Genetic variation at 11q23.1 confers colorectal cancer risk by dysregulation of colonic tuft cell transcriptional activator POU2AF2
Background Common genetic variation at 11q23.1 is associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, exerting local expression quantitative trait locus (cis-eQTL) effects on POU2AF2 , COLCA1 and POU2AF3 genes. However, complex linkage disequilibrium and correlated expression has hindered elucidation of the mechanisms by which genetic variants impart underlying CRC risk. Objective Undertake an interdisciplinary approach to understand how variation at 11q23.1 locus imparts CRC risk. Design We employ analysis of RNA sequencing, single-cell RNA sequencing, chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing and single-cell ATAC sequencing data to identify, prioritise and characterise the genes that contribute to CRC risk. We further validate these findings using mouse models and demonstrate parallel effects in human colonic mucosa. Results We establish rs3087967 as a prime eQTL variant at 11q23.1, colocalising with CRC risk. Furthermore, rs3087967 influences expression of 21 distant genes, thereby acting
