MicroRNA-146a polymorphisms are Associated with Psoriasis Vulgaris

MicroRNA-146a acts as a critical physiological brake role to prevent the overactivation of inflammatory response pathways and was a key negative regulator of autoimmunity. Ets-1 could bind to the MicroRNA-146a promoter region as a regulator of MicroRNA-146a expression in vitro. IRAK1 is a prominent target of MicroRNA-146a that help it to negatively regulate the release of IL8. This study aimed to investigate the association of MicroRNA-146a, Ets-1(negative regulator) and IRAK1(target) polymorphisms with Psoriasis Vulgaris( PsV ), the most prevalent chronic inflammatory skin disease in adults, in a Southern Chinese cohort. Seven SNPs in microRNA-146a (rs2431697; rs2910164; rs57095329), Ets-1(rs10893872; rs1128334) and IRAK1(rs1059703; rs3027898) genes were genotyped in 673 subjects (360 PsV cases and 313 controls) by SNaPshot Multiplex Kit (Applied Biosystems Co., USA). We found significant difference in the genotype and allele frequencies of rs2431697 and rs2910164 in MicroRNA-146a gene between the PsV cases and the controls. The dominant model genotype (CC+CT) ( p =0.019; OR=1.463) and allele (C) ( p =0.027; OR=1.496) of rs2431697 and the GG genotype ( p = 0.027; OR=1.582) and allele (G) of rs2910164 were associated with an increased risk of PsV. There was no association of the SNPs with the clinical traits of PsV. Our data provide preliminary evidence that the rs2431697 and rs2910164 polymorphism in the microRNA-146a gene may be involved in the genetic susceptibility to PsV in Southern Chinese. Although further function studies will be required to identify the details of the process, the findings could make a significant step forward in our understanding of the genetic contribution to psoriasis. What’s already known about this topic? MicroRNA-146a is one of the most highly associated MicroRNA to psoriasis. MicroRNA-146a acts as a critical physiological brake role to prevent the overactivation of inflammatory response pathways and was a key negative regulator of autoimmunity. What does this study add? Our data provide preliminary evidence that the rs2431697 and rs2910164 polymorphism in the microRNA-146a gene are involved in the genetic susceptibility to PsV in Southern Chinese.