Marked phenotypic variability in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) who have the same CF genotype suggests that modifier genes may play a role in this disorder. Since most abnormalities in CF begin early in life, investigation of determinants of disease in infants and young children may provide insight into pathogenesis. We have observed that circulating immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT) levels in infants with CF identified through newborn screening are correlated with early pancreatic dysfunction and with pulmonary function at six years of age. IRT is therefore a biochemical marker of early pancreatic disease in CF also carrying implications for early pulmonary disease. In addition, we have observed that IRT is heritable. We therefore hypothesize that early IRT abnormalities in CF are explained in part by genes that modify the CFTR gene effect on pancreatic injury. We will test this hypothesis in infants and young children with cystic fibrosis diagnosed through newborn screening. IRT will be modeled with age using longitudinal mixed effects approaches with a log transformation to produce a quantitative phenotype that will be used in a Transmission Disequilibrium Test (TDT) to determine if IRT is cosegregating with each of the candidate modifiers. Specific modifiers to be tested can be categorized as follows: a. Genetic markers lying within the D19S112 region on chromosome 19 that have been linked to intestinal disease in CF, b. Genes coding for pancreatic enzymes that are capable of causing local tissue injury, c. Genes coding for pancreatic proteins capable of modulating local tissue injury, d. Genes coding for pancreatic membrane transporters, and e.Putative modifier genes of other CF organ involvement. Candidate genes with common, known functional variants will be studied through genotyping. Genes with no known functional variants will be sequenced in a subset of patients exhibiting either """"""""rapid"""""""" or """"""""slow"""""""" decline in IRT to identify potentially useful mutations or polymorphisms. Sequences of interest will then be examined in the entire study population, with priority as follows: obvious mutations (for example nonsense, frameshift and splice type), then promoter or missense alleles, then variants non- randomly segregating among the IRT """"""""rapid"""""""" or """"""""slow"""""""" decliners, and then more common variants. We also plan to establish a clinical database and a DNA repository for infants identified by newborn screening. Achieving our goals will likely provide: 1. Insight into the mechanisms of early pancreatic injury, 2. Clues to the pathophysiology of other organs involved in CF, 3. Valuable prognostic information for counseling families of newly diagnosed infants, 4. Information useful for future investigation of the pancreatic complications of CF in later life including recurrent pancreatitis and cystic fibrosis related diabetes. Our long-term objectives are to find new approaches to the early treatment of CF in order to delay pancreatic injury and the development of lung disease.
