KCNN4 gene variant is associated with ileal crohn's disease in the Australian and New Zealand population

Lisa A. Simms, James D. Doecke, Rebecca L. Roberts, Elizabeth V. Fowler, Zhen Zhen Zhao, Michael A. McGuckin, Ning Huang, Nicholas K. Hayward, Penelope M. Webb, David C. Whiteman, Juleen A. Cavanaugh, Ruth McCallum, Timothy H.J. Florin, Murray L. Barclay, Richard B. Gearry, Tony R. Merriman, Grant W. Montgomery, Graham L. Radford-Smith

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    57 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Objectives: Crohn's disease (CD; MIM 266600) is one of the most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and represents a significant burden to health care in developed countries. Our aim was to determine whether a gene in the IBD linkage region on chromosome 19q13, with a role in Paneth cell secretion and T-cell activation, conferred genetic susceptibility to the development of CD. Methods: In total, 792 CD cases and 1,244 controls of Australian origin (Caucasian) were genotyped for seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene encoding the intermediate conductance calcium-activated potassium channel protein (KCNN4) at 19q13.2. CD cases were phenotyped using the Montreal classification. The replication set comprised an additional 326 CD cases and 951 population-based Caucasian controls. Analysis of the KCNN4 mRNA transcript was carried out using quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR. Results: KCNN4 SNP rs2306801 was associated with CD (primary P=0.0008, odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI)): 0.76 (0.65-0.89); replication P=0.01, OR (95% CI): 0.77 (0.61-0.97). Stratification by disease location identified the association between SNP rs2306801 and ileal CD (P=0.01). Non-inflamed ileal mucosa from CD patients carrying any of the common disease-predisposing NOD2 variants (R702W, G908R, 1007fs) had significantly reduced levels of KCNN4 mRNA expression (P=0.001). KCNN4 protein expression was detected in Paneth cells, and in T cells in inflamed lamina propria. Conclusions: Our data implicate the role of KCNN4 in ileal CD. The dual roles of KCNN4 in Paneth cell secretion and T-cell activation and also its nature as a potassium channel make it an important and practical therapeutic target.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)2209-2217
    Number of pages9
    JournalAmerican Journal of Gastroenterology
    Volume105
    Issue number10
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Oct 2010

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