Genetic factors have a substantial contribution to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Single nucleotide polymorphisms of NLRP3 p.Q705K and CARD8 p.C10X are two gene mutations that have been linked to many diseases. Here we carried out a meta-analysis to identify their association with susceptibility to RA.
Relevant studies were identified from databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBase, Elsevier Science Direct, Web of Science, SpringerLink, and so on. Data extracted from selected studies were analyzed using the Version 12.0 STATA software. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) were calculated as the effect sizes for comparisons.
In total, six case-control studies from five articles that contained 2705 RA patients and 2711 healthy controls were included. (i) The NLRP3 p.Q705K polymorphism in allelic model (OR = 0.908), genotypic models (OR1 = 0.786; OR2 = 0.916; OR3 = 0.729), dominant (OR = 0.909) and recessive models (OR = 0.778) were not associated with the risk of RA (all P > 0.05). (ii) The CARD8 p.C10X polymorphism in allelic model (OR = 0.995,), genotypic models (OR1 = 0.997; OR2 = 1.052; OR3 = 0.950), dominant (OR = 1.033) and recessive models (OR = 0.963) were not associated with the risk of RA (all P > 0.05). (iii) When compared with combined genotype CARD8/NLRP3 AA/CC, none of the other combined genotypes had significant pooled ORs (all P > 0.05). (iv) Individuals carrying at least one variant allele at each of the two loci showed no more susceptibility to RA than those carrying only wild-type alleles at both the NLRP3 p.Q705K and CARD8 p.C10X loci (OR = 1.056, P > 0.05).
NLRP3 p.Q705K and CARD8 p.C10X polymorphisms were not associated with the susceptibility to RA, separately or in combined forms.