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Reduced monocyte and macrophage TNFSF15/TL1A expression is associated with susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease.


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Authors

Richard, Arianne C 
Peters, James E 
Savinykh, Natalia 

Abstract

Chronic inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) results from a breakdown of intestinal immune homeostasis and compromise of the intestinal barrier. Genome-wide association studies have identified over 200 genetic loci associated with risk for IBD, but the functional mechanisms of most of these genetic variants remain unknown. Polymorphisms at the TNFSF15 locus, which encodes the TNF superfamily cytokine commonly known as TL1A, are associated with susceptibility to IBD in multiple ethnic groups. In a wide variety of murine models of inflammation including models of IBD, TNFSF15 promotes immunopathology by signaling through its receptor DR3. Such evidence has led to the hypothesis that expression of this lymphocyte costimulatory cytokine increases risk for IBD. In contrast, here we show that the IBD-risk haplotype at TNFSF15 is associated with decreased expression of the gene by peripheral blood monocytes in both healthy volunteers and IBD patients. This association persists under various stimulation conditions at both the RNA and protein levels and is maintained after macrophage differentiation. Utilizing a "recall-by-genotype" bioresource for allele-specific expression measurements in a functional fine-mapping assay, we localize the polymorphism controlling TNFSF15 expression to the regulatory region upstream of the gene. Through a T cell costimulation assay, we demonstrate that genetically regulated TNFSF15 has functional relevance. These findings indicate that genetically enhanced expression of TNFSF15 in specific cell types may confer protection against the development of IBD.

Description

Keywords

Adult, Alleles, Cells, Cultured, Colitis, Ulcerative, Crohn Disease, Female, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Haplotypes, Humans, Macrophages, Male, Middle Aged, Monocytes, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Primary Cell Culture, Quantitative Trait Loci, Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 15, Young Adult

Journal Title

PLoS Genet

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1553-7390
1553-7404

Volume Title

14

Publisher

Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (083650/Z/07/Z)
Medical Research Council (MR/L019027/1)
British Heart Foundation (None)