Association between genotypes of rs34436714 of NLRP12 and serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha in inflammatory bowel disease: A case-control study

We aimed to investigate the impact of the single nucleotide polymorphisms of rs34436714 of the NOD-like receptor protein 12 gene on the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) In a matched case-control study 90 patients with IBD, 56 with Crohn disease (CD) and 34 with ulcerative colitis, were genotyped and compared to 98 healthy comparators matched for age and gender. Expression level of TNFα, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-12, and soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells were measured in patients’ sera. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and stimulated for TNFα production. Serum TNFα was greater among carriers of GT/TT genotypes than GG genotypes of rs34436714. Stimulated TNFα production was also higher in carriers of GT/TT genotypes. The frequency of CD with fistulizing behavior and with CD involving the small intestine was greater among carriers of GT/TT genotypes than of the GG genotype. Distribution of the GG, GT, and TT genotypes of rs34436714 were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium in both groups. The genotype distribution was the same in both groups. Carriage of minor frequency alleles of rs34436714 was accompanied by greater circulating levels of TNFα and by greater capacity for stimulated TNFα production by PBMCs. These alleles had an impact on the phenotype of patients with CD.