Non-coding autoimmune risk variant accelerates T peripheral helper cell development via ICOS

Abstract

Fine-mapping and functional studies implicate rs117701653, a common non-coding variant in the CD28/CTLA4/ICOS locus, as a contributor to risk for rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes. Using DNA pulldown, mass spectrometry, genome editing and eQTL analysis, we establish that the disease-associated allele reduces affinity for the inhibitory chromosomal regulator SMCHD1 to drive expression of inducible T-cell costimulator (ICOS), enhancing memory CD4+ T cell ICOS expression in individuals bearing the risk allele. Higher ICOS expression is paralleled by an increase in circulating T peripheral helper (Tph) cells, and in rheumatoid arthritis patients, of blood and joint fluid Tph cells and circulating plasmablasts, suggesting a causal link. Indeed, ICOS ligation accelerates T cell differentiation into CXCR5-PD-1high Tph cells producing IL-21 and CXCL13, as does carriage of the rs117701653 risk allele. Thus, mechanistic dissection of a causal non-coding variant in human autoimmunity discloses a new pathway through which ICOS regulates Tph abundance.

High-throughput identification of functional regulatory SNPs in systemic lupus erythematosus

“…Further, as the number of risk variants accumulates, incidence of SLE increases and age of onset declines, suggesting a “cumulative hit” model whereby variants operate synergistically to generate disease susceptibility [9]. Understanding which specific variants drive risk and how they do so offers a unique window into disease biology as well as into general mechanisms of immune control [34, 35].…”