Association between CTLA-4 polymorphisms and susceptibility to Celiac disease: A meta-analysis

Objective: The study explored whether cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) polymorphisms confer susceptibility to Celiac disease (CD). Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted on the associations between the CTLA-4 CT60 A/G, +49 A/G, -318 C/T polymorphisms and CD using allele contrast, a recessive model, a dominant model, and homozygote contrast. Results: Thirteen separate comparison studies were considered in the meta-analysis consisting of 5072 patients with CD and 13,462 controls. All subjects were Europeans. Meta-analysis of the CTLA-4 CT60 A/G polymorphism showed an association between CD and the CTLA-4 CT60 G allele in all subjects [Odds ratio (OR)=1.160, 95% Confidence interval (CI)=1.104-1.219, p<1.0×10^-9). Meta-analysis using the recessive model also revealed an association between CD and the CTLA-4CT60 GG genotype (OR=1.331, 95% CI=1.093-1.620, p=0.004). Furthermore, analyses using the dominant model and homozygote contrast showed the same pattern as that shown by the CTLA-4CT60 G allele. Meta-analysis of the CTLA-4 +49 A/G polymorphism showed no association between CD and the CTLA-4 +49 G allele in all subjects (OR=0.992, 95% CI=0.872-1.129, p=0.907). Meta-analysis using the recessive, dominant model, and homozygote contrast showed the same pattern as that shown by the CTLA-4 +49 Gallele. Meta-analysis of the CTLA-4 -318 C/T polymorphism showed no association between CD and the CTLA-4 -318 T allele in all subjects (OR=1.018, 95% CI=0.813-1.275, p=0.877). Conclusions: The CTLA-4 CT60 A/G polymorphism was associated with CD susceptibility, but no association was found between CTLA-4 +49 A/G and -318 C/T polymorphisms and CD in Europeans.