Join Here   |   Log In

CTLA4 Gene: Autoimmune Risk Factor

Autoimmune diseases are caused by your immune system targeting and attacking cells in your body. This can result in a number of different problems: joint pain (rheumatoid arthritis), scaly, thick skin (psoriasis), hypothyroidism (Hashimoto’s), and more. It is often difficult to get a solid diagnosis with autoimmune conditions since the symptoms overlap with other conditions.

This article covers one genetic cause of increased susceptibility to several different autoimmune diseases. It dives into the variants you can check in your genetic raw data, and it gives possible solutions to investigate, based on your variants.

Keep in mind that genetic variants just add to the susceptibility to autoimmune diseases — there is usually an additional factor that triggers the disease.

CTLA-4 and Autoimmune Diseases:

The CTLA4 gene codes for a protein that is important in the immune system. It acts as a checkpoint that can downregulate your immune system response. CTLA4 is active in regulatory T cells (Tregs), which are the part of the immune system that maintains your tolerance to self-antigens.[ref][ref]

Basically, you want a powerful response from your immune system when you are exposed to a pathogen that causes a disease – pneumonia, West Nile virus, cholera, measles, flu… But you don’t want an out-of-control immune system.

Your body needs to control your immune response when it isn’t needed. Checks and balances. The Treg cells are the checks keeping your immune system from going out of control and attacking your own cells.

As an example, one way in which the body needs to deactivate the immune response is during pregnancy. Think about it — a mother’s body has an organism with foreign DNA growing in it. There has to be a system in place to keep the mother’s body from attacking the fetus. Immune checkpoint molecules (CTLA4 is one of them), keep the maternal immune system from attacking the fetus.[ref]

Consequently, when researchers decrease the amount of CTLA-4 in mice, it causes autoimmunity.[ref]

Autoimmune conditions associated with CLTA-4 include:

  • Graves’ disease (TSH-receptor autoantibodies cause hyperthyroidism)
  • Hashimoto’s disease (hypothyroidism)
  • Rheumatoid arthritis[ref]
  • Type 1 diabetes[ref]
  • Lupus[ref]
  • Vitiligo
  • Multiple Sclerosis[ref]
  • Celiac disease[ref]
  • Myasthenia gravis
  • Sjogren’s Syndrome[ref]

Keep in mind, though, that autoimmune conditions aren’t solely caused by decreased CTLA-4 levels. This is just one player in the autoimmune profile.

Checkpoint inhibitors in cancer:

The flip side of this CTLA-4 story is that inhibiting CTLA-4 is now a powerful tool in cancer therapy for certain types of cancers. Taking away the brakes on the immune system – decreasing that checkpoint for downregulating the immune system – allows the body to have a better shot at destroying cancer cells.


CTLA4 Genotype Report

Members: Log in to see your data below.
Not a member? Join here.
Why is this section is now only for members? Here’s why…

Member Content:

  Log In


Why join Genetic Lifehacks?

~ Membership supports Genetic Lifehack's goal of explaining the latest health and genetics research.
~ It gives you access to the full article, including the Genotype and Lifehacks sections.
~ You'll see your genetic data in the articles and reports.

Join Here


Lifehacks:

If you have an autoimmune condition, your doctor can best guide you in the new immune suppression medications on the market today.

Diet:

The autoimmune paleo (AIP) diet has been effective for many people with autoimmune diseases.

  • A clinical trial of the Autoimmune-Paleo diet showed good results for women with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.[ref]
  • Dr. Terry Wahl’s also has a dietary protocol shown to be effective in multiple sclerosis patients.[ref]

Both of those diets focus on fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, and high-quality meats. Both diets avoid common food intolerance triggers such as gluten, dairy, and eggs.

6 Natural Supplements that may impact CTLA-4 and Autoimmune Diseases:

Vitamin D:

Multiple studies show active vitamin D (1,25 (OH)2D3) increases the expression of CTLA-4.[ref][ref] This may be part of the connection between low vitamin D and an increased risk for many autoimmune conditions.

What can you do to raise your vitamin D levels? First, you should check to see if your levels are low. Your doctor may be willing to run this for you or you can order your own test- UltaLab Tests – 1,25(OH)D test (insurance won’t pay if you order your own). Sun exposure on as much skin as possible, but not so long as to get sunburned or skin damage.[ref] If you go the vitamin D supplement route, a lot of the cheap vitamin D supplements contain soybean oil. Personally, I like the idea of coconut oil-based vitamin D supplements instead.

DHA and CTLA4 levels:

Member Content:

  Log In


Why join Genetic Lifehacks?

~ Membership supports Genetic Lifehack's goal of explaining the latest health and genetics research.
~ It gives you access to the full article, including the Genotype and Lifehacks sections.
~ You'll see your genetic data in the articles and reports.

Join Here


Related Articles and Topics:

TNF alpha: Inflammation, Genetics, and Natural Inhibitors
Do you feel like you are always dealing with inflammation? Joint pain, food sensitivity, etc.? Perhaps you are genetically geared towards a higher inflammatory response.

Celiac Genes: How to Check Your Raw Data
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which gluten causes damage to the villi in the small intestines. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and spelt. When people with celiac consume even very small amounts of gluten their body mounts a response that causes damage in the intestines.

HLA B27: Genetic Variant That Increases Susceptibility to Autoimmune Diseases
Our immune system does an awesome job (most of the time) of fighting off pathogenic bacteria and viruses. But to fight off these pathogens, the body needs to know that they are the bad guys. This is where the HLA system comes in.

 

References:

Abbott, Robert D., et al. “Efficacy of the Autoimmune Protocol Diet as Part of a Multi-Disciplinary, Supported Lifestyle Intervention for Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.” Cureus, vol. 11, no. 4, Apr. 2019, p. e4556. PubMed, doi:10.7759/cureus.4556.
Benmansour, Jihen, et al. “Association of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen 4 and Susceptibility to Autoimmune Type 1 Diabetes in Tunisians.” Clinical and Vaccine Immunology: CVI, vol. 17, no. 9, Sept. 2010, pp. 1473–77. PubMed, doi:10.1128/CVI.00099-10.
—. “Association of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen 4 and Susceptibility to Autoimmune Type 1 Diabetes in Tunisians.” Clinical and Vaccine Immunology: CVI, vol. 17, no. 9, Sept. 2010, pp. 1473–77. PubMed, doi:10.1128/CVI.00099-10.
Fathima, Nusrath, et al. “Association and Gene-Gene Interaction Analyses for Polymorphic Variants in CTLA-4 and FOXP3 Genes: Role in Susceptibility to Autoimmune Thyroid Disease.” Endocrine, vol. 64, no. 3, June 2019, pp. 591–604. PubMed, doi:10.1007/s12020-019-01859-3.
Fellows Maxwell, Kelly, et al. “Lipid Profile Is Associated with Decreased Fatigue in Individuals with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Following a Diet-Based Intervention: Results from a Pilot Study.” PloS One, vol. 14, no. 6, 2019, p. e0218075. PubMed, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0218075.
Ferrari, Davide, et al. “Association between Solar Ultraviolet Doses and Vitamin D Clinical Routine Data in European Mid-Latitude Population between 2006 and 2018.” Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences: Official Journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology, Sept. 2019. PubMed, doi:10.1039/c9pp00372j.
Goske, Maruthi, et al. “CTLA-4 Genetic Variants (Rs11571317 and Rs3087243): Role in Susceptibility and Progression of Breast Cancer.” World Journal of Oncology, vol. 8, no. 5, Oct. 2017, pp. 162–70. PubMed, doi:10.14740/wjon1046w.
Houcken, Juliane, et al. “PTPN22 and CTLA-4 Polymorphisms Are Associated With Polyglandular Autoimmunity.” The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol. 103, no. 5, 01 2018, pp. 1977–84. PubMed, doi:10.1210/jc.2017-02577.
Jeffery, Louisa E., et al. “Vitamin D Antagonises the Suppressive Effect of Inflammatory Cytokines on CTLA-4 Expression and Regulatory Function.” PloS One, vol. 10, no. 7, 2015, p. e0131539. PubMed, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0131539.
Kailashiya, Vikas, et al. “Role of CTLA4 A49G Polymorphism in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Its Geographical Distribution.” Journal of Clinical Pathology, vol. 72, no. 10, Oct. 2019, pp. 659–62. PubMed, doi:10.1136/jclinpath-2019-206013.
Karami, Jafar, et al. “Genetic Implications in the Pathogenesis of Rheumatoid Arthritis; an Updated Review.” Gene, vol. 702, June 2019, pp. 8–16. PubMed, doi:10.1016/j.gene.2019.03.033.
Li, Fang, et al. “Association of CTLA-4 Polymorphisms with Increased Risks of Myasthenia Gravis.” Annals of Human Genetics, vol. 82, no. 6, 2018, pp. 358–69. PubMed, doi:10.1111/ahg.12262.
—. “Association of CTLA-4 Polymorphisms with Increased Risks of Myasthenia Gravis.” Annals of Human Genetics, vol. 82, no. 6, 2018, pp. 358–69. PubMed, doi:10.1111/ahg.12262.
—. “Association of CTLA-4 Polymorphisms with Increased Risks of Myasthenia Gravis.” Annals of Human Genetics, vol. 82, no. 6, 2018, pp. 358–69. PubMed, doi:10.1111/ahg.12262.
Li, Jinghong, et al. “Regulation of Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Antigen 4 by Cyclic AMP.” American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, vol. 48, no. 1, Jan. 2013, pp. 63–70. PubMed, doi:10.1165/rcmb.2012-0155OC.
Liu, J., and H. X. Zhang. “Association between the Rs3087243 Polymorphism and Risk for Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis.” Genetics and Molecular Research: GMR, vol. 12, no. 4, Dec. 2013, pp. 6344–50. PubMed, doi:10.4238/2013.December.6.1.
Lo, Bernice, and Ussama M. Abdel-Motal. “Lessons from CTLA-4 Deficiency and Checkpoint Inhibition.” Current Opinion in Immunology, vol. 49, Dec. 2017, pp. 14–19. PubMed, doi:10.1016/j.coi.2017.07.014.
Mewes, Caspar, et al. “The CTLA-4 Rs231775 GG Genotype Is Associated with Favorable 90-Day Survival in Caucasian Patients with Sepsis.” Scientific Reports, vol. 8, no. 1, 11 2018, p. 15140. PubMed, doi:10.1038/s41598-018-33246-9.
Miko, Eva, et al. “Immune Checkpoint Molecules in Reproductive Immunology.” Frontiers in Immunology, vol. 10, Apr. 2019. PubMed Central, doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.00846.
Mitsuiki, Noriko, et al. “What Did We Learn from CTLA-4 Insufficiency on the Human Immune System?” Immunological Reviews, vol. 287, no. 1, 2019, pp. 33–49. PubMed, doi:10.1111/imr.12721.
Mohammadzadeh, Adel, et al. “CTLA-4, PD-1 and TIM-3 Expression Predominantly Downregulated in MS Patients.” Journal of Neuroimmunology, vol. 323, 15 2018, pp. 105–08. PubMed, doi:10.1016/j.jneuroim.2018.08.004.
Riccomi, Antonella, et al. “Modulation of Phenotype and Function of Human CD4+CD25+ T Regulatory Lymphocytes Mediated by CAMP-Elevating Agents.” Frontiers in Immunology, vol. 7, 2016, p. 358. PubMed, doi:10.3389/fimmu.2016.00358.
Safavifar, Farnaz, et al. “Augmented CAMP Signaling by Co-Administration of Resveratrol and Curcumin: A Cellular Biosensor Kinetic Assessment.” Iranian Journal of Public Health, vol. 48, no. 7, July 2019, pp. 1310–16.
Saleh, Hatem Mohamed, et al. “The CTLA4 -819 C/T and +49 A/G Dimorphisms Are Associated with Type 1 Diabetes in Egyptian Children.” Indian Journal of Human Genetics, vol. 14, no. 3, Sept. 2008, pp. 92–98. PubMed, doi:10.4103/0971-6866.45001.
Tu, Yaqin, et al. “Association between Rs3087243 and Rs231775 Polymorphism within the Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen 4 Gene and Graves’ Disease: A Case/Control Study Combined with Meta-Analyses.” Oncotarget, vol. 8, no. 66, Nov. 2017, pp. 110614–24. PubMed Central, doi:10.18632/oncotarget.22702.
—. “Association between Rs3087243 and Rs231775 Polymorphism within the Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen 4 Gene and Graves’ Disease: A Case/Control Study Combined with Meta-Analyses.” Oncotarget, vol. 8, no. 66, Nov. 2017, pp. 110614–24. PubMed Central, doi:10.18632/oncotarget.22702.
—. “Association between Rs3087243 and Rs231775 Polymorphism within the Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen 4 Gene and Graves’ Disease: A Case/Control Study Combined with Meta-Analyses.” Oncotarget, vol. 8, no. 66, Nov. 2017, pp. 110614–24. PubMed Central, doi:10.18632/oncotarget.22702.
—. “Association between Rs3087243 and Rs231775 Polymorphism within the Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen 4 Gene and Graves’ Disease: A Case/Control Study Combined with Meta-Analyses.” Oncotarget, vol. 8, no. 66, Nov. 2017, pp. 110614–24. PubMed Central, doi:10.18632/oncotarget.22702.
Walker, Lucy S. K. “EFIS Lecture: Understanding the CTLA-4 Checkpoint in the Maintenance of Immune Homeostasis.” Immunology Letters, vol. 184, 2017, pp. 43–50. PubMed, doi:10.1016/j.imlet.2017.02.007.
Yessoufou, Akadiri, et al. “Docosahexaenoic Acid Reduces Suppressive and Migratory Functions of CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T-Cells.” Journal of Lipid Research, vol. 50, no. 12, Dec. 2009, pp. 2377–88. PubMed, doi:10.1194/jlr.M900101-JLR200.


About the Author:
Debbie Moon is the founder of Genetic Lifehacks. Fascinated by the connections between genes, diet, and health, her goal is to help you understand how to apply genetics to your diet and lifestyle decisions. Debbie has a BS in engineering from Colorado School of Mines and an MSc in biological sciences from Clemson University. Debbie combines an engineering mindset with a biological systems approach to help you understand how genetic differences impact your optimal health.