Association of STAT4 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms with Iranian juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Özet

Juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) is a complex autoimmunedisease, characterized by multi-organ involvement. Single nucleotidepolymorphisms (SNPs) of signal transducer and activator of transcription4 (STAT4) gene have been reported to have relationship with the risk ofseveral autoimmune diseases. Studies have provided evidence that STAT4may participate in the pathogenesis of JSLE. Therefore, we aimed toevaluate the association of STAT4 SNPs with JSLE in Iranian population. Inthis case-control study, two SNPs of STAT4 gene, including rs7574865 andrs7601754 were genotyped in 50 Iranian JSLE patients and 281 matchedhealthy individuals using real-time PCR allelic discrimination approach.Our experiments demonstrated that G and T alleles of rs7574865 SNP hadsimilar distribution between patients and controls (P = 0.16). Additionally,differences in frequency of GG, GT, and TT genotypes (P = 0.14, 0.29, and0.54, respectively) were not significant. Likewise, A and G alleles, as wellas genotypes of rs7601754 SNP did not show significant differences betweenJSLE patients and healthy individuals. Lack of association of rs7574865and rs7601754 SNPs in STAT4 gene with susceptibility to JSLE in Iranianpopulation, despite their association with the risk of adult SLE in the samepopulation, implicates on difference of genetic background of JSLE and SLE.