Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms in Iranian patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
OBJECTIVE
The vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene maps to a region on chromosome 12 shown to be linked to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Many studies have recognized the relation of VDR gene polymorphisms with inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. Determining the frequency of these polymorphisms and their possible relation with IBD can improve understandings about the genetic background of these diseases. The objective of this study was to assess the association of VDR gene polymorphisms (Apa I, Taq I, Bsm I, Fok I) with IBD in Iran.


METHODS
In this case control designed study 150 patients with ulcerative colitis, 80 patients with Crohn's disease and 150 Age and Sex matched healthy controls from Iranian origin were enrolled. These patients were referred to a tertiary center during a two-year period (2004-2006). Assessment of VDR gene polymorphisms was performed by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. The genotype-phenotype association for these polymorphisms was analyzed.


RESULTS
Only the frequency of the Fok I polymorphism was significantly higher in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's groups. The frequency of the polymorphic allele f was higher in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's patients comparing with controls (P = 0.011 and P < 0.001, respectively). The f/f genotype was also significantly more frequent (P < 0.001), while the F/F genotype was less presented in Crohn's patients compared to controls (P < 0.001). No genotype-phenotype association was observed with any mutations.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests a probable association of the Fok I polymorphism in VDR receptor gene and Crohn's susceptibility in Iranian population.
Naderi
Nosratollah
N
Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University, MC, Tehran, Iran.
Farnood
Alma
A
Habibi
Manijeh
M
Derakhshan
Faramarz
F
Balaii
Hedieh
H
Motahari
Zahra
Z
Agah
Mohammad R
MR
Firouzi
Farzad
F
Rad
Mahta G
MG
Aghazadeh
Rahim
R
Zojaji
Homayoun
H
Zali
Mohammad R
MR