Contribution of CARD15 variants in determining susceptibility to Crohn's disease in Sweden

OBJECTIVE: Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disorder caused by environmental and genetic factors. Mutations in the CARD15 gene have been associated with CD. No previous case-control CARD15 study has been performed in the Swedish population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study comprised of 321 individuals: 178 with CD and 143 healthy controls (HCs), all from Stockholm County. All were genotyped for the three main CD-associated CARD15 variants (R702W, G908R and 1007fs) and phenotypic associations were investigated. RESULTS: The allele frequencies of the R702W variant (4.5% CD versus 0.7% HC, p=0.008, OR = 6.8) and the G908R variant (2.0% CD versus 0% HC, p=0.045) were more common in CD patients than in controls. No significant difference in1007fs variant allele frequency was found between CD patients and controls (2.0% CD versus 1.7% HC, p = 0.8, OR = 1.1). Carriage of CARD15 variants was more common in the CD patients than in controls (15.2% CD versus 4.2% HC, p = 0.001, OR = 4.1, population attributable risk (PAR) = 11.4%). Genotype-phenotype analysis demonstrated that CARD15 variants were associated with ileal disease (p=0.0006, OR = 9.3, CI = 2.2-34) and protective for colonic CD (p = 0.01, OR = 0.18). An association between CARD15 variants and ileal CD (p=0.004, OR = 6.6) was confirmed by multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The CARD15 variants R702W and G908R, but not 1007fs, are associated with susceptibility to CD in Stockholm County. Genotype-phenotype analysis shows an association with ileal CD. The contribution of these CARD15 mutations in Swedish CD patients overall is low in relation to studies elsewhere in Central Europe and North America, but is consistent with emerging data from elsewhere in Scandinavia and in Northern Europe.     

Prevalence of mutations of the NOD2/CARD15 gene and relation to phenotype in Spanish patients with Crohn disease

Background: We assessed the prevalence of R702W, G908R, and L1007fs coding mutations in the NOD2/CARD15 gene and the genotype–phenotype relation in Spanish patients with Crohn disease. Methods: A cohort of 204 unrelated patients with Crohn disease and 140 healthy controls were studied. The phenotype was established before commencement of genotyping. Genotyping of the R702W, G908R, and L1007fs gene polymorphisms of NOD2/CARD15 was performed by two independent laboratories using different techniques. In the case of discordant results, specific sequencing of DNA strands was performed. Results: At least one mutation was present in 32.8% of patients compared to 10.7% in controls (OR?=?4.08, 95% CI 2.21 to 7.50). In patients with Crohn disease, the frequency of R702W, G908R, and L1007fs carriers was 13.7%, 8.3%, and 14.2%, respectively. Compound heterozygotes and homozygotes occurred in 3.4% and 2.9% of patients and in none of the controls. The correlation of genotype–Vienna classification showed a significant association with ileal disease (RR?=?1.61, 95% CI 1.21–2.15, P?=?0.001) and an inverse association with colonic localization (RR?= 0.29, 95% CI 0.11–0.80, P?=?0.007). There was a significant association between G908R carriership and previous appendectomy, surgical interventions, and stricturing behavior. A gene‐dosage effect on phenotypic characteristics was not observed. Conclusions: In a Spanish population from Madrid, mutations of the NOD2/CARD15 gene were a marker of susceptibility to Crohn disease and were associated with ileal disease. Carriers of the G908R mutation showed a stricturing disease behavior, history of appendectomy, and surgical interventions over the course of the disease.     

NOD2/CARD15基因多态性与克罗恩病患者相关性研究

目的NOD2/CARD15基因是人类的第一个克罗恩病(CD)易感基因,其间的3个单核苷酸多态性(SNPs)与白种人CD有显著性相关,但与日本人无关。本研究旨在证实这3个SNPs是否与浙江地区人群的CD易感性有关。方法血样来自浙江地区32例CD患者,110例溃疡性结肠炎患者及292例健康对照者。通过PCRSSP方法直接检测野生型及NOD2/CARD15基因的3个多态性(Arg702Trp,Gly908Arg,Leu1007fsinsC)。结果没有发现1例CD患者纯合子或杂合子的SNPs突变,同样在溃疡性结肠炎患者和健康人中也未能检测到。结论本研究表明一些存在于特定人群的CD易感基因可能在其他人群中不存在,白种人CD患者相关的易感基因NOD2/CARD15常见的3个SNPs与浙江地区CD人群无关。     

Mutations in CARD15 and smoking confer susceptibility to Crohn's disease in the Danish population

Objective. Three CAspase Recruitment Domain (CARD15) mutations have shown to predispose to Crohn's disease in Caucasian populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the mutation frequency in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and in healthy controls in Denmark. Material and methods. Genotyping of the three common CARD15 mutations was carried out on 388 patients with Crohn's disease, 565 patients with ulcerative colitis and 796 healthy controls using real-time PCR. Allele and genotype frequencies in the three groups were compared. A possible additive effect of smoking on CARD15 mutations was also examined. Results. Carrying at least one CARD15 mutation was significantly more common in patients with Crohn's disease compared with healthy controls (21% versus 10%; p <0.001). A gene–dosage effect was observed (OR_adj.smoking 22.2; p<0.001 for carrying two CARD15 mutations versus OR_adj.smoking 1.8; p=0.01 for carrying one CARD15 mutation). The 1007insC protein truncating mutation was the major contributing mutation. Ileal involvement was more common in Crohn's disease patients with CARD15 mutations as opposed to patients without CARD15 mutations (OR_adj.smoking 3.6; p<0.001). Smoking was independently associated with Crohn's disease (OR 1.8; p<0.001), but no multiplicative effect of smoking on CARD15 genotypes was found. Conclusions. In the Danish population, CARD15 mutations were found to be associated with Crohn's disease, hence supporting the hypothesis of a genetic component contributing to the disease. Further research for other genes possibly involved in Crohn's disease may result in the use of genetic testing for diagnosis or treatment of Crohn's disease in the future.     

Behaviour of Crohn's disease according to the Vienna classification: changing pattern over the course of the disease.

BACKGROUND: Crohn's disease is a heterogeneous disorder with both a genetic and environmental aetiology. Clinical classifications of the disease, such as the newly proposed Vienna classification, may help to define subgroups of patients suitable for studying the influence of specific genetic or environmental factors. AIM: To assess the stability over the course of the disease of its location and behaviour, as determined according to the Vienna classification. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The notes of 297 Crohn's disease patients regularly followed up at our institution were carefully reviewed retrospectively. The behaviour and location of the disease according to the Vienna classification were determined at diagnosis and after 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of follow up. The proportions of the different behaviours and locations of the disease were calculated at these time points. A statistical analysis of the evolution of these characteristics over 10 years was performed on a subgroup of 125 patients with at least 10 years of follow up. The influence of age at diagnosis on location and behaviour of the disease was assessed as well as the influence of location on the behaviour of the disease. RESULTS: The location of the disease remained relatively stable over the course of the disease. Although the proportion of patients who had a change in disease location became statistically significant after five years (p=0.01), over 10 years only 15.9% of patients had a change in location (p<0.001). We observed a more rapid and prominent change in disease behaviour, which was already statistically significant after one year (p=0.04). Over 10 years, 45.9% of patients had a change in disease behaviour (p<0.0001). The most prominent change was from non-stricturing non-penetrating disease to either stricturing (27.1%; p<0.0001) or penetrating (29.4%; p<0.0001) disease. Age at diagnosis had no influence on either location or behaviour of disease. Ileal Crohn's disease was more often stricturing, and colonic or ileocolonic Crohn's disease was more often penetrating: this was already the case at diagnosis and became more prominent after 10 years (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Location of Crohn's disease, as defined by the Vienna classification, is a relatively stable phenotype which seems suitable for phenotype-genotype analyses. Behaviour of Crohn's disease according to the Vienna classification varies dramatically over the course of the disease and cannot be used in phenotype-genotype analyses. The potential influence of genes on the behaviour of Crohn's disease should be studied in subgroups of patients defined by their disease behaviour after a fixed duration of disease.     

Crohn’s disease incidence evolution in North-western Greece is not associated with alteration of NOD2/CARD15 variants

AIM To assess the trends in the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) over 23 years in the same area and to identify genetic factors related to incidence evolution.METHODS Patients with IBD arising from Northwestern Greece were systematically recorded through the 1983-2005 period. Trends in disease incidence and genetic patterns related to CARD15 variants were documented and correlated.RESULTS A total of 447 patients with IBD were recorded (23.5% Crohn's disease, 72.7% Ulcerative colitis and 3.8% indeterminate colitis). Mean annual incidence rates of CD and UC were 0.9/100000 (95% CI 0.1-1.7) and 2.7/100000 (95% CI 1.7-4.1) inhabitants,respectively. There was a statistically significant increase of CD incidence (P ＜ 0.01) during the study period, in contrast to the UC incidence. There were no statistical differences in CARD15 variants over the study period.CONCLUSION The incidence of CD in North-western Greece has risen disproportionately to that of UC in the 21st century. This is not related to alterations of genetic background though.     

Homozygosity for the CARD15 frameshift mutation 1007fs is predictive of early onset of Crohn's disease with ileal stenosis,entero-enteral fistulas,and frequent need for surgical intervention with high risk of re-stenosis

Objective. The identification of CARD15 as a susceptibility gene for Crohn's disease (CD) offers new possibilities for patient classification and risk assessment. The purpose of this study was to carry out a CARD15 sequence analysis in a large single-center IBD cohort and to investigate the impact of different genotypes on disease phenotypes. Material and methods. A total of 445 unrelated patients with IBD (68.1% CD, 28.5% ulcerative colitis (UC), 3.4% indeterminate colitis (IC)) were included in the study. Clinical data were recorded by detailed questionnaire and analysis of the charts. CARD15 variants (R702W, G908R, 1007fs (frameshift)) were identified by DNA sequence analysis. Results. CARD15 variants were found in 142 inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients (31.9%) including 120 CD patients (39.6%). In CD, the presence of two CARD15 variants was associated with ileal disease (p=0.008 versus wild-type (wt); OR 4.04; 95% CI 1.36–11.96) and a fibrostenotic phenotype (p=0.002 versus wt; OR 5.47; 95% CI 1.61–18.58). Subgroup analysis of 19 patients (4.3%) homozygous for the CARD15 variant 1007fs (3020ins C) revealed an association with onset of CD at an early age (p=0.014 versus wt), ileal involvement (p=0.001), and intestinal stenoses in all patients (p=0.001) frequently requiring surgery (73.7%; p=0.093). Of these patients 78.6% developed re-stenoses after surgical resection; 52.6% of the homozygotes were diagnosed as having entero-enteral fistulas. Conclusions. Patients homozygous for the 1007fs mutation had an early disease onset with long-segment ileal stenoses and entero-enteral fistulas. They frequently needed surgical intervention and had a high risk of re-stenosis. Genotyping therefore appears to be an important diagnostic tool in identifying severely affected patients requiring individualized treatment strategies at an early stage of the disease.     

Polymorphisms in interleukin-10 gene according to mutations of NOD2/CARD15 gene and relation to phenotype in Spanish patients with Crohn＇s disease

AIM:To examine the contribution of interleukin-10(IL-10)gene polymorphisms to Crohn's disease(CD)phenotype,and the possible genetic epistasis betweenIL-10 gene polymorphisms and CARD15/NOD2 genemutations.METHODS:A cohort of 205 Spanish unrelated patientswith Crohn's disease recruited from a single centerwas studied.All patients were rigorously phenotypedand followed-up for at least 3 years(mean time,12.5years).The clinical phenotype was established prior togenotyping.RESULTS:The correlat on of genotype-Viennaclassification groups showed that the ileocolonic locationwas significantly associated with the-1082G allele in theNOD2/CARD15 mutation-positive patients(RR=1.52,95%CI,1.21 to 1.91,P=0.008).The multivariate analysisdemonstrated that the IL-10 G14 microsatellite allelein the NOD2/CARD15 mutation positive patients wasassociated with two risk factors,history of appendectomy(RR=2.15,95%CI=1.1-4.30,P=0.001)and smokinghabit at diagnosis(RR=1.29,95%CI=1.04-4.3,P=0.04).CONCLUSION:In Spanish population from Madrid,inCD patients carrying at least one NOD2/CARD15 mutation,the-1082G allele is associated with ileocolonic disease and the IL-10G14 microsatellite allele is associated withprevious history of appendectomy and smoking habit atdiagnosis.These data provide further molecular evidencefor a genetic basis of the clinical heterogeneity of CD.     

Identification of NOD2/CARD15 mutations in Malaysian patients with Crohn's disease

OBJECTIVE: The NOD2/CARD15 gene has been identified as an important susceptibility gene for Crohn's disease (CD) but the three common disease predisposing mutations (DPM) found in developed countries have not been identified in Asian populations. The aim of our study was to look for the DPM in our multiracial population and to discover whether there were any differences in the three major ethnic groups; Malay, Chinese and Indian. METHODS: Blood samples from consecutive CD patients and healthy controls were obtained and analyzed for the three common mutations (R702W, G908R, 1007fs) but in addition to this, we also looked for the SNP5 and JW1 variants which are associated with CD in Ashkenazi Jews. A polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) technique was used to identify the mutations, which was confirmed by sequencing. The baseline socio‐demography and clinical characteristics of the CD patients were recorded. RESULTS: Overall 45 patients (three Malays, 15 Chinese, 26 Indians and one other) with confirmed CD and 300 controls were recruited. The three common DPM were not observed in either the CD patients or the controls. Neither the SNP5 nor the JW1 mutation was found in any of the controls. However, the SNP5 mutation was identified in six (13.3%) Indian CD patients and the JW1 mutation in eight CD patients who are different from those carrying the SNP5 mutation: one Malay (33.3%), two Chinese (13.3%), one other (Portuguese) and four Indians (15.4%). The presence of SNP5 was strongly associated with CD in the Indian population and that of JW1 was strongly associated with CD overall and in each of the major ethnic groups. There was a trend towards a younger age of onset and stricturing disease in patients carrying the JW1 mutation. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest the presence of novel DPM in the NOD2/CARD15 gene in Asian patients with CD.     

CARD15 Status and Familial Predisposition for Crohn's Disease and Colonic Gene Expression

Familial disposition and mutations in the Caspase Recruitment Domain 15 (CARD15) have been associated with an increased risk for Crohn's disease (CD). This study investigated whether these risk factors correlate with colonic gene expression profiles generated by DNA-microarray technology. Tissue specimens from descending colon were obtained during colonoscopy from 45 CD patients (18 from areas with inflammation and 27 from noninflamed areas). Gene profiling analysis was performed using the Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 GeneChip Array. Patients were classified according to their CARD15 status. Hybridization data were analyzed with dChip software. Nine patients with either one or two CARD15 mutations had no differentially expressed genes, compared to 36 patients with wild- type CARD15. There was only one differentially expressed EST between 8 patients who had familial disposition for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and 36 who did not, but hierarchical cluster analysis did not show group homogeneity. We conclude that gene expression profiling of mucosal biopsies from the descending colon of patients with CD could not be correlated with CARD15 status or with familial disposition for IBD.     

Azathioprine-induced toxoplasma gondii infection in a patient with Crohn's disease with NUDT15 variation: A case report

Introduction:Azathioprine (AZA) has been widely used for the treatment of various immune-related diseases and has become a mainstay in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. However, patients with genetic mutations may experience severe adverse events when treated with azathioprine. Most of the previous literature focused on the TPMP gene-related adverse reactions, herein, we report a case of Crohn''s disease patient with nucleoside diphosphate-linked moiety X motif 15 gene (NUDT15) variation and wild-type TPMP gene who developed toxoplasma gondii infection after azathioprine treatment.Patient concerns:A 56-year-old Crohn''s disease patient developed toxoplasma gondii infection within 2 months after the administration of azathioprine; however, he had no relevant high-risk factors.Diagnosis:Subsequent genetic testing revealed that the patient was heterozygous for NUDT15. Therefore, it was reasonable to consider that the patient''s genetic mutation resulted in reduced tolerance to azathioprine, leading to low immunity and eventually toxoplasma infection.Interventions:AZA was then discontinued; after anti-infection, antipyretic and other supportive treatments were administered, the patient''s condition gradually improved.Outcomes:The patient was followed up at 1, 3, and 6 months after discharge; fortunately, he was in good health.Conclusion:We report a case of Crohn''s disease in a patient who developed severe pneumonia caused by toxoplasma gondii infection due to the administration of AZA, with normal TPMP gene but NUDT15 gene mutation. This indicates that NUDT15 variation may contribute to severe adverse events in patients treated with azathioprine, and we suggest that NUDT15 genotype be detected before the use of azathioprine in order to provide personalized therapy and reduce side effects.     

Treatment-resistant lingual Crohn's disease disappears after infliximab

Oral manifestations of Crohn's disease (CD) are not uncommon, but they can be difficult to diagnose and treat. We describe a patient with long-standing CD and a lingual ulcer, which we attributed to CD. The oral lesions were unresponsive to conventional therapy such as steroids, mesalamine, and other topical agents. There was an excellent response to infliximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody to tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α). In the context of this case we discuss the various differential diagnoses. Furthermore, we report on different therapeutic options and their effectiveness. Oral manifestations of CD, which are refractory to systemic steroids and mesalamine, show an excellent response to infliximab.     

OCTN and CARD15 gene polymorphism in Chinese patients with inflammatory bowel disease

AIM： To investigate the single nucleotide polymorphism （SNPs） distribution of NOD2/CARD15 （R702W, G908R）, OCTN1 1672CFT and OCTN2-207G/C in Chinese patients with inflammatory bowel disease （IBD）. METHODS： A total of 61 patients with Crohn＇s disease （CD）, 151 patients with ulcerative colitis （UC）, and 200 unrelated healthy controls were genotyped. Genotyping was performed by sequence specific primer polymerase chain reaction （PCR-SSP） or by restriction fragment length polymorphism （PCR-RFLP） analysis. RESULTS： Among the subjects in our study groups, including patients with CD, UC and healthy controls, none had OCTN and CARD15 variants and very rare IBD family history was found in our patients with the percentage of 0 （0/61 with CD） and 1.3% （2/151 with UC）. CONCLUSION： Our results indicate that although OCTN or CARD15 variation is associated with susceptibility to IBD in Western populations, these might be rare and may not be associated with susceptibility to IBD in Chinese patients.     

Role of the CARD15 gene in the pathogenesis of Crohn disease: phenotypic classification and prognostic implications

Annese V, Bassotti G, Napolitano G, Usai P, Andriulli A, Vantrappen G. Gastrointestinal motility disorders in patients with inactive Crohn's disease. Scand J Gastroenterol 1997; 32:1107–1117.

Background: Although some symptoms of Crohn's disease may be related to gastrointestinal motility disorders, studies on gastrointestinal motility in inactive Crohn's disease are lacking. Methods: Fasting and postprandial motor activity (1 h) was recorded in the gastric antrum and upper small intestine of 35 patients with inactive Crohn's disease and 18 controls, using conventional manometry. Results: Motor disorders were observed in 26 of 35 patients. The number of phase-II contractions was reduced (1.3 ±0.7/min versus 1.8±.6/min in controls; P< 0.02) (mean ± standard deviation), whereas the incidence of propagated single (2.2 ± 3.2/h versus 0.5 ± 0.6/h; P< 0.03) and clustered contractions (3.8 ± 7/h versus 1.1 ±1.4, P < 0.04) was markedly increased. Motor abnormalities were more frequent and severe in patients with Crohn's ileitis than in controls, and in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms than in asymptomatic patients. Conclusion: Most patients with inactive, uncomplicated Crohn's disease show marked gastrointestinal motor disorders, characterized either by reduced incidence of small-bowel contractions and increased incidence of single or clustered propagated contractions.     

Toll-like receptor 4 and NOD2／CARD15 mutations in Hungarian patients with Crohn＇s disease： Phenotype-genotype correlations

AIM: To determine common NOD2/CARD15 mutations and TLR4 D299G polymorphism in Hungarian patients with CD. METHODS: A total of 527 unrelated patients with CD (male/female: 265/262, age: 37.1 (SD 7.6) years) and 200 healthy subjects were included. DNA was screened for possible NOD2/CARD15 mutations by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (confirmed by direct sequencing). TLR4 D299G was tested by PCR-RFLP. RESULTS: NOD2/CARD15 mutations were found in 185 patients (35.1%) and in 33 controls (16.5%,P<0.0001). SNP8/R702W (10.8% vs 6%, P= 0.02), SNP13/3020insC (19.4% vs 5%, P<0.0001) and exon4 R703C (2.1% vs 0%, P= 0.02) mutations were more frequent in CD, while the frequency of SNP12/G908R was not increased. The frequency of TLR4 D299G was not different (CD: 9.9% vs controls: 12.0%). Variant NOD2/CARD15 allele was associated with an increased risk for CD (ORhet=1.71, 95%CI=1.12-2.6, P= 0.0001, ORtwo-risk alleles = 25.2, 95%CI =4.37- ,P<0.0001), early disease onset (carrier: 26.4 years vs non-carrier: 29.8 years, P=0.0006), ileal disease (81.9% (?) 69.5%, OR = 1.99, 95%CI = 1.29-3.08, P= 0.02, presence of NOD2/CARD15 and TLR4: 86.7% vs 64.8%), stricturing behavior (OR = 1.69,95%CI = 1.13-2.55, P= 0.026) and increased need for resection (OR=1.71, 95%CI: 1.13-2.62, P= 0.01), but not with duration, extra-intestinal manifestations, familial disease or smoking. TLR4 exhibited a modifier effect: age of onset in wt/TLR4 D299G carriers: 27.4 years vs NOD2mut/TLR D299G: 23 years (P = 0.06), in NOD2mut/wt: 26.7 years. CONCLUSION: These results confirm that variant NOD2/ CARD15 (R702W, R703C and 3020insC) alleles are associated with earlier disease onset, ileal disease, stricturing disease behavior in Hungarian CD patients. In contrast, although the frequency of TLR4 D299G polymorphism was not different from controls, NOD2/TLR4 mutation carriers tended to present at earlier age.     

Laparoscopy in Crohn's disease

In Crohn's disease (CD) surgical management, laparoscopic approach offers several theoretical advantages over the open approach. However, the importance of inflammatory lesions associated with CD, and the frequent presence of adhesions from previous surgery have initially questioned its feasibility and safety. In the present review article we will discuss the role of laparoscopic approach for Crohn's disease surgical management, along with its potential benefits as compared to the open approach.     

CARD15 frameshift mutation in patients with Crohn disease is associated with immune dysregulation

Background: Mutations in the caspase-activating recruitment domain 15 (CARD15) gene are associated with Crohn disease (CD). CARD15 is an intracellular receptor for bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS). LPS-induced activation of transfectants containing the frameshift mutation (1007fs) of CARD15 is impaired. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the presence of CARD15 1007fs affects activation of CD patients' own cells. Patients (4 homozygotes, 6 heterozygotes, and 6 wild-type) were matched according to clinical picture and medication. Methods: Immune inflammatory status was evaluated by measuring monocyte HLA-DR and CD11b densities and the proportion of CD14[Formula: See Text]CD16[Formula: See Text] monocytes, and was found to be comparable in the three groups. Blood mononuclear cells were cultured overnight in serum-free medium alone, or the medium supplemented with LPS (0.1-10.0?ng/mL), a combination of IFN-γ (100 IU/mL) and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) (5?ng/mL), or both. TNF and IL-10 levels in the culture supernatant were determined. Results: LPS 0.1 or 1.0?ng/mL alone did not increase TNF levels. IFN-γ/GM-CSF induced TNF release, and co-culture with LPS 1.0 or 10.0?ng/mL was strongly synergistic. CARD15 1007fs mutation was linked in a gene-dose-dependent manner to low TNF release induced by IFN-γ/GM-CSF (P value for linear trend?=?0.001). The degree of synergism in co-culture was normal or high, suggesting that 1007fs did not depress responses to LPS. IL-10 levels were not related to CARD15 1007fs. Conclusions: In CD patients, CARD15 1007fs is associated in a gene-dose-dependent manner to low mononuclear cell TNF release by IFN-γ/GM-CSF but does not impair TNF release by LPS. This type of immune dysregulation may influence susceptibility to and/or phenotype of CD.     

Prevalence of SLC22A4, SLC22A5 and CARD15 gene mutations in Hungarian pediatric patients with Crohn＇s disease

AIM: To investigate the frequency of the common NOD2/CARD15 susceptibility variants and two functional polymorphisms of OCTN cation transporter genes in Hungarian pediatric patients with Crohn's disease (CD). METHODS: A cohort of 19 unrelated pediatric and 55 unrelated adult patients with Crohn's disease and 49 healthy controls were studied. Genotyping of the three common CD-associated CARD15 variants (Arg702Trp, Gly908Arg and 1007finsC changes) with the SLC22A4 1672C-->T, and SLC22A5 -207G-->C mutations was performed by direct sequencing of the specific regions of these genes. RESULTS: At least one CARD15 mutation was present in 52.6% of the children and in 34.5% of the adults compared to 14.3% in controls. Surprisingly, strongly different mutation profile was detected in the pediatric versus adult patients. While the G908R and 1007finsC variants were 18.4% and 21.1% in the pediatric group, they were 1.82% and 11.8% in the adults, and were 1.02% and 3.06% in the controls, respectively. The R702W allele was increased approximately two-fold in the adult subjects, while in the pediatric group it was only approximately 64% of the controls (9.09% in the adults, 2.63% in pediatric patients, and 4.08% in the controls). No accumulation of the OCTN variants was observed in any patient group versus the controls. CONCLUSION: The frequency of the NOD2/CARD15 susceptibility variants in the Hungarian pediatric CD population is high and the profile differs from the adult CD patients, whereas the results for SLC22A4 and SLC22A5 mutation screening do not confirm the assumption that the carriage of these genotypes means an obligatory susceptibility to CD.