YY Luo, S Chen, JD Yu, XL Shu, Q Cao, J Chen

Abstract

Objectives: To observe single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of vitamin D metabolism-related factors, vitamin D receptor (VDR) and vitamin D binding protein (DBP), in Crohn's disease (CD). Methods: 121 patients with CD and 381 controls were enrolled. SNP (rs731236) in VDR gene and SNPs (rs4588, rs7401 and rs2282679) in DBP gene were typed in patients with CD and controls by gene sequencing. Results: In our case-control cohort, no significant difference was observed on CD risk for any of the four SNPs (rs731236, rs4588, rs7401 and rs2282679) in vitamin D metabolism-related genes (P>0.05). Furthermore, there was no association between CD susceptibility and the haplotypes of DBP gene (P>0.05). Conclusions: Our study suggests that the four SNPs (rs731236, rs4588, rs7401 and rs2282679) in vitamin D metabolism-related genes may have no correlation with susceptibility of CD in Chinese Han population. SNP (rs731236) in VDR gene may play a role in the aetiology of CD among affected males. However, our findings need to be confirmed in multi-centre studies.