The IL-1 gene family and bone involvement in celiac disease

Immunogenetics. 2005 Sep;57(8):618-20. doi: 10.1007/s00251-005-0033-x. Epub 2005 Sep 29.

Abstract

Celiac disease (CD) is associated with decreased bone mineral mass. Its pathogenesis is multifactorial since both systemic and local mechanisms may play a role. Our objective was to determine whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms in genes encoding members of the interleukin-1 family are associated with bone damage measured by densitometry in a series of 71 adult CD patients assessed at diagnosis. When compared with non-carrier CD patients, carriers of allele T of the interleukin-1beta gene (IL1B-511T) had a significantly lower bone mass at the total skeleton level (p = 0.0484) and a greater prevalence of osteopenia/osteoporosis (p = 0.0102). To our knowledge, this is the first evidence on the association between a genetic predisposition and low bone mass in CD patients. This finding supports the postulated inflammation-associated bone loss pathogenesis as one of the causes of bone weakness in CD.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Bone Density
  • Celiac Disease / complications*
  • Celiac Disease / genetics*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-1 / genetics*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Osteoporosis / etiology*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*

Substances

  • Interleukin-1