Genetic Analysis of Asymptomatic Antinuclear Antibody Production

• Published in: Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.) N.J.), 2024-11
• Main Authors: Hocaoǧlu, Mehmet, Casares-Marfil, Desiré, Sawalha, Amr H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2326-5191; 2326-5205; 2326-5205
• DOI: 10.1002/art.43032

Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are detected in up to 14% of the population, and many individuals with ANA are asymptomatic. The literature on the genetic contribution to asymptomatic ANA positivity is limited. In this study, we aimed to perform a genome-wide association study of asymptomatic ANA positivity in multiple populations. Asymptomatic individuals who were either ANA positive or ANA negative from the All of Us Research Program were included in this study, selecting those with an ANA test performed by immunofluorescence and no evidence of autoimmune disease. Imputation was performed, and a multipopulation meta-analysis including approximately 6 million single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was conducted. Genome-wide SNP-based heritability was estimated using the Genome-wide Complex Trait Analysis software. A cumulative genetic risk score for lupus was constructed using previously reported genome-wide significant loci. A total of 1,955 asymptomatic ANA positive and 3,634 asymptomatic ANA negative individuals across three populations were included. The multipopulation meta-analysis revealed SNPs with a suggestive association (P