LCK rs10914542-G allele associates with type 1 diabetes in children via T cell hyporesponsiveness

Background Abnormal lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase (LCK)-related T cell hyporesponsiveness was discovered in type 1 diabetes (T1D). This study aims to investigate the potential associations between LCK single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the susceptibility of T1D. Methods DNAs were extracted from blood samples of 589 T1D patients and 596 healthy controls to genotype seven SNPs of the LCK gene using PCR and Sanger sequencing. Associations of these SNPs with the susceptibility of T1D were determined by χ 2 test. LCKs were knocked out in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using CRISPR–Cas9 to investigate the role of LCK SNP in T-lymphocyte activation in T1D. Results SNP rs10914542 but not the other six SNPs of the LCK gene was significantly associated with (C vs. G, odds ratio (OR) = 0.581, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.470–0.718, P value = 4.13E − 7) the susceptibility of T1D. Peripheral T-lymphocyte activation in response to T cell receptor (TCR)/CD3 stimulation is significantly lower in the rs10914542-G-allele group than in the C-allele group. In vitro experiments revealed that rs10914542 G allele impaired the TCR/CD3-mediated T-cell activation in PBMCs. Conclusions This study reveals that the G allele of SNP rs10914542 of LCK impairs the TCR/CD3-mediated T-cell activation and increases the risk of T1D.