title: An updated meta-analysis of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) rs7574865 G/T polymorphism and rheumatoid arthritis risk in an Asian population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) transmits signals induced by the cytokines interleukin (IL)-12, IL-23, and interferon (IFN)-γ, which play an important role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Studies have shown conflicting results concerning the association between the rs7574865 G/T polymorphism in the STAT4 gene and RA in an Asian population. We have performed a meta-analysis to examine this relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched PubMed and WanFang databases for all papers published up to 5 October 2013. Eight case-control studies with 6029 cases and 4685 controls were retrieved based on the search criteria for RA susceptibility related to the STAT4 rs7574865 G/T polymorphism. Risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of this association. Publication bias was assessed using Begg's test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant association was found between the STAT4 rs7574865 G/T polymorphism and RA risk (e.g. GG+GT vs. TT: RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.95-0.97; GG+TT vs. GT: RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.91-0.97). Subgroup analysis of rheumatoid factor (RF) status revealed a protective relationship between the STAT4 rs7574865 G/T polymorphism and RF(+)/RF(-) RA risk. A similar relationship was detected in the anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) status subgroup. No clear evidence of publication bias was detected in the overall analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study indicates that the STAT4 rs7574865 G/T polymorphism was significantly associated with a decreased RA risk in an Asian population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, the Affiliated Jiangyin Hospital of Southeast University Medical School , Jiangyin , China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ren
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood; D012306:Risk; D050797:STAT4 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D050797:STAT4 Transcription Factor; C494090:STAT4 protein, human; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor