Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T variant in Moroccan patients with inflammatory bowel disease

•Association study between the folate/homocysteine metabolic pathway gene and IBD•Homozygosity for the 677TT variant was present in 8.8% of patients with CD.•3.6% of patients with ulcerative colitis presented homozygosity for 677TT variant.•The genetic risk for IBD seems not to be modulated by MTHFR C677T polymorphism

BackgroundThe association of genetic polymorphisms related to metabolism of homocysteine and folate with inflammatory bowel disease has been evidenced. Several studies have identified genetic variants of MTHFR as significant susceptibility loci for Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The C677T genetic polymorphism in the MTHFR gene is found to be associated with a thermolabile variant enzyme that shows a reduced activity. Therefore, we investigated whether the C677T variant confers genetic susceptibility to CD or UC and evaluated the genotype–phenotype associations in the Moroccan population.MethodsThe present study included 96 inflammatory bowel disease patients (68 patients with CD and 28 with UC) and 182 healthy controls. DNA samples were genotyped for the MTHFR (C677T) mutation by the PCR-RFLP method. Statistical analyzes were performed using MedCalc software, Chi square test and Fisher test.ResultsThe respective odds ratio for CD, UC and control group were, 1.55 (CI 95%: 0.53–4.53, P = 0.52); 0.50 (CI 95%: 0.06–4.15, P = 0.52) and 0.50 (CI 95%: 0.06–4.15, P = 0.52). Thus, no statistically significant association with the disease was observed in frequency of the TT variant in comparison to healthy controls. Stratification of IBD patients on the basis of CD or UC showed that individuals carrying at least one T allele are not protected against Crohn's disease. Furthermore, clinical features of the disease did not show any significant association.ConclusionIn conclusion, the present study indicates that the genetic risk for IBD is not modulated by MTHFR C677T polymorphism in Moroccan population.