Abstract
There are currently no validated criteria that entirely explain or predict response to methotrexate (MTX) treatment in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We tried to identify the connection between three variants (RFC1 G80A (rs1051266), TYMS 2R/3R (rs34743033), and ATIC C347G (rs2372536)) in the folate pathway of MTX metabolism and the response to MTX monotherapy in a cohort of RA cases. A prospective study on 100 RA patients on MTX monotherapy was performed. Disease activity was measured at the start of treatment and 6months after treatment with MTX. The patients were then split into two groups: those who responded to the treatment and those who did not. The molecular genetic study for the RFC1 (G80A) variant was employed via the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique, the ATIC (C347G) variant was performed using TaqMan allelic discrimination real-time PCR, and the tandem repeat sequences of TYMS (2R/3R) were amplified by conventional PCR and detected by agarose gel electrophoresis. The genotype distribution of RFC-1 (G80A) showed significant variations among non-responders and responders in the recessive genetic model. A significant difference was found in TYMS (2R/3R) in the dominant and heterozygous genetic models. However, ATIC (C347G) genotype frequency did not exhibit substantial link with drug response in all genetic models. Furthermore, the genotype and allele rates of the analyzed variants did not show any significant association with adverse events in all genetic models. The 80AA genotype of RFC-1 G80A and the 2R/3R or 3R/3R genotypes of TYMS 2R/3R are more vulnerable to the good consequences of MTX therapy. Key Points • Current recommendations support the gold standard role of MTX as a first-line monotherapy for RA patients. However, up to 40% of RA patients do not respond or exhibit partial response to MTX. • Persistent disease activity due to treatment unresponsiveness will affect the long-term outcomes in RA patients. • We aimed, through molecular genetic study, to identify the connection between three variants in the folate pathway of MTX metabolism and the response to methotrexate monotherapy in a cohort of RA patients.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.