Association Study of MiR-34b/c Genetic Variation and Ulcerative Colitis in Guilan Province

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic disease that specifically affects the mucosa of the rectum and colon. The pathogenesis of UC is not well defined, but it is proposed that genetic and environmental factors result in an aberrant immune response to a subset of commensal enteric bacteria.The aim of this study was to investigate whether miR-34b/c rs4938723 T/C polymorphism is associated with UC risk.

Blood samples were collected from 50 patients diagnosed with UC and 100 healthy control subjects. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood. Genetic variation of miR34b/c was determined by tetra-primers ARMS-PCR (amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction). All statistical analyses were conducted using the MedCalc version 12.1.

There was a significant difference in genotype and allele distributions between cases and controls. It was observed that the CT heterozygotes had a 2.29-fold increase in risk of UC (OR=2.29, 95%CI=1.08-4.82, p=0.02).

It is suggested that the miR34b/c (rs4938723 T>C) polymorphism may be associated with the risk of UC. However, larger studies with more patients and controls are needed to confirm this result.