IGHG1, HLA-DOB, and GABBR1: Genetic Insights into Rheumatoid Arthritis Using Mendelian Randomisation and Single-Cell...

To identify key genes associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and explore their roles in disease pathogenesis using genomic and single-cell transcriptomic data, with the aim of proposing novel therapeutic targets.

Bioinformatics-based observational study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Infectious Immunology, Tianjin Union Medical Centre, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nankai University, Tianjin, China, from December 2023 to January 2025.

Gene expression profiles were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), the GWAS Catalogue, and the NIH ImmPort database. Differentially expressed genes between RA patients and healthy controls were identified using the limma (Linear Models for Microarray Data) package in R. Mendelian randomisation (MR) was employed to infer causal relationships between genetic variants and RA susceptibility. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis was performed to determine cell-type-specific gene expression in synovial tissue.

Three core genes associated with RA were identified, including IGHG1, HLA-DOB, and GABBR1. IGHG1 and HLA-DOB are linked to immune response mechanisms, while GABBR1, a G protein-coupled receptor, has a novel association with RA onset, suggesting complex roles in immune regulation and inflammation.

Integrating differential gene expression analysis, MR, and scRNA-seq provides a comprehensive understanding of the genetic and cellular mechanisms underlying RA. These findings enhance the understanding of RA's genetic basis and offer potential targets for therapeutic strategies, highlighting the importance of a multi-dimensional approach to genomic research in complex diseases.

Rheumatoid arthritis, Differential gene expression, Mendelian randomisation, single-cell RNA sequencing, Genetic association.