Pathways identified by IBD GWAS
| Known IBD pathways confirmed by GWAS | Novel pathways implicated by GWAS |
|---|---|
| Barrier function | Autophagy |
| Role of T cell subsets | Regulation of IL-23 signalling; Th17 development |
| Cytokine–cytokine receptor signalling | ROS signalling; IL-1β |
| CARD9, NOD2 in innate immunity | |
| Innate lymphoid cells | |
| Enrichment for genes implicated in immunodeficiencies | |
| Shared risk genes associated with susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis |
Genetic studies have identified a number of genes and pathways as potential players in the initiation and progression of IBD. Some of these pathways were previously known to be involved in IBD pathogenesis (left), while other pathways had been previously unknown (right).
GWAS, genome-wide association studies; IBD, inflammatory bowel diseases; IL, interleukin.