Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39887658›Full record

ArticleArthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.)2025

Genome-Wide Aggregated Trans Effects Analysis Identifies Genes Encoding Immune Checkpoints as Core Genes for Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Athina Spiliopoulou, Andrii Iakovliev, Darren Plant, Megan Sutcliffe, Seema Sharma, Cankut Cubuk, Myles Lewis, Costantino Pitzalis, Anne Barton, Paul M McKeigue

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Athina SpiliopoulouUniversity of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.ORCID 0000-0002-5929-6585
Andrii IakovlievUniversity of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.ORCID 0000-0003-4031-0073
Darren PlantUniversity of Manchester and the National Institute for Health and Care Research Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford Road, Manchester, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0003-1395-9344
Megan SutcliffeUniversity of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-1084-5803
Seema SharmaUniversity of Manchester and the National Institute for Health and Care Research Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford Road, Manchester, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-9030-0482
Cankut CubukQueen Mary University of London and Barts Health NHS Trust and NIHR Barts Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0003-4646-0849
Myles LewisQueen Mary University of London and Barts Health NHS Trust and NIHR Barts Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0001-9365-5345
Costantino PitzalisQueen Mary University of London and Barts Health NHS Trust and NIHR Barts Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0003-1326-5051
Anne BartonUniversity of Manchester and the National Institute for Health and Care Research Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford Road, Manchester, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0003-3316-2527
Paul M McKeigueUniversity of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.ORCID 0000-0002-5217-1034

Funding

Academy of Medical Sciences SBF006/1109Medical Research Council MC_FE_00035Medical Research Council MR/V012509/1NIHR Barts Biomedical Research Centre NIHR203330NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre NIHR203308Versus Arthritis VA 21754
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe sparse effector "omnigenic" hypothesis postulates that the polygenic effects of common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on a typical complex trait are mediated by trans effects that coalesce on expression of a relatively sparse set of core genes. The objective of this study was to identify core genes for rheumatoid arthritis by testing for association of rheumatoid arthritis with genome-wide aggregated trans effects (GATE) scores for expression of each gene as transcript in whole blood or as circulating protein levels.

methodsGATE scores were calculated for 5,400 cases and 453,705 non-cases of primary rheumatoid arthritis in UK Biobank participants of European ancestry.

resultsTesting for association with GATE scores identified 16 putative core genes for rheumatoid arthritis outside the HLA region, of which six-TP53BP1, PDCD1, TNFRSF14, LAIR1, LILRA4, and IDO1-were supported by Mendelian randomization analysis based on the marginal likelihood of the causal effect parameter. Five of these 16 genes were validated by a reported association of rheumatoid arthritis with SNPs within 200 kb of the transcription site, eight by association of the measured protein level with rheumatoid arthritis in UK Biobank, 10 by experimental perturbation in mouse models of inflammatory arthritis, and two-CTLA4 and PDCD1-by evidence that drugs targeting the gene cause or ameliorate inflammatory arthritis in humans. Fourteen of these 16 genes are in pathways affecting immunity or inflammation, and six-CD5, CTLA4, TIGIT, LAIR1, TNFRSF14, and PDCD1-encode receptors that have been characterized as immune checkpoints exploited by cancer cells to escape the immune response.

conclusionThese results highlight the key role of immune checkpoints in rheumatoid arthritis and identify possible therapeutic targets.

Indexed as

Arthritis, RheumatoidImmune Checkpoint ProteinsAnimalsFemaleGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseGenome-Wide Association StudyHumansMaleMendelian Randomization AnalysisMiceMiddle AgedPolymorphism, Single NucleotideProgrammed Cell Death 1 ReceptorReceptors, ImmunologicImmune Checkpoint ProteinsPDCD1 protein, humanProgrammed Cell Death 1 ReceptorReceptors, Immunologic

Identifiers

PMID39887658
PMCPMC12209750

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.