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The important role of MHC in the pathogenesis of vitiligo and SLE has been confirmed in various populations. To map the most significant MHC variants associated with the risk of vitiligo and SLE, we conducted fine mapping analysis using 1117 vitiligo cases, 1046 SLE cases and 1693 healthy control subjects in the Han-MHC reference panel and 1000 Genomes Project phase 3. rs113465897 (P=1.03×10-13, OR=1.64, 95%CI =1.44–1.87) and rs3129898 (P=4.21×10-17, OR=1.93, 95%CI=1.66–2.25) were identified as being most strongly associated with vitiligo and SLE, respectively. Stepwise conditional analysis revealed additional independent signals at rs3130969(p=1.48×10-7, OR=0.69, 95%CI=0.60–0.79), HLA-DPB1*03:01 (p=1.07×10-6, OR=1.94, 95%CI=1.49–2.53) being linked to vitiligo and HLA-DQB1*0301 (P=4.53×10-7, OR=0.62, 95%CI=0.52-0.75) to SLE. Considering that epidemiological studies have confirmed comorbidities of vitiligo and SLE, we used the GCTA tool to analyse the genetic correlation between these two diseases in the HLA region, the correlation coefficient was 0.79 (P=5.99×10-10, SE=0.07), confirming their similar genetic backgrounds. Our findings highlight the value of the MHC region in vitiligo and SLE and provide a new perspective for comorbidities among autoimmune diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Genome‐wide association studies have identified many susceptibility loci for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, most of these loci are located in noncoding regions of the genome. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are pervasively expressed and have been reported to be involved in various diseases. This study aimed to explore the genetic significance of lncRNAs in SLE. Methods: A genome‐wide survey of SLE risk variants in lncRNA gene loci was performed in Han Chinese subjects (4,556 with SLE and 9,451 healthy controls). The functional relevance of an SLE risk variant in one of the lncRNA genes was explored using biochemical and molecular cell biology analyses. In vitro loss‐of‐function and gain‐of‐function strategies were used to clarify the functional and phenotypic relevance of this SLE susceptibility lncRNA. Moreover, correlation of this lncRNA with the degree of apoptosis in the peripheral blood of SLE patients was evaluated. Results: A novel SLE susceptibility locus in a lncRNA gene, designated SLEAR (for SLE‐associated RNA), was identified at the single‐nucleotide polymorphism rs13259960 (odds ratio 1.35, Pcombined = 1.03 × 10−11). The A>G variation at rs13259960, located in an intronic enhancer, was found to impair STAT1 recruitment to the enhancer that loops to the SLEAR promoter, resulting in decreased SLEAR production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with SLE (3 with the G/G genotype, 22 with A/G, and 103 with A/A at rs13259960; P = 0.0241). Moreover, SLEAR interacted with the RNA binding proteins interleukin enhancer binding factor 2, heterogeneous nuclear RNP F, and TATA‐binding protein–associated factor 15, to form a complex for transcriptional activation of the downstream antiapoptotic genes. In addition, SLEAR regulated apoptosis of Jurkat cells in vitro, and its expression level was correlated with the degree of cell death in the peripheral blood of patients with SLE (r = 0.824, P = 2.15 × 10−8; n = 30). Conclusion: These findings suggest a mechanism by which the risk variant at rs13259960 modulates SLEAR expression and confers a predisposition to SLE. Taken together, these results may give insights into the etiology of SLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS), which were mainly based on single-variant analysis, have identified many systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) susceptibility loci. However, the genetic architecture of this complex disease is far from being understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether using a gene-based analysis may help to identify novel loci, by considering global evidence of association from a gene or a genomic region rather than focusing on evidence for individual variants. Methods Based on the results of a meta-analysis of 2 GWAS of SLE conducted in 2 Asian cohorts, we performed an in-depth gene-based analysis followed by replication in a total of 4,626 patients and 7,466 control subjects of Asian ancestry. Differential allelic expression was measured by pyrosequencing. Results More than one-half of the reported SLE susceptibility loci showed evidence of independent effects, and this finding is important for understanding the mechanisms of association and explaining disease heritability. ANXA6 was detected as a novel SLE susceptibility gene, with several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) contributing independently to the association with disease. The risk allele of rs11960458 correlated significantly with increased expression of ANXA6 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from heterozygous healthy control subjects. Several other associated SNPs may also regulate ANXA6 expression, according to data obtained from public databases. Higher expression of ANXA6 in patients with SLE was also reported previously. Conclusion Our study demonstrated the merit of using gene-based analysis to identify novel susceptibility loci, especially those with independent effects, and also demonstrated the widespread presence of loci with independent effects in SLE susceptibility genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our previous meta-analysis of genome-wide association study, we identified the single nucleotide polymorphism ( SNP) rs4948496 ( P = 5.1 × 10−11, odds ratio [ OR] = 0.85) within the ARID5B gene associated with systemic lupus erythematosus ( SLE) in a Chinese population. To investigate its association with disease subphenotypes, we further analyzed the genotype data of rs4948496 in 4348 cases and 6679 controls from our previous meta-analysis and an independent replication cohort in this study. The SNP rs4948496 was significantly associated with SLE ( P = 1.61 × 10−5, OR = 0.88, 95% confidence interval [ CI] = 0.83-0.93) in our group. In case-only study, the genotype of rs4948496 was associated with antinuclear antibodies ( P = 0.03, OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.68-0.98) and anti- RNP ( P = 0.03, OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.76-0.99). This study showed that rs4948496 in ARID5B is associated with several subphenotypes of SLE and this gene may cause the complicacy of clinical features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study was aimed to explore the effect of Bach2 on B cells in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), as well as the underlying mechanisms. Methods Expression of Bach2, phosphorylated-Bach2 (p-Bach2), Akt, p-Akt and BCR-ABL (p210) in B cells isolated from SLE patients and the healthy persons were assessed by Western blot. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to assess the localization of Bach2 in B cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to detect IgG produced by B cells. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and Annexin-V FITC/PI double staining assay were adopted to evaluate cell proliferation and apoptosis in B cells, respectively. Results Compared to the healthy controls, Bach2, p-Akt and p210 were significantly decreased, while nuclear translocation of Bach2, IgG, CD40 and CD86 obviously up-regulated in B cells from SLE patients. Bach2 significantly inhibited the proliferation, promoted apoptosis of B cells from SLE patients, whereas BCR-ABL dramatically reversed cell changes induced by Bach2. Besides, BCR-ABL also inhibited nuclear translocation of Bach2 in B cells from SLE patients. Further, LY294002 treatment had no effect on decreased expression of Bach2 induced by BCR-ABL, but significantly eliminated BCR-ABL-induced phosphorylation of Bach2 and restored reduced nuclear translocation of Bach2 induced by BCR-ABL in B cells from SLE. Conclusions Bach2 may play a suppressive role in B cells from SLE, and BCR-ABL may inhibit the nuclear translocation of Bach2 via serine phosphorylation through the PI3K pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]