Common variants at PRSS1-PRSS2 and CLDN2-MORC4 loci associate with chronic pancreatitis in Japan

To the Editor, We read with great interest the article by Derikx et al1 reporting a replication study of the association between common variants at the PRSS1–PRSS2 and CLDN2–MORC4 loci and chronic pancreatitis (CP). In agreement with the results originally reported by Whitcomb et al,2 they showed that the rs10273639 T allele at the PRSS1–PRSS2 locus protected against CP, whereas the rs7057398 C allele in RIPPLY1 and rs12688220 T allele in MORC4 at the CLDN2–MORC4 locus increased disease susceptibility.1 It has been recognised that geographical differences exist in the genetics of pancreatitis.3 Because the previous studies1 2 employed subjects of European ancestry only, we aimed to refine the association in Japanese patients with CP. The three variants were genotyped by direct sequencing in 272 patients (men, n=245) with alcoholic CP (ACP), 197 patients (men, n=97) with idiopathic...

Source: Gut - July 9, 2015 Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Masamune, A., Nakano, E., Hamada, S., Kakuta, Y., Kume, K., Shimosegawa, T. Tags: PostScript Source Type: research