Research questions: Patients commonly suffered from several digestive diseases across different organs, and experimental data have provided broad evidence of cross-link within the whole digestive system. Furthermore, independent GWAS of individual digestive disorders have revealed overlapping genomic risk loci and genes. Therefore, we reasoned that there are any shared genetic factors behind these comorbidities.
Objectives: We aimed to systematically investigate shared genetic underpinnings of different digestive diseases and explore potential mechanisms.
Scientific rationale: Clinically, many patients were presented with multiple digestive diseases affecting different organs. For instance, patients with inflammatory bowel diseases commonly suffered from primary sclerosing cholangitis; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease could influence many extra-hepatic organs. Experimental studies have also found a broad cross-link within the digestive system. Furthermore, prior genetic studies have revealed some overlapping risk loci and genes between different digestive diseases. Therefore, it is reasonable to hypothesize some shared genetic factors of digestive diseases.
