Association study between the TP53 Rs1042522G/C polymorphism and susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus in a Chinese Han population

Tumour suppressor protein 53 (p53) plays a central role in apoptosis, cell proliferation and death. Previously studies found contribution of functional p53 Arg72Pro polymorphism (TP53 rs1042522G/C polymorphism) in the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remains controversial. In this study, for the first time, we evaluated its association with SLE in a Chinese Han population. This case-control study enrolled 1470 SLE patients and 2283 healthy controls. The genotyping of TP53 rs1042522 polymorphism was determined by Sequenom Mass ARRAY technology. Statistical analysis was conducted by Chi-square test (χ ² test). Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated using unconditional logistic regression with adjusting age and sex. Allele and genotype frequencies of TP53 rs1042522G/C polymorphism showed statistically significant difference between the SLE patients and the normal controls (C vs. G: OR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.89-0.97, p = 0.01; (GC + CC) vs. GG using recessive model: OR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.73-0.96, p = 0.01; GC vs. GG using co-dominant model: OR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.74-0.99, p = 0.04; CC vs. GG using co-dominant model: OR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.66-0.96, p = 0.02; GC vs. GG using co-dominant model: OR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.74-0.99, p = 0.02). In addition, there was weak association between discoid rash and distribution of TP53 rs1042522G/C polymorphism in SLE patients (C vs. G: OR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.00-1.55, p = 0.04; CC vs. GG using co-dominant model: OR = 1.54, 95% CI 1.10-2.36, p = 0.04). Our finding suggests a significant relationship between the TP53 rs1042522G/C polymorphism and SLE. TP53 rs1042522G/C polymorphism would be promising as an indicator of SLE as well as the therapeutic target if its functions and mechanisms could be further investigated.