Associations between eNOS polymorphisms and susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis: ameta-analysis.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine whether endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Ameta-analysis was conducted on associations between the 4b/a, T786C, and G894T polymorphisms of eNOS and SLE or RA using the following methods: (1)allele contrast, (2)recessive model, (3)dominant model, and (4)homozygous contrast. Nineteen studies were included in this meta-analysis, comprising eleven studies on SLE (1561 patients and 1565 controls) and eight on RA (1624 patients and 2118 controls). Meta-analysis showed asignificant association between SLE and the 4b/a polymorphism using the recessive model and the homozygous contrast (odds ratio [OR]= 1.836, 95 % confidence interval [CI]= 1.171-2.878, p= 0.008; OR= 2.055, 95 % CI= 1.302-3.243, p= 0.002). Ethnicity-specific meta-analysis showed asignificant association between the aa vs. bb of the 4b/a polymorphism and SLE in European populations (OR= 2.096, 95 % CI= 1.288-4.0, p= 0.027), but not in Arab populations. Stratification by presence of lupus nephritis (LN) indicated asignificant association between the aallele and the aa+ ab genotype of the 4b/a polymorphism and LN in SLE patients (OR= 2.125, 95 % CI= 1.289-3.054, p= 0.003; OR= 2.655, 95 % CI= 1.509-4.671, p= 0.001). Meta-analysis indicated no association between SLE and the T786C and G894T polymorphisms. No association was found between the eNOS 4b/a, T786C, and G894T polymorphisms and RA CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis of published studies shows that the eNOS 4b/a polymorphism may be associated with the development of SLE, but the 4b/a, T786C, and G894T polymorphisms may be not associated with RA susceptibility.