Absence of GNAI2 codon 179 oncogene mutations in inflammatory bowel disease

The human GNAI2 gene coding for G protein, Galphai2, is located on chromosome 3p21 in proximity to the region where an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) locus has been suggested. Galphai2-deficient mice develop a lethal diffuse colitis that resembles human ulcerative colitis (UC) and frequently progresses to colon adenocarcinoma. Furthermore, the human GNAI2 gene is subject to point mutations at certain positions, including three at codon 179, all of which have been reported in human endocrine tumors. In order to evaluate the possible involvement of this gene in IBD pathogenesis, we have examined GNAI2 codon 179 sequences in 28 familial IBD patients, including 13 UC, 15 Crohn's disease (CD), and 7 patients with colon cancer/dysplasia, from 12 multiplex IBD families. The wildtype codon 179, CGC for arginine, plus the first G of the codon 180 engender a sequence recognizable by the enzyme BstUI. Mutations, therefore, can result in the abrogation of BstUI digestion of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products containing the codon 179. Using the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique, all 28 IBD patients, including those with colon cancer, and 14 non-IBD family members show a BstUI-cleavable PCR-banding pattern indicating the presence of wildtype codon 179. We conclude that, in the familial IBD and colon cancer/dysplasia patients studied, there is no detectable mutation in the codon 179 of the GNAI2 gene.