A new study has mapped the three-dimensional structure of DNA in rare immune cells, revealing genes linked to Crohn's disease and other autoimmune conditions. The research, co-led by Professor Valeriya Malysheva of the VIB-UAntwerp Center for Molecular Neurology, was published in Nature Genetics.
The study is described as a massive analysis of immune cells in human tissue, yielding clues to the root causes of lung and autoimmune diseases. Inside cells, DNA folds into a complex three-dimensional shape, with about 2 meters (6.6 feet) of DNA packed tightly like a headphone wire in a pocket. This bundled architecture plays a crucial role in how genes are switched on and off.
Understanding these interactions is key to interpreting genetic studies of disease and could help develop targeted treatments. The findings help explain how genetic risk for Crohn's disease and other autoimmune conditions arises.