Association between urokinase gene 3'-UTR T/C polymorphism and Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Taiwan.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the urokinase gene 3'-UTR C/T polymorphism is a marker of susceptibility to or severity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Chinese patients.


METHODS
A total of 145 RA patients and 134 healthy control subjects were enrolled in this study. We identified the C/T polymorphism of the urokinase gene, which is mapped on the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) on chromosome 10 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).


RESULTS
There were significant differences in the distribution of the urokinase gene 3'-UTR C/T polymorphism frequency between RA patients and subjects in the control group. However, we did not detect an, association between the urokinase gene 3'-UTR C/T polymorphism and rheumatoid factor (RF), extraarticular involvement or bone erosion in RA patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The urokinase gene 3'-UTR "T" allele was associated with RA in Chinese patients in Taiwan.
Huang
C M
CM
Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Chen
C L
CL
Tsai
J J P
JJ
Tsai
C H
CH
Tsai
F J
FJ
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator