A multilayered post-GWAS analysis pipeline defines functional variants and target genes for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

OBJECTIVES: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease with incompletely understood etiology, has a strong genetic component. Although genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revealed multiple SLE susceptibility loci and associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), the precise causal variants, target genes, cell types, tissues, and mechanisms of action remain largely unknown.

METHODS: Here, we report a comprehensive post-GWAS analysis using extensive bioinformatics, molecular modeling, and integrative functional genomic and epigenomic analyses to optimize fine-mapping. We compile and cross-reference immune cell-specific expression quantitative trait loci (cis- and trans-eQTLs) with promoter-capture Hi-C, allele-specific chromatin accessibility, and massively parallel reporter assay data to define predisposing variants and target genes. We experimentally validate a predicted locus using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, qPCR, and Western blot.

RESULTS: Anchoring on 452 index SNPs, we selected 9,931 high-linkage disequilibrium (r2 >0.8) SNPs and defined 182 independent non-HLA SLE loci. The 3,746 SNPs from 143 loci were identified as regulating 564 unique genes. Target genes are enriched in lupus-related tissues and associated with other autoimmune diseases. Of these, 329 SNPs (106 loci) showed significant allele-specific chromatin accessibility and/or enhancer activity, indicating regulatory potential. Using CRISPR/Cas9, we validated rs57668933 as a functional variant regulating multiple targets, including SLE risk gene ELF1, in B-cells.

CONCLUSION: We demonstrate and validate post-GWAS strategies for utilizing multi-dimensional data to prioritize likely causal variants with cognate gene targets underlying SLE pathogenesis. Our results provide a catalog of significantly SLE-associated SNPs and loci, target genes, and likely biochemical mechanisms, to guide experimental characterization.