Shared genetic architecture and therapeutic targets across paediatric immune-mediated diseases
Authors' conclusion
Paediatric-onset IMIDs share core pathways with adult forms but exhibit distinct genetic architecture shaped by age-specific immune and neurodevelopmental biology.
Study context
- Population
- Paediatric-onset immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), incl. JIA and related rheumatic diseases, European ancestry24 paediatric IMIDs
- Participants
- 18,086 vs 131,019
- Comparison
- Cases vs Controls
- Casesn = 18,086
- Controlsn = 131,019reference
- Outcome
- Shared and category-specific genetic architecture
Methodological detailssubset-based meta-analysis, European ancestry
- Subset-based meta-analysis
- European ancestry
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
- Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based heritability, allergic IMIDs
- 28.9%
- SNP-based heritability, autoimmune IMIDs
- 61.9%
- Genome-wide significant loci outside the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) region
- 39
- Previously unreported loci
- 15
- Loci shared between categories
- 19
Further pooled results
Comparison with adult IMIDs
- Broad polygenic architecture shared with adult IMIDs; top-ranked genes converged strongly with adult rheumatic diseases
Drug-target prioritisation (Priority Index)
- High-scoring genes
- 178
- Approved or investigational IMID drug targets among them
- 43
Enriched pathways
- NF-κB signalling, T helper 17 related pathways, JAK-STAT signalling, PD-1/PD-L1, CTLA-4 regulation, osteoclast differentiation
Original publication
Shared genetic architecture and therapeutic targets across paediatric immune-mediated diseases. Ann Rheum Dis. Published 10 August 2026. doi:10.
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