To date more than 100 genetic variants are known to be associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The majority of these have been identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The individual Genetic Research Centers (GRCs) and the collective NIDDK IBD Genetics Consortium have successfully interacted for the last ten years to lead many of these discoveries. However, despite significant progress it is still unknown how the vast majority of these variants lead to IBD. Answering these questions is critical to advancing our knowledge of IBD pathophysiology. The University of Toronto GRC, led by Dr. Mark Silverberg, has made unique and substantial contributions in this field by virtue of its longstanding clinical and genetics expertise in IBD. Since 2002, Dr. Silverberg has established a very large, comprehensive registry of well characterized, longitudinally followed IBD patients at Mount Sinai Hospital in addition to accompanying biospecimens stored at his laboratory at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute in order to facilitate research in IBD. Utilizing these resources, the UTGRC will advance the understanding of IBD pathophysiology in the following ways: (1) To identify gene expression profiles and pathways that will aid in classifying IBD and in revealing those that are mechanistically important in IBD pathophysiology. This will be accomplished by measuring gene expression profiles in the intestinal tissue of those affected and of healthy controls. (2) To evaluate the interaction between host genetic variation and the intestinal microbiome and determine how these changes affect the phenotypic expression of IBD. This will be accomplished by determining the composition of the microbial flora adherent to the intestinal tissue of those affected and of healthy controls. (3) To continue to work in an interactive fashion with the members of the Consortium to complete the discovery of all genetic variation associated with IBD and to advance our knowledge of the functional biology of such genetic variation such that we will effect change in the outcomes of individuals affected by IBD. This will be accomplished by ongoing clinical patient and biospecimen recruitment and by bringing significant clinical and scientific expertise to the Consortium team.

Public Health Relevance

The University of Toronto Genetic Research Center, working within the NIDDK IBD Genetics Consortium, is proposing a series of projects aimed at fully identifying all of the genetic factors that lead to an inherited predisposition to inflammatory bowl disease (IBD). UTGRC will also investigate how patients with these susceptibility factors actually develop IBD by incorporating studies examining how genes are expressed and the composition of the bacteria in the digestive tract. By understanding these processes the aim is to prevent individuals from developing IBD and to improve the quality of life of those individuals currently affected.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project--Cooperative Agreements (U01)
Project #
5U01DK062423-13
Application #
8733654
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDK1-GRB-G (O3))
Program Officer
Karp, Robert W
Project Start
2002-09-30
Project End
2017-08-31
Budget Start
2014-09-01
Budget End
2015-08-31
Support Year
13
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$275,938
Indirect Cost
$19,445
Name
MT Sinai Hosp-Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
208808949
City
Toronto
State
ON
Country
Canada
Zip Code
M5 3-L9
Hinks, Anne; Marion, Miranda C; Cobb, Joanna et al. (2018) Brief Report: The Genetic Profile of Rheumatoid Factor-Positive Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Resembles That of Adult Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis Rheumatol 70:957-962
Mohammadi, Aylia; Kelly, Orlaith B; Filice, Melissa et al. (2018) Differential Expression of microRNAs in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Identifies Autophagy and TGF-Beta-Related Signatures Aberrantly Expressed in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. J Crohns Colitis 12:568-581
Brant, Steven R; Okou, David T; Simpson, Claire L et al. (2017) Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies African-Specific Susceptibility Loci in African Americans With Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Gastroenterology 152:206-217.e2
Misra, Ravi; Arebi, Naila (2017) Re: Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies African-Specific Susceptibility Loci in African Americans With Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Gastroenterology 152:2082-2083
Hinks, A; Bowes, J; Cobb, J et al. (2017) Fine-mapping the MHC locus in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) reveals genetic heterogeneity corresponding to distinct adult inflammatory arthritic diseases. Ann Rheum Dis 76:765-772
Parian, Alyssa; Limketkai, Berkeley; Koh, Joyce et al. (2017) Appendectomy does not decrease the risk of future colectomy in UC: results from a large cohort and meta-analysis. Gut 66:1390-1397
Kopylov, Uri; Boucher, Gabrielle; Waterman, Matti et al. (2016) Genetic Predictors of Benign Course of Ulcerative Colitis-A North American Inflammatory Bowel Disease Genetics Consortium Study. Inflamm Bowel Dis 22:2311-6
Kevans, D; Tyler, A D; Holm, K et al. (2016) Characterization of Intestinal Microbiota in Ulcerative Colitis Patients with and without Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. J Crohns Colitis 10:330-7
Li, Dalin; Achkar, Jean-Paul; Haritunians, Talin et al. (2016) A Pleiotropic Missense Variant in SLC39A8 Is Associated With Crohn's Disease and Human Gut Microbiome Composition. Gastroenterology 151:724-32
Sasaki, Mark M; Skol, Andrew D; Hungate, Eric A et al. (2016) Whole-exome Sequence Analysis Implicates Rare Il17REL Variants in Familial and Sporadic Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis 22:20-7

Showing the most recent 10 out of 51 publications