Scientists ID New Genetic Markers for Bowel Disease

FRIDAY, April 4 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers have
identified new genetic markers for Crohn's disease and
ulcerative colitis in a study they say provides
further evidence that people of Ashkenazi Jewish
descent are more likely to develop the conditions.

Up to 30 percent of people in the United States with
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a family history
of the condition, and about 25 percent of those
families have histories of both Crohn's and ulcerative
colitis, according to background information in this
multi-center American and Canadian study. People of
Ashkenazi Jewish (eastern European) descent are at
least twice as likely to develop a form of IBD and are
more likely to have a family history of IBD.

Crohn's is most frequently characterized by
inflammation of the final section of the small bowel
and parts of the colon, while ulcerative colitis
involves inflammation of the internal lining of the
rectum and colon.

In this study, researchers looked for DNA variations
called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 993
families (244 of whom were Ashkenazi Jews) with
Crohn's and ulcerative colitis.

Among those of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, the
researchers found evidence of genetic markers for
familial Crohn's disease on previously identified
areas of chromosomes 1 and 3. They also pinpointed a
previously unidentified region of chromosome 13 in
both Jewish and non-Jewish families with Crohn's.

The researchers also identified areas on chromosomes 2
and 19 that may be related to ulcerative colitis in
both groups.

The findings were published in the March issue of
Genes and Immunity.

Until now, no gene regions implicated in IBD were
specific to Ashkenazi Jews, and there was no genetic
evidence to explain why they were twice as likely to
develop the disorder, said study senor author Dr.
Steven R. Brant, a gastroenterologist at Johns
Hopkins.

"This increased risk for some Jewish people makes our
study and results especially significant, since this
is the first sample size of Jewish families, 244, that
was large enough to identify novel gene regions for
familial predisposition in this ethnic group," Brant
said in a prepared statement.

http://www2.healthtalk.com/go/crohns-disease/news/article?aid=1B741360-3048-8581\
-84B7EDC78BA645CA&utm_source=HTNL

I thought this was interesting! I hope all of you are
flare free!

Hugs, Casey