Correlations of miR-146a and IRAK1 gene polymorphisms with ankylosing spondylitis

The aim of this study was to explore the correlations of micro ribonucleic acid (miR)-146a and interleukin 1 receptor associated kinase 1 (IRAK1) gene polymorphisms with ankylosing spondylitis.

A total of 200 patients with ankylosing spondylitis in our hospital were enrolled in the disease group. The diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis was in accordance with the 1984 New York Revised Criteria for Ankylosing Spondylitis. Meanwhile, 200 healthy people were taken as the control group. Peripheral blood was collected from patients in both disease group and control group. Subsequently, polymorphic regions of rs2910164 and rs7702165 in miR-146a and those of rs763737 and rs3027898 in IRAK1 were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The polymorphisms were analyzed by sequencing based on gene expression and clinical data of patients.

The allele distribution of miR-146a rs7702165 (p=0.008) and that of IRAK1 rs3027898 (p=0.004) in disease group were significantly different from those in control group. Besides, the allele T frequency of miR-146a rs7702165 and the allele A frequency of IRAK1 rs3027898 were relatively higher in disease group. Statistically significant differences in the genotype distribution of miR-146a rs2910164 (p=0.032) and rs7702165 (p=0.000) and that of IRAK1 rs3027898 (p=0.001) were observed between disease group and control group. In addition, the frequencies of genotypes CG and TT of miR-146a rs7702165 and the frequency of genotype AA of IRAK1 rs3027898 were higher in disease group. Moreover, the distribution in the dominant model of IRAK1 rs3027898 (p=0.011) and that in the recessive model of miR-146a rs7702165 (p=0.015) showed remarkable differences between disease group and control group. The frequency of CC+CA in the dominant model of IRAK1 rs3027898 and that of TG+GG in the recessive model of miR-146a rs7702165 in disease group were lower than those in control group. Additionally, the haplotype CG distribution of miR-146a rs2910164 and rs7702165 (p<0.043) and the haplotype GA distribution of IRAK1 rs763737 and rs3027898 (p=0.035) in disease group displayed significant differences compared with those in control group. It was discovered that the genotype of miR-146a rs2910164 was correlated with the expressions of miR-146a (p=0.024) and IRAK1 (p=0.002). Similarly, IRAK1 gene polymorphism rs763737 was related to the expression of IRAK1 (p=0.023), Furthermore, miR-146a gene polymorphism rs7702165 was associated with the level of human leukocyte antigen B27 (HLA-B27) (p<0.05), and patients with genotype GG exhibited a lower level of HLA-B27. In addition, it was found that IRAK1 gene polymorphism rs3027898 was correlated with the C-reactive protein (CRP) level of patients (p<0.05), and CRP level was relatively high in patients with genotype CC.

MiR-146a and IRAK1 gene polymorphisms are prominently associated with ankylosing spondylitis.