Association Between AIRE Gene Polymorphisms And Myasthenia Gravis

Objective To explore the association between AIRE gene polymorphism and the susceptibility and severity of my asthenia gravis (MG).Methods The rs3761389and rs1800520polymorphisms were determined by iMLDR technique. The frequencies of alleles were compared between480MG patients and487healthy controls, as well as among subgroups of MG patients. Subgroups were classified by gender, age of onset, thymoma, AChR antibody (AChRAb), involvement at onset and Oosterhuis scores at the maximal severity. Genotype frequencies were compared under codominant, log-additive and overdominant models.Results The frequency of G allele of rs3761389in MG group was significantly higher than that in the control group (p=0.035, OR=1.213,95%CI1.014-1.451). There were significant differences in the frequencies of rs3761389genotype between case and control under log-additive model (p=0.046). Subgroup analysis shows that G allele frequency were significantly higher in AChRAb positive group (p=0.007, OR=1.314,95%CI1.079-1.601) and0-2scores group (according to Oosterhuis score)(p=0.004, OR=1.393,95%CI1.110-1.751) than in control group, which passed the Bonferroni correction. Rs1800520showed no significant differences in the frequencies of genotypes and alleles neither between MG patients and health controls,nor between subgroup analysis.Conclusion:The rs3761389polymorphisms of AIRE gene may be associated with the susceptibility of MG. The rs1800520polymorphisms may not be associated with the susceptibility of MG.