NOD2/CARD15 gene polymorphisms are not associated with collagenous colitis.
BACKGROUND: Collagenous colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease of unknown origin. In some cases of collagenous colitis, histomorphological features are comparable to other inflammatory bowel diseases. AIM: To assess functional NOD2/CARD15 polymorphisms for the susceptibility to collagenous colitis in a case-control study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-five patients with symptomatic collagenous colitis and 534 healthy blood donors were genotyped for SNP 8, 12, and 13 of the NOD2/CARD15 gene using TaqMan technology. Susceptibility to collagenous colitis was tested using Chi(2)-test comparing the carrier status of the rare allele. RESULTS: The carrier frequency of the rare allele in SNP 8, 12, and 13 was 9.5, 1.3, and 8.1% in patients with collagenous colitis and 8.9, 1.1, and 8.4% in healthy blood donors, respectively. There were no significant differences in allele-, genotype, and carrier frequency (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that functional polymorphisms in the NOD2/CARD15 gene might not be involved in the susceptibility to collagenous colitis.