Genetic variant in microRNA-146a gene is associated with risk of rheumatoid arthritis. (1st January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Lin-Lin; Wu, Xiao-Xiao; Wang, Xu-Fan; Di, Dong-Sheng; Huang, Qian; Liu, Rui-Shan; Shuai, Zong-Wen; Ye, Dong-Qing; Leng, Rui-Xue
• Is Part Of: Annals of medicine. Volume 53:Number 1(2021)
• Page Start: 824
• Page End: 829
• Publication Date: 2021-01-01
• Subjects: MiR-146a -- single nucleotide polymorphisms -- susceptibility -- rheumatoid arthritis -- cytokine; Medicine -- Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2021.1933163
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0785-3890

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To investigated the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in microRNA-146a ( miR-146a ) gene and susceptibility of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: We systemically extracted the genetic data of miR-146a 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, p = 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, p = 4.37E-07; Tran-ethnic meta-analysis: OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.04–1.10, p = 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 ( p = .016). Conclusions: In summary, this study supports that genetic variant in miR-146a gene is associated with RA risk. KEY MESSAGES: The association between SNPs in miR-146a gene and susceptibility of RA was unclear. We investigated the genetic association using GWASs data and a replication study. The SNP rs2431697 in miR-146a gene is associated with RA risk.