Genome-Wide Cross-Trait Analysis in European Populations Reveals Shared Genetic Architecture of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and the Allergy Spectrum

This study provides the first systematic evidence, in individuals of European ancestry, of shared genetic architecture between COPD and multiple allergic diseases, supported by concordant LDSC/HDL genetic correlations and colocalized loci. Newly identified hotspots at 2q12.1 and 2q37.3 implicate the IL-1/IL-18/IL-33 pathway as a common mechanism in European populations, indicating pleiotropic variants affecting epithelial-immune interactions and nominating cytokine-related targets for translational investigation.