Genetic origin of IBD.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Jean-Pierre Hugot.
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Blau syndrome (MIM 186580) is a rare granulomatous disorder inherited in an autosomal dominant manner characterized by the early appearance of granulomatous arthritis, skin rash and anterior uveitis. Missense mutations in CARD15, usually on codon 334, have been described in several families with Blau syndrome. The disorder has been described as familial; here we report the first evidence of a sporadic case of Blau syndrome in a 19 year-old man with two CARD15 mutations (R334Q and G908R). His healthy mother, father and brother did not carry the R334Q mutation, which was thus considered a neo-mutation, nor did they carry the other mutation, usually found in Crohn's disease. An extensive radiologic, histologic and laboratory evaluation and a life-long clinical follow-up is available for this patient who presented skin, joint, epididimal and eye involvement.
Crohn's disease is the result of an abnormal immune response of the gut mucosa triggered by one or more environmental risk factors in people with predisposing gene variations, including CARD15 mutations. Epidemiological data allow assessment of familial environmental risk factors related to western lifestyle, diet, bacteria, and domestic hygiene. All findings point to refrigeration as a potential risk factor for Crohn's disease. Furthermore, cold-chain development paralleled the outbreak of Crohn's disease during the 20th century. The cold chain hypothesis suggests that psychrotrophic bacteria such as Yersinia spp and Listeria spp contribute to the disease. These bacteria have been identified in Crohn's disease lesions and we discuss their pathogenic properties with respect to our knowledge of the disease. From a molecular perspective, we postulate that the disease is a result of a defect in host recognition by pathogenic bacterial components that usually escape the immune response (eg, Yop molecules), which results in an excessive host response to these bacteria.
Maturation time is a pivotal life-history trait of parasitic nematodes, determining adult body size, as well as daily and total fecundity. Recent theoretical work has emphasized the influence of prematurational mortality on the optimal values of age and size at maturity in nematodes. Eosinophils are a family of white blood cells often associated with infections by parasitic nematodes. Although the role of eosinophils in nematode resistance is controversial, recent work has suggested that the action of these immune effectors might be limited to the larval stages of the parasite. If eosinophils act on larval survival, one might predict, in line with theoretical models, that nematode species living in hosts with large eosinophil numbers should show reduced age and size at maturity. We tested this prediction using the association between the pinworms (Oxyuridae, Nematoda) and their primate hosts. Pinworms are highly host specific and are expected to be involved in a coevolutionary process with their hosts. We found that the body size of female parasites was negatively correlated with eosinophil concentration, whereas the concentration of two other leucocyte families-neutrophils and lymphocytes-was unrelated to female body size. Egg size of parasites also decreased with host eosinophil concentration, independently of female size. Male body size was unrelated to host immune parameters. Primates with the highest immune defence, therefore, harbour small female pinworms laying small eggs. These results are in agreement with theoretical expectations and suggest that life histories of oxyurid parasites covary with the immune defence of their hosts. Our findings illustrate the potential for host immune defence as a factor driving parasite life-history evolution.
CARD15 is a major susceptibility gene for a frequent multifactorial chronic inflammatory bowel disorder, Crohn disease (CD). By using NF-kappaB activation assays, the cytosolic CARD15 was shown to efficiently detect bacterial peptidoglycan (PGN), reminiscent of the PGN recognition protein surveillance mechanism in Drosophila. The 3 CD-associated variants and 13 additional variants carried by CD patients demonstrated impaired PGN-dependent response revealing null, hypomorphic, or dominant-negative properties. Quantitative parametrization of this response, computed from the patients' CARD15 genotypes, was predictive of several variable CD manifestations. In contrast, CARD15 alleles associated with Blau's syndrome promoted PGN-independent NF-kappaB activation, an observation that accounts for the minimal microbial input in the etiology of this dominant, monogenic inflammatory disorder affecting solely aseptic sites.
Determining total energy expenditure (TEE) and its components in children treated with home parenteral nutrition (CHPN) under free-living conditions is an important consideration in the assessment of energy requirements and the maintenance of health. The aim of this study was to assess TEE and physical activity in CHPN. Eleven CHPN (three girls and eight boys; median age, 6.0 y; range, 4.5-15.0 y) were compared with 11 healthy children (three girls and eight boys; median age, 6.0 y, range, 4.5-14.0 y) after pairing for sex, age, and weight. Underlying diseases included chronic intractable diarrhea (n = 5), short bowel syndrome (n = 3), and intestinal dysmotility (n = 3). None of these children had inflammatory disease or recent infection when studied. Fat-free mass (FFM), measured by body impedance analysis, fat mass (FM), measured by skinfold thickness, and energy intake were similar between the two groups, suggesting that CHPN had normal body composition and energy intake. Resting energy expenditure (REE), measured by indirect calorimetry, and TEE, assessed by a technique using 24-h heart-rate monitoring calibrated against indirect calorimetry and physical activity using a triaxial accelerometer, were simultaneously recorded and were also similar in the two groups. Sleeping energy expenditure (SEE), expressed per kilogram of FFM, was significantly greater in the CHPN group (median, 0.15; range, 0.10-0.23 kJ/min/kg FFM versus median, 0.12; range, 0.09-0.21 kJ/min/kg FFM for controls; p < 0.05, Wilcoxon rank test). These findings were explained by the high correlation between the energy flow infused by parenteral nutrition and sleeping energy expenditure (p < 0.05, Spearman test) and also-diet induced thermogenesis (p < 0.05 Spearman test). These results suggest that the energy requirements of children on long-term home parenteral nutrition programs do not differ from controls and that cyclic parenteral nutrition does not interfere with physical activity.
Predisposition to SpA is largely determined by genetic factors including HLA-B27 and other as yet unknown genes that might be tracked by a positional cloning approach. Analysis performed on a large cohort of SpA multiplex families revealed that the different articular and extra-articular inflammatory manifestations comprising the SpA spectrum were linked together, implying that they were determined by a shared set of factors, including HLA-B27. The variety of phenotypes appeared to be related to ubiquitous and secondary factors. Hence, SpA appeared to be more homogenous than previously thought and should be regarded as a unique disease. This conclusion also implies that genetic studies should be performed on the whole group. Such an approach allowed identification of HLA-DR4 as a gene contributing to SpA predisposition independently of linkage disequilibrium with HLA-B27. A significant role for CARD15/NOD2 gene in predisposition to SpA was ruled out, in agreement with the hypothesis that the inflammatory bowel disease in SpA is determined by factors different than those responsible for isolated Crohn's disease.
Crohn's disease (CD) is a complex genetic disorder for which aetiology is unknown. Recently, genetic factors for susceptibility have been described. Several genetic loci have been mapped and partially explain the familial aggregations of the disease. However, environmental factors may also contribute to these aggregations. We considered that if the role of non-genetic factors was negligible, CD patients would be randomly distributed in sibships with multiple affected siblings. On the other hand if there was a significant environmental contribution, the siblings would be affected non-randomly over exposure status. In order to test this hypothesis, we studied 102 sibships with two or more affected siblings. A statistical test, named Cluster of Affected Sibling Test or CAST, was developed, based on the exact calculation of the probability of observing a given number of clusters of affected siblings in multiplex families. The null hypothesis of a random distribution of affected siblings was rejected (P=0.005). The observed excess of affected sibling clusters indicates that birth order influences the disease status. Considering that an adjacent order of birth is a global estimate of environmental sharing, this observation strongly suggests that environmental factors contribute to the observed familial aggregations of the disease. This observation provides evidence that familial CD is a relevant tool for further studies of environmental factors and gene-environment interaction. More generally, the CAST statistics may be widely applicable to estimate the involvement of environmental factors in the aetiology of other binary traits which may be observed in multiple members of the same sibship.
Previous studies have demonstrated that the agent of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PcP), Pneumocystis carinii, is actually a complex of eukaryotic organisms, and cophylogeny could explain the distribution of the hosts and parasites. In the present work, we tested the hypothesis of cophylogeny between the primate-derived Pneumocystis group and their hosts. Specific strains isolated from 20 primate species, including humans, were used to produce a phylogeny of the parasites. Aligned sequences corresponding to DNA sequences of three genes (DHPS, mtSSU-rRNA, and mtLSU-rRNA) were separately analyzed and then combined in a single data set. The resulting parasite phylogeny was compared with different controversial phylogenies for the hosts. This comparison demonstrated that, depending upon which topology is accepted for the hosts, at least 61% and perhaps 77% of the homologous nodes of the respective cladograms of the hosts and parasites may be interpreted as resulting from codivergence events. This finding and the high specificity of these parasites suggests that cophylogeny may be considered the dominant pattern of evolution for Pneumocystis organisms, representing a new example of parallel evolution between primates and their specific parasites. Because the phylogeny of Pneumocystis followed very closely the differentiation of their hosts at the species level, the study of the parasites could provide valuable information on the phylogeny of their hosts. We used this information to explore controversial hypotheses of the phylogeny of the Platyrrhini by comparison with the phylogeny of their specific Pneumocystis parasites. If these organisms were closely associated as lung parasites with primates through the ages, the hypothesis of the Pneumocystis spp. being new pathogenic agents could be refuted. However, these organisms are opportunistic symbionts, becoming pathogenic whenever the immunological defences of their hosts decline. This study also provides support for the hypothesis that the different Pneumocystis species are genetically independent organisms, helping to clarify their taxonomic status.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of infliximab in children with severe Crohn disease (CD), the authors prospectively monitored 21 children aged 15 +/- 2 years with severe CD who they treated with infliximab (5 mg/kg) on days 0, 15, and 45. One patient received only one injection. Eighteen patients were corticosteroid dependent, and 6 were receiving parenteral nutrition. Three patients were corticoid resistant (1 mg/kg/d >15 days). Sixteen had perianal disease. RESULTS: The Harvey-Bradshaw index (HB) decreased from 8 +/- 3 on day 0 to 1 +/- 2 on day 45 (P = 0.001). The inflammation factors decreased (P = 0.001), and albumin increased (P = 0.002). Nineteen children were in complete remission (HB < 4) on day 45, and 2 had improved (HB = -6 points). Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) in the stools (n = 16) decreased (P = 0.04). All perianal fistulas (n = 12) were closed by day 90. Fourteen of 21 patients had stopped taking steroids at 3 months, and all had stopped parenteral nutrition. Growth velocity was significantly greater after infliximab administration (Z score, +0.5) than before (-0.45; P = 0.004). Nineteen of 21 patients had relapsed (90%) at 1 year despite continued immunosuppressors. Seven had surgery because of an uncontrolled relapse ( 5), stenosis ( 1), or fistula ( 1). Six patients developed antinuclear antibodies (1/40-1/640e), and two had anti-DNA antibodies. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) values increased (>100-fold) in eight patients. One child developed an anaphylactic reaction to the medication, and one had a catheter-related sepsis. CONCLUSION: Infliximab produces spectacular results for children with severe CD and is well tolerated. However, its effect is transitory for many (90%), with frequent relapses despite continued immunosuppressors. Long-term management with infliximab should be tested despite its worrying side effects.
The recent discovery that CARD15/NOD2 is involved in the genetic predisposition to Crohn's disease (CD) provides the final demonstration that CD is a genetic disorder. The gene explains about 20% of the genetic susceptibility. CARD15 mutations are present in 30-50% of CD patients compared to 7-20% of healthy controls. Interestingly, CD patients often carry mutations on their two chromosomes suggesting a mutation dose effect. Unfortunately, even if the association between the three main CARD15 mutations (R702W, G908R and 1007fs) and CD is clearly established, it is not useful today to genotype asymptomatic at risk people or inflammatory bowel disease patients as a routine. More interestingly and for the first time, CARD15 points out a specific pathway involved in CD mechanism. Because CARD15 is able to be activated by components of the bacterial wall and further induce the activation of NFkappaB, a proinflammatory molecule, CARD15 discovery makes the link, at the molecular level, between bacteria and inflammation of the digestive tract.
CARD15/NOD2 encodes a protein involved in bacterial recognition by monocytes. Mutations in CARD15 have recently been found in patients with Crohn disease (CD), a chronic inflammatory condition of the digestive tract. Here, we report the mutational analyses of CARD15 in 453 patients with CD, including 166 sporadic and 287 familial cases, 159 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), and 103 healthy control subjects. Of 67 sequence variations identified, 9 had an allele frequency >5% in patients with CD. Six of them were considered to be polymorphisms, and three (R702W, G908R, and 1007fs) were confirmed to be independently associated with susceptibility to CD. Also considered as potential disease-causing mutations (DCMs) were 27 rare additional mutations. The three main variants (R702W, G908R, and 1007fs) represented 32%, 18%, and 31%, respectively, of the total CD mutations, whereas the total of the 27 rare mutations represented 19% of DCMs. Altogether, 93% of the mutations were located in the distal third of the gene. No mutations were found to be associated with UC. In contrast, 50% of patients with CD carried at least one DCM, including 17% who had a double mutation. This observation confirmed the gene-dosage effect in CD. The patients with double-dose mutations were characterized by a younger age at onset (16.9 years vs. 19.8 years; P=.01), a more frequent stricturing phenotype (53% vs. 28%; P=.00003; odds ratio 2.92), and a less frequent colonic involvement (43% vs. 62%; P=.003; odds ratio 0.44) than were seen in those patients who had no mutation. The severity of the disease and extraintestinal manifestations were not different for any of the CARD15 genotypes. The proportion of familial and sporadic cases and the proportion of patients with smoking habits were similar in the groups of patients with CD with or without mutation. These findings provide tools for a DNA-based test of susceptibility and for genetic counseling in inflammatory bowel disease.
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BACKGROUND & AIMS: NOD2/CARD15 was recently identified as the first gene underlying Crohn's disease (CD) susceptibility. Monoclonal antibodies to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha (infliximab) are a potent treatment for CD, with about 70% of patients responding. It is not clear which factors influence treatment outcome. We assessed whether variants in NOD2/CARD15 are predictive for differences in clinical response. METHODS: Two hundred forty-five CD patients (86 fistulizing, 159 luminal) receiving infliximab in an expanded access program were genotyped for the 3 main associated variants of NOD2/CARD15, without knowledge of the treatment response. Short-term clinical response was assessed at 4 weeks (refractory) or 10 weeks (fistulizing) after first infliximab infusion, and the mean duration of response was calculated. In a subgroup of patients, production of TNF in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mucosal biopsy tissue was also determined by means of immunoassay, and results were related to the different NOD2/CARD15 genotypes. RESULTS: In total, 32.6% of patients carried mutations in NOD2/CARD15 (18.8% R702W, 8.6% G908R, and 10.2% 1007fs) compared with 15% in controls (P < 0.001). Despite observed differences in TNF production in mucosal biopsy tissue, there was no relationship between the overall presence of a mutation in NOD2/CARD15 or of any of the mutations separately and short-term infliximab response or response duration. Furthermore, multivariate analysis could not identify clinical characteristics that, in combination with NOD2/CARD15 mutations, were associated with response to infliximab. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of CD patients, the frequency of NOD2/CARD15 mutations was significantly greater than that of healthy controls. However, NOD2/CARD15 was not predictive of treatment outcome with infliximab in CD.
Complex genetic disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) result from the interplay between multiple genetic and environmental risk factors. The recent identification of variants of the CARD15/NOD2 protein as contributing to Crohn disease represents a major advance in defining disease pathogenesis. CARD15/NOD2 is expressed in monocytes and is capable of activating nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB). Crohn disease-associated mutations in CARD15/NOD2 predominate in its C-terminus leucine-rich repeat domain, which is required for bacterial lipopolysaccharide-dependent induction of NF-kappaB activity. The relative risk of developing Crohn disease is estimated to be in the range of 2 to 3 in people carrying one mutation and 20 to 40 in people carrying two mutations in CARD15/NOD2. Homozygote and compound heterozygote carriers of CARD15/NOD2 mutations are characterized by an earlier age of onset, less involvement of the left colon, and positive association with stricturing disease. However, even carriers of two CARD15/NOD2 mutations have limited disease penetrance (ie, only a minority will develop the disease), suggesting that additional interacting genes and environmental triggers are required for disease expression. Several additional genetic regions have been implicated through genetic linkage and association studies.
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