The Nod2 gene in Crohn's disease: implications for future research into the genetics and immunology of Crohn's disease.
The association of the Nod2 gene on chromosome 16 with increased susceptibility to Crohn's disease holds the promise of catalyzing fundamental genetic and therapeutic advances. Coding region variants in the leucine-rich repeat region of Nod2 may affect host interactions with bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Genetic differences in pattern-recognition proteins (such as Nod2) of the innate immune system represent an increasingly important paradigm for understanding host-environment interactions. The central problem for complex disease gene identification through genome-wide searches has been that of locus heterogeneity; it is hoped that this heterogeneity will recede with the identification of Nod2, as the first pieces of a puzzle accelerate placement of subsequent pieces. The potential for genetic approaches to positively impact the treatment of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis is unparalleled among complex, multigenic disorders.
Cho
J H
JH
Department of Medicine (GI), University of Chicago Hospitals, Illinois 60637, USA. jcho@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002885:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 16 / Q000235:genetics; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D053473:Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein; D012307:Risk Factors
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D005819:Genetic Markers; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C429018:NOD2 protein, human; D053473:Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein