The shared genetic architecture underlying the autoimmune and cardiovascular disease: a multivariate genome-wide analysis
Authors' conclusion
Our study unveils the shared genetic architecture between autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases, providing insights for therapeutic development and risk stratification.
Study context
- Population
- 3 autoimmune diseases (T1D, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis) and 4 cardiovascular disease (CVDs) (coronary artery disease, HF, stroke, peripheral artery disease); Polygenic risk score (PRS) explored in UK Biobank
- Comparison
- Highest PRS decile vs 2nd-9th deciles
- Outcome
- Genome-wide significant association signals in multivariate genome-wide association study (GWAS)
Methodological detailsfine-mapping, functional annotation, enrichment analyses, transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS), proteome-wide and drug-repurposing Mendelian randomization, polygenic risk score in UK Biobank
- Fine-mapping
- Functional annotation
- Enrichment analyses
- TWAS
- Proteome-wide and drug-repurposing Mendelian randomization
- Polygenic risk score in UK Biobank
Performance
As reported in the abstract
Genome-wide significant association signals, enriched primarily in arterial tissues and lipid metabolism pathways
259
Prioritized therapeutic targets (incl. TGFB1 and IL6R) by TWAS and Mendelian randomization (MR); histone deacetylase inhibitors identified as candidate drugs
15
Further findings
| Outcome | HR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| CVD risk by PRS among autoimmune patientsHighest PRS decilevs 2nd-9th decilesT1D | 1.60 (1.19–2.15) | |
| CVD risk by PRS among autoimmune patientsHighest PRS decilevs 2nd-9th decilesSystemic lupus erythematosus | 2.28 (1.14–4.56) | |
| CVD risk by PRS among autoimmune patientsHighest PRS decilevs 2nd-9th decilesRheumatoid arthritis | 2.33 (1.94–2.80) | |
| 0.20.5125Hazard ratio (log scale) |
Pleiotropic associations of PRS
- PRS associated with risk of various conditions incl. polyneuropathy, chronic renal failure and depressive episodes
Original publication
The shared genetic architecture underlying the autoimmune and cardiovascular disease: a multivariate genome-wide analysis. Cardiovasc Diabetol. Published 11 February 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →