Anti-REG1A monoclonal antibody, clone 2B5

Aim: To investigate the allelic and haplotypic association of reg1 alpha gene with tropical calcific pancreatitis (TCP). Since TCP is known to have a variable genetic basis, we investigated the interaction between mutations in the susceptibility genes, SPINK1 and CTSB with reg1 alpha polymorphisms. Methods: We analyzed the polymorphisms in the reg1 alpha gene by sequencing the gene including its promoter region in 195 TCP patients and 150 ethnically matched controls, compared their allele and haplotype frequencies, and their association with the pathogenesis and pancreaticolithiasis in TCP and fibro-calculous pancreatic diabetes. Results: We found 8 reported and 2 novel polymorphisms including an insertion-deletion polymorphism in the promoter region of reg1 alpha. None of the 5' UTR variants altered any known transcription factor binding sites, neither did any show a statistically significant association with TCP. No association with any reg1 alpha variants was observed on dichotomization of patients based on their N34S SPINK1 or L26V CTSB status. Conclusion: Polymorphisms in reg1 alpha gene, including the regulatory variants singly or in combination with the known mutations in SPINK1 and/or CTSB genes, are not associated with tropical calcific pancreatitis. (C) 2007 WJG. All rights reserved.