ab222011

A ssociation between urokinase gene 3'-UTR T/C polymorphism and Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Taiwan

C.-M. Huang¹, C.-L. Chen², J.J.P. Tsai ³, C.-H. Tsai³, F.-J. Tsai⁴

Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine1, Department of Medical Genetics⁴, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Graduate Institute of Bioinformatics, Taichung Healthcare and Management University³ and Foo Yin Institute of Technology, Kaohsiung²,Taiwan

ABSTRACT
Objectives
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the urokinase gene 3'-UTR C/T polymorphism is a marker of susceptibility to or severity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Chinese patients.

Methods
A total of 145 RA patients and 134 healthy control subjects were enrolled in this study. We identified the C/T polymorphism of the urokinase gene, which is mapped on the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) on chromosome 10 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results
There were significant differences in the distribution of the urokinase gene 3'-UTR C/T polymorphism frequency between RA patients and subjects in the control group. However, we did not detect any association between the urokinase gene 3'-UTR C/T polymorphism and rheumatoid factor (RF), extraarticular involvement or bone erosion in RA patients.

Conclusion
The urokinase gene 3'-UTR "T" allele was associated with RA in Chinese patients in Taiwan.

Key words
Urokinase, rheumatoid arthritis, single nucleotide polymorphism.

Please address correspondence and reprint requests to: Fuu-Jen Tsai, MD, Department of Medical Genetics, China Medical University Hospital, No. 2 Yuh Der Road, Taichung, Taiwan.
E-mail: d0704@www.cmuh.org.tw