The tumour necrosis factor superfamily 4 (TNFSF4) is a candidate gene for autoimmune diseases. We investigated the relationship of this gene with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a Chinese Guangxi population.
A total of 294 patients with SLE, 210 with RA, and 282 healthy controls were genotyped for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1234315 using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The potential functional effects of the SNP were predicted by in silico analysis.
Statistically significant associations with SLE and RA were detected at rs1234315, both by allele analysis (odds ratio 1.47, 95% confidence interval 1.17-1.86, p = 0.001; odds ratio 1.49, 95% confidence interval 1.15-1.92, p = 0.002; respectively), and genotype analysis (p = 0.003 and p = 7.000 × 10
Our results provided support for TNFSF4 rsl234315 as a SLE and RA susceptibility locus in a Chinese Guangxi population.