Correlations Between TIMD-4 Gene Variants and the Risk and Clinical Features of Rheumatoid Arthritis in a Chinese Population

• Main Authors: Yang Z, Liu S, Zhou L, Zhang H, Xu N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2021-02-01
• Series: Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine
• Subjects: timd-4; polymorphism; rheumatoid arthritis; chinese population.
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/correlations-between-timd-4-gene-variants-and-the-risk-and-clinical-fe-peer-reviewed-article-PGPM

Zhicheng Yang,1,* Shuaikun Liu,2,* Li Zhou,1 Hui Zhang,1 Nanwei Xu1 1Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Graduate School, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Hui Zhang; Nanwei XuThe Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail [e-mail]; [e-mail]: T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-4 (TIMD-4) are likely to impact autoimmune diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis (RA)). It is hypothesized here that TIMD-4 gene polymorphism is likely to display a correlation with the RA risk.Methods: For examining the effect exerted by TIMD-4 genetic variant in the RA risk, a case–control study containing 379 RA cases and 432 healthy control groups in Chinese population was performed. This study conducted genotyping with the use of a custom-by-design 48-Plex single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) Scan™ Kit. Blood serum conditions of TIMD-4 in RA cases and matched control groups were measured by enzyme-connected immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results: Our results demonstrated that the TIMD-4 rs7700944 polymorphism could increase the RA risk in Chinese population. According to stratification analyzing processes, the TIMD-4 rs7700944 polymorphism displayed the correlation to the elevated RA risk in the females, smokers and cases aged ≥ 55 years. Cross-over analyses also indicated that the combined effect of smoking or drinking and GA genotype of rs7700944 locus contributed to an elevated risk of RA. In addition, the TIMD-4 rs7700944 polymorphism was also related to RA cases with DAS ≥ 3.20, ESR ≥ 25.00 mm/h and positive anti-ccp. Moreover, compared with the control groups, the average expression level of TIMD-4 in the serum of RA cases was apparently increased.Conclusion: In conclusion, the TIMD-4 rs7700944 polymorphism may increase the sensitivity to RA in Chinese population.Keywords: TIMD-4, polymorphism, rheumatoid arthritis, Chinese population