In a recent study published in Nature Genetics, scientists investigated a subset of genomic variants thought to be linked to type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. Type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis are examples of autoimmune disease, a condition in which the bodies immune system mistakenly attacks itself. To identify regions of the genome linked to these diseases, researchers began by fine-mapping 76 genomic loci using data from tens of thousands of individuals with or without autoimmune conditions. Their analysis narrowed in on 20 sites linked to rheumatoid arthritis and 34 sites linked to type 1 diabetes. Fine-mapping of these variants will enable further investigation to identify the specific genes, regulatory structures, and genetic mechnisms involved in autoimmune response.
For more information, a short summary can be found on GenomeWeb. The complete research article, "Fine- mapping and functional studies highlight potential causal variants for rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes" by Westra et al. was published in Nature Genetics.
