IL-17A gene polymorphism at position G197A and systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multi-systemic disorder with various clinical manifestations. Lupus is a multifactorial autoimmune disease resulting from complex gene-environment interactions. IL-17 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine secreted by Th-17 cells, and IL-17A and IL-17F are two predominant members of this family. The present study assessed the association of IL-17F (rs763780) gene polymorphism with SLE. A total of 102 SLE patients and 141 healthy subjects were enrolled in this case-control study. Genotyping was done using the PCR-RFLP technique. The results were analyzed using SPSS software. Results showed a borderline relationship between the heterozygote genotype (AG) and a reduced risk of SLE (OR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.09-1.0, P=0.05). The A allele was also shown as having a protective effect on SLE susceptibility (OR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.46-1.0, P=0.05). No association was observed between the genotypes of the IL-17F gene polymorphism and the risk of SLE (P>0.05). In conclusion, it seems that the IL-17A gene may be involved in the pathogenesis of SLE.