Genetic architecture of cytokine autoantibodies and associated risk of common diseases.
Anti-cytokine autoantibodies are increasingly recognized as modulators of immune function and determinants of disease risk, yet their genetic basis and population-level impact remain unclear. Here we perform genome-wide association studies of autoantibodies against IL-1α, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-α, IFN-β, IFN-γ and GM-CSF in 15,000 individuals from the Danish Blood Donor Study. We identify 52 genome-wide significant loci, implicating genes enriched in antigen-presentation pathways. Using these data, we derive cytokine-specific polygenic risk scores and evaluate their associations across 300,000 individuals in the Copenhagen Hospital Biobank. Genetic predisposition to IL-1α autoantibodies is associated with reduced risk of rheumatoid arthritis and certain cancers, whereas genetic predisposition to IL-6 autoantibodies is associated with increased risk of diabetes, mirroring prior clinical observations. These findings define the genetic architecture of anti-cytokine autoantibodies and indicate their divergent effects on human disease risk at population scale, providing a framework for mechanistic investigation and potential clinical stratification.
Authors
von Stemann von Stemann, Dowsett Dowsett, Teglgaard Teglgaard, Didriksen Didriksen, Pedersen Pedersen, Bentsen Bentsen, Barghetti Barghetti, Laguarda Laguarda, Larsen Larsen, Glintborg Glintborg, Lassen Lassen, Frikke-Schmidt Frikke-Schmidt, Porsbjerg Porsbjerg, Jensen Jensen, Werge Werge, Schork Schork, Bundgaard Bundgaard, Bundgaard Bundgaard, Hansen Hansen, , Bruun Bruun, Aagaard Jensen Aagaard Jensen, Mikkelsen Mikkelsen, Hartling Hartling, Erikstrup Erikstrup, Pedersen Pedersen, Sørensen Sørensen, Hansen Hansen, Ostrowski Ostrowski
View on Pubmed