Disease-linked regulatory DNA variants and homeostatic transcription factors in epidermis

D Douglas F. Porter R Robin M. Meyers W Weili Miao D David L. Reynolds (Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine) A Audrey W. Hong X Xue Yang S Suhas Srinivasan S Smarajit Mondal (Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine) Z Zurab Siprashvili (Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine) T Tania Fabo R Ronghao Zhou T Tri Nguyen L Luca Ducoli J Jordan M. Meyers D Duy T. Nguyen L Lisa A. Ko (Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.) L Laura N. Kellman I Ibtihal Elfaki M Margaret Guo M Mårten CG Winge L Leandra V. Jackrazi V Vanessa Lopez-Pajares B Betty B. Liu Y Yuanhao Qu (Phylo, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA.) I Imani E. Porter S Samuel H. Kim G Gyuhyeon Kim S Shiying Tao (Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine) J Jesse M. Engreitz P Paul A. Khavari

Abstract

Abstract Identifying noncoding single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in regulatory DNA linked to polygenic disease risk, the transcription factors (TFs) they bind, and the genes they dysregulate is a goal in polygenic disease research. Here, we use massively parallel reporter analysis of 3451 SNVs linked to risk for polygenic skin diseases with disrupted epidermal homeostasis to identify 355 differentially active SNVs (daSNVs). daSNV target gene analysis, combined with daSNV editing, underscored dysregulated epidermal differentiation as a shared pathomechanism. CRISPR knockout screens of 1772 human TFs revealed 123 TFs essential for epidermal homeostasis, highlighting ZNF217 and CXXC1. Population sampling CUT&RUN of 27 homeostatic TFs identified allele-specific DNA binding (ASB) differences at daSNVs enriched near epidermal homeostasis and monogenic skin disease genes, with notable representation of SP/KLF and AP-1/2 TFs. High TF-occupancy promoters were “buffered” against ASB. This resource implicates dysregulated binding of specific homeostatic TF families in risk for diverse polygenic skin diseases.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 16, Issue 1
Published September 25, 2025
ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher Nature Portfolio

Journal Info

Nature Communications

Nature Portfolio

ISSN: 2041-1723 Open Access Life Sciences

Authors (30)

D

Douglas F. Porter

R

Robin M. Meyers

W

Weili Miao

D

David L. Reynolds

Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine

A

Audrey W. Hong

X

Xue Yang

S

Suhas Srinivasan

S

Smarajit Mondal

Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine

Z

Zurab Siprashvili

Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine

T

Tania Fabo

R

Ronghao Zhou

T

Tri Nguyen

L

Luca Ducoli

J

Jordan M. Meyers

D

Duy T. Nguyen

L

Lisa A. Ko

Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.

L

Laura N. Kellman

I

Ibtihal Elfaki

M

Margaret Guo

M

Mårten CG Winge

L

Leandra V. Jackrazi

V

Vanessa Lopez-Pajares

B

Betty B. Liu

Y

Yuanhao Qu

Phylo, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA.

I

Imani E. Porter

S

Samuel H. Kim

G

Gyuhyeon Kim

S

Shiying Tao

Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine

J

Jesse M. Engreitz

P

Paul A. Khavari