Association of TNFRSF1B +676 gene polymorphism with the risk of rheumatoid arthritis in Han Chinese population in Hunan.

OBJECTIVE: To study the association of TNFRSF1B +676 gene (rs1061622) polymorphism with the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA ) in Han Chinese population of Hunan.

METHODS: A total of 112 patients with RA from Han Chinese population in Hunan were recruited, along with 129 healthy controls. TNFRSF1B +676 (rs1061622) gene polymorphisms were examined by PCR-RFLP. Serum levels of soluble TNFR II were analyzed by ELISA.

RESULTS: RA patients displayed a similar TNFRSF1B +676 genotype to controls (GG/TG/TT: 5/62/45 vs 9/56/64, P=0.167), but signifi cant diff erence was found between female RA patients and female controls (GG/TG/TT: 3/49/24 vs 8/28/48, P<0.001). No significant difference was found in the frequency of TNFRSF1B +676 T or G allele between RA patients and controls (P>0.05). RA patients showed a signifi cantly higher level of serum soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor II (sTNFR II) than controls [(7.83±2.61) ng/mL vs (4.32±1.67) ng/mL, P<0.001], but there was no diff erence among the three genotypes (P>0.05). No association was found between TNFRSF1B+676 gene polymorphism and RA clinical characteristics.

CONCLUSION: In Han Chinese population of Hunan province, TNFRSF1B+676 gene polymorphisms are not associated with the genetic risk of RA .