Association of p53 codon 72 genetic polymorphism with the risk of ulcerative colitis in northern Iran.

PURPOSE

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the large bowel of unknown etiology, characterized by the presence of bloody diarrhea and mucus associated with a negative stool culture for bacteria, ova, or parasites. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of p53 codon 72 genetic polymorphism with the risk of UC in northern Iran.

METHODS

We evaluated the association of the p53 codon 72 genetic polymorphism with UC in northern Iran. The genotype of 190 patients with UC (115 men, 75 women; mean age, 32 ± 8.6 years) and 220 healthy control subjects (123 men, 97 women; mean age, 33 ± 2.5 years) were compared. Genomic DNA was extracted from colonic bioptic tissues of patients and blood samples of healthy individuals. Genotypes and allele frequencies were determined in patients and controls using allele-specific PCR (AS-PCR).

RESULTS

There were significant differences in the distribution of the polymorphism between the control subjects and the UC patients (P < 0.0001). Significantly increased frequencies of the Pro allele and the Pro/Pro genotype were observed in patients with UC compared with controls (Pro allele: P < 0.0001; odds ratio, 7.87; 95% confidence interval, 4.03-15.35; Pro/Pro: P < 0.0001; odds ratio, 35.21; 95% confidence interval, 12.56-98.73).

CONCLUSION

The p53 codon 72 genetic polymorphism is associated with UC in northern Iran.