ABSTRACT
AIM: To detect the association between the polymorphism of Fc receptor ? chain gene at position-29 in promoter and systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE). METHODS: The genotypes at position -29 in promoter of Fc receptor ? chain gene were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method in 180 patients with SLE and 140 ethnically matched controls in southern China. RESULTS: The frequencies of TT genotype(33.3%) and T allele (54 4%) at position -29 in patients with SLE were significantly higher than those in controls (17 9%, respectively), whereas, the frequencies of GG genotype (24 4%) and G allele (45 6%) in patients with SLE were remarkably lower than those in controls (31 4% and 57 1%, respectively) ( P 0 05) . CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the T allele at position -29 in promoter of Fc receptor gene probably contributes to the susceptibility to SLE, but does not play a role in the occurrence of lupus nephritis.