Multiancestry genome-wide association and multiomics analyses elucidate spatiocellular features of multiple sclerosis genetics.

Multiancestry GWAS and multiomics analyses reveal 22 novel susceptibility loci and spatiocellular features of multiple sclerosis genetics across diverse populations.

• Why it matters: Understanding the genetic and cellular basis of MS is crucial for developing targeted therapies, but previous studies lacked diversity and detailed cellular context.
• What they did: The study conducted GWAS on Japanese and multiethnic populations, integrating single-cell and spatial transcriptomics to identify genetic risk factors and their cellular localization.
• The result: Findings highlight genetic risk enrichment in CD4+ T helper cells, regulatory T cells, and endothelial cells, revealing spatial and temporal heterogeneity that advances understanding of MS pathology.