Association between lymphotoxin beta receptor gene polymorphisms and IgA nephropathy in Korean children

Lymphotoxin beta receptor (LTBR) is essential for development and organization of the secondary lymphoid tissues. To investigate whether LTBR polymorphisms are associated with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) in Korean children, One hundred ninety nine patients with IgAN and 289 controls were recruited. Two promoter single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs3759333, -1387C/T and rs3759334, -1326A/G) and one coding SNP (rs2364480, Ala172Ala) in LTBR gene were selected and genotyped by direct sequencing. For analysis of data, SNPStats, SPSS 18.0, and Haploview version 4.2 were used. Multiple logistic regression models (codominant 1, codominant 2, dominant, and recessive models) were performed for odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (CI), and p value. The rs3759334 was significantly associated with IgAN in codominant 1 (G/G vs. A/G, p = 0.025) and dominant (p = 0.017) models. The A alleles of rs3759334 and rs2364480 were related to risk of developing IgAN, respectively (rs3759334, p = 0.015; rs2364480, p = 0.041). Haplotypes CGC and TAA in LTBR gene were also associated with IgAN, respectively (CGC, p = 0.032 in codominant; TAA, p = 0.008 in codominant, p = 0.009 in dominant models). In conclusion, results suggest that LTBR gene polymorphisms may be associated with risk of IgAN in Korean children.