Differential EBI2 Expression Upon Allelic Status of the rs9557195 Polymorphism

Differential EBI2 Expression Upon Allelic Status of the rs9557195 Polymorphism

EBI2 is a risk gene for inflammatory bowel diseases (rs9557195). Patients of the Swiss IBD cohort study have been genotyped for the allelic status of EBI2. The investigators will test the influence of rs9557195 genoty (TT or CC allel), inflammatory activity and current treatment (infliximab vs. vedolizumab) on expression and activity of EBI2 on blood lymphocytes, mRNA expression of EBI2 and UBAC2 (located on the opposite DNA strand of EBI2) and activity of lymphocytes on a migraton assay.

EBI2 is a risk gene for inflammatory bowel diseases (rs9557195). EBI2 is a G protein coupled receptors expressed on the immune cells. EBI2 directs migration and activity of immune cells.

Patients of the Swiss IBD cohort study have been genotyped for the allelic status of EBI2. The investigators will recruit patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, assess epidemiological and clinical parameters (including clinical activity of IBD) draw blood, isolate lymphocytes, DNA and RNA.

The investigators will test the influence of rs9557195 genotype (TT or CC allel), inflammatory activity and current treatment (infliximab vs. vedolizumab) on expression and activity of EBI2 on blood lymphocytes (by FACS using an EBI2-antibody), mRNA expression (by qPCR) of EBI2 and UBAC2 (located on the opposite DNA strand of EBI2) and activity of lymphocytes on a migration assay.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient with IBD OR healthy volunteer
• No major uncontrolled medical/ surgical/ psychiatric condition requiring ongoing management besides IBD in the respective study groups. Well controlled conditions (i.e. medically controlled arterial hypertension, occupational asthma) may be present

Exclusion Criteria: none