Shared genomic segments analysis identifies MHC class I and class III molecules as genetic risk factors for juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Abstract

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a complex rheumatic disease encompassing several clinically defined subtypes of varying severity. The etiology of JIA remains largely unknown, but genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified up to 22 genes associated with JIA susceptibility, including a well-established association with HLA-DRB1. Continued investigation of heritable risk factors has been hindered by disease heterogeneity and low disease prevalence. In this study, we utilized shared genomic segments (SGS) analysis on whole-genome sequencing of 40 cases from 12 multi-generational pedigrees significantly enriched for JIA. Subsets of cases are connected by a common ancestor in large extended pedigrees, increasing the power to identify disease-associated loci. SGS analysis identifies genomic segments shared among disease cases that are likely identical by descent and anchored by a disease locus. This approach revealed statistically significant signals for major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and class III alleles, particularly HLA-A*02:01, which was observed at a high frequency among cases. Furthermore, we identified an additional risk locus at 12q23.2-23.3, containing genes primarily expressed by naïve B cells, natural killer cells, and monocytes. The recognition of additional risk beyond HLA-DRB1 provides a new perspective on immune cell dynamics in JIA. These findings contribute to our understanding of JIA and may guide future research and therapeutic strategies.