Association between genetic polymorphisms in interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) gene and Malaysian patients with Crohn's disease.

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to investigate the association between the interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) gene polymorphisms and the onset of Crohn's disease (CD) in a Malaysian cohort.

METHODS

Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples collected from 91 CD patients and 100 healthy individuals via a conventional phenol-chloroform extraction method. Screening of the four target single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including rs3807306, rs4728142, rs10954213 and rs11770589 was carried out in a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) thermal cycler using TaqMan genotyping assay. The genetic data obtained was subsequently subjected to statistical analysis to relate the SNPs to the onset of CD in the Malaysian population. The genotyping assay and data were further validated selectively by conventional PCR amplification of the SNP sites and DNA sequencing.

RESULTS

The rs3807306 G allele was a risk factor for CD (OR 2.3630, P = 0.00004), whereas the homozygous T genotype was protective against the disease (OR 0.2038, P = 0.00004). The heterozygous A/G genotype of rs10954213 was significantly associated with CD (OR 4.319, P = 0.0377). On the other hand, the homozygous A and heterozygous A/G genotypes of the rs11770589 were significant in the controls (OR 0.4242, P = 0.0166) and patients (OR 2.000, P = 0.0179), respectively. In the ethnic-stratification analysis, the rs11770589 homozygous A genotype was protective in Indians (OR 0.1551, P = 0.0112).

CONCLUSION

IRF5 gene polymorphisms may play a role in the development of CD in the Malaysian population.