Aim of the study: To identify TNFAIP3 SNP genotypes that confer a high risk of active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) through serological activity markers in the Han population of Chinese RA patients.
Material and methods: A hospital-based untreated case study of 344 RA patients was conducted. Three polymorphisms were determined by the TaqMan SNP genotyping method. Serological activity markers were tested by regular detection means.
Results: 1. ANOVA indicated a near significant difference in IgG between rs2230926 and rs13207033/rs10499194 (p = 0.062). A significant difference was identified in C3 between rs13207033 and rs2230926/rs10499194 (p = 0.047). 2. According to pairwise comparisons, the IgG levels among the patients with TT or TG genotypes at rs2230926 were significantly higher than among the patients with GG (p = 0.019 or 0.023, respectively). The C3 levels among the GG or GA patients at rs13207033 were significantly lower than among the patients with AA (p = 0.01 for both). 3. According to the Pearson 2 test and ORs, the RF-positive rate among the patients with GG+TG at rs2230926 was lower than among the TT patients (OR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.14-0.96; p = 0.034). The RF-positive rate for the TG patients was lower than for the TT patients (OR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.14-1.00; p = 0.051). The anti-CCP antibody-positive rate among the AA+GA patients at rs13207033 was lower than among the GG patients (OR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.13-1.04; p = 0.053).
Conclusions: The TT or TG genotypes at rs2230926 and the AA or GG genotypes at rs13207033 may be high-risk genotypes for RA as indicated by serological activity indicators in the Chinese Han population.