Receiver operating characteristic statistics discriminating CD from UC in the discovery study cohort for the 10 selected genes are shown in Fig. 3A. Box plots comparing expression levels of the 10 most relevant candidates among CD, UC, and HC are shown in Fig. 3B. A panel of 7 genes (PI3, ANXA1, VDR, MTCL1, SH3PXD2A-AS1, CLCF1, and CD180) out of the initially 10 genes were selected for further validation based on their relation to the extra intestinal manifestations (EIM) connected to IBD and involvement in immune response. This evidence concerns the gene VDR and inflammatory bowel disease.