The RANTES −28 g polymorphism is associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic disorder commonly associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The pathogenesis of PSC remains unknown, but bacterial translocation from the gut to the portal circulation, resulting in activation of an immune cascade and subsequent bile duct injury, is believed to be one of the triggering factors. In a previous study,1 we found a significantly lower frequency of the Δ32 deletion in the CC-type chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) gene in patients with PSC compared with patients with IBD and healthy controls (HC), suggesting a protective effect of this mutation on the development of PSC. Given this association in our population, we further investigated the role of RANTES ( Regulated on Activation Normal T Expressed and Secreted , also known as CC-motif chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5)), one of the ligands for the CCR5 receptor. RANTES, localised to …