The shared CTLA4-ICOS risk locus in celiac disease, IgA deficiency and common variable immunodeficiency

Genes Immun. 2009 Mar;10(2):151-61. doi: 10.1038/gene.2008.89. Epub 2008 Nov 20.

Abstract

IgA deficiency (IgAD) and common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) often co-occur in families, associating with chronic inflammatory diseases such as celiac disease (CD). ICOS (inducible co-stimulator) and CTLA4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein-4) may be important in both disorders, as ICOS is necessary for Ig class-switching and CTLA4 negatively regulates T-cell activation. Linkage and association of CD with CTLA4-ICOS is well documented, we thus aimed to further pinpoint CD susceptibility by haplotype-tagging analysis. We genotyped 663 CD families from Finland and Hungary, 575 additional CD patients from Finland, Hungary and Italy; 275 Swedish and Finnish IgAD individuals and 87 CVID individuals for 14-18 genetic markers in CTLA4-ICOS. Association was found between CTLA4-ICOS and both IgAD (P=0.0015) and CVID (P=0.0064). We confirmed linkage of CTLA4-ICOS with CD (LOD 2.38, P=0.0005) and found association of CTLA4-ICOS with CD (P=0.0009). Meta-analysis of the IgAD, CVID and CD materials revealed intergenic association (P=0.0005). Disease-associated markers were associated with lower ICOS and higher CTLA4 expression, indicating that the risk haplotypes contain functional variants. In summary, we identified a novel shared risk locus for IgAD, CVID and CD, the first report of association between CTLA4-ICOS and IgAD. Association between CD and CTLA4-ICOS was also confirmed in a large European data set.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, CD / genetics*
  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / genetics*
  • CTLA-4 Antigen
  • Celiac Disease / genetics*
  • Common Variable Immunodeficiency
  • Female
  • Finland
  • Genetic Linkage
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Hungary
  • IgA Deficiency / genetics*
  • Inducible T-Cell Co-Stimulator Protein
  • Male
  • Quantitative Trait Loci / genetics*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte
  • CTLA-4 Antigen
  • CTLA4 protein, human
  • ICOS protein, human
  • Inducible T-Cell Co-Stimulator Protein