Association between genetic polymorphisms in interferon regulatory factor 5 ( IRF5 ) gene and M alaysian patients with C rohn's disease

Objective The study aimed to investigate the association between the interferon regulatory factor 5 ( IRF5 ) gene polymorphisms and the onset of C rohn's disease ( CD ) in a M alaysian cohort. Methods Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples collected from 91 CD patients and 100 healthy individuals via a conventional phenol‐chloroform extraction method. Screening of the four target single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including rs3807306, rs4728142, rs10954213 and rs11770589 was carried out in a real‐time polymerase chain reaction ( PCR ) thermal cycler using TaqMan genotyping assay. The genetic data obtained was subsequently subjected to statistical analysis to relate the SNP s to the onset of CD in the M alaysian population. The genotyping assay and data were further validated selectively by conventional PCR amplification of the SNP sites and DNA sequencing.Results The rs3807306 G allele was a risk factor for CD (OR 2.3630, P = 0.00004), whereas the homozygous T genotype was protective against the disease (OR 0.2038, P = 0.00004). The heterozygous A/G genotype of rs10954213 was significantly associated with CD (OR 4.319, P = 0.0377). On the other hand, the homozygous A and heterozygous A/G genotypes of the rs11770589 were significant in the controls (OR 0.4242, P = 0.0166) and patients (OR 2.000, P = 0.0179), respectively. In the ethnic‐stratification analysis, the rs11770589 homozygous A genotype was protective in Indians (OR 0.1551, P = 0.0112). Conclusion IRF5 gene polymorphisms may play a role in the development of CD in the Malaysian population.