The rs7517847 polymorphism in the IL-23R gene is associated with gout in a Chinese Han male population

Abstract

Objectives. Gout is a polygenic auto-inflammatory disease, in which inflammation plays an important role in disease pathogenesis. The cytokine interleukin (IL)-23 promotes inflammation and helps to guide inflammatory cells, while studies have shown that the IL-23R gene is associated with susceptibility to several immune-related diseases. This study aimed to determine whether the IL-23R rs7517847 (G/T) polymorphism is associated with gout in a Chinese Han male population.

Methods. We recruited 400 patients with gout and 582 gout-free controls. After obtaining blood samples for DNA extraction, genotyping of the rs7517847 polymorphism was performed by fluorescence-based quantitative PCR using TaqMan probes. An association analysis was carried out using the χ² test. A genotype–phenotype analysis was also conducted.

Results. Both genotypic and allelic frequencies of rs7517847 differed significantly between gout patients and controls (χ² = 6.792, df = 2, P = 0.034 by genotype; χ² = 4.202, df = 1, P = 0.04 by allele).

Conclusions. IL-23R may be associated with gout in a Chinese Han male population, although our findings should be confirmed using larger sample sizes and other independent populations.