Genome-wide association study of anterior uveitis.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to define genetic factors associated with anterior uveitis through genome-wide association study (GWAS). In this GWAS meta-analysis, we combined data from the FinnGen, Estonian Biobank and UK Biobank with a total of 12 205 anterior uveitis cases and 917 145 controls. We performed a phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) to investigate associations across phenotypes and traits. We also evaluated genetic correlations of anterior uveitis. We identified six anterior uveitis-associated loci. Genome-wide significant (p<5 × 10^-8) associations were identified for the first time at three loci (innate immunity activator (<i>INAVA)</i>, nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeat family, pyrin domain containing 3 and nitric oxide synthase 2). We detected associations at three loci previously reported to be associated with uveitis (endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 (<i>ERAP1)</i>, the trinucleotide repeat containing 18 (<i>TNRC18)</i> and the <i>HLA</i> region) and also replicated associations at two loci previously associated with acute anterior uveitis (<i>IL23R</i> and <i>HDAC2-AS2</i>). In PheWAS, we further detected that lead single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at three of the anterior uveitis-associated loci (<i>ERAP1</i>, <i>INAVA</i> and <i>TNRC18</i>) are associated with other immunity-related phenotypes, including ankylosing spondylitis and inflammatory bowel disease. Additionally, we detected a moderate genetic correlation between anterior uveitis and inflammatory bowel disease (<i>r_g</i> =0.39, p=8 × 10^-5). We identified six anterior uveitis-associated loci, including three novel loci with genome-wide significance. Our findings deepen our understanding of the genetic basis of anterior uveitis and the genetic connections between anterior uveitis and immune-related disorders, providing a foundation for further research and potential therapeutic interventions.