MiR-146a and miR-155 polymorphisms in Egyptian patients with Behcet's disease.

INTRODUCTION

The current study was designed to analyze whether polymorphisms of miR-146a and miR-155 are related to Behçet's disease (BD) in the Egyptian population.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 96 unrelated BD patients and 100 healthy subjects were genotyped for miR-146a (rs2910164) and miR-155 (rs767649) using real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

The results showed significant elevation in the frequency of rs2910164 GG and CC genotypes in BD patients compared with controls (adjusted OR = 22.156, 95% CI: 4.728-103.818; < 0.001 and adjusted OR = 40.358, 95% CI: 8.928-182.440; < 0.001, respectively). Also, the rs2910164 G allele conferred a higher risk of developing BD (adjusted OR = 3.665, 95% CI: 2.013-6.671; < 0.001). MiR-146a (rs2910164) polymorphism was a risk factor for susceptibility to BD in dominant, recessive and additive models of inheritance (all < 0.001), while the miR-155 (rs767649) polymorphism was a risk factor in the recessive model only ( = 0.021). GG and CG genotypes of rs2910164 were associated with higher Behcet's disease current activity index (BDCAI) and ocular involvement compared with CC genotype ( = 0.005 and = 0.004, respectively). Genotype AT of rs767649 was related to higher BDCAI ( = 0.026) compared with TT and AA genotypes.

CONCLUSIONS

miR-146a (rs2910164) and miR-155 (rs767649) are likely to play an important role in the Egyptian population in development of BD and also influence disease severity.