Pilot study of variants of the IL-23R and STAT3 genes reveals no association with Hashimoto's thyroiditis in the Croatian population.
Interleukin-23 receptor (IL-23R) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) polymorphisms are common risk factors for a number of T helper (Th) 17-mediated autoimmune diseases. However, the importance of genetic variations in Th17 pathways to thyroid autoimmunity, and particularly Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), is not fully understood. In this study, we genotyped three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the IL-23R (rs11209026/p.Arg381Gln, rs7530511) and STAT3 (rs744166) genes in 217 Croatian patients with HT and 161 healthy controls using fluorescence resonance energy transfer technology and melting curve analysis of polymerase chain reaction products. None of the tested SNPs or IL-23R haplotypes was associated with HT susceptibility or disease severity. These results suggest that the studied IL-23R/STAT3 polymorphisms affecting Th17 signaling efficiency are not major determinants of HT risk in the Croatian population. Further work is necessary to determine if these loci contribute modestly or conditionally to the risk of HT.
Clinical Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Protection, Osijek University Hospital , Osijek , Croatia .
Mirjana Suver
MS
Stevic
Mario
M
Stefanic
Stana
S
Tokic
Ljubica
L
Glavas-Obrovac
Silvio
S
Mihaljevic
Ivan
I
Karner
D000328:Adult; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017523:Croatia; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use
C515500:IL23R protein, human; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494086:STAT3 protein, human; D013974:Thyroxine
Autoimmune; STAT3 transcription factor; association studies; genetic; interleukin-23 receptor; polymorphism; single nucleotide; thyroiditis