title: Association between FOXP3 polymorphisms and susceptibility to autoimmune diseases: A meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to explore whether the FOXP3 -3279 A/C polymorphism and (GT)n microsatellite polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to autoimmune diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  A meta-analysis was conducted on the associations between the FOXP3 -3279 A/C polymorphism and (GT)15 and (GT)16 polymorphisms and autoimmune diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-two comparative studies with a total of 7962 patients and 7453 controls were included in the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis revealed an association between autoimmune disease and the FOXP3 -3279 AA + AC genotype (OR = 1.480, 95% CI = 1.263-1.614, p < 1.0 × 10(-9)), and stratification by ethnicity indicated a significant association between the FOXP3 -3279 AA + AC genotype and autoimmune diseases in Asians (OR = 1.416, 95% CI = 1.225-1.637, p = 2.5 × 10(-7)) and non-Caucasians (OR = 1.432, 95% CI = 1.245-1.647, p = 7.5 × 10(-8)). In addition, corrected p values for multiple testing remained significant. Meta-analysis revealed no association between autoimmune disease and the FOXP3 (GT)15 allele (OR = 1.051, 95% CI = 0.933-1.183, p = 0.413). Similarly, the FOXP3 (GT)16 allele showed no associations with autoimmune disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This meta-analysis indicates that the FOXP3 -3279 A/C polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to autoimmune disease in Asians and non-Caucasians.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine , Korea University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea and.
authors.forename: Min-Gu
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: b Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine , The Hospital for Autoimmune Diseases, Hanyang University Medical Center , Seoul , Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Cheol
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: a Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine , Korea University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea and.
authors.forename: Young Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D044466:Asian People; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015870:Gene Expression; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D016017:Odds Ratio; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D044465:White People
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors
keywords: Autoimmune diseases; FOXP3; meta-analysis; polymorphism