Methods of screening for ulcerative colitis by detecting an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist polymorphism

摘要

A novel, differential association between allele 2 of the variable number of tandem repeats polymorphism at intron 2 of the human IL-1 receptor antagonist gene and ulcerative colitis in humans of Jewish ancestry has been discovered. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided methods of screening for ulcerative colitis in human subjects of Jewish ancestry comprising detecting the presence or absence of nucleic acid of the subject encoding allele 2 of the variable number of tandem repeats polymorphism at intron 2 of the human IL-1 receptor antagonist gene, wherein the presence of nucleic acid encoding allele 2 is indicative of ulcerative colitis. Kits useful for screening for ulcerative colitis in human subjects of Jewish ancestry are also provided.