Role of STAT4 polymorphisms in systemic lupus erythematosus in a Japanese population: a case-control association study of the STAT1-STAT4 region.
BACKGROUND
Recent studies identified STAT4 (signal transducers and activators of transcription-4) as a susceptibility gene for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). STAT1 is encoded adjacently to STAT4 on 2q32.2-q32.3, upregulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from SLE patients, and functionally relevant to SLE. This study was conducted to test whether STAT4 is associated with SLE in a Japanese population also, to identify the risk haplotype, and to examine the potential genetic contribution of STAT1. To accomplish these aims, we carried out a comprehensive association analysis of 52 tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) encompassing the STAT1-STAT4 region.


METHODS
In the first screening, 52 tag SNPs were selected based on HapMap Phase II JPT (Japanese in Tokyo, Japan) data, and case-control association analysis was carried out on 105 Japanese female patients with SLE and 102 female controls. For associated SNPs, additional cases and controls were genotyped and association was analyzed using 308 SLE patients and 306 controls. Estimation of haplotype frequencies and an association study using the permutation test were performed with Haploview version 4.0 software. Population attributable risk percentage was estimated to compare the epidemiological significance of the risk genotype among populations.


RESULTS
In the first screening, rs7574865, rs11889341, and rs10168266 in STAT4 were most significantly associated (P < 0.01). Significant association was not observed for STAT1. Subsequent association studies of the three SNPs using 308 SLE patients and 306 controls confirmed a strong association of the rs7574865T allele (SLE patients: 46.3%, controls: 33.5%, P = 4.9 x 10(-6), odds ratio 1.71) as well as TTT haplotype (rs10168266/rs11889341/rs7574865) (P = 1.5 x 10(-6)). The association was stronger in subgroups of SLE with nephritis and anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies. Population attributable risk percentage was estimated to be higher in the Japanese population (40.2%) than in Americans of European descent (19.5%).


CONCLUSIONS
The same STAT4 risk allele is associated with SLE in Caucasian and Japanese populations. Evidence for a role of STAT1 in genetic susceptibility to SLE was not detected. The contribution of STAT4 for the genetic background of SLE may be greater in the Japanese population than in Americans of European descent.
Kawasaki
Aya
A
Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory, Doctoral Program in Life System Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan. a-kawasaki@umin.net
Ito
Ikue
I
Hikami
Koki
K
Ohashi
Jun
J
Hayashi
Taichi
T
Goto
Daisuke
D
Matsumoto
Isao
I
Ito
Satoshi
S
Tsutsumi
Akito
A
Koga
Minori
M
Arinami
Tadao
T
Graham
Robert R
RR
Hom
Geoffrey
G
Takasaki
Yoshinari
Y
Hashimoto
Hiroshi
H
Behrens
Timothy W
TW
Sumida
Takayuki
T
Tsuchiya
Naoyuki
N
D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium / Q000235:genetics; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012307:Risk Factors; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics; D050795:STAT2 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics; D050797:STAT4 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics
D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; C494079:STAT1 protein, human; D050795:STAT2 Transcription Factor; C494084:STAT2 protein, human; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494086:STAT3 protein, human; D050797:STAT4 Transcription Factor; C494090:STAT4 protein, human