Multiple rare genetic variants co-segregating with familial IgA nephropathy all act within a single immune-related network

BACKGROUND: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is a common complex disease with a strong genetic involvement. We aimed to identify novel, rare, highly penetrant risk variants combining family-based linkage analysis with whole-exome sequencing (WES).METHODS: Linkage analysis of 16 kindreds of South Italian ancestry was performed using an 'affected-only' strategy. Eight most informative trios composed of two familial cases and an intrafamilial control were selected for WES. High-priority variants in linked regions were identified and validated using Sanger sequencing. Custom TaqMan assays were designed and carried out in the 16 kindreds and an independent cohort of 240 IgAN patients and 113 control subjects.RESULTS: We found suggestive linkage signals in 12 loci. After sequential filtering and validation of WES data, we identified 24 private or extremely rare (MAF CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that disease susceptibility could be influenced by multiple rare variants acting in a common network that could provide the starting point for the identification of potential drug targets for personalized therapy.