Antitumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is used for treatment of severe cases of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). However, one-third of the patients do not respond to the treatment. Genetic markers may predict individual response to anti-TNF therapy. Using a candidate gene approach, 39 mainly functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 26 genes regulating inflammation were assessed in 738 prior anti-TNF-naive Danish patients with IBD. The results were analyzed using logistic regression (crude and adjusted for age, gender and smoking status). Nineteen functional polymorphisms that alter the NFκB-mediated inflammatory response (TLR2 (rs3804099, rs11938228, rs1816702, rs4696480), TLR4 (rs5030728, rs1554973), TLR9 (rs187084, rs352139), LY96 (MD-2) (rs11465996), CD14 (rs2569190), MAP3K14 (NIK) (rs7222094)), TNF-α signaling (TNFA (TNF-α) (rs361525), TNFRSF1A (TNFR1) (rs4149570), TNFAIP3(A20) (rs6927172)) and other cytokines regulated by NFκB (IL1B (rs4848306), IL1RN (rs4251961), IL6 (rs10499563), IL17A (rs2275913), IFNG (rs2430561)) were associated with response to anti-TNF therapy among patients with CD, UC or both CD and UC (P ⩽ 0.05). In conclusion, the results suggest that polymorphisms in genes involved in activating NFκB through the Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways, genes regulating TNF-α signaling and cytokines regulated by NFκB are important predictors for the response to anti-TNF therapy among patients with IBD. Genetically strong TNF-mediated inflammatory response was associated with beneficial response. In addition, the cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and IFN-γ may be potential targets for treating patients with IBD who do not respond to anti-TNF therapy. These findings should be examined in independent cohorts before these results are applied in a clinical setting.

BackgroundThe inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), result from the combined effects of susceptibility genes and environmental factors. Polymorphisms in genes regulating inflammation may explain part of the genetic heritage.MethodsUsing a candidate gene approach, 39 mainly functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 26 genes regulating inflammation were assessed in a clinical homogeneous group of severely diseased patients consisting of 624 patients with CD, 411 patients with UC and 795 controls. The results were analysed using logistic regression.ResultsSixteen polymorphisms in 13 genes involved in regulation of inflammation were associated with risk of CD and/or UC (p≤0.05). The polymorphisms TLR2 (rs1816702), NFKB1 (rs28362491), TNFRSF1A (rs4149570), IL6R (rs4537545), IL23R (rs11209026) and PTPN22 (rs2476601) were associated with risk of CD and the polymorphisms TLR2 (rs1816702), TLR4 (rs1554973 and rs12377632), TLR9 (rs352139), LY96 (rs11465996), NFKBIA (rs696), TNFA (rs1800629), TNFRSF1A (rs4149570), IL10 (rs3024505), IL23R (rs11209026), PTPN22 (rs2476601) and PPARG (rs1801282) were associated with risk of UC. When including all patients (IBD) the polymorphisms TLR2 (rs4696480 and rs1816702), TLR4 (rs1554973 and rs12377632), TLR9 (rs187084), TNFRSF1A (rs4149570), IL6R (rs4537545), IL10 (rs3024505), IL23R (rs11209026) and PTPN22 (rs2476601) were associated with risk. After Bonferroni correction for multiple testing, both the homozygous and the heterozygous variant genotypes of IL23R G>A(rs11209026) (ORCD,adj: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.21–0.67, p = 0.03; ORIBD,adj 0.43, 95% CI: 0.28–0.67, p = 0.007) and PTPN22 1858 G>A(rs2476601) (ORCD,unadj 0.54, 95% CI: 0.41–0.72, p = 7*10−4; ORIBD,unadj: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.48–0.77, p = 0.001) were associated with reduced risk of CD.ConclusionThe biological effects of the studied polymorphisms suggest that genetically determined high inflammatory response was associated with increased risk of CD. The many SNPs found in TLRs suggest that the host microbial composition or environmental factors in the gut are involved in risk of IBD in genetically susceptible individuals.

Summary Background Anti‐tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) is used for the treatment of severe cases of IBD, including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). However, one‐third of the patients do not respond to the treatment. We have previously investigated whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes involved in inflammation were associated with response to anti‐TNF therapy among patients with CD or UC. Aim A new cohort of patients was established for replication of the previous findings and to identify new SNPs associated with anti‐TNF response. Methods Fifty‐three SNPs assessed previously in cohort 1 (482 CD and 256 UC patients) were genotyped in cohort 2 (587 CD and 458 UC patients). The results were analysed using logistic regression (adjusted for age and gender). Results Ten SNPs were associated with anti‐TNF response either among patients with CD (TNFRSF1A(rs4149570) (OR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.02‐3.60, P = 0.04), IL18(rs187238) (OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.00‐1.82, P = 0.05), and JAK2(rs12343867) (OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.02‐1.78, P = 0.03)), UC (TLR2(rs11938228) (OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.33‐0.92, P = 0.02), TLR4(rs5030728) (OR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1.24‐4.01, P = 0.01) and (rs1554973) (OR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.27‐0.90, P = 0.02), NFKBIA(rs696) (OR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.06‐2.00, P = 0.02), and NLRP3(rs4612666) (OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.44‐0.91, P = 0.01)) or in the combined cohort of patient with CD and UC (IBD) (TLR4(rs5030728) (OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.01‐2.11, P = 0.04) and (rs1554973)(OR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.65‐0.98, P = 0.03), NFKBIA(rs696) (OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.01‐1.54, P = 0.04), NLRP3(rs4612666) (OR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.57‐0.95, P = 0.02), IL1RN(rs4251961) (OR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.66‐1.00, P = 0.05), IL18(rs1946518) (OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.01‐1.53, P = 0.04), and JAK2(rs12343867) (OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.01‐1.53, P = 0.04)). Conclusions The results support that polymorphisms in genes involved in the regulation of the NFκB pathway (TLR2, TLR4, and NFKBIA), the TNF‐α signalling pathway (TNFRSF1A), and other cytokine pathways (NLRP3, IL1RN, IL18, and JAK2) were associated with response to anti‐TNF therapy. Our multi‐SNP model predicted response rate of more than 82% (in 9% of the CD patients) and 75% (in 15% of the UC patients), compared to 71% and 64% in all CD and UC patients, respectively. More studies are warranted to predict response for use in the clinic.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is characterized by several disease-related complications and multiple etiological risk factors. Past studies of associations between complications and risk factors have mostly been limited to single complications or highly focused on single etiologies. Using an objective data-driven approach (cluster analysis), we characterized complication clusters and their associations with etiological risk factors in a large cohort of patients with CP. METHODS: This was a multicenter, cross-sectional study including 1,071 patients with CP from the Scandinavian and Baltic countries. Complications to CP were classified according to the M-ANNHEIM system, and treelet transform was used to derive complication clusters. Cluster complication frequencies were analyzed for their association with main etiological risk factors (smoking and alcohol). RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 57 years and 66% were men. Alcohol (55%) and smoking (53%) were the most common etiological risk factors and seen in combination in 36% of patients. Cluster analysis identified 3 distinct complication clusters characterized by inflammation, fibrosis, and pancreatic insufficiencies. An independent association between inflammatory complications and alcoholic etiology was seen (odds ratio [OR] 2.00 [95% CI [confidence interval], 1.38–2.90], P < 0.001), whereas smoking was associated with fibrosis-related complications (OR 2.23 [95% CI, 1.56–2.3.20], P < 0.001) and pancreatic insufficiencies (OR 1.42 [95% CI, 1.00–2.01], P = 0.046). DISCUSSION: Three distinctive clusters of complications to CP were identified. Their differing associations with alcoholic and smoking etiology indicate distinct underlying disease mechanisms.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) in acromegaly in a retrospective analysis. Patients and methods: Thirty-four patients (17 females, median 43 years (range 30-74)) with acromegaly were treated with FSRT (conformal dynamic arcing, dose 54 Gy, 27-30 fractions) between January 1998 and April 2007. Of the 34 patients, 32 had undergone transsphenoidal adenotomy, and 28 were on medical therapy before FSRT. Patients on medical therapy continued this during and after the irradiation. The treatment was gradually decreased/withdrawn after careful assessment. Results: Magnetic resonance scanning of the pituitary gland 34 months (median, range 11-95) after irradiation showed stable or reduced volume of the remaining tumour tissue in 31 of 34 patients (91%). Seventeen patients (50%) were biochemically controlled (normalised nadir GH during oral glucose tolerance test and IGF1 !C2 S.D.) 30 months after FSRT (median, range 6-60), and ten of them had true biochemical remission (off medical therapy) 30 months after FSRT (median, range 12-69). Of 28 patients with one or more functioning pituitary axes before irradiation, 8 (29%) developed further deficit of one or two pituitary axes 48 months (median, range 6-102) after FSRT. Of 34 patients, 20 still required medical treatment for acromegaly at the end of this study, mainly those with a short follow-up period after irradiation. Conclusion: The FSRT seems promising in terms of treatment of acromegaly. Longer follow-up is, however, needed to assess the overall efficacy and safety of FSRT for acromegaly.