Association of FAS (TNFRSF6)-670 gene polymorphism with villous atrophy in coeliac disease.

AIM: To investigate the association of FAS gene polymorphism with coeliac disease (CD) development.

METHODS

FAS-G670A gene polymorphism, located in a gamma interferon activation site, was studied in 146 unrelated CD patients and 203 healthy ethnically matched controls. The restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method was used to identify FAS-G670A gene polymorphism.

RESULTS

No significant difference was found in genotype frequency between CD cases and controls. In controls, however, the frequency of the GG genotype was significantly higher in women (26.5%) than in men (12.8%) (OR= 2.44, 95% CI 1.15-5.20, P=0.020) and it was also higher in men with CD than controls (OR=2.60, 95% CI 0.96-7.05, P=0.061). The GG genotype frequency was significantly higher in patients with most severe villous atrophy (Marsh IIIc lesions) (OR=3.74, 95% CI 1.19-11.82, P=0.025). A significantly less proportion of men suffered from Marsh IIIc lesions than women (OR=0.20, 95% CI 0.06-0.68, P=0.01). The risk of having severe villous atrophy increased with the additive effect of the G allele in women (P=0.027 for trend, age and gender adjusted).

CONCLUSION

FAS-G670A gene polymorphism is associated with the severity of villous atrophy in CD. Female gender is also associated with the severity of villous atrophy.