Rs548234 polymorphism at PRDM1-ATG5 region susceptible to rheumatoid arthritis in Caucasians is not associated with rheumatoid arthritis in Chinese Han population

Background A previous study has shown that rs548234 polymorphism at PRDM1-ATG5 region is associated withrheumatoid arthritis(RA)in Caucasian populations.The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of rs548234polymorphism at PRDM1-ATG5 region on susceptibility to RA in Chinese Han population.Methods We genotyped 848 RA patients and 1431 matched healthy controls for rs548234 single-nucleotidepolymorphism(SNP)with a predesigned TaqMan SNP genotyping assay.Association analyses were performed on thewhole data set and on rheumatoid factors(RF)and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides(anti-CCP)antibody.Finally,wecarried out combined analysis of rs548234 association with RA based on the published data.Results No significant difference in the genotype distribution between RA patients and healthy controls for rs548234(C/T)polymorphism was found in Chinese Han population,neither in whole data set nor in stratified subsets,e.g.RF andanti-CCP status.Association analysis in different ethnic groups showed that rs548234 at PRDM1-ATG5 region wasassociated with RA in Caucasian ancestry but not in East Asian population.Conclusions Our results showed no involvement of rs548234 at PRDM1-ATG5 region in the susceptibility or clinicalrelevance of RA in Chinese Han population.