Identification of the role of new genetic biomarkers in susceptibility and pathogenesis of spondyloarthropathies in Morocco.

Abstract

The spondyloarthropathies (SpA) are inflammatory rheumatologic diseases with common clinical features, whose pathogenesis is attributed to the interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Information on SpA biomarkers in Morocco are limited compared with Europe. This study was designed as a case-control analysis to explore the relationship of some genetic polymorphisms of the CTLA-4 CT60 and FCGR3A with SpA, also together with the role of HLA-B locus, in Moroccan population. The sample consisted of 84 Moroccan SpA patients and 95 healthy individuals. Gene variability was evaluated by sequence-based typing (SBT) in four single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in 3’UTR of CTLA-4 gene and FCGR3A-158G/T SNP. The study showed a higher frequency of G/G genotype in rs11571319 in axial SpA (AxSpa) group (p=0.031, OR=4.60) and pleuro-pulmonary patients (p=0.036), and instead a significant reduction of A/G genotype (p=0.013, pcorr.=0.039 OR=0.06), compared to controls. Furthermore, a significant increase of A/A in rs3087243 was shown in males SPA pts with peripheral joints pain (p=0.035 OR=4.455). Data from FCGR3A-158G/T analysis evidenced both a reduction of T/T genotype (p=0.030, OR=0.09) and an increase of G/T genotype (p=0.06 OR=4.93) in AxSpA patients, compared to controls. With regard to HLA-B locus as risk factor, we noticed a significant increase of HLA-B*51,52 alleles (p=0.041 OR=2.714) and a reduction of HLA-B*45:01 (pcorr.=0.033 OR=0.041) correlated with these pathologies. Our data suggest the existence of new biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment of SPA in Moroccan population.