Genetic variant in gene is associated with risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE

To investigated the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in () gene and susceptibility of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

We systemically extracted the genetic data of from previous genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of RA. Subsequently, we performed a replication study in an independent Chinese cohort for selected variant. A meta-analysis combined the previous GWASs with the replication study was also conducted. The epigenetic annotation and cytokine assay were used for exploring potential variant function.

RESULTS

The extracted genetic association data from three previous GWASs showed that the allele T of functional SNP rs2431697 increased RA susceptibility. The significant association for the SNP was also found in the Chinese replication cohort (OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.06-1.46,  = 8.69E-03). The estimated effect size for this SNP was larger in Asian population than that in European population (Asian meta-analysis: OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.09-1.22,  = 4.37E-07; Tran-ethnic meta-analysis: OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.04-1.10,  = 1.79E-06). The cytokine assay also showed that the risk allele T of the SNP rs2431697 is inversely associated with plasma TNF-α levels in health controls ( = .016).

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, this study supports that genetic variant in gene is associated with RA risk.KEY MESSAGESThe association between SNPs in gene and susceptibility of RA was unclear.We investigated the genetic association using GWASs data and a replication study.The SNP rs2431697 in gene is associated with RA risk.