OBJECTIVETo assess the association of several single nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotypes of the FCGR2A gene with ulcerative colitis (UC) among Chinese patients.

METHODSFor 198 UC patients and 356 healthy controls, the alleles and genotypes of the FCGR2A gene (rs1801274, rs10800309 and rs6696854) were detected with a multiplex SNaPshot technique. All subjects were also subjected to linkage disequilibrium and haplotype analyses.

RESULTSThe mutant homozygote (CC) of the FCGR2A gene rs1801274 polymorphism was less frequent among UC patients compared with the controls (5.56% vs. 11.80%, P=0.017, OR=0.440, 95%CI: 0.221-0.875). However, the allelic and genotypic distributions of other two SNPs did not differ significantly between the two groups (all P>0.05). Furthermore, no association of the three SNPs (rs1801274, rs10800309 and rs6696854) of the FCGR2A gene with the severity and location of the UC was found (all P>0.05). The three SNPs were shown to be in a strong linkage [rs1801274-rs10800309 (D'=0.863, r=0.634); rs1801274-rs6696854 (D'=0.753, r=0.546); rs10800309-rs6696854(D'=0.990, r=0.802)]. Moreover, the frequency of T-A-T haplotype was higher among the UC patients compared with the controls (67.40% vs. 60.93%, P=0.032, OR=1.326, 95%CI: 1.024-1.717).

CONCLUSIONOur findings suggested that the mutant homozygote (CC) of the FCGR2A gene (rs1801274) may have a protective role among Chinese patients with UC. Moreover, the T-A-T haplotype formed by rs1801274, rs10800309 and rs6696854 may confer a higher risk for UC.