title: Genetic polymorphisms of IL-23R and IL-17A and novel insights into their associations with inflammatory bowel disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the associations of genetic and epigenetic variations in IL-23R and IL-17A with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).
  
  
  METHODS
  The promoter and exon regions of IL-23R and IL-17A were analysed in 727 subjects (201 Crohn's disease, 268 ulcerative colitis and 258 healthy controls) using DNA sequencing and denaturing high performance liquid chromatography. Transcription factor binding affinity, IL-17A mRNA expression and methylation of the IL-17A promoter were evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and Jurkat cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A case-control analysis showed that development of Crohn's disease is associated with the IL-23R variant G149R (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.68) and IL-17A variant IVS1+18G>C (OR 10.65, 95% CI 1.32 to 85.89). Ulcerative colitis patients showed an association with IL-23R variants G149R (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.76), IVS4+17C>T (OR 2.89, 95% CI 1.20 to 6.96) and Q3H (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.99), and IL-17A variants -737C>T (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.13), -197G>A (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.97) and IVS1+18 G>C (OR 8.93, 95% CI 1.12 to 70.99). The -877G, -737T and -444A risk alleles of IL-17A displayed higher binding affinities with the transcription factor complex and higher expression levels of IL-17A transcripts. DNA hypomethylation of the IL-17A promoter was observed in PBMC from IBD patients with a significant inverse correlation between methylation extent of IVS1+17 and IL-17A mRNA level. Finally, Jurkat cells recovered IL-17A mRNA expression after exposure to demethylating agent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results provide insights into the genetic and epigenetic interactions in the IL-23R/IL-17 axis that are associated with elevated expression of IL-17 and IBD pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eun Soo
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chang Mo
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Jae Jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Tae Il
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Won Ho
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cheon
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000235:genetics*; D053722:Receptors, Interleukin-17 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C508717:IL17A protein, human; C515500:IL23R protein, human; D020381:Interleukin-17; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D053722:Receptors, Interleukin-17