The expanding universe of inflammatory bowel disease genetics.
OBJECTIVE
Genetic factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. In this review, we will provide an update on the rapid advances in the discovery of inflammatory bowel disease, primarily Crohn's disease, associated genes.


RESULTS
Seven recently published Crohn's disease genome-wide association studies have confirmed prior findings related to the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2) gene and the IBD5 locus. In addition, 10 novel loci have been identified and well replicated.


CONCLUSIONS
Several promising associations between Crohn's disease and gene variants have been identified and replicated, the two most widely replicated being variants in the IL23R and ATG16L1 genes. These findings highlight and further support the importance of the immune system and its interactions with the intestinal microflora in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease.
Achkar
Jean-Paul
JP
Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA. achkarj@ccf.org
Duerr
Richard
R
D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*