Open AccessGenetics of inflammatory bowel disease: The role of the HLA complex
Author(s) -
Tariq Ahmad,
Sara E. Marshall,
D P Jewell
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
world journal of gastroenterology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.427
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 2219-2840
pISSN - 1007-9327
DOI - 10.3748/wjg.v12.i23.3628
Subject(s) - human leukocyte antigen , linkage disequilibrium , inflammatory bowel disease , ulcerative colitis , genetics , disease , phenotype , immunology , crohn's disease , biology , genetic linkage , allele , genetic predisposition , gene , haplotype , medicine , antigen , pathology
The human leucocyte antigen (HLA) complex on chromosome 6p21.3 is the most extensively studied genetic region in Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Consistent evidence of linkage to IBD3 (6p21.1-23), an area which encompasses the HLA complex, has been demonstrated for both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and a number of replicated associations with disease susceptibility and phenotype have recently emerged. However, despite these efforts the HLA susceptibility gene (s) for IBD remain elusive, a consequence of strong linkage disequilibrium, extensive polymorphism and high gene density across this region. This article reviews current knowledge of the role of HLA complex genes in IBD susceptibility and phenotype, and discusses the factors currently limiting the translation of this knowledge to clinical practice.