Sequence variant affects GCSAML splicing, mast cell specific proteins, and risk of urticaria
Communications Biology, 2023
Kristjansson R., Oskarsson G., Skuladottir A., Oddsson A., Rognvaldsson S., Sveinbjornsson G., Lund S., Jensson B., Styrmisdottir E., Halldorsson G., Ferkingstad E., Eldjarn G., Beyter D., Kristmundsdottir S., Juliusson K., Fridriksdottir R., Arnadottir G., Katrinardottir H., Snorradottir M., Tragante V., Stefansdottir L., Ivarsdottir E., Bjornsdottir G., Halldorsson B., Thorleifsson G., Ludviksson B., Onundarson P., Saevarsdottir S., Melsted P., Norddahl G., Bjornsdottir U., Olafsdottir T., Gudbjartsson D., Thorsteinsdottir U., Jonsdottir I., Sulem P., Stefansson K.
| Disease area | Application area | Sample type | Products |
|---|---|---|---|
Dermatological Diseases | Pathophysiology | Plasma |  Olink Explore 3072/384 |
Abstract
Urticaria is a skin disorder characterized by outbreaks of raised pruritic wheals. In order to identify sequence variants associated with urticaria, we performed a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies for urticaria with a total of 40,694 cases and 1,230,001 controls from Iceland, the UK, Finland, and Japan. We also performed transcriptome- and proteome-wide analyses in Iceland and the UK. We found nine sequence variants at nine loci associating with urticaria. The variants are at genes participating in type 2 immune responses and/or mast cell biology (CBLB, FCER1A, GCSAML, STAT6, TPSD1, ZFPM1), the innate immunity (C4), and NF-κB signaling. The most significant association was observed for the splice-donor variant rs56043070[A] (hg38: chr1:247556467) in GCSAML (MAF = 6.6%, OR = 1.24 (95%CI: 1.20–1.28), P-value = 3.6 × 10-44). We assessed the effects of the variants on transcripts, and levels of proteins relevant to urticaria pathophysiology. Our results emphasize the role of type 2 immune response and mast cell activation in the pathogenesis of urticaria. Our findings may point to an IgE-independent urticaria pathway that could help address unmet clinical need.