title: Contribution of the STAT4 rs7574865 gene polymorphism to the susceptibility to autoimmune thyroiditis in healthy Turk population and psoriatic subgroups.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  STAT4 is an important transcription factor that activates gene transcription as a response to cytokines. Recently, the influence of STAT4 gene on autoimmune disease has been widely studied in many different immune-related diseases. Autoimmune, metabolic and cardiovascular disorders are more common in psoriatic patients. STAT4 may be a unique gene that switches on in autoimmune-related thyroid disease in psoriatic patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the association of a STAT4 rs7574865 polymorphism to autoimmune thyroid diseases in the general Turkish population and psoriatic subgroups.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 132 psoriatic patients and 118 non-psoriatic volunteers were genotyped for STAT4 rs7574865 using real time PCR. Twenty-four of the psoriatic patients and 15 of the non-psoriatic volunteers have autoimmune-related thyroid diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of the T allele [OR = 4.37; 95% CI: 1.05-19; p = 0.03] of the STAT4 rs7574865 was higher in individuals with autoimmune-related thyroid diseases among the all non-psoriatic volunteers. The volunteers with autoimmune-related thyroid diseases has an increased allele positivity and carriers having at least one of the risk allele was significantly higher than in counterparts with a GG wild genotype [ORGT/TT vs. GG: 1.73; 95% CI: 0.09-32; p = 0.03]. Yet, there was no evidence of an association between rs7574865 and autoimmune-related thyroid disease in psoriatic patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The STAT4 rs7574865 polymorphism increases autoimmune-related thyroid disease susceptibility among the general population but not in psoriatic patients.
authors: Department of Biology, The Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey.
authors: Meliha M
authors: MM
authors: Hiz
authors: Department of Dermatology, Medicine Faculty, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey.
authors: Sevilay
authors: S
authors: Kılıç
authors: Department of Dermatology, Medicine Faculty, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey.
authors: Selda
authors: S
authors: Işık
authors: Department of Dermatology, Medicine Faculty, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey.
authors: Zerrin
authors: Z
authors: Ogretmen
authors: Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey.
authors: Fatma
authors: F
authors: Silan
keywords: JAK / STAT; Signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4); autoimmune disease; autoimmune thyroiditis; polymorphism; psoriasis; rs7574865