title: Relation of the Fas and FasL gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to and severity of rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: To investigate associations of the Fas and FasL genes polymorphisms with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). One hundred patients with RA and age-, sex- and ethnically matched 101 controls were included. Four polymorphisms of Fas (-670 A>G rs1800682, -1377 G>A rs2234767) and FasL (IVS2nt-124 A>G rs5030772, -844 T>C rs763110) genes were typed from genomic DNA. Genotype distributions and allelic frequencies were compared between patients and control subjects. After the history and clinical examination of patients with RA, in terms of pain, fatigue and general health status were evaluated by visual analogue scale. Thereafter, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, blood count and rheumatoid factor levels were measured. The Disease Activity Score-28, Health Assessment Questionnaire and modified Sharp score were used to evaluate the disease activity, functional disability and radiological damage, and their relationships with the Fas and FasL gene polymorphisms were investigated. In patients with RA, CT and TT genotypes of FasL-844, polymorphism were twofold and 4.8-fold higher, and AA genotype of FasL IVS2nt-124 polymorphism was 3.4-fold higher than the control group (respectively, p = 0.05, p = 0.002, p = 0.039). T allele of FasL-844 polymorphism was more frequent in patients than controls (respectively, 52.5 vs. 41.4 %, p = 0.027). Any association was not detected between Fas (-670 A>G, -1377 G>A) and FasL (-844 T>C, IVS2nt-124 A>G) gene polymorphisms with the disease activity scores, functional disability and radiological damage. However, the Fas-670 A>G polymorphism was associated with drug therapy (p = 0.049). The distribution of GG genotype was higher compared to GA or AA genotypes in patients using triple disease-modifying antirheumatic drug therapy (71.4, 14.3 and 14.3 %, respectively). These findings suggest that the -844 T>C and IVS2nt-124 A>G polymorphisms in the FasL gene related with apoptosis may increase genetic susceptibility to RA in a Turkish population. In addition, the Fas-670 A>G gene polymorphism may be associated with disease progression. There is a need for further studies to clarify the genetic role of apoptosis in RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Silifke State Hospital, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Seyfi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yıldır
authors.forename: Melek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sezgin
authors.forename: Ibrahim Ömer
authors.initials: IÖ
authors.lastname: Barlas
authors.forename: Gözde
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Türköz
authors.forename: Handan Çamdeviren
authors.initials: HÇ
authors.lastname: Ankaralı
authors.forename: Günşah
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Şahin
authors.forename: Mehmet Emin
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Erdal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000235:genetics; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014421:Turkey; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C491901:FAS protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D019014:fas Receptor