Association between Susceptibility to Systemic Lupus Erythematous and Polymorphisms in miR-146a and miR-499: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to determine whether miR-146a and miR-499 polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: We searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. We performed a meta-analysis on the association of miR-146a rs2910164, rs2431697, rs57095329, and miR-499 rs3746444 polymorphisms with susceptibility to SLE. Results: Twenty-one studies from 17 reports, with 18,910 patients and 29,622 controls, were included in the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis revealed no association between SLE and the rs2910164 C allele (odds ratio [OR] = 0.999, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.816–1.222, p = 0.990). Stratification by ethnicity indicated no association between the miR-146a C allele and SLE in Arab or Latin American populations. The meta-analysis revealed an association between SLE and the miR-499 rs374644 CC + CT genotype in the overall group (OR = 1.313, 95% CI = 1.015–1.698, p = 0.038). Furthermore, meta-analysis revealed a significant association between SLE and the miR-146a rs2431697 C allele in the overall group (OR = 0.746, 95% CI = 0.697–0.798, p = 0.038). The miR-146a rs2431697 C allele is protective against SLE risk. Stratification by ethnicity indicated an association between the miR-146a rs2431697 C allele and SLE in Asian and European, but not Arab populations. The meta-analysis showed an association between the miR-146a rs57095329 G allele and SLE in Asian, but not Arab populations. Discussion/Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests that the miR-146a rs2431697 polymorphism is a protective factor against the risk of SLE, and that the miR-146a rs57095329 and miR-499 rs3746444 polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to SLE. However, miR-146a rs2910164 was not associated with susceptibility to SLE.