Integrative single-cell transcriptomics and mendelian randomization identifies BTN3A2 as a shared protective factor in Behçet’s disease and inflammatory bowel disease

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Behçet’s disease (BD) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are immune-mediated chronic inflammatory disorders with overlapping clinical features.
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Single-cell RNA sequencing identified a significant decrease in CD4+ TEM_TH1-like cells in both BD and IBD patients.
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BTN3A2 was identified as a protective gene in both BD and IBD, with distinct cell communication networks observed in BTN3A2+ and BTN3A2- cells.
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The EAU mouse model displayed BD-like ocular inflammation and IBD-like colonic pathology, linking ocular and intestinal inflammation.
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This study establishes BTN3A2 as a shared protective factor in BD and IBD, suggesting common molecular targets for therapeutic strategies.

Frontiers In Immunology

by Qinjin Dai, Yuelan Wu, Wenbo Geng, Mengna Li, Wanyun Zhang, Yuxian Lai, Pei Zhang, Chunjiang Zhou, Yinuo Wang, Qingfeng Cao, Xiang Luo, Yujie Lai, Changwei Huang, Peizeng Yang
June 24, 2026

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