{
  "id": 144078,
  "title": "3D DNA mapping in rare immune cells reveals new genes linked with autoimmune disease risk",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/3d-dna-mapping-in-rare-immune-cells-reveals-new-genes-linked-with",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-04T19:00:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-08-3d-dna-rare-immune-cells.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Researchers have used cutting-edge technology to map the 3D folding of DNA in rare immune cells, potentially uncovering new genes linked with autoimmune diseases such as Crohn's disease. In their study published in Nature Genetics, a team led by Dr. Mikhail Spivakov investigated the architecture of DNA in ILC3s, which play a role in inflammation and tissue repair at barrier tissues like the gut and are associated with autoimmune conditions. Traditional genome-wide association studies have linked many genetic variants to complex diseases within enhancers, which are regions of DNA that regulate gene activity but can be far from the genes they control. By developing a mini-Capture Hi-C technique that requires fewer cells, the team was able to analyze the 3D interactions between enhancers and genes in ILC3s. This revealed over 100 genes potentially impacted by enhancer variants that raise Crohn's disease risk, with many of these genes previously not linked to the condition. Among these are genes like CLN3, which is typically associated with a neurological disorder. The findings provide insights into how subtle genetic differences can alter immune cell behavior and contribute to disease, potentially paving the way for targeted treatments by targeting these molecular mechanisms.",
  "summary": "Researchers have mapped the three-dimensional structure of DNA in rare immune cells called type 3 innate lymphoid cells, or ILC3s. These cells, found in the gut, airways, and mucosal lymphoid tissues, play a crucial role in regulating inflammation and maintaining barrier integrity.\n\nThe study, co-led by researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, and Imperial College London, used a new approach to map long-distance DNA interactions in ILC3s. This approach was necessary because ILC3s are a rare population of cells, and conventional methods require millions of cells to map chromosomal contacts.\n\nThe research revealed new genes linked to autoimmune disease risk. According to Phys.org, DNA folds into a complex three-dimensional structure inside cells, which affects how genes are switched on and off. Understanding these interactions is key to interpreting genetic studies of disease. The study’s findings suggest that looking beyond the nearest gene may be essential for understanding how immune disease risk variants act in rare immune cells.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}