RANTES gene polymorphism in polymyalgia rheumatica, giant cell arteritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether a biallelic polymorphism (A or G) occurring within the promoter region of the RANTES gene (position-403) is associated with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), giant cell arteritis (GCA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
A PCR-RFLP method was used to genotype cases and controls for this polymorphism. 3 groups of patients were examined; these comprised GCA patients who did not exhibit features of PMR (n = 30), PMR patients who did not exhibit features of GCA (n = 53) and RA patients (n = 99). All patients and controls (n = 65) originated from the area surrounding Lugo, Galicia, NW Spain.


RESULTS
A significant increase in the frequency of allele A was found in PMR patients compared with normal controls. A marginal increase of this allele frequency was observed in RA but not in GCA patients.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report of an association of a RANTES gene polymorphisms with PMR and RA. Our data suggest a possible role for of RANTES in the development of both PMR and RA.
Makki
R F
RF
Faculty of Pharmacy, Beirut Arab University, Lebanon.
al Sharif
F
F
González-Gay
M A
MA
García-Porrúa
C
C
Ollier
W E
WE
Hajeer
A H
AH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics*; D018946:Chemokine CCL5 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011111:Polymyalgia Rheumatica / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
D018946:Chemokine CCL5