An Extremes of Phenotype Approach Confirms Significant Genetic Heterogeneity in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis

Sally Mortlock, Anton Lord, Grant Montgomery, Martha Zakrzewski, Lisa A. Simms, Krupa Krishnaprasad, Katherine Hanigan, James D. Doecke, Alissa Walsh, Ian C. Lawrance, Peter A. Bampton, Jane M. Andrews, Gillian Mahy, Susan J. Connor, Miles P. Sparrow, Sally Bell, Timothy H. Florin, Jakob Begun, Richard B. Gearry, Graham L. Radford-Smith

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3 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Background and Aims: Ulcerative colitis [UC] is a major form of inflammatory bowel disease globally. Phenotypic heterogeneity is defined by several variables including age of onset and disease extent. The genetics of disease severity remains poorly understood. To further investigate this, we performed a genome wide association [GWA] study using an extremes of phenotype strategy. 

Methods: We conducted GWA analyses in 311 patients with medically refractory UC [MRUC], 287 with non-medically refractory UC [non-MRUC] and 583 controls. Odds ratios [ORs] were calculated for known risk variants comparing MRUC and non-MRUC, and controls. 

Results: MRUC-control analysis had the greatest yield of genome-wide significant single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs] [2018], including lead SNP = rs111838972 [OR = 1.82, p = 6.28 × 10-9] near MMEL1 and a locus in the human leukocyte antigen [HLA] region [lead SNP = rs144717024, OR = 12.23, p = 1.7 × 10-19]. ORs for the lead SNPs were significantly higher in MRUC compared to non-MRUC [p < 9.0 × 10-6]. No SNPs reached significance in the non-MRUC-control analysis (top SNP, rs7680780 [OR 2.70, p = 5.56 × 10-8). We replicate findings for rs4151651 in the Complement Factor B [CFB] gene and demonstrate significant changes in CFB gene expression in active UC. Detailed HLA analyses support the strong associations with MHC II genes, particularly HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1 and HLA-DRB1 in MRUC. 

Conclusions: Our MRUC subgroup replicates multiple known UC risk variants in contrast to non-MRUC and demonstrates significant differences in effect sizes compared to those published. Non-MRUC cases demonstrate lower ORs similar to those published. Additional risk and prognostic loci may be identified by targeted recruitment of individuals with severe disease.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)277-288
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Crohn's and Colitis
Volume17
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2023
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • disease severity
  • genetics
  • Ulcerative colitis

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