Identifying therapeutic targets for allergic asthma through atopic dermatitis–associated genetic mechanisms
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Allergic asthma (AA) is a chronic inflammatory disease with limited effective treatments, often co-occurring with atopic dermatitis (AD). Epidemiologic studies have shown a strong association between AD and AA, but their causal relationship remains unclear. Objectives: This study aimed to identify novel therapeutic targets and candidate drugs for AA. Methods: We performed Mendelian (MR) analysis to evaluate the causal relationship between AD and AA. To identify potential therapeutic targets, we integrated drug-target MR, colocalization, functional enrichment, protein-protein interaction, and gene expression analyses. Drug candidates were prioritized using the Drug-Gene Interaction Database (DGIdb; dgidb.org) and the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD; ctdbase.org). Results: as a potential causal gene (posterior probability [PP.H4] = 0.95), supported by functional enrichment, protein-protein interaction, and gene expression analyses. Drug screening via DGIdb and CTD prioritized hydroxyurea as the top candidate (composite score = 0.85), although its efficacy in AA remains to be validated. Conclusions: as a potential therapeutic target and hydroxyurea as a candidate for clinical validation, paving the way for future research into shared immunogenetic mechanisms in allergic diseases.
Authors: Yuping Pu, Jundong Liu, Adam N. Bennett, Kei Hang Katie Chan
Institutions: City University of Hong Kong, Brown University
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,000
Funder: City University of Hong Kong
Award: G1060010430
OpenAlex ID: W4414475669