ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease in which tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) plays an important role. There are, however, controversial reports that TNF-alpha promoter polymorphism may be an independent marker of susceptibility and severity of RA. The aim of the present study was to examine the TNF-alpha -308 promoter polymorphism in patients with RA. METHODS: We examined 91 patients with RA diagnosed according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification was used for analysis of the polymorphism at position -308 in promoter of TNF-alpha gene. RESULTS: Distribution of TNF-alpha genotypes in RA patients did not differ from that in control subjects. Moreover, there was no association between TNF-alpha genotypes and age at disease diagnosis, disease activity in global physician's assessment, and joint and extra-articular involvement. There was also no correlation between TNF-alpha polymorphism and disease activity measures, including erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), CRP, number of swollen and tender joints, and morning stiffness duration. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that TNF-alpha -308 promoter polymorphism is not a genetic risk factor for RA susceptibility and severity.
Subject(s)
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/genetics , Polymorphism, Genetic , Promoter Regions, Genetic , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics , Adult , Aged , Case-Control Studies , Disease Susceptibility , Female , Genetic Markers , Genotype , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Polymorphism of phagocyte IgG receptor Fc gamma RIIa may modulate immune complex mediated inflammation, particularly when immune complex contain IgG2. METHODS: Fc gamma RIIa genotyping in 82 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 148 healthy subjects was performed using the polymerase chain reaction technique with allele specific primers. RESULTS: No significant relation between Fc gamma RIIa genotypes and susceptibility to RA was observed, but extraarticular complications with high frequency were revealed in patients with R/R131 genotype. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the Fc gamma RIIa polymorphism is not a risk factor for RA.
