A7.22 The ETS1 Transcription Factor May Predispose to Rheumatoid Arthritis Susceptibility. (25th February 2013) - Chatzikyriakidou, A
Abstract : Background and Objectives: ETS1 is the founder member of ETS transcription factors' family which control the transcription of various immune related genes. The aim of this study was to identify if polymorphism ETS1 Rs11221332, described in Caucasian subjects, plays any role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) susceptibility. Materials and Methods: We genotyped this polymorphism in 136 unrelated patients with RA and 147 healthy individuals with no history of autoimmune diseases. Genotyping was performed with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay and the data were analysed by the SPSS statistical software. Results: Statistical significant difference was observed in the distribution of Rs11221332 genotypes between RA patients and controls ( p = 0.041). Comparing Rs11221332 alleles' distribution between the studied groups the difference was higher [ p = 0.039, (OR = 1.504, CI:1.036–2.183)]. Conclusions: The present study revealed, for first time, the positive association of a polymorphism in the sequence of ETS1 transcription factor with RA susceptibility. Further studies in other ethnic group of patients are needed to confirm the results of the present genetic association study related to ETS1, a widely used transcription factor in the regulation of various genes' expression.