Urokinase gene 3'-UTR T/C polymorphism is associated with urolithiasis.
OBJECTIVE
To study single nucleotide polymorphisms to investigate the possibility that urokinase is involved in the formation of urolithiasis, which, although lacking in genetic evidence, has been previously proposed.


METHODS
A total of 153 patients with recurrent calcium stones and 105 controls were studied. Polymerase chain reaction-based restriction analysis was used to identify the C/T polymorphism of the urokinase gene, which is mapped on the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) on chromosome 10.


RESULTS
A significant difference was found in the distribution of the urokinase gene 3'-UTR C/T polymorphism frequency between patients with stones and normal controls (P <0.05). The odds ratio for the risk of the "T" allele in patients with stones was 3.088 (95% confidence interval 1.06 to 8.99).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of our study demonstrate that the urokinase gene 3'-UTR "T" allele is associated with calcium stone disease. Individuals possessing the "T" allele have a higher incidence of calcium oxalate stone disease. The results of this study provide genetic evidence that the urokinase gene may play a role in stone formation.
Tsai
Fuu-Jen
FJ
Department of Medical Genetics, China Medical College Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Lin
Cheng-Chieh
CC
Lu
Hsueh-Fu
HF
Chen
Huey-Yi
HY
Chen
Wen-Chi
WC
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D002879:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 10; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D012008:Recurrence; D014545:Urinary Calculi / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000235:genetics*
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator; D002118:Calcium