To test this hypothesis, we chose to focus on the potential link between DUSP16 and the PIGR gene that is suggested by our transcriptomic data, as it encodes the pIgR receptor that is known to have a role in the protection of the mucosa from intestinal microbiota and is impacted by several other IBD gene candidates (KSR1, SATB1, IRF1, and GIGYF1)(Additional file 1: Table S11). Here, IRF1 is linked to inflammatory bowel disease.