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Gut 2005;54:1579-1584 doi:10.1136/gut.2005.064212
  • Inflammatory bowel disease

Influence of IL-6, COL1A1, and VDR gene polymorphisms on bone mineral density in Crohn’s disease

  1. C E Todhunter1,
  2. A Sutherland-Craggs2,
  3. S A Bartram1,
  4. P T Donaldson2,
  5. A K Daly3,
  6. R M Francis4,
  7. J C Mansfield5,
  8. N P Thompson1
  1. 1Department of Medicine, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
  2. 2School of Clinical Medical Sciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
  3. 3School of Clinical and Laboratory Sciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
  4. 4School of Clinical Medical Sciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, and Musculoskeletal Unit, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
  5. 5Department of Medicine, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, and School of Clinical Medical Sciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
    Dr N P Thompson
    Department of Medicine, Freeman Hospital, High Heaton, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK; nick.thompsonnuth.nhs.uk
  • Accepted 21 June 2005
  • Revised 17 June 2005
  • Published Online First 11 July 2005

Abstract

Background: Osteoporosis is an important cause of morbidity in patients with Crohn’s disease. The pathogenesis of reduced bone mineral density (BMD) is multifactorial. A range of genetic factors have been implicated in other populations of patients with osteoporosis.

Aim: To investigate the influence of interleukin 6 (IL-6), collagen type 1α1 (COL1A1), and vitamin D receptor gene (VDR) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) on BMD in patients with Crohn’s disease.

Patients: A cohort of 245 well characterised patients with Crohn’s disease were recruited from the inflammatory bowel disease register at the Freeman Hospital and Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, UK.

Methods: Patients were genotyped for IL-6 C-174G SNP, COL1A1 Sp1 binding site G T SNP, VDR Taq1, and Fok1 SNPs, and CARD15 R702W, G908R, and L1007fs SNPs. BMD was measured at the lumbar spine (LSP) and hip using dual energy x ray absorptiometry.

Results: A total of 158 female and 87 male patients, aged 24–70 years (mean 44), were recruited. There were no significant differences in the distribution of the tested SNPs when analysed for age, body mass index, pre/post-menopausal status, smoking, or steroid use. Two hundred and thirteen patients were genotyped for the IL-6 SNP. LSP and total hip BMD was significantly lower in patients with the GG genotype (48%) than the CC genotype (15%) (p = 0.041, p = 0.014). One hundred and eighty patients were genotyped for the COL1A1 SNP. There was no significant difference in BMD at LSP. Hip BMD was significantly lower in heterozygous patients compared with homozygous wild-types (p = 0.034). There were no significant differences in BMD between genotypes for the two VDR SNPs or the CARD15 genotypes examined.

Conclusion:IL-6 and COL1A1 gene polymorphisms influence BMD in patients with Crohn’s disease but the particular VDR gene polymorphisms studied do not have a major effect.

Footnotes

  • Published online first 11 July 2005

  • Conflict of interest: None declared.

This Article

  1. Abstract
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  4. All versions of this article:
    1. gut.2005.064212v1
    2. 54/11/1579 most recent

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