MICA*055: a new allele with eight GCT repeats in the exon 5 microsatellite.

The new allele MICA*055 contains eight GCT repeats within the exon 5 MICA-TM microsatellite polymorphism.

Increased plasma concentration of surfactant protein D in chronic periodontitis independent of SFTPD genotype: potential role as a biomarker.

Surfactant protein (SP) D belongs to the family of collectins, which are humoral molecules of the innate immune system. Collectins belong to pattern recognition receptors and are present in plasma and on mucosal surfaces and recognize several microbial components, the pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). While SP-A is primarily expressed in the lung, expression of SP-D is more widely detected including different mucosal surfaces and in serum.

The 14-bp deletion polymorphism in the HLA-G gene displays significant differences between ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease and is associated with ileocecal resection in Crohn's disease.

HLA-G is a non-classical MHC class Ib molecule predominantly expressed in cytotrophoblasts and under pathological conditions also in chronically inflamed and in malignant tissues. Recently an increased expression of HLA-G was found in ulcerative colitis (UC), but not in Crohn's disease (CD). The HLA-G gene is located in IBD3, a linkage region for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

A645G (Lys216Glu) polymorphism of the bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein gene in periodontal disease.

Bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI) is a member of the pattern recognition receptors of the innate immune system and recognizes lipopolysaccharides (LPS), a bacterial component belonging to the pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). BPI mediates the neutralization of LPS and increases the phagocytosis and cytotoxicity against bacteria. Recently, the functionally effective polymorphism A645G resulting in the amino acid alteration Lys216Glu has been described.

Role of the NFKB1 -94ins/delATTG promoter polymorphism in IBD and potential interactions with polymorphisms in the CARD15/NOD2, IKBL, and IL-1RN genes.

Background: Recently, an association of the NFKB1 polymorphism -94ins/delATTG with ulcerative colitis (UC) has been reported. This 4-bp insertion/deletion polymorphism is localized in the promoter region of the NFKB1 gene and appears to be functionally relevant. The aim of the present study was to confirm the association of the -94ins/delATTG (W/D) NFKB1 promoter polymorphism with UC in a population of German origin and to test for a potential association with Crohn's disease (CD).

Association of polymorphisms in the interleukin-18 gene in patients with Crohn's disease depending on the CARD15/NOD2 genotype.

Unlabelled: An increased expression of interleukin-18 (IL-18), a proinflammatory cytokine inducing interferon-gamma, has been found in Crohn's disease (CD). In the IL-18 gene, several partly functional relevant polymorphisms are known. This study sought to investigate associations of IL-18 polymorphisms in inflammatory bowel disease and CD according to CARD15/NOD2 mutation status and clinical phenotypes.