Biological insights into systemic lupus erythematosus through an immune cell-specific transcriptome-wide association study

OBJECTIVE

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified >100 risk loci for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but the disease genes at most loci remain unclear, hampering translation of these genetic discoveries. We aimed to prioritise genes underlying the 110 SLE loci that were identified in the latest East Asian GWAS meta-analysis.

METHODS

We built gene expression predictive models in blood B cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, monocytes, natural killer cells and peripheral blood cells of 105 Japanese individuals. We performed a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) using data from the latest genome-wide association meta-analysis of 208 370 East Asians and searched for candidate genes using TWAS and three data-driven computational approaches.

RESULTS

TWAS identified 171 genes for SLE (p<1.0×10-5); 114 (66.7%) showed significance only in a single cell type; 127 (74.3%) were in SLE GWAS loci. TWAS identified a strong association between CD83 and SLE (p<7.7×10-8). Meta-analysis of genetic associations in the existing 208 370 East Asian and additional 1498 cases and 3330 controls found a novel single-variant association at rs72836542 (OR=1.11, p=4.5×10-9) around CD83. For the 110 SLE loci, we identified 276 gene candidates, including 104 genes at recently-identified SLE novel loci. We demonstrated in vitro that putative causal variant rs61759532 exhibited an allele-specific regulatory effect on ACAP1, and that presence of the SLE risk allele decreased ACAP1 expression.

CONCLUSIONS

Cell-level TWAS in six types of immune cells complemented SLE gene discovery and guided the identification of novel genetic associations. The gene findings shed biological insights into SLE genetic associations.

The effect of mind-body exercise on the cervical spine mobility of people with neck discomfort: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

With the development of the economy and society, the pace of in-person work has gradually accelerated, resulting in longer and more intense work hours. Long-term and high-intensity work can lead to considerable discomfort in people's cervical spines.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to explore the effect of mind-body exercise intervention on the cervical spine mobility of people with neck discomfort through meta-analysis.

METHODS

This study's researchers will search a total of 5 research databases for data retrieval: China National Knowledge Infrastructure (from 1979), Web of Science (from 1950), PubMed (from 1965), Cochrane (from 1991), and EBSCO (from 1949) (Date of retrieval: March 10, 2021). Two authors will independently search literature records, scan titles, abstracts, and full texts, collect data, and assess materials for risk of bias. Stata14.0 software will be used for the data analysis.

RESULTS

The current study is a systematic review and meta-analysis program with no results. Data analysis will be completed after the program has been completed.

DISCUSSION

There is potential evidence that exercise can have a positive effect on the cervical spine mobility of people with cervical spine discomfort. In addition, direct evidence of the benefits of mind-body exercise intervention may be more important.

INPLASY REGISTRATION NUMBER

INPLASY202140126.