title: Association of microRNAs genes polymorphisms with rheumatoid arthritis in Egyptian female patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether miRNA-499 (rs3746444) and miRNA-146a (rs2910164) genes polymorphisms are independent factors for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Egyptians, and whether they influence disease severity and activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and seventeen RA patients and 245 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Polymorphisms of miRNA-146a and miRNA-499 genes were detected using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The miRNA-499 CT genotype was an independent factor of RA. The miRNA-499 CT, CC genotypes and C allele frequencies were significantly increased in erosive RA group. Moreover, the heterozygote CT had more severe and more active form of the disease compared with homozygote CC or TT. However, we did not find any significant association of miRNA-146a polymorphism with RA risk, severity, and activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The miRNA-499 polymorphism is an independent factor of RA, and influences disease severity and activity.
authors.affiliation: Medical Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt. Electronic address: amalelshal@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Amal S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: El-Shal
authors.forename: Nader M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Aly
authors.forename: Sahar M Abdel
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Galil
authors.forename: Mohamed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Moustafa
authors.forename: Wael A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Kandel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics*; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: C542542:MIRN146 microRNA, human; C548683:MIRN499 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: Egyptian population; MicroRNA; Polymorphism; Rheumatoid arthritis