Association between NFATC2 polymorphisms and remission in rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving TNF-α inhibitors

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to examine the effects of polymorphisms in nuclear factor of activated T cells C2 (NFATC2), a TNF-α transcription factor, on remission in RA patients receiving TNF-α inhibitors. Methods: This prospective observational study was performed in two centers. Nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were investigated, and haplotype analyses were performed. Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the association between genetic polymorphisms and remission of RA. Results: This study included 88 patients, among whom 26 had remission of RA. We identified a haplotype, H2 (CCT), which carried 3 NFATC2 SNPs (rs1052649, rs1569736, and rs763944) and showed a significant relationship with remission. After adjusting for covariates, H2 carriers exhibited approximately 2.86-fold higher rates of remission than others (p=0.049). In subgroup analysis with patients with the TT genotype of rs1799964 of TNF-α, patients with the CC genotype in NFATC2 rs763944 showed an approximately 4.1-fold lower remission rate than T-allele carriers (p = 0.028), after adjusting for related covariates. In another subgroup analysis among patients with the GG genotype of TNF-α rs361525, patients with the CC genotype in NFATC2 rs763944 showed an approximately 3.2-fold lower remission rate than T-allele carriers (p = 0.04) after adjusting for covariates. Conclusion: This study suggested an association between NFATC2 polymorphisms and remission in RA patients receiving TNF-α inhibitors.