TNF- β +252 A & gt;G (rs909253) polymorphism is independently associated with presence of autoantibodies in rheumatoid arthritis patients

AbstractTheTNF- β +252 A>G (rs909253) polymorphism has been associated with a risk of development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and could influence plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF- α) levels. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between theTNF- β +252 A>G polymorphism with plasma TNF- α levels, the presence of autoantibodies, and the susceptibility for RA. This cross-sectional study included 261 patients with RA and 292 controls. The polymorphism was studied using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP). Soluble TNF-α and receptors swer e measured by multiplex assay. Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP) were measured using immunoassay. No differences were observed in allele frequency and genotype distribution among patients and controls. The presence of RF (p = 0.020) and anti-CCP (p = 0.001) increased 4.23-fold and 8.13-fold, respectively, in patients with B1 allele (B1/B2 + B1/B1 genotypes) independently of demographic, clinical, and inflammatory markers. Among patients with B1/B2 + B1/B1 genotypes, higher TNF-α levels were associated with positive RF (p = 0.040), anti-CCP (p = 0.011), or both (p = 0.038). In patients carrying B1 allele, the increased sTNFR1 together with RF or anti-CCP or both explained about 39.0% the variations in TNF-α level. However, in B2/B2 genotype, the presence of those autoantibodies was not...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Medicine - Category: Research Source Type: research