Association Of Receptor Activator Of NF-κB Ligand Gene And Osteoprotegerin Gene Polymorphisms With Susceptibility To Ankylosing Spondylitis In A Chinese Han Population; A Case-control Study

Objective To investigate the association between the receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL) gene and osteoprotegerin (OPG) gene polymorphisms with the susceptibility to ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in a Chinese Han population.Methods One hundred and ninety-five AS patients and203age and gender matched controls were recruited in this study. A total of four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of RANKL (rs2277438, rs7984870) and OPG (rs2073618, rs4355801) were genotyped with TaqMan probe method. The frequencies of different alleles and genotypes were compared and the associations with the susceptibility to AS were analyzed.RESULTS The frequencies of different alleles and genotypes in SNP rs2277438of RANKL were significant different between AS patients and controls (P=0.013,0.008). The frequency of allele G was higher in AS patients than controls (OR=1.503,95%CI1.114-2.029, P=0.008). Both of genotype GG and genotype AG were risk factors of the susceptibility to AS (OR=1.816,95%CI1.219-2.705, P=0.003).CONCLUSION The SNP rs277438of RANKL gene may be associated with the susceptibility to ankylosing spondylitis. Allele G is a risk factor of the susceptibility to AS in Chinese Han population.