Association between genotypes and phenotypes in coeliac disease.
BACKGROUND
Coeliac disease (CD) is a genetically driven immunological intolerance to dietary gluten with a wide range of clinical presentations. The aim of this study was to investigate the heritability of the phenotype in CD and the influence on the phenotype of different genes associated with the disease.


METHODS
One hundred and seven families with at least 2 siblings with CD were collected. The patients were grouped in symptom grades on the basis of the clinical presentation, the age at diagnosis, and sex. Stratification analyses of the human leucocyte antigen-DQA1 and human leucocyte antigen-DQB1 genotypes, the CTLA4 +49A/G polymorphism, the CTLA4 haplotype MH30*G:-1147*T:+49*A:CT60*G:CT61*A, and the 5q31-33 loci were done.


RESULTS
The heritability of the phenotype was estimated to be 0.45. Significant association and linkage was found between the clinical presentation and the CTLA4 +49A/G polymorphism but not for the other genotypes. No correlation was found between genotypes and age at diagnosis or sex.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that the heritability is determiner of the phenotype in CD. The CTLA4 +49A/G polymorphism is correlated to the clinical presentation: the AA genotype is associated with clinically silent disease.
Gudjónsdóttir
Audur H
AH
Department of Paediatrics, Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden. audur.gudjonsdottir@vgregion.se
Nilsson
Staffan
S
Naluai
Asa Torinsson
AT
Ek
Johan
J
Amundsen
Silja S
SS
Wahlström
Jan
J
Ascher
Henry
H
D000941:Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics*; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D040582:Inheritance Patterns; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D035781:Siblings
D000941:Antigens; D015703:Antigens, CD; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; C556706:CTLA4 protein, human