The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract that manifests as Crohn's disease (CD) and Ulcerative colitis (UC), clinically characterized by periods of remission interrupted by episodes of clinical disease activity (Zallot et al., 2013). Patients with IBD display some common symptoms such as severe diarrhea, pain, fatigue and weight loss , but the localization is slightly different: whereas CD affects the whole gastrointestinal tract, UC primarily affects the distal intestine and ileum (De Lange et al., 2015).
Lennard-Jones et al. have defined macroscopic and microscopic criteria to establish the diagnosis of Crohn's disease. The macroscopic diagnostic tools include physical examination, endoscopy and radiology. Microscopic features can be assessed on mucosal biopsy and/or operative specimen. The diagnosis depends on the finding of discontinuous and often granulomatous intestinal inflammation (Lennard-Jones et al., 1997). Diagnosis of ulcerative colitis is based on history, endoscopic appearances, histopathology of multiple mucosal biopsies and appropriate radiology (Silverberg et al., 2005, Satsangi et al., 2006).
The incidence pattern of UC has changed over the last two decades, with incidence continuing to rise in the West and rising incidence in previously low incidence areas such as Asia and the Middle East (0.15- 6.5 per 100,000)(Ng et al., 2017). Marked increase in UC diagnoses was noted over a 15-year period (1995-2009). In Cairo University, 17 cases were recorded in 1995-1999 and 76 cases were recorded in 2005-2009 (Esmat et al., 2014).
Both CD and UC are complex diseases genetically, in which hundreds of independent genetic loci contribute to disease susceptibility (Norouzinia et al., 2015) . Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms and functions of many IBD associated genes remain unknown. In addition to genetics, IBDs are powerfully influenced by microbiological and environmental aspect (Norouzinia et al., 2017).
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have allowed a better understanding of IBD thus, several genetic susceptibility loci have been identified for UC and CD (Yamamoto-Furusho et al., 2015). Among the genetic factors involved, there are several polymorphisms in molecules of the Immune system associated with either susceptibility or protective effects to IBD progression, but even with contradictory associations, mainly depending on the onset (adult or pediatric), sample size differences and on the ethnicity-dependent genetic background (Neuman et al., 2012, Ng et al., 2012, Peng et al., 2017, Girardelli et al., 2018).
PTPN22 protein contains three domains, including: an N-terminal PTP catalytic domain; an interdomain region; and a C-terminal domain with four proline-rich regions that function as motifs for interaction with other protein (Stanford et al., 2014).Tyrosine phosphatase is involved in maintaining intestinal epithelial barrier function, regulating autophagosome function and immune responses to invading bacteria in intestinal cells, limiting pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion in the intestine as well as controlling differentiation and function of CD4+ T-cells in vivo (Spalinger et al., 2015). The lymphoid tyrosine phosphatase (Lyp) encoded by PTPN22 plays a critical role as a negative regulator of T-cell activation by dephosphorylating T-cell receptor activation dependent kinases (Csk kinase) (Cloutier et al., 1999). PTPN22 is a critical regulator of the (Nod Like Receptor Family Pyrine Domain Containing 3 ) NLRP3 inflammasome by controlling NLRP3 tyrosine phosphorylation . Further, PTPN22 controls NLRP3-mediated IL-1beta secretion in an autophagy dependent manner (Yilmaz et al., 2018) .
PTPN22 gene is located on the short arm of Chromosome 1 (1p13.2). There are 24 exons in the gene (NCBI website).About 21 SNPs were found in PTPN22 gene (rs1310182, rs3789604, rs33996649, rs1217414, rs2476601, rs12760457, rs2488457,,,,etc).SNP rs2476601 (C1858\>T) in exon 14 results in the substitution of arginine 620 with a tryptophan residue in the protein product (referred to as 620W variant) (Spalinger et al., 2016). SNP rs33996649 (G788\>A) in exon 10 mediates substitution of arginine 263 with a glutamine residue (referred to as 263Q variant) and affects the ability of Lyp to interact with the Csk kinase, thus avoiding the formation of the complex and the resulting suppression of T-cell activation(Hedjoudje et al., 2017) . SNP rs2488457 (G -1123\>C) is located in the promoter region (Chen et al., 2013).A transcription factor binding site for activator protein 4 (AP-4) at position -1123 is predicted in the presence of the G allele rather than the C allele (Jüliger et al., 2003).
Contradictory results have been published regarding the association of PTPN22 gene SNPs with IBD (Bank et al., 2014, Sfar et al., 2010, Chen et al., 2013, Latiano et al., 2007, Diaz-Gallo et al., 2011, Wagenleiter et al., 2005, Zaid et al., 2018, Sadr et al., 2019).
In Egypt studies were done regarding the association of PTPN22 gene SNPs with{ Type1 DM (El-Kafoury et al., 2014), ITP (Anis et al., 2011) ,SLE (Elghzaly et al., 2015) , Alopecia Areata (El-Zawahry et al., 2013) and RA (Salama et al., 2014) }.
Uptodate , no studies were published regarding the association of PTPN22 gene SNPs with IBD in egyptians.
