The expression of receptor activator of methionine sulfoxide reductase A (MSRA) and that of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) ligand (RANKL) are closely related to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Our aim was to confirm whether MSRA and RANKL polymorphisms play a role in RA in a Chinese population.
We investigated the presence of MSRA rs10903323 G/A and RANKL rs7984870 C/G polymorphisms in 329 patients with RA and 697 controls in a Chinese population. Genotyping was performed using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).
When the MSRA rs10903323 GG homozygote genotype was used as the reference group, the GA genotype was associated with a significantly increased risk for RA. In the dominant model, when the MSRA rs10903323 GG homozygote genotype was used as the reference group, the GA/AA genotypes were associated with a significantly increased susceptibility to RA. The RANKL rs7984870 C/G polymorphism was not associated with a risk for RA. In stratification analyses, a significantly increased risk for RA associated with the MSRA rs10903323 GA genotype was evident among male patients, older patients, C-reactive protein (CRP)-positive patients, and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) negative patients compared with the MSRA rs10903323 GG genotype.
These findings suggest that the MSRA rs10903323 G/A variant allele is associated with RA development, especially among male patients, older patients, CRP-positive patients, and anti-CCP negative patients.