Association of Fucosyltransferase 2 Gene Polymorphisms with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Patients from Southeast China

Abstract

Aims. Fucosyltransferase 2 (FUT2) gene potentially affects the constituent of intestinal microbiota, which play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study investigated the association of FUT2 gene polymorphisms with IBD in southeast China. Methods. We collected 671 IBD patients and 502 healthy controls. FUT2 gene polymorphisms (C357T, A385T, and G428A) were determined by SNaPshot. Frequencies of the FUT2 genotypes, alleles, and haplotype between groups were compared by χ2 test. Results. The allele and genotype frequencies of FUT2 did not differ between ulcerative colitis patients and controls (all P>0.05). However, mutant allele and genotype of FUT2 (A385T) were significantly increased in Crohn’s disease (CD) patients (P=0.024, OR = 1.271, and 95% CI = 1.031–1.565; P<0.001, OR = 1.927, and 95% CI = 1.353–2.747, resp.). The same conclusion was drawn from FUT2 (G428A) (P=0.023, OR = 3.324, and 95% CI = 1.108–9.968; P=0.044, OR = 1.116–10.137, and 95% CI = 1.116–10.137, resp.). The haplotype TT formed with “C357T and A385T” was more prevalent in CD patients than in controls (P=0.020, OR = 1.277, and 95% CI = 1.036–1.573). Besides, frequencies of mutant allele and genotype of FUT2 (A385T) were significantly lower in patients with ileocolonic CD than in those with colonic CD (P=0.001 and 0.002, resp.) and ileal CD (P=0.007 and 0.004, resp.). Conclusions. FUT2 gene polymorphisms and haplotypes were associated with the susceptibility to CD but not UC.