Large genomic data study clarifies psoriasis onset
New research from Korea, published in Nature Communications, has identified specific mechanisms behind the onset of psoriasis by combining large-scale genomic data from more than 1.1 million people using advanced single-cell analysis technology. The investigators also identified several genes that are potential targets for new treatments.
The study was led by Professor Hong-Hee Won of the Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology (SAIHST) at Sungkyunkwan University and Samsung Medical Center in Seoul.
In a press release, the researchers note that while genetic and cellular-level studies of psoriasis have mostly advanced independently, few studies have combined large-scale genomic data with the behaviour of individual cells to establish a concrete disease pathway.
To address this gap, the research team conducted an integrated meta-analysis of genomic data from more than 1.1 million people and identified 125 genetic susceptibility loci closely linked to psoriasis onset. Of these, 17 were new loci that had not previously been reported in genetic studies. The team then applied single-cell transcriptomic analysis to examine gene activity at single-cell resolution in skin samples from healthy individuals and psoriasis patients. This approach identified the specific cell populations directly involved in disease onset.
The analysis revealed complex interactions among several key cell types. Myeloid cells and T cells interact with keratinocytes on the skin’s surface and vascular endothelial cells in the blood vessels. These cells orchestrate a signalling cascade that might drive excessive inflammation. By mapping the multi-dimensional interactions of these cells across different skin layers, the team pinpointed 50 promising therapeutic target genes for psoriasis.
“This research combines large-scale genomic data with precise cellular transcriptomic analysis to clearly reveal which genetic factors and cell types are involved in psoriasis pathology,” said Professor Won. “We expect our findings to serve as a key milestone in developing personalized immune-modulating treatments and new drugs tailored to individual patients.”
Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea supported this research.
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