Association of FAS (TNFRSF6)-670 gene polymorphism with villous atrophy in coeliac disease

AIM:To investigate the association of FAS gene polymorphismwith coeliac disease (CD) development.METHODS:FAS-G670A gene polymorphism,located in agamma interferon activation site,was studied in 146 unrelatedCD patients and 203 healthy ethnically matched controls.Therestriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method wasused to identify FAS-G670A gene polymorphism.RESULTS:No significant difference was found in genotypefrequency between CD cases and controls.In controls,however,the frequency of the GGgenotype was significantlyhigher in women (26.5%) than in men (12.8%) (OR=2.44,95% CI 1.15-5.20,P=0.020) and it was also higher in menwith CD than controls (OR=2.60,95% CI 0.96-7.05,P=0.061).The GG genotype frequency was significantly higher inpatients with most severe villous atrophy (Marsh Ⅲc lesions)(OR=3.74,95% CI 1.19-11.82,P=0.025).A significantlyless proportion of men suffered from Marsh Ⅲc lesions thanwomen (OR=0,20,95% CI 0.06-0.68,P=0.01).The risk ofhaving severe villous atrophy increased with the additiveeffect of the Gallele in women (P=0.027 for trend,age andgender adjusted).CONCLUSION:FAS-G670A gene polymorphism is associatedwith the severity of villous atrophy in CD.Female gender isalso associated with the severity of villous atrophy.