title: Evidence of ERBB3 gene association with rheumatoid arthritis predisposition.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  ERBB3 (v-erb-b2 erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 3) gene was reported to be related with susceptibility to several autoimmune diseases. Taking this into account, we searched, for the first time, the ERBB3 gene association with rheumatoid arthritis liability.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and eighty-six RA patients and 147 controls were enrolled in the study. Polymerase chain reaction - restriction fragment length polymorphism assay was conducted in rs2271189 and rs2292239 genotyping.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A statistically significant difference was observed in rs2271189 allele distribution between RA patients and controls (P = 0.029, odds ratio: 1.460, 95% confidence interval: 1.040-2.050).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As far as we know, this is the first study which correlates ERBB3 gene with RA susceptibility, adding to a previous report of chromosome 12q13 association with RA liability. Furthermore, we confirmed that polymorphism rs2271189 can predict better ERBB3 gene association with disorders than the previously reported ERBB3 variants. More studies in other ethnic groups of patients are needed so as to reveal the extent of the herein observed genetic association.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of General Biology and Genetics, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Anthoula
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chatzikyriakidou
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Paraskevi V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Voulgari
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Alexandros A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Drosos
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3 / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: C581292:ERBB3 protein, human; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3
keywords: ERBB3; polymorphism; rheumatoid arthritis