The impact of genetic risk loci on synovial fibroblast biology
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Genetic factors contribute 50% to the risk of RA and the heritability of RA is estimated to be approximately 60%. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified over 100 genetic susceptibility loci for RA. However, only a small proportion of RA risk loci have been functionally analysed to date. In this project, we align genetic data with in depth analysis of the epigenetic landscape of synovial fibroblasts to determine which genetic risk loci lie within active, regulatory DNA regions in synovial fibroblasts. We then further analyse these DNA regions in synovial fibroblasts to see the molecular and functional impact of the genetic risk loci on fibroblast biology.
Involved team members
Mojca Frank-Bertoncelj
Miranda Houtman
Funded by
Swiss National Science Foundation
Collaborators
Prof Stephen Eyre, Arthritis Research UK Centre for Genetics and Genomics, University of Manchester, UK