Recent genome-wide association studies have identified TRAF1/C5 as a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) susceptibility locus. Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 1 (TRAF1) has been implicated in the regulation of antiapoptotic pathways, whereas C5 has a well-established role in defense against infection. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of the TRAF1/C5 locus with death in patients with RA.
Genomic DNA samples were collected from a prospective cohort of 400 RA patients. TRAF1/C5 rs3761847 was identified using real-time polymerase chain reaction and melting curve analyses. The association of TRAF1/C5 rs3761847 alleles with the risk of death was assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression analyses.
TRAF1/C5 rs3761847 GG homozygote status was associated with an increased risk of death (hazard ratio 3.96 [95% confidence interval 1.24-12.6], P=0.020) as compared with AA homozygote status. The excess mortality was attributed to deaths due to malignancies and sepsis but not cardiovascular disease (CVD). This polymorphism was one of the strongest predictors of death in RA (for TRAF1/C5 GG versus AA, hazard ratio 3.85 [95% confidence interval 1.18-12.59], P=0.026) alongside the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, triglyceride level, prednisolone use, and age.
The risk of death in RA is increased in TRAF1/C5 rs3761847 GG homozygotes and appears to be independent of RA activity and severity as well as comorbidities relevant to CVD. If this finding is replicated in future studies, TRAF1/C5 genotyping could identify patients at increased risk of death, particularly death due to malignancy or sepsis.