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Association and expression study of PRKCH gene in a French Caucasian population with rheumatoid arthritis

Vitor Hugo Teixeira1, Laurent Jacq, Jeoiakim Moore

  • 1GenHotel-EA3886, Evry-Paris VII Universities, Evry-Genopole, France. vitor@polyarthrite.net

Journal of Clinical Immunology
|October 25, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Genetic variations in the protein kinase C, eta gene are not linked to rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility in French Caucasians. However, lower gene expression in patients suggests a role in rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis.

Area of Science:

  • Immunogenetics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Rheumatology

Background:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease with complex genetic underpinnings.
  • Protein kinase C, eta (PKCη) is implicated in inflammatory processes, making its gene a candidate for RA susceptibility.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between specific protein kinase C, eta gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a French Caucasian population.
  • To evaluate the expression levels of protein kinase C, eta mRNA in RA patients compared to healthy controls.

Main Methods:

  • Genotyping of three protein kinase C, eta gene polymorphisms (rs912620, rs959728, +8134C/T) in 100 French Caucasian RA trio families.
  • Quantitative mRNA expression analysis of protein kinase C, eta in whole blood from 24 RA patients and 16 healthy controls.

Main Results:

  • No significant association or linkage was found between the studied protein kinase C, eta gene polymorphisms and rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Protein kinase C, eta mRNA expression was significantly lower in RA patients compared to healthy controls.

Conclusions:

  • The protein kinase C, eta gene is not a major genetic susceptibility factor for rheumatoid arthritis in the French Caucasian population.
  • Reduced protein kinase C, eta expression in RA patients suggests a potential role in the disease's pathophysiology, warranting further investigation.

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