Multiple allelic associations from genes involved in energy metabolism were identified in celiac disease.

Energy metabolism is a critical factor that influences disease pathogenesis. Recent high-throughput genomic studies have enabled us to look into disease biology with greater details. Celiac disease (CD) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease where ~60 non-HLA genes were identified which in conjunction with HLA genes explain ~55% of the disease heritability. In this study we aimed to identify susceptibility energy metabolism genes and investigate their role in CD. We re-analysed published Immunochip genotyping data, which were originally analysed for CD association studies in north Indian and Dutch population. 269 energy metabolism genes were tested. Meta-analysis was done for the identified SNPs. To validate the functional implications of identified markers and/or genes, functional annotation was performed. Six SNPs were identified in north Indians, of which three markers from two loci were replicated in Dutch. rs2071592 (P=5.01e-75) and rs2251824 (P=1.87e-14) from locus and rs4947331 (P= 9.85e-13) from NEU1 locus were found significantly associated. Identified genes are key regulators of cellular energy metabolism and associated with several immune mediated diseases. functional annotation showed significant biological relevance of these novel markers and genes. FDI approved therapeutics against and are currently in use to treat chronic and inflammatory diseases. This study identified two pathogenic loci, originally involved in energy metabolism. Extensive investigation showed their synergistic role in CD pathogenesis by promoting immune mediated enteric inflammation. Proposed CD pathogenesis model in this study needs to be tested through tissue-on-chip and methods to ensure its translational application.