A candidate gene approach identifies an IL33 genetic variant as a novel genetic risk factor for GCA

PLoS One. 2014 Nov 19;9(11):e113476. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113476. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Introduction: Increased expression of IL-33 and its receptor ST2, encoded by the IL1RL1 gene, has been detected in the inflamed arteries of giant cell arteritis (GCA) patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate for the first time the potential influence of the IL33 and IL1RL1 loci on GCA predisposition.

Methods: A total of 1,363 biopsy-proven GCA patients and 3,908 healthy controls from four European cohorts (Spain, Italy, Germany and Norway) were combined in a meta-analysis. Six genetic variants: rs3939286, rs7025417 and rs7044343, within the IL33 gene, and rs2058660, rs2310173 and rs13015714, within the IL1RL1 gene, previously associated with immune-related diseases, were genotyped using predesigned TaqMan assays.

Results: A consistent association between the rs7025417 polymorphism and GCA was evident in the overall meta-analysis, under both allele (P(MH) = 0.041, OR = 0.88, CI 95% 0.78-0.99) and recessive (P(MH) = 3.40E-03, OR = 0.53, CI 95% 0.35-0.80) models. No statistically significant differences between allele or genotype frequencies for the other IL33 and IL1RL1 genetic variants were detected in this pooled analysis.

Conclusions: Our results clearly evidenced the implication of the IL33 rs7025417 polymorphism in the genetic network underlying GCA.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cohort Studies
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Female
  • Gene Regulatory Networks
  • Genetic Loci
  • Genotype
  • Giant Cell Arteritis / genetics*
  • Giant Cell Arteritis / pathology
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein
  • Interleukin-33 / genetics*
  • Male
  • Odds Ratio
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • IL1RL1 protein, human
  • Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein
  • Interleukin-33
  • Receptors, Cell Surface

Grants and funding

This study was partially supported by RETICS Program RD08/0075/0011 (RIER) from ‘Instituto de Salud Carlos III’ (ISCIII) and by Junta de Andalucía, grupo CTS-180. MCC and JH-R were granted by SAF 11/30073. TW was granted by DFG WI 1031/6.1. The sponsors had no role in the design of the study, in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data or in the preparation, review or approval of the manuscript.