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Genetics of Crohn disease, an archetypal inflammatory barrier disease

Nature Reviews Genetics volume 6, pages 376–388 (2005)Cite this article

Key Points

  • The aetiology of Crohn disease, as an archetypal inflammatory barrier disease, involves inherited defects in several genes that maintain the integrity of barrier function.

  • CARD15 was identified as the first disease gene for Crohn disease; the main three variants identified all affect the ligand-binding domain of the NOD2 protein.

  • CARD15 variants confer an almost autosomal-recessive genetic effect that is much stronger than expected for a susceptibility gene in a polygenic condition.

  • Additional disease genes (SLC22A4, SLC22A5 and DLG5) that have small odds ratios have been identified, but their involvement remains to be confirmed in independent samples.

  • The function of variability in susceptibility genes that leads to disease might be understood by studying evolutionary control.

  • Epidemiological trigger factors for inflammatory barrier diseases might interact with genetic susceptibility on the individual level through alterations of the human flora on body surfaces.

Abstract

Chronic inflammatory disorders such as Crohn disease, atopic eczema, asthma and psoriasis are triggered by hitherto unknown environmental factors that function on the background of some polygenic susceptibility. Recent technological advances have allowed us to unravel the genetic aetiology of these and other complex diseases. Using Crohn disease as an example, we show how the discovery of susceptibility genes furthers our understanding of the underlying disease mechanisms and how it will, ultimately, give rise to new therapeutic developments. The long-term goal of such endeavours is to develop targeted prophylactic strategies. These will probably target the molecular interaction on the mucosal surface between the products of the genome and the microbial metagenome of a patient.

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Figure 1: Clustering of linkage regions and disease genes in human inflammatory barrier disease.
Figure 2: Domain architectures of selected CATERPILLER-related gene products from different eukaryotes.
Figure 3: NOD2 function and the intestinal epithelial barrier.
Figure 4: Variation in CATERPILLER genes contributes to gene plasticity and gives rise to various autoimmune diseases.
Figure 5: A mechanism for generating plasticity of barrier gene function: complex regulation of CATERPILLER gene function.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge support from the FP5 Program of the European Commission, Nationales Genomforschungsnetz, Competence Network for Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and Mucosaimmunologie Gemeinnützige Forschungsgesellschaft mbH. S. Nikolaus, S. Ott and T. Lengauer are gratefully acknowledged for their discussion and helpful comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Clinical Molecular Biology, Center for Conservative Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Schittenhelmstr. 12, Kiel, 24105, Germany

    Stefan Schreiber, Philip Rosenstiel & Jochen Hampe

  2. Department of Computational Biology and Applied Algorithmics, Max-Planck-Institute for Informatics, Stuhlsatzenhausweg 85, Saarbrücken, 66123, Germany

    Mario Albrecht

  3. Institute for Medical Informatics and Statistics, Center of Expertise in Genetic Epidemiology (GEM), Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Brunswiker Str. 10, Kiel, 24105, Germany

    Michael Krawczak

Authors
  1. Stefan Schreiber
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  2. Philip Rosenstiel
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Correspondence to Stefan Schreiber.

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Related links

Related links

DATABASES

Entrez

BTNL2

CARD15

CTLA4

DLG5

HLA-DRB1

Il2

IL8

Il10

MIP1a

NALP2

NALP6

SLC22A4

SLC22A5

TLR2

OMIM

asthma

atopic eczema

Crohn disease

Sarcoidosis

ulcerative colitis

FURTHER INFORMATION

GenAtlas

Nationales Genomforschungsnetz (German National Genome Research Network)

Glossary

INNATE IMMUNITY

Inborn, non-specific defence mechanisms that recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (typically polysaccharides and polynucleotides). Important elements of innate immunity are pattern-recognition receptors that include secreted proteins (for example, C-reactive protein), phagocytosis receptors and the Toll-like receptor system. Most of the CATERPILLER gene products are part of the innate immune system.

ADAPTIVE IMMUNITY

The adaptive immune system adjusts to pathogen structures. Typical examples are the formation of B- or T-memory cells that anticipate certain antigen challenges and therefore mount a fast and highly specific immune answer.

METAGENOME

The comprehensive range of all DNA sequences of a (bacterial) consortium.

RELATIVE SIBLING RISK

The relative risk, in comparison with the general population, for a sibling of an index patient to develop disease.

ULCERATIVE COLITIS

An entity of inflammatory blood disease that mainly affects the colon. It can be differentiated from Crohn disease through its endoscopic appearance and patterns of manifestation.

QUANTITATIVE TRAIT LOCI

Genetic loci or chromosomal regions that contribute to variability in complex quantitative traits (such as plant height or body weight). Quantitative traits are typically affected by several genes and by the environment.

'FREQUENT DISEASE–FREQUENT VARIANT' HYPOTHESIS

The claim that the genetic factors predisposing to, or associated with, a disease of high prevalence should also be frequent in the same population.

SARCOIDOSIS

Granulomatous relapsing inflammatory disease that mainly affects the lung.

ODDS RATIO

The ratio between the odds of an event occurring in two different groups (for example, exposed and non-exposed).

TRANSMISSION DISEQUILIBRIUM TEST

(TDT). This compares the rates of transmission and non-transmission of a given allele or haplotype from parents with one copy of the allele or haplotype in question to their affected offspring. The TDT is robust against population stratification.

POPULATION STRATIFICATION

A particular form of confounding in which a genetic variant is associated with a true disease risk factor that varies in frequency between population strata (ethnic, geographical or social).

HAPLOTYPE BLOCK

A chromosomal region in which groups of allels at different genetic loci are inherited together more often than expected by chance.

ADMIXTURE

The mixture of two or more genetically distinct populations.

LINKAGE DISEQUILIBRIUM

(LD). Deviation of the observed population frequency of haplotypes from the expected under a model of independent segregation. LD is not stable across the genome; that is, areas of high internal LD ('LD blocks') contrast with regions of low LD.

PAMP RECEPTOR

Pathogen-associated molecular pattern receptor — named for a group of proteins with broad specificities, which is often anchored in lipid or glycostructures of pathogens.

CHEMOTACTIC CYTOKINES

Cytokines that induce movement of responsive (immune) cells ('chemotaxis') following the concentration gradient of the mediator.

PANETH CELLS

Secretory cells with a coarsely granular structure found in the basal regions of crypts in the small intestine. The intense expression of bactericidal peptides (cryptdins (murine) or defensins (human), respectively) points to an important role in host defence.

NEUTROPHILS

The most abundant type of granular leukocyte.

ISOTYPE

A class of immunoglobulin protein that is determined by the constant region of the IgH gene that is placed nearest to the joining segments. The isotype can switch during maturation of the B cell.

QUORUM SENSING

A mechanism used by many bacterial pathogens and mutualists to detect crucial bacterial cell numbers in host tissues. Cell densities are indicated by the concentration on autoinducers, which regulate the expression of specific genes.

BIOFILM

Biofilms result from the growth of microbes on surfaces. Bacteria produce extracellular substances that become part of the glycocalyx and provide contact between microorganisms and to the surface.

COMMENSAL

Non-pathogenic microorganisms that live on or within the human organism. They derive a benefit without resulting in injury or a benefit to the host.

PROBIOTICS

Living bacteria that result in health benefits after ingestion.

GRANULOMA

A site of chronic inflammation that is usually triggered by persistent infectious agents or foreign substances. Granulomas are typical for mycobacterial diseases.

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Schreiber, S., Rosenstiel, P., Albrecht, M. et al. Genetics of Crohn disease, an archetypal inflammatory barrier disease. Nat Rev Genet 6, 376–388 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg1607

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