Tetra-primers ARMS-PCR-based analyses of the involvement of intronic variation in the FTO gene for the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis

Genetic polymorphism in FTO was reported to disturb energy homeostasis, mediating obesity that may lead to OA. Therefore, the study aims to detect the presence of the FTO genetic variant, rs8044769, in patients of OA and to analyze the association of the genetic polymorphism with the disease. Case-control research was conducted at the University of Karachi between March to September 2022. Diagnosed OA patients, based on the ACR criteria, were enrolled from the T.O. Clinic and SouthCity Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. Blood samples were collected from 125 OA patients and 125 healthy individuals with informed consent. Genomic- DNA was isolated, and genetic variations were analyzed. A significant association was observed between rs8044769 genotypes and susceptibility to OA (χ2 = 7.82, df = 2, P < 0.05). The minor allele of the FTO-rs8044769 had a significant association with the disease risk among the studied participants (OR = 1.729, 95% CI = 1.214 − 2.464, P = 0.002). In the female cohorts, rs8044769 conferred the disease susceptibility at the co-dominant, CC v/s TT (OR = 2.71, 95% CI = 1.09 − 6.76, P = 0.03); recessive, TT v/s CC + CT (OR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.03 − 4.56, P = 0.04); additive, 2TT + CT v/s 2CC + CT (OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.05 − 2.61), P = 0.02) and allelic C v/s T (OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.11 − 2.96, P = 0.01) levels. There is a positive association of the FTO gene polymorphism with disease development in OA patients.