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Published on: September 22, 2019
Interleukin23 Receptor Genetic Variants Associate With Crohn's Disease Risk and Microbiome Changes in Healthy
Haim Leibovitzh1, Anna Neustaeter1, Sun-Ho Lee1
1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Zane Cohen Centre for Digestive Diseases, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Background & Aims:
Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the interleukin23 receptor gene are associated with Crohn's disease, suggesting a role in pathogenesis, and several biologic agents targeting this pathway are now established therapies. Interleukin23 has been suggested to be involved in regulation of intestinal barrier function and may impact gut microbial composition. We investigated whether interleukin23 receptor genetic variants predict Crohn's disease risk and influence gut barrier function and microbiome composition in healthy first-degree relatives.
Methods:
A total of 3055 healthy first-degree relatives with genotypic data from the Crohn's and Colitis Canada Genetic, Environmental, Microbial (CCC-GEM) cohort were included. A weighted interleukin23 receptor genetic risk score was generated from 7 Crohn's disease-associated interleukin23 receptor single nucleotide polymorphisms and dichotomized as high (top quintile) vs low interleukin23 receptor genetic risk score. A subset of this cohort was assessed for intestinal permeability (n = 1698) and microbiome profiling (n = 2523). Cox proportional hazards models evaluated Crohn's disease onset risk.
Results:
High interleukin23 receptor genetic risk score was associated with increased Crohn's disease risk (hazard ratio, 1.67; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-2.75; P = .044). This association remained significant after adjusting for fecal calprotectin, indicating genetic risk independent of subclinical inflammation. High interleukin23 receptor genetic risk score was not associated with intestinal permeability (P = .84) but was associated with differences in 15 genera, including decreased Faecalibacterium and increased Akkermansia (q < 0.1).
Conclusions:
High interleukin23 receptor genetic risk score was associated with increased Crohn's disease risk in healthy first-degree relatives and was associated with microbial differences, but not with intestinal permeability. These findings suggest potential clinical applications for interleukin23 receptor genetic risk score in identifying high-risk individuals who may benefit from closer monitoring or future interleukin23 pathway-targeted preventive interventions.
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