The association between the CASP5 rs7939842 polymorphism and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis in Chinese Han individuals

Abstract

Background: The association between inflammatory cysteinyl aspartate protease-5 (CASP5) and the susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains unclear. This study examined whether the CASP5 rs7939842 polymorphism affects RA risk in Chinese Han individuals. Methods: This study recruited 805 RA patients and 1095 healthy controls to investigate the association between the CASP5 rs7939842 polymorphism and RA risk. Genotype was examined using the 48-Plex SNPscan™ Kit. Plasma CASP5 levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and CASP5 gene expression was detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in 40 RA patients and 40 healthy controls. Result: The CASP5 rs7939842 polymorphism G allele is a putative risk factor for RA. After stratified analyses, this polymorphism increased the risk of RA among CRP-, ACPA-, RF-, and ESR-positive individuals, as well as individuals with DAS28 ≥ 3.20 and functional class III + IV. Furthermore, the plasma CASP5 levels and CASP5 mRNA expression were higher in RA patients than in healthy controls. Conclusion: The CASP5 rs7939842 polymorphism appears to be associated with an elevated risk of RA in Chinese Han individuals. Blood CASP5 protein and mRNA levels were significantly higher in RA patients than in healthy controls.

Keywords

• Caspase-5
• Polymorphisms
• SNP
• Rheumatoid arthritis