Associations between interleukin-23R polymorphisms and ankylosing spondylitis susceptibility: an updated meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether interleukin-23R (IL-23R) polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

METHODS: Meta-analyses were conducted to determine the associations between IL-23R polymorphisms and AS susceptibility in Europeans, Asians, and all subjects combined.

RESULTS: A total of 17 studies (21 separate comparisons) were included in this meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed a significant association between AS and the two alleles of the rs11209032 polymorphism in all study subjects (odds ratio [OR] = 1.160, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.091-1.204, P < 0.001). Stratification by ethnicity identified a significant association between this polymorphism and AS in Europeans (OR = 1.234, 95% CI = 1.159-1.313, P < 0.001), but not in Asians (OR = 1.003, 95% CI = 0.920-1.219, P = 0.942). Meta-analyses of the rs1004819, rs10489629, rs1343151, rs1495965, rs7517847, and rs11465804 polymorphisms showed the same pattern as shown for rs11209032. The meta-analysis also revealed a significant association between the two alleles of the rs2201841 and rs11209026 polymorphisms and the risk of developing AS in Europeans, but not in Asians. Interestingly, the rs10889677 polymorphism was not found to be associated with AS susceptibility in either Europeans or Asians.

CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis showed that several IL-23R polymorphisms are associated with the development of AS in Europeans.