A rare IL2RA haplotype identifies SNP rs61839660 as causal for autoimmunity

Abstract

IL2RA is associated with multiple autoimmune diseases including type 1 diabetes (T1D). Higher expression of IL2RA mRNA and its protein product CD25 in T lymphocytes is associated with a T1D-protective haplotype. Here we show that a rare variation of this haplotype that loses the protective allele at a single SNP, rs61839660, reduces IL2RA expression and T1D protection, identifying it as the causal factor in disease.