title: Cyclooxygenase-2 polymorphisms and risk of systemic lupus erythematosus in Koreans.
abstract: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a key regulatory enzyme in the synthesis of prostanoids associated with trauma and inflammation. Upregulation of COX-2 in human lupus T cells resists anergy and apotosis. We investigated the COX-2 gene for functional variants that may influence susceptibility, clinical outcomes and severity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a Korean population. The study included 345 patients with SLE and 400 unrelated healthy controls. Genotyping for the -765G --> C polymorphism of COX-2 was performed by PCR-RFLP analysis. No difference in the distribution of the genotype frequencies between patients and controls was found. COX-2 genotypes were not associated with clinical features except hematologic abnormalities and anti-RNP antibody. We did not detect any association between COX-2 genotype and disease severity in SLE patients. These results suggest that the -765G --> C polymorphism of COX-2 does not play a significant role in the development of SLE in a Korean population. A possible protective effect of the low activity C allele against the production of anti-RNP antibodies merits further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University Medical Center, Seoul, 133-792, South Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Her
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Sohemy
authors.forename: Marilyn C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cornelis
authors.forename: Tae-Hwan
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang-Cheol
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Bae
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2