Identifying Common Genetic Etiologies Between Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Related Immune-Mediated Diseases

Abstract

Background: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an increased risk of developing immune-mediated diseases. However, the genetic basis of IBD is complex, and an integrated approach should be used to elucidate the complex genetic relationship between IBD and immune-mediated diseases. Methods: The genetic relationship between IBD and 16 immune-mediated diseases was examined using linkage disequilibrium score regression. GWAS data were synthesized from two IBD databases using the METAL, and multi-trait analysis of genome-wide association studies was performed to enhance statistical robustness and identify novel genetic associations. Independent risk loci were meticulously examined using conditional and joint genome-wide multi-trait analysis, multi-marker analysis of genomic annotation, and functional mapping and annotation of significant genetic loci, integrating the information of quantitative trait loci and different methodologies to identify risk-related genes and proteins. Results: The results revealed four immune-mediated diseases (AS, psoriasis, iridocyclitis, and PsA) with a significant relationship with IBD. The multi-trait analysis revealed 909 gene loci of statistical significance. Of these loci, 28 genetic variants were closely related to IBD, and 7 single-nucleotide polymorphisms represented novel independent risk loci. In addition, 14 genes and 514 proteins were found to be associated with susceptibility to immune-mediated diseases. Notably, IL1RL1 emerged as a key player, present within pleiotropic genes across multiple protein databases, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target. Conclusions: This study suggests that the common polygenic determinants between IBD and immune-mediated diseases are widely distributed across the genome. The findings not only support a shared genetic relationship between IBD and immune-mediated diseases but also provide novel therapeutic targets for these diseases.