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Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Genome-Wide Analysis of DNA Methylation in Gastrointestinal Cancer
Published on: September 18, 2020
Unveiling the shared etiology between gastrointestinal disorders and valvular heart diseases through a genome-wide
Jing Xu1, Zeye Liu2, Lianlian Wu3
1State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
None:
This study explores the genetic link between gastrointestinal disorders and valvular heart disease (VHD), aiming to clarify shared mechanisms through a genome-wide pleiotropy analysis. We assessed the genetic correlation between six gastrointestinal disorders-including GERD, IBS, PUD, IBD, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis-and VHD, employing methods like linkage disequilibrium score regression and pleiotropic analysis under a composite null hypothesis. Our results show significant genetic correlations, particularly with GERD (rg = 0.211), IBS (rg = 0.23), and PUD (rg = 0.21). Fifteen variants and 64 genes were identified with pleiotropic effects, implicating pathways associated with other conditions like heart defects and dermatitis. Additionally, gut microbiota, specifically Butyricicoccus, showed a causal effect on VHD and GERD. This study underscores that gastrointestinal-VHD comorbidity may stem from shared genetic pathways and microbial influences.
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