Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. May 7, 2013; 19(17): 2709-2713
Published online May 7, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i17.2709
Difference in DRB1* gene polymorphisms between Han and Uyghur ulcerative colitis patients in China
Ayinuer Aheman, Feng Gao, Aihemaijiang Kuerbanjiang, Yue-Xian Li, Mireayi Abuduhadeer
Ayinuer Aheman, Feng Gao, Aihemaijiang Kuerbanjiang, Yue-Xian Li, Mireayi Abuduhadeer, Department of Gastroenterology, People’s Hospital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Urumqi 830001, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China
Author contributions: Aheman A designed the study, wrote and revised the manuscript; Kuerbanjiang A, Li YX, Abuduhadeer M analyzed and interpreted the data; Gao F acquired funding, and revised the manuscript critically for important intellectual content; supervised the study; and all authors read and approved the final version to be published.
Supported by Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, No. 2009211A26
Correspondence to: Feng Gao, Professor, Chief, Department of Gastroenterology, People’s Hospital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Tianchi str 91, Urumqi 830001, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. xjgf@sina.com
Telephone: + 86-991-8563342 Fax: +86-991-8565302
Received: November 18, 2012
Revised: February 28, 2013
Accepted: March 6, 2013
Published online: May 7, 2013
Processing time: 178 Days and 0.1 Hours
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the association between HLA-DRB1 alleles and Han and Uyghur ulcerative colitis (UC) patients residing in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China.

METHODS: In this study, 102 UC patients (53 Han including 22 men and 31 women, and 49 Uyghur patients including 25 men and 24 women; aged 48.07 ± 15.83 years) and 310 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the Department of Gastroenterology, Xinjiang People’s Hospital of China from January 2010 to May 2011. UC was diagnosed based on the clinical, endoscopic and histological findings following Lennard-Jones criteria. Blood samples were collected and genomic DNA was extracted by routine laboratory methods, and both polymerase chain reaction and gene sequencing were used to identify HLA-DRB1 allele variants. The potential association between genetic variation and UC in Han and Uyghur patients was examined. There were no statistical differences in HLA-DRB1 allele frequencies in Han UC patients.

RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the sex ratio between the controls and UC patients (P = 0.740). In Han patients with UC (n = 53), HLA-DRB1 *03, *13 allele frequencies were lower than in healthy controls (n = 161), but not statistically significant, and HLA-DRB1*04*11*14 allele frequencies were higher than in healthy controls, but without statistical significance. Differences between Uyghur UC patients and the control group were observed for HLA-DRB1*04 and HLA-DRB1*13, both showed a greater frequency in UC patients (10.21% vs 2.69%, P = 0.043; 14.29% vs 4.03%, P = 0.019). HLA-DRB1*14 also showed a greater frequency in UC patients (14.29% vs 2.69%, P = 0.006). The frequencies of DRB1*04, *13*14 alleles were increased in Uyghur UC patients compared with normal controls. The frequency of DRB1 * 08 was decreased in Uyghur UC patients compared with normal controls. HLA-DRB1 alleles showed no association with UC in Han patients. There were no statistical differences in HLA-DRB1 allele frequencies in Han UC patients. The frequencies of DRB1*04, *13*14 alleles were increased in Uyghur UC patients compared with normal controls. The frequency of DRB1*08 was decreased in Uyghur UC patients compared with normal controls. Polymorphism of the HLA-DRB1 gene may contribute to the clinical heterogeneity of UC between Han and Uyghur UC patients in China.

CONCLUSION: HLA-DRB1*04*13*14 and DRB1*08 may contribute to the clinical heterogeneity of UC between Han and Uyghur UC patients.

Keywords: Ulcerative colitis; DRB1* gene polymorphisms; Han and Uyghur

Core tip: This study evaluated the association between HLA-DRB1 alleles and Han and Uyghur ulcerative colitis (UC) patients residing in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. The authors found that polymorphism of the HLA-DRB1* gene differed between the Han and Uyghur patients with UC. Polymorphism of the HLA-DRB1 gene may contribute to the clinical heterogeneity of UC between Han and Uyghur UC patients in North-West China.