Integrative approach identifies SLC6A20 and CXCR6 as putative causal genes for the COVID-19 GWAS signal in the 3p21.31 locus

Silva Kasela; Zharko Daniloski; Tristan X Jordan; Benjamin R tenOever; Neville E Sanjana; Tuuli Lappalainen

doi:10.1101/2021.04.09.21255184

Integrative approach identifies SLC6A20 and CXCR6 as putative causal genes for the COVID-19 GWAS signal in the 3p21.31 locus

medRxiv [Preprint]. 2021 Apr 13:2021.04.09.21255184. doi: 10.1101/2021.04.09.21255184.

Authors

Silva Kasela^{1

2}, Zharko Daniloski^{1

3}, Tristan X Jordan⁴, Benjamin R tenOever⁴, Neville E Sanjana^{1

3}, Tuuli Lappalainen^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA.
² Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
³ Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
⁴ Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.

Abstract

To date the locus with the most robust human genetic association to COVID-19 susceptibility is 3p21.31. Here, we integrate genome-scale CRISPR loss-of-function screens and eQTLs in diverse cell types and tissues to pinpoint genes underlying COVID-19 risk. Our findings identify SLC6A20 and CXCR6 as putative causal genes that mediate COVID-19 risk and highlight the usefulness of this integrative approach to bridge the divide between correlational and causal studies of human biology.

Keywords: COVID-19; CRISPR; GWAS; SARS-CoV-2; eQTL.

Publication types

Preprint

Abstract

Publication types

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