Multi-ancestry Genome-Wide Association Meta-Analysis Identifies Novel Loci in Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a highly heritable and common inflammatory skin condition affecting children and adults worldwide. Multi-ancestry approaches to AD genetic association studies are poised to boost power to detect genetic signal and identify ancestry-specific loci contributing to AD risk. Here, we present a multi-ancestry GWAS meta-analysis of twelve AD cohorts from five ancestral populations totaling 56,146 cases and 602,280 controls. We report 101 genomic loci associated with AD, including 15 loci that have not been previously associated with AD or eczema. Fine-mapping, QTL colocalization, and cell-type enrichment analyses identified genes and cell types implicated in AD pathophysiology. Functional analyses in keratinocytes provide evidence for genes that could play a role in AD through epidermal barrier function. Our study provides new insights into the etiology of AD by harnessing multiple genetic and functional approaches to unveil the mechanisms by which AD-associated variants impact genes and cell types.