative trait loci in whole blood. We provide genetic instruments to clarify the causal roles of cytokine signaling and upstream inflammation in immune-related and other chronic diseases. We further link inflammatory markers with variants previously associated with autoimmune diseases such as Crohn disease, multiple sclerosis, and ulcerative colitis and hereby elucidate the molecular mechanisms underpinning these diseases and suggest potential drug targets.

Exome sequencing studies in complex diseases are challenged by the allelic heterogeneity, large number and modest effect sizes of associated variants on disease risk and the presence of large numbers of neutral variants, even in phenotypically relevant genes. Isolated populations with recent bottlenecks offer advantages for studying rare variants in complex diseases as they have deleterious variants that are present at higher frequencies as well as a substantial reduction in rare neutral variation. To explore the potential of the Finnish founder population for studying low-frequency (0.5–5%) variants in complex diseases, we compared exome sequence data on 3,000 Finns to the same number of non-Finnish Europeans and discovered that, despite having fewer variable sites overall, the average Finn has more low-frequency loss-of-function variants and complete gene knockouts. We then used several well-characterized Finnish population cohorts to study the phenotypic effects of 83 enriched loss-of-function variants across 60 phenotypes in 36,262 Finns. Using a deep set of quantitative traits collected on these cohorts, we show 5 associations (p<5×10−8) including splice variants in LPA that lowered plasma lipoprotein(a) levels (P = 1.5×10−117). Through accessing the national medical records of these participants, we evaluate the LPA finding via Mendelian randomization and confirm that these splice variants confer protection from cardiovascular disease (OR = 0.84, P = 3×10−4), demonstrating for the first time the correlation between very low levels of LPA in humans with potential therapeutic implications for cardiovascular diseases. More generally, this study articulates substantial advantages for studying the role of rare variation in complex phenotypes in founder populations like the Finns and by combining a unique population genetic history with data from large population cohorts and centralized research access to National Health Registers.

Although the adhesive interactions of leukocytes with endothelial cells are well understood, little is known about the detailed mechanisms underlying the actual migration of leukocytes across the endothelium (diapedesis). Leukocytes have been shown to use both paracellular and transcellular routes for transendothelial migration. Here we show that peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs; T- and B-lymphocytes) preferentially use the transcellular route. The intermediate filaments of both endothelial cells and lymphocytes formed a highly dynamic anchoring structure at the site of contact between these two cell types. The initiation of this process was markedly reduced in vimentin-deficient (vim(-/-)) PBMCs and endothelial cells. When compared with wild-type PBMCs, vim(-/-) PBMCs showed a markedly reduced capacity to home to mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen. Furthermore, endothelial integrity was compromised in vim(-/-) mice, demonstrating that intermediate filaments also regulate the barrier that governs leukocyte extravasation. Absence of vimentin resulted in highly aberrant expression and distribution of surface molecules critical for homing (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on endothelial cells and integrin-beta1 on PBMCs). These data show that intermediate filaments are active in lymphocyte adhesion and transmigration.

Leukocyte trafficking between the blood and the tissues is pivotal for normal immune responses. Cell-adhesion molecules (such as selectins and leukocyte integrins) and chemoattractants (such as chemokines) have well-established roles in supporting leukocyte exit from the blood. Emerging data now show that, for both leukocytes and endothelial cells, enzymatic reactions that are catalysed by cell-surface-expressed enzymes with catalytic domains outside the plasma membrane (known as ectoenzymes) also make crucial contributions to this process. Ectoenzymes can function physically as adhesion receptors and can regulate the recruitment of cells through their catalytic activities. Here, we provide new insights into how ectoenzymes--including nucleotidases, cyclases, ADP-ribosyltransferases, peptidases, proteases and oxidases--guide leukocyte traffic.

Abstract. The lymphocyte-high endothelial venule (HEV) cell interaction is an essential element of the immune system, as it controls lymphocyte recirculation between blood and lymphoid organs in the body. This interaction involves an 85-95-kD class of lymphocyte surface glycoprotein(s), CD44. A subset of lymphocyte CD44 molecules is modified by covalent linkage to chondroitin sulfate (Jalkanen, S., M. Jalkanen, R. Bargatze, M. Tammi, and E. C. . J. Immunol. 141 :1615-1623 . In this work, we show that removal of chondroitin sulfate by chondroitinase treatment of lymphocytes or incubation of HEV with chondroitin sulfate does not significantly inhibit lymphocyte binding to HEV, suggesting that chondroitin sulfate is not involved in endothelial cell recognition of lymphocytes. Affinity-purified CD44 antigen was, on the other hand, observed to bind native Type I collagen fibrils, laminin, and fibronectin, but not gelatin. Binding to fibronectin was studied more closely, and it was found to be mediated through the chondroitin sulfate-containing form of the molecule. The binding site on fibronec-