A synonymous variant in IRGM alters a binding site for miR-196 and causes deregulation of IRGM-dependent xenophagy in Crohn's disease

Paul Hofman and colleagues show that a synonymous variant in IRGM, previously associated with risk of Crohn's disease, alters a binding site for miR-196 and causes deregulation of IRGM-dependent xenophagy. These findings implicate this synonymous polymorphism as a likely causal variant underlying the association of IRGM with Crohn's disease.