Evaluation of genetic association between an ITGAM non-synonymous SNP (rs1143679) and multiple autoimmune diseases

Many autoimmune diseases (ADs) share similar underlying pathology and have a tendency to cluster within families, supporting the involvement of shared susceptibility genes. To date, most of the genetic variants associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) susceptibility also show association with others ADs. ITGAM and its associated 'predisposing' variant (rs1143679, Arg77His), predicted to alter the tertiary structures of the ligand-binding domain of ITGAM, may play a key role for SLE pathogenesis. The aim of this study is to examine whether the ITGAM variant is also associated with other ADs. We evaluated case-control association between rs1143679 and ADs (N=18,457) including primary Sjögren's syndrome, systemic sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, celiac disease, and type-1 diabetes. We also performed meta-analyses using our data in addition to available published data. Although the risk allele 'A' is relatively more frequent among cases for each disease, it was not significantly associated with any other ADs tested in this study. However, the meta-analysis for systemic sclerosis was associated with rs1143679 (p meta=0.008). In summary, this study explored the role of ITGAM in general autoimmunity in seven non-lupus ADs, and only found association for systemic sclerosis when our results were combined with published results. Thus ITGAM may not be a general autoimmunity gene but this variant may be specifically associated with SLE and systemic sclerosis. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.Fil: Anaya, Juan Manuel. Universidad Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario; ColombiaFil: Kim-Howard, Xana. Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation; Estados UnidosFil: Prahalad, Sampath. Emory University School Of Medicine; Estados UnidosFil: Cherñavsky, Alejandra Claudia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Cañas, Carlos. Fundación Valle del Lili; ColombiaFil: Rojas Villarraga, Adriana. Universidad Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario; ColombiaFil: Bohnsack, John. University of Utah; Estados UnidosFil: Jonsson, Roland. University Of Bergen; NoruegaFil: Bolstad, Anne Isine. University Of Bergen; Noruega. Helse Bergen Haukeland University Hospital;Fil: Brun, Johan G.. University Of Bergen; Noruega. Haukeland University Hospital; NoruegaFil: Cobb, Beth. Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation; Estados UnidosFil: Moser, Kathy L.. Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation; Estados UnidosFil: James, Judith A.. University Of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center; Estados Unidos. Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation; Estados UnidosFil: Harley, John B.. University Of Cincinnati College Of Medicine; Estados UnidosFil: Nath, Swapan K.. Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation; Estados Unido