Vitamin D receptor binding, chromatin states and association with multiple sclerosis.
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the aetiology of multiple sclerosis (MS). More than 50 genomic regions have been associated with MS susceptibility and vitamin D status also influences the risk of this complex disease. However, how these factors interact in disease causation is unclear. We aimed to investigate the relationship between vitamin D receptor (VDR) binding in lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs), chromatin states in LCLs and MS-associated genomic regions. Using the Genomic Hyperbrowser, we found that VDR-binding regions overlapped with active regulatory regions [active promoter (AP) and strong enhancer (SE)] in LCLs more than expected by chance [45.3-fold enrichment for SE (P < 2.0e-05) and 63.41-fold enrichment for AP (P < 2.0e-05)]. Approximately 77% of VDR regions were covered by either AP or SE elements. The overlap between VDR binding and regulatory elements was significantly greater in LCLs than in non-immune cells (P < 2.0e-05). VDR binding also occurred within MS regions more than expected by chance (3.7-fold enrichment, P < 2.0e-05). Furthermore, regions of joint overlap SE-VDR and AP-VDR were even more enriched within MS regions and near to several disease-associated genes. These findings provide relevant insights into how vitamin D influences the immune system and the risk of MS through VDR interactions with the chromatin state inside MS regions. Furthermore, the data provide additional evidence for an important role played by B cells in MS. Further analyses in other immune cell types and functional studies are warranted to fully elucidate the role of vitamin D in the immune system.
Date Issued
2012-06-11
Date Acceptance
2012-06-11
Citation
Human Molecular Genetics, 2012, 21 (16), pp.3575-3586
ISSN
0964-6906
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Start Page
3575
End Page
3586
Journal / Book Title
Human Molecular Genetics
Volume
21
Issue
16
Copyright Statement
© 2012 The Author. Published by Oxford University Press.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/
licenses/by-nc/2.5), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly
cited.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/
licenses/by-nc/2.5), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly
cited.
Identifier
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22595971
PII: dds189
Subjects
B-Lymphocytes
Base Pairing
Cell Line
Chromatin
Enhancer Elements, Genetic
Genome, Human
Humans
Multiple Sclerosis
Promoter Regions, Genetic
Receptors, Calcitriol
Transcription Initiation Site
Genetics & Heredity
06 Biological Sciences
11 Medical And Health Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
England