title: High-throughput single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis of the IL1RN locus in patients with ankylosing spondylitis by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 3' region of the IL1RN gene in a large Caucasoid case-control series and in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) families from Western Canada by use of high-throughput MassArray matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry SNP typing.
  
  
  METHODS
  An association analysis was performed in a case-control cohort of 394 AS cases and 500 controls. Family-based association analysis was performed in 58 simplex and 13 multiplex families. Three SNPs located in the 3' region of the IL1RN gene (T/C at position 27810 in exon 4, T/C at position 30735 in exon 6, and G/C at position 31017 in exon 6) were examined by high-throughput MassArray MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Haplotype inference software programs were used to infer the most likely haplotypes and to compare haplotype frequencies, which were then further analyzed in family-based association studies by transmission disequilibrium tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of allele C at SNP position 30735 in exon 6 was significantly increased in AS cases (35.1%) versus controls (27.8%), as was the phenotype frequency (61.7% versus 48.6%). A significantly increased frequency of SNP allele G at position 31017 in exon 6 in cases (32.9%) versus controls (28.3%) was also noted. A highly significant difference in the overall distribution of haplotype frequencies was evident between cases and controls, with significant increases in the frequencies of the 27810C/30735C/31017C and 27810C/30735T/31017G haplotypes, but a significant reduction in the estimated frequency of the 27810C/30735T/31017C haplotype, in the AS cases. Estimation of haplotype frequencies based on 2 SNP markers indicated a highly significant increase in the 30735C/31017C haplotype and a highly significant decrease in the 30735T/31017C haplotype in cases compared with controls. Preliminary evidence for reduced transmission of the 27810C/30735T/31017C 3-marker haplotype was also found in family-based association analyses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data establish a highly significant disease association with markers in the IL1RN gene. In the absence of nonsynonymous coding sequence substitutions, it is possible that the primary disease-associated locus regulates gene expression. Association with specific haplotypes raises the possibility that the primary disease locus is in linkage disequilibrium with a specific combination(s) of markers in the IL1RN gene.
authors.affiliation: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. walter.maksymowych@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: Walter P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Maksymowych
authors.forename: Jeff P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Reeve
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Reveille
authors.forename: Joshua M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Akey
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Buenviaje
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Peloso
authors.forename: Glen T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Anthony S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics*; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C507763:IL1RN protein, human; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins