ABSTRACT
AIM: To investigate the association of osteoprotegerin ( OPG) gene single nucleotide polymor-phisms (SNPs), 163A/G (rs3102735) and 245T/G (rs3134069), with susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Chinese Han population .METHODS:A total of 205 patients with RA and 171 healthy control subjects were enrolled into this study.Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism and subsequently confirmed by DNA sequencing .Odds ratio ( OR) and 95%confidence intervals ( CI) were calculated for the risk genotypes and alleles .RESULTS: OPG gene polymorphisms 163A/G and 245T/G were conformed to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium .The statistical differences in the genotypes of AA , AG and GG at 163A/G locus were found in RA and controls.The G allele was associated with an increased risk of RA , with OR of 1.219 (95%CI:1.066~2.339).No significant difference was observed between RA group and control group with respect to genotypic and allelic frequencies of OPG gene 245T/G (P>0.05).CONCLUSION:The OPG gene 163A/G SNP may be associated with RA susceptibility , and G allele may be the risk factor for developing RA .