Relationship between the IL23R SNPs and Crohn’s Disease Susceptibility and Phenotype in the Polish and Bosnian Populations: A Case-Control Study

It is suggested that IL-23/IL-17 axis and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL23R may have crucial role in pathogenesis of Crohn’s disease (CD). Thus, we sought to assess the IL23R SNPs contribution to susceptibility and phenotype of CD. We recruited 117 CD subjects and 117 controls from Poland and 30 CD subjects and 30 controls from Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). Two common IL23R SNPs: rs1004819, rs7517847 were genotyped using TaqMan SNP assays. In the Polish population it was found that allele rs1004819: A increases the risk of CD, while allele rs7517847: A is protective against disease development. In Poles the co-carriage of two IL23R risk genotypes was associated with increased risk of CD. A significantly increased risk of CD early onset was observed in Poles carrying at least one rs7517847: G allele. It was also found that IL23R SNPs may be associated with structuring/penetrating CD behavior, as alleles rs1004819: A and rs7517847: G were significantly less frequent in patients without complications, from Poland and B&H, respectively. Allele rs1004819: A was also significantly more frequent in Poles with penetrating CD. These results confirm IL23R SNPs contribution to CD susceptibility in the Polish population and suggest their impact on early age of onset and more severe disease course.