Complement receptor 1 gene polymorphisms in Tunisian

patients with systemic lupus erythematosu

Association between CTLA-4 Gene Promoter (49 A/G) in Exon 1 Polymorphisms and Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the Tunisian Population

<b>Background/Aim:</b> To investigate the possible association between the polymorphism of the <i> CTLA-4 </i> exon 1 &#x002B;49 A/G and susceptibility to Crohn&#x2032;s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) in the Tunisian population. <b> Methods:</b> The &#x002B;49 A/G dimorphism was analyzed in 119 patients with CD, 65 patients with UC, and 100 controls by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. <b> Results:</b> Significantly higher frequencies of the <i> CTLA-4 </i> &#x002B;49A allele and A/A homozygous individuals were observed in patients with CD when compared with controls (pc = 0.0023 and pc = 0.0003, respectively). Analysis of <i> CTLA-4</i> A/G polymorphism with respect to sex in CD showed a significant difference in A/A genotypes between female patients and controls (pc = 0.0001 and pc = 0.038, respectively). There were no differences in the subgroups of patients with CD. <b> Conclusions:</b> Forty-nine A alleles and AA genotype are associated with CD susceptibility in Tunisians. Other genes involved in the T-cell regulation remain strong candidates for IBD susceptibility and require further investigation