rs1799724

Genetic dissection of acute anterior uveitis (AAU) using high-density Immunochip genotyping in 1,711 AAU cases and 10,000 controls identifies HLA-B27 tag SNP rs116488202 (OR=16.8, P<1×10⁻³⁰⁰) as the strongest association, and three genome-wide significant non-MHC loci (IL23R, chromosome 2p15 intergenic region, and ERAP1) shared with ankylosing spondylitis. Five additional suggestive loci including IL10-IL19, IL18R1-IL1R1, IL6R, KIF21B, and EYS are identified, with shared genetic pathways with inflammatory bowel disease suggesting common etiologic mechanisms.

A genome-wide association study of 928 European Americans (81 cases with severe teenage acne, 847 controls) identified rs4133274 on chromosome 8q24 as significantly associated with severe teenage acne (OR=4.01, 95% CI=2.37-6.82, p=1.7×10⁻⁶), located 72 kb upstream of the MYC gene. The finding was not replicated in an independent cohort (n=1,392), but suggests a potential genetic link between acne and cancer risk through MYC-mediated androgen regulation.

First study evaluating the pharmacogenetic role of rs1143634 IL1B polymorphism and TNF promoter polymorphisms in infliximab-treated inflammatory bowel disease patients. Found rs1143634 C allele associated with higher serum IL1β concentrations (p=0.0345) and lower response to infliximab in Crohn's disease (p=0.027 for clinical remission). No significant associations found with TNF polymorphisms.

Population-based case-control study of Connecticut women showing that genetic polymorphisms in IL10RA (rs9610) and TNF (rs1800629) genes modify the association between blood transfusion and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) risk. IL10RA rs9610 GG genotype carriers with transfusion history had increased NHL risk (OR=1.9, 95% CI: 1.1-3.2), while AG/AA carriers had decreased risk (OR=0.6, 95% CI: 0.4-0.9), with significant gene-transfusion interaction (P=0.003).

This case-control study examined three TNF-α promoter polymorphisms in 331 Korean subjects (123 controls, 208 overweight/obese). The G-238A (rs361525) G/G genotype was significantly more frequent in obese subjects (94.7% vs 85.4%, P=0.0046, OR=3.05), suggesting the G allele is a risk factor for obesity. The C-857T (rs1799724) C allele was associated with higher HDL levels (P=0.014), suggesting a protective effect against atherosclerosis.

This case-control study evaluated 12 SNPs in 8 inflammation-related genes across three studies (Los Angeles, Taixing China, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering) involving 2,049 smoking-related cancer cases and 1,666 controls. IL10 rs1800871 was inversely associated with oropharyngeal cancer (aOR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.50-0.95) and positively associated with lung cancer among never smokers (aOR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.3-5.1). TNF rs1799964 was inversely associated with smoking-related cancer in pooled never smokers (aOR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.17-0.77). After Bayesian correction for multiple comparisons, IL10 rs1800871 and TNF rs1799964 emerged as noteworthy susceptibility markers for smoking-related cancers.

This PhD thesis comprises four association studies examining inherited variations in inflammatory cytokine genes and their pathogenetic role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple myeloma (MM), and B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL). Paper I found that CHI3L1 promoter polymorphisms (rs4950928) were significantly associated with serum YKL-40 concentrations in 238 RA patients (P < 2.0e-16) and 605 controls. Paper IV reported CHI3L1 rs4950928 associated with follicular lymphoma 10-year overall survival (HRCG = 2.04, 95% CI 1.17-3.54). Papers II and III examined gene-gene interactions in MM and B-NHL risk and prognosis.

PhD thesis describing comprehensive genome-wide association studies of acute anterior uveitis (AAU) in European (2,752 cases, 3,836 controls) and East Asian (821 cases, 4,898 controls) populations. European descent GWAS identified HLA-B at genome-wide significance plus 11 suggestive loci (ERAP1, NOS2, MERTK). East Asian GWAS identified HLA-B and ERAP1 at genome-wide significance plus 12 suggestive loci (GPR68, RHBDD2). Mendelian randomization confirmed ERAP1 as functionally relevant and showed genetically predicted CRP levels positively associated with AAU risk.

A case-control study of 127 multiple myeloma (MM) cases and 545 controls examined 82 common variants in 45 genes mediating immunity. IL4R rs2107356 (−28120T homozygotes, OR=1.91, 95% CI 1.08-3.38) and FCGR2A rs1801274 (−120G homozygotes, OR=1.95, 95% CI 1.06-3.60) were significantly associated with increased MM risk. A haplotype in the LTA*TNF complex (LTA −82C/−90G*TNF −1036C/−487G/−417G, OR=1.63, 95% CI 1.02-2.61) was also associated with increased MM risk compared to controls.