Polymorphisms in the inflammatory pathway genes TLR2, TLR4, TLR9, LY96, NFKBIA, NFKB1, TNFA, TNFRSF1A, IL6R, IL10, IL23R, PTPN22, and PPARG are associated with susceptibility of inflammatory bowel disease in a Danish cohort

PLoS One. 2014 Jun 27;9(6):e98815. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0098815. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Background: The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), result from the combined effects of susceptibility genes and environmental factors. Polymorphisms in genes regulating inflammation may explain part of the genetic heritage.

Methods: Using a candidate gene approach, 39 mainly functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 26 genes regulating inflammation were assessed in a clinical homogeneous group of severely diseased patients consisting of 624 patients with CD, 411 patients with UC and 795 controls. The results were analysed using logistic regression.

Results: Sixteen polymorphisms in 13 genes involved in regulation of inflammation were associated with risk of CD and/or UC (p ≤ 0.05). The polymorphisms TLR2 (rs1816702), NFKB1 (rs28362491), TNFRSF1A (rs4149570), IL6R (rs4537545), IL23R (rs11209026) and PTPN22 (rs2476601) were associated with risk of CD and the polymorphisms TLR2 (rs1816702), TLR4 (rs1554973 and rs12377632), TLR9 (rs352139), LY96 (rs11465996), NFKBIA (rs696), TNFA (rs1800629), TNFRSF1A (rs4149570), IL10 (rs3024505), IL23R (rs11209026), PTPN22 (rs2476601) and PPARG (rs1801282) were associated with risk of UC. When including all patients (IBD) the polymorphisms TLR2 (rs4696480 and rs1816702), TLR4 (rs1554973 and rs12377632), TLR9 (rs187084), TNFRSF1A (rs4149570), IL6R (rs4537545), IL10 (rs3024505), IL23R (rs11209026) and PTPN22 (rs2476601) were associated with risk. After Bonferroni correction for multiple testing, both the homozygous and the heterozygous variant genotypes of IL23R G>A(rs11209026) (OR(CD,adj): 0.38, 95% CI: 0.21-0.67, p = 0.03; OR(IBD,adj) 0.43, 95% CI: 0.28-0.67, p = 0.007) and PTPN22 1858 G>A(rs2476601) (OR(CD,unadj) 0.54, 95% CI: 0.41-0.72, p = 7*10-4; OR(IBD,unadj): 0.61, 95% CI: 0.48-0.77, p = 0.001) were associated with reduced risk of CD.

Conclusion: The biological effects of the studied polymorphisms suggest that genetically determined high inflammatory response was associated with increased risk of CD. The many SNPs found in TLRs suggest that the host microbial composition or environmental factors in the gut are involved in risk of IBD in genetically susceptible individuals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / genetics*
  • Interleukins / genetics*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • NF-kappa B / genetics*
  • PPAR gamma / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 22 / genetics*
  • Toll-Like Receptors / genetics*

Substances

  • Interleukins
  • NF-kappa B
  • PPAR gamma
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • PTPN22 protein, human
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 22

Grants and funding

The work was funded by Health Research Fund of Central Denmark Region, Colitis-Crohn Foreningen and University of Aarhus (PhD grant). VA receives compensation as a consultant for Merck & Co., Inc. (MSD) and Janssen. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.