CTLA-4 polymorphisms and susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease: A meta-analysis

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore whether the cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD).

Methods

The authors conducted a meta-analysis on associations between CTLA-4 +49 A/G, −318 C/T, CT60 A/G polymorphisms, and (AT)n repeat in the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) and UC and CD susceptibility.

Results

A total of 15 comparison studies were considered in our meta-analysis. Meta-analysis revealed no association between UC and the CTLA-4 +49 G and CTLA-4 −318 T alleles in all subjects (OR = 0.982, 95% CI = 0.851–1.1339, p = 0.804; OR = 0.500, 95% CI = 0.223–1.124, p = 0.094). No association was found between UC and the CTLA-4 CT60 A/G polymorphism in Europeans. However, a significant association was observed between the longer allele (?118 bp) of the (AT)n and UC in Asian population (OR = 6.073, 95% CI = 4.246–8.684, p = 1.0 × 10⁻⁹). Meta-analysis of the CTLA-4 +49 A/G, −318 C/T, CT60 A/G polymorphisms showed no association with CD.

Conclusions

This meta-analysis demonstrates that the CTLA-4 (AT)n repeat in 3′ UTR may be associated with susceptibility to UC in Asians, while no association was found between the CTLA-4 +49 A/G, −318 C/T, and CD60 A/G polymorphism and susceptibility to UC and CD.